"Positively 4th Street"

This song came on my Ipod as I was running on the treadmil. I had heard it many times before, but this time was different.
I forgot where I was for a moment. I was no longer jogging in one place, in the sun-room of Sharon's house. I was living those words, every word. On that day, I could not believe that this song existed.
I jumped off the treadmill, and I flew down the windy staircase. I plugged in my Ipod and turned it up.
"Sharon, this song is for us. This was written for us today. This makes so much sense. You have to hear this," I called up to her.
I wiped some sweat from my forehead and swung back up the stairs. Sharon smiled when I told her the name of the song.
"Yeah this is a good one," she smiled, piling blouses in a suitcase.
"Listen, listen," I said pointing down stairs. "This is so powerful."
I heard her laugh from her room as I shouted the words. I danced until the house grew quiet again.

I needed that song.

Like a Motherless Child.

In church today, Sharon looked at me curiously.
"As you've been talking, this song came to my mind. It came in my mind twice, but I just can't think of the name. It's like 'Motherless Child' or something," she whispered.
"That sounds familiar. I think I know what you are talking about."
"Let's look it up when we get home okay," she said with her eyes searching.

It's weird how the Lord answers prayers sometimes. He remembers the prayers that I forget about. Sharon leaning over to me in Relief Society telling me about that song was definitely a little sign of love from my Father in Heaven. This is the song that I have been looking for lately. This is the song that I need to sing. I am not sure why I need this song right now, but it seems to fit. I have been humming it as I made dinner and while I washed the dishes.

I may even try Egg Nog. . .

I don't really feel like writing today. However, I am making a goal: I want to force myself to see beauty every day, and I want to keep track of it.

I'm sitting here watching Sharon pinching two crochet needles in her small, pointed fingers. She talks in between her stitching, as Matt messes with the Christmas lights. The lights hanging around the trimming inside the house flicker. Matt stands over the small, wooden box-- which holds the key to the entire Christmas buzz in this house. The box, with green and red Nintendo buttons, controls all of the lights. It's like a dream. In two clicks we have Christmas.

*******
Matt and I decorated for Christmas recently. We listened to Vince Guaraldi Trio- A Charlie Brown Christmas as I strung the strands of lights to Matt (who stood on a huge ladder) pinning them to the wall. I needed something to distract me, and Christmas decorations made a lot of sense in that moment.

Our goal was to use every decoration that Sharon had in her house. We covered the place. When Sharon finally got home, I was burnt out. I searched for somewhere to hang the last-blasted-batch of bows. I tiredly weaved the tiny bows on the small Christmas tree in the kitchen.

"Oh wow. Oh wow, wow, wow. Look at this," she smiled under the warm glow from the living room.
"I really needed this. You guys, wow. Thank you. How can I ever repay you? This is just so great. I can't believe you did all this, just the two of you," she trailed slowly throughout the house.
"Oh look you even put little bows on this tree," she laughed touching the bristles on the tree.

I smiled and sat quietly on the floor. I felt so at peace. It was exactly what we all had hoped for.

What's Cookin'?

I really like this blog. My goal is to try out some of these recipes. I like cooking for other people, not so much for myself.
http://thisiswhyyourethin.blogspot.com/

I'm not a practicing vegetarian; but I really like this site. It has a lot of great meals, and I really like the way it's organized.
http://http//www.101cookbooks.com/vegetarian_recipes/

This was lunch the other day: black beans and quinoa, lemon juice and veggies, and a peach Fresca. :)

A Room of My Own

So I do have a room; it's not my own, but I love it. I am staying with a friend, Sharon Morgan, for a while.
I woke up this morning to the whisper of wind chimes outside and the sun glowing through the window overhead. Patches barked eagerly and scratched at the door. "Go away," I groaned pulling the covers over my shoulders.
His bark turned into a shrill cry. He whined in little helpless barks. I shot out of the layered blankets. Something must be wrong with Sharon, I thought.
I darted around the corner to find her bedroom empty.
"What is it Patches what's wrong?" He looked up at me plainly.
"You woke me up for nothing?" I snapped.
I sat back down on the bed unzipping my scripture case. I must have dreamed something awful because I felt terrible. I felt really alone. Manny--the black and white cat-- sprung up on the bed with me. She purred quietly as I read. She occasionally gazed up at me: her pale-green eyes with narrow black slits. (Manny is such a majestic looking cat).
I knew reading my scriptures would help. They always seem to bring gradual morsels of comfort. Some small line caught my attention, and it literally put me at ease. I am not sure how God's power works, but his words are so healing.

****
Crystal and I talked about the things we really miss from our missions. We decided that structure is a huge part. I miss having so much purpose each day. Things are so clear. I knew what I needed to get done each day, and we always had a plan.
Yes, watching movies like A Room With a View is always nice, but I miss accomplishing so much in one day. I know that I will feel more of that structure once school starts. However, I am trying to figure out how to construct my days until then.
*******
I am reading Josh Ritter's book Bright's Passage . It's great so far. I love the way that his detail moves. He has a keen sight for detail and he gives it purpose (which I love). His prose reminds me a lot of his music. I can almost hear that same rhythm in his book. Yet, there are some themes that I don't connect with, and I am not sure what he is going to do with them. We'll see. . .
****
This spot in the house is all I seem to need lately. It's so quiet.

The Shelf and the view