Grateful

The turkey is thawing in the refrigerator.  The bread is drying and soon will become stuffing.  The groceries are purchased.  The plans are made, just waiting, ready for the big day.  I guess, that I am also waiting for the big day too, because here I sit in front of a bright screen, in the wee hours of the early morning, unable to sleep.

My restlessness has caused me to reflect on a Bing Crosby song, "Count Your Blessings, Instead of Counting Sheep".

When I'm worried and I can't sleep

I count my blessings instead of sheep

And I fall asleep counting my blessings

When my bankroll is getting small

I think of when I had none at all

And I fall asleep counting my blessings

I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads

And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds

If you're worried and you can't sleep

Just count your blessings instead of sheep

And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings.

So, here it goes:

I am grateful for warm, soft sand that squishes between toes creating a feeling that life is oh so good.

I am grateful for sun rises of pinks and orange with rays of sunlight creeping over the mountains with promises and hope for a beautiful day.

I am grateful for artichokes, melted butter, and squeezed lemon that tantalizes the taste buds.

I am grateful for the magical sounds of children's laughter while running through sprinklers, twirling sparklers, and chasing butterflies.

I am grateful for vine-ripened tomatoes that come straight out of the garden.  Something that has been a rare occurrence since my move to Arizona.  Oh how I miss you!

I am grateful for pants that are long enough to cover my very long legs.

I am grateful for the sound of leaves crunching on the ground, the brisk air, and the smell of fall.

I am grateful for walks along the river where my mind can work and resolve both small and big problems.

I am grateful for soft, baby's skin that smells of baby lotion and everything that is good in the world.

I am grateful for opportunities of painting bedrooms, shopping for winter formal dresses, helping with homework, driving to swim and soccer practices, cheering on sidelines to two, beautiful girls.

I am grateful for being able to lie down each night in the warm, safe and comforting arms of my husband.

I am grateful to a loving, Heavenly Father, who has provided all of the above, plus so much more, for me.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Zombies, Nerds, and Gross Stuff!

As I was driving home the other day, I noticed a woman on the side of the road.  Her hair was messed up due to the wind, and she was walking with a gait.  My heart skipped a beat realizing that I just saw my first zombie, and I realized that the zombies have finally made it to Arizona.

Then, as I was setting up tables for the Thanksgiving feast for our youth's annual "young at heart" dinner, my skin began to crawl because I could hear the zombie's breathing sounds with the roll of each table.

And now as I walk, I carry a golf club to keep stray dogs and zombies, of course, away.

Zombies are appearing in my dreams, daily conversations, and my thoughts.  All of this has made me  realize that maybe I am addicted.

What started out as a we should watch something Halloween like since it is October has turned into an obsession.  I downloaded season 1 of Dead Man Walking from Netflix, and truth be told, we just finished watching season 2.  Zombies have invaded our television sets for one and a half months.  This is completely out of character for me.  I hardly ever watch television, and when I do, it is something like  House Hunters International or something from the cooking channel.  I am not used to seeing blood and guts, or anything gross. I am also an early to bed kind of girl since my day begins at 4:45 each morning, and yet my nights have turned late due to zombie viewing.  I am slowly morphing into the scary and gross side of Halloween.  Teenagers- they do that to you.

To celebrate the month of haunting we decided to have a "gross night" activity for our youth.  Invitations were sent out to "outgross" each other.

  We had a panel of judges and plenty of gross performances.  Smoothies were made from raw eggs, tuna fish and hotdogs for consumption.  Boys licked "items" out of baby diapers, and girls ate cereal using their shoe as a bowl.  Kids dared other kids to lick suckers that had first been in a dogs mouth.  Even surgery was performed and guts were touched and tasted.  The audience snickered and ewwed all night.  My stomach still turns thinking about those gross memories, but yet it really turned out to a very fun night.

Blood and Guts Surgery

Diaper Digging

The month ended with "The revenge of the Nerds".  They came out in full force- at least in my neck of the woods.  Eleven of them showed up at my house to trick-or-treat and then continued on their nerdy way to grapple candy from other houses.

Nerd MyMy

Now that October is over and I must wait for season 3 of Dead Man Walking to appear on Netflix, it is time for me to put zombies, nerds, and other gross stuff to rest.  Hopefully this blog post will give me some closure.  Until next year my zombie and nerd friends!  It will take until next year to get the smell of tuna, really ripe fruit and hotdog smoothie out of my mind.  Until next year!

Missionary Man

About this time two years ago, a young man walked into our church one Sunday.   He was nicely dressed- bright blue dress shirt, tie and black slacks.  He had come because he liked a girl that just so happened to be Mormon.  He noticed her happy attitude and admired her family dynamics and realized he wanted something like that too in his life.
The boy frequented often, wearing the same bright blue shirt, and sitting at the back of the church all alone.
Derrick was the Young Men's President at the time and noticed this young man sitting in his weekly lesson.  Introductions were made and a familiarity began.  After about 6 months of church attendance, the young man started meeting with the missionaries.  Lessons were given at our home and as a family, we joined in.  It was surreal watching the events unfold- line upon line, precept upon precept being understood.
As the boy grew in knowledge and faith, other things began to change in his life too.  He was transforming right before our very eyes and soon he realized how divine his nature is because, he was, and is a Child of God.  That in itself is a very beautiful story, but the story continues........
This young man, Javier, was baptized a little over a year ago in July by Derrick.  Ward members and missionaries were there in attendance and it will always be a very special memory for me.
The progress continued in this young man.  He purchased suits.  He was eager to bless the sacrament.  He frequented the temple doing baptisms and he anxiously visited church sites and even attended general conference.  They asked him to help in primary, give talks with high council, and even teach in elders quorum.
Javier visited with us on Sundays and this is where he learned and practiced basic concepts such as prayer, priesthood ordinances, preparing lessons and talks while building his faith.  We grew in those concepts too, but most importantly we started realizing how much we love and adore him.

Now, Javier is serving the Lord as a missionary in California.  The summer was filled with paperwork, missionary shopping, preparing for the temple, his farewell and open house.  The night before he left, we all gathered for his setting a part and said our last good-byes trying to hold back the tears.  He has been on his mission for 2 months now, and although the time has gone slowly, his letters show growth.  He is changing from a boy missionary to a missionary man.