Yesterday Autumn stared out the window at the lovely snow.  Okay, stared might not be the right description.  She glanced, let out a whoop and was ready to go out now.  I kept her inside for a whole list of reasons:  I had yet to unpack the boots, coats, gloves and hats.  Some of us were recovering from the sickies and the thought of cold was soooo unappealing to me.  Our yard is dirt right now – a lovely canvas for a beautiful new lawn in the near future – but a muddy base for snow right now.  Yup, we were staying in.

This morning the boys began discussing how exciting it was that snow was here early.  Before halloween and still on the ground from the day before.  As Autumn sat on a heater vent, she looked up at me and said, “I know Heavenly Father knows everything, but do you think he accidently snowed early?”  I assured her that he knows what is best for each of us and for the earth.  The early snow would help our garden in the spring and help other things to grow as well.  Launching into my scientific explanation of the water cycle, Autumn looked up at me with big eyes and said, “I know!!  Heavenly Father made it snow early so that kids could have fun.”

Needless to say, the late morning was spent unpacking and the early afternoon was spent outdoors building mini snowmen and forts.  Muddy snowballs flew and “icicle popsicles” were licked and enjoyed.  

p.s.  The recipe according to Autumn is to “just pick off an icicle and dip it in the snow”.

Early this morning my hunny went off to work and I snuck out to the garden to get some fresh-air and dirt.  I heard one neighbor across the street getting all his camping gear together.  I saw another neighbor run by all-ambitious-like (not quite how I run, when I do 😉 ).  I got to thinking how we all have different reasons for getting up early – on a Saturday.  When you could sleep in and choose not to.  I don’t enjoy the act of gardening.  I really don’t.  What gets me up early then?  The promise of food in the future. Fresh and yummy veggies – yup!  I’ll get up early for that.

was our betta fish.

We have not had good luck with bettas. After the first two, I decided we would not have any more. However, I forgot to inform my family. My brother and sister-in-law that happen to teach in the nursery for church, decided to give my son Joshua a betta for his birthday. (They had used it for the lesson on fish the week before.)

We had given all the fish equipment away, so we used a mason jar, bought a small jar of food and figured he wouldn’t make it long anyway. Joshua named him Ralph and then over time it became “Ralph the Rainbow”. He was over 4 months old when he died this morning. Jim Bob cleaned his water last night and our best guess is that the temperature was too cold.

I was doing just fine, explaining how the fish’s spirit was gone, when Joshua said, “But I will miss my fish”, broke into tears and collapsed on my lap. That was hard and all I could do was cry along with him.

It gave me better understanding of the scripture in John 11:35, “Jesus wept”, when he was mourning with Mary and Martha. Jesus mourned with those that mourned and comforted them. Another scripture, Mosiah 18:8-10 (in The Book of Mormon) talks about the covenants we make at baptism – this one in verse 9 stands out to me right now “Yea and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life…”

I give thanks for beautiful animals – and for beautiful children who love those animals.

We will all miss Ralph the Rainbow.

Remembering those who have gone before… and experienced before… I attended a book club tonight. For the first month we read “Night” by Elie Wiesel. I had read it in high school, but it has been years. The version I read was a little bit different as well. This book hit me much more powerfully this time. I’m not sure if it is because I am a mother now, that I have experienced a little bit more of life (12 years or so), or that the version was what touched me. Books like this are hard for me to read, but I also feel that they are important. It is essential to learn about and remember history. I few thoughts I came away with tonight were:

1. I am so thankful for the freedom and life that I enjoy. Incredibly thankful.
2. I wonder how I would feel and react in that type of situation. I pray that I would be strong and help others.
3. I want to build up a well of strength now, in case I ever need to rely on it. I want to have vivid, strong, wonderful memories of my husband and children. If we were ever seperated, I know I would come back to those memories time and time again. I want to have so many of them – just overflowing. And then I will pray that I will always be around to make more of those memories. One lady cross-referenced Elie’s book with one by Viktor E. Frankl, “Man’s Search for Meaning”. He talks about how he kept an image of his wife in his mind. He did not know if she was dead or alive, but he knew how much he loved her. He used his memory of her to survive. I want to be the kind of woman that is inspiring, loving, beautiful inside and out… a strength to her husband and children.

To top off a wonderful evening of discussion – I found out that Mr. Wiesel is coming to give a lecture in a town less than ten miles away. He will be speaking at the end of next month at the college nearby. I have it marked on my calendar.

p.s. I made three delicious loaves of bread with my Bosch today. Easy and tasty! Jim Bob and the kiddos grated some cheese for tonight’s dinner (taco salad) in the Bosch as well. That lady has a lot of get up and go. Hmmm, I feel that she deserves a name. I will have to think on that one. Night all.