Nurture

Yesterday I picked Elle up from preschool a bit early because she has had a terrible cough. I think she's got croup again. Brent had a big meeting today in the afternoon, so I offered to tag team with him; he would stay home in the morning and I would get a sub for the afternoon and come home so he could go to his meeting. Well, things got a little messed up when Brent woke up vomiting. I went to work as planned, Brent felt a little better and thought he could care for Elle ok. My sub showed up with no problems and I was able to leave at 11 to go home (but not before stopping at the store to pick up some saltines and diet ginger ale) to watch over Elle (who is fine as long as the tylenol is working) and Brent (who had to cancel his meeting) and do loving things for them to help them feel better.
I am thankful for my nurturing nature and that the Lord created us women to take care of our men and our babies, and I am thankful for a job that gives me the flexibility to do so.

Patience

I am thankful to my husband for the patience he has with me when I am grumpy, or spacey, or when I play the martyr (because I think I do that a lot). I am thankful that we both know we are in it for eternity and that days when one of us is not our usual self, the other doesn't take offense and patiently waits for the other to return to normal.

The Comforter

You never can get used to the suddenness of death. I suppose if someone is old, or sick, you can kind of prepare for it, but when it happens, it's so final.
It's even more difficult when it is unexpected. I experienced this with my dad. It was so surreal. One second he was there, the next, he wasn't. Just gone. So strange to build up a lifetime of possessions and accomplishments, clothes, trinkets, a car, a cell phone, shoes, an office and a desk, and then, all at once, they are things without an owner. Left to collect dust because no one wants to dispose of them, yet they don't really serve a purpose anymore.
I found out today that my principal from Pueblo lost her husband last night to a sudden heart attack. She was at the band concert at school. She came home late to find him dead. He was in his 40's. My heart instantly broke for her. Having experienced a similar situation, I was instantly numb, and cursing myself for reading a text during class, because my brain shut down during a math lesson.
I felt pretty numb all day. And I felt guilty, this wasn't my tragedy. I had only met the man one time. Recently, at a Hanukkah party. He really seemed like a good guy. I think my saddness speaks more for how highly I think of Terri, and how much I know she loved her husband. I'm sad for the loss of the future they had planned.
I felt bad also, because I am pretty sure they didn't go to church or anything. My mom remarked how sad that was to not have a minister or pastor to help you through something like this.
I remember watching my dad's sister at his funeral sobbing and wailing for the loss of her brother. I remember the calm and peaceful feeling from the moment I began to realize what was happening was real, and that it was ok.
I an SO thankful for my faith, and my beliefs, and most especially for the Holy Spirit who envelops me in his arms in times of trial. I have been praying with fervor that the Spirit is able to envelop Terri too, and that she feels the love of her Heavenly Father, and that she will know, that everything will be ok.

Determination

Today in the lunchroom, I noticed that there was a basket of apples, several cups of applesauce and some other pieces of untouched food. There was a sign on it that said "Share Basket." It looked to me like she was saving the food that the kids weren't eating from being thrown away. I mentioned that I thought it was a good idea, because I hate to see food wasted. She said she wasn't sure if it was okay for health reasons, but she didn't like seeing it thrown away either. She then asked me if she had told me what she was trying to bring to the school. Her plan started after reading a newspaper article about some teachers in Mesa who noticed that a lot of their students went hungry on the weekends because there was not much food at home. They organized a program where on Fridays at the end of the day, they call kids out with their backpacks, and put a paper bag inside filled with healthy, non-perishable snacks for the weekend. This teacher at my school...also named Judy...was so impressed with this idea, she began the process of trying to bring the program to our school.
As most new things are at my school, it was met with resistence. "How do we know who'll really need it?" "How do we know it's getting eaten?" "How do we do it so the kids don't feel singled out or get made fun of?" "Where do we get the food and the money?" Judy graciously volunteered to give up some of her time to make sure the plan would run smoothly.
Today she updated me, telling me, with a smile on her face, that the plan had made it all the way to an attorney, and she was just waiting to hear back from him. She had to type up 2 whole pages of steps as to how the program would work. It makes me sad because I feel like there have been so many times when I have had great ideas (well, at least I thought they were) yet was so easily discouraged by the mountain that stood between me and my goal, that I just gave up.
I am so thankful for people like Judy who march right over those mountains, with the goal of helping those less fortunate overpowering their fear of failure and hard work, and I hope that I can grow from her example and climb the mountains that I have come to fear.

Coincidence

Yesterday in sacrament, Judy Curtis gave a touching, well-organized, and informative talk about following the promptings of the Holy Spirit and using this gift in our lives. As I had mentioned, sitting with us were a man about to be baptized, and a woman who is coming back to church. I felt the Spirit so strongly as she spoke of it, and I felt it manifesting itself to the congregation and I just had a feeling that her talk was helping so many people with questions, and giving strenth to those who were struggling. I know I was one of those people.
Brent was expecially moved by the talk also. So much so that as soon as we got home, he wrote out a note expressing his feelings to Judy and got it ready to mail. Well, that was a lovely thought, but I was stuck because I wanted to express my feelings too. He had already sealed the envelope, and since I had sadly missed the opportunity to say something after church, I couldn't very well scribble at the bottom "Ditto from me!" (not that I would have done that, right??) And I thought sending a card myself would be a bit redundant. Having been a recipient of several "thank you for your talk" notes in the mail, I would think that she wouldn't have thought it redundant. But I am stubborn and I didn't want to come across as crazy.
Imagine my luck (or perhaps, the hand of God) when I ran into Judy in the dairy section of Safeway. I was so happy to see her there. I have never ran into her outside of church before. I was so thankful that I ran into her so I could express in person my feelings of gratitude for the message she shared.
I am thankful for a small ward community that shops at the same grocery store and for the (second) chance the Lord gave me to share my gratitude for a sister's beautiful testimony building message.

Ability

Today, Brent and I weren't able to sit by each other in church. I sat with the girls in the pew in front of him. We were a little late, so there weren't any long center ones open. We also had to drive in seperate cars because both of us gave rides to someone. Brent brought an older man who has had a rough life, yet has found light and peace in the gospel. He is getting baptized in a few weeks. I brought a woman who is coming back to church after a long time of poor choices. Neither of them have a car, yet the desire to learn more of our Heavenly Father, and his plan for is so strong.
I am thankful that we have two cars and that we have the ability to literaly bring people to the gospel.

Sewing machine

Yesterday, Lauren went to her 8-12 year old girl Activity Days. They put together newborn kits to send to Haiti. The kits included soap, booties, a sleeper, cloth diapers and a blanket. The kits were assembled rather quickly, with the exception of the flannel blankets that the moms were sewing. We finished 3 of the 20 that we needed to make, so we all took a handful home to finish. Today, I spent a chunk of my day sewing blankets for babies I will never meet. I tried so hard to infuse the love in my heart as a mother into every stitch of each blanket.
I am so thankful for the sewing machine Brent bought me for mother's day 5 years ago, and for my ability to use it for good.