Christmas came Early

Wednesday the 16th of December I woke up early and couldn't go back to sleep so I got up and did some organizing and put things away that I hadn't gotten around to. Put the clean dishes away and got a lot accomplished in the extra hour and a half that I had. I got my lunch and dinner prepared because I work in the Temple on the 3rd Wednesday to help with the Spanish session. I get to work and I talk to my manager about a college in Poplar Montana. They wanted the vendors to come and do a site survey of the campus and talk to them about our system we provide. It wasn't mandatory that we go but my manager thought it would be good to go (which I was hoping she would). I looked up tickets to see what days I could get the better deal on and in what airport I would have to fly in and out of. There is an airport in Willinston ND that is about 70 miles from the school. I looked at tickets there and it was going to cost $1500 way to much money. I found a ticket for leaving at 3:00pm on that same day flying into Billings and then I would drive 6 hours to Poplar. I asked my manager if I would be able to stay through Sunday and see my family while I am there and she said that was fine. So I flew into Billings about 11:00pm and I drove to my cousin Anna's house and I stayed the night there. My mom was already planning on going to Billings that day for a funeral and so I asked her if she would be willing to drive with me to and from Poplar. Anna and I stayed up till 1:30am talking and catching up on life. (Which is really 3:30am my time) We got up and got on the road by 9:00am. On our way there it was amazing to see all of the geese that were flying all over the area. I think there was hundred of thousands of geese. It looked like the sky was filled with millions of black spots. I don't think I have ever seen so many birds at one time. We had a nice drive and arrived around 3:00. We meet up with my Jack who is from the College and we did part of the site survey on Thursday. As he was driving us around the area he was telling us about all the scary parts of town and where to stay away from. He told us of a Navy Seal who was murdered at the Water Hole (which is a bar) a year or so ago. He said there is a lot of scary people and things that happen in the area. He was very kind and told us we could call him at any time if we felt we were in any kind of danger anywhere and needed some back up. The next morning Mom and I both woke up around 4:30 and couldn't go back to sleep. Around 5:30 I wispered over to mom to see if she had gone back to sleep yet and she said no. I told her well I am getting up and going to do something then. So I got up and started working on my computer and we were both ready way before the time we were even planning on getting up. We had a good walk through with Jack and then we headed back towards Billings. I was really grateful for my mom in meeting up with me and driving to and from Poplur with me. It was nice to have the company and to spend time with my mom. My Aunt Connie and Norma and Uncle Rex all come up to Billings to see me for a little bit. It was fun to see everyone. Saturday Dad, Elizabeth and Kaden came and picked mom and I up from Aunt Nan's and we headed to Aunt Eunices to visit with Grandma and Aunt Rose who showed up a few days ago to surprise Aunt Eunice who is 88 years old. We visited for a while at Aunt Eunices house and then we headed to lunch. After lunch we took Grandma Holloway and Aunt Rose to Walmart to pick up their eggs that they had left there the day before. I really enjoyed the time I had to spend with my Grandma and Aunt Rose who live in Alaska. Dad had to get back to work so they dropped Elizabeth, Kaden, and I off at Rebecca's house and then they headed home. Anna came over and picked up Elizabeth and Kaden and took them back to her house so they could ride home with Connie. I spent the evening with Rebecca and her husband Mark. I had a good time spending it with Rebecca and Mark. This was the first time to see their home. They have it decorated very nicely for Christmas and the house is very cute. I really like the way they have painted and decorated their home. I met their two dogs Porche and Mercadies. They are very gentle dogs and friendly. Sunday morning very early like 3:30am I woke up and couldn't go back to sleep so I finally decided to just get up. I got ready and at 4:30 Rebecca took me to the airport for me to get on my plane and head home. On the way to Denver the flight attendent said they have been cancelling all the flights that go north of Baltimore. I started praying hard that the flight wouldn't be cancelled due to the aggresive snow storm that has hit the northeast. I was glad when I got to Denver and looked at the flight board and my flight said it was on time I was so grateful. This has been the perfect weekend. I love the way Heavenly Father works out little miracles in our lifes. Things worked out perfectly with having a work trip to Montana and not being able to get a flight in closer to where my appointment would need to be so I had to stop in at Billings. That it happened to be a time that Grandma Holloway and Aunt Rose were visiting from Alaska, and that my Dad happen to be on a shift that would allow him time to come and visit me. I was glad that Rebecca and Mark were in town so I could see them this trip since I missed them on the last one. It was fun to see Elizabeth and Kaden again. That little Kaden is such a cute little man. He is starting to talk a little bit and has a very stong little personality. Thank you everyone for spending time with me and taking time out of your lives to come and visit me in Billings. Thank you for bringing me an early Christmas. I am so grateful for miracles! It was so nice to see everyone!

Thankful for the gift of SIGHT!

Wednesday afternoon I got on a plane to head to Montana to conduct a site survey for a college campus in northeastern Montana in a town called Poplar and Wolf Point. Not long into my trip and it was dark. As we were flying I was looking out the window and I was amazed at how clear of a night it was. There wasn't a cloud in site. I could so clearly see the starts and the beautifully lighted cities below. I have flown a lot in the last few months and it seemed like every time I fly there is a lot of clouds. It was such a wonderful sight to see the towns so brightly lit up. I know it was just the street lights and all but looking down on the entire city all at once was a breath taking site. I wish I would have had my camera readily accessible so I could have taken a picture of the site to share. Maybe on my way home I in a few day the sky will be clear and I can try and take a picture and if I do I will add it for you to see. As I was looking down at the lighted world below me I was thankful for the gift of sight. I feel so lucky that I know the difference between light and dark, to be able to see colors. There were many things that day that made me very grateful for my vision. While I was sitting in the airport waiting for my next connecting flight I was watching a sweet old couple across from me. The wife went and got them ice creams to each while they waited. I watched as they talked about their ice cream and the flavors and how yummy it was. I could see the gratitude in her husband’s eyes for such a sweet treat. They tenderly talked to each other about past experiences and about the time they will be sharing with their grandchildren over the Christmas holiday. They are looking forward the fun activities of making ginger bread houses with the little ones and reading stories and sharing quality time. I watched a mother who was traveling with two young children her son of 4 and daughter who was almost two. Her little girl had braided pig tails and looked so adorable. The little girl was a little nervous about this whole flying thing. Her big brother so tender to her in comforting her and taking her hand to let her know she would be fine. He let her watch his DVD with him and they colored together. Again I was grateful for my sight to be able to see. What is sight is it just the ability to be able to open our eyes and to see what is in front of us. I think Heavenly Father gave us the gift of sight so we could see all the beauties of the earth but also to see when someone is struggling and can use our help. How often so we see someone with arms full and wrestling with a child or someone who is in need of a little assistance and when we see this to we utilize our sight and offer the help they need or do we pass by. What a glorious gift we have to be able to see different shapes, to be able to see the rippling waters or the snow covered ground. How amazing to see all the different creations that Jesus Christ made, so many animals and to so the uniqueness in face and body characteristics of each individual person. So many beauties of the world do we take the time to enjoy them or do we rush past them. We have been given so much to see in this life and I hope we take the time to see them. I think looking deep into the scene and really seeing what is there is why we were given the gift of sight. We need to look deeper than just passing by and glancing. Enjoy life and it's beauties and amazements for we never know when it will be our last for life is so short to rush through it. This experience brought my mind to our Savior's life. He spent his life really looking deep into what was around him, as others would walk past he would find someone trying to reach him and he would extend his hand and heal them. He was taking the time to see what was there rather than just passing by to get to the final destination. I pray that we all may take the time to see what is really there and to use the Sight we have been given.