Pure Chocolate

I have two stories to share today, more because I want to keep these stories for myself than because I think anyone else out there is interested. But they are both involving one of the very best things in this world -- chocolate.

First, we've had a bit of bad luck with our car lately. I think all cars come with a chain reaction programmed inside, so as soon as one thing breaks and is fixed, the next thing decides it is it's turn to break, and so on and so on until you finally realize that to keep fixing is just stupid, you'd spend less money by just buying a new car. Our car has been very, very close to that point for awhile, and then last week, it happened. 

I had been having a bit of a rough day, and we were out of chocolate. Just to make myself clear, WE WERE OUT OF CHOCOLATE!!! That alone can make any day a rough one. Right after dinner Marquis was informed that I needed some now, and he quickly and quietly did as he was told, and got in the car to get me some. I was starting to get worried about how long he had been gone when he finally came in the door. The poor boy looked cold, and his glasses fogged up as soon as he walked in the door. Apparently he had only gone a few blocks away from home when the car just died and refused to start again. Thankfully it wasn't very far for Marquis to walk home, but instead of coming straight here he decided that I would need the chocolate more than ever, and so he walked to a nearby gas station first and bought me my chocolate. I love that man!

For my second story, I am going to get all religious on you. Recently, one of the general authorities in my church, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, gave a beautiful talk to the women of our church. There is a part in it that I have been thinking about a lot lately. He was talking about the well known story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He says it way better than I could, so here is a quote: 


"In this classic children’s story, people all over the world desperately yearn to find a golden ticket. Some feel that their entire future happiness depends on whether or not a golden ticket falls into their hands. In their anxiousness, people begin to forget the simple joy they used to find in a candy bar. The candy bar itself becomes an utter disappointment if it does not contain a golden ticket.


So many people today are waiting for their own golden ticket—the ticket that they believe holds the key to the happiness they have always dreamed about. For some, the golden ticket may be a perfect marriage; for others, a magazine-cover home or perhaps freedom from stress or worry."


I love this analogy! I must admit to being very guilty of this. But last Saturday was a day filled with chocolate. Normally I am up at 5:30 on Saturday mornings, trying to get in as much work as I can before the girls wake up and slow me down. But this past Saturday the alarm was turned off, and instead I woke up to my Sweetheart climbing in bed with us, about 8:00 or 8:30. Three extra hours of sleep = bliss! Princess woke up soon after and Marquis grabbed her and brought her to bed, too. As I watched the girls wrestle with and love on their daddy and climb all over both of us, I couldn't help thinking about how incredibly blessed I am, and that despite a broken car and a day of work ahead of me, that I could just sit back, not worry about life, and enjoy this moment. 


The rest of the day continued the same, with time with my family mixed in with my work, lots of love and sweetness from my husband, a simple yet delicious home-cooked meal and ending my day with a clean house. All day I got to listen to the rain fall outside from the comfort of my warm home. Nothing big or spectacular happened, yet it could be described as nothing less than pure chocolate.


And I sure do love my chocolate.