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