RAIN, RAIN, GLORIOUS RAIN

I was going to title this post: "Rain, rain, go away," but thought, How ungrateful. We are coming out of a drought and I am whining about the rain. One of the talks in church yesterday was about gratitude, and so I'm going to be grateful. The rain as glorious. That's what I've decided. And really, it is.

Glorious rain. Washes the earth clean of the stains of all kinds of things from the potting soil I spilled to the dirt on the car. The dust is washed off the trees, the grass is refreshed, the streams and rivers are plumped and the fish eat bits of tasty fish-snacks that have tumbled into the water.

The weather is cool. Perhaps next week we will be sweltering, the air conditioners thrumming into the evenings. One neighbor runs his air conditioner all night. No open windows for him. They should know the feel of the breeze--if there is one--or the joy of kicking off covers and sleeping on top of the sheets.

When the kids were younger and our car's air conditioner gasped it's last we rolled the windows down. When we passed cars with the window's rolled up I would tell the kids, "Oh, look at those poor people. They don't get to experience summer." We laughed our way though the hot days and didn't feel sorry for ourselves a bit.

And so, I am going to love the rain tomorrow and if we get rain the next day I am going to enjoy that too. And if we get sweltering days I am going to kick covers. I'm going to experience whatever we get and be happy about it.

I'm even going to repent of all my whining about the endless winter. Yes sir-ree, I'm going to repent.

We aren't going to get more winter, are we? Because it's easier to repent if you know there won't be a repeat of what caused all the whining in the first place. No more winter, right? I'm just askin'.

I CAN HARDLY WALK AND IT'S MY OWN FAULT

Last night was our Christmas Enrichment. It was wonderful. We always have pot luck for the Christmas Enrichment and everyone brings their best holiday food--except me, my contribution was a dismal failure--an untried recipe, I should have known. It will never be mentioned again.

The Enrichment Leader (a beautiful blond--click here to see the story about another beautiful blond--our ward is full of beautiful people, it seems), the Relief Society President and I went up to the church at 12:30 and started. We decorated tables--two long ones with red cloths, fresh greenery, gold ribbon winding among the greenery, and my Nativity--from Costco--too bad I didn't' bring food from Costco too--artificial candles (that light) and a golden "boingy" Christmas tree with a gold star for the center, standing over Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph. It was beautiful. That was our savory table. As it turned out we should have had three savory tables instead of two.

Our "sweet" tables were in white, with a fabric Christmas runner, fresh greenery, artificial candles, a "boingy" Christmas tree and red ribbon decorated with gold poinsettia's winding through the greenery--again, from Costco. It was beautiful too.

The Enrichment leader practically brings her whole house full of decorations and had penguins the size of Shetland Ponies, eight Christmas stocking, hanging from large silver stocking hangers--each one different--and an army of nutcrackers--the tallest was four feet--along with all her mother's poinsettia's, about a dozen. She is an outstanding woman--besides being beautiful.

We had 12 round tables--we didn't' need that many but we panicked and had the high priests set up extras at the last minute. The tables had white cloths, most had a green topper or other Christmas topper and then twelve sisters brought their nativities for centerpieces. They were varied in style and all were lovely.

I went back to the church almost 2 hours early to finish setting up, Judy--my faithful side-kick, came and we got water ready for all the tables, the Enrichment leader and the Relief Society President came, and soon the women started to come. We didn't start on time--we never start on time. There is a running joke about Mormon Standard Time which is five to ten minutes late. After the opening prayer I looked down and realized I had forgotten napkins. I mentioned it to the other seven women at my table and they came with me, took handfuls of napkins and had the tables napkin'd in no time. That is what I smacked myself in the forehead and thought, Why didn't I remember to get a "set-up" committee and a "clean-up" committee? That's why I can't walk today--I spent almost seven hours on my feet because I'm stupid. And because I took an un-tired, not-good, never-to-be-mentioned-again dish and the humiliation makes me weak in my aching knees.

The night was absolutely filled with wonderful friends, good food, a program put on by two women in our ward and one from our stake--beautiful music and good feelings. I wish I could carry the feeling of love and goodwill with me all year. Until then, next year's Enrichment will be lovely and I will bring good food and will have lots and lots of help. Lots and lots and lots of help.

May all your Christmas--or Hanukkah--or whatever seasonal celebrations you have--be filled with beauty and good will, good food, loving family and friends and lots of help.

PS I must mention that many women stayed to help clean up or I wouldn't be walking today at all. Bless their hearts. And bless yours for wading through this post which was kind of whiny.

PPS Please send your best Christmas recipes to me so I won't have to repeat last night's food fiasco. Which I'm not going to mention again.

I'M PRETTY SURE I DISLIKE THE DARK TODAY

I don't think I came from a world where there was night. I pretty sure I dislike this darkness that seeps in after the earth turns away from the sun. I like it dark to sleep in but I wonder, did we sleep in our life before here?

I like to see my neighbor's Christmas lights, which I couldn't see if there was no darkness. Three have them up, two across the street and one next door but I have to go outside--in the dark--to see the next door lights so unless I'm out driving or walking I won't see them much. Besides that, the dark here represents the cold and I dislike the cold, too.

So, I'm boycotting the darkness today. I am pretending that the sun is merely winking and the light will be back on in a minute. It will be warm outside and we can go play.

In the meantime, I go to the window, open the blinds and look out at the neighbor's houses. It makes me happy to see the color and cheer as long as I have to endure the darkness today. I should thank them. I should write them a nice letter--and then I will have only 72 letters left to make my last year's New Year's Resolution.

I should encourage Phil to put our lights up too so they can be happy to see our lights, just in case they are disliking the darkness today too.

And I guess I should quit whining because, really and truly, nobody likes a whiner. But I just had to whine a little because I am disliking the darkness, today. I simply am.