Sunday, March 3, 2024

Service Doesn't Have to be a Big Deal

When I was growing up our family lived in the country next to a gravel road. One summer they decided our gravel road needed to be blacktop. I was probably 8 or 9 and the neighbor boy a year younger. We set up camp on our front porches and were intrigued watching the men and the big equipment transform our road. There were big willow trees around our house and when they would take breaks or stop for lunch they would come sit in the shade of the willows. Mom told us not to pester them, but we would go sit with them and listen to their stories.

The next day as they moved further away from us, I remember thinking how hot they must be. There were no willow trees to provide shade for them. We enlisted the help of my mother and we made chocolate chip cookies and put some Kool-Aid in a canteen and headed out on our bikes when we saw they were taking a break. They were gracious and invited us to stay and have lunch with them. They were out of sight by the end of that day and we never saw them again.

The 2nd floor apartment I lived in that first year of school overlooked a house that was next door to us. From our living room window, we could look down into their living room window. There was, what appeared to be an older woman and her husband who lived there. She would see us watching them and would get up and close the drapes. She looked a little scary and we, not so kindly called her the witch lady.

One evening after she had pulled the drapes yet again, we got to talking and wondered how many times she’d had to sacrifice sunshine and light for her privacy from the eyes of the many girls who had lived in those dorms over the years. Our hearts were pricked and we decided that we needed to apologize. So, of course we made some chocolate chip cookies and knocked on her door. To say she was surprised to see us there would be an understatement. She did invite us in and we had a wonderful visit with she and her husband who she so lovingly cared for. Her name was Helen and after that day we would stop by often and say hello. She would invite us in and we would have the best visits. We made a new friend when we began to consider what her feelings might be. We grew to love Helen and I was sad when I left that apartment and moved to Logan, because I knew I was going to miss her.

If you have a thought that you should do something for someone – do it! Don’t wait. One such day I needed the prompting three times before I acted. When I showed up at the door of someone that I knew would be working, instead of being met with silence, the door opened to a tear-stained face and the words “I knew you would come.”

Saturday, October 14, 2023

Halloween Quilt

I've had a whole pile of Halloween fabric sitting in my craft closet. Left-overs from quiet books, trick-or-treat bags and other miscellaneous projects. I decided it was time to whittle it down a bit, so I made this cute wee quilt! The blocks started out at 4 1/2". I had everthing I needed to create it except for the binding fabric and a little warm and natural. There's always a way to use fabric leftovers. I'm thinking I might need to do a wee quilt for Christmas! But I think I'll start it next spring and do something other than just the diagonal pattern I've done with all my quilts. Do you have a favorite, easy quilt design? I have so many different ones pinned, but I get a little overwhelmed. I'm not a terrific quilter - my blocks don't always line up....but sometimes the beauty can be in the mistakes, right? But seriously - if there's a quilt pattern you love that would be good for a beginner - please share!

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Recharging

It's been hot in the valley. And you know how you feel when you find yourself stuck in the routine of the daily things that are required of you? You know what I'm talking about: laundry, dishes, preparing meals, cleaning up after meals, etc. It just never goes away. That's why sometimes we need to take ourselves away and have the opportunity to slow down, to breathe deeply, to look at the sky and to relax so we can remember why we are here.
Some of our family headed to the mountains for part of their stay-cation and invited us to join them for the evening. When we found the perfect campsite for them (we headed home later to sleep in our own beds!), we saw that someone had left fun things for us to enjoy. It felt a little 'Flintstone-like' if you know what I mean!
It was a perfect time to 'step away' from our routine, enjoy some family, relax and remember what it feels like to connect. Not just with nature, but with our family and with our creator.
And to be a little silly in the process!

Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Another Beautiful Day - Another Baptism Quilt

It was another beautiful baptism day for one of our grandchildren. This is the 4th baptism quilt that I've made and I always seem to make little adjustments along the way. I consider these practice pieces so I can perfect some of my techniques for a quilt I have on my mind to do, and they don't mind at all. They seem to really look forward to this special gift from grandma and grandpa. I love making them! It was a wonderful day, and he was so excited!
He chose the color scheme for his quilt. He had also picked green as a color to include, but when I laid it out with the green blocks, we both decided that it was not going to work. So glad I asked him about it before I started sewing it together. My friend stitched his name and his baptism date on a block so it will aways be a reminder of the day he made a commitment to our Father in Heaven to be baptized into his church and to follow Him.

Tuesday, May 16, 2023


There was this one year...oh wait...it was more like five years, when almost every week something would happen that would feel like this!  It's that 'oh my word - are you kidding me?' feeling!   (by the way, isn't she adorable)?

Why is it that we often can't see the blessings that come from walking through trials until we are through the trial - or at the least - towards the end of it?  It was five years of employment frustrations, health frustrations, worrying over many things.  It was HARD!  But these are some of the things that as we reflected back over that time that we learned.  These things that have become part of who we are.

  • No matter what we have to do, we can't do it alone!
  • Prayer works.  Our personal prayers and the prayers of others in our behalf.
  • Faith is sustaining.
  • God loves us, knows us and wants what is best for us.
  • There is great power in priesthood blessings.
  • Having righteous priesthood leaders is a strength - a bishop, a ministering teacher, etc.
  • Personal revelation is real and necessary.
  • The importance of relying on our family members and close friends.
  • Forgiving is vital to moving forward.
  • Recognizing that there is evil around us - the adversary won't stop at trying to get to us.
  • It's ok to ask others for help.
  • Our prayers - for ourselves and for others - need to be very specific and heartfelt.
  • Those that be with us are greater than those that be with 'them'.  
  • Ways are provided for our escape.
  • Our burdens have been made light, and our ability to bear them has increased.
  • Don't hold on to what is holding you back. Don't look back.  Move forward.
  • Don't let how others treat us affect who we are.
  • Let go and let God....  there are some things that we just need to turn over to Him.
  • Don't let our doubts and fears block the blessings that our Father in Heaven desires to give to us.
  • Look for and appreciate the blessings that we have.  Enjoy the vistas even when the journey is difficult.
  • Fasting brings spiritual strength.
  • The temple can bring peace and strength - answers and confirmation of answers often come while in the temple.    
What are some lessons learned or blessings you have received because of trials in your life?