This one's a good one.

In regards to my last post, I thought I'd share an outfit that Mary has been wearing than has been a very good transition outfit from summer to fall. It's not too cool and the colors are darker and the cute cat is a nice prelude to Halloween, don't cha think? The cat has even got some texture - a fake velvetty type of feel.


The BEST part though??? I paid $2 for the cropped leggings and $2.50 for the shirt (at Target). Gotta love that!
P.S. You can see in this pic that Jeff set up a little safe play area in the family room for Mary in case I have to do something where she can't be trying to climb up my leg or I need to take out the trash or something. You gotta watch that one! She'll be up the stairs in no time. Or you'll come back in from taking out the trash and bonk her head because she came to the door . . . or she'll climb into the dishwasher - not that any of these things has happened, mind you. ; )

Fall Fashionista

On Sunday, Mary got to finally wear this cute outfit that I got at one of my showers.

She got so many compliments! What fun for me! It is a size 0-3 months. Hello? Clearly, no 0-3 month old could have fit in it. I held onto it, incase Mary still might be able to wear it this fall and whoop-ee! she can. We have several cute outfits in storage for fall that I am excited about.

But this brings up a question or two . . .

So it is fall. But it is still warm. I wore a long sleeved t-shirt on Sunday and was hot and Mary probably was too. Do any of you find it hard to figure out what to wear at these times? I just can't bring myself to putting a bright- springy colored outfit on Mary when it is fall - at least not for church.

But anyway. . . I have about six darling summery outfits (about half that I bought and half of them were gifts) that Mary is just now starting to fit into and only one of them has been worn for about 15 minutes. What shall I do? Wear them now even though they are summery? Regift them (I always feel guilty doing that and obviously I'm not talking about the one that she wore for 15 mintues - it doesn't have tags anymore)? Or save them for a possible future daughter that may never come? I don't really want to give them away. I love each of them. And I hope I do get another girl someday. Chances are good right? At least 50/50. Course will SHE be in the right season for them????

I realize these are not the most important questions of life. But what would you do?

Light Rail Tale

My husband, as you know, is riding the train to work these days. He wrote this little anecdote last week that I thought you all might enjoy . . . .

"So yeah, this morning I'm sitting on the train, working on my little Mac laptop... when I see from out of my window a bearded, gnarly, blind guy making his way down the station to get on. He found his way on the train pretty well, but then finding a seat was a little tough. It required him to feel up and down the passengers until he found one with nobody sitting next to them (me). After a mercifully brief groping, he settled in next to me. He was wearing one of those filthy canvas overcoats with a hood, and of course he draped the hood across my body. Everyone was kind of staring at him, though, so I couldn't peel the garment off myself and make a scene. I just tried to bear it, even though I was imagining all sorts of germs were migrating to my clean, pressed shirt.

After awhile, he got off at an intermediate stop. I resisted the urge to begin frantically brushing off my shirt and checking for smudges. Just as well, because after he got up and left, a gentleman who was.... generously obese took his spot. There was not room enough on the row for myself and both of his legs, so it was nice and cozy. Sigh.

Still, I may have been better off than the lady in a miniskirt the next row over. I'm pretty sure she was surrounded by men who were leering at her the whole way..."

Today

Today I sang at a funeral. My good friend - life long friend - we've been friends since 1st grade, Sara - her husband's brother committed suicide last week.

I hope she won't mind me posting my feelings about how I felt today. I felt honored that she and her husband would ask me to sing and I got to sing with Catherine and my Mom accompanied us in Be Still, My Soul.

Before the funeral started, there was a video/slideshow of the deceased. I just saw a few of the pictures and decided I better not watch it so that I would be composed enough for later.

It had pictures of this man as a baby. And pictures with siblings. It was pretty sad. I couldn't help but think about how you look at a new little baby and how you hope so much for them and love them so much. You plan in your own mind how wonderful you think their life will be.

I remember when Catherine (my sister) was a baby very well because I was 11 years old at the time. She was such a beautiful baby and being the baby - we all loved and spoiled her. I remember her 4th? birthday. The theme was Lion King and she had little mickey mouse buns for her hairstyle and she had all these cute little 4 year old friends who came. She was a pretty, self assured little thing - even at four. And I just remember picturing her future to be easy and that she'd be well liked and popular and beautiful.

What really happened was quite different. Catherine has not had an easy life. She had cancer (and survived), she struggled in school and with friends, and has had many of the regular difficulties that many of us have had and then some.

I guess today just made me think of the circle of life and that life isn't easy. It is sometimes quite hard and tragic. And yet, it is also beautiful.

I was surprised at how "not sad" I felt during the service today. Even though this person had trials, many people loved him, and remembered him with fond memories.

The best part though was hearing my friend Sara speak about the hope that we all have through the Atonement and our belief in the Plan of Salvation. She did such a nice job and I thought her message was wonderful and hopeful. It was perfect.

It is hard for me to imagine getting to a place that you'd actually take your own life. I'm sad and sorry that this person was in that much pain. I hope that all of us can - instead of feeling all is lost - try to focus on easing someone else's pain instead of focusing on our own. This is truly a loss - to his mother, siblings, and children and friends.


Just for the record - I love you all. Each of us have so much potential!!! Let us realize what a gift and opportunity life is and how much we need each other! Let us love and serve one another and forgive each other.

And let us seize the day!

Peekaboo

Mary has been doing this for awhile now. But we only just now taped it. Enjoy!

Scripture for the Day

Psalms 1: 1-3
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

I've been doing better on my scripture reading lately. For several years, I have been trying to go through my old seminary manual for the old testament because I don't remember a lot of it. So lately I've been reading about David. What a sad story his is. But didn't he write the most beautiful psalms? Psalms has got to be one of my favorite books of scripture. There is so much truth and praise in those words.

Hope you all have a great day and you remember to not "walk in the counsel of the ungodly" and be "like a tree planted by the rivers of water".

Stiff Neck

'Nuff said.