planes, trains and automobiles...minus trains

early to airport in SLC
lots of time to wait for plane
made it to denver
sunny skies..beautiful
eat wendy's
just enough time to get on next plane
lots of crochet time..this is great
all loaded on the plane
close the door
loud speaker announcement
oh no....
everything to oklahoma canceled
snow..snow..snow...ironic
NO!
get off plane
where's our luggage?
wait for them to dig it out of the endless luggage from canceled flights
an hour later they are on on the conveyor belt
yes...at least we have clothes
no presents stolen this year
now what?
dad finds flight to little rock for next morning (christmas)...
rent a car
drive to colorado springs
what a joy to see sister and fam on christmas eve
sleep for 4 hours
wake up
drive back to denver
get on another plane
please take off this time
good flight
sleep the whole way
sunny in little rock
dad drives 3.5 hours to come get us at airport
arrive RIGHT on time
drive with them 3.5 hours back to siloam
arrive on christmas night
a l l d a y t r a v e l i n g o n c h r i s t m a s
worth it?

EVERY BIT!

gratitude

ya, i know...thanksgiving is up and gone.
but i just can't help but feel so grateful for all that i have.
my husband
a warm house
two amazing families
a body
great food
a washer and dryer (thanks for an early christmas, mom and dad!)
an awesome job that i love
friends
a hilarious dog
tv
slippers
...
i could go on.

but, the thanksgiving holiday started out rough for me. first, my hair started falling out in clumps and that's a scary thing. i have prepared myself for this moment... but it's still more awkward than you can imagine.

next, i heard about the hear wrenching story of John Jones' death. first we didn't know who the man in the cave was. it was a sad story in itself. but when zach heard the name of the trapped, young father and realized it was his favorite MTC teacher, my heart sank once again.

elder patterson and brother jones

that's not fair. my heart ached all weekend long for his wife. raising a young toddler and another on the way - and no daddy. not fair.

she must be a lot stronger than i am. i am sitting her whining about losing my hair, while she has to pick up and move on with life. alone.

i am learning more each day how fragile our mortal lives are. there's no time to whine or feel bad for ourselves. there is a life to live and we must be grateful for each and every day. how blessed i feel to know the truthfulness of the gospel. dear emily jones will be without john in this mortal life, but they will be reunited again!

i think he was needed to spread the gospel on the other side. but he is missed here.
r.i.p. brother jones.