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!

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!

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.

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?

Lather, Rinse, REPEAT

I love this picture of spring flowers.  I know as the snow is melting, the soil is getting warmer and the sun shines just a little brighter, that we will soon see the influence of spring in our valley.  It happens every spring.  And every spring it brings a little joy to my heart.  It's a rhythm that I can count on.  I watch for the early greenery to start peeking up through the dirt.  The cycle repeats each year.  

I heard a story once about a one word change made to the directions for using shampoo.  Up to this time the directions had just said: 'Wet hair; apply shampoo and lather well; rinse.'  Supposedly a marketing person suggested adding one simple word to the directions: REPEAT.  Did the company's income increase?  Yes, it did!

It got me thinking about the things in our lives that would be increased, or made better, if we continually repeated the process of doing them. 

Here are just a couple of my thoughts:

Kindness... If we were to be kind to everyone we came in contact with on a certain day, I imagine we'd feel pretty good about our day, and I'm sure the people who we had been kind to would have had a better day because of our kindness.  In repeating that giving of kindness every day the differences made not only in our lives, but in the lives of other people would be amazing!  

Prayer...  I struggle sometimes with my personal prayers.  We have great couple prayers, but often my personal prayers are just spoken in my head or out loud at various times during the day while I'm doing other things.  What if I set aside 10 minutes every morning and evening to have a real conversation with the Lord?  To thank Him.  To plead with Him for things and people that are important to me.  EVERY morning and evening!  20 minutes total!  I feel like I have a decent relationship with God - but how much would it improve if I really set aside that personal time EVERY DAY?!   It makes me excited to think about it.  I believe I'll write it in my planner and repeat it as a daily 'to do'.  

This list could be endless - the possibilities are never-ending. It's exciting to think about!

What could become of your life if you chose to consistently REPEAT things that are important to you that maybe you aren't giving persistent attention to?  

Start small.  Choose one thing.  Be mindful of it for the next week.  Record how you feel and if you've noticed any changes in your life.  As it becomes a habit and something you just naturally make time for, or do as part of your daily walk, select something else to make a priority in your life. Then notice what changes happen in your life.