Dreams that I am happy to wake up from

I have never been one to really have nightmares. But boy, am I sure have some anxiety-riddled ones lately.

This morning's was about Church:

I was at church and had been asked to fill in for the Relief Society presidency, who couldn't be there. I was to conduct as well as teach the lesson. I recognized no one in the room except the chorister...and we are supposed to be singing hymn 222 (whatever that is), but can only find 2 hymn books and both of them are missing hymn 222. She asks me what meter should she lead in and I figure out it's 4/4...but will that do any good when we probably don't know the words to all the first verse and the pianist doesn't have any music anyway?

The dream sort of fast-forwards to the end of my lesson. I don't even know if we sang or not. When it's all done and I'm cleaning up all of a sudden I realize there are now more people in class including 2 men I don't know. I realize it is NOW Relief Society time and I had just taught the RS lesson during Sunday School time. I freak out a little. What am I supposed to do now? I already taught my lesson! Had no one been assigned to teach SS, or had some person just been to shy to point out that I was jumping the gun? I talk to the 2 men and tell them they are supposed to go to Priesthood. They tell me they wouldn't feel comfortable there and the Bishop gave them permission to attend Relief Society.

I go in search of the Bishop and head to his office knowing he attends a Sunday School class there. There is a note on the door essentially saying that he doesn't care how they do things in Utah, but here you don't disturb the Bishop during Sunday School and if we ever moved to Utah we can feel free to bother the Bishop there during SS, but not here.

So I go next door from the Bishop's office to...the Bishop's office (you know how dreams are) and there is packaged food all over the place...mostly treats. And there is a big yellow tabby cat eating the treats. I slip the big cat into a clear plastic bag (with his head out so he can breathe), because cats shouldn't be there, and while carrying this cat under my arm, I continue my search for anyone with authority...the Sunday School president or another member of the Bishopric. As I walk down the halls and through the foyer I realize the other ward that meets after us is meeting in the hallways since my ward is occupying the classrooms. The 8-12 year old girls are wearing matching yellow and orange dresses and have scissors that they are cutting into the air like they are doing a synchronized swimming routine (?). I continue down the hall and don't see anyone I am looking for, but the halls are packed with people. I am wondering what is going on back in the RS room...did someone take charge? Are they receiving a belated SS lesson? I finally wind up back at the RS room and I find the missing hymn books...

I was so happy to wake up and know it was just a dream.

Another dream I recently had that has stuck with me for some reason--I was subbing in Theatre I, only once I get there I realize I am not subbing, but was asked to teach 2 sections of Theatre I for the semester. Only, I didn't make any lesson plans and it's the first day of class and I have to have something to do with the kids. I lament that Glen and I didn't discuss this so he could tell me what his lesson plans for Theatre I were, afterall, if we were both teaching the class, we should be teaching the same lessons--that way I would have had my lesson plans done.

Thinking quickly and trying to use what I have on hand, I decide what to do. As I pass out large baking potatoes to the students I explain their assignment. They are each to create a character for themselves. They are to decide the personality of said character and decide how the character would talk, think, and dress. They were then to take their potato and turn it into that character they had created. I was so pleased that I had come up with a decent lesson plan on such short notice.

Crazy, crazy, crazy.

Things of my mind lately--Temple Grandin, health, teenage drivers, and service

Temple Grandin movie--we got the Temple Grandin movie from Netflix a while back and I thought about writing about it, but never did. Turns out it won at the Golden Globes. Claire Danes really did do a great job with the movie. I went to a lecture on autism once by Temple. She even signed a book for Eric for me. She's a fascinating person. I think even if you don't have a child with autism you might like the movie.

My weight is slowly creeping up again and for some reason I'm fearing for my health more than I used to. I guess aging will do that to you. More than just losing weight, I want to eat better. I've started making more things from scratch again. Made wheat crackers the other day. We make yogurt from time to time. Need to do better than that.

Eric now has his learners' permit. We need to get him and Ryan out driving more.

Started reading President Monson's new biography, To the Rescue. I am so amazed at what some people are willing to give. A really inspiring story.

How'd it get to be December 2nd?

Very busy these days. So busy I forgot that Hannah and Alex had dentist appointments today (since the hygienist's daughter had the lead in "Anne of Green Gables" she was happy enough that we forgot, so we lucked out). I need to make some lists:

Calendar:

sub until Dec 22nd
Dec 2-watch opening night of "Anne of Green Gables"
Dec 3-Christmas party for me
Dec 4-put up Christmas tree?
          -Taste of Home cooking show in Reno
Dec 5-teach Sharing Time at church
         -First Presidency Christmas message
Dec 6-A Night of Dickens in the theatre
Dec 8-Presidency meeting
Dec 9-take Ryan to the school board meeting
Dec 10-Church Christmas dinner-bring 2 pies
           -stamping at Michelle's
Dec 11-Mother-in-law's birthday
           -temple session and shopping
           -watch closing night of "Anne of Avonlea"
Dec 14-tithing settlement
Dec 16-my parents arrive
Dec 18-dinner with both sets of parents
Dec 19-my parents leave
           -Christmas musical fireside
 Dec 22-1/2 day & last day of school
           -Christmas caroling with Glen's family
Dec 25-phone call from Andrew

Christmas To do:

find advent calendar, load it with treats, and put it up
make gifts for friends
make cookies for caroling
make Christmas cards
write Christmas letter
mail out cards
get wish lists from the kids
mail Andrew his Christmas box
shop, shop, shop
wrap, wrap, wrap
make gingerbread houses
decorate house
add Christmas songs to playlist

General To Do:

find my missing cell phone (thanks Glen!)
make a card for stamping night 

pay bills
clean house
find spots for the latest cannery purchase
visit teach
clean fish tank
clean bird cage (thanks Ryan!)
post about Hannah's birthday
make ch 4 test for stats class
start exercising again


1-1-11 update: I completed everything that was on my list for December except going to the temple. Now, whether everything was on the list that should have been is another story. Good-bye 2010.