I tried to get up at 5. I did. And I was so close to succeeding.
My alarm went off, and I got up… briefly… but I was exhausted, and I just crashed again.
During the night, I woke up, I’m guessing somewhere around 2:00 a.m.? To skunk smell so thick that I felt like I could barely breathe.
It was so strong that I actually wondered if maybe a skunk had gotten into my van during the day when I left the doors open.
I turned my fan up, but the smell was just overpowering.
I also woke up with a pretty good bout of heartburn, something I hadn’t had for a good long time, gratefully.
Anyway, so I didn’t get up at 5:00. I ended up getting up somewhere around 7:15, I think, which is better than 7:30 or 7:45, which has been more the norm.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to get up earlier tomorrow. I’m gonna shoot for 6, I think. 🤞
I got up this morning and noticed that Zora was walking toward the van and was panting pretty good, which seemed odd, as it was a cool morning.
Come to find out, she had puked her guts out through the night and still wasn’t feeling well at all. 😕
I hung out with her and my sister Heather for a little while before heading over to JH Keith Park for a little dip before church.
I got out and headed toward the park early this morning, with plenty of time to make it to church on time. I was going to actually be on time today!
Except I realized that I forgot that my clothing bins were still outside and back at the house instead of with me, which means I was going to have to drive all the way back to the house to get my socks and tie.
🙄
Sooo… I was late to church, yet again. 🙃
At least I tried. Effort and intent were solid.
Church was good, fast Sunday again. Nice to hear people’s experiences and testimonies. Sunday school was a little haphazard, as the person who was supposed to teach wasn’t able to come, so the person who ended up “teaching” had a grand total of 2 minutes to prepare. 🙃
After church, I texted back and forth with a branch member who’s having a bit of a rough time, and then I spent the next… 7 hours? playing in the creek, just being out with nature, working on building my little private soaking pond in the warmer spring.
I made a lot of progress today but didn’t really study at all as I was planning to. I just sort of got on a roll. 😅
There was an older couple there from North Carolina that had set up a tent in the park for the night. I think probably in their 70s?
I invited them down to hang out with me and my little soaking pond. Of course, it was only shin deep at that point, but they came down and hung out, and we chatted for a good little while before they got cold and headed back up the main area.
Nice people 😊
I kept working on it for a good long time after they got out, wanting to make steps up to and then down into my little soaking pond, so I worked really hard on that, lifting massive rocks that I shouldn’t have lifted 😬, before eventually having some pretty awesome steps to hang out on.
The little soaking pond still isn’t very deep. The deepest spot is only knee deep at this point, but that’s a fair bit more than what it was when I first got there, which was pretty much only a few inches deep.
After I finished up for the night, after the sun had gone behind the hill to the west, I chatted with them for probably another 15 or 20 minutes, and then headed home.
Poor Zora had gotten really bad, really sick, with bloody poop and bloody vomit.
A lot of blood. 😕
So Heather had taken her to the vet up in Rapid City. She had gotten back shortly before I did, I think, but was it the neighbors trying to help them with their ducks and whatnot.
I started getting ready for bed, ate some dinner, and then hung out with Heather and Zora for a little while.
Poor pup. 😞
She’s not doing well at all. No idea what the issue is.
🤞
Gratitude:
- I’m grateful the park was empty for me this morning.
- I’m grateful I was able to get to church in time for the sacrament.
- I’m grateful that I didn’t worry too much about the fact that my church shirt was brand new out of the package and horribly wrinkled. 🙃
- I’m grateful I was able to make some progress on my little soaking pond.
- I’m grateful I was able to strike up a little friendship with the older couple.
Success:
- I avoided using my phone while driving pretty darn well today.
Improvement:
- Could have done much better at focusing on spiritually instead of just listening to church music while at the springs. Missed an opportunity there
Thought of the Day:
Only when you lift a burden, God will lift your burden. Divine paradox this! The man who staggers and falls because his burden is too great can lighten that burden by taking on the weight of another’s burden. You get by giving, but your part of giving must be given first.
~ Spencer W. Kimball
Oh! I think it’s looking more likely that I’m going to be going to New Zealand, and maybe for a good little while. Even after feeling like maybe I was getting little nudges to go from God, I’ve sort of been fighting against it, as I don’t really want to spend the money, don’t want to travel alone, don’t want to leave family… But they came again today, more nudges, and not only nudges, but gone were my concerns about spending money on a visa and the stresses of logistics and money.
And back was a sense of excitement.
Why?
Why would God want me to go to New Zealand? I can come up with some possible reasons, but it seems… odd.
But I had decided against it and was happy with that decision. Then I got the first nudges, and I was a little excited but then lost all interest again, saw prices go up, and just didn’t want to go (for the reasons mentioned before, and others, I think), and then the nudges came again today, along with the change of heart.
I’m sort of dumbfounded.
I actually don’t really want to go. But for whatever reason, it feels like God keeps nudging me, so I’m gonna apply for a visa tomorrow, and proceed forward as though I’m going and will be chatting with the Big Guy quite a bit as I try to get some understanding.
Hand of God In My Life Today:
Felt the Spirit in Sunday School today while sharing. 🥰
And felt more New Zealand nudges. 🤷
🙃
Onward.
Lift the world.
Bring it on.
~ stephen
Lift the World 