When times get hard, and your heart is breaking

There is a Primary song that's always meant a lot to me, "I Feel My Savior's Love." I was thinking about it today in church. When my Bapa died many years ago, we, his grandchildren, sang this song at his funeral. In our lives, we are constantly blessed by the love of our Heavenly Father and our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. I pray that I will always be grateful for these blessings and that I can serve as an instrument in the Lord's hand to bless those around me.

Things I'm grateful for.

This week's list:

1. My family's patience with me when I'm grumpy.

2. Friends to whom I can say anything.

3. Knowledge of the Plan of Happiness, specifically post-mortal life.

4. My heritage.

5. www.hulu.com

6. Snow. The giant, heavy flakes are my favorite.

7. Dancing.

8. My sisters.

9. Cary Grant

10. The baby shower I get to go to this week.

Attitude of Gratitude

I've decided to post 10 things I'm grateful for each week. Several years ago, my good friend Andrea gave me a Gratitude Journal and I started writing things down. Over the years, I've written daily, weekly, or not for months at a time. I've included 5 items or 3 items or 10. I've listed by category, order in which I noticed things in the day and, my personal favorite, alphabetically. Well, I still keep a Gratitude Journal and I always feel better when I write in it, but some of those things are very personal and precious to me. Still, I'd like to make public some of those things I'm grateful for, both significant and ridiculous, and in no particular order. Let's see if I can remember to do this. :)

1. My family.

2. The love of reading.

3. Best friends.

4. My mattress.

5. A CD player in my car.

6. Modern medicine, a blessing inspired from above.

7. Really soft, fuzzy socks.

8. Milk.

9. The newest 4-year-old in my life.

10. Scheduled posts.

So, maybe I'm a party pooper.

You know how I said I LOVE the Olympics? Well, I do. But, here's the thing, and please don't hate me for it. I don't like ice dancing. Why? Not completely certain. I like figure skating and I like dancing. But the combination of the two becomes like synchronized swimming to me. (Yeah, I don't much care for that, either.) The music is weird and, somehow, it always feels disjointed to me. And this, my friends, is my Olympic confession. Kind of silly, but what can I say?

"I know I'm different, Steve,..."

"...but from now on I'm gonna try to be the same."
"The same as what?"
"The same as people who aren't different." (What's Up Doc?)

I'm rocking the boat, stirring the pot, whatever you want to call it. I'm basically liking my new job so far, but there are things I'm not willing to put up with. So, whether I'm the squeaky wheel or whatever, I expect to see a clock in every patient room and I want my nectar thick liquids to not be pudding thick. Fine. Now that that's off my chest.

I'm moved back in (I have about 15% left to do, but the prep work is done so I can do it. I'm happy to be in my humidified-house. I'm thrilled to be with my family! Between moving, working, and family commitments, I haven't seen many friends just yet, but I'm working on it. Please be patient with me. I'm grateful to see the mountains. I love being able to see the temple from my house. I had hoped to see more snow, but I suppose I can live without it. If the ground isn't covered in white, though, couldn't we have more color and less drab-brown.

I LOVE the Olympics. I've developed some serious insomnia because I stay up watching. I wish I could be there. I've been to Vancouver a couple times and it's beautiful! And friendly! I also love the atmosphere of excitement and cooperation. I think it is such an example when athletes competing from different countries are obviously friends and truly care about each other. I love watching people genuinely happy for one another and showing respect for their sports. So, despite the occasional sour-grapes, I think the world could learn a lot about respect and kindness for others.