September 15, 2016
5:36 p.m.

It's amazing to me that everytime one of my children has a birthday these days, their ages number in the 30's. How did that happen? I now have no children under 30!!

Fine way to start a post, but my middle daughter is turning 34 tomorrow, and I'm feeling a bit shell-shocked. I imagine she is, too!

Tell the truth--CUTE!! She was 2. It was about a week ago, I swear. 

Taking those first steps at ten months of age--she was so proud of herself! 

Time sure does fly. Soon her own little one will be taking those first steps, and she will be overwhelmed with pride. I hope she remembers how quickly time goes by and cherishes every single second. 

I wish I'd known. I was told; I was warned, truthfully, but as things happen, those little day to day things that we get so bogged down and busy with, I just didn't believe it. When you're young, you believe you have time for everything. 

So whatever it is, you're go-to phrase is "I'll do it later." 

Later was yesterday, man.  Later passed you by while you were busy doing the dishes and folding the laundry, but somehow never getting it put away. Later happened while you scrubbed the toilet or went to work, or chatted on the phone. 

Later is a myth. You don't get a later. 

Do it now. 

Take the kids to the park. Read to them. When they say, "Mom, watch this!", watch that. When they need to talk, listen. The dishes and the laundry will wait; they won't. They can't. It's not possible for them to hit a pause button and not grow up until your "later" arrives. 

I know it's practically impossible to have a family and not have a job. I know you have so many things that have to be done. But sometimes it's okay not to strive for perfection and settle for good enough in order to have that extra few minutes to watch the little one bounce a ball for the first time, or listen to the older one read her first short story, or run lines with the middle child who is doing his first school play. 

Do it now, because, the next time you look at this: 

She'll look like this:

And it will happen in the blink of an eye. 

Happy Birthday, baby girl. Slow down and enjoy! I love you! 

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7:21 p.m.

History is a confusing thing; everyone is dead, and you can't verify anything! Whose child really died at sea? Whose daughters were abducted by the Apache tribe and later returned? Who was really responsible for the train accident? Is there a ghost in Santa Fe? 

Oddly enough, even though these are mysteries that can probably never be solved, I'm sure having fun researching them. 

Am I weird?

If I am, I guess so are the many, many other people out there doing genealogy research; there are a lot of us. 

I am pretty much a complete novice. I find myself frustrated at the many, many inconsistencies. 

That said, I have to give SO much credit to the Latter Day Saints and their years of documentation. Generations of ancestors have been found and cataloged by the church, and it is AMAZING. I am dying to go to Salt Lake City and visit the archives. I'll just have to go during good weather. Salt Lake's inversion, which results in high pollution retention, seriously messes me up. Last time I was there I had to wear a mask at all times, and still I thought I was doomed. 

When is a good time to visit Salt Lake?

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7:35 p.m.

I applied for a job yesterday. I'm trying to get back to having a job, a regular income, etc. I've been pretty sick the past year, but I've been...er...okay,,,the past couple of months. My ideal would be to work remotely, so I can work in Wyoming if I decide to go. That's what I've applied for. Please wish me luck!

I'm out of things to talk nicely about now. It's an election year, remember, and so there's quite a lot to go on about. 

Not to mention all the kooks. 

But today I am nice. So, it's time to say Goodnight.

Goodnight!