VACATION

I can almost hear Clark Griswold: “Why aren't we flying? Because getting there is half the fun. You know that.”

We are getting ready for our annual trek to Montana. We leave next week and I haven’t even begun to think about what to pack for our 2 weeks there. I’ve checked the forecast and it seems that they are having cooler than normal temperatures  and the next 10 day forecast shows 8 of those days to be raining. Fun times.

I’m giving myself the pep-talk that this is going to be a great time. I do this every time because I’m prone to imagine all the horrors of a 20 plus hour drive in a truck with 2 adults and 4 kids and then cramming 2 families (4 adults and 7 kids) into a house that only has 2 bedrooms available for the guests. This year our drive up will be 1 young man lighter since Jacob bought himself a one-way airline ticket to Montana. He and his new cousin Brittany flew up on Monday the 13th. I’ve heard from my mother-in-law about him, and he is a “blessing” to her. She loves how he helps happily. I’m very proud of him right now.

I will be taking my crochet hooks and lots of yarn to keep busy on the drive. Also, my earplugs will be close at hand so I can block some of the radio sounds & road noise when I’m trying to sleep. But I’m trying hard to not think about that yet….

“Hey, hey, easy kids. Everybody in the car. Boat leaves in two minutes... or perhaps you don't want to see the second largest ball of twine on the face of the earth, which is only four short hours away?”

Thoughts of Gratitude

A few weeks ago, we had a lesson in Relief Society about adversity. The sisters were invited to contribute with their own thoughts and ideas. I had talked with my new Relief Society President eariler in the week and she was aware of the various struggles Ron and I had dealt with in the past, so as the lesson progressed, I noticed she kept looking at me and I suspected she wanted me to contribute to the lesson also. But I couldn't do it.

The sisters who contributed to our lesson needed to share their struggles and their pain was real for them. I felt that anything I could add might seem to take away from their experiences. I spent a full week thinking about that lesson and what it means to me. I don't feel the need to share my struggles because I feel like I have been blessed because of them (or in spite of them). I wouldn't want to experience those trials again, but I have a deeper feeling of gratitude for all areas of my life.

Planning our move to Washington was difficult because people we knew offered negative views and half-hearted good luck wishes. Except for my family. So to my sisters and father: I love you. I am blessed to be part of your family. I am grateful to have felt your support in our family move. I love that my sisters took time to come over to see me the night before the move. I am thankful that our life-long friendship exists through good and bad. I love that Crissie gave me yarn and a knowledge base and I am continuing with what you taught me. I am very grateful to think of my family with fondness and love as I sit with my crochet project each evening. I am thankful for the FREINDSHIP of this family.

I was given a scripture to share that may have been meant for the end portion of that Relief Society meeting (unfortunately we ran out of time); D&C 121, verse 7-9 "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;... And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high:..."  And Heaven would be nothing without our families beside us.

Happy New Year

The new year arrived without any fanfare at my house. I switched the TV over from House Hunters long enough to see the feed from Times Square count down its last 90 seconds. I have much to be grateful for this past year and I’m hopeful that 2011 will bring our family all the blessings we stand in need of.