SPRING, Birthday, and Moving Forward

SPRING--I so love this season! Bring on the plumeria, puakenikeni, other flowers, new life, green yard and lawnscaping, sunrises, daily outdoor exercise, sunsets, silhouettes before sunrise, watermelon, cherries, other delicious fruit, corn-on-the-cob from Nozawas, family picnic with lots of salads on Memorial Day and even beach time, travel for General Conference, AIR and SIFE, and of course, my birthday! Along with Christmas time, Spring is my favorite season. And I appreciate so much that this is the season I celebrate my birth!

Birthday--It's great to be 46! Well, so much so that it's my 15th anniversary of being 46. I'm not fond of ages that are prime numbers and it's one of those again now, so enjoying this approach so much more. Heard from many friends on Facebook, received some special cards and calls from dear far away friends who've been in my life for so many years, and also enjoyed angel food cake and strawberries and pretty flowers the day before with all my grands and family. Bill and I serve in the temple on Thursdays, so we led/followed a session for the first time together on birthday night. Celebrating then continued on Friday. We ate dinner at El Mariachi's in Kaneohe. MMMMMmmmm! Loved the guacomole, salsa, chips, and our "small plates" of enchiladas which were still too much food for us.

Much to be thankful for this birthday besides being still here, of course. Family, dear friends and a forever best friend, worthwhile opportunities, a missionary daughter in Nauvoo, enjoying good health so I can travel, teach, serve--even got a "promotion" calling--, enjoy family nearby, home and husband. Thanking the Lord for these blessings, and the ones I don't notice sometimes, too.

Life isn't exactly perfect--haven't moved to that cave I've pictured in my mind that would allow hermiting year round, not disappointing others, not being "in or of the world" etc. But it's a fine alternative most days.

Long for the cave sometimes. It is seeming like others don't get where I'm coming from these days. Especially in helping someone who is single and in recovering mode and has to be in bed temporarily. 11 years ago that was me. And I remember how much I would have loved someone there during those lo-o-ng days at home with me, just to look in on me or be available if I needed anything. I even remember very few phone calls -- because no one wanted to bother me. That was a very, very lonely time in my life, and it made such an impression. Wish my family understood that and thus my motivation to be there for someone else in the same predicament who doesn't have family nearby. It's also true that even now I would enjoy their support --and even some action--along with my efforts to help this someone else. Guess that is just too hard to understand if you've never been through it. I do feel sometimes like my cup is running on empty. And it's these times again I do feel those "alone" stabs of memory. Unfortunately, that does happen. I'm looking forward to my cup's refill. Sooner rather than later, I hope.

Spring projects include legal updating, and going through all my papers and sorting, throwing unneeded items, scanning family history photos and mementos, updating my personl history chronology. A good time always for me--Love to purge!

Travel days are coming, too--to Iowa and Nauvoo. I'm always looking forward to those experiences. We've also booked a mini-vacay to Victoria, BC, Canada for Labor Day. I enjoy the getaways spread out in the year. Even a "to Disney" after Thanksgiving is planned.

Life is joyful for me when there is peace in my heart and home, family and a few friends who care and seem interested in my doings and in just being with me, and having someone express being thankful for my efforts in their behalf, and having something to look forward to. Besides my faith in the divine, and temple service [which is very, very humbling, by the way] that's all the joy in this life I need. OH!~ and . . . Spring.

Family updates: Jenny's family has moved over the fence to a lovely, larger island-feel home on the edge of town. Very quiet neighbors--their back yard is in front of the cemetery! Lindsey's family is preparing to move up, and over! Their house will be lifted on its lot prior to a subdivision. Megan, that is, Sister Neal-- has "moved" into her Nauvoo Young Performing Missionary Mission--and will serve there this summer and eventually move to Utah in late August. This is such a great experience for her. Her photos document her joy, and it is easily seen on her face. Nice !!! We are so pleased she is having this experience and pray for her each day. Blow them away with that trumpet, Sis. Neal!

Erin is on her own awhile as Avery visits and stays 3 months with his dad in Australia. She will need to adjust to that a bit, knowing how much she will be/is missing him.