Feeling Alone

I've been feeling all alone out here. A little down in the dumps with the move and lack of friends. I'm not saying it's been bad. Families have dropped by, brought us food and hellos, we've been very welcomed. I just feel secluded. I've begun running in the mornings before Stan leaves for work. I'll run for about 20 minutes out- find a nice sandy lot with a view, do my sun salutes, and run back home. This time has been helping. After my run today I went into the back yard and found our first rose.

Well today I had a really wonderful experience going to the grocery store. I think it was a tender mercy like my rose and I'm truly grateful. When I pulled into Staters I saw a blood bank mobile and decided to go over even though I had all 3 kids. I asked the wait time and talked to the guy in charge for a little bit- could I do this with kids? would they be okay inside the truck? in the end I let the driver of the truck sit outisde with my 3 lovelies in the Stater parking lot while I went inside to donate blood. Normally I wouldn't do this, but I had this urge to do something for somebody else and here was my unlikely opportunity. They were so kind and all 3 kids were willing to sit in the chairs in the shade and eat goodies that you get from donating- juice and goldfish and such. It was mainly routine inside, the power didgo out when the technician was trying to get a blood sample for my iron, but it was just a nice easy time to relax and realize that I hadn't given blood since I before I was expecting Israel. It just was never convenient with kids or pregnancy or nursing. I'm so glad that I went. The workers told me my kids did really well and were such good sports. During the 15 minutes I had to sit after I'd donated I watched them out the window and they looked really happy. Even Eliza was doing well without me. Israel kept talking to the man (I didn't even get his name). The lady who was doing the snacks turned out to be LDS and we talked a little about the church (she's from San Bernideno). Afterwards the driver was really complementary of my good kids and they were so good in the grocery store after. In fact, he was on lunch break when he saw us coming out of the store and helped unload my cart- no heavy lifting he reminded me with a smile (I told him I didn't thing groceries counted as I let him load the back of my car. I felt such kindness, such goodness from there guys inside at the Blood bank. I really feel like I followed a prompting to go over there. I mean really, deciding to donate blood with 3 young kids? Deciding to let a stranger watch them outside the truck? this is not normal for me. I know this sounds really small, and in some ways it is, but my experience today has made everything sunnier. I feel like I have better kids, and that I can contribute. I'm so glad I listened to that prompting. God reminded me today that I'm not all alone- I have a whole community willing to interact and be a part of my life.

Thank you men and women of the LifeStream. Today you went above and beyond for a mom with 3 kids and she is truly grateful.