Nachos!

Today was a nacho kind of day.  Because nachos are one of my favorite things :).  And they can make me happy :).

The cheesier, the better!

Fortunately, I attended a birthday party for a special young nephew (who is -- unbelievably -- 10!) and my sister-in-law made nachos.  And it made me happy :).

What are you grateful for today?

Anne L

Isn't it nice when I post food as a representation of my friends?  Haha... Well, what you see here is Italian Express's roast beef sandwich with gravy on the sandwich and on the side (for dipping your French fries).  If you are in the vicinity of Dothan, I highly recommend you swing by and try this for yourself.  It's delicious.

But what does that have to do with Anne?  Well, it's the place we have met up for lunch the last two times I got the opportunity to visit with her while I was down in Alabama visiting.  So it's pretty representative -- if you ask me :).

Also, Anne is amazing.  Just like that sandwich.

Anne was my first ever boss.  And she set a pretty high standard for what I would hope to have in future bosses.  Which means some of them fell short.  Because Anne was an awesome boss.  She was fun, she didn't micro-manage, she became my friend.  I can still remember a few late nights hanging out at her house and yapping about stuff.  Mostly men.

I remember I pretty much always felt comfortable confiding in Anne.  And I remember she pretty much forced me to do one of the most awkward things ever -- to that point of age 18:  tell the guy I was crushing on how I felt about him before I left for college.  And yeah, I was nervous as anything...  I can picture it clear as though it was yesterday -- those nerve-wracking moments...  But I did it.  And somehow I think I grew a little in confidence from that.  And I never regretted doing it.  (She didn't really force me...  But she definitely encouraged me to do it.)

Some of my favorite memories from working for (and with) Anne were from the summer of 1999.  She and I worked Tuesday nights at the library.  And it would get pretty slow towards 9:00 p.m.  So I can remember sitting on the floor between the bookshelves, shelf-reading, and talking.  Lots of talking.  I probably hung out up there even when I was working and she was, just because we were yapping.  (And by probably, I mean definitely.)

I remember being in my job interview and they asked me my favorite book.  And I laugh at myself now -- not even sure what I was thinking then.  The only explanation I have for saying my favorite book was The Grapes of Wrath is that I had been reading a lot of classic literature at that time (a senior in high school), and since we'd discussed that novel a lot my Junior year when we read it at the end of the year, I felt like I could answer a question about it if they asked me one.  Except maybe the question they did ask me...  Which was:  Why is that your favorite book?  Hahaha.  I kind of cringe just thinking about it.  Because it's not my favorite book.  Eh, I'll just chock it up to nerves.  But I wonder what Anne was thinking when I said that.  And fast-forward a couple days, and I remember when she went into the computer lab, where I was working on a computer, and telling me I'd gotten the job!  I was pretty excited.

She was there at the Applebee's in 2006 when a bunch of us who used to work together at the library got together to eat and visit and chat -- because some of us would be moving away soon.  I was one of those.  I don't remember one bit of the conversations we had...  But I remember we were the loudest group in Applebee's that night.  And the irony wasn't lost on us -- since the place we'd all worked together was the library.  Classic.  Good times.

In the intervening 15 years between now and whens he was my boss, we've kept in touch.  Whether I was near or far.  I know she's helped me through lots of rough patches.  And I hope I've done the same for her on some level, at least.  I'm grateful for her.  Immensely grateful.  In many ways, she helped shape who I have become.  Because who knows what paths I'd have pursued had I never gotten my first job in the Children's room of the public library.  And I'm grateful for someone who is always willing to meet me at Italian Express when I show up in Dothan :).  It makes me -- and my tummy -- happy :).  Great, I think I'm seriously craving that now...

What are you grateful for today?

Our Budget

If I'm being completely honest about it, I will have to admit that while I am grateful for the budget my sweetie and I strive to adhere to, sometimes I'm not really grateful to be grateful for it ;)...

I kind of like to spend moolah...

But the budget is a great thing.  It helps us stay on track.  It helps us be able to examine where our money is going (I'll admit it... a lot of it goes on food in some form or another...).  It allows us to see trends.  And it gives us a point of reference for when we need to discuss increasing or decreasing a line item.

Just in the last couple days we had occasion to take a look at our grocery budget as well as our gas budget.  Unfortunately, these two areas seem to be difficult for us to stay under budget.  I suspect the two things are related:  higher gas prices = higher grocery prices. 

True, in an ideal world, I would need no budget.  I could spend however much I wanted whenever I wanted and wherever I wanted.  (Okay, that might not be entirely ideal, but still...). 

But that's not reality for most people.  And it's probably better that way, anyway.  Because learning to go without is a good life lesson.  As is learning how to live within our means and having a safety net of savings.  And this budget helps us accomplish those things :).  So I'm grateful to have it!

What are you grateful for today?

Kids Videos

So my munchkin isn't really old enough to watch cartoons and such.  And, aside from about 25 minutes of Baby Einstein videos I let her watch on the days I exercise at home (which is quite rare lately, since I've been walking with friends), I try not to put things on for her to watch.

But tonight I had 4 kids ages 1 to 3 1/2 at my house.  For 4 hours.  Without the benefit of my husband, who is on swing shift..  And so, at about hour 3 1/2, I resorted to cartoons.  And I'm oh-so-very grateful they were here.  Grateful for my sister-in-law Angie who gave them to me many moons ago -- before we even had kiddos -- because she knew we were planning to have babies one day.

They may have saved my sanity tonight ;).

What are you grateful for today?

Opportunities to Understand and Appreciate My Parents More

I realize I'm probably 20 years too late...  But even so.  I am realizing that every day provides me with opportunities to better understand my parents and why they did some of the things they did.  And to appreciate them for their efforts.  Even if I wasn't appreciative at the time.

So Tuesday nights are youth activities.  And that means I'm heading to the church at 7:00 p.m. to participate as one of the leaders. 

Inevitably, Tuesdays feel like I got slam-dunked by a tornado.  So, if I can swing it, I like to do a leftover night on Tuesday, just so I can remove "making dinner" from  my to-do list.  That didn't really happen tonight.

And so, as I was driving down the hill -- with the munchkin in tow (Daddy's still on swings) -- it occurred to me why Wednesday night dinners two decades ago were what they were.

So what were they?  I mean, to this day, I can tell you what we had every Wednesday night when we were all teenagers:  pollo patties (chicken patties) and hash browns.  And after the umpteenth time of this, I was sicker than sick of them.  It may have had to do with a time I bit into something hard in my chicken patty.  And that pretty much ruined it for me.  But anyway, I can remember complaining to my mom about this meal.  And refusing to eat it.

Fast forward twenty years, and it all makes sense.  I mean, I knew the reason back then.  My mom worked full-time and then took us all to youth activities on Wednesday nights.  And in the middle of the two, she had to make dinner (and probably a million other things I never considered).  And this was just easy and fast.  And I was a punk.

I realize that now.  Because I feel it.  And I don't even work outside the home.  And I still feel like Tuesdays are crazy.  And like I can't handle having to make a meal.

So, though you'll never read this, thank you Mom.  Thank you for making sure your kids were fed (if they so chose).  Thank you for making the effort amidst all the other things you had to do.  And thank you for putting up with your punk teenage daughter's lack of gratitude back then.  And for forgiving me for it.  I understand now.

And for that, I'm grateful.

What are you grateful for today?

A Working Transmission

Got the van back.  Yay!  Took it for a spin on the highway (which is always when the traction control light comes on -- meaning the traction control is off).  No light came on!  And, the check engine light is off :).  And it doesn't grind when I put it in reverse anymore.  Or clunk for that matter. 

I'd say this is a good thing to be grateful for today.  You know, since it got Lea and me to Costco and back today :).

So here's to hoping this thing works for the 100,000 miles it's supposed to! :)

What are you grateful for today?

Fast and Testimony Meeting

So in my faith, the first Sunday of almost every month (those Sundays when Conference falls on the first Sunday of the month are excluded, but Fast and Testimony meeting is moved to a different week) is Fast and Testimony meeting.

The fasting part is individual and left to a person's agency to choose whether they will or not.  But basically, we believe in the law of the fast -- to go two executive meals without food and then donate the money we would have spent on those meals to a fast offering (which is used at church leaders' discretion for congregants who may need financial assistance).  We believe, as Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (who was one of the Twelve Apostles prior to his death) said, "Fasting, coupled with mighty prayer, is powerful. It can fill our minds with the revelations of the Spirit. It can strengthen us against times of temptation." 

Testimony Meeting is the theme (for lack of a better term) for the Sacrament meeting that Sunday.  And members of the congregation are invited to come forward, if they feel inspired to do so, and share their testimony.  They can share a testimony of anything of which they have a testimony.  And it is an opportunity to be edified and uplifted as we listen to others share those things they know and believe to be true.

Oftentimes, for me, it is an opportunity to feel the Spirit touch my heart and testify to me of the words that are spoken.  Because it is amazing to hear the experiences of others... experiences they have had that have strengthened their faith... experiences they have had which have cemented their knowledge that God lives and that He loves them.

Today was a beautiful testimony meeting.  I felt the Spirit today, and it was a beautiful thing.  I was touched by the words spoken by so many who testified of the love our Savior Jesus Christ has for us.  Who testified that the Lord knows us and knows what we go through.  And that He cares. 

Anyway, I think I must have just needed it today.  Because it probably wasn't any different from most testimony meetings I attend.  But today just felt more special and significant to me.  So I'm grateful I was there.  And grateful I could be uplifted and edified by so many.

What are you grateful for today?