Christmas Eve

 On my to do list today:

• gluten free cinnamon rolls (they were kind of a fail last year and I'm going to try again!)
• deliver treats to neighbors (everyone I didn't intercept at our door)
• figure out when we are going to Nevada (we were going to go Thursday and now we are not sure)

In dramatic Scarlett O'Hara fashion last night I told Adam I was too tired to think about it and I would think about it tomorrow.

Yesterday my high hopes of a peaceful and productive day at home were slightly waylaid.  I ended up getting a migraine.  I took my medicine (I'm so grateful for that stuff!) and slept for two hours.  Later in the day I had a check up with my doctor and since I also had a flair up of my herpes simplex in my eye, I was a sight.

I explained my situation as if to say, "Despite all appearances, I really am fine."

She said, "That is serious!  You could go blind from that."

Everyone tells me that and it is extremely...helpful...especially since I've also been told that stress makes it worse.

She also told me that the migraine was probably triggered by the flair up which was weirdly comforting because I always blame my treacherous neck and back, but maybe there's more treachery afoot.

After I got home, Mark and I took his car to get the oil changed, dropped off some returns at the UPS store and dropped off some stuff at DI.  We decided that errands like that deserve a gold star.  They are neither exciting nor urgent, but you feel like you're being a responsible citizen when you do them.

We met up with Adam and Emma for dinner to celebrate Mark's birthday at Red Robin.  My children thought that maybe I have some subconscious reason I don't want to go to Red Robin because I had a migraine last time we were supposed to go too.

I was feeling better though and we enjoyed our time.

We came home and watched While You Were Sleeping, which was my holiday movie pick.

It ended up being a good day, despite the treachery.

I am feeling very grateful this Christmas season.  I have an expanding list of people I love who I am concerned about and praying for.  I feel comforted in the hope of Jesus Christ's atonement.  I am grateful for the invitation Moroni gives in the Book of Mormon to "come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift."

We all need good gifts. We all have public or private struggles.  God is good.  His personalized curriculum for each of us is what we need to return to Him.  And we are not left alone in any of it.

...the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.

Merry Christmas!