January Blues

Don't you ever just wish January through March could be the part of your life that gets put to a cute song with only the highlights shown?  Like playing in the snow with your kids, making Valentine's, and sitting by the window with some cocoa watching the snowfall.  This is how I wish my winter would unfold.  And then, after a warm and fuzzy dose of such images, you're back to warmth and sunshine, flowers and greenery.  I get so down when day after day I'm stuck inside with only grayness outside my window.  Truth be told, all the other images of winter are dredgeful (I don't think that's a word but it conveys an image that seems appropriate to me) in my book.  The cold brisk walks to and from my schools for meetings, the kids with pent up energy because it's too cold to go out, the lack of sunshine... sigh.  So if you're wondering why we Calderwoods haven't been posting?  Well, there's not much to post.

My new goal:  Get rich quick.  Take a cruise to somewhere warm and tropical every January/February so that I have something to look forward to besides the far away Spring Season.  And even if I don't get rich, I think I'm going to have to do this next year or at least the year after.  We'll go for Shaun's birthday!  Yes, I like that idea very much.

Truly, I would like to get rich (who wouldn't, right?).  Then we could also buy a home.  We just aren't quite there yet when we figure what a monthly payment will run us in this market.  But interest rates are good.  If only Shaun could get that promotion he's been promised sooner vs. later.  No, instead they've cut everyone's hours back so that he's now only working four days a week, which means a pay decrease.  We are grateful he still has employment, but seriously?  Every time I feel like we take one step forward, we then are sent two steps back.  Please keep Shaun's job and job opportunities in your prayers.  I feel like a broken record.  It's been my prayer he'd find meaningful employment since he graduated in 2009.  I'm not sure why the Lord is teaching us this ever so long lesson on patience, but I want to ensure it's not because of something we are failing to do.  We are trying to be prayerful and obedient in all we are asked, but we are keenly aware that sometimes the Lord's answer is not to answer even your righteous desires.  For some, that may mean wanting children and being unable to do so.  For others, it might mean being single when you so badly want a companion to share your life with.  Or a mother wanting to stay home with her children but circumstances do not allow it (familiar?), or in this case, wanting to have a good steady job and continuing to wait and work for this goal.  Elder Eyring gave a phenomenal talk this last conference about not becoming discouraged when our righteous desires aren't answered in our time frame.  I think I need to re-read it about right now.  I need to keep a positive attitude and remember gratitude, while humbly asking the Lord to hear our righteous desires and help us understand His.

So there you have it, this is why I don't post.  I'll end up waxing not so profound about the same thing I've waxed on about for the last four years.  I do ask you keep us in your prayers.  We know we are fortunate in many ways, but we look forward to moving forward.

Happy 2013!  Let's get on with this whole winter thing already.  If it's going to be nasty, at least let is snow so it's pretty too.  The in between stuff I just can't tolerate anymore.  I'm ready for my movie reel highlights... or my cruise... or BOTH!