Day 67: Is it Possible to be Home Alone, Away from Home? Yup.

Aha:

I got off of work early in order to go celebrate my 8th anniversary with Clinton since he was preparing for exams during our actual anniversary.  We decided to drive down to the suburbs of Chicago and "be spontaneous".  We went to a Greek restaurant for lunch, stopped by the house where Home Alone was filmed and then to the Chicago Botanical Gardens.  It was a wonderful afternoon to enjoy each other's company and I feel very blessed to have shared it with my Honey!

Ha ha:
On our drive down to Chicago, Clinton and I were just chatting.  He asked me if I could say his tongue-twister "Unique New York".  I did so successfully.

He: "You have to do several in a row really fast."  

Me: (quietly, and somewhat to myself) "Unique New York.  Unique New York.  Unique New York.  There.  It helps if you really pronounce the 'k's."  

He: "OK, let me hear it." 

Me:"Unique nih-nork!"

Fail.

Here are photos from our trip:

Ahhhh!!  I'm Home Alone!

Clinton told me he thought all the neighbors were probably annoyed that we were "so original" with my pose, so he told me to take a more serious picture.  Does it really make a difference if I'm posed or not?  I'm still taking a picture in front of the house. :)

Clinton: "Okay, let's just hurry."  Me: (eye roll)

Entrance to the Botanical Gardens

These koi fish were everywhere and they would swim right up to where ever you were and open their mouths for food.  We didn't have any and I'm sure we disappointed many-a-fish today.

This is the bridge that led to the fruit and vegetable island

If you look to the left on that little bridge you'll see something tall and skinny...it's a pelican!

Arches on fruit island

This is an apple tree.  I turned to Clinton and asked, "What are those things hanging from the trees?" He paused and then responded, "Apples...".  "No," I said, "those red things."  Ha!  Turns out they are humming bird feeders.  I guess in the future I should clarify which "hanging things" I'm referring to.

We stepped inside a science center and found this smell-tester.  You were to push a button that sprayed a scent of a plant and guess what it was.  Here I am curious to try out the machine...

Pewee!  That freakin' wreaks!  It smells like garbage and rotting vegetables!  What could it be??

Oh.

 Fortunately, one of the other buttons was for roses, so I pushed that button over and over like there was no tomorrow! 

Japanese Gardens

The Logans had a great day today!  Hope you enjoyed yours as well!

Day 66: It's All About the Walk

Aha:
As I was walking home I was listening to Pandora.  I've been very drawn to hymns and church music lately and a rendition of "I am a Child of God" by Hillary Weeks began to play.  It was like taking a deep breath after being under water.  Everything around me became still as I enjoyed a quiet, tender moment of reflection.  I am a child of God.  Rich blessings are in store.

Ha ha:
1.  As it was nearing the end of the day my coworker and I happened to be passing each other in the Skywalk (she coming down the ramp, and I, going up).  I noticed she was swinging her arms, so I exaggerated her motions and mimicked her.  She did a little dancy walk as I proceeded to lean way back and kick my legs high and out, walking with my arms in a military-like pump.  I announced it was time for silly walks.  We laughed and she said it was a good thing we were the only ones in the hallway.  Well, apparently neither of us noticed the lady walking about 20 feet behind me and as Lissa said that comment the lady shouted, "Well, it looks pretty entertaining from back here!"  Ha ha!
2.  I was walking home from work, messing with my new phone and not paying attention to my surroundings.  Fortunately, I happened to look up and see a MOUSE on the sidewalk in front of me munching on a pear.  I got my camera out and began to record it for posterity's sake.  Anyway, as I finished my recording and looked up, I noticed the man across the street watching the mouse as well.  I asked if he saw it and he said, "Yah, I did.  Is that your mouse?"  No.  I replied.  I just happened to see it as I was walking home.  "Oh," he says, "I was thinking, it looks like that lady is either walking her pet mouse, or (noting my hospital badge) is performing some sort of experiment."  Ha!
Will post a video soon, I can't get it to work now.

Day 65: Working it Out

Aha:
Today was a much better day.  Every time I began to feel a little blue I'd start singing a hymn or focus on my blessings.  Sometimes I think I just need a little reminder that everything is going to work out and I just have to get through the painful parts to more fully enjoy the wonderful parts!
I'm starting to notice a shimmering light as I try my hardest to climb out of my darkened abyss.  The light feels good and is comforting.  I think in this case, I'll go towards the light and enjoy the peace that it gives me!

Ha ha:
What made me think that eating two peaches, a plum and a giant salad at work would not make me bloated?  When I got home let's just say I was thankful for Gas-x and privacy. :)

Day 64: BitterSweet

Aha:
It seems that every lesson in church today had to do with faith and trusting in the plan Heavenly Father has for me.
Yah, it's one of those periods of time in my life when I need to be reminded that I'm not exactly in control and that life can be much easier if I just submit to the will of God.
I wish it were as easy as that.  Sure, Father, just lay it all at my feet and I'll do whatever you ask.  I'll bear my afflictions and trials with complete and total submission of my will to Thee.
But it's not that easy.
I have been trying to tell the Lord "I get it", I don't need this trial anymore.  I've come so far already, can't I be done with it?  But in our Relief Society lesson today I heard some pretty great parts of a talk titled, "More than Conquerors through Him that loved us", by Paul V. Johnson of the Quorum of the Seventy.  Although I'm not totally ready to submit, I now have a stronger desire to try to let things be as the Lord would have them, after all, He knows what is best and I must trust that His plan is way better than mine.
Here's some snippets from that talk:

After recovering from serious health challenges, Elder Robert D. Hales shared the following in general conference: “On a few occasions, I told the Lord that I had surely learned the lessons to be taught and that it wouldn’t be necessary for me to endure any more suffering. Such entreaties seemed to be of no avail, for it was made clear to me that this purifying process of testing was to be endured in the Lord’s time and in the Lord’s own way. … I … learned that I would not be left alone to meet these trials and tribulations but that guardian angels would attend me. There were some that were near angels in the form of doctors, nurses, and most of all my sweet companion, Mary. And on occasion, when the Lord so desired, I was to be comforted with visitations of heavenly hosts that brought comfort and eternal reassurances in my time of need.”¹⁷

Our Heavenly Father loves us, and we “know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.”¹⁸ Someday when we get to the other side of the veil, we want more than for someone just to tell us, “Well, you’re done.” Instead, we want the Lord to say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”¹⁹

I love the words of Paul:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? …

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”²⁰

I know that God lives and that His Son, Jesus Christ, lives. I also know that through Their help, we can be “more than conquerors” of the tribulations we face in this life. We can become like Them.

Ha ha:

My mom called to tell me this cute story yesterday and I forgot to blog about it then, so here goes.

My mom was babysitting two of my nieces (ages 7 and 4) and was having a little chat with them upstairs on the bed in the guest room.  She was telling them about her grandkids and how David and Sara were going to have 6 kids, their Mommy and Daddy had 5 kids, Daya and Kirk have 4, Anton and Jen are going to have 3, Derek and Carrie have 2 and that Aunt Dani and Uncle Clinton were hoping to adopt 1; giving our family a 6-5-4-3-2-1 grandkid status.  She asked if the girls would keep us in their prayers so we could get a baby soon.  Kyleen, the 7-year-old, turned her little face up to my mom and said, "sure!" as she promptly slid off the bed, knelt beside it and said a prayer right then and there.  Um...Is that not the sweetest thing you've ever heard?  Chuckling, my mom thanked her and asked them both if they would continue to pray for us each night when they said their prayers and they said they would.

I LOVED hearing that story!  Thanks Kyleen for your sweet prayers for us!  Love you!  

Day 63: Food, Glorious Food!

Aha:
I always thought that Clinton and I would get our year's supply of food storage after we moved into our first home.  We figured it would be easier to not have to move and we'd be in a better financial situation to purchase it.  Well, about a year ago I attended a Relief Society interest group activity and happened to stumble into the Food Storage class.  The teacher asked what we'd each like to get from the class and when she turned to me I said, "Well, we'd like to get food storage someday after we finish school and settle, but I thought I'd come and see what I can learn about it today."  She looked me right in the eye and said, "Food storage is not difficult to move, anyone can have it and it's not that difficult to build.  If you make the choice to start your supply the Lord will make it happen."  That got me thinking about something I'd never really thought of before: starting now.
I went home, looked up how to buy food storage on a budget, got a book and got to shopping.  I added $10/week to my grocery list to get extra food items to store.  I told the Lord I was trying to be obedient to the counsel from the church to build a year's supply of food storage but if I were to actually get everything I needed, I would need his help to have the extra money to do so.  I looked up what it would cost to buy my canned goods from the storehouse and it was going to cost about $550!  I was determined.
I kid you not, once I made the decision to save and build my supply, the windows of heaven opened and ways were provided to make extra money.  My hair business at least tripled (and has stayed that way) and I gained two voice students and a piano student; increasing our monthly income by about 20%!  I put all that money in a ziploc bag and saved and saved and saved!  When I thought I had saved enough, I put my order together only to find out prices had increased by almost 30% on many items.  I was devastated!  I told my mom and she told me she was putting some money in our account and that some of it was to be used for our food storage order.  The amount she set aside was exactly what I needed to place my order!  Awesome, eh?
I scheduled my day at the cannery three months ago but as the day approached, no one was available to help me (needed at least 3 more helpers).  I emailed the cannery yesterday to tell them I'd need to reschedule.  Well, I got a call late last night stating there was a group of three coming and they were willing to help me pack my order if I still wanted to come.  What?!  What a miracle!
Well, today was the day for me to drive (thanks again Haley for lending me your Jeep) down to the cannery and can my long-awaited supply.  My helpers were Ron, Jennie and Joyce (as well as the Dewitts, the couple that runs the cannery).  We pumped out all of our orders in about 2.5 hours!  They even helped me load my car!
I feel so blessed and am absolutely amazed at all of the many miracles that occurred as I tried to be obedient to the counsel from the Lord and obtain my year's supply of food storage.

All geared-up and ready to can!

 There is at least one more stack on each side that couldn't fit in the picture

 It doesn't look like much, but there are about 8 more boxes hidden plus, those selves behind me extend about another 4 feet to my right and they are stocked with more food, as well as some toiletries.

Ha ha:
When I got home I laid on the floor (cause that's about all I had energy for) to play with Peter.  As Clinton and I were rolling the ball back and forth I stopped paying attention for a minute and didn't notice that Clinton had rolled it back to me.  My hand was resting palm-down and the ball literally rolled right into it, as if I had caught it with my hand.  I have no idea how that happened but I just started laughing.
Right after that, Peter was laying in front of me and Clinton rolled the ball; it went straight into Peter's mouth!  We both started laughing and Clinton commented that it looked like a game of Hungry Hungry Hippos (gulp!).  Peter didn't even have to reach for it.  Ha! 

Day 62: You Take the Good, You Take the Bad

Aha:
I am so very thankful for the caring and compassionate people in my life.  I had a particularly difficult day on Friday and I received nothing but love and support from everyone around me and from my family back home.  I know the Lord is mindful of me and I'm thankful for the people who helped me remember that yesterday.
Loves!

Ha ha:
I called Clinton to tell him about my tough situation yesterday and started crying.  He asked what was wrong and after I finished explaining everything I said, whilst both crying and laughing, "...but I'm handling it pretty well."  I guess you gotta find the humor in all things, right?

Day 61: Long Overdue

Aha:
I turned in 3 library books at one time 3 weeks ago.  I got an email stating that one of them was overdue and I was being charged $.25/day.  Long story short, after being told that if the book could not be found I'd have to pay a $7 replacement fee, I was transferred to the circulation manager.  I relayed what happened and told her I didn't think it was fair to be charged for a book I returned.  She asked if I was sure I had in fact returned it and I confirmed I had.  I stayed very positive and friendly and told her that if I found it at a garage sale I'd donate it to the library.  She laughed and said she'd waive the fee and "clear my record"!

Ha ha:
I have to laugh at myself.  I ordered a new mannequin head and some other beauty supply products for my hair business at home.  Clinton sent me a text telling me they'd arrived.  I couldn't wait to get home.  Then, my coworker (who's also an esthetician) brought me some products to start using and I couldn't wait to try them tonight.
When I got home from work and saw all of my goodies in one place, I couldn't help but squeal for joy!!  I ran into Clinton's study and with a huge grin on my face shouted, "It's like it's Christmas!".  I'm in Product Heaven!!