End of summer...almost!

Here it is the end of August and summer will soon be over. It has sure been a hot one, but very changeable. Lots of wind and then here at the end, cooler temps. I need to get busy and work on Christmas fast! I really try to make a lot of my gifts, but this year I've gotten behind. I got a new calling in May as counselor in the Relief Society, so I guess that's part of the delay, but it seems like I've been more tired and creaky. Couldn't be that I'm getting old-er, can it? I did laundry yesterday and today and actually hung the clothes out yesterday because it was bedding and it always smells so much better off the line, plus takes less time to get it done (and less electricity). I'm all caught up again for the week and it feels good. Smells good too. :) I've been perusing the talents of so many bloggers out there for gift ideas and I just want to say thanks to all who so freely share with the rest of us! I don't know what I would do without all the help I get from so many cute innovative ideas gleaned from talented people! It's so awesome! Sometimes I can come up with ideas on my own, but it helps to get the juices flowing if I see something and then go with it. Now I'm getting excited for the holidays. I might even want to play some Christmas music real soon. I love this time of year when you can feel the change in the air. Makes me melancholy. I will add more later...

Prepared NOT Scared!: Preparedness Projects - It's Christmas in August!

Prepared NOT Scared!: Preparedness Projects - It's Christmas in August!

Baptism gift bag made from clip art, then colored & mounted on cardstock, and attached to white bag with brads.

Scripture board, with changeable scriptures and hand painted. My next to the eldest son, a finish carpenter, cut it out and I made one for each of my married children. Each on is painted with different design.

This is one of the composition book 'journals' made in Relief Society...blue of course. :)

This is another 'journal' covered composition book.

Small spiral bound notebook covered with scrapbook paper and embellished with ribbon & buttons.

Another 'journal'...

This 'journal' was my first one, made a few years ago when we did them in Relief Society. I made it with all my favorites: blue tulips, turquoise paper, cute saying, country girl stamped & colored. I'm all for favorite things...and monochromatic blues! It's just heavenly, don't ya think? :) 

August 25, 2010 Wednesday

Last night our ward had a Relief Society meeting on Journals. We had fun decorating 'journals' out of purchased composition books, by covering them with scrapbook paper, buttons, fabric, ribbon, etc. There was plenty of fun things to choose from to fancy up our notebooks. We also talked about how it's a good idea to hand write our thoughts instead of putting everything on the computer because many of us have had our computers crash and lost everything we had! I was working on my personal history and had typed quite a few pages (37, but who's counting?), but luckily my husband's friend knew how to retrieve some of our documents and that was one! Whew! I was so relieved, but vowed to always back everything up from then on. I love to write about memories, people that I know, personal thoughts and poetry. I also like to create things and last night was an opportunity to be creative. I didn't finish at church, but got my stuff out today and finished a couple more books. I thought they turned out pretty cute. We did some once before when it was still called 'Enrichment' night, and I made a few as gifts, using small notebooks that were spiral bound. I will try and post pictures eventually. Until then I will just keep writing whatever pops into my head and call it good.

Happiness

Happiness is a state of mind. I believe that! You are as happy as you make up your mind to be. I love the quote by Sister Hinckley, "...I choose to be happy, crying gives me a headache." That is a true statement. Sometimes crying is a good thing though, when you need to cleanse your soul. It can be very healing. As opposed to popular belief, crying is not a weakness, but a strength. It even shows compassion, when appropriate. Back to happiness. I try to look on the bright side of things. You could call me Pollyanna and I would not be offended at all. I have even been known to play the infamous 'Glad Game' on ocassion. I have found that reading the scriptures gives me strength when I'm having a rough day. I do not want the Savior to ask me "art thou better than He?" when I complain or whine about my trials. It doesn't do any good to complain, it doesn't take away the problems, and nobody wants to be around you. Smiles are contagious, usually others will reciprocate. Attitude makes all the difference, especially in people with cancer or other health problems. When the Savior comes again, I want Him to see His image in my countenance and I don't think that is sadness! My trials are mine, and I will not exchange them for anyone else's. They are not easy to get through, but I will do the best I can and I know that with the Lord's help that is possible. When life gives us lemons, we can make lemonade. I love lemonade! So today I will make some fresh lemonade, put my feet up and by happy!

Blessing of Family

I am blessed to be the daughter of goodly parents, wife to a wonderful man, and mother to great children. I am also blessed to be a grandmother to 13 grandchildren. They are what make life worth living--they make the world go round. It has not been an easy thing to be all of these things, but it has been most rewarding and continues to fill me with awe every day. I love that I grew up with parents and siblings that love me and even still like me, crazy as I am. My sisters and I have fun when we get together, though not often enough. I have awesome brothers, too. I am truly blessed to be part of an eternal family. My kids are wonderful adults and I love my daughters-in-law and son-in-law. I wish everyone could have the kind of family I have because then the world would truly be a better place. I thank Heavenly Father every day! :)

Sunday

I think that there are two Sundays in every week. At least it seems like it because it sure comes around fast. That's not a bad thing though. I love to go to church! It is a privilege to be able to worship the way I want and have a beautiful building to meet in with others that share the same beliefs as I do. We are very blessed to live in this free land of America, even the promised land. It gives me a charge so to speak to help me get through the week when I go to church and listen to the talks and sing the hymns and feel the spirit. Of course, when I prepare myself before I go, I am more apt to feel the spirit and hear answers to my prayers as I sit and listen. It is appropriate that Sunday is the 'beginning' of the week on the calendar because it is a wonderful way to start it. What better way than to worship first, the God who gave us life, before we start to do everyday things in that life? I like having the Lord on my side as I do my mundane tasks and count my blessings every night that I made it through the day. It is a good day.

Today is laundry day, the second one this week. My mother instilled in me early on the love of clean laundry. In fact, the smell of clean clothes off the line sparks a fond memory for me, even now. I remember Mother hanging clothes on the line, come hot or cold weather, even when the sheets 'froze' as she hung them out! I can remember sniffing my blouse as I sat in school and how it made me feel the comfort of being clean. I loved it then and I love it now. That is a tradition that I will carry to my grave. Mom never expected anyone to do her laundry, even when she was near to death. People commented on how often she washed, but it was true, she never had to have anyone come in to do her washing for her. Many times she could barely make it up her basement steps, but you had to be quick on your feet to get to the washer before she did! It was just something that brought her pleasure. She had a dryer, but preferred the solar kind. Her whites were the whitest and even her dishrags were like new after much wear. It nearly broke her heart when a family member took out the clotheslines, thinking they were 'helping' to make her load lighter in later years. I can relate to that! Some may think that is an obsessive behavior thing, but to me it was a good example of a good habit, and good organization. Is that saying enough 'good' things about it? :) I'm all about carrying on good traditions...to be continued...