So I know I definitely cannot compete with all the troubles my sister Brittany faced during her horrible September, but I have to say that this month has been pretty rough for me too. I know, I know- how can I possibly be having a rough time when I am in Italy? Well, let me tell you. This trip is not all fun and games folks, I am here to get some serious and essential work done. And although things are moving along, they are doing so slowly. Part of this is due to the fact that I have been feeling ill for about three weeks. My symptoms include terrible sinus headaches, sore throat, cough, runny nose, and general exhaustion. I am eating healthy and getting 8 or more hours of sleep each night but I am still exhausted all day, every day. This makes it rather hard to concentrate when I am sitting in the archives faced with fifteenth century handwriting and eyes that will barely stay open. I have tried to rest a day here and there, and I have also tried just spending half the day in the archives, but to no avail. I am starting to feel very frustrated about it, since I am here to do this research but I am having a hard time getting things done.

Add to my health issues the following events which occurred today:

1. I have a grant application that I had to finish and mail off to Toronto, which I did; only to realize later in the day that I forgot to include my transcripts in the envelope so I had to go back to the post office and send those off as well. This would not be so bad if the post office in Italy didn't involve such long lines and eternal wait times.

2. My iPod got stuck in one of the USB ports on my computer (it's a first generation shuffle) and I seriously couldn't get it out. I didn't want to break it or my computer but I didn't know what to do. I played with it for awhile and then just sucked it up and pulled really, really hard . . . which didn't work! So, I hauled my laptop to the archives with my iPod stuck in it; I managed to get it out this afternoon by pulling up first, and then pulling really, really hard.

3. While I was at the archives today I was working with some documents from the 1500s that are bound together with a leather spine and wooden board covers. While trying to shift the book to the other side of my desk my hand slipped and I got a huge splinter in my pinky finger- ouch! I got it out, and promptly gave myself a tiny paper cut. I decided, shortly thereafter, that it was probably best to just go home.

Needless to say, I was feeling pretty lousy (both mentally and physically) but after a bit of self-reflection I feel much better- mentally, anyway! This past week I co-taught the lesson in Relief Society and we talked about the concept of "being of good cheer." This afternoon, as I mentally counted down all the crummy things that have happened to me lately, a few key points from the lesson crept into my mind. I remembered that despite all the trials or difficulties we face in this life, ultimately we are here to have joy. We find that joy by making the gospel of Jesus Christ the centre of our lives. I was reminded that I have so much to be thankful for because of the Savior, that even in tough times I can have joy in my life. That doesn't mean that everything will automatically be better or that things won't be hard (did I mention that a pigeon pooped on my foot a few weeks ago? Gross!) but it does make things a little brighter. So here's hoping to a better day tomorrow and a better month ahead; but if not, I know that things will be okay and I will come out a stronger person in the end, and that thought makes me happy!