calico

I keep a notebook by my bed. And a dictionary.

Whenever I want to feel smart I read the dictionary.

And whenever I think I'm smart, I write it down in my notebook.

So I don't forget.

When I go places, I like to take my dictionary and my notebook, in case I hear or see something I want to know more about, or someone wise says something I want to remember. Then I have somewhere to put it.

I don't trust my mind to remember.

Sometimes when I feel tired, or impatient, or distracted, or selfish, or hungry, or weak, or grouchy, or greedy, or confused, or sad, or worried, or busy...I like to read my notebook.

This last Mother's Day Lara gave a talk in church and she spoke about her mother. She said, "My mother was joyful. She sang while she did the laundry..."

I wrote that down.

I thought that was wise, and I wanted to remember; so I could read it months later in a tiring moment when I kind of wanted to cry, so I could feel again how I felt when Lara talked about her Mom. The joy and gratitude I felt for the job. The love I felt for my children and for my Heavenly Father. and for laundry.

So in that moment, I could brush it off and remember

to sing.

I'm glad I wrote that down.