Had such a nice day, thought I would make another post. A friend came over to enjoy the pool with me. We had a nice visit and were in the water for almost two hours. I haven't had this kind of afternoon with a girlfriend in a long time and it was fun and relaxing.

When you make a move that is about 3500 miles away from what has been your home for the past 17 years, it's kind of hard to make new friends, especially as my age. You make a lot of acquaintances but not necessarily people that you can talk openly and freely with about you lives, nothing too heavy, just girlfriend stuff. When I invited this woman over to enjoy the pool with me I really had no idea that we would hit it off so well and have so much fun. Just goes to show what can be provided for you if you relax into your life.

After a couple of days of not posting, I figured I had better just write this morning. I had not realized how the tensions of the past few weeks had affected me. I know I had not been sleeping well but just figured that was my normal "crazy" sleep patterns, anyway...after having some things settled, exactly the way they should be, I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders and have felt how exhausted I was. Yesterday was the final tying up of loose ends and last night I about passed out around 9 o'clock. Actually it felt good. Aside from that we did have a couple of nights where we simply could not get hooked into the Internet. Good news, that really doesn't bother me too much anymore. Guess I'm weaning myself away from it.

Rick and I have been enjoying our afternoons together. We have been real fortunate with the job he has, where he really only has to work a few hours in the mornings on most days. They are making a push to finish up by the end of October, so he is working more now but that is probably good as it is preparing us to a more "regular" job that will probably take him away from home all day. He has been making applications all over the place, but so far no takers, but we keep praying. The contract for this job is written until the end of November, so we are hopeful that there might still be some work in November but we're not counting on it.

After much talking and brain storming we have decided that I will not look for work until after the first of the year. I am still planning on going to Idaho for the month of December to help Rachel, when she has her baby, so it seems foolish to work for two months and expect a month off. Of course, if something fell into my lap and they would consider the month off, I might just take it, but we have the problem of the car.

Yesterday I made plans in the afternoon, Rick cleared it because it figured he would go out to the site in the morning, then his boss called and wanted to meet him out there at 2 in the afternoon. I had to do part of my planned excursion and then take him out to the site and drop him off and go and finish up. He was able to get a ride home easily enough, but he was not happy about the whole set up. Therefore he is encouraging me not to work. I have agreed for 2010, but we'll see what happens for 2011. A lot will depend on what kind of income he can make at another job, right now we're doing fine but we'll have to see what the future brings.

Meeting a friend today to workout in the pool together, it will be nice to have some company, not that I mind being in the pool by myself. I have to admit, I love that pool. I actually look forward to working out.

Weather has turned to be more like what I would have expected in the tropics. Partly cloudy each day, with some scattered showers and not really too hot or humid. For my taste it's just perfect. Rick keeps telling me he's not so sure if it has really cooled off or if we are just acclimating, either way works for me.

With the aforementioned (is that a word, guess it must be cause spell check didn't catch it) burden lifted off my shoulders I feel like I can concentrate on the things that I want to, instead of constantly trying to ward off trouble. I feel like my prayers can be more about my family than myself, not sure if that makes sense, but it sure does feel good.

I'm looking forward to meeting Rachel's new baby, so far everything indicates it's a girl, and I'm looking forward to spending some time with Macy. Not necessarily looking forward to spending time in Idaho in December, or being away from Rick for 3 weeks (the plan is that he will come out for Christmas week and then we'll fly home together), nor am I looking forward to that long trip alone (4 flights), but that's where they are so it will be OK. The girls and I should have plenty to keep us busy in that 3 weeks, getting ready for Christmas, that it will fly by. An added benefit it that I don't have to worry about decorating my house for Christmas, we'll just put all our efforts into Rachel's house. I don't mind the decorating, what I don't relish is the taking down and putting away of all the decorations. Rick's and my gift giving will be limited to the spending on this trip (so that will make that part easy).

What a day, it is absolutely beautiful, Fall in the Caribbean. Temps in the low 80's, clear skies, terrific blue sea and an absolutely wonderful day, and it's Sunday to boot!

Today at church I was released as the 1st Counselor in the Relief Society and called as a teacher in the R.S. When the Mission President was in St. Croix about 6 weeks ago her explained his vision for our Branch. There will now be one Auxiliary for the sisters, consisting of a Relief Society President as the President, the Young Women's President as the 1st Counselor and the Primary President as the 2nd Counselor. This will allow these sisters to work together in behalf of all the sisters and children in the Branch. We are having a huge effort at reactivation, especially in the area of Primary and the Youth (another reason for this NEW Auxiliary Presidency), anyway, after all the fal de rah regarding these changes and where I would fit into the mix I am greatly relieved to be called as a teacher. I think I can really make a difference here, it will be small and slow, but I have also learned that for things to be really effective small and slow (baby steps) is the best way.

Today I taught the gospel Doctrine lesson in Sunday School. The sister who normally teaches wasn't feeling well and she has another sister who generally substitutes for her, but yesterday she decided to ask me. I told her no problem and then realized we are just beginning to study Isaiah, I was so nervous. I find Isaiah really hard to understand, but the manual had a lot more information than I expected and it really helped me to understand, at least, this portion of Isaiah. I felt I did a pretty good job, I hope the class felt the same. Just more baby steps.

I really love this Branch. If you asked me to give you one reason why, I really couldn't. I suppose the main reason is that I know this is where I belong at this time in my life. I suppose my feelings about the Branch are the same as my feelings about St. Croix in general. Rick, keeps telling me how surprised he is that he likes it here so much. I have to admit, I had no idea he had so much apprehension about coming here, but I am relieved that it were all unfounded. It's great for the two of us to be so happy.

I really enjoyed the Women's Conference last night. I really felt a "touch of home" seeing all of those sisters in Salt Lake City and hearing from our leaders. Sometimes you don't know how isolated you are from that, until you are reminded. As I said earlier both Rick and I are truly "home" here, but sometimes we do feel a little isolated from the mainstream of everything that is familiar to us, especially the church. It was good to hear our Prophet, President Monson speak to us. I am looking forward to General Conference next week, I hope I will be able to sit for that length of time. I suppose prayer would help.

Beautiful day, like I said yesterday it feels like Fall. Wow, I thought I liked Fall before the Caribbean, but here it is extraordinary!

Spent most of the day working on various projects on the computer, arkhhhh, "just shoot me", I like this even less than grocery shopping, which by the way, I should have done today. Oh well the computer projects are completed and I shouldn't have to do that for quite a while. Did get my workout in, in the pool, of course, and that always makes the day go better.

Tonight Rick took me out to dinner. I now have a new favorite restaurant. Favorite in the world. Duggan's Reef. It's just down the road from where we live, a cool outdoor place build right on the beach and it even has a deck that goes out over the water. Can you say, Conch Chowder, Lobster Fritters, Lobster AuGratin and Key Lime Pie? Ahhhhhh! It was wonderful, and I have half my Lobster AuGratin for dinner for tomorrow. We split the Chowder, Fritters and Pie but I'm still stuffed. After dinner we went out on the deck and looked at the full moon shining out on the Caribbean Sea and I thought, 'I can't believe I actually live here'. What a night! This place is a bit pricey, so it won't be a weekly thing or anything like that, but we will go back.

Got some news yesterday that one of my younger cousins was undergoing triple bypass heart surgery. I keep wondering how we got this old. His sister sent out a wonderful message on Facebook telling us what was going on and asking for our prayers. It really made me feel good to have the opportunity to pray for my cousin. It made me feel, not so detached from my family (all I really have left are cousins and one aunt). It also made me feel good about Facebook, sometimes I wonder about all this social networking stuff and worry that I spend too much time looking at it and kidding myself that I'm keeping up with friends and family when really so much of it seems more like gossip. Anyway...this renewed my faith that it is more about keeping up and notifying us, no matter where we are on the planet, of someone close to us being in need. By the way, the news on my cousin, Mark, today is that he's sitting up and doing real well, hopefully he will be able to go home soon. Keep praying!

More and more signs, in my life that prayers are answered. Not always in the time frame that we think or want, not always in the exact manner in which we want, but they are answered. I often think of Garth Brooks song "I Thank Good for Unanswered Prayers", it's true, there are times when we think we know what would be best and what we really want, only to have some time go by or for Heavenly Father to send us something else for us to realize how grateful we are for those unanswered prayers, or maybe the better way to put it is, for our prayers to be answered in the way that Heavenly Father knows would be best. I will keep praying and being grateful for the answers.

OK, if you can believe this, it actually feels like fall down here. Well Fall in the Caribbean anyway. The winds are pretty swift, and it was a little overcast today, temps in the low 80's and we had a few rain storms pass by. Now I know I'm gonna take flak from my friends in the states who read this because it's nothing like the Fall they are experiencing, but for the islands there is a change and for me it feels like Fall.

Big rainstorms last night. Since we sleep with the patio doors in our room wide open you can't miss it when it rains and it was coming down in buckets. At one point something flashed and popped(more like exploded) on a power pole not to far away and we both woke up with a start. Not sure if the power went out or not (because there are generators at our condo project, in the night you never really know for sure). Anyway that was a rude awakening, and then of course, I was wide awake and couldn't go back to sleep. Had to turn to my trusty book. Wind is picking up right now and a short shower just passed by, it's amazing how hard the rain can come down for only a few minutes. I suppose I should be grateful it's only a few minutes because things could get flooded real quick.

Wow! what a day. This afternoon we had a nice visit with some friends and discussed some things that had been bothering me for awhile. A very Spiritual and interesting afternoon a definite answer to prayers.

As we were eating dinner Rachel called with an offer on our piano, we took it and after almost 6 months of trying to sell it, it's sold. Another answer to prayers.

Then this evening I was visiting with a good friend on the phone and I heard my cell phone give it's ding that says I had received a text, at about 11:45pm as I was heading to bead I went to look at the text and it was another good friend with an answer to prayers, I have been praying for several years.

If I hadn't been going on and on over the past few weeks about how important prayer is and reminding myself to keep praying over everything, I almost wouldn't believe it. Today has been awesome and a real testimony builder for me. If anyone hears me complaining and whining, slap me upside the head, will you please.

During the day today I had another interesting thought. Yesterday I was going on about not wanting to do certain things and forcing myself to do them anyway. Well it occurred to me that I am constantly praying for something or other and, what if, Heavenly Father said; "well Barbara I just don't feel like it today". Of course, I can't imagine that ever happening, but it's the flip side of my not wanting to do things and these are good things that I know I should do, things that will really benefit me in the long run. It's given me a whole new perspective about "simply not wanting to do something".

Well I can't say much more than how grateful I am for a Heavenly Father who loves me and who does listen to and answer my prayers. What ever else you may do KEEP PRAYING.

Didn't post last night, simply did not feel like it. Trying hard not to post negative things and trying harder not to let negativity creep into my life. Some days harder than others.

Actually yesterday was a pretty good day, got a lot done around the house and caught up on most all of our paperwork, bill paying, etc. It's nice to have a regular paycheck and feel caught up. Unfortunately, Rick, the eternal pessimist, is starting to fret about this current job running out. The contractor had a big push the last two weeks to get a lot of work done so he could get paid(his pay is dependent on productivity). So now, Rick thinks they will be finished up by the end of October instead of November. I don't think it will work that way, because already, now that the contractor got a fat check, he's backing off a little, but I suppose I should let Rick think that so he will get on the stick and get something else lined up. He never really seems to see the need until about 20 minutes before we are absolutely desperate. That's probably not fair, but sometimes, it sure does feel that way. Anyway, I had to tell him that his pessimism and negativity was starting to stress me out, (it really was) and I have been working on not being stressed or negative lately, so please give me a break!

Feeling a little pressure to get a job myself, not from Rick, actually I think he would prefer me not to be punching a time clock. So, I'm not sure who I'm feeling that pressure from, but a lot of people keep asking if I'm going to look for work, or if I have found anything yet. It's probably just me. Trying to make arrangements to go to Idaho right after Thanksgiving, to be there when Rachel has the baby and that is stressing me out. It's expensive. I'm also worried about Rachel, she has been diagnosed with gestational diabetes and I know that has stressed her. Anyway...back to the job, I would want to be honest with a prospective employer and I'm not sure who would give me a job and then basically give me the month of December off, especially since I expect that is the real start of the "tourist season" around here. Of course, I haven't talked to anyone to even have them tell me that's preposterous, so maybe it's just that I don't want to go to work outside the home. I guess I'm just gonna have to figure this one out to a point where I'm comfortable with my decision, and not worry what anyone else says or thinks.

Church activity tonight that I have to admit I'm not too excited about but then other times when I feel that way and I go anyway I usually have a good time. No matter, it will be good to be in the company of the other Saints. I'm sure Sister Dye will be there and she has a way of cheering me up, I don't think she even knows it, but her presence is always cheerful and uplifting I can't resist feeling better in her company. There that's reason enough to go and be excited about going.

Defenitely feel frustrated in my church calling. This should be a source of "something to do" for me and it feels more like beating your head against a brick wall. This may be the source of my "job thing" I really don't feel like I'm doing anything here except the mundane. Everyone is just holding their breath and waiting for the changes we are told are coming and nothing is moving forward RIGHT NOW! You know me, I'm a right now kind of person, so I am frustrated and feel as though I'm doing nothing or less than nothing. I need to trust in the Lord more, I have no doubt that he is in charge but I still feel.......I don't know what. I can see I need more prayer.