Category: Family

Homecomings and Beginnings

This was taken 21 years ago this month. He’d been in the Navy about 5 months at that point and was still in school. We were able to spend the weekend together before he had to get back to school. He flew in on Friday night and I will never forget the moment our eyes met as he got off the plane. When all the longing and love we felt during the months of seperation seemed to coalesce and pass between us in an instant and I knew he was home. Because we were together.

There were many nights spent waiting for him to come home. There have been many homecomings. That moment never lost it’s spark.

He’s retiring from the Navy this month. He’s home and I am oh so glad to be beginning a new life with him. Because we’re together.

April 14, 2009
Sometimes you have to get sneaky with old dogs.

Getting a picture of this dog is not an easy thing. She’s smart and she doesn’t like the flash. At 14 she’s learned a few things. As soon as you raise the camera to your eye she gets up and is on her way out of the room. She just won’t put up with having her picture taken. Our early attempts resulted in a LOT of blurry pictures of a dog’s back end.

But I’m just a little bit smarter (I think). I didn’t put the camera anywhere near my face or even pick it up (thanks to the flip out screen). All the sounds are turned off on my camera (so she can’t hear when I “click” the shutter to take the picture) and the flash was off.

I swear, I still think she knew.

April 8, 2009
“View to a Quilt”

This was my view for the past 3 days. Oh. My. Gracious. am I ever tired and sore. Wrestling a quilt can be hard work. But….

It was worth it. K.’s “All About Me” quilt is finished.

The pattern is easy and goes together quickly. It took me longer to find the fabrics that I wanted to use than it did to piece it together. This quilt is truly all about K.

I think I’ll take a teeny tiny break before I start completing the next quilt. I’m pooped.

January 29, 2009
Love is….

What does love mean to you? If you had to take a picture of it, what would it be? This is the subject of the Weekly Challenge at Hope and Believe.

Kevin and the kids came to mind first. And, truthfully, if I can get Kevin to give me a good portrait while I’m taking the picture,… well lets just say it will definitely be a challenge!

So I decided to think outside the box – it was easier.

I’ve already waxed poetic about chocolate and how much I love it. So it should be no surprise that I would take a photo of it. I do love chocolate & raspberry together. But sometimes you just need a good ol’ fashioned Hershey bar.

I also love, LOVE fabric. The colors pull me in, the feel of it makes me want to take it home and think of things to make with it. *sigh*

This last thing is well, a bit mushier and there’s more of a story. When Kevin and I were dating back in high school Hardee’s ran a promotion. They had Pound Puppies that you could buy when you ate there. I know you couldn’t buy them all at once and he got me the whole set for Christmas. I think that was our first Christmas together.

Don’t let the sad face fool ya. There’s still a lotta love left in that puppy.

January 24, 2009
Connect

Whether you set resolutions or not, it’s tough not to reflect at the beginning of the new year. We look back on the previous year and take stock. Where were we this time last year? Are we better now than we were then? They often lead to what we can do to improve things that might not be as good as we’d like.

I began to think about this a month ago as changes started to happen with my calling. About the time I was released I saw this post over at I Believe in Miracles where she asks if you’ve picked a word for the year. Just one word to focus on for the year. Hmmm… Oh, yeah. That got me thinking, to be sure.

Then there were many other posts as New Year’s Eve approached. As I read this one over at Segulla about “Playing Big” my word started to come into focus. Something I’ve felt lacking in me.

I need to connect. Connect through service, listening, and, if prompted, shared experiences. I want to connect more with my family, to listen more to their needs. I want to feel closer to the family that isn’t near – and there are a lot of them. This is going to take some creativity (especially with all of the changes happening in our family at the moment). To connect with friends, old and new. And in connecting to share their burdens and hopefully make them lighter.

Hopefully, if I “connect” more, it will be one thing that will help me shine a little brighter.

What are your thoughts for the New Year?

My hope for all is that you find joy and laughter through any situation and circumtance.

January 1, 2009
Switchin’ it up OR ….why we need a guard turkey.

Let’s say you have older children and Christmas is coming. Let’s say some of those children start hinting really early at things they’d love to see under the tree (Heh.. and some of those things are pretty dang expensive). Let’s say you also start to notice that those same children are arguing more and more. What would you do?

We decided to change things up a bit. We switched up how Santa Claus works and divided the money out between those childrenwith instructions that they had to buy a present for each person in the family (except themselves, of course). If they spent less on one, they’d have more for another. To consider carefully as this was Christmas.

It’s been SO much FUN! Each of the children has tried to think what the other would really like to open Christmas morning. They’ve thought about their interests and personalities. G. pulled in some money from his paycheck so he could get a little more. C. used money left over from his allowance to do the same.

And yes, they stopped asking for things for themselves. Did the arguing stop? Hmmmmm…. not completely. But hey, I’ll take an improvement! I can’t wait for Christmas morning. I can’t wait to see their reactions.

In fact most of us can’t.

Other years we wait to put ALL of the presents under the tree Christmas Eve. Not this year. We decided to taunt each other a bit with what was under the tree as well. So meet Steve….

He’s our “Guard Turkey” (He can sing, too). He’s making sure no one tries to peek at any of the presents under the tree before Christmas morning. And I can personally attest that if someone examines and shakes a box or bag they will get absolutely NO clue as to what is inside. We’re all about camouflage in this family!

Sometimes change is good.

December 23, 2008
It’s like death and taxes……

Over 2 years ago I was given the assignment to be the president of our church’s Primary organization. This organization is for children 18 months to 11 years old and there were around 40 children there each week. I wasn’t prepared for the rush of love that I felt for every single one of those children. And I knew when I was called that there would come a day when it would be someone else’s turn.

That day was today. Next week it will be her turn to listen as they sing, “Once There was a Snowman!” lightening fast or “I am A Child of God” as the last song of the day. It will be her turn to make sure to call on one of the children to say the opening prayer. It will be her turn to listen as they tell her about their Christmas.

She’ll be wonderful.

I will miss them, but it was time.

Next week I will try not to cause too much of a disruption in Sunday School with my husband.

December 21, 2008
Follow the Yellow Brick Road

It’s done and yes, it was insane. It took all week, but I finished C.’s quilt.

It was insane enough trying to finish his quilt. While he was at school. One day I spent the day quilting out of the house just to be able to get in more quilting time.

It also happened that I needed to finish it during a week when I had a Nativity program for the children at church for the ward Christmas party. A meeting to work on things for next year in Primary. And a baptism in Primary. All very good things.

The children always amaze me when they do a program. They were so excited to do be in the Nativity. We had itchy angels and levitating sheep. Last year the wise men got a little lost. This year the shepherd’s got seperated, but they found each other again. It was great. Having children act out the birth of the Savior just adds a beautiful touch to the season.

And the baptism was wonderful.

There were blips this week. Some bigger than others. But I’m really glad I’ve had the other moments to balance things out.

And I’m really glad the quilt is done in time.

PS – Yellow Brick Road is the name of the pattern. I think the only resemblance to any brick road, yellow or otherwise, is that some of the squares in the blocks look like bricks.

December 6, 2008
Classic Children’s Books

My younger sister and I

This picture only serves to illustrate why I believe I’m destined to have long hair my entire life (believe me – I have other pictures of me with short hair MUCH, MUCH worse).

But that isn’t what I was going to write about. What books did you read when you were really little? I wouldn’t have tried to remember if it hadn’t been for a post over on Compulsive Writer. I didn’t really start to read a lot until much later (not that my parents didn’t try). So it was difficult trying to think what I read then. Ok… it might have more to do with the fact that my memory has never been even remotely good and wouldn’t you know it? It’s getting worse.

But I did remember this book and some fond memories of the main character, Frances. Probably because she wouldn’t go to bed.

What got me started reading to the point that I think Mom wished that she hadn’t gotten me hooked?

When I was reading them there were 44 books in the series. I remember because I read them all at least twice. I was around 11 and I’ve been in love with reading ever since. Thanks, Mom.

November 29, 2008
Life

I can’t help but be grateful for some very simple things this time of year. There have been years when there was too much going on in our family to consider cooking for Thanksgiving. So when I can cook a meal I know they’ll all love it only adds to my enjoyment of the holiday. Thanksgiving is in fact, probably my favorite holiday for that reason.

When things were a little different in our lives I found this poem by Charlotte Brontë. It goes right along with why I take so many pictures of nature. There are other reasons, but for me, this illustrates what I feel as I try to capture those images.

Life

Life, believe, is not a dream,
So dark as sages say;
Oft a little morning rain
Foretells a pleasant day:
Sometimes there are clouds of gloom,
But these are transient all;
If the shower will make the roses bloom,
Oh, why lament its fall?
Rapidly, merrily,
Life’s sunny hours flit by,
Gratefully, cheerily,
Enjoy them as they fly.

What though death at times steps in,
And calls our Best away?
What though Sorrow seems to win,
O’er hope a heavy sway?
Yet Hope again elastic spring,
Unconquered, though she fell,
Still buoyant are her golden wings,
Still strong to bear us well.
Manfully, fearlessly,
The day of trial bear,
For gloriously, victoriously,
Can courage quell despair!

November 28, 2008