Chance Meeting?

Today I went to one of my favorite spots in the whole world...Target. Actually, it is more than just one of my favorite spots, it is an addiction, I mean really, who doesn't love Target? However, today I was there on a mission of sorts. I need a sun shade for my car. As I passed by an end cap (where ALL of the good bargains are found at Target) I saw a man standing looking at some of the above mentioned "bargains", but I didn't need what was there so I just kept on walking UNTIL I heard him say "you should get one of these weather stations, they work". This man was standing there, dressed in Navy blue pants, Navy blue workout jacket and carrying a backpack on his back. He was also sporting ear buds, I don't know if they were to aid him in his hearing or if it was a IPOD of sorts. He had a greyish white beard and greyish white hair and was wearing glasses. I stopped to talk with him and as I looked into his eyes I felt the most wonderful kind feeling for and about him. We chatted about the weather and he said that he had heard it had been very windy. I commented that it was going to be another windy week. He replied that he should leave town before it got bad. I asked him where he was going and he shrugged his shoulders and said, "I don't quite know yet". The kindness poured out of his soul through his eyes and I felt such a warmth coming from him. I wished him luck and safety on his journeys. We ended the conversation and I walked a few steps forward then I turned to see where he was going. GONE. He was already gone. As I walked around I wondered about him. There was just something there. I got to the front to check out and there he was, just standing, looking calm. I looked his way, he nodded his head and then slowly made his way out to the front doors. I was not far behind him and when I got to the parking lot he was GONE again.
Now, this story may seem strange to you, and it is actually a little strange to me, but I am so thankful that I stopped to have a conversation with him. I have never had something like that happen to me before, and it has me wondering. Who did I just meet?
Well that is my story for today...P.S. I don't beleive in chance meetings...EVER.

Life is not for whimps...

I know that I raised my hand when my Heavenly Father asked me if I wanted to come to earth and have a body and experience "life'. I even think that He went so far as to show me some of the types of trials that I might encounter and have to endure. Still, I voted YES. I agreed to the plan. But now I am beginning towonder if I am just a whimp...
Here I am 44 years later somedays wondering why it was that I did that. I sometimes think that maybe I was behaving like I did in the 4th grade, always chattering with my neighbors... so much so that my teacher, Mr Silva, had to send notes home to my Mom that read "Jennifer is a sweet girl but she talks too much". That's it! I wasn't listening, I was too busy talking to my neighbor! Sounds like it could be true, but I don't think that is how it went.
So I was talking to my best friend (really a sister separated at birth...no, not really) and she said "Jenn we should look at it as a compliment from Heavenly Father that he trusts us enough (she says "us" cuz she is having trials too, she also raised her hand!) with his children to have these trials with them." Ok, I suppose so. Afterall, I did raise my hand and that meant that I promised I would do whatever it took to raise his children the best that I know how, with His help, of course. So that is what I am trying to do. So for now I will keep repeating to myself, I am not a whimp, I am not a whimp, I am not a whimp.. until it finally sticks. (Maybe I should go write it repeatedly on a chalkboard like we had to do in grade school..well I never had to......did you?)
For now, I am going to find some chocolate which always makes things better...always!

It's already over?????

I'm not sure that I already went on vacation...it went too fast. Darn. I don't want to be back home yet...just a few more days...oh well, here I am...and here are some highlights of our trip!




Driving (and driving and driving) along in the hill country of Texas








This is some of the weather we had to deal with!!! It was great!


Oh and the one place you HAVE to eat at when in San Antonio (and soon Albuquerque..YAY) is Freddy's...mmmmmmmm good!! Juicy cheeseburgers, crispy skinny fries and the best frozen custard ever!








We got to see the Temple..it's colorful and big windows beckon to all to come and see it's beauty!









Well, I couldn't make this pic go the right way (surprise)! But you do know that we were in the heart of German town and so we had to eat German food, bratwurst, schnitzel and smoked sausage YUMMY! Yes I did gain a few while on this trip!!



Saw Shamu show....one of the whales just had a baby after 17 months of pregnancy, and her baby weighed 350 pounds WOW!










Saw a 4-D pirate show that about made me wet my pants...well it did wet my pants cuz stuff kept spraying us from the backs of the seats in front of us...oooo it was funny, and kinda jumpy!!!





I don't know if you can see this very well but it is a turtle basking in the sun ON TOP of an alligators nose......isn't there a life lesson about this???!!!






We located mall on the map and when we got to the place the map directed us to the mall was no longer...I guess it was taken up....OH NO! So here is Leon questioning his scouting skills...consulting the map (that was wrong by the way...we decided it was a conspiracy on the part of the rental car company to make us use more gas and put more mileage on the car ....)!!!





We had a blast just being alone together (that sounds funny)! Vacations are the best! Oh, and I did get some reading in too!!!

I hope that you all can take a relaxing vacation sometime soon too!!

Go...go away...read some books....

Ok, that is exactly what I am going to do, thanks Nacho Libre for the idea!!! (hopefully you have seen the movie and remember that line, if not...well, sorry that I have confused you...but, if you haven't see the movie, you should... you will get a good chuckle from it!!) Leon and I are going to escape from "life" for a few days and I CAN'T WAIT!!!! I think it has been a really long time since we have gotten away alone. Leon sent a loving text to me yesterday telling me how much he loved me and reminding me that we were only 2 days away from the adventure (as if I needed a reminder, there are post-it's all over my house counting down) and I should make a list of all the stuff I wanted to do. I think that this is what my reply looked like: read, eat, shop, eat, read, shop, get a massage, read, eat, nap, sea world (a must) read, eat, and hopefully see all the beautiful flowers that must be blooming this time of year. Was that too much to ask? Oh and I am NOT answering my phone! As much as I love all of you, I am turning all of my attention to my sweetie... oh yes and, of course, to my book!
I am so thankful to have a sweet husband who wants to take me places and have adventures! So off we go, with our books in hand (he took Nacho's suggestion too!!). In case you are wondering, I am reading "The Parting" by Beverly Lewis. She is a most excellent author. She lived the amish lifestyle growing up and her books are based on that same lifestye and culture, very fascinating.

Wisdom from Chocolate...really

I LOVE quotes and sayings. My scriptures are rupturing at the seams because I have so many "glue-ins" from teaching seminary. When I was younger I would cover the sunshiny yellow walls in my room with quotes, to serve as a paper path to enlightenment and happiness!! Back then I would make my own little signs (using others' wisdom of course, not my 16 year old wisdom..oh that is an oxymoron) with construction paper, markers and stickers! Nowadays, wisdom comes wrapped up in a Dove Chocolate..who wudda known? And boy was I happy the other day, while having one of "those days", when I reached into the candy bowl pulled out a luscious chocolate and unwrapped its milky goodness and...it said "After the rain, comes the rainbow". Perfect. Just what I needed to hear! So, after all these years of making my own signs, I can now turn to chocolate to get the best of both worlds...lusciousness AND wisdom all in one package!
Here is one that I found today: "Rejoice in your daily achievements"....very wise! Enough wisdom for today!

Run like the....wind

Why does the wind always have to blow? The wind gives me a complex...not a good one. So yesterday I decided that it was time to try and shed some of these extra pounds that I carry around. (This really does have to do with the wind...I promise) So, what to do?? I invested in "the firm"...I do like the workouts but I really lOVE to be outside. Walking is great but just doesn't burn the calories that I would like. I decided that maybe I should take up running. Well, more like jogging. And that is exactly what I did. So today I embarked on the adventure again only this time with different external circumstances...the wind. An angry wind....probably a north wind...with cheeks full of cold air that he blew ruthlessly in my face. I struggled down the hill with his biting bellows and then...I turned the corner. I no longer had a head wind but now a tail wind. I was getting help along my way! So as I was getting pushed along I thought about how lately the trials have rained down upon our family and I feel sometimes as if I am fighting a head wind. And then, just as I think that I cannot handle anymore I get a tailwind and the Lord pushes me along ! I am greatful for the tailwind of course that I can use to kind of "coast" when I can't run anymore. BUT I am also thankful for the headwind that allows me to become stronger and teaches me to appreciate the times when life isn't so "in my face"!! So, here's to the wind, whichever way it may blow!

The name is Grammie...

On January 7th Lauren and Derek were blessed with a beautiful baby boy named Titan...well they named him Titan..he didn't come out with that tattooed on his forehead..anyway...he is such a sweet little boy! I cannot keep my hands off him. I wasn't sure that I liked the name Grandma because I am vain and I guess I feel like I am not old enough to be one yet ( even though I really am...don't tell anyone). SO here I am with the title "Grammie"! Truth is though I would even answer to Grandma, I bet it is the sweetest sound around when it comes from little lips!!!
I was able to be in the room with her while she gave birth and what an amazing experience. It's not that I don't know how babies are born and all, really I do, but I didn't have mine the way normal people do as they were all c-sections so I was completely amazed and in awe at the whole experience!
Thank you to Lauren and Derek for being such sweet parents! I love you and boy do I love little baby T!!!!