Lost and Found

Not long ago I noticed that my wedding band had broken in half.  I wore it out!  What a great time to get my diamond reset, I thought.  So we visited a jeweler that my son-in-law recommended.  He had some nice options.  I selected a thick white gold band which he said he could set my diamond in.  I was excited.  We picked it up several weeks later and I've worn it ever since.  But on Thursday, as I was washing up for the day, I happened to look at my ring and the diamond, complete with prongs, was missing!  Just a little indention in the band remained where it had been.  I had been home all day but could not imagine where that diamond could have gone.  It could have been anywhere in the house or outside.  I said a little prayer that somehow I would find it.  Then I felt something hard under my toes.  I looked down and there it was!  It felt like a sweet blessing from the Lord.  I'm sure He didn't care whether or not I had a diamond but I surely did and He honored my wish.  I'm grateful!

Layne tells me often to slow down.  I seem to find myself running from one thing to another most of the time.  I can't explain why I do it.  There seems to be a voice inside of me that presses me to be productive every minute.  Yesterday I planted some lavender plants from a neighbor and, as I worked outside, the warmth and beauty of the day seduced me.  I found myself sitting in the little bench on the side of our yard and just, you know, relaxing!  A gentle breeze blew through the thinning trees and the sun shone down upon us, the trees and me, in a magical way.  I sat there for some time, taking in all the fall beauty.  The cats soon joined me.  Cherry, the black and white one (and my personal favorite) sat beside me and received my strokes and tummy scratches with happy purrs.  There we sat in total pleasure for some time.  Layne decided to mow the lawn and he rode by, enjoying his riding machine, in the sunshine.  I felt totally and absolutely at peace.

I suppose that there is something to be said for sitting still.  Absolutely still.  

Cat Cherry, sitting beside me in the yard.

Layne mowing.

Fall at work.

Our perfect fall day, looking over the back yard.

The other cat, Tangie, staying close by my bench,
but not too close by.

Projects and Such

We attended our first Addiction Recovery meeting last Sunday night.  I was in the ladies meeting; Layne attended the guys.  There is lots of structure to the meeting.  Not sure how I feel about that.  It seemed to me that the real sharing happened after the formal meeting was over.  But I decided to withhold serious judgment until after we are much more exposed to the program and I've studied the materials. We attended our second meeting tonight. I realize that the 12 steps to overcoming addiction that the ladies are working through are the steps of repentance, organized in a workbook format.  It is a proactive approach to using the Atonement.  I think members of the Church, me included, tend to dabble with repentance instead of diving in and using it in a meaningful, life-changing way.  I love the idea of doing the work of repenting that the 12 steps promotes.  I'm going to use it along with the ladies in the group and see where it takes me.  I believe that truly getting close to the Savior requires that we use His gift of the Atonement.  I'm going to try and use it more effectively.   I hope, with the Lord's help, we may be able to make a contribution to this program in some way.  After teaching another sunday school lesson to 12 years olds today that went poorly, I'm ready for a change.

I'm not a finisher.  And I struggle to organize my time efficiently.  I'm more of an idea person.  My mind tends to fill with them as one idea leads to another.  The trouble is, as I begin work on one project, my mind comes up with a new one.  I tend to switch to it so as not to lose it.  So I wind up with a collection of things started but not finished.  Sigh and sign again.  This week I was determined to finish just one of my collection of unfinished projects and I almost made it.  Perhaps I can report the thrill of a project completed next week.  I'll make a sincere effort.

I have no pictures this week so I thought I'd include this picture that I love.
While most of the people I know cannot begin to relate to this sentiment,
it captures my feelings precisely.  Don't hold that against me!

For a number of years I've heard about the wonderful benefits of yoga from a variety of friends.  This past week, for the first time, I was talked into actually taking a class.  I went to my first one on Wednesday.
The moves were slow and not too difficult.  Essential oils, dim lighting and soft music contributed to the calmness we were supposed to feel as we stretched into unique and interesting positions.  All that gentle movement made me sore; that's a good sign it seems to me.  I think I might like this.

Home At Last

We spent a delicious week at home, just running errands and catching up.  Oh, and taking a few naps along the way.  Since our new Church assignment, I've been thinking quite a bit about it and visualizing what might be needed.  Isn't it interesting what things one sees and thinks about when a direction is given.  My mind has been full of thoughts and impressions.  We have been enjoying watching the Church's General Conference this weekend and so much of what has been said applies to Addiction Recovery.  A channeled mind sees things in such a particular way.  I find it amazing.

This has been a week to celebrate:  My sister turned 68 on the 2nd; grandson Seth turned 11 on the same day.  The anniversary of my baptism came up on the 4th and Layne turned 73 on the 5th (along with his twin Lynn).  We celebrated his birthday with new cell phones.  I talked him into getting a smart phone instead of his "dumb"one.  He loves to tell me that he is perfectly satisfied with the old phone he has had for years now because it does what phones are supposed to do--make calls.  But I think he secretly wished for something more!  So we got him an iphone 5c.  I upgraded to the same.  So we now have the same phones that can talk to each other and share apps and such.  Pretty exciting.  Layne is pretty low key but I have noticed that he is spending lots of time with his new phone!  I think he's gonna love it.

On Saturday, after Conference, we shared dinner with our friends Larry and Pat Green and friends.  It was a birthday celebration for Layne, complete with a German Chocolate cake just for him.  Well, we ate our share too once the candles were blown out.  It was so fun as the guys left for General Priesthood meeting and we girls cleaned up and talked.  Girl talk is a sweet pleasure that comes to me very little now.  One of the girls there, Kenni, challenged me to go on a diet with her and lose 5-10 pounds.  I brushed it off last night.  But I weighed myself this morning and have decided that I'm going to take her challenge.  I must admit that I have gotten a little chubbier than I should be.  I've rationalized that a big effort to lose weight will just bring it all back on once I return to my normal eating habits.  But...maybe not.  I've decided that losing a little weight might be worth the effort.  At least that is how I feel today...

Lisa Young, with the birthday cake she made for Layne.

The candle blowing celebration.

Layne playing with his new iphone.

My 73 year old talking to his brother Lynn, sharing their birthday.
 He also heard from most of the kids; such a joy to him.