Staying busy

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Tess has the right idea, curl up in the blankets and snooze away. Oh I am sure I will end up taking a nap at some point, have not seemed to miss a day yet. As I realize that I have got to get my tail out of the house, I have started to fill my calendar a little. I will have the boys for a bit tonight and tomorrow night as well as next Monday and Tuesday night. Am going to try and do some visiting as well while I am off.

Been compiling my Finding Blewy blog today. With the Fight the Fight blog, I copied the posts into a document and then printed it out and put it in a binder. I would always have it that way and seeing that it essentially my journal, it was nice to have the printed copy.

I have wanted to do the same with this one, yet just haven't and now with over 150 posts, it has grown quite large. Seeing that there is not anything I HAVE to do, I can start getting it copied over into a document as well. Although I am not reading each post, there is some scanning through them as I copy/paste and I am not really sure how that is going over with my emotions. As I work through June and July, I now just shake my head at how I cycle from "I am invincible" to "I am nothing" - even more that I realized. Actually I think it is just the resulting of "Ah! I got it!" and "Well, guess I don't." Whatever it is or is not, there is a lot of emotions in those words and I am glad that I am willing to put it out there. There are still times I am hesitant to write what is on my mind or in my heart, yet I have gotten so much better at it.

It is a good practice for compassion and non-judgement as my grammar is not the best and I can quickly point out my deficits. Once winning awards for writing, it has been a struggle for the past 15 years to get thoughts and words out on paper in that "correct" way. So I won't be winning any awards again anytime soon, it is ok as it was not on my to-do list anyways. If I can get the thoughts on paper one way or another, then I am happy.

I am kind of multi-tasking as I compile the blog. I've sent out some emails and even done a load of laundry. It isn't that I have an agenda, I just do a little of this, then when I feel I need a break, I go and do something else. My goal isn't really anything other than staying out of bed....and a hot shower, yes that is totally on the to-do list.

Sent my talk out to my missionaries today. Yah, I know, not supposed to be emailing them, yet you know what, it's Christmas. Got a couple replies back including one from Sister Chatterton. I met her on one of my Elder Erickson trips. She is this spunky little gal - yes, spunky is an excellent word to describe her - who loves being a missionary. Sister Robertson was companions with her in the MTC and said that she would sleep every night with her nametag on because she was so happy to be a missionary. I find that just amazing. I don't hear from her often, yet when I do I am able to give her some guidance and direction in things. I do hope that at some point in her mission she gets transferred up this way.

As to keep the missionaries smiling, I included some of my photos from the holidays as a missionary. I am sure I have said it before yet there was nothing more awesome than being a full-time missionary during the holidays (Christmas AND Easter).  Memories that have stayed with me for all these years and still bring a smile to my face and a joy to my heart.

Argentina, 1995, as we read the Christmas story, we
acted it out too. Baby Jesus was played by "Fuzzy
Wuzzy", a bear of mine who got his name because when
I would teach my companions something in English, I
always taught them "Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear."
Christmas day 1995, Mission President's home with
my trainer (Hna Christensen) and my second
companion (Hna Porto).
Hermana Christensen was headed home that transfer
and I would finish a year later.

The Hermanas of area Tres Cerritos. It is great that I
am still in contact with them all these years later.
One of our families caught a snapping turtle that
we played with and then ate for dinner later
that week (yet another reason I am in therapy).
I asked what they were going to do with the shell
and I was able to bring it home for my HS biology
teacher. Yes, we used Armour All to shine it up.

A couple nights before I came home, the other sisters in the area
came over for Christmas and a slumber party. There are not really
words to express how much I miss this time of my life. It is
something that can't be replicated.

My last district meeting. A week later I would be back home.

Yes, I brought the gift of "the word" for baby Jesus.

Sister Stailey. Oh what a partner in crime! I would call her
Stanley and she would call me Milo (from The Mask). No real
reason other than we just started doing it one day. She is getting
married this next year and seeing that she is just over in Ohio now,
I am hoping to make it and see her in person for the first time in
far too many years.

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