189 Now I Have NO Excuse

We have been dog-sitting this week, and as the LT was out walking the neighbor's dog, he called to tell me that some friends down the street (who are moving next week) were getting rid of their elliptical. 

We have often talked about getting one, but they are pretty expensive, and then where would we put it!?

Well, we couldn't pass up the deal, so he wheeled it home. 

I have been meaning to get to the gym, but don't really like leaving the girls alone too long, and my shoes are too small and... now I have no excuse to not get some cardio in!

(BTDubs...I don't think this will be it's permanent home, I like that I can watch TV and hang with the girls here, but I think if we put it in the back room it won't get used!)

188 Posed

The DQ had a birthday party to go to, so rather than give a boring gift card, we decided I would make the girl some headbands. Before we wrapped them up, I had the DQ model them so I could remember how they looked. (I promised the girls I would make them some later)

I love how she is trying not to smile here. She enjoyed doing the modeling, that's for sure. 

I think she looks like she's full of attitude in the one, but luckily, she typically is not!!

187 Worth It

I didn't even bring my camera! This instagram will have to suffice.

The LT was off again today and we had a lovely lazy day.

For dinner, we drove all the way out to Auburn for Chipotle. It had been a long time since we'd done that and it was SO delicious.

186 Celebrate!

Happy Independence Day!!!

185 Sleepover

The girls have been getting along really well this summer. They typically do, but they have been playing more than ever, probably because Bean is getting older and easier to play big-kid things with. 

They have been begging for a "sleepover" where Bean sleeps in the DQ's room. 

After the DQ's surgery, her generous grandmother ordered her a memory foam mattress for her. We kept the regular mattress that was on her bed so that Bean can use it when we upgrade her to a twin bed. 

It made a perfect bed on the DQ's floor. 

I love these two sweet girls!!!

184 New Trick

Miss Bean loves gum.

She decided today that she needed to learn how to blow a bubble.

She tried and tried with her "fruity juice" (juicy fruit) but had minimal success.

We had to go to Target today to get new surge protectors* so I promised her I'd get her some real bubble gum.

She practiced and practiced and finally, this!

She was so impressed with herself! Me too! Her jaw was pretty tired after that, so she'll have to work on it more later. That's quite a skill for a 5 year old!

Now to work on tying those shoes...

*side note...surge protectors work! Two of ours blew out on Friday, but they sacrificed themselves to save our appliances, specifically the computer. While our renters insurance would have covered the purchase of a new one, the fact that I hadn't backed up my photos on anything more than the external hard drive that was also plugged in worried me. I will now be placing these babies in a cloud as well!*

183 Do You Believe in Miracles?

I do.

We went to church today, happy for the escape and some normalcy. The LT then visited the Cusseta group, which is an area south of us that is too small to have a ward (or even a branch for that matter), but is far enough that they can have meetings there. The area is mostly trailers and dirt. There are a lot of people is rough conditions out there. The LT had decided that he needed to start going there to help teach and just be a new face in the area.

He was so glad he went. He was able to teach and bear his testimony of the love of our Heavenly Father for us. There was a woman there who had attended for a long time, but would never pray aloud or share her testimony. Today she did. He said it was a wonderfully spiritual experience.

After he got "home" I went to a friend's so I could use her scanner to email something. After we chatted a little bit, the girls and I went back to our house to get a few things. 

Just as we were pulling up, we noticed a maintenance man and several other workers over at the house next door (literally - we are connected). The maintenance man, Danny, caught my eye and started walking over to me. He said "Do you have power?" 

"No, not since Friday. Well, we have a little, but we have been out of the house since Friday."

Just about then, another man walked over and I explained the whole situation. He said that we were not getting full power from the power lines. He said that there was a truck from the power company on their way now, and that it should only take them about 15 minutes to fix it.

My jaw dropped.

As promised, about 8 minutes later a truck pulled up. We watched as a man got in the cherry picker and worked on the lines while another one got on the roof and worked on the area where the line connects to the house.

After about 15 minutes, Danny came over with a huge grin and said "It's fixed!"

I had him come to our house and check the a/c and all of the appliances. They dryer started right up, everything seemed to be working!

I let the LT know that we would be sleeping at home tonight. He didn't believe me!

What a miracle.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized how miraculous the events of today were. The neighbors came home today from being out of town. Had they not called and got the right person who thought to look at the exterior power, someone might well have rewired their house as well. Had I not been stopping by the house at that time, we may not have known that the problem was fixed until at least Monday. And every maintenance man had a different idea, and no one seemed to be talking to each other about it, they very well may have rewired our whole house not realizing the problem had been fixed!

Regardless, I am just so grateful to be home.

Reflecting on this situation, I feel really stupid.

I have been closely following the news of the fires in Colorado, and my heart has broken for the families there. They have truly been stressed and worried. Three hundred and forty six families no longer have homes to go to. I could just swing by mine and pick up something if I needed to.

In church today, several people spoke of friends of theirs who recently lost two of their sons in a tragic boating accident. 

Ugh. I have nothing to complain about. I am so blessed. Our family is so blessed. Things have been stressful because of the uncertainty of our future, but that is nothing compared to what so many others are going through.

That being said, I am so grateful that even in my tiny trials, the Lord is still looking out for me. He was there to comfort me, and remind me that He is in control and that bad things happen, and sometimes, they just have to happen, but if we have enough faith in Him, and it is His will, He can perform miracles in our lives.