46. Vacuums

The benefits of living near the ocean include sand all over the house, always. 

Somehow, the summer months never yield quarter cups of sand on the carpet. And, I forgot what it was like after the flip flops are tucked kindly away until next time. Flip flops can't hold sand like soccer cleats or close toed shoes.

Imagine life without vacuums. Picking up granules with pinched fingers never quite being able to enjoy dirt-less carpet again, ever.  

I've owned my favorite vacuum for 10 years or so; a refurbished filter queen, too bulky for my kids under 12.

So, I own 2. One for them and one for me. 

45. Testimony

Although I enjoy playing the piano in primary, it was fun to do something different today. I was the only girl in the Sunday School room with 10 boys, 3 of which will be baptized this Saturday. 

After random sharing, snack, and a brief course on "No Side Talking" (my sweet 12-13 year olds in Utah can appreciate that!), we started learning about how the Sacrament can remind us of our covenants we made at baptism. Yes, we.

During an object lesson, one brave boy came to the front of the class, and I promised him a pack of gum if he did 10 jumping jacks. When he finished, he was shocked when I refused to hold up my end of our bargain. This is where they all turned on me. In disbelief, the rest of the class gasped. 

But the tumult was short lived when I began to bear my simple testimony that Heavenly Father will NEVER do what I just did. He will always keep His promise. 

Of course everyone walked away with bubble gum filled pockets, but my pockets also had the love and the spirit of a sweet testimony. 

44. Overheard Comments

Driving home from our hiking adventure the other day, I overheard Matthew say, "1000 resurrected spirits". Random, I know. But funny because it was so random.

Or what about Travis on the way up to our hike, "I want to eat snow." We live in Southern California, really? And even on the hike he kept asking where the snow was.

I laughed out loud...the belly laugh kind that opens your lungs and heart. 

My favorite one this week was, "This is best day of my entire life!" or "It's raining babies."

You think I'm kidding?

43. Summer Reading

You might wonder why the title isn't Fall/Winter reading because there is no such thing as uninterrupted reading in summer. 

But the title is Summer Reading because of the great quote I found in the last of my books I chose for the summer. 

• Grapes of Wrath, 
• Of Mice and Men, 
• My Antonia, 
• Peace Like A River, 
• The Alchemist, 
• Magnificent Obsession, and 
• The Russian Concubine. 
  

The quote is by C.S. Lewis:

Empty your boat, seeker,

and you will travel more swiftly.

Lighten your load of craving and opinions

and you will reach nirvana sooner.

Absorb it. To be free of opinions and cravings...fixed beliefs and entitled blessings...black magic and envy. These are magic words. 

42. Music

I actually didn't get to number 42 without subtly mentioning music. You read about it in my 3rd post; having two ears and one mouth and my gratitude for being able to even hear music.

Or in my 11th post quoting the song, "My Savior's Love". Music is in My Children's Laughter, and where I find most of my inspiration.  

This whole experience is a dance with music if you can only be open to hear it and/or create it. It's in My Song.

Music evokes emotion and connects me with my spirit. Music is the language of divinity. It is my language. 

41. The Present Moment

If I name at least 52 things of gratitude per year, I will finish this project in 7 years. 39 more days until this first year is complete, and I haven't met my goal. My biggest regret is missing the month of July entirely. Apparently, abundance does involve gratitude!

In this moment, I am abundantly blessed. The future looks lean. The future looks fat. 7 years of this; 7 years of that. 

Travis literally begged me to lay with him while he went to sleep tonight. He couldn't wait for me to throw in a load of laundry; he was drifting and didn't want to miss out. 

As I laid there with my eyes closed, I felt the comfort of that bed with a roof over my head and a belly full of vegetarian dinner. (No, that is not an oxymoron.) I am grateful for the present moment of abundance of love, comfort, and safety. 

Tomorrow is another day and who knows what might happen. The roof might spoil, the food might be gone, and the bed might cave in. Unless it doesn't.

40. Teachers

As the end of the school year winds down, I begin my prayers for next year's teacher picks. The request for next year is a difficult one with the budget cuts and teacher shifting. 

It might be the luck of some people to pray for the perfect teacher, have their child placed into the perfect class, only to have them plucked like chicken feathers and discarded into the class room from hell. 

But that isn't my kind of luck. My prayer stays in effect until 30 days after the first day of school for situations just like that.

You might think I am kidding. 

I learned my lesson the first year we arrived here. I pray now.

And thankfully I did. Matthew got the perfect teacher for him this year. Her name is Ms. Nylen and she is the kindest, most patient teacher I've ever known. I had the opportunity to work in her classroom all year on Tuesdays and in the library on Fridays. (Gratitude to Peggy for taking Makayla to school and Tom for allowing me to stay home and Mandy for watching Travis.)

Makayla also got amazing teachers, who were committed to teaching her Math and responsibility. (Note the capitalization on my favorite subject.)  I'm sure my comment to her social studies teacher about the subject being inferior to Math may have served up additional learning experiences for Makayla this year. Oops!

And of course I am thankful for Travis's lovely Ms. Lacroix, who has so much love for small children and stray animals she may have the biggest mansion in heaven. 

Just seems like the wrapped cookies, drawn pictures, flowers, and thank you notes aren't enough. This prayer of gratitude is without an expiration...