The Candyland Perspective

I recently read a story written by Jeff Olsen called "I Knew Their Hearts."   It's an autobiographical account of his experiences surrounding a horrifying car crash that killed his wife & youngest son, while leaving him barely alive.  He writes about slipping out and back into this life, and his story is rather touching and important.  Without telling his story for him, I will just concentrate on two words of advice and comfort from his story that touched me the most:  choose joy. Sometimes things aren't easy.  Whether it's dealing with a boss who's literally losing her mind, figuring out how to make ends meet when pieces are short, or how to heal a broken heart and/or body, these things aren't easy, but they are doable.  I've done pretty well in life with not comparing myself to others too much.  I understand that my weaknesses up against someone else's strengths is just silly.  I know that each person's challenge is unique to that perso...

Again.  I'm at it again.  I do truly enjoy Draw Something.  No masterpieces here, just simple fun. No accounting for taste.  I've still never seen the movie. This could have been infinitely better. He's strong to the finish. I left his topper off on accident. Notice that he only barely has a tear, and that's just because she had a better car than him. {chirp chirp} footie pj's ewww Thanks Mr. Narwhal. dangerous moneybags l'artist clearly for my beloved :) Winner Winner Chicken Dinner no chicken dinner here cock-a-doodle-doo eyeing a kitten lame attempt at a man his hair floats she glows contemplating her romeo

And that means Thanksgiving is upon us.  I love Thanksgiving.  I don't necessarily love Thanksgiving dinner though.  I don't necessarily love football watching, cleaning up an obscenely messy kitchen, or all the busyness in the grocery store.  What I do love, however, is the crispness in the air, the gorgeous colorful leaves, the devotion to gratitude... even if for just one day for some folks, and that I get the day off of work to spend time with people I love.  My love for those things certainly outweighs my unlove for the other aspects of the Thanksgiving tradition. Kevin (Beloved's youngest son) will be coming home from Central Michigan University for Thanksgiving.  He'll be home late tomorrow afternoon!  I'm excited to see how he's changed in just a few short months since he left for school.  Will he have gotten the freshman (though he's really a junior) fifteen?  Slimmed out a bit?  Gosh I hope he hasn't taken on the attitu...

{this morning's entry into my gratitude journal received from relief society on sunday} Even though the election last night didn't go the way I had hoped & prayed that it would, I am VERY grateful that Mitt Romney ran.  He has opened so many doors of opportunity when it comes to missionary work.  I am grateful for my faith in God and that I know He is mindful of His children.  I am grateful for the Book of Mormon, as its lessons & stories do truly give me better perspective for life now.  And I am grateful for my dearly beloved husband Dan.  He is the best. ♥♥♥♥♥

I voted today in the fifth general election for which I was of age to vote.  I vote in the mid-terms too.  I feel very good about being able to vote, and I take it very seriously. When I arrived to the polling place this morning, the line was a bit outside the door, and it was a chilly morning.  Dearly Beloved had already voted by the time I arrived, so he warned me what I was in for.  He arrived at 5:55 a.m. (doors opened at 6), and he left at 6:56 a.m.  I arrived at 7:15 a.m. and left at 8:40 a.m. When I had inched my way up into the school, I could see that there was a poll worker giving out sample ballots to everyone so they'd know who was on the ballot today.  I saw folks in front of me looking over the names, some intently, some as if it was just another flyer handed out to them on the street.  But mostly, none of them seemed to have ever seen these names before, had ever read about the two different Commonwealth amendments...

I purposefully did *not* eat breakfast this morning (oh I know, I know) so that I could make a deliciously rotten lunch choice today. I drive past this sign EVERY single day after work.  Every month there is something rather tempting posted on it too.  However, October is Pumpkin Pie Blizzard month!  Oh the cool creaminess of it all! Clearly, I just had to get one.  It will be my one and only Pumpkin Pie Blizzard this year.  It was good.  They're always better in memory than in real life though.  Regardless, it was still quite lovely and I'll just look forward to the next one coming in about a year.

(not that there are only ten... or that these are the ten best reasons either)  1)  He stopped on a busy road at night in the pouring rain to help a stranger get her huge SUV out of the road.  He pushed and pushed 'til it was safe in a parking lot.  He was a drowned rat & she was able to comfortably wait for her friend to bring her some gas.  2)  He has The Most Adorable voice when he's mimicking.  It's scratchy, a bit high-pitched, and cute.  3)  He actually called Kramer "son" when K was in BIG trouble.  4)  He knows that I have a favorite candy bar, and will get one for me when he sees it's needed.  5)  He is a true Christian gentleman.  6)  He always kisses me goodnight or goodbye.  7)  He prays for our families & friends.  8)  He set up Pandora channels just for me... without me even knowing it.  9)  He checks in on me after a sad day, just to make sure...