It didn't look good - at first!

It started out well. I was even excited about finally getting a replacement window for our large back window which had fallen out over a month ago. The men brought the window, and I was delighted to see that it fit perfectly. 

My delight turned to concern as they brought out their silicon calking guns, because I have passed out several times when I've been near new calking. No problem I thought, I'll just go and stay in our family room, besides our grandchildren would be coming soon. 

It didn't take long before the doors were open with people going in and out and the fumes permeated the entire house, included our family room. Now what? I checked the back yard. It also smelled of fumes. I checked the trailer. It had just been painted. 


Beginning to feel dizzy, I knew I had to get away-- immediately! Grabbing my baby grandson, I fled to our courtyard in the front of the house, knowing, that in 107 degree weather, this solution would not last for long. The day ended with me having to spend the night in our garage family room.

Was it a terrible day? It could have been if I had sulked and fumed, but, for once, I didn't. Instead, after our baby grandson was picked up, we took our young granddaughter to the wonderful children's museum they have in our town. It even turned out to be free that day. We had a great time!

After a night spent in the garage family room, I was quite ill. I had trouble breathing and was so tired that I could barely move. Were things going from bad to worse? No. Instead this was an opportunity for us to see how ill the cabinet that we were storing in the garage family room was making me. Knowing this, we quickly took the cabinet out of the house, and I started to perk up. 

To top it off, a neighbor was thrilled when we gave them the cabinet. It gave them the extra storage space they needed in their kitchen and even matched their other kitchen cabinets. 

Looking back on this day, I see it full of opportunities instead of disasters. We now have a great window. I had the chance to choose to look for the good and develop my character more. We were able to spend a special afternoon with our little granddaughter. We got rid of some things in our home which were making me ill, and we even got to know some of our neighbors better. For a day which didn't look too good at first, it turned out pretty well!


I had just read this article in the New Era magazine the day before and was thinking of it when I wrote this.   https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/2019/09/3-ways-to-cope-with-a-crummy-day.html?lang=eng#title1