Cookies

I have been sick for five days. For nearly four months I was NOT sick. That is a miracle. I am so grateful for it. And hopefully this is just a passing flu or cold. But it always scares me--the same way a good day of depression does. There is a sudden terror that comes to me. It is the Black Dog sniffing around. I pray, "Please go away now. Please go away. I can handle your stink for a few days. But if you pounce on me again right now, I will surely die."

I thought I was getting better. Yesterday I felt pretty well as our little family spoke in Sacrament meeting (thanks to Mint Julep and Boris for coming to listen to us and take care of the little ones after they spoke and while Chancho and I spoke). I then had to finish making two cakes, go to do a "fireside/home evening" type thing with a family I didn't know to talk about Haitian Roots which was much more frightening and stressful than giving a 15 min talk in Sacrament Meeting for some reason. Then I had a fun time partying with Meg and familials. We finally got the kids to bed about 11pm. So...I guess I just over-did it. This morning I could hardly even talk and the fever is back.

So...I don't have anything fun or clever to say. I thought I'd post some photos that are a very happy memory for me. I took these photos in January on a day that we'd had a gargantuan snow storm. I couldn't take String Cheese to school because our roads weren't plowed and Chancho was out-of-town with the Jeep. I called it a snow-day and just forgot about all the other things I tell myself I have to do--like cleaning and laundry and working out and Deedle's dance lessons, etc. etc. I did decide to shovel the driveway, so we all bundled up in snow clothes and the kids played while I heaved snow until my muscles all started to shake. We went inside and drank hot chocolate and read stories. We then made chocolate chip cookies and listened to music and just had such a nice, happy, snow-day time! And the best thing was that I am still SO grateful for the healthy brain I have had for mostly 6 months now. I was at peace and able to enjoy every detail of the blessings of my life that we should always be able to enjoy.

The kids LOVE it when I let them help me bake something. They each have an apron--I made the two for the girls and Loumy has one that Chancho wore when he was a little boy. They each take turns putting in an ingredient and I make sure to let them have plenty of completed cookie dough on big spoons (Salmonella be damned). A wonderful memory that must be preserved.