what a great day!

Last year I really partied hardy and had a busy birthday.  This year, so much going on in our life, feeling sort of the need and want to stay home, and that is how it turned out!  I contacted my- savvy on social media- daughter and said... Honey, please don't put on FB that it is my birthday.  I just wanted things more quiet and she obliged.

It was the perfect day.  On all counts.  I heard from friends and received flowers and cards and eggs and cookies and someone left a planter on the porch table and a balloon.  now here is where I was going to post the pictures of the beauty of them and now I don't see the camera cord.  I'll do it tomorrow.  I so appreciated visiting and marveled again at how powerful kindness and love are.  This last year, I don't feel that I gave service.  I just received love and kindness on so many levels.

Dinner was delish and made all the better as Kipper was feeling good and we shared the meal.  Played 5 Crowns afterwards and just visited and talked.

We are going on that road trip but because of health things and to much to do to get ready... we will now leave a little later.  June 4th.  I did get nervous hearing about the weather in Hurricane Alley, where are son lives in KS.  I definitely am not a storm chaser!

Last year I packed enough to last the entire time and got it all into 2 suitcases.  One really big one and then a medium one. both heavy...our son lifted them into the trunk for me.  Didn't dawn on me until the first time I tried to lift the suitcase out of the trunk at the hotel- and couldn't!- that I needed to rethink things.  This year I will pack small bags with clothes, for the two of us, for each day.  I have lots of perfect size bags and it will work out fantastic!  By the time we get to KS, I'll just haul in the laundry and start over again!  Last year I'd open the suitcases in the trunk and take out what I needed and go first class and put them in whatever grocery bags I had stashed in the trunk!  When we got to KS our Grandson carried both suitcases in but the small bags are my choice this year!  I'll be sure and take a picture of my packed trunk with pazillion bags!

So the gift I'm giving myself for my birthday is...#1-taking care of my health in a real way.  actually doing something and not just star-wishing it to magically happen.  at this stage in my life, I need to be as strong and healthy as possible physically, and thus I gifted myself with that ambitious undertaking! Yes...feel free to applaud!   The second gift is- granting myself permission to spruce up the house, with whatever needs to be done to make it spiffier.  so two great things to work towards and enjoy the process.  I seem to always just put everything out there, don't I?  but...it's okay.  goals and plans are the only way things get accomplished.

Thank you for being you!

We only have Sunday afternoon of GC left!  Today we talked about going back to our 1971 goal and finish April and then move on for 6 months and then re-listen when Oct. conference comes around.  Such powerful words!!  I can feel the power and know what they say is true.

I'll find that cord for my camera and post pictures of my flowers tomorrow.  beautiful!!!

My special day!

My birthday.  Today.  76!   Seeing that number it looks like a lot but really, it doesn't feel like a lot.  Lot...like a lot of years.  Saying it, 76 years old, it sounds like a lot and yet it doesn't feel like a lot.  Aging is such an interesting process.  Because I am in relatively good health (except for there being way to much of me!), maybe that is why I don't feel old. I am thinking aging is okay.

There are so many things that I see that I didn't grasp when I was younger.  One of the main things that continues to impress me, is the fact, we all have to learn the same thing in mortal life.  Especially in our Gospel lives.  We all have to learn how to access our Father in Heaven through prayer.  To learn how to pray and get answers.  We all have to learn doctrinal detailed basics... how to repent and make it last and not keep reopening those cans of worms...how to use the Atonement in all of life situations.  We have to learn to access/recognize the personal communication methods when the Holy Ghost speaks to us (that amazing gift we freely are given!!  freely!!)We have to learn to not judge and realize-- we are as common as the people around us and surrounding us and we are all okay.  We have to learn to forgive.  We have to fall in love with the fact of the Heavens being opened and the joint amazing fact that Christ speaks to our General Leaders...this leads us to a natural addiction to General Conference! We have to learn to love unconditionally.  We have to understand faith & Peter walking/sinking on the water.  We have to go to the Temple so often that we begin to feel the blessings given us and can recognize them.  Oh, did I mention--enjoying paying tithing?  We have to learn to do our Church callings and realize others will someday do that same calling, with their own twist on the details, and none of us are so unique to be the only one that knows how to do the specifics of any calling.  We can all do everything and it's all good enough.  We have to learn about Christ and develop such a closeness to Him that we never ever feel no one cares because in our learning we understand--He is always there and He knows how to comfort us.  And He will.  He does.  He cares for each of us.

And the list can go on and on.  We are all loved and we need to all love each other.

Happy Birthday to myself.  Good job self for hanging in there...for enduring and learning and growing in testimony and living 76 years.  Too many candles to set on fire!!

I'm thinking to treat myself to a Temple session.  Terry wants me to go.  He says he needs the blessing of me going!  Vicarious work for the living????