I held off until the day of Thanksgiving to decorate the house (I almost started the week before that). If you don't get it done early enough, there just isn't any point to working that hard for such a little amount of time to enjoy your fruits. My family made me wait because Jared was insistent that Thanksgiving was given it's proper respect and space. BTW, That's my new green couch that was the product of compromise.
I've been going thru a bit of a trial of faith for a few weeks now and it came to a perfect crescendo this past fast Sunday. I'm a bit of a whimp when it comes to fasting, but I was in serious need of guidance so I decided to get serious. I display attributes of one who has hypoglycemia and so I usually like to skip dinner and breakfast so that I can eat lunch before going to church so that I don't feel like stabbing people while I'm there. Starting your fast on Saturday night is pretty tricky business though and this time a work party was in my way. So fasting while churching was what I was left to do. The bible tells us that we aren't supposed to display any negative emotions about fasting so wearing a don't talk to me sign was out of the question.
Surprisingly enough when you really need to fast, it is easier. I ended up getting some great advice that I will share with you - because everyone is going to need it at one point or another in their life. It's this; the world is filled with people that make you want to lose your religion.....most of which are in the church, but you can't let them because you know what's at stake. If I've learned anything from studying the Doctrine and Covenants it's that very principle. These times and the people we share them with will try hard to define us and we just have to have faith and trust in the plan. Sometimes all you can do is say "I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ" over and over and over until you believe it and know it.
What did I come home to after my soul cleansing experience? A leaking and broken water heater. I took it in stride because why wouldn't it be broken on a day like that. I mean seriously. I go camping all the time, we can totally live without hot water. It is winter and the water is a bit more frigid than I'm willing to venture into at 5am in the morning so Monday I just skipped the shower. I asked the seminary kids to pray that I would be able to get it repaired quickly and braced myself for the ride.....and the coming bill. Guess what? I called the company that installed my last water heater when the house was built. I knew I was in for trouble and expense because it's 75 gallon and they don't carry them at the local hardware store. The company called around town and found 2 - 1 of which was badly damaged, but the other one we could have if I was ready to fork over the large sum of cash......and the best news.....he could be there by 11:30am. Hallelujah. I was stunned that they were coming out so quickly. Prayer answered, thanks to the faith of my students.
"There are 2 ways to live; you can live as if nothing is a miracle; you can live as if everything is a miracle" ~ Albert Einstein. Guess which way I live?
There's my new little beauty all installed and re-piped -they were at my house for 4 hours, but I had hot water by the end of the day. Money just slipped through my fingers like hot water thru a leaky tank. It could have been so much worse. My neighbors house was ruined when hers went and ended up having to move out to get all new flooring and drywall because it flooded most of her main level.
Next we have the work party. One of the gals had a baby a few weeks ago so Nate and I took turns trying to steal her for our Christmas present. The most hilarious thing Nate did was take a selfie. I think that was his first one ever. It was totally cracking me up. For the permeant record. I hate. Let me say this again. I hate white elephant gift exchanges. I really do. They are a total waste of money and I don't feel like spending money on wasteful things when I'm already spending tons during Christmas. I always buy nice gifts for these things because I don't want to come with the thing no one wants. Why is that considered fun? I think my "elf" glasses got passed around more than anything else....except for the mason jar mugs I had scored until they kept getting stolen from me and then I would steal them back and then I walked home with something that can only be used as a re-gift for the next time I'm sucked into one of these things. But, I had a blast hanging out with everyone and playing a cut throat game of "left, right, center." I was totally gambling for mint patties.
Every Christmas the schools try to kill parents. It started with curriculum night and all the arts take turns performing in the cafeteria. A space that is way too small to house the parents of all the students in choir, band, and orchestra. But, it was Ethan's turn to feel loved and supported so I dove into the mosh pit and found a place to sit. By the time show choir got it's turn most everyone had left so it wasn't too terrible. Ethan joined show choir which is following in his sister's footsteps. He is totally adorable. Little Mr Showman.
Last Monday we made gingerbread houses. Everyone was mocking my style of putting my house together until mine was the only one left standing. Poor Emma's fell apart so many times that she ended up taking a butter knife to it in frustration. I was able to get everyone else's to stay standing so they could decorate them. I think Jordyn and Nate spent the most time decorating theirs.
Friday was the last day of seminary for the semester and our students were super sly by sending a card around during class that they signed for us. We had the missionaries in talking about section 75, which is getting called to preach the gospel. One of the parents also brought in a truck load of food for us so there was lots going on making it easy to sneak a card around. I think it's funny how the card, when opened, looks like the 10 commandments. heehee. The mother that brought the food must also know that Kim and I teach most mornings in our slippers because we each got a pair. Our secrets are getting out. I think skirts and slippers are a fashion statement. I was wearing shoes when it was warmer weather, but my little toes have been cold.
Isn't it Murphy's law that when you don't need something, you get it right away and when you do, it never comes. Well it was that way with the 2 chairs I got to go with the new couch. When they said it would be at least 3 weeks for the chairs, I was grateful because I had nowhere to put them with the location of the tree this year. Wouldn't you know, they got them in early. I put them off for nearly a week but on Friday it was time to pick them up. I managed to get one of them in the living room, but I soon discovered that it wasn't the chair I ordered. The one I ordered had shorter stubbier legs and it was more modern shaped-like the couch. This one looked like a granny chair. I like traditional, but this was stretching even for me. What surprised me the most is how in love the rest of the family was with them. Jared said they looked like we were getting ready to invite the queen over for tea and Emma was ready to conduct a sherlock interview. So I guess we are keeping the stuffy looking chairs. One of them is in the family room and it is the chair that gets fought over. Emma had set up camp in it yesterday with her laptop doing school work.
This past Saturday Nate wanted to take Emma and me to the range to try out several handguns. He wants to sell our old ones and get new ones and he needed us to pick. I was not feeling very good at all. I had to sit in a fold up chair and hope that I didn't toss my cookies and only get up long enough to take a couple of shots to make the hubs happy and then sit back down. My first gun is a little too big for me, so I'm getting something easier to handle. I am actually pretty excited about a course we are going to do as a family in January. Interesting factoid. I'm right handed and left eye dominant....and I'm a really good shot. Emma was impressive with her gun handling. She went to the weekend long course for her birthday and she's good. Really good. The way she drops a clip and checks the chamber and then loads. Impressive.
On the way home from the range I informed Nate that I would not being going out to lunch with the family and instead crawling into bed and wishing for death. Man did I get sick. I felt like if anyone touched me by bones would turn to ash. Luckily I only came close to throwing up- I absolutely refuse to. I lived on gatorade for 2 days. You know I was sick and near dying because I was supposed to be working a shift at the temple with Nate and I couldn't go. I wasn't sure which was hurting more, being sick or not going to the temple. It started raining with snow sometime that evening and I awoke to a note from Jordyn. She didn't want me to miss the snow, but she didn't want to wake me up. The mountains were covered in white Sunday morning.
Speaking of Sunday morning. While everyone was at church I decided to watch "17 Miracles" while wondering if food would ever sound appetizing again. I love that movie and I bawled like a baby and was grateful to know that I would be better in a couple of days and not going thru that. I especially love Eli Savage. He is my hero and he exemplifies how to not let people make you want lose your religion. He was a humble and obedient man and I admire him greatly.
Because I was laid up with the flu for a couple of days and Jordyn was getting impatient for Buddy the elf to start up his pranks, I enlisted the help of Emma and Jared....well, Emma mostly. She does such a great job. Below is the one from this morning. Seriously cracks me up. How cute is that? Silly elf.
Next post. How the school is trying to kill me.....with choir and band concerts....and basketball.
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