Thoughts for a Tuesday...

***First off...we have made little progress on the kitchen remodel since our last post. Actually, the painting is almost done. But, we are waiting for the countertops, flooring and sink to come in and be installed. We are dealing with meals for the most part. We are eating out some and making due on other occasions. We have also been invited out a time or two (which we have really appreciated and enjoyed).

I am so anxious for it all to be done! There will be 10 of us here over Thanksgiving week. Two mature adults can manage to do without a kitchen for a while, but I do think it would be difficult for a houseful, which includes babies and young children. The sink would be particularly difficult to do without. I have to admit that I have not been sleeping very well since this whole project began. I do ok for a few hours, but then I wake up and start getting anxious about all the little details that need to come together for the job to be completed. And then I can't get back to sleep. I just feel like it is almost all out of my hands and it is sometimes frustrating to wait on others who are not as involved and affected by whether or not it gets done. I have had a couple of meltdowns. I know we'll make it through. I just hope that it can be wrapped up before everyone comes home. After all, Julia needs a place to stay when she gets home for the holidays....and you all saw the pictures of her room. :)

***Secondly, I received a new calling over the weekend. I was called to be in the Stake Relief Society Presidency. I am SO excited about the two sisters I have been called to work with. I think that we will get along great and I know that they will be a source of inspiration in my life. They are fun and easy to be with, as well as spiritual and loving. I also look forward to getting to know many of the women of the stake better. I do have to admit though that I feel pretty overwhelmed by it all. I LOVE Relief Society! Always have. And I love mingling with the sisters of the church--so many have become just that to me...sisters. Wish me luck!

***Thirdly, Scott took the afternoon off yesterday, due to a low census on the behavioral health unit, and we decided to spend a spontaneous afternoon together. We drove out to Chaco Canyon Indian ruins (about 1 1/2 hrs. from here) to enjoy a beautiful fall afternoon. I had never been out there before, in the 10+ years we have lived here. There are other Indian ruins in the vicinity, which we have visited in the past (Aztec Ruins, Mesa Verde, etc.), but we had just not ever made it out to Chaco. It was impressive. We got there late enough in the afternoon that we didn't stay too long or explore too much. But, we got some nice pictures. And most of all, we just enjoyed a little time together. It was just nice to get away and spend some time together. Life can be so structured sometimes. It is nice to occasionally shake things up a bit.

The Chacoan culture flourished beginning in the 800's and continued for over 300 years. It was a fairly complex society whose influence was felt over much of the southwest and into present day Mexico. They were well versed in astonomy, communication, water control and commerce. Pretty impressive. Here are some pictures from our excursion.