Wogging!!

Everybody around here runs. The great weather makes it ideal for training all year long. This, in addition to marathon fever has gotten me somewhat interested in running. I have always thought it would be an accomplishment to run the marathon and a lot of my friends have done it. Some of them multiple times. I admit that I'm bending to some peer influence, but it seems to have only positive ramifications. Anyway, my friend and I are running (4 miles) and commiserating about treadmills and the utter monotony that accompanies its use and she said- "I guess the treadmill's okay when there's inclement weather." and I laughed because we don't ever have inclement weather (A flash flood here and there, Yes, but no real inconveniences). THE RESULT-- NO EXCUSES. So, I'm out there "running", but it's really somewhere between a walk and a jog-- a Wog. I'm not in it for the glory, I just want to make it home. Slow and steady wins the race-- or at least doesn't pass out at the finish line.

CURSED! BLESSED!!!!!!!!!!

So, it's hard not to feel a little paranoid. Since May we have had so many things break down-- Elctronic, mechanical, Physiological.. We've replaced a water heater, need to replace a refrigerator, have repaired and re-repaired Rob's Eye and Nate's special places, and have made approximately $1000 of repairs to each of our cars. I'm a little afraid to get up in the morning. It kind of reminds me of the people in the Book of Mormon who's stuff keeps disappearing.

As soon as they repent, it stops happening. So I've really been examining what it is that I need to repent of to stop this madness of deterioration. Let me count the ways. Impatience, opinionatedness, failure to be charitable at every turn, idleness, lack of gratitude, etc. (Oh, did I mention my food storage is not up to snuff). These are only some of the myriad ways I do not measure up.

After some introspection I came to the realization that I can't stop the madness any more than I can get laundry done in a day at my house. Stuff just happens, whether we're faithful or not. But if I AM faithful, and read my scriptures like I ought and try in every way to be kind and good, I will have the blessing of knowing who I am, where I come from, and the sure understanding that it's a car, a fridge, hot water, for heaven's sake- not some divine punishment or a reason to question my testimony. The other things-- those requiring the healing hand of the Lord have come and I am so blessed. When I look at all that I do have, I am astonished, and humbled.

Nathan's Surgery

So when Nate was first born, his circumcision didn't heal right-- We had surgery done in May, but the Doc said it was just too bad of a case for him and he refferred us to a Doctor at Primary Children's. Soon after we had Robert's eye problems hit us and it has just been a whirlwind crazy time since. Finally -- last week after Labor Day, the specialist at Primary Children's did Nate's surgery. It took fifteen minutes. He was the best Patient. He hardly cried.
I had a few heart wrenching moments. I was in the waiting room. They told me it would be fifteen minutes (a relief because I thought it would be much more difficult) and I sat down to wait. Another mom came in and she said that she had been told her surgery would last 5 hours. Just thinking about it now, I'm tearing up. What a scary thing. I feel so blessed and while I'm not asking for any reminders about how blessed I am, I am planning on being much more grateful from now on.