reflections caused by relief society visits

I've gone on a lot of Relief Society visits this week. And it's really strange when I go visit someone, and then in conversation, realize that I know a lot of the same people, even if I don't remember ever meeting this woman whose living room I'm sitting in.

And then occasionally these women will decide that they don't want to be the only one talking, so they turn to us and ask us some of those same questions we ask them. Today one woman asked us where we were all from. The Relief Society president has lived here in Glendale all her life. She and the first counselor have lived in our ward so long and know so many stories of all these people that have lived here for so long. They start talking about the people they know, and their kids, and their grandkids. And I sit there and have no idea what's going on. Some of my friends have known each other almost all of their lives. If it weren't for the internet, I would have no contact with anyone that I knew in high school. (Not that I really talk to them all that much, but that's not the point.) And as for people I knew in grade school? There's no one I still talk to that I knew then.

I don't really know where I'm going with this. On one hand, I want my kids to have a long-term connection with the place they grew up, and have those deep roots in a community. But, on the other hand, I want them to experience different things and different places. To see different places, and go travel and meet different people.

Well, it doesn't matter at the moment, since I'm not dating and don't really have any prospects right now. I should just turn my attention to my calling and my family and not worry about something so nebulous as the future.

I'm glad that August is almost over though. I will be so glad when the temperature drops. And I am really looking forwards to October and the beginning of Fall Ball. I miss watching a baseball game outside. I miss weather, and rain, and wind in the trees. At least when fall ball starts, I'll get cool evenings and baseball that I can just sit back and enjoy, and not be so attached to the outcome.

A case of blahs. But I got better.

It's been a bit of an off week. It started well. I taught Relief Society last Sunday, which went really well. (You should really read this talk. Elder Uchtdorf, "We Are Doing a Great Work and Cannot Come Down".) Then later that day I got my temple recommend renewed. And I spent three days at my sister's house playing with her kids. Took Angie out to dinner for her birthday, so we came home with really yummy leftovers. So really, it was a good week.

But for some reason, the blahs still struck late in the week. I stayed up late because I was bored and didn't want to go to sleep. Then, in the mornings, I didn't want to get out of bed. I watched random movies and shows and found myself getting weepy. Oh, and I was a little stressed over money, because things were a little tight, and I forgot to file my weekly unemployment claim on Sunday, so the payment was delayed by a day. That sure didn't help. And I haven't heard from the guy this week. Which contributed to the blahs. But really, I'm not surprised he didn't call. Disappointed, but not really surprised.

But today was a good day. Good lesson, good talks. Had a missionary farewell, and he did very well. (I know, I know, we're not supposed to call it that anymore, but really, what else am I supposed to call it?) I stressed over forgetting to get someone to play the piano in Relief Society, but I found someone quite happy to play, even with five minutes notice. (I did take the opportunity to ask her to play for the rest of the month. So I don't have to worry about it for another few weeks.) Then I went to the stake single adult committee meeting. That was a good meeting. Oddly, going to another meeting really helped my mood. But there we go.

Monday my niece starts kindergarten. It's exciting, but I can't believe it's already time for her to go. I'll have to call my sister tomorrow and see how she deals with her oldest starting school.

Anyways, today was a good day. And I decided that I'm going to have a better week. I actually went to the grocery store and bought food. (I haven't done that in a while.) Just knowing that there's food in my cupboards makes me happy. Play with kids, play my video game some more. Read next week's lesson. Study some. I think that's most of my problem, I don't read enough good books. So that's going to be a part of my better week.

And maybe I'll even try to write more often. I'm not guaranteeing anything, so don't hold me to it.