Today was a good day. Conor noticed that I’ve been “down” recently (doesn’t help that I hardly see him) so we went out with the intention of doing Art homework, but ended up just enjoying being together. We dropped by the mall because I wanted to show Conor some things for my kitchen and Conor bought me a “pick-me-up” shirt. The irony is that the shirt has gray on it. We went out for lunch at our favourite mid-day restaurant and checked out bookcases at Crate and Barrel. Then we went further into Denver and walked down Broadway. We went into at least 4 antique furniture shops. I have big dreams. BIG. We quite enjoyed it and for anyone who is familiar with Denver, walking from Downtown nearly to the I-25 on Broadway is no stroll!
We caught the bus home and happened to accidently plan to be on a high school bus route (to be specific South High School, which is a beautiful building, better looking than Western High School in Calgary). Conor and I were definitely apart of a minority on that bus. It reminded me of all of those American high school movies that are forever circulating about dancing or whatever and caucasians are the minority. Without a doubt, going to that high school would surely be a contrasting experience to attending Lord Beaverbrook High School. Conor pointed out to me that the doubly long bus was quite quiet; more hushed than any high school bus either of us has ever ridden. We assumed that the school population is fairly segregated. It was an interesting incident, one that I’d be unable to have in Calgary. I hope I don’t sound racist because I certainly am not. It’s just a new experience!
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I don’t really care to post such sad news on my blog, however this is something close to home. President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gordon B. Hinckley, passed away this evening at 7 pm with the members of his family present. My heart is absolutely broken! I know that this is the way of life and we all came to this earth knowing that our time here would end with death, however the separation remains a tender one. President Hinckley has been the president of the church since the month I turned 7 (nearly 13 years ago) and is the president that I will surely remember best and love best. I remember when President Hunter passed away but was much too young to understand. I have forever been under the impression that he passed away in his office and I thought it was really sad but was far too babyish to mourn. I can’t express the full intent of my feelings. President Hinckley was the prophet of my youth and I never doubted him and the revelations he received directly from God. I felt much grief when Sister Hinckley passed away and I felt lots of peace when I knew that they have now been reunited. As I think of it now, no one that has been close to me has passed away since I have become an endowed member of the church. I’m so grateful to know the Plan of Salvation and to know what will happen when I die. And further to know that my husband will always be mine, for all eternity, and my children as well. I’m grateful to be a member of a church whose work President Hinckley furthered. What a wonderful man and someone to definitely pattern a life after. I will so miss him especially at conference, but I will never forget him. I look forward to the season when I will personally be able to thank him for the influence he has had on my tender testimony as a child. The only way that I can think to tribute him and to remember him is to retain his teachings in my heart and ensure that my home and family are pattern after the counsel that he gave. I look forward to the year that we can study his teachings and life in Relief Society. I hope that the members of this church remember that he has finished his work and received the glory of God. Although he will be missed how he must rejoice at the sight and touch of his wife. I hope that we may all fully accept, welcome, embrace and follow the next inspired prophet as closely, if not better, than we followed President Gordon B. Hinckley.
Any one else ever had one of those moments (well weeks) when things aren’t going too hot and you think to yourself, “this would be so much worse if… blah blah blah. Thank goodness that’s not going to happen to me!” And then it does? Yup. Today is definitely one of those days and it’s not even 9 AM. So remember people, when you think that life can’t get any worse, it can.
Christmas isn’t for another 11 months but sometimes it’s good to prepare ahead. For example, I recently ordered some Christmas fabric (on sale). I’m determined to make stockings for Conor and I in time for Christmas ‘08. I found a fabric that I absolutely and completely fell in love with.
It’s the holly berry fabric on the left. Cute, eh? But the place I ordered it from only had one fat quarter left!! I panicked. The fabric is by April Cornell, “Christmas Presence” collection for Moda and so I was to my computer in a jiffy searching for it. No luck. I haven’t found that same fabric with the exception of European sites (no way!). I did however find a very similar one, same designer, same everything! So I ordered a yard and was impressed with the price of shipping. It’s off of a website called Abbi Mays. Phew! That saved the day. I also love that plaid and am so excited for October to roll on through! This fabric is so lush; way better quality than what I usually work with and will definitely be a pleasure to sew!
Are there any other kooks like me out there? Share your post-season, pre-season buys!
It’s nice to look after some kids in the ward and make some extra cash. It all started out as me “babysitting” (I loathe that word) for the Wattersons during the day. That was great because Conor wasn’t home anyways and it’s nice to get out of the apartment. It just worked out. And then I’ve babysat for them on a few occasions in the evenings, but Sarah Jean is always so hesitant and so grateful. Plus I really like chit-chatting with her. And then there are the Jensens. I don’t mind looking after their son, Owen. I babysat him once in the day over Christmas break, Conor and I teamed up one Saturday night and I looked after him last night. No biggie. I also look after one of my friend’s sons once a week, but that’s a friend thing and he’s so stinking cute!
Now, I’ve had people in the ward approach me with the phrase, “so I hear you’re willing to babysit.” What they don’t get is that I don’t really care to look after their kid on the weekends, especially since now there is a ridiculous amount of interest. I don’t really enjoy babysitting for families I’m unfamiliar with because they have to come and pick me up and drop me off and that makes me feel like a kid again and rather inferior. I’m going to have to say, “no” and I don’t care to do that since I know I’ll feel guilty. However, I do need to remember that I have my own family to care for even if it is just the two of us. Conor works hard all week and the weekend evenings are a time we try to relax even though we tend to do our datenight on Monday or Tuesday. I feel really annoyed by the turn this has all taken. I liked things as they were! Oh and what makes it worse is that there is no youth in our ward so people are desperate to get someone!
Any suggestions on how to let people down lightly?
