Collecting Injustices

My daughter and I had a conversation recently about collecting injustices. It had been the topic of a lesson in Relief Society. I thought about all the injustices that I have collected over the years and felt shame. Only because I have been told through scripture to forgive. It isn't easy. It probably is the hardest thing for me to do. But I am making a conscious effort to recognize my grudge, pray for the desire to forgive and to give up my collection of injustices. Sometimes it is easy, other times not so much. It is also hard when the person you've carried the grudge against also has one against you and they are still collecting.

Recently, I attended the preliminary trial of a victim of domestic violence. Now, I can't give too many details about the case because I certainly don't want to identify the victim. She had every reason to hate her husband, her in-laws and even some of her children. But what I witnessed that day in court caused a lump as large as a bowling ball to come to my throat. I tried with every bit of control I had to not cry as I witnessed the loving manner that this woman hugged, kissed, and encouraged those around her. I wish that I could tell you about the heinous act of violence that she had endured. The multiple surgeries that she has had and has yet to have, the scars that will be a forever reminder of what her spouse had done to her. All I can say is that I am indeed humbled and hopefully forever changed.

Lingerie dryer

Okay, I have found another great use for the Tupperware onion holder. Lingerie drying rack! Simply drape your laundered brassiere cups over the rounded plastic mounds. Voila!!! Perfect reshaping.

Eat with reckless abandon

Kevin came to my office to take me to lunch since he had the day off. We decided to go to our favorite spot, American Burger. They have a great variety of Greek and American food. I had been having some difficulties at work over a two week period that left me a bit, hmmm, let's say despondent. Kevin had just retrieved our food when I noticed 3 boys about 14 or 15 years old enter the fast food joint. They came in with several adults so I thought they were with their parents. They made their order. Kevin and I were deep in conversation and gyros when I noticed one of the boys get up to get their order. On the tray I noticed two orders of pita bread which consists of three pitas cut in half on each order. I thought "How odd" and began to watch the boys. They joyfully dipped their pitas in french fry dip and chomped them down. One boy's cheeks were bulging with pita bread. They ate with reckless abandon. I began smiling as I remembered times when my friends and I pulled our chump change out of our pockets and put it together to get fries at Scotty's. Oh the joy. My daughter told me it was Chicken tacos for her with her sister at the Grub box. It made my day. Actually, my week. Oh the joys of teenhood.

Halloween 2009

This Halloween, I sewed 4 clown costumes for my grandchildren. It was great fun. We had a Halloween dinner planned with mummy dogs, brain stew, and witches fingers. Jessica's family and Keith's family were planning on coming to Granny's house for food, fun and trick or treating. Keith, however, got detained on the farm and so his family stayed home with him for the holiday. I understood but they were missed. I wanted to have pictures of all the kids in their costumes.

Simon, Nelson-the Ninja Clown and Thomas-Albert Einstein

Simon and I practiced before we went out. I went into the pantry. He knocked on the door and said "Trick or Treat" with encouragement from his mother. I opened the door and put candy in his bucket. He got the idea. So, he marched right up to the people's homes, knocked waited until the door opened and said his trick or treat in his most adorable two year old voice and scored big time. His brothers only got one treat. Simon got multiple treats each time.

I found this quote on an old friend's facebook and decided I wanted to share.

May you always have enough...happiness to keep you sweet, trials to keep you strong, sorrows to keep you human, hope to keep you happy, failure to keep you humble, success to make you eager, friends to give you comfort, wealth to meet your needs, enthusiasm to look for tomorrow, faith to banish depression, determination to make each day better than the day before.

Love to all

Fun on the Farm

It was great fun on the farm with my granddarlings and my camera. I am very amateurish but I had a great time.

Sewing lesson

While Keith, Kevin and Stephen were on the mountain hunting, I gave Lynda and Courtney a sewing lesson. They were eager and willing students and by the end of the day they had new pajamas. It was fun to teach my granddaughters.