April Conference Weekend

I am SO BEHIND on our activities, but I will slowly this week attempt to catch up! We had a great Conference weekend with Paul's parents and my parents visiting. Luckily my brother lives here too, so my parents were able to stay with him. As much as I love both my parents and in-laws I don't think having all of us in the house at the same time for a weekend would be a good thing. They were so great to come in town for Ella's performance in a local production. I just love how supportive they are.

You gotta love that stage make-up. I'll post more group pictures once I get them scanned! She played a cheerleader in the production of "Back to the 80's". She had so much fun and now knows a ton of 80's songs. She was so impressed that I knew them and even had many of them on my ipod!

On Sunday between conference sessions we went to a local park/nature preserve to enjoy the outdoors with Paul's parents. Nora HAD to wear her tutu that day and I took advantage of her cuteness and took a TON of photos. Here are several. Click to enlarge if you wish!





Sorry there are so many, but they were all too cute!

Here are some other fun shots of the kids and grandparents!





Mr. Maxx!

Beautiful Ella...pre haircut!


Earlier that week we were in the backyard before school. We looked up and this is what we saw! It was so close that we could see the fire when they stoked it up! The kids were so thrilled.

It was a great week and we loved having GrandMary, and Grandpa all to ourselves. The kids sure love them and SO DO WE!!

Friendship

Here is some info. I found out about my most favorite thoughts on Friendship. Forgive the details, but I think it makes the quote that much more cherished! First is the details of the author and source. Next we have the quote itself (which I have loved for years). And lastly the quote is shown in it's original context. This is my favorite part. If you read my earlier post about my lack of tact with my opinions, you will see why I love this so much. I have been dearly blessed throughout my life with many friends/family that will take all that I have to say, and I KNOW that my words are safe with them. They know my heart. They take me for the good and the bad, and perhaps love me even more for them both. WHAT A BLESSING!! I am more keenly aware of my faults than many may believe I am. There is NOTHING like someone who loves you and accepts you ANYWAY. So, here it is:

The following quote is widely attributed to George Eliot, but it was actually written by Dinah Maria (Mulock) Craik (1826-1887). Those who get the author correct often get the source wrong, crediting it to a poem, "Friendship". Poem of the Week has the definitive answer: the quote is from Craik's novel, A Life for a Life, published in 1859, but it also appeared - nearly 80 years later - in a collection of poems under the title, "Friendship".

Oh, the comfort --
The inexpressible comfort of feeling
safe with a person,
Having neither to weigh thoughts,
Nor measure words -- but pouring them
All right out -- just as they are --
Chaff and grain together --
Certain that a faithful hand will
Take and sift them --
Keep what is worth keeping --
and with the breath of kindness
Blow the rest away.

And the quote in context from Chapter 16 of the novel (full text):

Thus ended our little talk: yet it left a pleasant impression. True, the subject was strange enough; my sisters might have been shocked at it; and at my freedom in asking and giving opinions. But oh! the blessing it is to have a friend to whom one can speak fearlessly on any subject; with whom one's deepest as well as one's most foolish thoughts come out simply and safely. Oh, the comfort -- the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person -- having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together; certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.

I am now officially in tears. TRUE friendship...UNSELFISH friendship...is such a gift. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, to all my friends that love me for me!

Happy Birthday John McMillan - JACK!!

In some ways I think this picture says it all! Jack turns 6 years old today and I could not love him MORE!!

Jack is such a precious gem in our lives. I will have a hard time describing all the wonderful things about him here, but I will try.
(You will want to click on the photos to enlarge them because some of the expressions are hillarious!)

• Jack is such a spiritual kid. He always has great questions and can tell us detailed descriptions of what he learned in Sunday School. He seems to always see the deeper meaning of things.

• Jack notices EVERYTHING! He remembers what people have said, what color they were wearing, what music was playing, and when things happened. I can tell that he is always taking in everything around him. He is very observant.
• Jack has a very tender heart. He doesn't like to see anyone else hurt or sad. He also gets upset very easily if I get angry with him. Jack is SO QUICK to forgive...a very Christlike trait. I'm so happy for that because I have needed it from him a few times.
• Jack LOVES sports. I feel sometimes like a bad mother because he is now 6 and I've never signed him up for any organized sporting program. He will do swim team this summer, but I'm not quite ready for the rigors of Baseball, Basketball, Football, etc. I figure he is still a kid and we do a lot of those at home.

• Jack is really good at everything he tries. I think this comes from a lot of natural ability, but also the patience and determination to do things right. He is doing so amazingly well on the piano. He has the self dicipline to practice and learn it until it is right. That's how he was with riding a bike, golf, reading, etc.
• Jack is so darn handsome. I know I'm biased, but I can't get enough of that auburn hair, big blue eyes, gorgeous skin, smiley full lips, and winning smile. I could eat him up!!

• Jack LOVES his brother and sisters. Of course he and Max spend half their time as best friends, and the other half wrestling, but I'm shocked at how well they get along given their ages and differences in personalities. Jack loves his sisters so much. He is so sweet and helpful to Nora. One time a couple of weeks ago she got hurt in the playroom and came out crying "JACK"! She ran to him and he scooped her up and comforted her. Ella and Jack are good buddies too. They are only 22 months apart and have always gotten along SO WELL.
  

• Jack's Daddy is his hero. NO JOKE! He always wants to be doing what Dad is doing, wearing what Dad is wearing, and sitting by Dad at the table, on the couch, or in church. I love this...and so does Paul.

• Jack has a really fun and silly side. Of course I would be lying if I didn't say that this can get annoying at certain times, but I love to see him enjoying life. He has so much energy and spunk. He is a lot of fun to be around.

Some girl someday is going to win the lottery when they get Jack. I've already arranged Ella's marriage, now I think I just might have Jack's settled too. Doesn't that sound appealing once your the parent?

I have to document what his teacher said at his recent Parent/Teacher Conference. We were chatting about Jack's school work. He is a straight A student and has 100% scores for almost everything, and then it's 99%. He is an excellent reader and has no problem so far with academics. I was interested in his behavior and asked the teacher if he behaves well. She told me that he is very social and does need to be told to not talk so much (I wonder where he gets that from?). Then she paused and got uncharacteristically serious. She looked at me and in a very determined voice said, "Jack is one very special kid. I'm not kidding when I say he is going to do amazing things someday." Of course I cried! (I always cry at P/T conference) It is so neat to hear someone else tell you how great your kid is. I appreciate her telling me. There is nothing better for a parent. I am going to try to always remember to tell a parent when I have something nice to say about their child.

WE LOVE YOU JACK AND ARE SO GLAD YOU ARE A PART OF OUR FAMILY!!

Heartache

I recently learned some news that makes my heart literally ACHE. I am at a loss. One of my dearest friends in all the world (since we were 3) has had an incredible loss. She was married just 18 months after Paul and I and has been trying to have a baby for a decade. Without all the details there have been several miscarriages, and thousands of tears shed. She and her husband recently received news that due to a chromosomal disorder they will not be able to have children.

It was only at this point that they hesitantly decided to entertain the idea of adoption. In a seeming miracle a situation dropped in their lap that they couldn't let pass up. My friend...having suffered greatly throughout this process...was cautiously optimistic. They only told immediate family and a couple of close friends. My friend didn't even buy a car seat or quit her job until the week before the due date because she was so afraid that it wouldn't go through. She quit her job, finally went shopping for some items and then...

The unthinkable happened. The baby was stillborn...one week before the due date.

Even as I type this I cannot stop the flood of tears and emotion that I'm feeling. I find myself asking...crying...WHY?!! WHY?!! WHY?!!

She is of course devastated. I can only imagine her state of mind. I LOVE HER SO SO MUCH. I have no idea what to do or say. This is my dear lifelong friend and I hurt so deeply for her. I wish I could take and suffer even a fraction of her pain for her. Like I said, I'm at a loss...

99 Balloons

I got this link from a friend this morning and I just HAD to share. Click Here for some MAJOR inspiration.

Born With a Silver Foot In My Mouth

It's actually funny that I haven't posted in a while (except for a few links to others genius), because I now count 5 posts waiting in my drafts folder. I think I've been a little afraid to post them. Let me explain...

Like everyone out there I have some talents and some faults (many for me). In one case however, I think the two intersect.

Gratefully I was raised to be confident, decisive, and not easily offended. I always felt like my voice mattered and that it was OK to give an opinion. I never associated an opinion with the worth of an individual. Therefore, I gave my opinions freely thinking that it was good communication and meaningful discussion. I actually also like to give alternate opinions (playing devil's advocate) for the sake of deeper thinking and give & take. If someone did things differently, or had a different opinion...great! Like I said, I don't like people based on if they think the same way as I do. I like people based on their authenticity. I like people who are REAL and true to themselves...whoever they may be.

That said, I have learned throughout the years that not everyone sees my opinions as "great discussion tools". I have been informed that I can come off as a "know it all", or as someone who has offended others. I'm sure it doesn't help that I'm not very good with words either. I have a hard time getting out what I really mean. That is why I am so grateful for friends that see through that. (This is the topic of one of my drafted posts...coming soon)

Back to why I have been "afraid" to post some of my thoughts. Because of some bad experiences with this part of my personality in the past...and present...I have now gone a little overboard and worried so much about if I'm choosing the right words and not offending anyone. IT'S EXHAUSTING!

After several talks with my sister Heather, my mother-in law (who has ALWAYS encouraged me to be who I am...and loved me for it), and recently with my great friend Sally, I have decided I'm at a stage now where I can't be concerned with the insecurities of others...because that's where being offended comes from. Believe me...I have plenty of insecurities, but I need to work on those, and not worry about others.

"Certainly clumsy, embarrassing, unprincipled, and mean spirited things do occur in our interactions with other people that would allow us to take offense. However, it ultimately is impossible for another person to offend you or to offend me. Indeed, believing that another person offended us is fundamentally false. To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else."
(David A. Bednar, "And Nothing Shall Offend Them," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 90)

So, like my brother Brian (who REALLY needs to start a blog...he is one of my siblings that was blessed with "a way with words") says:

IT'S MY BLOG AND I CAN SAY WHAT I WANT TO!!

Feel free to disagree with any of my statements, but BE NICE. It's America people and we have been given agency by our creator. HALLELUJAH! So, if anything I say offends you...I'm sorry...but it doesn't mean I don't think your wonderful...it just means that's what I think. Besides, I'm not talking about YOU...I'm talking about ME!

I'll end with something that I heard Maria Shriver say yesterday on Oprah. (thanks to Tivo and unfolded laundry) I could do a whole post on that show by the way. It was meant for me...and I LOVE Maria Shriver. She said,

"As long as I was trying to anticipate what you wanted from me, as long as I was trying to fulfill other people's expectations, I was in a losing game, a game that I'd been playing since I was a kid," she said. "That's what I want to focus on this morning … letting go of other people's expectations of you so you can own your own life, write your own story and live your own legacy."

That's what I'm trying to do. So, from here on out what you get is ME...like it or not!

Reflections of Christ

There is a display at the Mesa, Arizona Temple Visitors Center that is in one word AMAZING! A very talented photographer named Mark Mabry took on the project of recreating scenes from Christs life. The images he captured are so gorgeous and inspiring. If you click HERE you can view a short slide show of the images. I promise whatever your religious affiliation it will be worth your time.

A post you MUST READ!!

A post you MUST READ! Especially if you have ANY misconceptions about Mormons. Click here to be enlightened. By the way, all these people are ACTIVE, PRACTICING Mormons.

TTA - Made by hand

Today's Tuesday Tell All (see my sidebar if interested) was about documenting some of the things in your home that were made by hand. Here we go!

This is a small assortment of quilts that my Mother in law has made for my kids. I didn't photograph them all as the kids are sleeping with a few of them! She is so thoughtful and my kids love their quilts.

This is a blanket that my mother did by hand for my babies. It is a treasure and I have wrapped my babies in it on their blessing days.

This is just the front cover of one of my scrapbooks that my Mom did for me. I still don't know how she did it. There were no scrapbook stores with fun papers and accessories. She made each of her 6 kids scrapbooks throughout their school years. Each one is a treasure in and of itself because of the artwork done by hand. Mine is literally falling apart, but I will probably just get it rebound. You can't tell from this picture, but it is huge. It is probably two feet tall and a foot and a half wide. I love having all her writing and creativity on the pages.

I must brag about the kids for a minute. I love our kids art wall. (it obviously needs to be organized and sifted through) It gives the kids a place to display their "made by hand" items.

Ella (7) is quite the budding artist. I really love a lot of the things she does. She has a HUGE blank wall in her room so I made some simple frames to display her artwork. I couldn't get a good angle to show all six frames, but here is a sampling. I am seriously impressed with her work. I can't wait to see how she grows and develops this talent.

Last and definitely least are some of the things I've made. I call myself the "fake" quilter because I was never formally taught. I usually just saw things I liked and copied them. I think I've made over 50 quilts and only have maybe three in my home. I give most of the things I make away. I like it that way. The pictures above are of the quilts I made for Ella and Jack when they were sharing a room. They were little and I needed something gender neutral. My SIL Sue had made the cutest little bugs out of paper for a party and I asked her if I could have them. I just copied her design and appliqued my version on the quilts. I then mounted the paper ones Sue had made onto foam boards and used them to decorate the walls of the room.

Some of my favorite quilts I've made are the chenille looking ones. I made one for several friends and siblings. I sure wish I still had the time to make a quilt for each new baby. That was back in the day when me and my friends/siblings were just starting to have them. I will now show you what stage I'm in...

This is what my table looked like a few weeks ago as I was trying to catch up on all the baby gifts I am behind on. If you are one of my friends who have had a baby in the last 9 months (yes, I am that behind) and haven't gotten a gift from me yet I AM SO SORRY!! I will try to get them to you soon.
I have a thing about baby gifts. They MUST be made by hand if I am the giver. I don't know why, but I have a very hard time giving a baby gift that is store bought. Funny thing is that I don't mind getting store bought gifts AT ALL! In fact I don't even think about it. It's just my thing I guess. I was in a burp cloth, onesie, thank you note, binky holder stage for a while, but I've moved on. I think I'm finishing my last batch of onesies. Burp cloths are so easy to do by yourself and they are just not that unique anymore.

I've moved on to wipes covers and necklaces for the Mommies. Although, I saw some of these wipes holders in a store the other day and realized that they may not be all that unique anymore either. I like to give a unique gift. Anyway, that gets me to my recent "thing".

JEWELRY!

The funny thing is that I have never really been all that into jewelry, but it is so much fun to make and especially give away! Above is just a few of the ones I've made lately. Again, I copy what I've seen. It's really very simple. I cannot come up with anything on my own. In fact, my good friend Lena gave me a necklace for my birthday like the one on the left and I've already made 3 or 4 replica's of it for other people.

These are super cute and fun bags that I have been making for a while. I've recently been making them for Ella's friends who are getting baptized to use as a scripture bag. They are SO EASY it's ridiculous. The bag is a place mat, then I use ribbon for the handles and a cute flower for decor. Voila!
So, there is a quick rundown of some of the things in our home that are made by hand. I wish I had pictures of the file cabinet and cedar chest that Paul made early in our marriage. They didn't make it to AZ from Wisconsin. We were in a MAJOR purge mode. He is so handy, and if our livelihood didn't depend on his hands I'm sure he would still be working with wood. When he retires he can build himself the best workshop ever...and I hope he does.

Marathon anyone?

I know I complained about training for an October marathon in the Arizona heat, but I'm at it again. It's registration time for the St. George Marathon. It's just too fun of a race, and I may be getting my sister Heather into the action!! So, in order to increase our chances of entry we are going to enter as a group. Wanna join us? You don't actually have to run with us, train with us, or even see us at the event for that matter. Registering as a group just means that if one person in the group gets chosen in the lottery, the whole group gets in! Let me know what you think and I'll tell you what group to put on the registration. Registration started today and runs until May 1st. It doesn't matter if you register today or the end of April. All names will go into the lottery on May 1st. My email is listed under my profile. JUST DO IT!!

You can't tell me that doesn't look like FUN!!!!!