First Day of School!

Today's the first day of school!  My first day at a UNIVERSITY! Of course, it's online but still, this is pretty major for me.  
I'm feeling excitement for what's to come, a bit of anxiousness to do well and not get overwhelmed, happiness to achieve this educational opportunity and hopefulness of getting along with my peers and learning from them.
Seriously, I'm so excited!!!

Friendship and Grief.

About an hour ago, my best friend texted me.  I completely missed her text from Saturday.  I had A LOT going on, on Saturday, between some serious family stuff, setting up a virtual meeting for the women at church and talking with a long distant aunt.  I saw a text from her come in that afternoon, after we had texted earlier that morning. I didn't get a chance to read it and had completely forgotten all about it.
The text an hour ago delivered the outcome of Saturday's missed text; the devastating news of her Dad's passing.
I wanted to be as gentle and kind to her, as she was for me when my own Dad passed about 3 years ago.  There's no way I could ever be as tender as her; she is the epitome of empathy.  I think I'm the friend you come to when you want a good laugh, a pleasant distraction. Of course I wasn't cracking any jokes, but I just wanted to distract her away from the bottomless pit of grief she was feeling in that very moment. How do you console the most empathetic person you know?  Do as they do?  Say what you would want to have said to you, if roles were reversed?
I. Don't. Exactly. Know.
This made me think of how I need to more compassionate.  We could all improve on that, right?  I just hope that maybe, just maybe, she felt some compassion or understanding from me.  If anything, I'd like her to know that I understand some of the emotions she may be experiencing right now and in the days and weeks ahead.  Maybe my compassion just comes in the form of suggesting lotion-infused tissue and eye masks to help with the puffy eyes that comes with grieving...or the recommendation of sleep and food as they can help someone feel a little more human when you feel like a robot going through the motions because your mind, body and heart seem disconnected and stunned beyond belief.
My friend, my dear sweet friend of my heart...please know how much I love you and would gladly and resolutely shoulder this pain with you if it meant that your heart could feel a little less heavy as you navigate through this new normal.  I love you.

Hosanna Shout!

Last Sunday, during the Sunday morning session, President Nelson announced a new proclamation to the world.  This proclamation is in regards to the Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was announced the day before that a Hosanna shout would occur the next day.  As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we were invited to participate in the Hosanna shout with a clean, white handkerchief. 
Since I didn't have a clean, white handkerchief, nor could I easily go to the store to buy one, I decided I would make one.  I happened to be going through photos on Saturday and came across the crocheted piece seen above.  It was a piece that my Mom did many years ago.  I thought it would be a lovely piece to add to my homemade handkerchief.  I wanted to mark it with something special to commemorate the significance of it.  I added the year in vinyl. 
The reason I love this handkerchief so much is because it is made by the sewing talent shared by my Mom and I, the crocheting talent of my Mom and the vinyl talent that I possess.  It's special because of that and just the sacredness and beauty of the proclamation that Pres. Nelson shared during this very unique General Conference. 

The 2:47am Post

I don't use this much anymore.  I do most of my daily posts on my Instagram. 
I kinda miss blogging.  Although I'm rather curious if anyone else still swings by this blog. 
I started a new blog though, I've posted there once...haven't been back since.  Just tried to log in, but I've forgotten the password and have now been sidelined for a few minutes.  Doubt I'll remember the password in a few minutes...

Anyways,  it was nice blogging for a moment. I might post again soon. 

Thoughts on a Saturday afternoon: Sleeping, blogging and studying.

My husband's asleep. 
Last night was my first time being home, alone, overnight.  I've left my husband alone for extended periods of time, like the time my Mom and I went to Hawai'i last year and 3 years ago when I had to stay with my Dad while Mom was in the hospital.
I had big ideas of cleaning our place from top to bottom. I ended up binge watching Friends and eating junk food.  Probably my laziest night, ever. It was mentally relaxing.

Anyways, this is far from what I wanted to post about.

I've been wanting to change my blog name for a while.  So much so that I thought I'd start a new blog over on Word Press.  There's a post. Just one.  It's weird to start anew like that.  Came back to this blog and realized that I could just change the blog address.  Easy peasy......if I could figure out what I wanted to change it to.  We'll see...

Other than that, I need to study our Sunday School lesson more.  T-minus 21 hours.

GOOD NEWS!!!

I received GREAT news today!!  I don't really want to share it just yet, but I'm pretty ecstatic for what this Fall will bring.  I was ready to give up hope and think that things weren't going to come together before the deadline....but it did!!! 

I can't wait for this new (and somewhat familiar) adventure!!! 

Meet Liberty & friends.

I had to do some serious updating to this blog.  Not major, but I did have to replace Lava's name with Liberty's, since Lava passed away last year.  This is Liberty.  Can you see why he has this name?  He's a beautiful red, white and blue.  

He's such a great little fish.  He's surely grown since these photos from the day I got him, August 12, 2018.  He doesn't swim around as much as before.  I think he's getting old.  Makes me sad.  He's the oldest betta in the office.  I hope I have a few more months with him.  I love having a pet fish.  Bettas are just so beautiful.  I've since added 3 neon tetras and 1 snail (there were 2, one died...or was hibernating for a long time and looked dead.).  

So that's Liberty!  I wish I had an even bigger fish tank at home.   It's so enjoyable just watching them swim around....that is, when I have a free minute at work to watch them.  :)