Tears.

After work yesterday, I came home to pay bills.

It had been a pretty good day at the salon until my last two appointments.

The second-to-last went long; the last came, waited for 15 minutes, then left.

I finished with the first client 2 minutes later.

Since I had scheduled the last appointment past my self-determined end-time (so I can be home for Mar when she gets home from school), I tried to brush it off. I quickly sent an apology text, offered several times to reschedule, cleaned up, and headed home.

A friend of mine had stopped by the salon earlier in the day to bring me a belated birthday gift: a caramel filled dark chocolate cupcake with whipped cream topping. It looked amazing and was such a sweet, thoughtful thing for her to do. I brought it home and gifted it to Mauri. Mar asked, "Are you sure you don't want any?" "No," I answered, "I just want someone to give me Hi-Chews."

As I pulled out the bills, some still unopened from the weeks before, I was frustrated to get a fairly large doctor bill that I wasn't expecting. In order to find a solution to why I feel 47-turning-80 (+ a broken toe... which I swear is STILL swollen, discolored, and broken), I have had a myriad of appointments with various doctors of one kind or another. In the past three months of specialists (rheumatologist, ophthalmologist, podiatrist) and several new medications (one of which requires constant blood testing to make sure it doesn't damage the... liver? I think), I do not feel any different than when I started. As I was trying to calmly manage my frustration, Lex texted me that she had finally, finally got her implant capped. She has waited such a long time and I could tell she was happy to fill the gap in her teeth, BUT... it was not a great color match. And this was the second try for the dentist's office. I felt somewhat irritated that a DENTIST, who specializes in TEETH, and who charges a BOATLOAD for a simple cap/crown, cannot simply match (at least somewhat closely) the color of Lex's natural teeth. She said she planned to whiten before the wedding anyway, and was content to leave it be.

In between all this, my newly-updated computer, which has an apparent aversion to being updated, kept randomly shutting down. Exasperated, I decided to go pick up a few things because the home teachers were coming over later that evening.

I was feeling pretty down and said a quick prayer for patience and endurance as I reminded myself what we've been discussing in my Sunday School class. Life is full of challenges and bad days - it's our job to use our agency wisely, have faith in the plan, and endure to the end.

I went to grab a box that was sitting by the front door. I had assumed it was something Bill had ordered for the ward. When I picked it up, I saw MY name on it.

From Taylor and Lynnea.

When I opened it I could not stop crying. Even now I am teary eyed just thinking about what a sweet, tender mercy it was to receive such a surprise gift. Which included a Costco-size bag of Hi-Chews. And the sweetest note ever.

I just had to capture the memory so I can cherish it forever.

I have the best family.

I love you guys!