4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days

Well, according to the event tracker on this blog, we have around just under 5 months until we move to Washington! That is really just an estimate, we aren't sure what exact day we are moving yet, but still.... 5 Months!!!!!!!!!! I am so overjoyed!

While this semester continues to move painfully slow, at least 5 months sounds like a short time. I'm having a tough time being motivated and containing my excitement. This semester has only 5.5 weeks left  and I shudder at the thought of all of the exams I have left to do. But even that thought can't get me down, because in less than 5 months I will be a college graduate (FINALLY!). In less than 5 months, I will no longer have homework, Idaho snow, Idaho winds, and no more 5 AM wake up times with an hour commute (I hope anyways).....the list could go on and on........

I'm sure there are things I will miss (but that's another blog post). For now, I am more excited than you can even imagine.

I hope you are all having a great weekend. I am so sad that it's almost over already, but happy that we continue moving closer to moving! 

A moment from my day....

There is a sweet old man who works at the library. He has been the head of the janitorial staff for as long as I can remember. Years of hard work show themselves in the lines on his face and slightly hunched way that he walks. Looking into his face, images of his past (similar to the clip that always makes me cry from "Up.") flood my mind. I don't know the details, of course, but I know he has a wife. I picture the first time they met, the excitement of their first child, etc, the joys and the sorrows that have caused those lines in his face to form.

(This is not him, I got this image from http://www.graphix1.co.uk/2011/04/07/20-heart-warming-photographs-of-old-people/)

This man, also has an illness or two. I'm not sure what they are, all I know is that there are moments when he can become really shakey and unstable and needs to take some medicine or he may pass out (or worse). There are days that he cannot come into work and there are days that he really should have stayed home. But, despite all of that, he is cheerful and loves his job. He is probably here at the library more than I am (and that's saying something). 

Most days, I look at him and I see determination, strength, and happiness. Some days, like today, I get a glimpse of his face for just a moment, and I can see the struggle, the pain, the frustration, and the internal fight against giving up. It is at these times that I want nothing more than to give him a great big hug and give him his younger, healthy self back. I want to give him early retirement so he can rest, and yet I want to help him continue working so he can still feel useful and able. Obviously I can't give him any of those things. I can't give him his strength/youth back (or I would be really rich and famous) and I don't know him well enough to give him a hug.

He is invisible to most people. I bet most of the students who use the library have never seen him, those who do probably see him as just a janitor that didn't do anything better with his life. Yet, he serves them daily through cleaning up after them and making sure they have a clean and safe place to study. 

I'm not really sure why I felt compelled to write about him today. Perhaps it is because it made me appreciate the goodness in my life a little more today. Maybe it's because I want to be more like him, and continue pushing onward with all that I have. Maybe I feel that he needs recognition after years of silent service. Whatever the reason, I was deeply touched by seeing him at work today and wanted to give you a glimpse into my world. 

The best present yet...

So, this post will back track a few months. I am not normally one to brag about all of the things I get for Christmas. If people ask me what I got, I usually mention a few things, but never go on and on about everything. And I'm not going to tell you about everything I received this last year. I am, however, going to tell you about one of the very best presents Lyle has given me to date. 

I should preface this post with....I play the piano and I can pretend to play the organ (I took 2 Summers worth of lessons...so I at least know the basics and where the bass coupler is). This fact has been known by many of my previous wards and I would often get asked to substitute for the organist in Sacrament meeting; or I would get asked to play the songs in Relief Society or Primary. I'm ok with playing for people and playing for big crowds doesn't bother me. The only problem was I didn't have a place to practice. 

When we lived in Rexburg, I had to sneak into a classroom on campus that wasn't in use and practice, or I had to wait until mutual night or another time I knew a church building would be open. This led to a lot of nerves and a few hymns that were played in a much-less-than-perfect manner. 

This past summer, when we lived with Lyle's parents for a few months, I was soooooo spoiled! They had a piano in their house! I was able to practice to my hearts content. 

A few months after we moved back to Idaho and into a new ward, I was called to be the ward organist every 2nd Sunday of the month. I was so scared at first, because I had very few options for practicing. I could either try to find an available classroom during the day while we were at school, try to get to the church when I know it is open, or I could bother one of the ward members to open the building for me. 

None of those options sounded appealing to me. After much complaining and stress, Dear Sweet Lyle was kind enough to get me this for Christmas: 

I love this Piano!!!!!! Ok, so it's really an electric keyboard, not a real piano. But it is the best thing ever!

Of course it has all of the bells and whistles, and I am being literal here. Virtually any instrument you want to play (even the ocarina) it will imitate the sound and let you make fantastic (or curious) music. And I can control the volume completely.

I love it most for it's organ settings. This is really one of the best gifts ever because it not only allows me to be prepared for my calling, it allows me to continue to work on my "talent" (I have a hard time calling it a talent because I am no where near as good as those who would be considered talented in this field). It has been about 5 years since I have had the ability to sit at a piano and practice whenever and whatever I like. I am so grateful that Lyle was able to find it and get it for me for Christmas. Thank you Lyle! You are the best, most wonderful husband in the whole world!