Adversity and Trials

I know. Sometimes I think too much. I have thought about my topic a great deal and this post is merely me trying to sort out my thoughts.

The talks this month in Sacrament meeting and other meetings has been adversity. I looked up adversity in my trusty dictionary; "adverse fortune or fate, misfortune, calamity." Under trial I found, "the act of trying, testing, or putting to the proof."

I have often wondered when considering the trials we all go through, are we comparing apples to apples? Or apples to oranges? Is there such a thing as one person's trial being "worse" than another's? Or is it a perception based on one's life experience?

Am I digging too deep? What is a greater trial? Loss of employment, death of a loved one, money problems, illness? Is there such thing as a greater trial or are they equal in that each has the purpose of refining and we all don't need the same refining?

These are real questions. I would love your input and insight. Feel free to comment now.

And this cannot go unmentioned.

Today is our beloved Beagle, Berkeley's birthday. Berkeley is 5 years old today and yes, he is named after the college. No, I did not go there. I just liked the name. Please don't mistake him for that floppy dog on Sesame Street, "Barkley".

Berkeley has a very befitting name. He is a very good dog, and he loves his Grandma Johnson. Berkeley and I have a very interesting relationship. He has learned to communicate to me what he wants. For instance, when his food dish is empty and he is hungry, he can't very well open the food container and scoop himself a helping. (Something about poseable thumbs?) He will come up to me, tail wagging, with an earnest and wanting look on his face, and give me the slightest "woof".

Now this "woof" could mean several things. First it's "Mom, I have a problem and I need you to help me." I will get up from my desk, and he will most certainly follow, and investigate the food and water situation. If the food dish is empty, I will fill it up. Sometimes though, the food is in the dish it's just that his dish is not in the proper place. A little high falootin' I know, but that's what he likes!

The other night he came and got me to tell me that his water was unacceptable. I went and investigated and there was a live cricket in the water dish. Well, I wouldn't want a cricket in my drink either and what the heck business did that cricket have IN my house? Problem solved and all was right again in the land of Berkeley.

So Berkeley, happy 5th birthday puppy. I know he is no longer a puppy, but we call him one anyway.

It's a boy!

Twenty one years ago, a baby boy was born. Every year I remind him that his birthday was supposed to be July 28th, but he showed up 9 days late for his party!

Andrew had big plans set for this day. He got up this morning and took a trek to the MVD to get his new driver's license. It's all about status, you know. Can't be seen driving around town with a red "under 21" box on the license. People will talk.

Andrew had big plans for the $60,000,000.00 he is sure he is going to win on his first lottery ticket. I told him I don't want him gambling, but, is it bad that he wants to give his father and I 5 mil each?

He has big plans to buy his first gun. Not just any gun. He'll need it someday when his dreams of being a police officer are realized. Now, the cities only need to get more money so that they can hire him. Andrew wants to get his CCW as well. Something about carrying a weapon in public............

It's ironic. All through my children's childhoods, I forbid them any toy guns. But, if you have ever had a boy, they will make a gun out of anything: Legos, clay, cardboard, you name it! So much for learning a healthy respect for guns under my tutelage.

"I'm an adult Dad, I can buy beer." This is what Andrew announced to his father. Followed by, "then I would open it and pour it on the ground!" Stinker.

So, amid all this gun toting, lottery winning, and beer buying and pouring it on the ground, I'm left with a 21 year old son. My how the time flies! I remember his birth as though it happened yesterday. When I see that baby now, I see the man he is becoming. Andrew you are a thoughtful and kind, most wonderful son. I'm so glad Heavenly Father sent you to your Dad and I. Happy Birthday!

Everyone has feelings.

Every year at this time, and days in between, I get melancholy. Refer to my previous post as to why.

I love this picture of Brittany and her baby girl. I call her "our baby girl" because we have shared her with a wonderful family who is raising her well and in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This picture takes me back to those days, 3 years ago, when our family literally had to cocoon ourselves together away from the pointing fingers and verbal assaults upon our daughter and our family. This picture reminds me of the special time we got to spend with a very special daughter of our Heavenly Father. She was brought here for a purpose, even if that purpose was to touch our lives for a time, and leave us.

This picture reminds me of the great and quiet sacrifice of a young mother.

This picture reminds me of the great love our Father in Heaven and our Savior, Jesus Christ has for all of his children.

My daughter, and her daughter, continue to bring much joy into my heart and into my life. I love the quiet moments I have with my daughter when we talk about "our baby girl".

This picture reminds me of a saying I know. I don't know who said it, "Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Others stay a while, make footprints on our hearts and we are never, ever the same."

I am forever changed.

Happy Birthday, Sweet One.

Happy Birthday beautiful girl! Loving and missing you every day from afar. Thank you for the light you have brought into so many lives. Words do not adequately express what you mean to so many. We love you so much.

Way excited!

Drumroll please! There has been a surge of inquests as to what my new calling is. I am super excited about it! I can hardly wait to get started! It is the ultimate in callings. I am .........would you look at that hangnail? How'd that happen? I lotion my hands everyday. I sure could use a manicure. My cuticles, uugghh.

Oh yes, where were we. My calling! I'm giddy with excitement. I have so much to plan! What? I haven't told you what it is yet? I am the new............doorbell. Wonder who that is? Valynn was gonna come by an hour ago. Avon lady? No. She won't be by until Tuesday. I'll go see.................

It was Valynn. She brought by some stuff. Have you ever seen Forever Strong? Well, she borrowed it from Elizabeth and then she just brought it over to me. I've heard it's really good. Maybe I'll watch that tonight while I fold laundry.

Okay, so where were we? Oh yes, my new calling! Look at this pile of books. I'm so behind on my reading. So much to do, so little time. I think I need a second pair of glasses. I just got these in November. They help alot. Can't seem to read much anymore without them. I'm not really ready to graduate to large print items. We'll save that for when I really need them.

Oh, the laughter of boys. Mark had a sleepover with the Allred boys last night. They are finally waking up. Actually, Valynn woke them up. It's a good thing. Mark's days and nights have been blurred by the long summer break and the absence of a bedtime. We reinstated it, but it's been rough. You know, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink? We can lead Mark to bed by 10:00pm, but we can't make him sleep.

Judge Mathis. The folks on that show must be from somewhere in the ghetto. No, I don't watch it. Background noise. I think I'll change the channel. Or better yet, I'll turn it off. No sense in using perfectly good electricity that can be better used by the air conditioner! Boy, it's sure hot here! Why in the world did my mother move us to the desert? I swore that when I turned 18, I was gonna leave this state for cooler pastures. What? I'm still here.

Hmmmm. Brittany is off today. My back has really been bothering me. I wonder if I could cajole her into giving her mommy a massage today? She'll know by my knots that I'm really in need.

What was this blogpost supposed to about again? Let me scroll back to see where I started. (Pause while I scroll up and re-read.)

I'm back. My calling! I have been selected from a very select group in a very select geographical area to be the new..........activity days leader! This is the cherry of callings. Not only do I get to keep the rapport that I have with the Primary children, but I get to go to Relief Society too. Sweet Momma Moses, I've hit the motherlode! Jealous?

I Know.

So, you keep coming back and checking. I've been on a blog hiatus. Mostly I haven't felt that I've had anything "blogworthy" to post. Here's the long and the short of it.

--It is flipping hot out!! Makes you just not have the desire to do anything.

--Work has been a bear. Or is that a bull? Either way, I've been swamped.

--Still no camera. Period.

--Mark will be heading back to school in about 3 1/2 weeks. He has been enjoying his summer without the benefit of a bedtime. We'll need to remedy that in the next few days so that he can get back on schedule.

--I've gotten a new calling. Can't say what it is yet, since I haven't been sustained over the pulpit. More on that at a later date.

--Family stuff. Can't really delve into the details here either, as it will only serve to humiliate. Been there, done that.

--Friends. Trying to be one and not feeling as though I'm a very good one, but, I'm there for you!

--Brittany got us movie passes through her work to see Harry Potter 6 at 5:30pm the day BEFORE it came out. She had two extra tickets and since we couldn't reach the Allred boys, went over to the folks standing in line for the midnight showing and simply gave them to the first two girls in line. They had been in line since 9pm the night before!

--Andrew, a clean bill of health from his doctor with regard to his toe. All the surgery has been done and he can walk once again!

--Visits from family. Lee's brother Travis and his family came to visit from Washington. My brother and his family will be down at the end of July. His wife's family is having a family reunion......here.......at the end of JULY! Still, I'll be happy to see them.

No rest for the weary. Gotta go for now.