In Awe...

Ok, I know you have all heard me say how happy we are here in Arizona. I also know that I say all the time how fortunate we are to be in such an incredible ward. We feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends and ward members all around us. I tell my parents, sisters, brothers, friends, anyone that will listen how each and every day we are amazed at how lucky we are. The past 10 days David and I have been sick. For a few days we were so sick neither of us functioned very well. Now these things may seem like nothing to most people, but to me, they are HUGE!! I had signed up to clean the church last Saturday morning. Friday night I knew there was no way I was going to make it with how I felt. I didn't want to be a flake, so I called the RS Presidency and left messages -and kept calling until I got someone at home- to tell them I wouldn't be able to be there. Well, Sunday morning the RS Pres called and said she didn't realize David was also sick, and would I like her to come get my kids to take them to church. Ummm... YES!!!!! So she picked up the 3 older ones and took them to church. She also asked if I wanted her to bring us dinner that night! WOW!! My friend, Kerrie, had a birthday on Friday Jan 30th. Her sweet husband planned a party for her for Sunday (superbowl sunday) and I had to call them to say we wouldn't be there. I felt HORRIBLE that I had to cancel! What does she do? She leaves her OWN party to bring us dinner Sunday night! WOW!! Then, Monday as I am getting out of the shower I hear the doorbell. I go to the door and it's Kerrie's husband with a box of food and lots of soda's! Are you kiding me? How do I deserve these people as friends?? WOW!! I had another sweet friend call that day and ask if she could bring dinner. The list continues with so many more little things that have been done for us. These things are done regularly! Last time we were all sick (remember the throwing up post???) I had people calling and bringing dinner then too! When they took our rental furniture away the week of Christmas, someone from church called on Christmas Eve and said they had a recliner chair for us and to come and get it. I didn't want to ruin their Christmas Eve, but she insisted. Plus she had another friend who had a big oversized chair that we could take. These people were so nice! David's parents were coming to town the next day and we had no furniture for them to sit on. Now we had two big chairs that they found incredibly comfortable. WOW!! I could go on forever about all the little things that people have done for us. And it's even more than what people have done for us. It's the hugs at church, the simple smiles and friendly hello's as you pass someone in the hall at church or see them at the grocery store. It is the 'we are so happy you are here' that I hear almost every Sunday at church. The waves hello from passing cars, the happy friendly bank teller, the cheerful smiling cashier at the store, it's all of these little things!
You see, you all may think that these are no big deal. You may do this all the time for anybody. You may think nothing of it when you offer these little things to anyone who needs it. But I just want to say that they are a very big deal to me! I am IN AWE ever day at the generosity, friendship and love by everyone here. Maybe this is just the way it is here. Maybe everyone here in this area is just always this incredible. Maybe no one else thinks it's anything special, but from where I came from, IT IS!!! People didn't act like this where I came from. Maybe it is a change in me, maybe it is the people here. I don't know, but I am truly GRATEFUL!