Week of February 9 - 15, 2015

Monday - Things accomplished today:
Ran and exercised
Woke up Dee and made him breakfast

Vacuumed the whole house
Scrubbed a bathroom (the other one was scrubbed Saturday night)
Finally coordinated my visiting teaching companion and the two sisters we visit and we have two appointments this week.
Texted back and forth with Cameo...Kaylee was home sick with a stomach bug and fever
Picked up pictures I ordered
Went to post office and sent off Valentines to out of state grandkids
Made a cute little book for Kaylee to enjoy next week on Chinese New Year called "Red Dragon, Red Dragon What Do You See" I printed and colored the pages and then laminated.
Loaded more stuff in the car for Deseret Industries.
Kayty finished her birthday cake...

Dee picked up his motor mount bracket thingy but still needs more stuff to get that motor on the frame.
Dee washed off the pool filters and brushed the pool, sprayed weed killer on more yard weeds, worked in the garden, ate tomatoes

We looked for a bullet loader that was not where he put it and talked to Morgan for a bit on the phone.
I made it to Ezra in the Old Testament (I am reading the four Standard Works this year. Old Testament first. So far, not my favorite but I am enduring)

Tuesday - Ran and exercised before I got ready, woke up Dee, and headed to the temple. It was a really nice session, though I kinda wish the older folks in attendance would smile. I am assuming there are groups from Sun City that seem just a bit on the grumpy side.

Note to self: be a happy person...always...no matter how old you get.

Dad had meetings galore (he found out his new boss of a few weeks is no longer his new boss and he will have yet another new boss...this new thing is craziness!), worked, after work he painted Brother Humphrey's Food Truck (just the background so his wife, Peggy, can do her artistic magic with it)

mowed the lawn, unreserved family names from Family Search due to a family member's complaint, loaded some bullets for Doran to try out, he and Ethan put in for an elk hunt.

Kayty went to her endocrinologist appointment and worked.

After arriving home, I cleaned, vacuumed, weeded the lower courtyard, made an awesome lunch salad for Dee, made pretty fabulous chicken breasts and sautéed collard greens for Dee, took the trash down the road, worked on next weeks extras for Kaylee (we are celebrating President's Day and Chinese New Year next week), had an awesome phone visit with Nathan as he fixed his poor dented truck that some kind ward members pulled out of the ravine for him, labeled bullets Dee loaded, packed up a few things for Morgan and gave him a hug as he left and prepared for the temple early the next morning.

Wednesday - Our it was a day full of "stuff", sandwiched between temple sessions. I made the 6 am session...only 5 sisters and 19 brethren. It was wonderful to do work for family members who have passed on. They can now make the choice to take advantage of the ordinances performed in their behalf.

I cleaned up, went to pick up my visiting teaching companion, found out she was not home, went and visited one sister on my own, composed the visiting teaching letter to the by mail only sister I visit. I cleaned, dusted, laundered, picked up key limes, prepared and started dehydrating oregano, made sauce for our tortelini, ran to Party City to try to locate Chinese New Year stickers (none), and helped around the house.

When I arrived home from the temple, Dee was on the phone with his new boss, who asked him many questions and was trying to discern what his job is...a common dilemma in this new assignment. He measured Kayty's bed to make a new one, talked to Nate on the phone (he replaced his broken headlight), picked and packaged produce, and asked if anyone was interested in extra tomatoes. Our friend/neighbor Julie B was going to stop by. We meanwhile discovered a notice from the City of Phoenix that they were leaving our water on for one more day due to delinquent payments. I freaked out totally. Turns out, our new mailman does not deliver any mail to 4807 W Happy Valley Road, even when it has our name on it. Three months. (I know that sounds freaky but I just pay the bills when they come and don't necessarily notice) Dee has to complain to the postmaster tomorrow, and also explain to Phoenix what happened. I did pay the bill asap and signed up for email bills from now on. Dee's final nasty note to WalMart resulted in their FINALLY refunding all the bogus charge from November. NEVER again am I going to do business with WalMart.com!

After Julie and Mike B left, we headed to the temple together (which is a rarity) and finished out day in a session there. The nicest thing was that as we entered, Dee found a young couple that was going to perform baptismal ordinances and was happy to do the ones he had. After our session, there were still many, many youth in the baptistry...there had been 75 there that night. 75 is a lot for the Mesa Temple...way huge for ours! The temple workers just stayed, until very very late, to make sure every youth had an opportunity.

Thursday - Ran this morning. First the temple was dark.

Then it was light.

Nicest rest place ever.

I exercised, woke Dee up and made him breakfast before he left for a meeting.

After he returned, he spent time on the phone, first with City of Phoenix Water Department, to determine what had happened. Yes, our bills had been returned to them as "undeliverable"...funny since we have had bills delivered to the same address for 32 years. No water turned off, and finally the correct address on the water bill, after years of begging. Then, he called the postmaster to discern why our letter carrier did this. The result of 2 new letter carriers on 2 different routes and a clerk not realizing, again after 32 years of receiving mail. All got worked out! Finally.

I dusted, vacuumed and mopped big time today. I also found a HUGE tomato in Dee's garden...nearly two pounds. I took down my Valentine's Day stuff...no use waiting till Saturday night. While I was cleaning, I went to unplug the vacuum and whacked my head good on the wall. I spent awhile resting after that.

Dee and his friend Joe worked on his panel truck doors for awhile. Tacos for dinner. Quick run to the post office, Michael's, Harbor Freight and WalMart ended the day.

Friday - I left earlier than usual, so my wait for the temple lights to come on was longer. When I got back running, I was colder and it took a bit to warm back up. Exercising, wake up and breakfast and some clean up followed before I got ready and headed to my final visiting teaching appointment. We had a great visit...the first time we all three were there together. The only challenge was talking as her cleaning lady vacuumed. It was great.

Dee went to his regular meetings and I did laundry and managed to get a month's worth of photos put in the 2014 album. I even put many pages back twice when the binder fell off the shelf and some fell out.

Grrrr

It made that published photo book look even more enticing.

Dee hurried off to the temple to complete a few initiatory work and then he returned and ate my awesome Texas Two Step Chicken and did some machining work in the garage while Nate and I texted back and forth about him finally locating Juanita in Idaho, with an upper floor in her home the size of our entire house.

Wouldn't you know...his long lost mother is wealthy too.

Kayty had a good day at work and contacted some Bachelorette Show guy...not sure who he was but she was doggone happy.

Saturday - Dee called me in at 3:30 am. He said Kayty was not right. I checked and she said she was fine. I decided to check back later.

45 minutes later, I heard a noise and went back. Her legs were cold and clammy. I turned on the light, said, "Kayty, you are low" and proceeded to get soda. She repeatedly said, 'No, I am not low!" and got a bit mad, so I asked if I could check her. I got the meter and worked hard to get blood. When I finally got enough and read the meter, it said "38". She was extremely low. By the time I did all that, she was in seizure and I was frantically trying to get her to swallow the soda. I called for Dee and he helped hold her up until I got 2 cans of sprite down her and she was starting to come around. She then ate tootsies to bring it up. After tests of 110. 100. 84. and then 124, I let her fall back asleep.

I am so very very thankful for the Spirit, and for the Lord being so mindful of Kayty and her life. I always fall to my knees in prayer and thank the Lord for one more help.

Needless to say, I couldn't get back to sleep and was getting ready to go run, when Dee came out. Between is back pain (he hurt his back yesterday in the chicken coop, while bending over and walking) and not being able to get back to sleep, so he rode his bike and I ran, though I am way slower than a bike goes. It was his first time to enjoy the temple rest break and now he knows why I love stopping there.

Home, a little cleaning, ready and going to a few yard sales (I was looking for Dr. Seuss books...only found one...and not a very popular one. ) After we got home, he sat with ice on his back and I gave him his Valentine Card. We never made too much of Valentines Day. He was always working...disc jockeying either a wedding or a school dance or party. All our extra money went to getting stuff for the kids to give to their classmates, their teachers, and for us to get them a little something. Nothing left for dinner, etc. after that, and I have never been too much of a flower fan.

We worked inside and outside. He picked a ton of tomatoes.

I chopped and froze some of the older ones to make sauce on a week off.

I invited him to empty my jeep with me at Deseret Industries and then I suggested lunch at his favorite Chinese place. I am not much of a fan, but he enjoyed it.

A few stops and we were home, busy on the rest of the day.

We headed to Costco to buy chicken food, an external hard drive for him for work and he got flowers for his mom, which we delivered on the way home. We enjoyed visiting with Dorrie. She said she enjoyed attending Sam's baptism in Queen Creek earlier.

I was sad that we weren't even invited.

Dee went to see Curtis' garden, and there was a discussion that went way too long with Curtis and we hurriedly went home, got ready and headed to our Stake Conference Meeting.

The meeting was different. It was on councils and there were demonstration and open discussion. It didn't really pertain to us, but we stayed and stopped for chicken at Albertsons on the way home. It is Dad's favorite too.

Sunday - Sunday is sleep in day, even if we had to be at our building for an internet broadcast of Stake Conference at 10 am. Usually there is only one ward in our building when a broadcast occurs, but something must have gotten mixed up when both wards were there. Not an empty seat in the place and many were out of town for the three day weekend.

It was a wonderful session. Four speakers each were assigned the topic of times when they were ministered to or did the ministering themselves. Four delightful and wonderful people with the same topic, but very different talks. The Mission President of the Phoenix Mission and his wife gave beautiful talks as well. Our patriarch, Kent Mecham, gave great instruction on making ourselves worthy and ready to receive personal revelation. President Page spoke about knowing what road we are on and how we are getting there, and about setting goals and having a family mission statement. President Martin went over the book of Enos in the Book of Mormon and taught us so much about the importance of a father's teaching, of prayer, of inspiration, and of concern for our fellow man.

Dee missed much of the meeting due to his back. He started there, but had to leave to get some ibuprofen. He was back for the last 15 minutes or so. It was nice seeing how some of our old ward friends had children who had grown up so much in just a little over a year.

We snacked, Dee iced his back and did some scripture study.

We picked up Morgan and went to Dorrie's for a post Valentine's Day dinner. Meatloaf, potatoes and cheese, cauliflower with cheese sauce, heart beets, salad, and bread, with brownies and ice cream for dessert.

We played outside. 

Do not be alarmed. There were firefighters just around the corner.

We took a walk to wear off all that yumminess.

 All had a great time. Weather was beautiful and it was a nice day to just enjoy.

We took Morgan home. We were thankful for his knowledge of the laws regarding controlled substances and gardening, and hope his advise was acknowledged.

Kayty came home and we had a quiet evening. Nate called and talked about his Valentine's Day for Jessica, about Lily trying to steal his biscuit, and talked to Dad about reloading. Dee talked to Sharynn on the phone and she helped him do more genealogy.

Week of February 2 - 8, 2015

Things often happen AFTER I publish, so Sunday night, we had a great call from Nate, talking about engineering and machining. He is really pumped about college. Jessica was very busy doing homework, and Lily was doing her best to be the center of attention. Dad spent time on the phone with Kathy Hayes trying to figure out his genealogy. Kayty had a great time at Ethan and Cameos eating and watching the Super Bowl.

Monday - Today was full of NICEs.

I had a NICE jog by the temple before I got Morgan up early for work, and then Dad up early to take him, which gave me a NICE chance to get the whole house vacuumed, the bathroom scrubbed, and ready for my day.

I got to pick up a NICE little granddaughter, who was all ready for her day at Grammy's.

We went to our ward park day, and I just totally enjoyed visiting with the NICE-est younger sisters in the ward. I don't think I have ever done that and it was the BEST!

When Kaylee wanted her bottle and I said that mommy said she drank out of her sippy cup all weekend and she emphasized that she wanted a bottle, and then rubbed my cheek with her hand and said, "Grammy NICE".

Kaylee was so NICE when she had to have two breathing treatments for her bronchitis. She was soooo cooperative.

We had a NICE day, gluing hearts and trying new matching games with shapes.

She took a NICE little nap and we had such a NICE time playing in the sand. She just LOVED the sand today!!!

After Ethan picked Kaylee up, I was able to run to Costco and get the NICE (but I cannot eat it...sweets!) chocolate birthday cake for Kayty.

Dee picked some NICE tomatoes in the garden and is enjoying them. Kaylee picked a NICE carrot and enjoyed it, and I got some NICE spinach for her salad later this week.

Kayty had a NICE evening at Glendale Community College Choir tonight. Morgan had a NICE first day at work and said it's the easiest job he has ever had.

Tuesday -

Happy Birthday, Kayty!

Today started with exercising, waking up Morgan and Dee talking him to work. Dad might be a bit grouchy about this arrangement. I remind him of long-suffering.

Kaylee's day went well. We played indoors most of the morning and worked on some valentine counting activities. She loved putting the shiny red hearts in the bottle and dumping them out. We also made cherries from play dough and put them on a cupcake play dough mat.

She did stamping, ate heart shaped peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, woke Kayty up with a happy birthday song, did two great breathing treatments, took a good nap and we played in the sand and fed chickens until Daddy came.

Kayty spent her birthday at Wildlife World Zoo and had a great time. She shared LOTS of pictures of her and her animal friends.

Dad got his fenders for his truck painted....finally. He made the 6 pm temple session.

I made an absolutely awesome spaghetti dinner that everyone enjoyed. Then, Kayty's favorite chocolate death birthday cake and a Happy Birthday song!

Wednesday - I just didn't feel like I should jog, so I exercised and got everyone going to get Morgan to work. Another reminder of long-suffering was included.

Dee had MANY meetings so he was in and out and in and out all day. I went to get Kaylee and we had a good morning: yogurt for breakfast, Curious George, some activities with candy hearts (last time she didn't think they were any good and spit them out. I thought I had scored and so this time, I thought she would sort according to color, etc. Nothing doing! This time, they tasted good and she can't ever figure out why Grammy tries to play with food!) We went to story time at the library and she actually had a good time! She even stayed to the end and got her hand stamp ( she  usually avoids going up with kids and getting the hand stamp of the letter of the day. )Today was S and so, of course, the stamp was a snake. Ugh! She was so doggone proud of that snake! She couldn't wait to show Papa. (she had to wait until after her nap. I told you he had many meetings!) Her breathing treatments went well and we had fun outdoors after her nap.

While she slept, I made taco salad for dinner and the guys enjoyed that while Kaylee and I played. Ethan and Kaylee left and I started cleaning up dinner, doing laundry, baked some cookies for Kaylee to decorate tomorrow (no rolled heart cookies...these were drop cookies from a mix and they came out uber tiny!), vacuuming while Dee spent the evening at the temple. Kayty had a long 12 hour day at work and was beat when she came home...ate dinner and off to her room.

Thursday - Since Cameo was off work to prepare for their Vegas trip, I took Morgan to work after my run and awesome rest at the temple...beautiful dark sky with stars and the moon nearly behind the spire. I left all Kaylee's stuff out since Cameo was going to leave her with me for a little while.
I did stop at WalMart to get another rug for the playroom floor. Now that the wood flooring that has stood there in the corner for two years will not be used...I am hoping to sell it...I gotta have that yucky cement with the paint stains covered up. So, I got a smaller rug. It looked good after I did some rearranging, and I decided I need two rugs.

I did some chores and waited for Kaylee to come. Unfortunately, Cam couldn't find her paperwork for the lab tests she needed and ran out of time to bring Kaylee by. So, someone might discover her cookies and the frosting I had ready for her to cookie decorate. I cleaned up and washed her things and packed up the playroom for a week.

Dad and I went to get Morgan at work, and then couldn't find him, so we shopped at Asiana Market and returned home. Nate called and talked to Dad as I got dinner ready, and discovered Morgan had tried to call...after we were already on the way...and say he didn't need a ride home.

Hawaiian Chicken dinner was enjoyed by Dad and Kayty and she brought home some Filibertos Chips and salsa for dad...Yep, miracles happen every day

Friday - Morgan stayed at a friend's house, so I could get up, exercise, grab some sale items at Safeway's Five Dollar Friday, and et ready to go to the temple. It was a wonderful session! I headed to the post office to get a box to mail Nate's meds to him. (Cigna is just determined that Pocatello Idaho is in Phoenix!) and scored a few items at a yard sale on the way home. Dad also did some yard sale shopping on his way home from his morning meeting. I changed, got the package ready, and did some rearranging in the sewing room and my hut, getting rid of a LOT of things. Deseret Industries is gonna LOVE me!

Dad headed to a meeting and I headed to the post office to drop that box in the mail. I did some work around the house and after Dad's last meeting, he asked what I wanted to do...and I suggested the temple to make some forever families. It was the one thing we had not as yet participated in at the Phoenix Temple. We were able to assist with John and Kerri Wood's family ordinances, and they helped us. Dee had included photos of the family members we were performing ordinances for. I was just so touched to know, or to have least done much of the work for them. They are real people and it was amazing. Such a joyous afternoon joining families for eternity.

I made dinner, Dee worked in the yard, we got a ton of key limes squeezed, Kayty came home and ate. I received some cute pics of Kaylee in Vegas having such fun. Some of the Wilkins were having tummy troubles and we hoped it would not spread.

Saturday - I woke up early and jogged to the temple. I did get a chance to just sit and enjoy as people were busily arriving. Exercise, cleaning, laundry, a few yard sales, and home where Dad and Morgan (yes, Morgan was dropped off sometime after we got home from yard sales) pruned back the grapevines and worked in the yard while I dusted, vacuumed, and cleaned. Dee made some yummy salsa from his tomatoes and we headed over the Ben and Danielle Wilkins' house to celebrate their temple sealing earlier. Lots of people I didn't know or couldn't get to, but Dad had fun and I made sure the walls were held up. It was awesome to see how many boys there were that looked EXACTLY like Adam from the back...literally made my heart jump thinking that he was there! After we got home, Dad worked on his motor mounts for his truck and Morgan cleaned out...or started to clean out the shed.

Nate shared pics of an off-roading incident that left his truck stuck. I texted Jessica that Tater-tot Rice is going to be born with a full head of grey hair from his/her Daddy's antics. 

Morgan headed out to Kyle's and Kayty spent the night with her friend from work, Par. 

Sunday - Dee was super stuffy nosed and woke me up when he got up to blow his nose. I might have been less that sweet, since I do try to stay quiet when he is sleeping and this is my one day to sleep in. I did finally get back to sleep and after a late wake up, I worked on ordering pics for the completion of the 2014 photo album and read my scriptures. Kaylee came by for a quick visit before we went to church. She talked about baby Sam and Grace.

Church was great. It was Scout Sunday and the meeting was devoted to the importance of scouting. Brother Dibb emphasized that scouting is the ONLY outside church program that is supported by the church, and that a prophet supports scouting. (His grandfather IS our prophet at this time). His talk was wonderful, full of great memories of his scouting experiences and how scouting teaches youth to be better men, better leaders, better fathers, better missionaries. All of our young men got up and did a presentation sharing the scout oath and how it applies to priesthood and missionary responsibilities. We have a great group of young men...about 20 were participating. The rest of my day was spent in the nursery, substituting for someone who could not be there. I stayed after for choir and then home for a Chinese dinner Dee had prepared. He went home teaching, talked to Nathan (truck is still stuck) and tried to do some genealogy, while I worked on photos and talked to Sharynn.

Week of January 26 - February 1, 2015

Monday - My busy day started with a jog by the temple. The spire was dark...doggone neighbors. they say it wakes them. I didn't see more than two lights on during my entire 3 mile run. Ugh.
Anyway, I was lamenting the unlit spire, turned the corner to stand in front of the temple...and it was lit!

I missed it! (Face it folks, I am old and there aren't too many thrills left in my life!)

After arriving home, I laundered, cleaned, vacuumed, scrubbed, weeded, trimmed, dehydrated (basil), harvested (key limes), made eggs for breakfast, a pretty awesome Caprise salad for lunch and was on the way to making hot and sour soup and fried rice for dinner...

When the phone rang. It was a sweet hi on the other end. My boys sound so much alike on the phone, that I thought it was Nathan and said something about falling through the ice. It was Doran (no wonder he seemed a bit confused at what I was saying). Amber was at the hospital in terrible pain, possibly gall bladder. I finished dinner, cleaned up, packed, and then headed down to their house.

Drove past the Cardinals stadium where the Super Bowl with be played on Sunday. It was lit up and there was so much going on! Crazy.

I got to Doran's, walked down the street to Callie's house to get the kids, walked back and searched for the extra key, and finally got in.

Kooper played, Kelsie made a snack, I did a few dishes, Kooper removed every single sandwich bag from the box, I shoved them back. It was nearly bedtime for Kelsie when Amber came in. There were no gall bladder problems and her pain was better.

So thankful!!!

I headed home in a drizzling rain, and the guys were watching some very old John Wayne movie, so I headed to bed.

Tuesday - Another early run this morning. This time, I made sure I didn't take my eyes off that spire.

And

I saw it turn on. Not nearly as dramatic as I had imagined, but still great.

Got home, squeezed umpteen key limes, made an awesome breakfast, cleaned, made a bank deposit, did a little shopping at WalMart, forgot that Nano was coming over....

oops...

Sorry mom...and thank you Scott for the kindly reminder.

Haystacks for dinner, Dee and Morgan went to a ward members house to do some repairs, our home teachers came and that ended the day.

Wednesday - I did some exercises and got ready to make the 6 am temple session. Nicest way to start the day! then home to clean, do laundry

Thursday- I exercised, jogged, and got ready for another first of the day temple session. I hurried home, changed, did a load of laundry and then left to meet Dorrie. We checked out a new store...a restaurant supply but open to the public kind of store on the order of Smart and Final. It was great and Dee and I are going there some time.  Home again to clean while Kayty and Morgan watched some Monkey movie...Planet of the Apes. I cooked, Dee went to a late afternoon temple session when rain again delayed his truck fender painting, and I went over to help with two other sisters to clean a house for someone whose husband has been very ill.

Friday - This day started pretty typically, though rain falling eliminated outdoor running. I exercised, ran to the grocery store, woke Dee up...and Kayty up. Started cleaning when my visiting teachers cancelled their visit. Nano came by for a nice visit. Morgan and Dad got into a discussion where it was shared with me the many failings I have as a parent: the unfairness of situations and how I did not treat equally everyone. I have learned from the inspiration I receive from going to the temple that raised voices and contention are never the Lord's way, so I remained peaceful and calm, while being torn to bits inside.

Just to let you all know: I never meant to make mistakes in raising you. We came from two non member upbringings and little training, so we tried out best, and as we recognized we were making an error, we tried to correct. We did not wake up and decide to ruin your lives. We just did our best, repented for our mistakes, learned from the Lord's patient guidance, and loved you. While I could not be equal, I tried to be fair. I tried to let you develop talents. I tried to be supportive in your endeavors. I didn't mean to make you labor while others were sitting inside watching tv. I really didn't. Most often, we were just in a difficult situation and we were doing our best to just get through it. This really isn't helping, so just know, we really were trying to do our best. That's it.

Though I felt like getting in a car and going to an unknown location never to be found, I cleaned, and cooked, stacked logs, shared the Spanish rice making method with Nathan, and read my scriptures and prayed.

And...

Received the most wonderful text hug via Gracie!

Saturday - I woke, took a short jog, got ready and headed to the temple for the first session. What a glorious way to begin a day! It was cool and moist and cloudy outside: my favorite kind of day! After getting home, Dee ran some errands and I got ready ...and then he got ready for our monthly stake eight year old baptism. Two beautiful and very excited little girls made the choice to be baptized. Talia Belle and Bella. I love seeing eight year olds so excited about being baptized! Talia told me that she could hardly sleep the night before! And, as Dee conducted the meeting, he shared that this day, January 31st was the 40th anniversary of his baptism when he was 17 years old.

We waded through Winco (everyone apparently eats at Super Bowl time as well), and I made Dee some of his favorite clam chowder, in a sour dough bread bowl (purchased). Oh, the smell brought back so many wonderful memories of Monterey Pier and that yummy clam chowder! I also made chicken stroganoff for Morgan and Kayty to eat.

I vacuumed, cleaned and laundered the baptismal clothing, Dee worked in the yard and garden. We ran errands to return the clothing (and pick up another baptismal suit the missionaries had left from a later baptism), get some bread, and home.


Sunday - Sunday...my day of rest...or so I thought. Yes, I did sleep in, and woke up to some rare and beautiful fog.

I did take a pic...but it's just too much work to get it on here. I don't take too many pics anymore. My cell phone pics dont send to my email and, really, who wants to see boring pics of me working. Not much happens that is very exciting here.

Dad and Morgan discussed situations and, of course, again, every unfairness, mistake, error, or wrong we had ever done as parents was shared. Quiet tones did prevail, but Morgan left...

We attended a wonderful Fast and Testimony meeting at church, and had great lessons the rest of the day. I came home, since choir was cancelled, to an invite from Cameo to come over for dinner. Normally, I would have...but with days and days of this stuff, I am emotionally spent and I was not good company for anyone. Dad called and had Morgan with him...
--> They came home and we made Chinese and I ate salad.

In relief Society, we discussed prayer, and praying always. I have always found that to be a "no Brainer" for I truly have always relied on prayer, before any discussion with my kids, before decisions that I made. I looked to the resources we had available: local leaders, other parents that we felt good about and admired, and prayer. Praying always has been a total part of my life. Now that I attend the temple more often, I always have a prayer in the Celestial Room, for guidance to do what the Lord would have me do, and to discern what HE wants and not what I want. Parenting is longsuffering...Literally, my heart aches today, and I only want to do what will assist Heavenly FAther in His work.

Not easy...
Not logical...
Not even explainable.

His Will...not mine. I perhaps was not so good at discerning that when my kids were little, but as I did more and more, it became clearer and clearer. I have been emotionally beaten over and over this week, though today, I am just more resigned to it, rather than even upset by it.

I did my best then. I am trying even harder to do my best now.

That's it.