Where to Start?

Sacrament meeting was terrific, if cold.  Had our coldest night of the season last night (got down into the mid 20s F) and got to church to find that the heat wasn’t working.  By the time church was over two hours later, it was still very cold in the chapel, but at least Primary had warmed up (something strange, given that in the winter, the chapel tends to be warm while the primary area of the building is cold).  Anyway, church was just two hours today for us as it was our ward conference.  I’d forgotten how much I enjoy ward conference.  The sacrament meeting portion was shorter than it has been in past years, mostly I think because our Stake President has his right foot in a cast for four months.  I don’t know the whole story, but yeah – that would really be the pits I think.  Anyway, ward conference was terrific, especially Sacrament meeting. The Spirit was wonderfully strong 🙂  Primary was a little chaotic, but at least I didn’t have to prepare a lesson. I like the weeks that I have off from preparing a lesson.  And next week my mom’s going to teach my class.  That reminds me – I need to send an email to the sister in the ward that’s going to sub for me as ward chorister with the songs for next week.

After church, my mom and I went home, but about 1:25, we went over to our home teacher’s house (they live like five minutes from our house) for a Priesthood blessing. We’d have done it after church today, but he’s in the Stake Presidency and thus was more than a little busy after church.  So I got a Priesthood blessing.  Can I just say how much I love the comforting power of the Priesthood?  If I haven’t mentioned it before, surgery had me a little…nervous I guess. I know it’s totally in Heavenly Father’s hands and that whatever happens is meant to happen and I can get through it with His help. But the Priesthood blessing really helped to put my mind at ease some more.    I know that no matter what happens, it will all be okay in the end because that’s what Heavenly Father promised me.

I’m also feeling better now about the transition at work.  As my boss has mentioned in recent days, it’s a new adventure and a new opportunity to learn more about the industry and the company.  The one deal breaker for me would have been 2nd shift.  But my Heavenly Father was looking out for me and I’m on the first shift team so I’m going to do my part and go into it with a good attitude.  If I don’t like it, I don’t like it but at least I gave it my best shot.  All in all, my prayers have been answered.  I’ve spent the last few weeks with my stomach in knots and my mind going at 200 miles an hour and just generally anxious. But I’ve been praying for peace and the last Fast Sunday we had (with our ward conference today, Fast Sunday was the last Sunday in September) I fasted for peace.  I had thought about praying for something more specific, perhaps towards one of my problems in particular before I realized that peace would serve me well no matter what happened and would certainly help me feel better about everything and sure enough it has.  Things are starting to settle down in my life.  There are still problems and issues in my life – there always will be – but they don’t (or maybe just aren’t anymore) seem all-consuming.

I need to make a list of things I want to have on hand so I don’t have to go out for them after surgery.  There are a few things I know I’ll want/need and I also know I’m not going anywhere on Wednesday after surgery and I’d like it if our stop at the pharmacy was as quick as possible.  Plus, our high on Thursday is 38 degrees F (WAAAAYYY below normal!)  If that’s not a good excuse to stay inside, I don’t know what is. Our average high is still supposed to be in the mid 60’s with lows in the mid 40’s.  Instead, we had an arctic blast this weekend with flurries yesterday.  I *think* we saw 40 degrees for a high yesterday.  Of course, another 6 weeks from now and it’s not uncommon for us to get an inch of snow here and there.  Most of our snow falls in January and February and March.  Here’s hoping we don’t have a repeat of our last two years (2 of the top 3 record for seasonal snowfall here are from the last two winters with the record being two years ago).  I’d really appreciate not having a repeat of that.  I’d bet we don’t, given that it’s usually La Nina that wreaks havoc on us with snowfall, rather than El Nino (which is what we’ve got now).  Anyway, time for me to head off toward getting ready for bed so that  the light actually goes off at 10.  No sense in being tired for the first of only two days I work this week! 

If anyone missed the clips of me singing, the link’s in the previous entry!

"Life is measured not by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."