Day 42: Longings

Aha:
Our bathroom sink has been extremely plugged basically since we moved in two years ago.  We've poured about 10 bottles of Draino down that stinkin' pipe with very little relief.  Our landlord came a couple weeks ago, snaked the pipe but left before really checking to make sure it was clear.  Sure enough...still completely plugged.  I emailed him and he came back today (that's not the miracle) ;).
Anyway, as he was looking at the same pipe with the same problem, he said he wanted to look at one more thing.  That "one more thing" was the very opening of the drain, just below the stopper/plug.  There was a wad of something unrecognizable, probably the size of a gooey golf ball, lodged in the pipe.  He used an old t-shirt and ran it up and down through the pipe like someone would run a towel across their behind to dry it off in a sing-songy way.  He put the sink/pipe all back together and it is running like a charm!!!  I feel very blessed to have a bathroom sink that works and doesn't fill to the brim with my toothpaste, face wash or hand-goo every time I use it!  Yipee!

Ha ha:
Clinton and I FINALLY got a barbeque.  This is something I have been longing for, for quite some time.  We got all the fixings for it, including meat and vegetables for grilling....and then we went to Olive Garden for dinner!  Mmm-mmh!!

Day 41: Guardian Angels

Aha:
I am amazed at the power of conversion.  I visit teach a sister in my ward who has had a rough life.  She has been hurt by her own family and suffers many physical pains as well.  I mention this because as my companion and I were visiting with her today we had the opportunity to talk to her about the healing power of the Atonement.  I shared with her one of my favorite quotes from the prophet, Joseph Smith (which also happened to be from the lesson):
     "Speaking to the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo, the Prophet Joseph emphasized holiness, explaining that as sisters became pure and holy, they would have a marked influence upon the world. He explained: “Meekness, love, purity—these are the things that should magnify you. … This Society … shall have power to command queens in their midst. … The kings and queens of the earth will come unto Zion, and pay their respects.” Relief Society sisters living their covenants command the respect not only of noble people, but “if you live up to your privileges,” Joseph promised the sisters, “the angels cannot be restrained from being your associates."
The Spirit was there and she felt comforted to know she was not alone and that help would be there whenever she needed it.  The Lord knows her pains and will help her overcome/bear all things.
This all came out of my mouth, the words meant for her...but I knew they were reminders for me too.

Ha ha:
Clinton and I were playing fetch with Peter in our living room.  Clinton kept throwing the ball (instead of rolling it) as he was saying "here it comes", giving me no time to prepare...it would hit me in the head or the chest every time.  I got rather tired of this, so I waited for the prime time when he was looking away and I could "get him back". 
The moment arrived and just as I was arching the ball I shouted, "Here it comes!"  He turned and looked at me just as the ball landed right on his bal...crot...nard...his...his...no-no-private-zone.  FORTUNATELY (for both of us) the impact was reduced by the way he happened to be sitting, so no damage done.  However, the whole situation was hilarious because, first of all, I have terrible aim (I was aiming for his chest) and secondly, the way it landed just so resolutely (with a muffled "plopping" sound) on his "lap" was priceless!
I shouldn't be laughing, but it was just perfect!

Day 40: "Ear"y Situation

Aha:
Question:  How did I recognize the Lord's hand in my life today?  Answer:  I didn't chew or swallow. (see below)

Ha ha:
I can laugh about this now, and to be honest, I laughed about it when it happened, but mostly out of pure shock!
Last night before going to bed, I poured myself a tall glass of lemonade and was drinking it with a straw.  I got distracted and ended up brushing my teeth before finishing, so I just left it out and figured I'd finish it in the morning.  So, as I was enjoying my ketchup with a side of eggs, I reached for my tall glass of lemonade, put the straw in my mouth and took a long drag.  Right then I noticed a texture less juice-like and more scratchy/pulpy.  I knew right away something was wrong, I panicked and spit my juice out all over my plate...
Earwig.  Live earwig.

And that's when the screaming started.

I swear I was speaking in tongues.  I don't think anything actually made any sense, it was a lot of, "Ewww, ahhhh, a bug....in my juice....ahhhh (shudder) (spitting) oh ugh...".  I ran upstairs and Clinton was sitting up in bed shushing me to be quiet.  I quickly told him what happened and he stared at me with a completely disgusted face trying not to laugh.  As my pitch and volume got higher and higher he asked me if I was laughing or crying and I told him "both".
Oh my gosh.  My stomach still turns thinking about it, but it really was a funny situation.  I think next time I have lemonade with breakfast, I'll be sure to make it "earwig" free.

Day 39: M-mm! What's for Lunch?

Aha:
This may seem silly, but I have a real problem with snacking lately.  I. can't. stop.  I'll have just eaten an enormous meal and I'll still want to eat.
I know.  I know.  This is not a discussion about me thinking I'm fat, because I don't think I'm fat ('k Mom? ;).  All I'm saying is I seem to have lost some control over my snacking and I don't like that feeling.
Anyway, I wanted to do better today and with a little bit of help from the Lord...I did!  I still have room to improve, but I didn't feel like I had to give into the 5-layered red velvet cake sitting on the counter 6 feet from my chair...so I didn't!  Not even a taste cause I knew where that would lead!
I'm grateful the Lord is mindful of all of our weaknesses and is willing to help us overcome them at any time and in any red velvet cake situation!

Ha ha:
I like to think I'm mature.  I think for the most part I am, but give me a good bathroom-humored moment and it's like I'm six-years-old all over again.
Today at work I went to the restroom, performed my business and as I began washing my hands the most interesting series of sounds echoed out from one of the other stalls.

(tinkle-tinkle SPLASH splash tinkle toot GUSH tinkle squeak toot SQUAWK tinkle tinkle toot)

I looked at my shocked and highly amused face in the mirror could not get out of there fast enough!
About four hours later I went back to the same bathroom and was again bomb-fartedbarded with much of the same explosions.
My thoughts were as follows
1.  Try not to breathe or laugh out loud
2.  My gum had better not taste like what's happening in the next stall
3.  If you are that sick, what the heck are you still doing at work?
 

Day 38: It's About Time

Aha:
Never thought I'd say this, but the best blessing from my day was when my iPod fell under the bed causing my alarm to be muffled.  I ended up sleeping way past my alarm this morning (by an hour and a half)!  Why was this a blessing?  Well, I woke up this morning feeling very refreshed!  I felt better today than I have felt in about a week and I think the extra sleep was exactly what I needed!
Perhaps it was an accident, but I sorta feel like a heavenly hand helped push my iPod off my night stand and under my bed.  I was only 30-minutes late to work, which makes me wonder...if I lost an hour and a half of getting-ready time but was only 30-minutes late to work, what the heck is taking me so long to get ready on regular days?

Ha ha:
I really need to get to bed, so for tonight I have chosen to be lazy and I'm cutting and pasting a joke.  Please don't hold it against me if you don't think it's funny.  Maybe I only think it's funny because it's way past my bedtime.  Anyway, here goes...

Two Arabs boarded a shuttle out of Washington for New York. One sat in the window seat, the other in the middle seat. Just before takeoff a fat, little Israeli guy got on and took the aisle seat next to the Arabs. He kicked off his shoes, wiggled his toes and was settling in when the Arab in the window seat said, "I think I'll go up and get a coke." "No problem," said the Israeli. "I'll get it for you." While he was gone, the Arab picked up the Israeli's shoe and spit in it. When the Israeli returned with the coke, the other Arab said, "That looks good. I think I'll have one too." Again, the Israeli obligingly went to fetch it, and while he is gone the other Arab picked up the other shoe and spit in it. The Israeli returned with the coke, and they all sat back and enjoyed the short flight to New York. As the plane was landing the Israeli slipped his feet into his shoes and knew immediately what had happened. "How long must this go on?" he asked. "This enmity between our peoples..... this hatred... this animosity... this spitting in shoes and peeing in cokes?"
Ha ha ha?

Day 37: Head in the Clouds

Aha:
I have had a chronic headache for about four or five days now, but today at work, it was especially beastly.  I kept praying for help to make it through the workday but I knew I couldn't just go home and rest after work either.  I had two different appointments and was, sadly, not looking forward to either of them (only cause I didn't feel well, I usually enjoy them).  However, my day turned out quite well and here's how I recognized the Lord's hand in my life today:
1.  I made it through work without any major errors!
2.  One of my appointments told me they needed to reschedule to another day this week.
3.  My second appointment sent me a text about an hour after that saying she needed to reschedule as well (meaning my evening opened up to me being free to rest!!)
4.  When I got home I laid on the floor in front of the air conditioner long enough to cool off before getting up to make some dinner.  As I was begrudging the idea, I got a call from Clinton telling me he was on his way home and picking up some dinner!
5.  Clinton rubbed my shoulders for about 10 minutes and my headache has started to subside!!!!
Although I don't yet feel 100%, I definitely feel very blessed!

Ha ha:
Two embarrassing moments...
1.  Yesterday in church I was dealing with being FREEZING cold in the chapel and headache.  Why do I give this background?  Because as I was only able to listen to the lesson half way while the other half was extremely distracted.  A scripture was read in Acts about the people in the temple being "pricked in their hearts".  The teacher asked what that meant and while everyone else was responded "they felt the spirit" "they knew the truth", I responded "they were upset".  Clinton elbowed me laughing and the girl in front of me turned and laughed.  I felt like a major fool!
2.  Leaving the corporate center today I had to walk across a small construction bridge.  I was being closely followed by another woman.  As I was crossing the bridge, I totally tripped right in front of her.  She didn't say anything, but if our roles had been reversed, I don't know that I would have been able to stop myself from laughing out loud!  Oh, dear!

Day 36: Summarize vs. Summer-Eyes

Aha:
So, I have come to a close of my week-long logging about focusing more on the Atonement and the covenants I made when I was baptized.  I prayed this morning that as I went to take the Sacrament I would be able to reflect on my week and really internalize my thoughts and feelings about what I've experienced this last week.  I think this is probably the most prepared I've ever been for partaking of the Sacrament.  I feel like I have begun to build a stronger relationship with my Savior and that, if I continue to draw closer to him,  I could feel more comfortable in his presence (I still have a LONG way to go, but it's a process, right?).  I feel like I am beginning to know him and understand what is expected of me...although, at this point I still have so much to learn.  I felt like I had a goal to find something that related to my covenants and that goal motivated me to make good choices each day.  I felt like I had a purpose.
I think that I would like to continue this record keeping because I like feeling this way.  I like knowing that each day I can learn from my experiences.  I still make mistakes, but I feel like I can handle them better, or even overcome them someday if I try to stay close to the Lord and do the things I've committed to do.
My love for Jesus has grown so much in seven days and I can only imagine how much more it can grow if I keep this up!!

Ha ha:
Clinton found a necklace he'd bought me a couple Christmases ago that ended up under the couch.  Here's our conversation:
He:  Hey, look what I just found under the couch.  You hid it there.
Me:  No, it was probably there because I was wearing it but took it off at some point.
He:  No, you came down early one morning, threw it under the couch and said a silent prayer that no one would ever find it.  Well guess what?  I found it.
(we both started laughing)
Moments later, we were headed out the door to a friend's house for dinner.  I was standing in the garage and Clinton was coming across the driveway to get in the car.  In the 16 feet or so that it took him to get from our back door to the garage he had this goofy grin on his face as he was squinting at me in the sunlight.  I was returning his goofy grin.  The second he stepped into the shade of the garage (and could open his eyes all the way) his goofy grin turned into a questioning scowl and I promptly busted up laughing.  Where does he come up with this stuff? 
As we got into the car and I was still laughing, he turned to me and said, "You think I'm hilarious.  I bring such joy to your day."  I told him that was all true.  He responded, "You think I'm great."  I responded by laughing, but the truth is, I totally do!