One of THOSE Days ...

It started normally ... the morning was filled with the normal buzz of activity - breakfast for the kids, getting lunches ready, breaking up fights, getting them out the door ...

Along the way I phoned MTS to see why my cell phone had suddenly stopped working yesterday ... they had no record of the phone number ... then when they found it, the phone in my hand was reported stolen, and I needed to contact the Church Office to make arangements with them ... turns out they cancelled the phone service without telling me ... the arrangements I made three months ago to have the phone put entirely in my name had "never happened" so, instead of calling me to make arrangements - the phone was simply cancelled ... NICE !!!

I called and left a message looking for help ...

Then it was out the door to face the very icy highways on the way to work ... I made it to Brandon with more than my fair share of white knuckle driving ... but I made it ... As I pulled into town, I decided to stop and the Toyota Dealer to see when they could check on the engine warning light that had gone off ... if I could leave the car, they could look at it at some point through the day ...

A lovely young woman drove me to the office and I sat down at my computer to begin my day ...

OH MY GOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The emails just kept coming ... the tasks being dropped on my desk piled up ... and by the time I was in the office an HOUR I felt like I was two days behind ... I had emails to respond to ... media interviews ... press releases to send out ... phone calls to answer ... things just kept piling up ... THANK GOD for the background of Bill Evans to keep my mood calmed ... by 11:45 I had been typing emails and answering phone calls NON-STOP ... I jumped at the chance to go with my Manager to Brandon Rotary Club ...

After Lunch we had a Housing Committee meeting ... then a whirl of conversations arising from the committee, a planned meeting with one of the service providers to get an overview of their work ... and the omnipresent RINGING phone ... along the way the car dealer's car came to get me so I could pick up my repaired van ... I went to findo ut the bad news ... more repairs are pending, but for the moment the van was good to go ...

From the dealer I headed off to solve the cell phone dilemma and get the phone back up and running ... Sounds simple doesn't it ???

NOT A CHANCE ... over an hour later I came out with a NEW phone, the same number and a head ache from all the hoops we had to jump to get a blinking PHONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I headed back to the office and spent the next hour just getting caught up on the stuff that needed follow up from the afternoon meeting ... it was time I should be home getting dinner ready ... so a phone call was needed to get one of the kids busy making supper ... still had a grocery shop to do before I headed up the highway ... and my emails and phone kept piling up ... FINALLY at 6 I headed out the door and started heading home ...

To say I was wound up by the time I headed down the highway is an understatement ... I was a more than a little frazzled around the edges ... but ... I popped on some soft music, took a deep breath and headed down the highway ...

When I got home, the kids had eaten their dinner AND cleaned up by themselves !!! (I wondered if some aliens had kidnapped my children and replaced them with clones that have strange and unearthly habits ... !!!!) , and they headed off to bed with minimal fights ...

Then I opened my computer to do some MORE work, but first I paused to check my Blog ... and to my delight I found the following comment on the posting Unbelievable :

Two brief comments Shawn:

1. You must be doing something right to convict so many people. Sometimes doing the right thing is the least popular....and for that you will be criticized. Rest.

2. You said: I've had to justify EVERYTHING and in ALL things continue to be found wanting

I say, justify ONLY to God.Shawn, I love what you write more and more each day. I've been so busy lately, I've missed keeping up on reading your blog.

For your information, your writings, your pictures, your gut wrenching revalations about yourself do ME good.

So.... if you do it for just one.... keep doing it.

I read that and said "THANK YOU!!" aloud ... it came like a refreshing breeze in a dry dusty place ... not only did. MY OWN WOMAN, make me smile, she lifted my spirits to a place they haven't been for awhile ... SO, thanks to you "my own woman" good to have you back, and it's even better to hear your words of support and encouragement !!!

Those simple words helped make the stresses of today just ebb away ... It WAS one of those days ... but it took an unexpected turn and became something even better !!!

So, to those who have stood by me over the last couple of years when the mob mentality set out to chase me with torches and pitchforks - THANK YOU !!!!

Your presence and care has been appreciated and a day like today makes me realize just what a wonderful gift you have been to my life !!!


Thank you!!