On to February

I'm at that time of year where it seems like I get a little sick of winter and what it means for us. I think I do much better when I don't have to battle Jackson to put coats on, when I don't have to wear socks, when I don't have to scrape ice off the car, when I don't slip and fall at least twice a week, when I don't have to figure out inside things to do, when I don't have to go to the library to "get energy out", when I don't have to pack blankets in the stroller... do you get the point? We've been a busy little group lately. Jackson's definitely outgrown our little apartment and starting to go stir crazy himself. James took on a part time job back at the hospital's speed clinic (as if his load wasn't already big). BUT, hopefully it will lead to something for summer and at least it'll add a little more to savings every month. We've started interviews with work to hire for the summer and next year. That just means that the majority of afternoons I'm gone and I hate when I start to feel this busy. I like work better when I do it during nap time or 6:00 in the morning before everyone gets up. But you know, it's all worth it.

I have a very strange resident this semester, we'll call him "ALEX". Alex touches people (rubs legs, runs his fingers through my hair, etc.) and talks very monotonous. I have always tried to avoid him, but seem to run into him constantly. When he started even more eccentric behavior, I took him to meet with our psychologist, Tom. The meeting informed us all that Alex must just have a developmental disorder. Intelligently he's a genius, but socially, he never made it past 5-6 years old. It hit me real hard how blessed I am to get to know people like this. People that most of my life I probably would have avoided. I became really grateful that I do learn how to deal with ANY sort of person. It made the long hours worth it to have that little change in perception. This job helped me recognize my friend with bad depression, and handle all sorts of people in my ward. Some of us need that extra help to be more understanding....

I also "rescued" this very angry lady at Walgreen's. She wanted the pharmacist to call the cops for her because she had "reason to believe her house was being vandalized". The pharmacist refused so I offered to make the call. After taking down her name and address in Saratoga Springs, she responded" Well, aren't you the nicest lady I've ever met. I own an inspirational gift company and IF I HAD TIME, I'd send you something to say thank-you." She then drove off. Ha ha, I'm going to say that more often "IF I HAD TIME....".

James has had a bad cold and flu this past week and hasn't slept without Ny-quill yet, but he still faithfully attended the Klondike camp out and slept in the snow. I think his favorite part was the "deep-fried" competition, where each boy brought something to fry and share. James took snickers, but I think my funnel cake batter (made out of Bisquick) was not a hit. He made it home in time to take me and Jackson and my 2 little cousins to the park and to get the famous 50-piece chicken nuggets form McDonalds before the big BYU basketball game. That was about all the energy we both had and we enjoyed a nice night at home with NOTHING going on. That's very rare.

Despite my negative comments on the weather, this past weekend was really nice and I've made it out for 3 walks! I even considered walking to church. With that said, snow's supposed to come Thursday...