A Breath of Fresh Air

I don't know where I'd be without this girl. She keeps me sane. In 2011, she whisked me off to counseling, which she paid for. She has a way of seeing what I need before I even realize it. I read every book that she recommends to me. Among the list are The Love Dare, Crucial Conversations and The People Code (which I just ordered today).  I have watched her marriage blossom into a respectful partnership. They started out four years ago as two 19-year old kids and I wasn't sure they were ready for all this. 

Who could have known at the time that they were more "ready" than any of the parents with our combined 40 years of marriage experience? She is a tremendous example of maturity, dignity and grace in the face of opposition. Ashli is a breath of fresh air. 

Plus, she gave us Riken, so you know.... she's like everything to us.

 

I'm throwing this picture on because I found it on a missionary mom blog today and I love it. 

 

The Kindness of Others

I'm pretty emotional right now. Tyler leaves in three weeks for his mission. His farewell is this Sunday. As I was buying things for his first aid kit, I just kept thinking of all the little things that he might need something for. A headache. A stomachache. A papercut. A bee sting. Blisters on his feet. A sunburn. It's not the big things that scare me. It's picturing him all alone for the little irritants of daily life that he just walks into Mom's place and grabs Tylenol or a bandaid for. So I'm OK but not OK at the same time. I'm proud of him but I'm going to miss him so much.

 These two are my salvation.  They bring me Sip-It drinks at work, help out with all of the yardwork here at the apartments, hug me when I cry, and make every day just better. 

I've given a lot of people a lot of quilts over the years, but Kenna just gave me my first hand-made quilt since my FIRST wedding 24 years ago. I LOVE it!!! 

I've only worked at Snow College for about a month, so the ladies I work with don't know me all that well yet, and they don't know Tyler AT ALL, but on Monday, at different times throughout the day, every one of the ladies in my office (and the 18 year old girl!) asked me at separate times if I need help with food for Ty's luncheon on Sunday. Wow. I have never worked with people this thoughtful before. I am so blessed. 

Clean and Sober

I've gone 26 hours without facebook. I've quit other things before. Even addictive type things. But this I'm really proud of. I took the app off my iPhone and haven't logged in on any of the four computers I normally use for my social media addiction. I've done this before. Several times. I'm sure I'll end up putting a few pictures up again and slowly getting back on daily, but for now I think I just want to focus on spending a few last weeks with Ty and talking face to face with the people I love, and more importantly, the people who love me. I'll know who they are because it will take a little more effort to get in touch with me than it did when I was always a green dot on the facebook chat box. 

My BFF

Someone I love hurt me today. I'm sure she has her reasons that would probably make sense to me, but I was too busy looking through my tears to get a clear picture of the whole situation. I went to my husband's office to cry on his shoulder. He hugged me and let me cry, and then he wanted to fix it like husbands do. Everything he said made sense, but it was just too logical.  I called my daughter, but she had worked until 3:00 this morning and was asleep, so I sent a text to my BFF, Kyle. He's a 25 year old guy from India who was born with cerebral palsy. Aside from Ken and my kids, he is my best friend. I love him. Kyle did his job perfectly today. He told me I was right and she was wrong and he was in my corner just like he is supposed to be. Now, we all know that I am not 100% right and she is not 100% wrong, but your BFF is supposed to pretend like that is the case. And he did. That's why I love him. Thank you, Kyle. I feel better already:) 

For my single friends

Lots of my friends have found themselves alone lately. Single after being married for a long time to men they loved and wanted to spend their whole lives with, eternity with even. I hate watching them struggle and hurt. Because I so clearly remember every tear I shed and every night I laid alone in my little twin bed in my little apartment in Nephi, wishing I were home in my big bed with my husband whom I still loved even after everything. I have no idea why the Lord decided that after 7 months, I had struggled long enough. Why I get to be the lucky one who found Ken. I wasn't the skinniest or the prettiest or even the sweetest girl out on the market at the time, so why did he choose me? Why do I get to be so happy when so many of my single friends haven't found this happiness yet? 

 I think the answer has everything to do with my Heavenly Father and the prayers offered by SO many people who love me on my behalf. I could never have found Ken if he wasn't a man who loved his Heavenly Father and could see something in me that the rest of the world couldn't see. People throw the term "soul mates" around, but there's something to be said for a love that sees beyond everything else and into your soul. The soul of this man found the soul of this woman and everything else fell into place. I've never been loved like this. Not when I was 125 pounds or 20 years old or becoming a Mom three times. It's when I'm an older, heavier grandma that I get to have this. 

 And it's because I looked for a man who would give me this. Take me to the temple. Give me priesthood blessings when I need them. Ordain my son an Elder. It was important to me. It's not important to everyone. But it is to me. God knew that. And he sent me my soul mate in the form of the cable guy. I wish all of my single friends could find this. Pray, girls. Love your Heavenly Father. Love yourself. There ARE good men out there. And when you find yours, I hope you cherish him like I do mine. I am SO blessed!!!