Eating Disorders Awareness Week

I have been enjoying the opportunity to learn from Katie Green about her personal experience with eating disorders. I love to learn as much I can about mental disorders and issues, to hopefully better understand people and know how I can help. For some reason this topic specifically has been on my mind recently with raising a bunch of girls in this culture of ours that is obsessed with 'perfect bodies.' It's been interesting to read her underlying reasons, thoughts and behaviors that led to her disorders. She'll be addressing the topic all week.

How Much Longer

Saturday it was a beautiful day outside and a bit nippy. The kids had been stuck inside for so long, and all week have needed to get outside, for their sanity and ours. So Beau declare that they MUST all go outside and play for a while and get some fresh air. Every few minutes someone would come in and ask if they could come in yet... not yet, they needed to play some more. (How heartless we are to tell our kids to go outside and PLAY, SWING, RIDE BIKES, etc.... but if you would have heard them you would have thought we were the worst parents on the planet that day.)

At one point we heard the door open and then heard footsteps run back outside. Two seconds later Beau's cell phone went off with 'my' cell phone ring. I wasn't calling him. Someone outside was. (Lately Mirian has learned Beau's cell phone number and likes to get on our home line to call his cell phone, even when he's just in the other room. Often he just lets her leave a message.) Today he let them leave a message, when we listened to it a few minutes later, we could help but laugh.

Life Lessons

I have a child that very much likes to be in control. He likes things done his way, the exact way he wants them, and if you don't do it his way the world ends right then. The problem is most of the time he forgets to tell you all his particulars until the world has already ended, and then he will proceed to tell you everything you did not do right. And when he gets upset he tends to just tell you louder and louder until he's yelling at you.

Tonight was one of those lucky nights. It was my husband's lucky night to take the rounds. After 20 minutes of debating which is what he likes to do, it was time to just step in, be a parent, and teach hard lessons. This is so hard to determine sometimes. When do realize that the kids has just had a hard day and needs some love, compassion and attention. And when do you realize that there is a deeper issue that needs to resolved, and lessons that need to be learned. Lessons like:

1) You treat people with respect. All people. It doesn't matter who they are, and you need to learn to communicate properly with them and learn to express yourself in appropriate ways.

2) You can't control others and make everyone do exactly what you want,whenever you want. You can not have everything your way.

3) You are an agent unto yourself. You do have control over yourself and how you will act, respond and what choices you will make.

4) ALL of your choices have some sort of outcome. Whether that is good or bad can not always be determined by you. Sometimes you may know what those outcomes will be though and you can either choose the option that will prevent an outcome or you must be willing to take responsibility for any choice you make.

5) You can not expect to procrastinate the day of your repentance, and wait till the end to say your sorry, to apologize and expect everything to change and revert back to the way you want it to be. There will a point where it will be too late, and you will have missed opportunities. Nothing you can do can change it. But you can choose to accept responsiblity for what you have done or the choices you've made and move forward.

How do you teach these eternal truths to a 4 year old. You become the meanest parent on the block and take them to bed kicking an screaming. You stand up for your spouse and inform them that you will not put them to bed beacause they want you to do it instead of dad. (I was technically still the nice parent until that point) . You inform them that their behaviour has caused them to miss out on songs and a drink, because that was a consequence of their action. And then you don't give in depite all the crying, arguing, promises to change and be good if we do what he wants, and you let him know that you were listening to everything he said, and repeat it back to him to prove you were listening. And you show a little love still by at least giving him his teddy bear and doggy to help him fall asleep.

When does this parenting stuff get easier?

Small and Simple Things

This year as I started out the new year, I knew I needed to make huge headway on many projects and yet wanted to simplify everything in my life. The scripture "by small and simple things, great things are brought to past.." kept going through my head. (More on this later).

So I decided to test my theory... and test it with my design work. I have very little time to design. Too often I pick a big project that takes forever for me to get it out and into the store. I might get one product out a month if I'm lucky, and then I get burned out so fast.

So I decided to only do "small" products this year. Ones that were quick and fast. Ones that I could literally finish in 2-3 hours. I only have about 1 1/2 hours in the early morning before the kids awake to do any designing. I wanted something I could easily get done in those few hours, and possibly get two done in one week on my good weeks. If I had a bad week with life and general it was still small enough to get in the store.

I wanted it simple. I wanted it to be doable. I wanted it to work with my ADHD when it comes to having new ideas I wanted to work with. I somehow believe that even though these things are small and don't make big amounts of money, that small, consistent things will bring greater results than random, in frequent large things. So far I'm feeling good about it. It's been very doable. So far I've put something in the store every week, which has not happened for a VERY long time. I'm sort of looking forward to the end of the year, to look back and see if my theory proves correct. That these small and simple things will help out greatly in trying to prepare ourselves for when Beau graduates and we start job hunting. That somehow out of small things great things will come to pass.

These new JIF 6 Kits can be found in my store.

When Inspiration Hits

Recently I ran across this treasury at Etsy. It immediately sparked some ideas for a Jif 6 Kit.Which lead to some sketches and ideas for papers and elements.

Which lead to the finished product.

And a couple of fun layouts to go with it.

Handmade Giveaway

One of the things that I want to do this year is make more time for sewing and making things. For both my house and others. I was able to work on a bunch of things before Christmas and it was just so relaxing and fun to create handmade gifts for people. So when I saw Laurel's blogpost. I wanted to join in on the fun!

So I'm going to give away 5 handmade items created by me to the first 5 commenters on this blogpost. I'm going to try and do my best to create something that you'll like, but it will be a complete surprise what it is. You've got to give me at least the next 6 months to get all 5 completed.

Here is just a sample of one of the projects I made for the Christmas season. A Baby blanket for a new little one our extended family. (I've been trying to teach myself how to quilt on my regular sewing machine... I have a long ways to go, but it's exciting to see all the possibilities.)

So is what is the catch? Be one of the first 5 commentors, post about this giveaway on your own blog, and do the same thing for your first 5 commentors. If you do not have your own blog but are willing to just surprise 5 other people with something handmade, I'll let that count!

I'm excited to spread some handmade goodness! What about you?

It's that time of year when I tend to pull inward and live in a far away place. My husband has repeatedly ask me if I was around. I can't seem to help it. Right after Christmas it just naturally happens. I start thinking about the last year. What went on, how I grew and where do I want to find myself a the next year. It seems to be my natural time for introspection.

I naturally start making goals, plans for things I would like to accomplish, growth I would like to see and

Technology. A Blessing from God.

Recently our church made changes to it's main website. I love it. I love how easy they have made it to share the gospel, share our beliefs and have so many wonderful resources at our fingertips to help us live the gospel and teach it to our families.

I especially love this page which shares our beliefs. It's so well done. Videos, pictures, members sharing their personal experiences and thoughts, options to ask questions and chat with someone. It is done in such a non threatening wonderful way. It let's anyone get answers to their questions, find out the correct things that we believe, and learn for themselves about our faith.

My cousin has been serving his two year mission in the MTC referral mission. He has had amazing wonderful experiences about how people are searching for answers and finding the gospel online. They are able to chat with missionaries like my cousin and get specific questions answers. He has had baptisms all over the world. What an incredible blessing technology is! The Lord knew the power and blessing that it would bring, and how much it would be needed to take the gospel to all the earth. My cousin returned home last Friday and I loved being able hear about the experiences he has had using technology to spread the gospel.

Recently I've been thinking a lot about my faith. Wondering why it is that I don't feel suppressed or limited in who I can or want to become, when we have so many commandments from the Lord, or doctrines like the Word of Wisdom or the Law of Chastity. Many people of the world feel that Mormons have no freedom. No freedom to do or be what they want.

In fact my first year of college my family took in a foreign exchange student from Norway, Silje. She was a long lost sister. We loved her. She had previously been assigned to another family somewhere else in the US. They decided they just couldn't do it and so we were asked if we would take her. We agreed.

The people and friends she was around before coming to our house, told her that it would be awful. That she wouldn't be able to do anything because of all our Mormon commandments. She came completely worried. She later told me that she came expecting to have no freedom to do as she wished, instead she found more freedom than she had ever felt before in her life. She was expected to live the same way the rest of us did in the family and abide by the same rules. But what she found was not the lack of freedom but an abundance of it. A freedom that comes when we live the commandments God has given us. A freedom we can find no where else.

Many of you may get sick of me talking about my faith. But in reality it is everything to me. It makes me so incredibly happy. It gives me incredible freedom to become a Shalae that is far better than anything I could have ever made her to be. I know it's true with every part of me. And when you know something like this to be true without any doubt, it is impossible to never share it.

At this Christmas season, one of the greatest gifts I could ever give to you dear friends, would be the FULLNESS of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that Christ's original church he set up on the earth during his mortal ministry has been restored. Through Him. Every aspect of it. People wonder, ask and are sometimes appalled that we declare that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is Christ's only true and living church on the earth. That it is the same as the one he set up during his mortal ministry.

Does this mean that everyone else is wrong? No. Not at all. They all have truths, they have his word in the bible. But is there anything that is missing? Anything that has gotten lost in the many divisions of religion? Living Prophets? Modern Revelation? Priesthood power and authority to act in the name of God? Saving Ordinances? The Gift of the Holy Ghost? Is there more? Yes there is.

At this Christmas season. The time of giving gifts to those we love, I often contemplate and think of how my heart desires to share what I know to be true with others. The greatest of all gifts I could give is the restored gospel. The hard part... it has to be taken, looked at, thought about, prayed about, and acted upon by those I'd like to give it to. There has a to be a desire to even want to have the gift. There are not so many that are willing to to take it. Until that time comes, all I can do is keep sharing, keep testifying and keep offering.

I hope you are all enjoying this wonderful Christmas season. I hope you have had some time to ponder the Christ child. Who He is. Why He came. And what it means to you and me. I know he lives. I know he'll return one day, and what a glorious, happy day it will be.

Merry Christmas to you and your families! May this upcoming year be an amazing one for each of you.

Too Hard on Ourselves

I am the type of person that tends to lean more on the side of justice than mercy. This is not always a good quality trait to have. Especially when it comes to myself. Sometimes I hang justice over my head and tell myself that I'm just not doing good enough, I'm falling short in everything, and completely letting the Lord down and everyone around. I am human, I have weakness, bad habits and things that hold me back in very large ways.

I also know that I have a real and strong desire to do what is right. I really want to be more faithful, be more diligent in my study of the scriptures and the gospel. I really want to have a closer relationship with God and feel his spirit strong in my life all of the time. I want to do what is right, because when I do I experience a happiness I can't find anywhere else.

The problem comes when life happens. I get off track and it becomes a while since I've had a decent scripture study at all, or even opened the scripture for that matter. Or it might have been a while since I have been able to be less concerned with myself and my problems, and selfishly serving and helping someone else. Inwardly I know I should be doing things better, and so I bring out the justice card, and play it.

I start to be really hard on myself... leaving no room for forgiveness, understanding or mercy. I start comparing myself with others, and the perfect person I know I should be. The problem comes, when we don't let any small crack or door open for mercy to enter in. Compassion and understanding with ourselves. Forgiveness, hope and acknowledgement for how far we have come. We tend to close the Lord off completely because we just haven't been good enough, or worthy enough to feel his love, or have a spiritual experience, or let him reach out and put his arm around us and say, hey it's ok. You are trying, and you have good desires.

Reading a friends blog today reminded me of this and I think many women struggle with this in their lives. While thinking about it I was brought back to an experience that I had over a year ago when I was struggling with those moments of discouragement about where we are and where we want to be. I thought I'd share excerpts of my journal entry I wrote then.

"I haven't been keeping up on my scripture study, and I feel like the heavens have been closed of my own making. I feel like I've been trying to do it all on my own and have not been succeeding. I have been failing in every way. Tonight I was just feeling tired and hopeless. Stressed out and wondering how I'm supposed to do it all.

What am I supposed to do?

I felt the need of help from heaven, communication again, inspiration and direction and felt lacking it. I picked up some scriptures off the floor. Flipped it open and found myself in Doctrine and Covenants. I saw section 6 and thought "read this chapter."

It's been a chapter that I have come to love, and have had it give direction many times before, but tonight the message from the Lord was different. Tonight as I read it I felt a loving father and son saying... It's ok. We know your thoughts and desires. We know your tired. We know your stressed. We know your overwhelmed and want to do so much and can't. We love you. The heavens are not closed, and you know that or you wouldn't have opened your scriptures...

It was so what I needed, along with a long heartfelt prayer afterwards.

I wanted to share a few verses though that stuck out, that sunk in my heart and made me realize my father in heaven is fully aware, and he is there wanting to help. He doesn't think less of me, he's not disappointed in me, he wants me to know he understands.

"Seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion; Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold the mysteries of God shall be unfolded to you, and then shall ye be made rich."

Lately with the stress of finances, and the recession, I have been stressed and feeling a pressure to design to make some money so we can survive. This one just spoke peace to my heart saying... "Don't seek the money... don't worry about the money... worry about the things that really matter, that's all that matters anyway. I'll take care of you. I always have."

"Verily, Verily, I say unto thee blessed art thou for what thou has done; for thou has inquired of me, and behold, as often as thou hast inquired thou has hast received instruction of my Spirit.

If it had not been so, thou wouldst not have come to the place where thou art at this time. Behold thou knowest that thou has inquired of me and I did enlighten thy mind; and now I tell thee these things that thou mayest know that thou hast been enlightened by the Spirit of truth; Yeah, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of they heart."

This one spoke peace to my soul in telling me that the heavens are not closed. I did what I should - turn to him, and they were opened, they always will be opened. He knows what I'm thinking and going through ... I need to go to him, and when I do I'll recieve instruction. This one gave me peace that to know that even though I have been terrible lately about studying the scriptures, prayers, and having the right attitude and desire to serve, I could still go to him, he will still answer me, and he understands. He wasn't holding it against me, and holding back a spiritual experience or feeling his presence just to teach me a lesson.

"Therefore be diligent; stand by my servant (Beau), faithfully, in whatsoever difficult circumstances he may be for the word's sake. Admonish him in his faults, and also receive admonition of him. Be patient; be sober; be temperate; have patience, faith, hope and charity."

Here I heard the council once again to stand behind Beau and support him in ALL things. In whatever aspect the Lord calls him. Be there for him. Counsel with him.

"Behold I do not condemn you; go your way and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you. Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not."

This one was one where I just felt overwhelmed with his love. He did not condem me for not going to him lately, for doing it on my own, for abandoning the scriptures, and having trite prayers. He loves me, he's saying it's ok. Do better and move forward. I love you. Trust me.

You never know when you'll have an overwhelming experience like this one. One where tears freely flow. One where you just feel the the love of the Lord, his mercy, his forgiveness, his desire for you to do better, his understanding. What an incredible blessing to have. What a wonderful incredible blessing to have that in this life. To know it and feel it. God loves me. Despite all my weaknesses. He knows my thoughts, he knows my heart, he knows my struggles. He cares. He is there. He completely understands. He wants to help. I need to trust and let him."

We need to stop always beating ourselves us up. We need to remember that we are doing better that we think we are.... but we can always do better. But during the process he is always going to be there, he will help us, he will console us, he will just let us talk, cry, and share our thoughts, he'll put his arm around us and he'll say.... "I know" because he really does know.

Small and Simple Things

I always seem to have a list of a hundred things to do, and a desire to do them all. I get started on one project, and it either never gets finished, or it is the only thing I spend my time on and nothing else gets done.

My friend Kimmy and I were talking about how we take this big things we want to do, and big projects that need working on and it is just overwhelming and it seems like we get no where. But when we take things and do them in smaller chunks over time, it's amazing how all the little things start adding up.

This scripture

"But behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise." Alma 37:6

Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase." Job 8:7

Why Not?

As a mother I too quickly squash my children's ideas because I think they'll be a hassle or create even more work for me. Or sometimes it just seems so insensible at the time.

I don't believe this is a good thing for me to be doing. How are they going to develop this creativity if I'm always saying no. How are they going to learn to think outside of the box if I say no? How are they going to enjoy the little things and experience life's joys if I'm always saying no?

The other night was no exception. We had two or three cardboard boxes in our front room from some current purchases. The kids were cutting them up making cars, doggie houses, and any other random item that they needed right then for their play world. In the process of making doggies houses, they created one for Isaac, the doggy. It was only about 2 feet by 2 feet. The one side was completely open, the opposite side had a large hole cut out. When laying on the ground he could stick his head in the box and out the hole. If he curled up tight enough, most of his body could fit inside the box too.

It soon became time for bed. Groaning from the ranks ensued and Issac immediately asked "Can I sleep in my box?!" I immediately opened my mouth, to say "no way, you can play in it tomorrow," when Beau exclaimed "Sure buddy!" I gave him a look, questioning his own sanity when he smiled, said "look" and nodded towards Isaac. The little boy was grinning from ear to ear, so excited. He grabbed his box and dad helped him put it in his room on the floor, helped him get his head inside and out the other end so it could lay on his pillow and tucked him in.

He stayed in bed, didn't put up his usual fight, and fell asleep. I didn't think another thing of it. The next morning he rolled into the kitchen rubbing his eyes and Beau asked, "How did you sleep buddy!" He smiled and said good. I then remembered. "Did you sleep in that box ALL night?" I asked incredulous.

"Yep!" was the reply accompanied with the largest, proudest grin a little boy could carry.

Really what did it hurt? He had the time of his life. He did something out of the normal. He pretended all night, and he was proud of himself. I say no to too many things, when there really is no good valid reason why not to do it. Why not them really be kids. Maybe they'll show me how to enjoy those small things life are made of.

I want it to be real.

It's been a year of struggles.

Internal struggles. Hurts and disappointments. Growth. Heartaches. Real gratitude. A year of learning... lots of learning.

I think I am doing good and getting things figured out, and then I fail. I fall into a miserable heap. I realize I'm human. I'm not perfect. In fact I'm a hypocrite. I wonder if I present myself to people and make them think that I am super woman, that I can do it all, that I have it all together. Instead I want to say...

Hey you get upset at your kids? Me too!

You're house is a disaster. Phew I'm glad I'm not alone.

Oh you got sucked into the computer and emerged later only to find your day wasted. I know that feeling!

It's been days since you've opened your scriptures? Even longer since you've felt like you've had a real spiritual experience? I'm missing it too.

and it could go on....

Maybe that's why I just haven't been able to blog.... I felt like a hypocrite in everything I wrote. Maybe I wanted to write what I was really struggling with. Maybe that would require I open up and show you my heart and that was way tooo risky...

Maybe I wanted this to be more than just a daily post about what I or my family has done.

Maybe I wanted something more for my grandchildren and kids. I wanted them to know how I felt as I lived life. I wanted them to know that I hurt, that I feared, that I loved, that I laughed, that I cried.... that I had a heart.

Maybe I wanted it to be real. Really real.

That's what I want now. I know I've mentioned before other hopes for this blog. But deciding that I couldn't blog.... I had nothing to write, nothing to say, it all seemed empty. What I really want to show you is Shalae. Me living the life God gave me.... the stories that make up the unique individual that I am. The unique experiences I will go through that teach me about God and his ways, and that make me who I am. I want to start telling you a story about my heart.

The post The Unknown was my start of trying to do this. Showing you my heart and acknowledging God's hand in all of it. What am I learning about and experiencing right now. I'm going to share my journey.

How do you express....

how grateful you are for:

• Moments catching my 2 yr old singing primary songs at the top of her voice.
• Mybest friend - Beau. Heavenly Father not only knew what I needed he gave me the absolute best.
• Hard trials that teach me life lessons, despite how many tears are shed through them.
• Nature and it's amazing power to soothe and heal.
• A visiting teaching companionship I was scared to death about, and turned into the greatest blessing of my life.

• My immediate family - parents and siblings, and how they love me despite all my faults.
• My extended family who reaches out and makes me feel part of their family.
• The many opportunities the Lord has given me to grow, learn, develop talents and skills, opportunities to learn leadership and to grow spiritually.
• Amazing people that are constantly coming and going in my life leaving their mark forever one my heart.
• A Savior who never gives up on me, and gives me opportunities to feel his mercy and love.
• The restored gospel. The plan of Salvation. Priesthood Power. The Atonement. Covenants. Promises of Eternal Families and Eternal Life. Prayer. Answers to prayers. Unanswered prayers. The Book of Mormon, Bible and other scriptures. A Living Prophet. The Relief Society.
• Those tiny every day moments that bring a smile to both my face and heart.

The Unknown

I don't think he realized what it would really be like.

No hot meals for 4 days.

A disaster everywhere he turned in the tiny one room apartment.

No place to sit.

No place to eat.

No clean laundry.

Tears.... lots of tears.

Favors. Requests.

Stress.

No time to study for his own exams.

We had only been married two months if that.

He said he wanted to support me in my art.

Now in the chaos is this what he really wanted?

Four months earlier, we sat in a car as friends talking. I ended up pouring out my heart's desire to create art. Not just any art. Art that pulled at your heartstrings, pulled at your memories, your fears, your desires. Art that led you to him who could wipe away all tears, bind up broken hearts and shattered dreams. Art that taught you who he was and how to let him succor you. Art that left you wanting more... of him.

I had felt those strong, incredible promptings and desires at certain points in my life. Three months prior to that quiet evening in the car, I had gotten a very distinct prompting to stop running from it and start acting in faith. I felt without any doubt in my mind I was supposed to stop teaching, and create art. It scared me to death one minute and made me breathless with excitement in the next. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't see how I could support myself while doing it if I had no job, yet I wanted to do it so very badly. I listened to fears and others. In the end I procrastinated. I told myself I would build up to it and quit next year. I gave into the fear and didn't act.

As we sat together in the car that evening. I shared with him these desires, this specific prompting and the struggle it brought with it. Then I shared what I truly felt in my heart.

"I'm afraid I made the wrong decision."

Still to this day I wonder the same.

"Did I make the wrong decision? Did I loose my chance?"

I wonder as he looked around him at the mess, at his wife who was so consumed in finishing up a piece of artwork that she had forgotten him, if this is what he really wanted. The only answer he gave me in the car that night was a listening ear, nods of understanding and a simple statement.

"You know what your answer is don't you? Get married and let your husband support you so you can do art."

What he didn't say out loud at the time was this:

"Let me be that person."

It's been over eight years. Eight years since he saw me spill rubbing alcohol all over the artwork that I had been consumed with for 4 days. Holding his breath knowing that I had just ruined 4 days of work, and that the deadline for the juried exhibit I was trying for was tomorrow. He watched for my reaction thinking how calm I was, only to realize it truly was as bad as he thought when he saw the tears start to roll down my face and the sobs start to come. All he could do was hold me and let me cry.

He had became that person.

He has watched me over and over the last eight years, try to figure out what to do with this burning desire in my heart. He's watched me be creative in other areas, as I hoped that it would satisfy this feeling in my heart, only to have it give temporary relief. He has watched me sit for days with my mind so consumed with reoccuring questions, thoughts and dreams. "Did I make the wrong decision?" "Where would I be now if I had done something differently?" "Should I be doing it now?" "Is it to late to ask the Lord forgiveness and see if I can begin again."

I just want to paint.

He has seen the Lord guiding me and teaching me a long the way. Blessing me. Providing opportunities. Sending people. Increasing my talents. And always calling after me.

A month ago... I heard that call again. Shalae have faith and do what your supposed to do.

I heard it again and again as we stood holding hands in front of 1, 2, 3 very large paintings of the Christ. I felt my heart leap into my throat, and the tears starting to well in my eyes. They were beautiful. They were what I wanted... I someday want to create something like this.

Maybe it isn't too late.

It's been eight years since I spilled the rubbing alcohol. Two more of these competitions have come and gone. I have only been the viewer of them. The ninth one is coming up. I'd have a year instead of 4 days. What would he think if I told him I was going to go for it. How will he respond?

He'll smile.

Because he is that person.

My Actual

Honestly.  I have had a lack of desire to blog, and yet feel a need to. I’m  not sure what to write or say.  Life has just been busy lately.  My mind has been with my sister and her husband who have been going through some serious health issues.  My heart has been touched by a blog post from Mandy that has had it reeling ever since.  It has sent me back to thoughts, desires, dreams and feelings I felt a long time ago that have been on the back burner. They have been all I can’t think about.  Maybe it is a good thing to have blogging droughts. It means I’m actually out living life and experiencing things such as:

• hikes
• autumn
• canning and feeling that satisfaction that comes from provident living
• laughing
• costume making
• more canning
• visiting family
• road trips
• bowling
• pancake breakfasts
• double dates
• peanut butter candy
• good books
• my husband’s new project
• rain
• even more canning
• did I say more canning?  Did I say it still isn’t finished.

Life is good. I love this time of year. I think it naturally makes me slow down and take pause for reflection. 

Brighten Someone’s Day

About a seven months ago we had a large meeting called a Stake Conference for our church. It is usually a two-hour meeting in which our local authorities speak to us. Since my husband is in a Stake Leadership position, he is required to sit on the stand with the other leadership, leaving me to keep four small, unruly children quiet and reverent.

This specific conference was held later in the day from 2:00-4:00 p.m., which are my children's worst hours of the day. They are always hungry, tired, and either cranky or wired. Well, that day they were wired. They were all over the place, and it was all they could do to sit there on the hard benches and behave for such a long period of time. We managed through the first half all right. It was a little rough, but hey, it was now halfway over. The second half was a little rougher. At this point, I was wondering if everyone around me was wondering why they came to the meeting because my children were keeping them from getting anything out of it. I had brought a few crackers for them to snack on, because I knew they were going to be starving, which would make it even worse. At one point, Isaac sneezed and spewed crackers all over the back of the guy in front of us. It was embarrassing.
We had about 30 minutes of the meeting left when I had to take Isaac and Caitlyn out into the foyer because Caitlyn (my 18-month-old) was squealing and laughing at everyone, and Isaac was throwing a tantrum. We sat out there for a while until Isaac told me he could be good. We made it back in, and then Mirian handed me this little yellow note which the lady behind us had given her while we were out.

(Note: Oh mother, you may have 4 busy children and only 2 hands to guide them. But it is obvious you have plenty of love in your heart and room on your lap for each one. Thank you for your example of righteous motherhood. Whether your husband is in leadership in the church, or something else keeps him from the family, carry on in love.)

It was all I could do not to break out in tears from frustration, but also gratitude that one lady understood the struggle and was not annoyed by it, but understood and loved enough to pass me an encouraging word. She'll never know how much that little note of encouragement brightened my day and made me realize that although they are kids and a handful, I'm blessed to be their mother. They will not always be at this young and crazy stage. It will be gone before I know it, and I need to love every minute of it.

Too often I think we get annoyed with people around us, frustrated that they are disturbing or bothering us. Instead, we need to look with the eyes that this woman had: Eyes of understanding and love. We can reach out to brighten someone's day, give an encouraging word of hope, and show some empathy. That's all we really need in this world anyway.

A “sweet” embroidery pattern for you.

One thing that I have wanted to do for a very long time is to create some embroidery patterns. There is something that I love about basic simple embroidery. It’s cheap and versatile in so many ways.  It can be a fast relaxing way to embellish or create something beautiful with simple floss.  There are also many stitches to learn and so I feel like I can constantly be learning and enhancing the skill as well. 

I finally decided to stop thinking about it and to just do it.  So I took my drawings from a couple of digital collections and switched them into downloadable PDF embroidery patterns.  I have 3-4 others in the works at the moment and hope to get them finished and up sometime soon as well.  I also thought I’d offer a small one for a free download. Try it out and see what you can come up with. It could make a cute embroidered dish towel, hot pad, wall hanging, etc.  I included two different sayings that could be used or just use the the cupcake.

The Sweet Shoppe Embroidery Pattern is a 5 page PDF which includes a cover, copyright info, original pattern, color suggestions and a reversed pattern.

I also have the Fly High Embroidery Pattern out as well. It is perfect for embellishing little boy’s pillows, clothing, quilts, etc.

A Thrifty First

My first pieced baby quilt.  I’ve done just regular square quilts when I was little with random fabric, but this is my first one since then. I worked on it a little bit at nights here and there when I had a chance.  Amazing what you can get done by doing small things at a time. I even quilted it on my own machine.  It’s not perfect, but I’m really happy with how it turned out.  The best part about it, that my husband agrees is that it’s made from old sheets.  They’re a lot cheaper than fabric, and I love the soft feel they already have because they’ve been used.

Beau’s Love

His mother’s granola.  Ever since I’ve married him, he is always asking for granola. So being the dutiful wife, I found out from the mother in law how to make it.  The first batch I cooked too much, it tasted slightly burnt.  The second batch was pretty good… and I think that’s been the only two times I’ve made it in my 8 years of marriage. The other time we had it, Beau made it. (He had probably given up on me by then.)  I know it’s at the top of his favorite list. I know if I make it for him that it makes me at the top of his favorite list, and yet I always roll my eyes when he asks for it, and groan about how much work it is.

Today I thought I’d make some to see that smile on his face, and say “Hey, I do love you” and in the process was wondering why I have been complaining about it.  It really isn’t that bad to make. It’s easy. It takes some time to cook 5 pans of it since we do it in bulk, but it really isn’t so bad. I think I complain about it because it’s soo good, but not that healthy. It’s like 9 weight watcher points per cup w/out milk. Wow. I’m sure I could come up with a ‘healthier’ version but why.  It’s so good how it is. It just needs to be eaten in moderation.

I think I’ll make it more often. Why not. Especially when I know how much my husband enjoys it, how much he asks for it, and knowing that it will make his day to have a bowl.  What is it that thing that your husband loves, that he might have even been asking for?  Have you done it lately? If not… go for it! There’s nothing like today to do a little something to say… “hey, I love you.” 
If you do decide to do that little something and are willing to share I’d love to hear what you did for him!  Go ahead and post it in the comments. :)
Also… in case your tempted to make some up yourself here is Beau’s favorite Granola recipe.

Grandma Tippetts’ Granola
14 c. old fashioned oatmeal (not instant)
1 pkg. sunflower seeds
1 pkg. slivered almonds
1 pkg. coconut
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup honey
1 cup oil

Mix all the dry ingredients in the first list together in a VERY large bowl. I use a large metal bowl that I let my bread rise in. (in the end it makes about 32 cups of granola.)
In a sauce pan mix the sugars, honey and oil and bring to a boil for 2 minutes.
Pour the liquid over the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly, trying to spread over as much of the granola as possible. Then in various batches spread out a layer on a large cookie sheet.  Bake in the oven for 15 minutes at 325.  Stir it up to help coat the granola halfway through the bake time, and after you pull it out while it’s still hot. Let it cool, break apart and store in air tight containers.  You can then add raisins, craisins or other dried fruit to it at this point or when you are going to eat it.

An Amazingly Creative Mother.

I ran across a link to Adele Enerson's blog Mila's Daydreams.  Adele imagines what her tiny baby is dreaming about while asleep and gets creative making it.  What a creative, fun way to enjoy motherhood. I mean really!!! These are just so awesome.  I love how it’s a creative outlet in a normal, everyday life of being a mother to a baby.