"Give a smile"

Day 287

It really was fun getting to do Outreach storytimes this week. (These were my first.) The children were so excited to see us, so well behaved, so eager to be read to and join in the songs. Their voices made my heart happy. Their smiles were joyous and uplifting.

This is why I put up with all of the admin stress; I'm grateful for the constant reminders.

Stop some of the bleeding

Day 286

I required taking sick leave today. But I managed to work and achieve a workable stopping point (though I'm still thinking of all the things I should have tried to do). And once home, I managed a bath to try and ease some pain, and a nap to try and right the mental and physical state. And had two simple, nu-tritious and de-licious meals.

It was only a small bandage for the serious wounds, but I am grateful I had it available and was able to have it, too.

A never-failing joy

Day 285

Our new Institute teacher mentioned that he thought we should have pizza. Maybe on a monthly basis. Who am I to argue with that?

The first time he brought it, I was unable to attend Institute because I was working. I thought I had recently missed the second pizza treat for the same reason. Yet last night at FHE, I found out that the pizza was for tonight.

I kid you not: I spent 24 hours thinking about that pizza. Longing for it. Hoping for it. I had so much joy, expectation, dreaming, and support from the belief of that pizza coming. (I don't get pizza often, if you couldn't tell.)

But it wasn't pizza. It was Papa John's pizza.

Ah sweet entity in a realm of its own.

With a little effort, a lot of fun

Day 284

I love a day off. Sleeping in. Reading. Watching a movie. Time to cook a real meal, and sit down to eat it. A real day of relaxation. But add to that one thing I don't usually get any more. Because it was not a typical day off for others, the branch did not cancel FHE. Which meant, I could go. Only, I need to conserve gas, so I needed a ride. One part of me could have used that as an excuse to just stay home in my comfort zone. But I knew I should go, so with combined efforts, I got one!

Do you know what a difference it makes to have someone else drive you to an activity which typically sets you into high stress mode? It lessens it a great deal and puts me on a slightly more comfort zone. It also helps that there were not dozens of people there, so I was able to keep anxiety down to a minimum. And of those who were there, the people do not tend to cause me anxiety in general.

So the minimal stress that did develop was also dispelled, which allowed for a (now) different kind of evening that was highly fun and enjoyable.

10-10-10

Day 283

So, what am I to be grateful and joyful about on this fun day?

Plenty.

But I have one that really stands out to me right now:

As I prepared for our Sunday School lesson in reading, marking, comparing, and studying the first 6 chapters of Isaiah, I noticed that I was truly loving and enjoying it!

Playing

Day 282

I was "senior staff" today at work, and it was not a nice, slow, no-cares, no-worries day. We were hopping! And short of staff. And had a program (which turned out well--yay for mini yarn dolls that you can call scarecrows!). And a serious and confusing patron complaint. It was a whole different kind of exhausted when I left work.

But the day wasn't over! I had some editing to do, though it was a very different kind of editing. Interesting, but "wow" with the brain. At least I was able to check the scores for the game that BYU won!! (Finally.)

Yet it wasn't any ol' game. It was Homecoming game. I have a particular connection to BYU Homecoming. Depending on what is going on in my life, it can be happy, sad, silly, fun, or all kinds of things. As this year, especially these last 5 months, I have been extremely nostalgic, this Homecoming proved to be nostalgic. And I thought I'd grown out of the need for it, but I don't think I will ever grow out of that need. Oh well. If you're going to be a Janeite, you might as well live it up:

I dressed up for Homecoming!

And proceeded on to having my own enjoyable evening to remind me of just how wonderful life really is.

"And we'll have fun, fun, fun..."

Day 281

A "real" Friday night. At least, one like the good ol' (though not so long ago) college days when I got to spend it with roommate(s). This one was complete with some of our marathon. A trip to a store (I have yarn to complete one of my blankets!). A stop to get the ever-wonderful Frosty. (Chocolate, of course.) And as both of us have work tomorrow, there's no worry about one hoping the other will stay up longer so the fun can keep going.

How nice that the good, clean, fun times--no matter what they involve--are always there to be had!