A Hug and A Kiss

I have been feeling very 'beat up' the past few weeks. Strange new experiences have left me feeling a little like I feel off my bike and have scraped up knees and elbows. Yesterday, I really felt like I wanted a hug and a kiss from my Heavenly Father to let me know that the pain will subside and I will have joyous days again. All day I waited for the hug and kiss. It came. Just like it always does. He sent an angel to talk with me. She soothed me and let me know that I wasn't alone. She made me smile and my heart lightened up. The lift in my spirits was what I needed to get inspiration to teach my children. Heavenly Father is there. I know that. Sometimes I feel like the outside of me is weak and weary, but my heart always knows. My prayers were answered once again. We may be living in depressing times, but the colors and sounds and smells of the world are glorious. He is coming. I can watch.

We attended Steve's mission reunion. He served with two mission presidents. This reunion was for the VanWagnens. President VanWagnen passed away a few years ago, but Sister V. was there.

Steve was so excited to see his old companions and friends. I won't label them because one of my favorite people from his reunion doesn't want me publishing their picture. This way I won't get in trouble.

Steve' very favorite companion came from Maryland. We haven't seen them for 25 years. It was great. He is a super person also. As we were looking over the mission records, we saw the name of my new principal. I asked if she was related the the missionary on the list. She was! Husband. Something new for me to talk t0 her about!

Riding Along in an Automobile

Great! Now that song is in my head. This past Saturday, we got a much needed play date with our friends Mike and Lesley. We enjoyed a beautiful autumn ride and listened to conference. It was glorious.

Yes we listened. I took a picture of the radio to prove that we listened. I guess I should have done a video...the picture doesn't really prove anything!

We ate lunch at beautiful Monte Cristo campground, an odd place, it closed all the bathrooms in the open campgrounds and closed the campgrounds by the bathrooms.

Lesley had a horrifying incident at the campground...but that is her story to tell.

I am grateful for good friends that value what I value. I am grateful for change and variety. Brilliant colors from the trees as they prepare their bedtime rituals.

It was glorious.

Flowers

I was going to add a picture of some flowers...but you will just have to imagine. I am grateful for flowers. What a great gift Heavenly Father gave us. He didn't have to make them beautiful, but He did. I have been feeling my usual Fall downer. I felt like Steve wasn't listening or trying to help me and I was a little ornery with him. The next morning as I was reading to the kindergartners, in walks a beautiful bouquet of red roses with Superman behind them. It was so neat. There were a bunch of women in the library at the time. I think some of them got a little misty eyed. I finished with the class and got a wonderful hug from Steve. I have loved those flowers. They smell beautiful and the rich red color with delicate white Baby's Breath is treating my eyes. My sweetheart is so thoughtful. I think he is heading to perfection way ahead of me.
Then on Saturday night, President Uchdorf used a tiny beautiful flower to help remind me of my Heavenly Father's love and encouragement. I am certainly going to plant forget Me Nots in my yard. I want to remember what the five petals of the Forget Me Not stand for, the things that I am not supposed to forget.
That:
I need to be patient with myself.
The difference between good sacrifice and foolish sacrifice
Be happy now
They why of the gospel
The Lord loves me.
I making a reminder card to put in my Positive Book with more details. I needed that talk. I feel like Heavenly Father spoke to me and to all the women in my life that are pulling me along to the Celestial Kingdom.

Rising To New Heights

I got to ride in a hot air balloon! Sure it only went up about 600 feet, but I loved it. I was starting to get a little nervous peering over the edge. The pilot asked if I was nervous. I said, "No". He then made the balloon do a quick dive. I screamed. But it was so fun. Maybe I should have done the zip drive at Girl's Camp.

The balloon begins to inflate

Mrs. Magalei and Chief inside the inflating balloon.


It looks so neat inside. this isn't even the hot air yet.



Here comes the hot air. It stands up next and the basket is ready to take you to new heights.

The white speck in the basket is me!

I was kind of crouching down after the balloon dipped. It was so fun. I wonder what it would be like to take a true ride. To soar over the landscape. I think it would be fun....but I might want a parachute just in case!

Working At the Bibliothek

I am starting to feel like the library job is mine. I can check in and check out, add books to the catalog, print barcodes and spine labels, identify the AR levels and I even know where some of the books belong.

Hard at work

Dori helps me out. I love having a friend visiting me.



The 'kiva'. We are going to have a contest to rename this area. I would prefer The Galley or the Colleseum

My reading chair

Check in-Check Out

I cataloged, labeled and shelved these books!

This is the dream job. It just keeps getting better every day!

I work with fantastic people . I am meeting more fantastic people all the time. I love librarians!!

Treasure Morning

I have to record this beautiful gift I received today. I started out on my bike ride at 6:45 AM. The sky was so beautiful, I had to ride slowly to watch the magic show. Just over the mountains there were beautiful Cumulus clouds. They were puffy and shaped just right for the glowing red that was painting them. I could see the power of the rising sun far below the other side of the mountain. It was gorgeous. I then looked westward and saw many more clouds, all colored with the same paintbrush. I wished a camera would have recorded what my eyes were seeing, but it was one of those pictures that you have to take with your memory. I also wished I could have sat and watched the sky for a half hour. As I rode, I watched the brilliance of the promised sun lighting the clouds. The western clouds were starting to shed their raindrops and the light revealed golden showers. It was so incredible against the red color of the clouds. I wish I could think of the right hue to describe the color....maybe there isn't a name for it yet. As I watched the sky, I was thrilled to see a rainbow forming in the long column of one of the clouds. Golden rain and a rainbow. The air itself was golden. I looked around me and saw our beautiful world. This is no accident. I felt close to my Heavenly Father and offered a prayer of gratitude. I asked Him what He wanted me to do today. I felt an answer to love all those around me. I am going to try very hard to do that. I watched the sky until it became blue and gray and felt as ordinary as ever. But I had a treasure this morning.