I have neglected writing in this blog for over a year now. Life is busy, and I thought I didn't have time to write this blog. I have been thinking, though, that I can't get too busy to be grateful. Taking just a few moments to comment on something I am grateful for could help to change my focus in life, so I am starting to write again. Even if no one ever reads this, I know it will help me to focus more on the positive in my life. If you read this blog, please feel free to comment on what you are grateful for. Some of the things I appreciate you may also be grateful for. Take a moment to just say, "Yes, Me too", or expand your comments further. So today I am particularly grateful for a bishop who cares whether I have water or not. About a week ago one of my outside faucets broke and wouldn't turn off. I had a unending stream of water flowing through the garden hose. I tried to figure out how to stop the flow of the water, but I didn't have anything that would plug the hose or the faucet. It was 7 p.m. on a Saturday night, so I called for Utilities' standby person to come turn my water off at the meter. I had bottles of water in my house which I felt could kept me going until at least Monday when it would be more reasonable to get help. My bishop found out about my not having water on Sunday, and on Monday after he got off work he came over to look at my faucet. Within an hour he had the pipe capped off under the house so I could have water again. He saw an need and a way that he could fix it, and he took care of my problem. I am so grateful for his kindness.

Maybe the Termites Will Drown Postcard by McHumor
More Plumbing Postcards

Grateful for Sewers

Tomorrow I will not have a sewer.  It is just suppose to be for the day as they are replacing the sewer line in back of my house.  There have been a lot of plugs in line up the street and down the street from me.  Fortunately I haven't had a real problem in my house, but replacing the line should be a blessing for everyone on the street.

I have to get up and get a shower, wash dishes or do whatever uses the sewer before 7 a.m.  Then for the rest of the day I have to use a pan or bucket to catch any water so it doesn't go down the drain.  They are furnishing port-a-potties out on the street.  It reminds me of having an outhouse instead of a bathroom.  Of course port-a-potties are much nicer than outhouses.

It just reminds me of how much I take things for granted like having a working sewer.  I am grateful to have a working sewer, and I will be even more grateful once the sewer line has been replaced and I can have a working sewer again.

Grateful for a Working Cooler

It stayed cool this spring.  A lot of people complained that we were never going to have summer.  They should know better.  We have summer now. 

A friend offered to get my cooler going before it started to warm up.  He and his brothers were selling their business.  They've had a lot more to do in transferring the business to the new owners than they thought they would.  I haven't said much more about my cooler because of the stress he's under. 

Another friend called up this morning and said he'd heard my cooler wasn't working yet.  He asked if I would like for him to come over and get it going.  I was very grateful for his call.  It is really nice to sit with a cool breeze blowing gently over me.  It is wonderful compared to the past few days.  I am so grateful for a friend who thought of me and got my cooler working.   

Grateful for the Savior's Great Love

Today is Easter.  I am so grateful for the Savior's great love for us.  He took upon himself all of our pains, sufferings, sins and problems, so we can turn to him and have our burdens removed from us.  I am so grateful that he cared enough to do that for us and that because of the Atonement we can return to live with our Heavenly Father again.

An Anonymous Gift

Today in the mail I got an anonymous gift.  It looked like a card had been sent to me, but the return address was my address too.  When I opened it there was a nice card, but inside the card was $25.00.  The card was signed Your Friend.  I haven't been able to pay all that I owe and this $25.00 would make a difference.  Tears came to my eyes to think that someone cared enough about me to send me $25.00 to help out and that they didn't want me to be able to thank them.  With an anonymous gift you have to assume it could be any one that knows you and knows your mailing address.  That makes for a lot of people that you can suspect of doing such a kind act.  Today I am grateful for such a wonderful friend.

Grateful for Safe Drinking Water

When a main water line breaks, all of a sudden you gain a new appreciation for running water and safe drinking water.  About a week ago the main water line in the alley behind my home broke.  For a time the only running water at my house was in the alley behind my house.  It really makes a difference when you can just turn on a tap and have water in your house.  It only took a few hours to get the repair made and water flowing back into the houses.  But the water had to be tested and that involved a waiting time for the results to come back.  A boil water notice was on my door warning me to not use the water for drinking or cooking until the results came back.  I truly appreciated those who worked so hard to get the water back flowing into my house, not down the alley.  It was wonderful when I could finally drink the water again.  I truly do appreciate safe running water. 

Grateful for Springtime Flowers

I haven't done much cleaning outside in my yard since the weather has been so cold.  A couple of days ago when I let my dog back in the house I spotted some yellow color peeking through grass and leaves.  These crocuses had just bloomed.  I love the first sign of springtime flowers.  They give me hope for new things to grow as the weather starts to warm up.  I am so grateful for the first signs of spring.