Day 70: Sit Back and Relax

Aha:
1.  I got plane tickets today to go visit my family in October!  FYI Portland friends: I'll be there Oct. 19th-23rd.
2.  I got a nap this afternoon; something I haven't had for a while but thoroughly enjoyed!
3.  Clinton and I had nothing to do today but just hang out.  We ran a couple errands, but we were home for most of the day and just got to relax.  It was wonderful!  I think this was an extra special blessing in disguise because he's on call tomorrow and he'll be working on Monday, so the time we had together today will be our reserves for the next couple days. :)/:(

Ha ha:
Peter is...hilarious.  You wouldn't think that a dog could be so funny, but Petey really does have such a fun personality!  This morning he was laying in bed while I was getting ready.  After using a tiny bit of hairspray he started having this snorting/sneezing fit.  Clinton got in on it and started making the sound to Peter.  Peter would respond each time.  This snort-fest went on for about 2 minutes straight, but by the time I got my video camera out Peter had had enough.  So, I got this cute picture of him instead:

Well, a little later this afternoon he decided he wanted to look out the window, however there were a couple "obstacles" in his way.  But they didn't deter him from reaching his dreams!  Oh, no, not him!  He just climbed his way to the top and once there made himself the king of the world couch!

What a bub!

Day 69: When One Door Closes Another Opens

Aha:
We decided to place our adoption information on an additional profile website.  When we initially heard about it, it was going to cost $99/month.  We felt that was a bit costly, but figured it was for a good purpose, so we decided to give it a try.  However, when we printed the paperwork (after I took about 4 hours to complete our profile) I saw that it was going to cost $150 for a processing fee+$99 for the initial posting fee+$99 for the first month.  Eek!  I felt very overwhelmed with trying to come up with all this money, but we both felt that this was something we should be doing.  I asked the Lord to help me find the money.
As I was preparing to submit our application I asked our caseworker at LDS Family Services if he knew of any discounts we could use, but he knew of none.  I googled "parent profiles discounts" and the very first link that came up was for discounts for LDSFS!  I contacted the profile company to verify the discount and it was totally valid!  Instead of all the costs listed above, we no longer have to pay the fees and our monthly fee went from $99 down to $75!
Why would googling "parent profiles discounts" bring up the exact discount code I needed for our particular agency?...because the Lord's hand was in my life!

Ha ha:
In my typical bull-in-the-china-shop way, I walked into one of the offices across the hall...or should I say, I TRIED to walk into the office, but instead, I walked INTO the door...in front of two other employees.  In my defense, their door is a lot heavier than ours and it does not stay open like ours, so when I pushed it open I wasn't quite expecting it to fly back so quickly.  It made an unusually loud BAM when I collided and everyone turned to see what happened.  I told them I was ok and laughed it off, telling them my hip bone caught the brunt of it.  On my way back out, one of them said, "You know there's another door in the back that would be safer for you to use.  Are you sure you want to use this door, Danielle?"  Ha. Ha. :)

Day 68: Making a Big Stink

Aha:
I had another run in with The Intimidator today (if you don't know what I'm talking about, check out this link).  To keep a long story short, one of the other docs made arrangements for a resident to attend our clinic this month, told me about it 2 days ago (assuring me that all the proper notifications/arrangements had been made) and asked me to forward some helpful hints to the resident.  Taking the initiative to make sure all of the other docs knew, I sent a heads-up email.  Well, about 15 minutes later, The Intimidator came out and scolded me, in front of my coworkers, and said that the resident couldn't come to clinic and arrangements like this need to be cleared with him in the future.  I told him that this was not my doing, I was only trying to help, and that these "arrangements" had been made by Dr. Forgetful.  He was still a bit curt but said he speak with Dr. Forgetful, I told him I'd appreciate that.
After venting to my coworkers about my frustration of getting chided for Dr. Forgetful's forgetfulness and lack of communication, The Intimidator came back out, asked for clarification of how long I'd known this schedule (less than 3 days) and what more I knew about it.  He apologized and said it was his oversight that this had not been handled better.  Wha??!
Praise the Lord!  What a relief!  I'm still going to speak with Dr. Forgetful and let them know this lack of communication with me (his assistant) can not keep happening and that I don't appreciate getting in trouble for things that aren't my fault.  Overall though, I felt this was another successful encounter with The Intimidator because even though they came out strong, I stood my grounds and gained their respect in the process!

Ha ha:
One of my coworkers came over for a cut/highlights after work.  She was petting Peter who was busy sniffing her like crazy!  I told her he's a pretty sniffy dog and she replied, "He probably smells my poopies."  "What?!" I asked.  "He smells your poopies?"  "NO!  My Coopies." (Her dog's name is Cooper.)  Time to get my hearing checked I think!

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!