IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR..FOR A COLD

Monday, December 19, 2016
Even though I didn't have Seminary, I was awake at 5:30 a.m. Mainly, it was because I had the beginning of a sinus headache. Not a good start. I stayed in bed for nearly another half an hour, trying to convince myself to go back to sleep. That not happening, I got up and took a shower, ate breakfast, and languished/lounged by Ken's side until it was time to get the kids up.

I took some medication, but it didn't do much to make me feel better as I went to work. My nose became drippy, I sneezed at times, coughed at others. I felt very dragged out. I wasn't very fast. The ladies wondered if it was allergies, but I've been down this road before. Sinus infection...and probably a cold. Yes, I'm miserable.

Ken took my out to lunch and brought me more medicine, but the afternoon was much the same. Then, when I got home, I found the power out in our neighborhood. Luckily, it didn't last long, maybe 45 minutes. But still, Ken was prepared for me, with dinner cooked and some honey-lemon tea made. I was glad the power came back quickly, because I had no time to waste...I needed to get Christmas packages ready for California!

Tuesday, December 20, 2016
I am so stuffy and sneezy. My beloved husband let me sleep in (8:30) and made me up a thermos of some more of the honey-lemon tea. As it was, I got a call during devotional from the library. One employee was sick, another was at the doctor. Could I come in for a few hours? The "party" luncheon was happening today and I'd planning on dropping in at 11:30 to bring my casserole and cookies anyway, so I just pushed up my timeline by about half an hour and went at it! I stayed until 2, having lunch with the ladies and participating in the ornament exchange. I got this cute one: The Cat-in-the-Hat reading.

Perfect! It will always remind me of working at the library.

I went home quickly (because I had to be back for my regular shift at 4) to get the packages ready to take to the post office. I was worried the post office would be really busy, but I got in and out in fifteen minutes. Five days away from Christmas? Kind of a relief!

I went back to the library, sniffled and coughed my way through five hours, then went home, finishing my tea. My bed is calling my name...

Wednesday, December 21, 2016
I feel better today. I'm still a little drippy and head-achy, but my nose isn't firing off sneeze volleys every few minutes and I sound nearly normal. I am a bit tired, but that's to be expected.

This morning I took Jonathan to JC Penney to get him some short-sleeved white shirts. I'd seen in a newspaper ad that they were on sale - buy one, get one for a penny. In fact, I saved more than I spent. That made me so happy that I went home...and took a nap. Totally guiltless.

Work meant still a light headache and nasal drippage, but I only had one "sonic" sneeze (my kids tell me I could take a window out with 'em) while I was back in the bookshelves. Still drinking my tea, thanks to Ken. The key to relief is rest and fluids. When I can get them.

There were only two of us working tonight in the library. I don't know why, the policy is three. Our cataloguer is missing. But, as quiet as it is, it wasn't a problem. We can - and did - handle it.

Thursday, December 22, 2016
MUCH better today. Besides, I have no time for napping. I've been asked to work all day tomorrow, so I need to get my grocery shopping done before I go to work today. If I wait until Friday evening, it would be too-crazy-close for Christmas.

It was bad enough. I forgot to stop at Atwood's (raw honey for my tea), and went to Walmart first. They were, of course, congested up to the eyeballs. Oh - and no eggnog. So that meant another stop, to Braum's and hope they hadn't sold out.

They didn't, but it was more expensive than at Walmart (better quality, too). Then I made my Atwood's run (rats! Forgot to buy some hay for the bunnies) for my raw honey. It's not cheap either, but we swear by it when we're sick.

It was another quiet night at work, but with the full compliment of three. Apparently the cataloguer had last night off. No one said anything or offered to replace her.

Friday, December 23, 2016
Front desk gal was off, tech gal and both cataloguers were off. The library director and her secretary were off. It was just the head librarian, another employee, and your's truly.

Super quiet day, too. We never got up to seventy people (yes, we count), and that counted the mailman and UPS guy. We did get a lot of phone calls and I had the pleasure of telling them that we would be closed tomorrow through MOnday.

Jonathan's passport came today! That was the one thing I was most worried about. We have to send a copy of it with a criminal background report from the police (very, very short!) to the church travel department so that they can get his VISA for Guatemala. They needed to receive it by the 18th of January, so we're well within our time - whew! Next big step is the temple. Good thing I saw the bishop at the temple and reminded him...we only have a little over a month left!

Saturday, December 24, 2016
Other than going to the post office (mail off paperwork to church travel) and taking Jonathan out to get his typhoid shot ($108 - ouch! That's what hurt!), I spent most of my day in the kitchen. Fudge, lasagna, cheesy bread and crepes (that's for tomorrow's breakfast).

It was a little depressing that evening though. Just Analiese and me sat down to eat.

Jonathan was working until 12:30 tomorrow morning and Ken was sick with a cold (his turn) and sleeping in the recliner. He ended up eating ramen soup. So Analiese and I packed up some food and went to Walgreens to give Jonathan his Christmas Eve dinner. Cuz I made the lasagna for him. It's his favorite.

We Skyped with the family in California tonight - well, those of us available. Analiese got some make-up from her Aunt Dee and cousin Amanda. Amanda had been so cute and clever, putting stickers on things and cards with instructions on how to use them. It was adorable. Analiese also got a cute new church outfit from her grandparents. My brother, Andy, also sent me something - a tablerunner from Guatemala - a friend at work gave it to him for me. It is gorgeous and every time I see it I will be thinking about my boy when he's there. I was touched to receive it.

Sunday, December 25, 2016
I woke up about fifteen minutes later than I intended, but since I hadn't set an alarm, that wasn't too bad. We had breakfast in good time (crepes with cream cheese filling and strawberry-banana topping)

and could open stockings before getting ready and leaving for church. The only thing to mar our holiday was Ken's lingering and Jonathan's now-here colds. Merry sick-mas!

We only had sacrament meeting today.

Analiese in her Christmas Sunday best.

Ken had been asked to narrate, and I thought he sounded good, not like he had a cold at all! But sitting by Jonathan, listening to the music, it hit me - next year my boy won't be here! I had a hard time keeping it together for the rest of the meeting. Good thing everything was cut short!

Our afternoon was peaceful - relaxing and opening gifts. Hey, we were all together on a Sunday, and that's a Christmas miracle on it's own. People at church commented on Ken's attendance with surprise...it's been a while.

I received an amarylis bulb from Ken, a pretty gratitude platter

Curious bunny examines platter box.

from my friend, Michele, a bath kit from Jonathan and an art kit from Analiese. Our new bishop gave Jonathan a set of scriptures in Spanish.

Analiese gets needed new pj bottoms.

Jonathan styling in his special coat for his mission.

Bunny slippers, of course! (Bunny not included)

Despite his face, it's a seriously cool journal.

 We have too many goodies than are good for an army of us - candy, cookies, bread, and pecan pie!  Tonight's dinner will be finger foods. Easy.

The weather on the Christmas Day was weird - first we had a warm wind from the south this morning with darkening skies later on. Early afternoon was a wind advisory - and it was a cold one! Then, we had a short, windy rainstorm. Analiese is right, Oklahoma weather IS bi-polar!

SEMESTER ENDING, WINTER APPROACHING

Monday, December 12, 2016
Another alarm error occurred this morning on my phone (my fault, actually) and it made me late for Seminary again. And on a Monday - that's the worst day to be late on because I'm so time crunched between Seminary and the library. Everything went okay except two of my students were missing. We have assessments this week - not a good time to be absent!


Lots of patrons found me to be chipper and happy this morning - surprising them. I didn't feel so chipper, but apparently I pulled it off. One patron raved over my display cases. That made me feel good!

I am prepping tonight for the Assessment Preview tomorrow. I'm going to have them work in pairs at stations while I sit back and watch them quiz each other. It's pretty easy for me. The prep for tomorrow will be even easier!

Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Analiese had EPIC testing at the library this morning, so I went over with her at 9:00 a.m. to let her teacher in. She was there for about three hours - pretty intense - but she came out smiling and felt she did well...even in math!


I left her there for those three hours because I had stuff  to do. First was a bank run (very important) and then a little Christmas shopping. I went home, washed some towels, paid some bills and then waited for her phone call to pick her up. As a reward for her hard work, Jonathan and I took her out to lunch at Taco Mayo - a TB alternative she likes.

Tonight at work, a fellow employee brought in a huge platter of all kinds of homemade cookies. I am such a cookie monster, so this was enormous temptation. Some, though, were really too cute to eat!

Wednesday, December 14, 2016
We had Assessments today in Seminary. It was a piece of cake for me, but wasn't to hard on the kids, either. They all passed! In fact, they did it well enough in time to set up in the gym for me for our family seminary breakfast tomorrow.

The rest of the morning and afternoon, was ME getting ready for the breakfast. I had some last-minute purchases, plus Jonathan went over to the church with me to finish the set-up. I also cooked two breakfast casseroles at home that I'll reheat at the church tomorrow morning.

They told me at the library that the police have caught the two individuals who have been breaking into businesses and churches - including ours. The names haven't been released yet, probably because one of them is a minor. But at least this craziness can stop!

Thursday, December 15, 2016
The breakfast went over without a hitch this morning. Well, except for one student and her family. She's really sick, poor thing. Everything turned out nicely - my casserole was good - and the "program" turned out well. I especially liked the bishop's comments about his experiences growing up and attending Seminary. Even he had a Seminary blanket! I had to laugh, because some of my students do, too. One of my students (my artist) brought me a gift. While I appreciated it - I love markers - I really loved the card she made me. She drew me some cute/funny cartoons and wrote the best, encouraging message. I always cherish her drawings, but this was extra special to me. I'll keep it forever.


Friday, December 16, 2016
Analiese's teacher from EPIC called first thing this morning. Apparently she's made a HUGE improvement in her math scores! Still not where she needs to be, but a significant improvement. He knows she's been struggling and working hard and thought she ought to know. This made her happy, as well as her mother!

The missionaries - just the elders - came to lunch today, not dinner. After calling me to inform me last night, my plans for the day completely changed. But I used what I had in the house and made a burrito casserole that everyone liked. We had a nice visit and I gave them a cocoa kit to help stave off the cold. They also showed us a Mormon channel video that moved me deeply, testifying of the prophets and servants of the Lord today.

I ended up doing my regular grocery shopping after taking Jonathan to Walgreens at four. I'm glad, though, that I took Analiese with me. I had woken this morning with the middle joint of my left thumb swollen and throbbing. I can hardly move it, which is excruciating anyway. I've taken Tylenol and prayed that my genetic predisposition to arthritis hasn't caught up to me. So Analiese was a big help to me by carrying things.

Tonight it was just the two of us, so we settled down with frozen pizza, made cookies, listened to Christmas carols on Pandora, and played with bunnies. Quite cozy.

Saturday, December 17, 2016
My thumb is still swollen and stiff and hurts to bend (so don't bend it, dummy!). But it isn't throbbing like yesterday, so that's an improvement.

Yesterday was a weirdly balmy 74 degrees, but the temperatures are dropping fast and they're predicting a low of 12 degrees at some point. Even for me, that's cold! They've (meaning the meteorologists) talked on and off about some snow, but I think we probably won't get any. So far, it's shaping up to be a dry winter. Fine with me. I don't like ice, to state it mildly.

Okay, so we got a fine, sandy type of snow. It was very light, for only about two hours.

White stuff in the cracks...that's snow.

The worst thing was a huge drop in temperature. The wind, in particular, makes it pretty brutal outside.

One of my seminary families came caroling to our house this evening. Of course, we had to bring out bunnies to reward them for their kindness. One of my students said he wants one...after petting PomPom. She is such a doll with those tiny ears and huge eyes.

Analiese did the lion's share of rolling and cutting sugar cookies tonight

because my thumb is still stiff and tender. But it was nice giving her the opportunity to learn and pass on a tradition that started with my mother. She loved it and we got a little silly as it got messy and we got more tired.

Flour-faced selfie!

Sunday, December 18, 2016
Bitterly cold. The weather app read 12 degrees, but feels like negative 1. The wind is really awful. I wore slipper socks - the height of fashion - on under my sandals for church. I don't have any closed-toe dress shoe. And my toes were grateful for it.

The ward missionaries made up a couple of gift baskets today with the video "Joy to the World" in it and other goodies for members to take to others and help spread the message of Christ. I thought immediately of my friend, Valerie, and her family. So after church we went to their farm, braving the dirt road (not enough precipitation to make it either muddy or slippery) to drop it off. If she didn't have a dog (though I love her corgi, Widget - he cracks me up) or if Analiese wasn't allergic (which would be even better) we could have stayed longer. She's one of my favorite people here and I love spending time with her.

After a visit from our home teachers, Analiese and I decorated our sugar cookies in an untraditional way that I discovered on Facebook. I thought they'd be cute to send out for Christmas treats. It's a gingerbread man cookie turned upside down and decorated to look like a reindeer's head.

So funny!

ON MY WATCH

Monday, December 5, 2016
It's become cold enough to see my breath this morning.

Fog on the field next to the church parking lot.

There's a pretty frost on the ground, lacing everything white.

An enormous flock of Canadian geese overhead as I left the church building.

I'm in a very cheery mood this morning, wanting to sing carols, smile at everyone and laugh a lot. My back's feeling much better and my anxiety's leveled off. Life is good.

This evening, Ken and Analiese put up the Christmas tree

(Jonathan got called into work) while I studied for Seminary and then put up the Nativity.

Ken had purchased a few holiday treats and we had music playing in the background. Very cozy. Very Christmas.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016
CRAZY DAY! I got to the church at 6:00 a.m. to find all the lights were out in the building. It was windy, so I thought that may have done something, so I went inside to check the breaker, etc.  Turned out, the back half of the church had power. I texted my students, telling them to come through the back and we'd meet in a room back there. I went back and forth, setting things up and moving things from our normal classroom to the back, when I saw the clerk's office. The door had been torn open

and a peek inside (I know, stupid) revealed glass and mayhem everywhere!

A new text to students...change of plans. Seminary is cancelled. Because I knew now I'd be stuck there...talking to the police and the bishop. My first call(s) were to the bishop and bishopric. Nobody was answering their phones! But I knew one of the student's dads had replied to my texts, so I called him and asked if he'd come to the church...if only so I didn't have to be there alone. He called the police for me and arrived just before they did.

I spent the whole time I would have in class, talking to the police, going over the building, etc. The bishop eventually made it over. Imagine having to deal with that as a new bishop! "Angel Cousin" Dennis came over as well. I had called Ken (waking him) to tell him I might be later and why and he called Dennis and asked him to go check on me (he lives close to the church).

I was only really nervous when I was alone, but was pumped up on adrenaline for a while until I hit my 9:00 a.m. chiropractic appointment. Then it all drained out and I wanted to sleep! But, I'd told the librarian I'd come in for a couple hours to work after my appointment while she went to the funeral.

I did get my nap...after the library, but then Ken woke me up saying I had to go to the police department and give them my fingerprints. Mainly to separate mine from any the perpetrator might have given. So I did that, picked up Jonathan from work, ate dinner and then went back for the rest of my shift at the library. Gee whiz, this is all so exhausting!

Wednesday, December 7, 2016
It's business as usual at Seminary. Though, one of the dads patrolled the hall during class. And the bishop came by afterwards to see how I was doing. I'm fine, I can't imagine the person(s) coming back. There wasn't anything to take before - as they found out - and there isn't anything now.

I made sugar cookie dough this afternoon. It needs to chill thoroughly so I made it today. Tomorrow I'll start shaping and baking cookies. They are for the 4H Rabbit Club's Christmas party on Friday. I even purchased a rabbit cookie cutter (back in April!). I thought the kids would get a kick out of it.\

A newspaper article in the Altus Times today has a picture of a police officer examining our clerk's window yesterday.

Apparently there's been a rash of burglaries at businesses and churches since the beginning of November. We were just one on a list. Lovely.

Thursday, December 8, 2016
I felt positively indolent this morning, shaping and baking sugar cookies as I watches "A Christmas Carol" on my laptop. It was well-timed; I finished the cookies around the same time I did the movie!

More laziness...I sat down IN FRONT OF THE TV (this is a luxury for me lately) and watched "White Christmas" while eating my lunch. This is a rare occasion, when I actually have time to sit down. I think I'm "trunky" (mission vocabulary) for Christmas break!

The library was super quiet, tonight. At first that made me antsy...and then it made me tired. Two men were here on our computers, pushing the boundaries of inappropriate material. I had to watch and keep track. Oh joy. Zero tolerance - from the library and me!

Friday, December 9, 2016
I was up at 4:30 a.m., out the door at 5:00 a.m. The kids and I headed to Lawton in the pre-dawn hours (and cold). First, it was so I could attend my 6:00 a.m. Seminary Inservice meeting in person at the Stake Center. I was glad I did so, too, because we were able to discuss some important issues I was having in my class and...there were actually some answers!  Also, one of the other teachers has a daughter who's recently returned from Quetzaltenango, Guatemala! She's going to text me her daughter's contact information later so Jonathan and she can talk. I guess her daughter really loved the country and her mission...didn't want to come home!

The rest of the morning was shopping - missionary, Christmas, Seminary - with a little sidetrack to the park to see their Christmas lights. So it was breakfast at Chick-Fil-A, then Sam's Club, Ross (lots of good stuff for Jonathan there) and Target. The kids came home exhausted; they aren't used to early mornings.

This afternoon was getting ready for the Rabbit Club Party. I had to gather all of my supplies - cookies, frosting, sprinkles, containers for take-home, knives, plastic table cloths, etc. I had had the brilliant idea (the one's Ken calls the one-timers, because it's only going to happen once) that I'd put colored frosting in some Wilton bottles and they could squirt it out to decorate cookies. The coming out part wasn't the hard part...it was the getting it in! What a mess! I never would have gotten it done on time without Ken and Jonathan's help.

The party was fun, as usual, with pizza and soda, and the cookies for the craft/dessert. I pulled out my phone to play Christmas music (cuz how's it a party without music?) and sat down and enjoyed myself talking to the adults. The kids adore doing the cookies and were excited about the rabbit ones!

I only had a handful of undecorated cookies left, though I still have dough at home in the refrigerator to make more!

Saturday, December 10, 2016
A day of play in Lawton yesterday means trying to catch up today in between working. I needed to go back to the church and make sure everything was cleaned up yesterday (they had a sub), do my menu for the week, and go grocery shopping. Yeah. It's frozen pizza for dinner tonight, folks!

I forgot to take my church keys with me, so the plan of doing that on my lunch break was a bust. I brought Analiese with me when I went back to work, though. Jonathan has work this afternoon and who knows when Ken will be off. With all the break-ins, etc., I don't feel super comfortable at the moment letting her be alone for too long.

The library was pretty quiet and slow, which meant I could do what I needed during my quiet time at the desk. We did have a party of five being weird, though. They came into the foyer, sat down on the benches - though someone sprawled out on the floor - and proceeded to argue among themselves. One guy even got on his phone and was chewing somebody out there! What was up with that? Warming themselves up - physically and emotionally - in the library? I was glad to see them go.

The fun thing I get to do at the library is help patrons find things. Today I helped a regular patron find a book on the Duke Lacrosse team scandal. Not certain that we had any books on it, I tried Amazon first for some book titles. What do you know? The second book on their list was on our shelves. He was so pleased I'd found it. I enjoyed seeing him happy and I felt like a regular sleuth. 

The ward Christmas party is tonight, but none of the Boltons are going to make it. Jonathan will be working and who knows how long Ken will be. He'll probably go home and sleep anyway, he has an early morning tomorrow, too. Analiese is with me in the library and, while we're done by 6:00, the ward party is actually from 4:00 to 7:00, to make time for those who want to participate in the city parade, which is at 7:00. We're not doing that, either. 4H doesn't have a float this year.

Sunday, December 11, 2016
The Box family visited our ward today. I got hugs from several of the kids - my, how they have grown! The twins are actually old enough to pass the sacrament! And, of course, I had to hug and talk with Irelia. She was so excited to hear about Jonathan's mission (of couse, it's Spanish-speaking!) and wept with me as I explained the bittersweet pride I have as I face/look forward to his leaving. I knew she'd understand!

After taking neighbors home from church and Jonathan to work, I went to tithing settlement. Alone. That was weird. Jonathan is meeting with the bishop next week, so that's no problem. But nothing in Ken's schedule worked with the bishop's schedule, so they said I could do it. Alone. I'm assuming the tithing is right; Ken is the one who does it online. It looked pretty straightforward to me on the printout they gave me. Hey, I'm doing the best I can here!

WHAT, ME STRESSED?

Monday, November 28, 2016
The library was so busy today! Our patron-used computers were always full up and people had so many questions and needs. I was back-and-forth a lot, showing people where to find books, etc.

On top of that craziness, I had to start putting up the December display cases. First, though, I bit the bullet and clean out the grit, dust, staples, bugs (yuck) and general debris that had accumulated in each one. I did my best to clean off the plexiglass shelving. You can't wash off scratches, though.

I did not get everything done. In fact, I got the wall done in the kid's section

and about half-way through the west display case. It's going to keep me busy this week, for sure!

Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Half of my students were absent today. One is coming close to that 75% cut off, but I know she struggles with health and sleep.

PomPom grunts. That funny little furry thing (Analiese calls her a furry potato!)

is a full-on pig grunter! I went to rub her jaw today, she moved her head so I'd rub the top instead...and grunted! It's so funny.

Part of the wrapping paper had fallen off of my west display case, so when I got to the library today, I had to add more duct tape to the back. Brick walls are tough to get stuff to stick to. But I finished the display - presents, ribbons, bows, books and tags with everyone's name from the library.Someone thought I should add white lights to it, but that might have been a little much. With all the foil paper and glittery stuff...it could be blinding!

Wednesday, November 30, 2016
We picked up Jonathan's custom-made shoes and orthotics today. He tried them on and raved how comfortable they were. I don't want him to wear them out before he gets to Guatemala, but I know he wants to try them out the regular shoes if he walks to Walgreens.

I got lots of compliments today on the west display case. I didn't really have much time to work on the east case, though. Evening work doesn't give me enough time for that. It may have to wait until Saturday.

My middle back on the right side has been really bothering me. No amount of stretching, blue goop (legitimate - you know what I mean) or home massage (basically Jonathan grinding his fist into the sore spot) have helped. I may have to break down and go to the doctor or chiropractor or at least get a therapeutic massage. Nothing so far - including Tylenol - seems to be working.

Thursday, December 1, 2016
Enough was enough. I had Ken (and Jonathan!) give me a blessing for my back. I'm worn out from the constant pain which, of course, keeps me from sleeping well.

I had to take Jonathan to work and decided to go down the road from Walgreens to a chiropractor there.

Peaceful view of the reservior from the chiropractor's

After an hour and a half,  I'd been poked, prodded, folded, crunched and ultra-sounded only to go home and ice my wounds. I haven't been to a chiropractor in too long and my back shouldn't be neglected like that. I'm to go back for another session this week.

Feeling better? A little. I've got a big stress knot in my back (even Ken can feel it). It's going to take time to work it all out. Plus, the chiropractor was concerned with all the tension I carry in my neck and shoulders. Like that was a surprise!

Friday, December 2, 2016
My artistic student, who was being rather clever in class, insists that I post this picture of her newest work for class in my blog. We were talking about the miracles of Jesus and I had four people (well, I ended up being one of the four) draw pictures of different miracles. Hers is the one in the upper right-hand corner. See if you can figure it out:

This has been a week when it seems that all fluffy, furry, feathery things want to get run over! To date, I've had run in front of me on the road:
4 cats (well, it was in my driveway)
2 squirrels (discussing nut accumulation tactics?)
1 cottontail rabbit (it swerved all over the road in front of me)
? birds (for some reason they like the road)

It was a birth certificate issue today for Jonathan. Orange County had only issued an abstract BC at his birth, but we need the full certified one for his passport! It took several calls and emails to Wendy and my Dad, but apparently he's going to Santa Ana on Monday for me to get a copy and mail it to us in OK. This is much faster than if I had to get a notarized form and mail it to OC myself. What a headache!

Saturday, December 3, 2016
I awoke to a wet morning. I had to slog through my soggy yard to get to work. It's dry at the library, but the newspapers waiting for me to get them outside weren't. Plus, I had to put the "wet floor" caution sign up. It's supposed to rain throughout the day and I don't want anyone slipping or falling!

I wanted to cry today when a sweet old man who's hard of hearing and has poor eyesight mentioned that not everyone was nice or patient with him. Why? What does it cost you to be kind?

Hey, I finished my east display case! It was work, but I think it came together nicely.

Not as flashy as the others, but still clever in it's own right. We'll see what the others think of it on Monday!

I went with my friend Valerie to see "Fantastic Beasts." Being with her is so much fun! We get along like gangbusters...maybe a little too much! Ha! She's as bad as me when it comes to making comments during a movie. We absolutely rolled with laughter during a scene that reminded us of certain relatives (who shall remain nameless) in our lives!

It was good medicine to my stressed week. Afterwards, we went to Braum's for ice cream and more laughter (her daughter and a friend were there, too). A little "me" time was just what the doctor ordered.

Sunday, December 4, 2016
The result of having a good time (a good, CLEAN time) last night, was being really tired in church today. But, we got to sing a lot of Christmas songs, which is - for me - absolutely essential this time of year!

Jonathan's friend, Amber, came to interview me as part of a school assignment about the Old Testament. I guess all my talk about Seminary put me in her mind. It was supposed to take only about 15-20 minutes, but lasted about an hour and a half as she learned about our faith. She enjoed herself immensely (like I didn't!), remarking on how much more we were than she'd previously thought (she said she didn't know much). I could tell she respect that. She even joined us in the prayer that ended our fast. I've always liked Amber - we both work at libraries and enjoy our senses of humor - but today I got to share the Spirt with her. That's very special.

The First Presidency Devotional is on now. I can't watch a re-run or later version, I just don't have time. Besides, for me, the Christmas season isn't really here without the Devotional. I need the choir music, the stories, the testimony and the Spirit that comes from it. Nope, not Christmas without it!