Sunshine

I am just a happy person-end of story. I drive some of my coworkers nuts because I am in such a good mood most of the time, and especially in the mornings. I'm not necessarily a morning person, but I figure if I'm up, I might as well be happy and share the joy.
I have one employee in particular that isn't terribly fond of my chipper self first thing in the morning. When I go in to the break room to make my boss's coffee, I cheerfully greet whoever may be sitting there. This man has commented more than once that I am simply in too good of a mood.
Today, I was at the copier and I hear someone at the cabinet behind me say "Good morning, Sunshine". I turned around to find this guy standing there. I asked him if he was talking to me and he gave the best response I've heard in quite a while. He confirmed that he was indeed talking to me; after all, I am the one in an "ever good mood". And then I laughed and went about my day, on a mission to spread my good mood.

Small Things

We received another letter from Hermana Crawford (more commonly known in these parts as Lori). She told of how she and her companion were walking in an area after not being able to make contact with the person they had an appointment with. They saw a gentleman pushing a stroller and stopped and introduced themselves as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The man said that his wife ha met the missionaries a couple of weeks before at the store and had gotten their number but it was the number for the English speaking missionaries, so she hung up and wasn't able to get in touch with anyone because she spoke Spanish. Lori shared how even though she had "slipped through the cracks" and no one knew how to contact her, Heavenly Father knew where she was. He knows each of us and where we are. He knows what we need, and He knows who to send to fill those needs.
Today as I was driving home from work, I had a very clear impression to take a certain road home. I've been trying to listen, realize, and act on inspiration, so instead of turning on the road I have been taking, I went down to the next one. Our down-the-road neighbors were out by the ditch near the road gathering pecans and I got to stop and visit with them. I haven't made time to go and visit them like I should, and while there didn't appear to be any great need or "real" importance to the visit we had on the side of the road, it meant a lot to me to see them, and I feel it may have brightened their day as well. Sometimes a quick chat is just what someone needs. Don't ignore a prompting. Just do it (it seems Nike was on to something when they came up with that).

Eulogy: An Ode to PeeWee and the Rest of the Flock

We have a lot of chickens, but they can be classified in three categories: the big ones(Goldie is the only one worth knowing really, the rest are, well - they're birds (and I don't really love birds)), the little ones (this is about them), and the babies (Goldie hatched three babies several weeks ago - but really, I don't have strong feelings for them one way or the other).

The little ones are my favorite! With the exception of Frisky (the evil one - he tried to attack me every time I went in the pen), these are the best chickens ever - very personable and so much fun. There is Buffy (the brown one), Cory (the black and brown one - combination of the names Lori and Cristy), NaeNae, the snowy, white one (Lori's middle name is Renae - get it??), and my absolute favorite, PeeWee, the black little fluff ball.

Over the last several weeks, he and I have created a very unique bond. I can call him from almost anywhere in the back field, and he will come running when I call his name (also done in a very unique way). The other three were never far behind and as of late, Cory would come running/flying to me when I called PeeWee. We decided that we needed to get it on video before something terrible happened. As you know, life with animals, especially farm animals, is uncertain. So, two days ago mom and dad had "the littles" out of their pen and were letting them roam. We went out, I called, and here they come...

The next day, not even 24 hours later, I came home to find out that in the middle of the night, something (dog, coyote, bear, wolverine...) had somehow gotten into their pen and killed all five of them as they slept. I cannot tell a lie...I cried (and may or may not be crying now as I type this). Who knew that you could actually bond with, and become so attached to, chickens. A little piece of my heart died with them.

Luckily, we were able to catch this memory before their untimely passing. Our little part of the world definitely won't be the same without them (boy, it sounds dumb in writing...). Farewell my feathery friends...  :(

An Amazing Sister

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about some things in my life. I've been struggling to feel in control of my life. Some parts I have little to no control over due to circumstance, while other areas I've essentially given away control in an attempt to be accommodating, or to allow myself time to figure things out. Anyway, I have done a lot of talking and thinking and praying and I realized just how much I miss having my sister and best friend around, or at least to be able to pick up the phone and call her and have her set me straight.
Since she is on her mission, I don't tell her every little thing that is going on, and try to keep on the positive and stay focused on the important stuff, but I gave her the highlights version of everything and that girl, well, she wrote back the most wonderful letter! It's incredible how even though time and great distance separate us, she still gets me, and loves me, and gives amazing advice.
She reminds me that I'm worth it...all of it, not just bits and pieces; I kind of lose sight of that occasionally and don't expect much for myself. She reminds me that there is always good to be had in the world and anything worth having is worth working for. And my favorite part of her letter was my "homework assignment" (in almost every letter I am tasked to do something)...she told me to stand in front of the mirror and say "I see pride. I see power. I see a southern, white girl that won't take no crap from nobody." (points to you if you know where that reference was adapted from)!
Love that girl and miss her like crazy!
Also, we went to a Chinese restaurant for dinner tonight and my fortune was perfect for everything I've been feeling. It said that people in my surroundings would be very cooperative (and something else...i just can't remember it now-blast) in the coming week. Hopefully I use my power for good. :)
Here's to a peaceful nights rest, a spiritually rejuvenating day at church tomorrow, and a reminder that I am ALWAYS worth it (and that goes for you, too!!!).

Launching Mobile Post

I'm a little slow in figuring this out, but there's an app for that! Now I can blog wherever I am instead of being tied to my computer at home, though it likely won't increase my amount if posts, I just feel like one of the cool kids now.
My dear friend, Shelly, posted on Facebook something her grandmother said. It goes like this..."Feel the pain, feel the fear, and then do it anyway." I can't even explain how it inspired me when I saw that yesterday, and in so many ways! At work, I may or may not have a small, but growing pile of "things to do" that I've been putting off for a variety of reasons, but mostly I was nervous about them or didn't know what to do with them. Today, however, with this new motto in my life (and quite handily written and hanging on my desk) I came to work and tackled EVERY LAST THING in that stack, and I did so by 9:00. Just think, weeks of worrying about this stuff and it was over and done in less than 2 hours. That leaves me contemplating other areas of my life that I'm avoiding or ignoring because of fear or pain.
So, my words to you today (and always), "Feel the pain, feel the fear, and then do it anyway".

Realizations and Ramblings

I'm struggling this weekend and haven't got a lot to say...so I'll just ramble. Believe me, I'll understand when you stop here and click away. :)

Things I've realized this week...and other random thoughts:

• Things always seem worse when you're tired.
• When you don't sleep, things don't seem to get better.
• Sometimes life is hard (regardless of the amount of sleep).
• Sometimes other people make life hard.
• Sometimes I make life hard.
• Most times other people make life so much better!
• Chickens kind of "pop" if you run over them.
• Chickens kind of "flop" when you put them in their grave.
• There is inexplicable joy when your favorite little fluff-ball of a chicken comes running to you when called (can we say new best friend??).
• There is only so much emotion you can feel, good or bad, before you get a headache (I've had a headache for three days now).
• Balance in life is so important.
• Hugs always make me feel better...I could use a hug (or several).
• I'm really missing being able to go to the temple every week. 
• I know some of the most amazing people on earth. I am loving the time with the ones I'm with now, but am really missing everyone else that I don't get to see.
• I'm pretty sure I slept with a spider or some other creepy-crawly last night...I woke up with bites I didn't go to bed with.
• Sometimes the only thing you can control is your attitude.
• I just realized the only reason I got my computer out was to find a recipe...and then I started rambling.
• Cooking/baking is therapeutic..I'm off to the kitchen.

I Read a Book!

Actually, I read two!! I'm so used to having the book in my hand that I struggled getting into it with them on my iTouch, but after I adjusted I loved it! I got to take them everywhere I went, and when I had a few minutes I pulled it out and kept reading!

I read what was at the time the latest of Josi Kilpack's Culinary entitled Banana Split. It had been so long since I'd read the last one that I'd sort of forgotten the story line, but it was pretty good. Unlike some of her other books in this series, I felt a little lost at some parts and didn't quite get how different things played into the story, but that very well could have been me being a little distracted.

The second book was from my other favorite author, Traci Hunter Abramson. Her book is called Royal Secrets. I flew through that one - it really kept my attention. It has a little bit of everything...romance, action, suspense...what's not to love!