amazing community!

Today is Stake Conference (a multiple congregation meeting) but it was canceled. Everyone is out in the neighborhood cleaning up debris. Men & women with trailers & trucks are filling them up. Trees that weren't cleaned up yesterday are being cleaned up today. They came & took away our busted up fence & we picked up all the garbage etc. from the yard.

There is a 70% chance of snow & 100% chance of

more wind

nope not kiddin'

This time it shouldn't be as bad as last time- just gust up to 70 MPH.

Shoot- that's just baby stuff!

The kids are hoping & praying for school to be canceled again!

I'm just emailing the missionary & trying to get the laundry caught up in case the power goes out again. Priorities people!

Plus... I'm getting packages ready to send out for Christmas. Nearly all of our family live in different states. If I can get them all put together I'm headed to the post office first thing in the morning. Just think- with a wind storm swirling around-- there shouldn't be any lines?

 I know, I'm really thinking ahead! Heck, I'm brilliant!

random

I have been trying to finish up some things around here & haven't had the chance to REally blog or read/comment on blogs. Sometimes life just takes over.

But I want to document a few things.

I took my scouts to the police station this week for a tour & then to get cookies at a bakery. They were really good. I found my old scout shirt from when I was Jack's den mother... 2000. It doesn't fit- like really doesn't fit. I'm talking 6 inches of open space. It's a scout jacket. I'm debating on keeping it as incentive to get rid of this extra weight or just getting a new shirt?

My word of the year necklace broke on Wednesday. Do you think that's a bad sign?

I have started posts on my word of the year over & over. I don't know why it's hard to document for me? I guess I am thinking it has to be this big deal- maybe because it is a big deal to me. But- my word, no surprise to those who know me (I had the same word last year) is CREATE. I have so much to say about this, why is it so hard to blog about?

Last week we fingerprinted & made plaster aparis imprints of our feet. some of the boys wanted to do it with shoes on/some shoes off. It was pretty cold & I was glad I brought wipes! Funny, secretly I would want to make mine with my shoe off too, so I let them.

My big project- okay, I have been doing Reflections on the council level- is almost done. The eight schools I have been working with are picking up their entries & awards today. Only one has come so far & the time frame I gave them to come is up in 20 minutes.... ? I. don't. think. this. will. ever. end. I love kids, I love the arts, I love kids & the arts & think it is so important for them. Thus I get myself into these things.

Yesterday was creative thursday. We celebrated Kristy's birthday & took her to lunch. Really great day. But, my camera battery was dead. Really not cool.

It is raining & I am so happy. I LOVE a rainy day.

Except for..... rain + dogs = mud.

Mud + the painted floor= mess. I hate the mess.

Yesterday Bronco peed on the carpet right in front of the door to go out.

Today he peed on the couch.

Animal cruelty is now a felony in Utah.

It's a good thing.

unexpected breakdown

We are going on a little trip soon- trying to get ready- I stopped at a church distribution store (store that sells Mormon stuff like scriptures, pictures, etc.- remember I live in Utah.) Anyhow- I picked out the things I needed then headed to the check out counter. In came a set of missionaries. Hmm- today is October 14th- Brian's 11 month mark.

I started to cry.

I am totally fine, I don't know what came over me, I just kind of lost it. I was holding back the tears with all my might when one of the missionaries brought his purchases up to the counter next to mine. I asked where he was from- Southern California. Then through my tears told him that my son is in Chile. He said he understood the tears, he had just emailed his mom this morning. So I asked if I could pay for his purchases - like a blubbering idiot- I think I said something else too. He was kind of stunned & didn't know what to say. He told me his mom had written that she signed up at church to feed the missionaries dinner that week. I told him that living where I live there are so many people who want to feed the missionaries, we never get the chance & to consider my purchase as good as dinner.

Which brings me to my point- Have you had the chance to do some random act of kindness lately? Like something way our of the ordinary? I tell you what- nothing feels better. I am so glad I ran into them today. (even though I still can't stop crying??? what in the world?) It was just a great way to celebrate the missionaries 11th month out.

If you have- blog about it!! Or leave a comment here- I would love to hear.

Today I was driving out on a very snowy morning to take Hailey to school early for a test she missed while she was sick. I noticed my neighbor out shoveling her sidewalk. She had also shoveled all the way around the block where the guy behind her never shovels. (It's where all the kids have to walk on their way to school - just across the street.) I thought it was so kind of her ... I am going to surprise her with a Hot Carmel Apple Cider from Starbucks!

I went through the drive thru behind 3 other cars. When I got up to pay the worker at the window told me the lady 3 cars in front of me had paid for all the cars in line behind her! I just couldn't believe it. I asked if she had paid for the car behind me & she said no that car wasn't here then. So guess what? I paid for hers! What a way to start the morning.

Hey don't think my life is perfect. Next I went to the 6th grade party but couldn't find the stuff I had bought that I needed to take & had to go to the store & buy more @##%*!! Yesterday I stayed home & cleaned ALL day then went to bed early with a cold coming on & a headache. I woke up this morning & the whole house is dirty again....aaaaaaaaaargh!

And... my dishwasher broke last night.

I am so glad that lady paid for my cider, it made my day, & I really needed that.

I Finally Did It

I sent the rest of my packages today. It is the busiest day of the year for the post office. I had a ton of errands to do so I went to the post office first. The parking lot was packed so I decided to come back after my other errands. I went to the pharmacy, grocery store, bank, then back to the post office. Worse than before. Luckily I had thought ahead while at the grocery store & bought six chocolate santas. I was so excited when I went in the door & there were a record 25 people in line (I've never seen more than 5.) I waited & visited with the folks in line then when it was my turn I did it... I gave the workers all a chocolate Santa & wished them a Merry Christmas. Lelly & Kristi have challenged people to do "random acts of kindness." I finally did it. I'm a friendly person, wave & smile, try to say nice things to people but this was big for me. It felt great to do something for all the workers at the post office. Like I've said before I really love our post office. Thanks for the challenge. I feel like I made someone's day- and that made my day.

*will you take the challenge to do a random act of kindness?