Look what she made from my quilt top.

Edited: I changed the link to her shop since the notebook is gone.

Click here. Aren't they great?

Love Etsy, love that it is creative people sharing the work from their own hands and hearts and minds.

Been doing a litte crafting

and added some kits to my etsy shop.

Top two pictures are of the finished product.

There's more to come!

Gratitude

The lesson in Relief Society yesterday was based on Sister Parkin's talk from last general conference titled "Gratitude: A Path to Happiness". She says in the talk, "Gratitude requires awareness and effort, not only to feel it but to express it." How many times do I feel gratitude toward someone but fail to express my thanks or appreciation for something they have said or done? More times than I would dare to guess!

Sister Parkin goes on to say, "We murmur, complain, resist, criticize; so often we are not grateful." I am the queen of complaining. Last night at our family dinner at mom and dad's house the adults were having a discussion on how we would react if something accidentally, but through our own fault, happened to our car or house because we weren't paying attention. Think dents, water damage, etc. Out of Andy and I, I would be the one to blow up or blame. I know it, because I do it all the time. I also murmur, resist and criticize. As a result, I am so often not grateful. My usual optimism has become pessimism, and I need to turn that around.

Sister Parkin continues with these thoughts:
"Gratitude is a Spirit-filled principle. It opens our minds to a universe permeated with the richness of a living God. Through it, we become spiritually aware of the wonder of the smallest things, which gladden our hearts with their messages of God's love...Gratitude inspires happiness and carries divine influence."

Don't I want to be happier? Don't I want to be closer to my Savior and my Heavenly Father?

Several years ago I started a gratitude journal, but like so many things, writing in it has fallen by the wayside. Some days it was easier than others to come up with something different than the usual. Well, I am older now, and I think I have a little bit more of life under my belt, so I will begin again today.

1. I am grateful that I have a great Relief Society President who keeps me informed with what's going on and what lessons we are studying. I know that takes a lot of effort, and it is appreciated.

2. I am grateful for my family, my sisters and brothers who are struggling along through life as well, and that we are grown up enough to support each other, even if we don't understand each other!

3. I am grateful for my wonderful Mother-in-law. She is a dream, and so easy to get along with! When I hear In-Law horror stories from other people, I am so thankful that is one thing I don't have to worry about.

4. I am grateful for a husband who loves me despite my complaining and ungratefulness.

5. I am grateful that my children have started school again!

Saturday Catch-up

I'm hoping to do a little catching up today. There are Primary assignments, laundry, cleaning, laundry...the usual.

Just a couple of things-

1. Tasra Dawson over at Lessons from the Scrapbook Page is hosting a "blog-abration", complete with great prizes. Jump on over there and take a peek.

2. Visit the Christa Taylor Make a Wish contest and make your wish list. You could win a $150 shopping spree on her site! She has great clothes for juniors. Here's a little more about her: As a young lady, Christa Taylor encountered weeks of frustrating shopping trips- trying to find modest clothing that was attractive and fashionable. Finding modest swimwear was an especially long and arduous affair, entailing lengthy searches of both websites and retail stores to no avail (all the swimwear designers were focused on emphasizing body parts rather than beauty). So she went to the drawing board and designed a new modest swimsuit that satisfied her desire for style and attractiveness (she calls it "modish:" a blend of modest + "chic").
She now spends her days discovering and designing fine, modest clothing, long skirts, swimwear, and accessories for young women that buck the trends of fashion, yet stand out for stylish modesty. Christa-taylor.com was started in order to serve you in finding modest clothing and swimwear that matches your goals of modesty AND style.

3. Please do what the experts say - wear gloves when chopping jalapenos. Natalia and I canned homemade salsa last night, and my hands are on fire!!!

Happy first day of school!

Well, it's official. Mario is definitely not a baby anymore, and I am really feeling old! Technically, yesterday was the first day of school for Joseph, the big Kindergartner, Natalia in 4th grade, and Brian, who is officially in Junior High now that he's a 7th grader. I'm so impressed because he didn't even complain about getting his picture taken in front of the school!

Mario started Pre-school today, and he'll be going just Tuesdays and Thursdays. After getting there this morning I took him to the bathroom. He stood at the potty and said, "Mom, you can leave. In the car." You know, just in case I thought he meant I could leave the bathroom! Each student switches their little picture on the wall in the classroom when they get there in the morning to check in. The pictures are something that begin with the same letter of their name. His picture is of a Monkey of course. What else could it be?

More from CA

Just some pictures from the coast. I don't know why, but you don't really call it the "beach" out there, it is "The Coast". We were expecting a cold dreary day, but the weather was BEAUtiful! {The water was still cold, though!} Friends Cheryl, Susan and Teresa were there with their kids, Irene and Ethan, Austin and Emily, Blake and Maria.

Summer is coming to an end!

Open house at the school is tonight, and they start up again on Wednesday. Where did the summer go? Our trip to CA was great, and I have pictures to prove it! We stayed with Nonni Barbara for 2 1/2 weeks, and probably wore her ragged, but it was so much fun to be there, relaxing and catching up with friends and family.

This was the main reason we were in CA - Nonni Annie's 90th birthday! Doesn't she look amazing? She is Andy's grandmother, and is such a wonderful example of loving kindness to all who know her.