Packing and Gratitude

Today I'm very grateful for:
1-
Not having to pack myself. I've really enjoyed not putting all of our stuff into boxes. And since it will be the first and the last time that someone else does all of the grunt work, I don't feel guilty for reading my books while they work. It's a little awkward at times, as I sit on the couch and the workers dismantle the lamp sitting on the table next to me, but not awkward enough to get me to help them. The packers are very efficient. In 2 not-full days (9-3:30), with 2 people on the first day and only 1 person on the second day, they were able to pack my 1600 square foot home into boxes. It's very strange to be in my home and not have my "things" around. Occasionally I think, "I'll go get ____" or "I'll just use ____", when really, it's all in boxes that I didn't pack and have no real clue what is in any of them.

2-
Really good friends who are willing to help. My daughter has been, shall we say, confused and bewildered by all of the changes in our home and lives in the last few days. Friends from the ward have offered to watch her and care for her. Friends have also fed us, let us hang out at their homes, offered us the use of their homes even when they won't be there, loaned books, and helped us unload our attic. When I was single and would have friends get married, I would go to their receptions, with a gift, and think, "If all of my friends get married before me, who will bring me gifts?" Well, it turned out that as my friends got married, I made other single friends and they brought gifts to my wedding (as did some of my married friends, not that I want to leave you out). This whole experience has left me with a similar wondering, "If all of my friends are so nice to me when I move away, who will help them out when they move?" and another thought, "How can I ever repay their generosity, when I won't even be here?" They all have been truly great.

3-
My daughter. When I pick her up from wherever she's been that day, I'm so grateful that we have her. She's a joy, even when she's clingy and constantly asking for Daddy. And it's great to know that she's missed me.

4-
The reminder that things really are just things and that I can live without them (books not included. See #5). When everything is packed, there's no thing to need (really just want) at the moment. It reminds me of Elder Perry's talk at conference. It was a good one!

5-
Books. Really, with nothing else to do, I've been reading a lot. Thank goodness for friends (see #2) who have lent books to me, so that I can have something to do. Without books, I might have actually helped the packers with their job. It would have been completely boring. Another post I'll write about one of the books...

Quiet Book

Against the advice of my good friend (who had made one), I made a quiet book for my daughter to use in church. There are pages with velcro, flannel, animals, shoes to tie, etc. My friend was right. It was a headache to make, took forever, cost a lot and doesn't look at all professional. However, I finished it (9 months after starting the project). If you go online, you can find them for $25. That's less than it cost me to make it. And all you have to do is click a button. And it looks professional. It will probably last longer, too (though I don't know yet). Tomorrow will be our trial run. My husband was a dear and brought up the fact that I would be sad if our daughter ruined it on the first day. He was right, of course.

The point is, listen to your good friends. They're pretty smart people . After all, they chose to be your friend, right? What could be smarter than that?

It's a Boy!

Or will be in 4 1/2 months. I had an ultra-sound and the tech was very sure. So now we have some cute pictures (really, he is a cute, little alien) to hang on our fridge. The cutest is of his feet, posing for the picture. He must have known we were looking.