Ramblings

 Nov 12,  2021

I am recovering from... the flu/a cold, or something similar and I've never just sat on my heinie or slept so much since, I don't know when.   I even watched a bunch of movies, which is so not like me, but was nice.... Gotta go cut a nail.. they're too long and driving me nuts as I push the space bar or try to do my ...ok, they feel so much better!!   Isn't it weird how we let things bug us for a while, like a rock in our shoe while enjoying  a walk, before we stop and take care of it.   I've tried to stop immediately and fix it instead of endure it for a while.  It feels so much better.

Ok, so this morning I was up at about 4:40, which is crazy early, yet sooo peaceful.  I  look  at the lights of the valley below and its kinda like Christmas all year round. It's quiet, safe, and reminds me of how blessed I really am.  I love cooking and am getting my appetite back.  I spread almond butter on bread, added a layer of wild blueberries (fresh from the Walmart frozen section :), and another slice of bread, and popped it in the waffle maker :)   Oh, I like making smiley faces :) ;)  .. that's a wink.     anyways... it's pretty good, though not much sweetness.  I then cooked an egg in one side of the waffle maker... breakfast, is delicious, quiet, and filling.    Now, I'm trying to find a bit of focus and so many thoughts have flooded my mind and all want to pour out.  Maybe voice to text would work better and faster if I didn't have such a crazy accent... .. see, I'm rambling again :)  

I didn't go to my high school class reunion this year for a few reasons...1-It's at the school and I'm in no rush to go back there.  It's not BAD memories, but I've realized that I was a pretty selfish kid and need to do some apologizing.  Since then, I've thought a lot about my classmates. We'll be turning 40 and 41 this next year.  Who knew 40 could feel like this.  I don't feel much different than 20 years ago until I stop and realize the amazing journey God's taken me on and how I've hopefully improved and become a much better, kinder, thoughtful person than the teenager I used to be.  I'm glad I've changed and pray other's can see a better version of the person they knew back then.  I miss the friendships that I had with most of the kids since I was a toddler.  Small towns of  less than 600 people have a way of bonding us for life and I think when things are tough, it's comforting to look back and remember with fondness the good stuff.  

I'm so glad God took me away from that small town and has shown me a bigger picture of the world.  I went to TX as soon as I graduated. well, 1 month after, to nanny for an army couple's 2 year old daughter.  My first week there I met a handsome soldier at a church singles pool party. He had a motorcycle and I got a ride... a year later we were married in the Mount Timpanogos temple with our families and friends to cheer us on.  Our journey together has been wonderful with some of our fondest memories being...just enjoying a walk and talking together in these amazing places.   Harker Heights, TX; Killeen, TX; Milton, FL; Enid, OK; Shreveport, LA; Minot, ND; Meridian, MS; Smartsville, CA; Newnan, GA; West Warren (Ogden), UT: and Layton, UT.  ....plus other places we visited. A picnic dinner and David fishing were some of our best times too!

  I learned that people are the same everywhere ya go... the only big difference is their accent. ..OK, the food and weather changed a bit too :)  in Oakley it was Breakfast, Dinner, and Supper. Everywhere else it seems to be Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner... I still ask for a time to make sure if dinner is noon or evening.   I enjoyed the warmth of the south, but not the fire ants and oh, how I missed the mountains in the distance.  In OK, I remember doing a double take quite often cause one roof seemed to look like a mountain and I never got used to it.  ...just FYI, OK has the best lightning storms I've seen! The whole sky would light up like a blanket of static!  Such fun memories!

The plants changed too.  From bare ID high desert hills with a bit of sage brush and juniper trees to not being able to see anything for all the trees.  I learned in GA that I was a bit claustrophobic and needed to see some sky and a skyline in the distance. God blessed me with a picture that I found at the thrift store. Someone had painted rolling fields and in the distance, the horizon!  I would sit there and look at the picture and enjoy deep breaths.  

  Oh, our house in CA had big picture windows that looked down the driveway to an old rundown barn (lambing shed) and one day I took a picture of the American flag hanging in our oak tree between me and the old barn and every time I look at that, I naturally take a deep relaxed breath and life is a bit better.  I had that picture put onto tiles and created a back splash above the stove of  my Ogden house. It made the house so much better cause I'd just take naturally take a deep breath :)

My CA house was like my cabin in the mountains.   Though it wasn't a cabin at all. 1900 square feet of solid, comfortable home... once I got rid of the fleas... but, there's been weird bugs everywhere we've lived and I'm getting less freaked out about bugs, but still don't like them.  I remember in CA watching fog roll over the gap west of our house and then drifting down the valley south of us. It was a bit of heaven. Some of the best neighbors this world has to offer too.... well, God's put a lot of great neighbors in our path. They become 'bonus' family!

Grandma Peg is one of my longest lasting friends.  She took me under her wing when I was only 12 or 13. She'd come from CA and took me with her on a few road trips.  I remember feeling humidity for the first time in Placerville and seeing my first praying mantis. Getting to join her with sewing costumes at our local theater, making creamed tuna on toast, painting, playing her piano, and learning that there are chapters of our life where we do things and then it's ok to move on and do something else.  I don't have to keep the same hobbies or 'jobs' forever. 

My momma says it's "Times and Seasons" and right now it's my season to relax a bit and let my body recover.   It was cracking up at how weak I got from sitting on my rear for a few days.  I had tired legs from just coming up and down the stairs...weak sauce, but part of life.  I'll get my strength back. It's nice to slow down a little and not feel guilty about it.   Maybe that's why it's so peaceful.  My sis-in-law taught me that .. I only need to feel guilty if I've sinned.   If I'm good with God, and I start to feel guilty, I tell the devil to go dig his hole.... or some other variation of 'get out of here' :)  God is good!

I had the best laugh yesterday and I can still crack up about it.  ... let's just say that I don't think boys ever grow up... and I'm thankful for indoor plumbing!  My old neighbor, Ed, shared this wisdom with me a few years ago "life's to short to worry about things like that" and I pray God's goodness for him.  I'm thankful I can let some stuff go and move on.  It really doesn't matter, and I'm still laughing!

Well, kids are up, time to go see if they like waffle sandwiches :)

God bless,

~Sheree