Day 200

A glorious day with my family.  It was the best time I've had with parents and siblings in a really long time.  Love our country and love that we get to light off big fireworks and that you can see them all over the valley.  My dad picked up the biggies and we had a blast, even with the smoke bomb that made the street look like it was on fire. 

Happy fourth, everybody.

Day 199

Trying to rock a pair of heels and getting out of a van equals a twisted ankle for me.  Very frustrating because all I want to do is spend the cool summer evenings walking, running, biking.
We got pulled over tonight in T's second wife because of no mirror and busted tail light.  Of course, he hadn't been able to find his wallet and as we were visiting my grandpa at the rehab center we just had C pray we wouldn't get pulled over.  Responsible, right?  Add a little dose of trying to get brownie points for some service and you get the idea.  Well, the prayer must have worked because the cop laughed at all the things we had going wrong...thank goodness, we were all belted up and T put his shifty eyes away because there was a rap sheet of what not to do going.  C's prayer worked and we were only given a warning with the cop telling T that he knew (Layla) is only a summer ride.  Right...

And I really did have this whole plan about a post today with some spiritual insight.  It's still in my brain.  We've had an awesome weekend.  Great garage sale, some moulah in the pockets, and our basement is almost entirely devoid of stuff.   I tell you, it's practically squeaky clean down there and maybe we'll remember we own a third floor now.

Day 198

People keep asking me how we are doing.  To be honest, I am so busy I don't consider the answer much.  I worked one of my jobs tonight and will again all day Saturday.  We are getting ready to have a small garage sale and have tons to do to get ready.  It's been good though for T and I to have a project.  We are cleaning out the basement and getting things organized.  Keeping busy is a blessing. 

Day 197

I've been talking to a friend of mine's husband who is the creative director for one of the state's most famous companies and who works with a lot of copywriters.  He gave me some homework assignments in an attempt to build up a portfolio.  I'm excited.  It's a creative challenge for me and a foray into the writing world that I've never given much thought too.  Like coming up with a billboard in seven words or less. 

Did I mention I want to write and get paid for it?

Day 196

I am still trying to wrap my mind around my own life.  I've been reacting to things instead of acting upon them for so long that this new feeling is somewhat empowering, yet feels foreign.  Today I was sustained and set apart second counselor of the RS presidency.  I was shocked.  I had thought and had even been told I was going into another axillary.  I know however, where this call came from and so I am comforted.   I adore all of the women I will be serving with as well as all of the women I will serve, but I feel my own frailty very keenly. 

I was given a beautiful blessing and realize that I will learn much.  It is another great lesson to me that I'm not in charge and certainly that holds true in my own life.  I just keep moving my feet forward and He directs my steps.  

Day 195

We had writing group for the first time in what seemed like years.  I meet with the loveliest group of friends and fellow writers ever.  It feels like something magical happens when we all meet up so I'm looking forward to having that inspiration in my life back. 

Another long day.  I left at 9:30 this morning for some appts. with the kids, dropped them off at 1:30, got back on the freeway to be downtown to work at 2, got home at 5:30, came home and changed and left for dinner at friends and rolled in at 10.  Tomorrow is much the same.  Luckily, starting next week I will only work 8 hrs and try to coordinate it so I do it on Pilates' days so I'm not commuting as much.  I feel like I've been living in my car. 

Day 194

We are borrowing my friend M's laptop.  I am so grateful for her generosity because our computer is STILL having issues even after coming home from the docs.  I just got a second job once a week that pays me dang good money.  I work for a doctor doing all the odds and ends she needs me to do.  Today I worked HARD.  Some days it will be sorting, taking pictures, whatever she needs.  I feel happy like I'm contributing something.  T still hasn't found anything and it was driving me crazy feeling like there wasn't anything I could do and now I can, even in a small way.  There's another change coming that I will post about (after Sunday :))  that I'm really excited about. 

Did I mention that all my writing is on our computer and I can't access anything?  I still wrote a poem I shared in RS on Sunday, but I've been itching to get back to something, anything I've started.  I should have put everything on a jump drive when the computer first started having problems.  I took it all for granted and now sniff, sniff, it's not with me.  I hope it's running again soon.