Funky Spring

Well, today I think I'm just in a funk.  I just don't feel like I say the right things, do the right things, think the right things, remember enough, etc.  I woke up this way today - completely sideways in my bed.  I should have known it would be one of THOSE days.

On a positive note, I am LOVING spring and getting home while the sun is still shining!  I have come home to sit on my back porch in my reclining chair for a short snoozer 2 days in a row now.   Having the front door open behind the screen, hearing the birds chirping...oh wait, those are cars.  Anyway, I'm totally loving it - I want to PLANT something!

The Tender Mercies of the Lord

The Tender Mercies of the Lord

Tender Mercies...and Purging!

I spent the day yesterday in St. George for the funeral of a friend's mother (Shan).  I was so impressed by how their extened family came together to honor such a fun, feisty, fantastic lady.  I can see why Shan always wanted to drive home for the long weekends and holidays.  The mood was more peaceful and happy than other funerals and I was put at ease to see her more at peace.  She's been a good friend and neighbor over the years and I'm so grateful to have her in my life.

There were many tender mercies this week.  
1.  Tuesday morning, I was ready for seminary much earlier than usual, when I got the call to go down to Shan's house.  It was no inconvenience or panic whatsoever. 
2.  We were starting testing at school that day (of which I'm 1/2 in charge), and when I called Annette, someone else happened to become available to assist her when the day before, that person wasn't scheduled to be at our school. 
3.  I had to teach my university class that night, and it happened to be a work session for their final project, so I didn't have to "teach" or "be on" in front of the entire class for 4 hours.  My mental state wouldn't have allowed me to do that anyway. 
4.  I didn't have to prepare lessons for seminary this week because I was using a fireside talk by John Bytheway to get us through the war chapters.  All I had to do was show up and push "play" for 3 mornings.  The timing was amazing.

I'm grateful.

And.....
I woke this morning with the overwhelming feeling to PURGE out my closet. After almost a year, I have now purged out all the clothes I USED to fit into. I'm not sure why I held onto them for so long, but this morning, that desire came on strong. I'm not anything like a hoarder or even a packrat, but I decided to donate to D.I. anything I hadn't needed, used, seen, or even remembered for over 1 year. I mean really, if I didn't do it now, someone else would have to later on. It feels cleansing to do it.

A blink of time

I haven't written in a while (again) and have suffered the wrath of my "fans" and stalkers.  I have been ultra busy and don't have much time to write tonight either.  It's been a long 2 days as I've been mourning with a good friend who lost her mother yesterday.  It was a very humbling experience to assist her with a number of things and to talk with her as they get ready for the upcoming funeral.  I see how much she's cared for - living here all alone for over 10 years while her family is in St. George - so many of her ward family and her far-reaching influence in the school district sending her messages and calling her and driving up for the funeral is endearing.  She had no idea and I'm so grateful that people care about her like I do.  I'm also grateful for the knowledge we share about life and death - "Death is not a period but a comma in the sentence of life."

It seems like we're not old enough do "deal" with such real life issues and experiences, but we are and the reality of it just hit like a bullet yesterday.  We never know how much longer we have with those around us and those we love.  It also made me realize that work is just work and I'm way out of balance with what's really important in life.  I need to switch around some of my priorities and spend more quality time with my family and friends.