Catching Up And Blog Award

I have several blogs that are on my favorites. I ran across this blog on sugardoodle and really enjoyed her writing. The thing I like most is the fact that whatever Trish writes about, it always makes me smile. She just has a way of finding humor in most situations. Instead of being a blog stocker I actually commented and hence she has come to my blog. The big surprise is I received a blog award.
Here are the rules:
This is my very first blog award from Trish at redefined 2009

The Rules of Accepting and Sharing this Award:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs that show an attitude of gratitude.
3. Link to your nominees within your post.
4. Comment on their blogs to let them know they've received this award.
5. Share the love and link to this post and the person who nominated you for the award. Tell us how you've come to have an attitude of gratitude.

One of my earliest posts was about a book I read by Debbie Macomber. The book, "Thursdays at Eight", tells a story about a group of women who meet Thursdays for breakfast. They are women who have come together from a journal writing class. The assignment that they were given was to come up with a word that defines their year and what they want to accomplish. As I thought about that assignment, I came up with a word. For 2008 it was ENOUGH. For 2009 I thought about a word that I wanted to focus on and it was GRATEFUL. I have been grateful for so many things. The fact that we had enough has topped the list. This has been a stressful few months. With Ric being unemployed and then starting up a new company I have watched the tender mercy’s of Heavenly Father continually. I am grateful that I have had prayers answered and friends that have been a support. When I chose GRATEFUL I put a quote in my journal that helps me focus on the things that matter most. It is by Melody Beattie.

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

This pretty much sums up what I have been feeling. By writing down the things I am grateful for helps me focus on what really is important. The more gratitude I feel the less I worry about my present circumstance.

Now…I nominate the following Jennifer, Grace, Chris, Vonna, Marissa, Paula, Melissa, Sarah, Bev, and Kristi (private). These are a few blogs that I am grateful for.

Now for catching up on my Easter finishes:

For preschool I made 11 of these so Sevrine could share them with her class.

We had a busy Easter and wanted to post pictures. I enjoyed having the family over for dinner but I didn't get all the pictures taken. I did get Sevrine coloring eggs and she modeled her new dress. Hopefully when we get together for Mother's Day I will post more pictures.

Food Storage

I am a faithful follower of several Food Storage Blogs. Everyday Food Storage is one of my favorites. I like the recipes and ideas that help me incorporate food storage into my menus each week. The cookbook, "I Can't Believe It's Food Storage" is being released on Amazon.com and Deseret Bookstores. This will be on my wish list! Check out the web site by going to the button on the right or here.

A Baby Present for a New Niece

My nephew and his wife had their baby on April 3rd. You can see a picture of baby Margaret here. This is what I did for them along with the standard burp cloths and booties. We will get to meet her when we travel east in July. We also found out that Margaret will get a new cousin this September so I will be working on something for this new baby.

The Young Men's Service Project

This week we had some of the Young Men in our Ward come and help us clear some of the weeds in our yard. It was a big job and it ended up working great when we got a tracter in to do the hard work. Sevrine even got a ride. When we saw all the sage brush I thought it would take several loads to the landfill but it ended up a small pile after the boys crushed it down. Sage brush is pretty brittle and can be a pile of sticks without much trouble. The pictures are the boys and their leaders getting treats after all the work. We appreciate all that they did for our family.

A Woman after my own Heart

Another of those rescued today was Maria D’Antuono, 98, who said that she had spent 30 hours knitting as she waited to be freed from her ruined home.
This was a headline on Drudge and I had to click to read more. I feel for all the people who are suffering in the aftermath of the earthquake but this made me laugh. I think it would be something I would do. The article can be found here. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6051410.ece

We Thank Thee O God For A Prophet

I always enjoy listening to General Conference. I especially like to listen to the hymns. Usually they are the Hymns of the restoration and familiar so you can recite the words as the Choir sings. I look forward to the session when I hear my song. It really isn’t mine but it is my Great-great grandfather’s. Sinse 1863 it has been sung in every General Conference and today was no exception. The closing Hymn for the Sunday Morning session was “We Thank Thee O God For A Prophet”. During the singing there were pictures of President Monson shown at various gatherings throughout the world. I always feel a kinship to my great-great grandfather as I he expresses his love for the prophet in the words of the hymn. I too love our Latter Day Prophet and know he leads and guides this Church in the Latter Days. The second verse is what I recite when I am discourage and the third verse gives me hope in the knowledge of the Plan of Salvation. If I am worthy, I will live with Him someday.

31243, Hymns, We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet, no. 19
1. We thank thee, O God, for a prophet To guide us in these latter days. We thank thee for sending the gospel To lighten our minds with its rays. We thank thee for every blessing Bestowed by thy bounteous hand. We feel it a pleasure to serve theeAnd love to obey thy command.
2. When dark clouds of trouble hang o’er us And threaten our peace to destroy, There is hope smiling brightly before us, And we know that deliv’rance is nigh. We doubt not the Lord nor his goodness. We’ve proved him in days that are past. The wicked who fight against Zion Will surely be smitten at last.
3. We’ll sing of his goodness and mercy. We’ll praise him by day and by night, Rejoice in his glorious gospel, And bask in its life-giving light. Thus on to eternal perfection The honest and faithful will go, While they who reject this glad message Shall never such happiness know.
Text: William Fowler, 1830–1865
Music: Caroline Sheridan Norton, 1808–ca. 1877

Project Linus

Today Kristen and I went to the Phoenix Southeast chapter of Project Linus. We enjoyed working on blankets for the charity and visiting with other like minded women. We are both excited to have a chapter a little bit closer to home and not have the commute to Fountain Hills. I think word is spreading because the room was full.

Craft It Forward

Last month my nephew’s wife put a Craft it Forward on her blog. I commented and I got these in the mail. They are wonderful and the card is pretty cute too.
I surprised her and gave her some of my fingerless mitts sense she is a very talented photographer. Even though we have summer like weather in Arizona, Colorado got snow this last week. Check out Melissa’s blog and see her cute family and read some of the tales that surround raising 3 adorable little girls.

Creativity

This came up on the Daily Gems. When I first heard this talk it really spoke to my soul. This is something that continues to feed me and inspires me.

Creativity
"The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before.
"Everyone can create. You don't need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty.
"Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty. .
". . . Remember that you are spirit daughters of the most creative Being in the universe. Isn't it remarkable to think that your very spirits are fashioned by an endlessly creative and eternally compassionate God? Think about it—your spirit body is a masterpiece, created with a beauty, function, and capacity beyond imagination.
"But to what end were we created? We were created with the express purpose and potential of experiencing a fulness of joy (see 2 Nephi 2:25). Our birthright—and the purpose of our great voyage on this earth—is to seek and experience eternal happiness. One of the ways we find this is by creating things."
Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Happiness, Your Heritage," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 118–19