The Sweetest Sounds

Isn't it amazing the power of music? No matter the genre you are listening to, music has the awesome power of changing your mood and disposition instantly according to what kind of music you are listening to. What's even more amazing is the affect it has on your memory. You listen to a certain song and instantly, it takes you back to a certain person or place in time that you might have otherwise forgotten had you not listened to the song. Not only do you recall memories, but it also moves you to feel all sorts of emotions. I love just laying on the couch at night in the dark listening to some of my favorite artists--especially ones that remind me of Stephen since I can't fall asleep while he's gone.

I also love listening to music from growing up taking me back to the good old days in the 90's on the farm hanging out upstairs in my bedroom with Becky. I thought it was so cool when I got my first set of blank tapes to record my favorite songs off the radio; that way I could listen to my own music on my walkman whenever I went outside to do chores or play. Anywho, I'm just grateful for my ears and the ability to hear and listen.

Kids Say the Darndest Things

I teach the three and four year old Sunbeams in primary, and today my lesson was on prayer. I have four kids with very excited and vibrant personalities. So to start the lesson off we said a prayer, then I asked the class, "Since we are here on Earth and Heavenly Father is in heaven, how do we talk to Heavenly Father?" One boy says, " Well, we could write a letter and mail it to Him." Then my only girl says, "We could write a letter and throw it in the air so that it reaches outer space and Jesus will catch it! And then He will read it." Another boy answered and said (in response to the girl), "No that wouldn't work, we'd have to take the letter and tie it to a balloon so it would fly up into the clouds, and then Jesus would catch it and read it."

So I told the kids that those were all very creative ideas, but all we have to do is pray. When we pray we are speaking to our Father in Heaven--He always knows exactly what we need and what we want. During our prayers we thank Him for the blessings we have and we can also ask Him for things we need. The girl pipes up, "So Jesus tells Santa Claus what we want for Christmas? So that's how it works! I told Jesus I wanted a bike and He must have told Santa because I got a bike for Christmas!" One boys adds, "Yeah, all you have to do is tell Jesus what you want and you get it just like Santa Claus!"

I have to admit I couldn't stop laughing as they were going on and on about how Jesus conspires with Santa what to get the kids for Christmas each year. This was such a fun lesson to teach the kids; if I learned anything from giving this lesson it was that the kids really have faith that if they pray and ask Heavenly Father for things they will get them.

Crafting!

These flowers turned out SO cute!! I wasn't sure at first if I liked them, but the more I stare at them the more I love them. I made the blue set first (my favorite) with blue plastic Q-tips and then tried the violet set with regular paper Q-tips to see if the paper part would soak up any of the color. Both ways worked great!

Restless

It's somewhat late; I should've been in bed two hours ago since I have to get up early for work, and I always regret staying up past my bedtime when I have to get up early the next morning. But tonight is just one of those nights where I can't sleep no matter what I do. I miss my husband and all I can do is lay in bed sobbing wishing he was laying next to me keeping me warm. You'd think I'd be used to it by now seeing how he only has two and half months left, but no matter how long he's been gone or how close it is to his homecoming it's just as hard.

Some nights while I'm watching TV, out of nowhere I find tears running down my face. I've had a lot of people tell me that I've been handling this whole thing really well, but what can I do but live each day like it's a normal day? I have to put on a brave face whenever I go out, but when I'm in the privacy of my home that all disappears. Some days are better than others. I'm just doing what I have to do; I don't think my days would change even when Stephen comes home, but it would be a whole heck of a lot easier and more enjoyable. What's incredible is that some nights when we talk on the phone we talk for hours, and other nights we're only on the phone for five minutes. What's up with that? Being forced to carry a conversation over the phone instead of being in the presence of each others company is a little hard--frustrating even-- having to deal with mumbling from both ends, the cutting in and out because of bad reception, and sometimes there's just nothing to talk about so we call just to say I love you and good night. Sometimes that's all I need.

I sure do admire and adore him, though, for going through six months of training--doing his best to provide a good life for our family. Stephen got a 96% (or maybe it was a 98%?)on his last test! I love hearing what he does every day in his classes and what a funny man he is with his training buddies. Everyone seems to love him (who wouldn't?) He makes friends very easily; that's my Stephen! I miss you, good night.

Orchids That Last a Lifetime

 

Orchid blossoms most often last for six to eight weeks in bloom. I have clients at work who have blooming plants (usually orchids) and it is my job to replace them when ever I see that the blossoms are spent.

A few days ago I was at a client's house who has four orchids around her living room and kitchen area. I noticed that they were going to need to be replaced, so I brought four  new orchids with me to the house. Well she was home when I walked in and asked if some of the new orchids were for the ones in her living room. I replied with a yes, and she told me she didn't want them replaced. She got all excited and told me how amazed she was at how long they had been in bloom for and she wanted to see how much farther they would last. She got them for her birthday last July and they were "still blooming"! She went on for about a minute and half at how cool it was that they have lasted this long. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I already replaced those orchids six weeks earlier.