M's First Sewing Project: The Blanket Envelope

Years ago (and when I say "years" I mean at LEAST a decade) my oldest baby was given a beautiful yellow blanket sewn by her GrandmaW. We all found the color ironic as it was GrW's least favorite. Over time this blanket has seen the best and worst of my daughter, and has been loved to the point of being able to see through it in some places. M has been increasingly worried about the deterioration rate of this most beloved blanket, especially as it's one of the only things she has left to help her remember GrandmaW. As you can see in the picture below, she has reason to be.



















A few years ago we took the blanket to GrandmaR to see if she could help with the edging. You can see in this next picture just how threadbare it was looking. GrR found a pretty yellow fabric much like the original, and for a while we were safe.



















Lately M has been more than worried about this precious blanket. She's even taken to hiding it under her stuffed animals just so she won't touch it in a manner which might cause even more damage. That's when GrandmaR came up with a brilliant idea, and hence comes the fantastic results of today's post: the blanket envelope :)

As M has also wanted to learn how to sew (a talent that so OBVIOUSLY skipped a generation, and thence should never be taught by certain individuals), we finally managed to find a day where she and GrandmaR could get together. After picking out some pretty fabric and buttons, they went back to GrR's house for M's first sewing lesson.

The first thing GrR did was trace some lines on a paper, then M "sewed" over them with the machine. My mom basically said M's lines were straighter than the ones she drew, lol.




















And here's the finished product!!! I am so in love with the fabric M chose, especially because the purple is a complimentary color to the yellow (something M had no thought of...she just really likes purple right now, ha!).



















Here's a closer view with one of the buttons. While Gr.R did the button holes, M sewed the buttons on.



















And here's a view of some of the fantastic lines! Didn't she do a beautiful job?



















And last, but certainly not least, here is M's precious blanket from her GrandmaW encased in an envelope she made with GrandmaR. A treasure indeed!

Sunday Inspirations February 7, 2010

This has been, over the past year or so, a familiar refrain of mine: I've been feeling a bit off track. Fortunately for me, with age comes a smidge of retrospection, and I am better able to understand where it is I've gone off track.

During the last several months I've been dipping my hand into a few different creative outlets. I've been crocheting, beading jewelry, making bookmarks and scrunchies, etc. It's all in the hopes of being able to make a bit of money to help out around the house. The funny thing is, whenever I try to focus my energies on something to try and make some extra money, I end up getting a bit lost along the way.

Elder L. Tom Perry talked of what it can mean to find ourselves even one small degree off our charted course. "While traveling, I have had the opportunity of visiting with many airline pilots, and I am always amazed, as I look into the cockpit, at how many switches, lights, displays, and controls are necessary to fly the plane. I entered into a discussion with one pilot regarding what could happen if he deviated from his flight plan. I proposed deviating just one degree from the charted course. His reply astonished me.

"He said that for every one-degree variance from the plan, you would miss your charted destination by one mile for every 60 miles you were flying. This means that in a flight from Salt Lake [City] to Denver, you would land in downtown Denver rather than at the airport. On a flight from Salt Lake to Chicago, you would miss the airport and land in Lake Michigan. Going from Salt Lake to New York, you would miss Kennedy Airport and land in the Hudson River. Going to London, you wouldn't even make England - you would land somewhere in France.

"A deviation from a flight plan of several degrees would take you totally off course. The pilot explained to me that, obviously, the faster the error is discovered, the easier it is to return to the flight plan. If the correction is delayed for a long time, it is very difficult to find the way back because of flight traffic, poor weather conditions, decreased visibility, and other limiting factors. The charted course would be so far away that it might be almost impossible to reach the intended destination. My visit with the pilot gave me no comfort, but it did cause me to think of how a flight plan parallels the direction we chart for our life's experience" (L. Tom Perry, "Learning to Serve," Ensign, Aug 1996).

Totally off course. Can you imagine what it might feel like, to be totally off course? Perhaps for many of you it's not a matter of imagining at all. Instead it could be a state of being, a feeling you are experiencing right at this moment. Are you, like me, feeling off course?

Too often these days I hear friends and family commenting on how sad they are, how depressed they feel, and how things are not turning out the way they'd expected. Too often their harsh experiences leave them doubting whether or not God is truly by their side, if He honestly loves them, and how He can allow such things to happen.

We are living in a time of desperation for many. Several of us have never known such insecurity: will I still have a job tomorrow? What will happen to my children? What if I can't make the next rent payment? Is there anyone out there who could take me in? While fighting the anxieties of life we can't help feeling lost, frightened, and uncertain. Does God really exist in a world where anything bad can happen?

The answer is simple: yes. Problems arise when we allow these trials to put us even a little off course. We may not even realize what's happening until we find ourselves trying to land in Kennedy Airport and wind up in France.

Ponder upon your own struggles. What are your "poor weather conditions?" What factors are decreasing your visibility? What is keeping you off course?

About a year and a half ago I received a very direct answer to a special prayer I'd offered. During that time I felt very off course. I couldn't seem to find a focus, something to throw myself into - and I am one who needs something to consume my attention. The answers were a little unexpected, but filled me with excitement. The first was to start up this blog in an effort to strengthen my writing, to help my voice be heard. It was meant to be a place where I could share not only the silly day-to-day happenings in the life of a Mormon mother, but to be a starting off point for me to share the inspirations my Heavenly Father and Brother place in my mind and heart. I truly believe it has been a step towards recognizing Their influence in my life.

The second answer was to focus on my children. They needed me as never before. I needed to spend less effort trying to find an hour or to for myself, and more in giving love, guidance, and attention to the four precious spirits entrusted by Heavenly Father into my care.

Seeing as how those answers came to me a year and a half ago it might not be too surprising I'd forgotten my directive, my charted course. Around that same time I felt inspired to take a class on starting a Scripture Journal, in which I'd write down any sort of questions or insights that came to me as I studied scripture or sat in a class. One of my first entries contained the answer to this important prayer of mine.

I honestly believe God knew I'd come to this point. He certainly knows me well enough. I'd gotten a few degrees off course. My writing has suffered terribly the last several months, and less of my time has been spent with my darling children. I too have been concerned, like so many, about how we'll make it from paycheck to paycheck. We've never had a lot, and most of our "fancy stuff" has been gifted to us by loving family members. So when the chance to try and make some extra money right before Christmas came, I rushed right in...and my family suffered.

So I'm righting my course. Of course I still want to play with beading and crocheting and making jewelry, but it can no longer be my main focus. Perhaps a better thing would be to say I won't be doing it with the focus of monetary gain. I am learning a lesson of where my talents need to be given, and it's not so we can live a bit more comfortably. Perhaps one day it will be so, but now is simply not the time.

With this decision has come peace I haven't known for a while. I can't begin to express to you how much the weight has lifted from my shoulders as I think about doing things to benefit my children. It's as though the fog has lifted, I can see my destination once more, and I am back on course.

Turning away from those things that bring us off course may not be so easy. I listened to the testimony of a young man today who told us of the offers he was getting from football scouts, the money being promised, the fame being enticingly waved in front of his face. When he went to his bishop to tell him all about it, he did not expect the rection he received. His bishop asked, "What would you think about serving the Lord?" He promised to think about it. As he pondered on the bishop's question, he began to realize how the thought of fame and wealth had taken him off course from the true happiness the gospel and serving the Lord could provide.

I want to close this with the words of another man who bore his testimony today. In it he said, "We all have hardships. I know I do. Life isn't easy, in fact several things are going really badly right now. But I'm happy. I'm so happy...in the gospel." If you, like me, have been feeling a bit lost, it's time to take stock of where your focus is. Where does the Lord want you to chart your course? I can promise you, if the desire to get back on His course prompts you to make the proper changes, you will find that even on the roughest days, you too can be happy.

Sunday Inspirations January 31, 2010

I had every intention of getting this posted before church, but for some reason I can't copy/paste here on blogger any more :( Silly blogger. My husband gave a wonderful talk today on being a member missionary and sharing our light with the world. I hope it's as inspirational to you as it was for us to put together. And if any of you heard it at church, I recommend you go ahead and read it again - he actually had to skip a bunch to shorten it :)

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Imagine for a moment you wake up one morning to a dark world. You blink a few times just to be sure you eyes really are open. Maybe you pinch your arm to see if you're really awake. Turning your face left, then right, you can hardly believe it's possible to be left in such utter darkness. Not one tiny speck of light can be found. You can't even see your hand in front of your face.

How would you feel? What might it be like to live this way day after day, year after year? How might this constant state of living in the dark affect the way you act, think, and feel?

Now imagine what it might be like to wake up another morning, and off in the distance a single dot of light appeared. Would your heart begin to race? Would you rub your eyes a few times just to be certain it wasn't a fluke? Most of all, would you feel yourself drawn toward that light, be willing to traverse whatever it took until you could finally reach it?

In Matthew 5:16, the Lord teaches us to: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

Let's turn our imaginations in the other direction. What might it be like to be the light those in darkness turn to? As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we hold a light far brighter than any other. We have been directed by the Savior not to hide those lights. Instead we ought to hold them high so others may be directed our way.

One of the most significant ways to help hold up these lights is to share our testimonies. Next Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to do so. It doesn't need to be here in Sacrament meeting, where I know standing up in front of everyone feels frightening for many. Many of our classes give those who wish an opportunity to share testimonies in a much smaller group. We can take time out during Family Home Evening to bear our testimonies to one another. A testimony - no matter how big or small - invited the Spirit in with such swiftness. It not only strengthens the testimonies of those around us, but works to strengthen itself as well.

Another way to hold up our lights is through love. Elder Henry B. Eyring spoke at length about the power of love, of true friendship, and it's ability to bring others to the light of Christ.

Elder Eyring states: "Love always comes first. A single act of kindness will seldom be enough. The Lord described the love we must feel, and that those we invite must recognize in us, with words like these: 'Charity suffereth long,' and it 'beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things' (1 Corinthians 13:4,7)."

He continues by telling us an experience he had with a neighbor. "I've seen what 'suffereth long' and 'endureth all things' mean. A family moved into a house near us. The home was new, so I was part of the crew of Latter-day Saints who spent a number of nights putting in landscaping. I remember the last night, standing next to the husband of the family as we finished. He surveyed our work and said to us standing nearby, 'This is the third yard you Mormons have put in for us, and I think this is the best.' And then he quietly but firmly told me of the great satisfaction he got from membership in his own church, a conversation we had often in the years he lived there.

"In all that time, the acts of kindness extended to him and his family never ceased, because the neighbors really came to love them. One evening I came home to see a truck in their driveway. I had been told they were moving to another state. I approached to see if I could help. I didn't recognize the man I saw loading household things into the truck. He said quietly as I drew near, 'Hello, Brother Eyring.' I hadn't recognized him because he was the son, now grown older, who had lived there, married, and moved away. And because of the love of many for him, he was now a baptized member of the Church. I don't know the end of that story because it will have no end. But I know that it began with love."

You might be wondering to yourselves, what can my one little light do? How can I bring others to the light of Christ when I never seem to be given the opportunity? You forget one of the greatest tools the Lord has given us - the ability to be a great example.

Some time ago Elder Eyring had the opportunity to both speak at and attend meetings involving the ministers and leaders of over 300 other churches. He states: "I visited alone with as many as I could. I asked them why they had been so attentive to my message, which was to recount the origins of the Church, to tell of the young Joseph Smith's First Vision and of living prophets. In every case, they gave essentially the same answer.

"They told a story of a person or a family - Church members they knew. Often I heard, 'They were the finest family I have ever known.' Often they spoke of some community effort or disaster response in which the Church members worked in a remarkable way.

"The people I met at those meetings could not yet recognize the truth in the doctrine, but they had seen its fruit in members' lives, and so they were ready to listen. They were ready to hear truths of Restoration - that families can be sealed forever and that the gospel can change our very natures. They were ready because of your examples."

Being a great example of the fruits of the gospel can and will warm even the hardest of hearts, but even this is not enough. If we are to help build up the light of Christ in others, we must take them into our hearts and give them the gift of friendship.

President Gordon B. Hinckley stated: "I hope, I pray, I plead with you, every one of you, to embrace every new member of the Church. Make a friend of him or her. Hold onto them." What might it be like to come into a new church, be unfamiliar with many things involving it, and not feeling the warm hand of friendship you experienced before your baptism?

We live in a wonderful ward where hearts seem to be open to all. I have seen time and again those who have felt a little lost, a bit scared, or so alone have been embraced and loved and befriended by others. At times when I can't be there for those in need, there has been no doubt I could call someone and ask for their help. You are as much an inspiration to those around you as you are to me.

A young man in Africa shared his conversion to the Church due to a friend he hadn't seen in many years.

"Two and a half years prior to my joining the Church in 1999, my good friend, Mbuti Yona, looked me up. We had been friends through grades 5 to 12, then [were] separated when we attended different [schools].

"Mbuti was baptized in April 1999, and four weeks later he visited me at home and introduced the gospel to me. Regardless of the rumors about the Church, I was impressed by the 'fellow Saints' who gave me a warm welcome on my first visit. It was this same Sunday that my friend introduced me to the missionaries. Arrangements were made to be taught. My friend was there for every discussion, and he kept inviting me to the activities. I really enjoyed being around people with the same values, interests, standards, and goals. It was during this same time period that I began attending institute [of religion]. It all seemed very natural: Thursday nights [5:30] - missionary discussion, followed by institute.

"I learned a lot in institute and especially enjoyed our class about how to achieve a celestial marriage. The first semester ended in May, shortly after I began attending, and I felt cheated. But I was fortunate enough to catch the second semester class, Teachings of the Living Prophets. While in institute, I bought myself the four standard works and I continued to learn and grow in the Church line upon line, precept upon precept, here and little and there a little. I was baptized September 17, 1999, by another friend I had made while attending institute.

"I am thankful for the institute program. It has not only shaped me, but it has also helped me qualify to become a missionary, which mission I started preparing for five months after my baptism. I have been blessed with many opportunities to serve and to teach prior to my mission.

"I am thankful for my friend. I hope he realizes what he has done for me. We have both served missions, I to South Africa Durban, he to South Africa Cape Town. All it takes is a friend to bring such a mighty change in one's life."

All it takes is a friend. To the youth in our ward, I highly encourage you to invite those around you to come to youth activities, to attend Seminary classes, and to come to church. President Monson gave us a beautiful example of what your friendship can mean to other youth around you.

"[Sister Monson] asked me to go to the supermarket and purchase a few items. This was something I had not done before. I had a shopping list which included potatoes. I promptly found a grocery cart and placed a number of potatoes in it. I knew nothing of the plastic bags in which purchases are normally placed. As I moved the cart along, the potatoes fell out and onto the floor, exiting through two rather small openings in the back of the cart. A dutiful clerk hurried to my aid and called out, 'Let me help you!' I tried to explain to her that my cart was defective. It was only then that I was told all the carts had those two holes in the back and that they were meant for the legs of children.

"Next the clerk took my list and helped me find each item. Then she said, 'You are Bishop Monson, aren't you?'

"I answered that many years earlier I had indeed been a bishop. She continued: 'At that time I lived on Gale Street in your ward and was not a member of the Church. You made certain the girls who were members contacted me each week and took me with them to Mutual and other activities. They were fine young women whose friendship and kindness touched my heart. I want to let you know that the fellowshipping you arranged for me led to my being baptized and confirmed a member of the Church. What a blessing this has been in my life,' she said, 'and I thank you for your kindness.'"

Even your one little light can mean the difference in someone else's life, but only if you are willing to hold it up high.

Elder N. Eldon Tanner once shared a story he'd read about the incredible example of some LDS youth. "A nonmember relates that about ten years ago he was assistant manager of a discount store where they hired 16-18 year old students to work the night shift. He stated"

"'I don't remember how I hired the first Mormon girl, who was about 16 or 17, and I don't even remember her name. But I'll never forget her example. She was unusually honest, dependable and neat and clean, yet those words can't fully describe her the way I'd like. Compared to other kids, she was really noticeable.'

"Soon he hired one of her friends and found that she, too was an exemplary employee. Both were friendly and helpful in their attitude towards other employees and the customers.

"'Pretty soon I tried to any more of their Mormon friends that I could find. Individually and collectively, they were the best people I ever had work for me,' he said. 'Never was there a single occasion when any of them disappointed me or proved to be untrustworthy. They were the finest employees and fellow workers that anyone could want.'

"One night he wanted a pizza for dinner but was unable to leave the store, so one of the Mormon girls went to get it for him. When she returned he found she had been in a minor accident. He offered to pay for the damages to her car because she was on his errand, but she refused, saying it was her responsibility. He said: 'I didn't think many young people that age would have that kind of character and I've never forgotten it.'

"This man...met some LDS missionaries through his son, has had some of the discussions, and has attended some meetings. 'I have found that the things I admired those girls 10 years ago are also found among the Mormon adults I have met,' he said. 'I like their emphasis on the family and they seem to me like the happiest group of people I have ever met.'

"How wonderful," Elder Tanner proclaims, "it would be if all of us could make that kind of impression on those with whom we come in contact! Another recent article about a conversion carried this headline: 'Example Is Vital Conversion Factor.' We hear many stories of conversions through the example of some of our members, but think of the impact if we all were living so as to influence others by our example.

"We are fortunate to have the gospel of Jesus Christ and to understand what it can mean to us as we prepare ourselves here to live forever in the presence of God. The world does not understand the meaning of eternal life; we have the opportunity and responsibility, therefore, to teach all nations this glorious principle."

One place we may not recognize as needing to show our greatest examples lies within the walls of our own homes. This is where, hopefully, we first learned what it means to be a member of God's Church. It should also be a place where those who are invited in will feel the Spirit of God, where they might find themselves wishing to know more because of what they experience in our homes.

Elder Tanner's father, he tells us, "...who was also my bishop and my best friend during my Aaronic Priesthood years, taught me to honor my priesthood. He emphasized the importance of the priesthood an having the authority to act in the name of Jesus Christ, the only perfect example we have to follow. If we can learn to feel his great love for us and always remember that he died to redeem us from our sins, we will always want to live the way he taught."

He continues to encourage us, saying, "Whether we are at work, at play, at school, or taking care of our spiritual needs, the power and influence of our good example can be exerted on our associates. We must never be ashamed of the gospel of Christ or of belonging to his Church. We must be fearless in our defense of truth and be able to withstand the persecutions which are sometimes brought against us. In this too we can be exemplary. Let us recall the words of the Savior:

"'Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"'Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

"'Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you' (Matt. 5:10-12).

"Today we are faced with new threats, new challenges, new methods of communication, and greater opportunities than ever before to be as a beacon on a hill. Again let us remember the Savior's admonition in the Sermon on the Mount:

"'Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

"'Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

"'Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven' (Matt. 5:14-16).

"A boy walking through a dense London fog was carrying a lighten lantern.

"'Guide me back to my hotel,' said a voice from out of the fog, 'and I'll give you a shilling.'

"'Yes, sir.'

"And so the boy, holding his lantern high, started walking in the fog and soon reached the hotel. As he paused, not one man, but four stepped forward with a shilling. The other three had seen the light and followed without question. It is so with any who lead the way to truth and light."

By our example, by our love, and by our friendships, even our little lights will help those who live in a world of utter darkness. As they come to join us, they will light their own candles by our own, until the world is bathed in the light of Christ. Of this I testify, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Sunday Inspirations January 24, 2010

As a Young Woman in my church I (along with all other girls) was asked to set and complete specific goals in different areas Church leaders felt were important: faith, individual worth, good works, etc.

One particular value always seemed a bit vague to me. I was never able to put a real definition to it beyond the example of: choosing not to cheat on a test. This value was integrity.

Age and experience has brought home a truer meaning of integrity, but let's start for a moment with a few definitions from the dictionary: rigid adherence to a code or standard of values; moral soundness, especially as it relates to steadfastness to truth, purpose, responsibility, or trust; moral and ethical strength; or the quality of being whole, complete, undivided.

My thoughts, and the thoughts of countless others, automatically turn to Job when considering men/women of integrity. Job had everything taken from him. EVERYTHING! His body was ravaged time and again. His wife and friends repeatedly asked what he had done to anger God. After all, he must have committed a fairly heinous sin to deserve such punishment.

Stop for a moment to think about what that must have truly felt like. Not only is God asking you to suffer untold hardships, not only is He keeping you in the dark regarding the reasons, but those you most love and trust really believe you are the one at fault. You have sinned. It doesn't matter they have never seen you do anything dishonest before.

Job amazes me with his responses. He states, "All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go" (Job 27:3-6).

My husband and I have been participating in a "Biggest Loser" challenge with some friends of ours. It's nothing big, just trying to change the way we eat and get in more exercise. Sunday mornings we weigh in and send our new numbers to the head of the group, who inputs it all into an anonymous chart. I couldn't help thinking how tempting it would be, to fudge the numbers. Nothing big, of course, just a half a pound here or there. I'd never actually do it though, as I could not live with the guilt of knowing I won or lost the competition dishonestly.

This year I've also given up soda pop. For the first two weeks it wasn't a problem. This last week, however, has held temptation over my head so heavily I could have bowed down with the weight. Little instances popped up where I could have taken a sip - just one little sip. It wouldn't have been a big deal to anyone else. After all, they didn't set this goal. What stopped me? Knowing I wasn't strong enough to just say no. Knowing I would have gone against something I knew was better for me. Even tonight, though, the urge is still there. I would be hard pressed to say no if a Diet Dr. Pepper showed up on my doorstep right about now.

I bring up these examples to illustrate when integrity is most obvious - during trials and challenges. I see it as being the truest test of whether or not you believe the things you preach and teach. Don't cheat on a test. This is easy to say until you've spent an entire night cramming, woke up late, can't remember a THING, and the smartest kid in class happens to be sitting in such a way you can easily read his answers.

You shouldn't lie. Of course we shouldn't lie. Except, maybe, when your girlfriend comes walking out of a changing room wearing something positively hideous looking and she really really wants to know what you think. All the while you can tell she wants you to lie through your teeth if you don't think it's fabulous.

Do not get yourself into debt. I mean, this is just practical, as well as good advice, right? Well sure...until you see THE most incredible shoes in your LIFE and you just have to have them but you just spent your money on rent and won't get paid for another two weeks. By then the shoes might be gone and besides they're on sale and without a DOUBT you'll pay them off as soon as your paycheck comes...

Integrity does not always come easily. Integrity must be practiced again and again until it becomes second nature, until making the right choice becomes the only choice. Think of integrity as the choices we make when no one else is looking or listening. It's the inner conflict between the "natural man" and the people God wants us to become.

Look back for a moment at the dictionary's definitions of integrity. Notice the progression from definition to definition. We start with "rigid adherence." Does it sound as strict to you as it does to me? Yet this is often how starting any sort of change - most especially ones for the better - start out. We have to set definite lines where not to cross. We have to make them clear and concise so as not to lose our way.

Next comes "moral soundness." We've set the lines, we've begun developing our integrity, and we've proven it to be a better way of life. It is "sound" in our beliefs. The next definitions mentions the word "strength." Like anything in life, as we practice something over and over, we are strengthened in that area. It becomes a muscle we depend upon, one we know we can rely upon.

All of this brings us to the last definition. When we have set the lines, proven it to be sound, and made it a strength, we become "whole, complete, undivided." Isn't this what God most wants for us? Can you even imagine what it would feel like, to be undivided? When we do the things the Lord has commanded and allow those strengths to become such a part of us we cannot be separated from them, our abilities to navigate through this life become strenthened as well.

God wants us to be happy, to be whole, but we cannot be complete when what we teach and preach are the exact opposite of what we choose to do. Cheating our way through this test of life will not grant us great rewards when it comes time to being graded. I hope you think about this the next time you find yourself needing to "practice what you preach."

Redoing the Bathroom Feels Like Giving Birth

My hubbs and I have talked about redoing the bathroom for a few years now. There's a section along the ceiling that peels no matter what we try to do with it. I know. Not nice, right? Still, I was ready for a complete change. Large sections of wallpaper had been stripped away by fascinated little hands. The old baseboard had been flaking for so long I couldn't sweep around it without causeing more of a mess, and even the tap on the bathtub had a little hole in the front - thanks to our incredibly hard water - that shot out a tiny stream of water...much to my children's delight.

So we decided to take off all the wallpaper, take out the baseboard, pasting various holes and the the irritating portion of ceiling, and do things right this time.

I'm loving the results. Granted you can tell amateurs were at work here, but not bad at all! Here are a few pictures:

We never have enough hooks in the bathroom - not for a family of six. So I found some handy-dandy hooks and stuck 'em right next to the tub. Just right for bathtowels.

Here is a long view of the door/sink. We repainted the cabinet, and I can't begin to tell you how much that one thing changed the atmosphere of the bathroom. And if you look WAY down at the bottom, you'll see the very first baseboard I cut. That's right. I cut it. I borrowed my dad's mitre box and saw, and did the baseboards myself. Too bad I didn't think to take better pictures of the baseboards, but that might not be as exciting for you as it was for me :)

Here's a closer look at the cabinet. The early morning light doesn't do the color justice. The light peach makes the bathroom feel so much warmer than before. Up above the sink we turned the mirror so it's more vertical than horizontal. It seemed to open it up as well (who would of thought?).

I tried a few pictures in just regular tones, but you really couldn't see the color, so I put the camera on vivid. You can see the colors better, but it really is brighter in the picture than in person. Still, I love the effect. I went with a sort of "celery green" as the base. That was almost enough of a change itself, but to me it felt cool, rather than warm. So over the top I sponged on the light peach.

Here's one more look. at the paint.

There was a lot of hassle fixing the toilet, which rocked so much I often felt as though I might take a header off the bowl when sitting down. That was an adventure all in it's own, including hubby hammering at the phlange from the crawlspace, me trying to drill holes through the phlange screw-holes into pieces of wood too hard to drill through, and a piece of the tile breaking. Ugh! Yet we were able to get the new phlange on, stuck the pieces of tile back in place, and managed to get the toilet back on. I'm happy to report it rocks a lot less :)

So why, you might be asking, is redoing the bathroom a lot like giving birth? It's gonna take a few years of forgetting the pain and agony to convince me it might be a good idea to try again.

The January Thaw

Here in the Salt Lake Valley we get teased by the weather in January. After weeks of below freezing temperatures, air so hazy and thick with impurities even the healthiest of people find themselves wheezing, and watching drivers (who after living here for years should know better) skid across snow-slick roads, the last thing we want to think about is the months of nasty weather ahead.

So imagine my surprise when every year the snow starts melting, we're occasionally given reminders of what the sun looks like, and can see anything from sudden snow flurries to rain! The temperatures go from single digits to as high as the forties. OH BLISS! I recall one year when the neighbors all chuckled at the sight of my husband mowing the last of the leaves off the lawn because everything dried out just enough.

Of course, this is only a teaser. Give it another week or two and we'll be back to knee-deep snow drifts and icy temps. So much for soaking in the Spring-like weather.

Sunday Inspirations January 17, 2010

My oldest, M, had a big day today. It was her first time giving a short talk in our main church meeting (aka, Sacrament Meeting). She wasn't supposed to speak until next Sunday, but due to an accident with another of the youth, they swapped weeks to give the other girl time to recover.

I wanted to share her talk today. It's short, simple, and important. The topic was on testimonies and scripture. After going a few rounds the last several days of "whaddya wanna talk about?" coupled with "I don't know...", I finally asked M think of her favorite scripture stories. To my surprise she brought up the story of Elijah and the widow woman. We discussed it a few minutes, I got an idea of what she wanted to say, and put together her talk.

So keep in mind that though I may be the author, I tried to write it as a very young woman might.



In a land called Zarephath the prophet Elijah came to a widow woman, under the direction of the Lord. When he met her, Elijah asked the woman for a little water in a vessel

As she went to fetch it Elijah called out to her and asked if she could bring him a little bread. The woman, who I think felt bad to say this, told Elijah she had only a little bit of meal and oil left. She had planned to make it for herself and her son, knowing it would most likely be the last thing they would eat. She knew they would starve to death after this last, tiny meal.

But Elijah said to her in 1 Kings 17:13-14 - "Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make the thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fall, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth."

Let's stop for a moment to think about what we would do if this happened to us. I wonder if she knew Elijah was a prophet, or if she thought she was just helping a stranger. Either way, what would you do if you had only enough food left in the house to make one last meal? What if you had no way of getting any other food, and someone came to your door asking for some bread, or soup, or just a bowl of cereal? And what if he promised you that if you would share this little bit of your last meal with him, that you would be blessed with enough to eat until a way of getting more food should come?

The widow woman had great faith, or at least enough faith and compassion to do as Elijah asked. His promise was fulfilled. As we read in verse 16, "And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah."

We can learn so much from the stories in the scriptures, stories that can help us to build our own testimonies. From this story I learned I first have to have faith. Even if I don't always understand why, I need to have faith the prophet or the bishop or my Young Women's leader is telling me to do or not to do something for a really good reason.

Then I have to act on that faith. I have to believe that what I've been told will bring me blessings. I have to remember what I was taught during times I'm being tempted, or when doing the right thing feels like the hardest thing in the world to do.

When I have this faith, and then act on it, then I can build a firm testimony. It will be strong, and will help me to build and ever bigger testimony when harder things come my way.

I hope we can all remember the lesson the widow woman teaches us, and will look in the scriptures for other examples of how to help build our testimonies. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.