Resilient Relationships - Forever Friends

I recently had someone 'find' me on social media that I had known when she was a teenager, probably 30-ish years ago.  She was a teenager at the time and I was over the youth group in our church serving as the young women's president.  She got married and moved on with life.  We eventually moved from the area and we hadn't had any connection with her for years!

Earlier in the week, I received a private message on fb messenger.  "Hi, this is (no name needed).  You were my young women's leader.  Do you remember me?"

And from that first message, we have been catching up on what life has brought our way over the many years since our last interactions.  The heartaches, the illnesses, the things in life that have taken therapy and lots of searching to sort out, the joy of having one consistent thing that has been their anchor (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), and the importance of relationships that stay with us.

I asked her why she tried to find me and decided to reach out.  This is what she said, and it touched my heart deeply. 

 "I looked up to you as a teen.  I have always been grateful for the kindness you showed me.  You have and always will have, a special place in my heart." 

You just never know what it is that you are doing as you are just living your life that may have an impact on someone else.  I pray that most of my interactions with others are like this one.  But I'm sure there are some who remember me because they felt I didn't treat them well.  

I believe this is what heaven will be like.  

Connecting  

Remembering  

Embracing

Loving  

Our high school class recently held our 50 year reunion.  There were people there that I hadn't seen, literally, since graduation night.  People I was acquaintances with, but weren't really 'friends' with.  But especially with one sweet person that was there, I feel like I have made a friend!  

Some of my classmates from the class of '75

Everyone we meet along our journey has the potential of  making a difference in our lives.  Maybe they are there for a lifetime, and maybe just for a season.  Everyone of them is so important.

If I could give advice to my teen-age self - it would be to be friends with more people - to make my circle bigger, not smaller - and to be the kind of person that helps everyone feel that they are of worth.  

Foggy mornings are as beautiful as clear ones.
They each serve a purpose.

Baptism Quilt - Number 6

I have not been doing a good job of keeping up with posts!  Yikes!  Lots to say about why, but let's just focus on this really good day that happened earlier this year.  Another grandchild who chose to be baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Another quilt to help him remember this special day, made by me - grandma!

He wanted the main color to be the light aqua/teal color.  It's very hard to find those colors that are more masculine.  I bought several fabrics and brought them home.  He said no to a couple of them.  Then it was off to the fabric store again.  I would pick out a few more patterns then take a picture and send to his mom so he could approve them before I bought them!  They get so opinionated at about this age - 8!   

I love the opportunity to make something that will help them remember the covenants they have made with their Father in Heaven and the desire to follow the example of Jesus and be baptized.   

Worn and Weathered

 

I loved my flowers this summer. The bright colors of the Cone flowers, the Knockout Roses, and the Zinnias brought me a lot of joy when I walked outside.  I could just look at them and feel happiness.  

At their peak, they reminded me of my younger self.

Reaching for the stars - and expecting to be able to catch them!

Being involved in ALL of the stuff.  

Involved with friends, building forever relationships, working, creating a beautiful family, involved in all of the church things, teaching myself different skills and finding new hobbies...all the things.

And then one day I looked in the mirror and came to the realization that I look and feel more like this...

this is my time of life now!

A little more worn and weathered.  A lot more tired! 

  

I  have kept this vase of flowers on my kitchen countertop,

because when I look at these flowers, I don't just see dried up, dull, useless flowers 

(how I feel some days at this stage of life).

I see flowers that have fulfilled the measure of their creation.

Flowers that have brought me joy every day, just because they exist, not just when they were in their prime!

Flowers that have endured scorching sun and heat; cold, almost freezing nights; bugs that tried to destroy them; not getting enough water and at times - too much water!  oops!

When I look at these flowers I see resilience.  

I see a quiet beauty that speaks of strength that came because of all of the challenges.

I see a beauty that doesn't feel like it has to be as it was during the bright summer days - this is a beauty that reminds me that we all have to walk through this 'getting older' phase of life,

and really, what a privilege that is!

There are days when I feel like I'm not enough and I'll never be what I was intended to become.

Then I remember that I worship a God who just wants me to do my best.

On those days when I can shine and bring joy to someone else, that's wonderful!

On those days when it's a chore to just show up and exist.... 

the fact that I do show up is enough.  

Some days, the 45% that I feel I have to offer, is the 100% of what I could give on that day.

And what an incredible blessing it is to know that this is enough!

Baptism Quilt #5 (and #2!)

She was SO excited to get baptized!  Her birthday is the latest in the year of all the grands, and she always feels like she has to wait an extra long time to celebrate...but this year there was even more excitement.  She made the choice to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

She told me last year at her birthday to remember that her favorite color is purple!  I hoped it wouldn't change between then and her next birthday - and it didn't!

She is such a ray of sunshine to all around her and it was fun to spend this special day with her.

Happy 8th birthday sweet Katie - we love you!

It dawned on me that I didn't post Parker's quilt!  

Sheesh!  Better late than never - right?!  I'm only 3 years late in getting it posted.  

He loves blue, so that was the base color for his quilt.  

I love how they are all similar, but are so different as they are taylored for each specific grandchild.

Oh, how we love them!

Easter Thoughts

Because of Gethsemane,

Golgatha,

and the Garden Tomb 

We have HOPE!

I am so very grateful for Jesus Christ and His desire to do all that He did for each one of us!  

I'm grateful for a Savior who doesn't expect perfection from me, but will meet me where I am and will help me to become more than I could ever imagine.

I'm so thankful to know that He loves me - even in the messiness of life.