Happy story of the day

I was having a rough day today - things at work are pretty stressful with all of the budget cuts, State legislature cuts, Medicare cuts, and just the economy in general. I was talking to Tom about how stressed I was feeling and he re-told me this story. It is one of those things that no matter how many times I have heard it - It cheers me up, so I thought I would share.

"Caprice, I just remembered something that happened a while ago.
I had just met a guy at work and he was still trying to convert me to being a "Real" Christian. We were out at his truck and I had just finished giving him my "Names Don't Matter" story (That is a story I will tell another time) Then he started talking about faith and strength. The night before he and his Dad had hosted a thing called "strength for Jesus" which is apparently when really strong guys get really stronger by loudly proclaiming their faith in Jesus, doing things like ripping phonebooks in half, throwing cars, bending re-bar in their teeth and what not. To prove his point he reaches into the back of his truck and throws me a frying pan that has been bent in half, telling me as he does that "no Mormon has faith like that". I held the pan in my hand, had a good look at it and then I straightened the bent frying pan and tossed it back into his truck. "
"If I was witty I would have said something really cool at this point, but all I could think to say was: " I believe in Jesus, that helps" .
His mouth dropped open and he gagged on his cigarette, later I saw him trying to re bend it. He was too upset to even talk to me for about two days."

That story makes me happy because of two things;
First , it is so TOM, he is really very strong - in multiple ways: physically, spiritually and he is my rock. He is there to lean on, to support me and to keep me grounded. I am so grateful for him.

Second, it is good to remember that when things seem impossible - believing in Jesus always helps.

It has been an eventful couple of weeks

It kind of reads like one of those stories each person gets to add their own line-

It all started with . . . .

my sister-in-law getting engaged (while we were at Disneyland);

I am so excited for Jessie and Jed.

and then . . .

My Aunt Carrol got married, we returned just in time! Dwayne is a great addition to the family.

and before we knew it . . .
It was time for the Hilton Halloween Party! (Tom and I were a voodoo witch and full size Voodoo doll of uncle Layne.)

Then unexpectedly . . .
My sweet Grandma Burnham got ill,

when . . .

it was clear that she was not going to recover, Emma fell at school and broke her arm!(what a break it was! we will know this week if she will have to have surgery)

a short two days later . . .
Grandma passed away. Her funeral was last week. She had a wonderful life but it is so hard to have her gone. I know that Grandpa will be very lonely without her.

Of course there is the best part of October. . .

Halloween - and all the fun that goes with it;

then as we were getting home to weigh the candy . . .

Tom had an audition - in Washington DC - so he and I packed our bag on Halloween night flew out on Saturday morning


and came home on Sunday evening. It was short - but really awesome to see the Capital, Lincoln Memorial, the Library of Congress . . . we just rushed through it all. It was very inspiring being there with the election so close.

Now don't forget . . .
to pick up Emma glasses (dang it - they make her look grown up)



We had only just unpacked . . .
and it was now that special Tuesday where we get to vote. Being in D.C. made voting that much more important to me.

as we fell asleep watching the news sites . . . .

We woke up to winter and a magical dusting of snow. My very wise and old at heart daughter said when she looked out the window, "How can we not be happy when we know we have fresh snowballs to make?"

So much has gone on - I have just been taking all of my emotions and filing them away - I hope to have time to deal with them sooner rather than later.