"God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December" - Sir James M. Barrie

Thursday, March 4, 2010

I remember seeing news stories when I was little about trucks full of snow driving to Arizona or California and delivering huge amounts of it to kids yearning for a white Christmas. I remember feeling really happy for those kids because it looked like all they wanted in life was to make a snow angel and these magical trucks delivered that to them. So my question is: do they have trucks that can load up all of the left-over dirty, prickly, icy snow and take it AWAY from places like, let's say, Rexburg? Wouldn't that make a great news story? Pretty sure all that the kids want here is to be able to ride bikes on the sidewalk with out having to make major detours around the piles of pollution that used to be snow. All they want is to be able to have a picnic instead of watching the snowman they built 4 months ago still wave at them with a cryptic, crooked grin. Everyone in Arizona and California would be so happy to watch a news story of our whole town getting a fog of depression lifted because our gray sky would no longer match the ground. There would be actual COLOR in this place besides the overly bright clothes I insist on wearing everyday in an effort to combat the dreary slush puddles I always manage to step in. Yeah. I think trucks taking away snow would be pretty magical.

It's hard to daydream such things and then walk outside and remember those trucks don't exsist. But as hard as this winter has been, I like to keep in mind that every one has woken up to depressing snow piles getting in the way of everyday life. 2010 so far hasn't been very kind to a lot of people I know. Today, Scott and I noticed a random $25 overdraft protection fee on our account, even though we have well over $25 dollars. We were stressed about it, and I quickly went and deposited another check we had to see if that would help. On my trip to the bank I talked to a friend who's life just won't cut her a break (due to some issues with her son) and another friend who let me know that an old girlfriend of ours (who is a new mom) has cancer. And when I got home, I hung up the phone, and I looked at my husband who's brow was furrowed over that stupid $25.

"You know what? I will take care of that fee, but at least we're not struggling with a child with intense learning disabilities. And at least I don't have cancer. So, we are not going to let this $25 stress us out."

And we haven't. I am busy, but it's because I get to be in one of the best productions put on by BYU-Idaho AND my husband gets to be there with me. I am stressed because I am getting a college education to try and make the world a better place. I don't have relationship problems full of addiction and sin, and as much as Scott and I struggle with money sometimes, there is ALWAYS enough. I have greasy hair because I'm too tired to shower, but I also have the gospel and a husband who can pull me behind him into the Celestial kingdom.

I have happiness.

I think my biggest problem REALLY... is the stupid snow outside.

6 comments:

  1. I love your blog, Carrie. I really needed to read this right now!

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  2. you been reading the Kindergarten book lately? this sounded like something old fulghum would write himself ;)

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  3. By the way, Seve and I saw Macbeth a few weekends ago and it was amazing! I really think it's the best production I've ever seen at BYU-Idaho, and your scene was quite heartbreaking.

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  4. Absolutely. I learned my senior year of high school to keep my "problems" in perspective. It's so easy to lose sight of our many great blessings over out mini hardships. I always try and think "will this matter tomorrow? 6 months from now? 1, 5, 10, 20 years from now? eternally?" so often that changes my reaction to things. One day I was stressed about my house falling a part and neglected playing with my daughter to try and fix it, then I remembered to put things in perspective. I let the house go (even more) to pot and spent the day with her. We just have to do our best to focus on what really matters and how immensely blessed we truly are. Thanks for the reminder.

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  5. Absolutely. I learned my senior year of high school to keep my "problems" in perspective. It's so easy to lose sight of our many great blessings over out mini hardships. I always try and think "will this matter tomorrow? 6 months from now? 1, 5, 10, 20 years from now? eternally?" so often that changes my reaction to things. One day I was stressed about my house falling a part and neglected playing with my daughter to try and fix it, then I remembered to put things in perspective. I let the house go (even more) to pot and spent the day with her. We just have to do our best to focus on what really matters and how immensely blessed we truly are. Thanks for the reminder.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Absolutely. I learned my senior year of high school to keep my "problems" in perspective. It's so easy to lose sight of our many great blessings over out mini hardships. I always try and think "will this matter tomorrow? 6 months from now? 1, 5, 10, 20 years from now? eternally?" so often that changes my reaction to things. One day I was stressed about my house falling a part and neglected playing with my daughter to try and fix it, then I remembered to put things in perspective. I let the house go (even more) to pot and spent the day with her. We just have to do our best to focus on what really matters and how immensely blessed we truly are. Thanks for the reminder.

    ReplyDelete

I like to hear all of the beautiful things you have to say.