What's that smell?

I LOVE SMELLS!! My sense of smell has returned and I am so GRATEFUL for smells. I went to Bath and body Works this week. The lady asked me when I walked in if she could help me. I said, No--I just came in to sniff!! I walked around smelling all the different scents. It was amazing so many different pleasant aromas. When I am making dinner, I can smell dinner cooking and it smells wonderful. Chicken baking. Soup boiling. Onions frying. MMMMMM Dishwashing detergent smells so clean!! I actually like scrubbing the dishes just so I can enjoy the aroma of the soap. Laundry detergent and fabric softener also smell clean--and the clothes when they come out of the drier. It is fun to fold them as they smell so GOOD!!

And it is not just the good smells...it is so nice to know when the trash NEEDS to be emptied. Or the toast is burning. Or that casserole is really not edible. Or to be able to tell if those socks on the floor fell off the laundry pile or need to go into the laundry. It has been a fun week to really be grateful for a small yet truly wonderful part of Heavenly Father's world. What are your favorite smells?

Today in church an 8 year old autistic boy with such a wonderful spirit shared his feelings about life. His message was full of wonder and joy at things he found amazing. I was so touched by his awe and sweet spirit. Maybe because I have been so apppreciative of some of the little things in life this week. As he listed some of the things he was grateful for...My personal favorite was that he was grateful that Joseph Smith and Brigham Young were friends!!...My heart smiled and I thought...So am I!! What are you grateful for?

Revenge

What a wild and crazy fun week I have had! (Please note the heavy sarcasm.) Actually all went well with the surgery. I slept through the whole thing! :) Then I slept most of the rest of the day. Because I knew you would want to see it and as revenge for all of the wisdom teeth pictures that I took of my children—Adam took this picture for you. I did have to wear this truly lovely nose sling for several days. Some more good news was that I did not have a lot of swelling--so technically I could breathe through my nose. However, breathing through a nose that is covered with a lovely nose sling is not a lot easier than breathing through a nose full of nasal polyps.

Everyone always asks if I was in a lot of pain. Actually, it didn’t hurt at all until my follow up visit this week. The nurse forgot to spray my nose with the numbing spray and when the doctor got busy cleaning the surgical debris out of my sinuses—I got busy crying. My nose bleed for the next three hours and ached the rest of the day. Next week I am going to be SURE I get numbed first!!

It's batman!!

Andrew sent me some pictures this week. One was of him holding a bat!! What's up with that?!? It is hard to believe that in the intensive safety training that his dad gave him every day of his life with us --did we leave out the part where people should not touch bats!?! I did not even show the picture to Steve--or I'd have to give him CPR. :) Seriously, in Texas they tell you if you see a bat not to touch it or get near it. I don't know if it is the same everywhere but bats in Texas spread rabies and the only ones that will let you near them are usually sick. Oh well at least rats aren't gnawing on his feet.

My nicest experience today was when I announced to my AMI third graders that because I am having nasal surgery on Wednesday today would be my only day with them this week. I expected cheering or big happy smiles at least!! After all, these kiddos have missed their "specials" classes almost every day since January to attend math tutoring with me. But instead of cheering, they were sad. AHHHH They are the sweetest kids ever. I am going to keep praying they pass that test. The fifth graders cheered but I will pray for them too. :)

Can you hear me now?

Happy March!! If you wonder why I am whispering :) I have had a bout of laryngitis this week. It made teaching school a lot more interesting. I really need to be able to talk when my job is to tutor children for their math TAKS.. One day I put my hand on my chest as I tried to suck in enough air to speak loud enough to be heard. One of my little sweeties very seriously asked, "Mrs. Salt are you having a heart attack?" It made me laugh so hard that I started coughing and I still didn't get to say what I needed to. Can you imagine 6 little third graders trying to give me CPR if I was really having a heart attack? But I am doing much better.

The school I work at is so great at trying to build the confidence and encouragement of the children that they CAN pass the TAKS. They have been holding assemblies and all kinds of attivities to give them confidence. Friday they had the final assembly to wish them well. The little kids (K-2) made posters and lined the halls cheering for the older kids (3-5) as they marched into the gym. Then at the start of the assembly they said they had a surprise...the gym doors opened up and in marched the high school drum line!!! WOW! They were amazing and the kids were pumped--lets hope they pass those tests!!

Say what?

I recently read an article on "supporting" your missionary. The author said, “A letter from home can be like pure spring water to the thirsty soul. What you say in a letter may very well be the highlight of the week.” Hmm, doesn’t that seem like a lot of EXTRA pressure to put on a mother just trying to keep in touch with her own child?!?

Also, the article said that I should try “to limit describing what is going on at home.” HMMM let me see if I have this correct—

1) I should try to make my letters “like spring water to a thirsty soul” but..

2) not tell him anything we are doing?!? Is it just me or does that seem a little difficult?? Well, it has made me ponder and reminisce about letters that I received from home while serving on my mission. I started thinking how much I liked to get letters from my dad telling me about his garden. One time he even sent me a picture of himself standing in his potato patch!! I laughed out loud. It was just so much like my dad to be so proud of his potato patch!!

So I plan on continuing to send my letters filled with happenings at home AND I sent him a picture of me with my quilt squares!!

This is really my first blog post...(maybe my last)

So Matthew decided I should set up my own blog page...I wonder if he is seeking revenge for a comment that I made on his. :) More likely he is trying to drag me into the world of modern technology. He has no idea how challenged I am. Or how boring.