Tis better to give....

Christmas day  was a wonderful day and almost perfect.  We missed having Rob, Brittany and Bebe with us the most.  Maybe we can snag them for next years gathering  where ever they will be.

Having adults children makes Christmas present opening a bit different.  I love watching them open each of their gifts.  Their expressions and thoughtful jesters of thanks.  Long gone are the ripping open of presents and throwing that aside to only open yet another present to be tossed.  For the last 2 years we have opened presents later in the day.  I have to say I kind of like that.

Mike and I have had some crazy work schedules so it has made planning what to do for Christmas a bit harder this year.  After I was done traveling to and from Orlando (the Friday before Thanksgiving) we drove over to Jax to visit the outlet malls the next day.  Ya that was odd I had just finish driving home the previous night for 4 hours and was back in the car for another 2.5 hour trip over to Jax.  But Mike was driving and he promised me Sticky Fingers for dinner so it really was fine.

During that drive Mike and I talked about what to give our children and he suggested we make quilts for them.  I laughed at first but he promised he would help with everything that needed to be done.  As I was listening to him talk my mind reflected back to many times years ago when Mike has helped me sew and get some other Christmas presents together so I knew his promise would be good.

I came home and with this new idea in mind and searched Pinterest for a quilt idea that would be easy enough to do in time for Christmas.  I fell in love with what I found and did some checking to see how hard these quilts would be to make link. I figured they would be pretty easy to do but they would be time consuming to cut and sew and clip.  But this was my choice and Mike agreed.

I went into a high end sewing machine store (they happen to carry fabric as well) and just happened to get a woman who had made these before.  She gave me lots of suggestions on how to do the whole quilt.  I was truly grateful.

We finally started and determined that Rob and Brittany's quilt would need to be first in line.  We sure did learn a lot from making that quilt. So here are each of the quilts we made.

  They are called Rag Quilts.

Rob, Britt and Bebe's Quilt

Alyse's Quilt

Kristen and Lance Quilt

Bryan and Michelle Quilt

For me this was such a labor of love.  I thought about each person as we made each quilt. There were times I wondered if we were crazy to take on this task with such a short time frame.  The quilts aren't perfect by any means but I hope our children know our love for them and get great use out of their Christmas Quilts.

Christmas is almost upon us.

As I sit down here to type I have a gazillion other things I should be doing but my mind is just overloaded for a few moments.  Mike and I finally finished the Christmas gifts for all our children.  It was such a great idea in Nov but now that they are done I am glad we moved forward with that idea.  I will share just what that is after Christmas morning but I will say I do have THE  greatest husband in the world who pulled his weight during this project.  And one terrific sister in law that gave me a day of service.

Today I took out all the presents that have been purchased and put them into piles.  I still have 3 more gifts to find and 6 more to finish.  I like to think our children will love gifts given from the heart more then gifts from the store.  Only time will tell come Christmas morning.

For me I have very few wants.  I have a wonderful life and usually all my needs and wants are filled throughout the year but I do have 2 that come to mind-  My first gift I asked Mike for was more TIME!  Time spent together and just time to do things.  But mainly his gift of time is all I ask.  Our lives are so crazy that we don't see each other as much as either of us would like.  The second gift would be fruit trees.  Oh and someone to dig the hole!

I love this time of the year as we search for the real meaning of Christmas.  Yesterday Kathy and I went to the temple to go through with Sapphire Rosier.  I can't think of anything better to give someone then the chance to progress eternally as their temple work is done.  Merry Christmas my new Sister friend.

After all our Heavenly Father gave us the greatest gift of all!  Our Savior Jesus Christ.  Oh what a wonderfully perfect gift that fits every need, every size and shape.

Merry Christmas my dear Friends!

For you are a King, but tonight you are mine.

I have always loved thinking about the night the Savior was born.  I have many nativities that I have collected through the years because of this love.  Being a mother myself I have reflected upon Mary's roll as the mother of Christ.  What did she ponder about that special night and all the other nights that followed?  Did she snuggle with him and know truly of His greatness and the life he would need to lead?  Did she whisper sweetness into his ears?  Did she stare in amazement that He had come to her?  And did she think for a moment he was just her's. 

I cherished the nights when it was just me and my sweet babe sharing some time together.  Of course there were many nights I was just exhausted but on those special nights as I would sit with my baby in my arms looking at them I wondering what they came to this earth to do.  Why did they come now?  Why did they come to me?  Why were they sent to us?  How could I raise them to the love the Lord? Who were these little strangers joining our family?  The list of what, who and whys were many.  But those were times of sweetness.  I am sure Mary had similar thoughts and feelings.   Today Alyse told me she and Kristen needed me to open my Christmas present.  I said but it's not Christmas yet.  She said it doesn't matter you have to open it.  As I did I had no idea what was inside.  Until I saw the word "Willow"  And then I eagerly opened the box to find this....

Mary's Lullaby

All mine in your loveliness baby, all mine.
All mine in your holiness baby divine.
Sing on herald angels in chorus sublime;
Sing on and adore, for tonight you are mine.

The wise men are coming to worship their King,
The shepherds are kneeling their homage to bring.
Out yonder the star over Judah will keep.
No harm will befall thee, then sleep baby sleep.

O let me enfold thee, my baby tonight,
While legions are singing in joyous delight.
A new star has risen to hail thee divine,
For you are a king, but tonight you are mine.

Away spectered future of sorrow and plight,
Away to the years that must follow tonight.
The pangs of Gethsemane, let them be dim,
The red drops on Calvary, not Lord, for Him!

O let me enfold thee, my baby tonight,
While legions are singing in joyous delight.
A new star has risen to hail thee divine,
For you are a king, but tonight you are mine.

Sing on herald angels in chorus sublime;
Sing on and adore, for tonight you are mine.

I have my mother large nativity set that sits on a round table in the corner of the room.  I leave that nativity set up all year long.  I want to remind myself often of the birth, life and death of our Savior and how because of him I get to return back to my Father in Heaven.  I will now be able to add another nativity set that will stay up all year long thanks to my two sweet daughters who so thoughtfully gave me another reminder of who my King is. 

Thanksgiving=Gratitude to me

The last 5 weeks have been hard weeks for me.  I spent them down in Orlando for work.  I lived down there for 3 straight weeks since Mike was in Ca as well.  Someone asked me why it was so hard to do this.  It caused me to pause and ask myself that same question.  I came up with what I thought was the reason -it's hard to not see family.  But I don't "see" my family all the time normally.  They all have work and their own lives that they are busy with.  Rob and Brittany live in Idaho so I don't see them for sure everyday so what made it hard?   I have thought about this question a lot.  What makes things like this so hard?  I could call and talk to them,  I chatted via texts with them all the time.  I chatted with them on facebook.  I emailed them.  So I had communication with them. So what was different?

I think it's because it's not home.  I have come to determine that home is not only a brick and mortar place but a state of being.  I have read for years this statement "Home is where your heart is".   There is nothing I would rather do in life than spend time with my family.  I love it when they come up to see us.  I love to go to their homes.  I love to be in their presence.  My mom use to say to me "you are happiest when your family is near you."  It's true my heart resides in many different places and all at once.  I love my family with all my heart.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and a time when we all give thanks for those things we have in our lives.  Elder Hales said - 

“In some quiet way, the expression and feelings of gratitude have a wonderful cleansing or healing nature. Gratitude brings warmth to the giver and the receiver alike, gratitude, expressed to our Heavenly Father in prayer for what we have, brings a calming peace, a peace which allows us to not canker our souls for what we don’t have. Gratitude brings a peace that helps us overcome the pain of adversity and failure. Gratitude on a daily basis means we express appreciation for what we have now without qualification for what we had in the past or desire in the future.”

The older I get the clearer I think life becomes.  It isn't about stuff.  It's about people and relationships.  I would give all I have to my family and those in need over my own wants at this time.  As Christmas draws closer yet on the heals of Thanksgiving I am thankful for the very two people who have given and continue to give me everything I have.  I am deeply grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who blesses me with peace, love, abilities beyond my own natural talents.  I know ALL that I/we have comes from Him.  I am thankful for a Savior who gave his life for me so that I might return back to my Father in Heaven.  I pray everyday that a testimony of the Atonement of Jesus Christ burns in my heart and my children's hearts.  Because without the Atonement all is lost.  Jesus is our perfect example in all aspects of life and to him I humbly bow.  

So you see as hard as this past 5 weeks have been I have come to understand a few things better and I am thrilled to have that knowledge.  And I am happy to be on this side of that 5 weeks where I can reflect better upon the nuggets of  pure truth from Heaven. 

Family

So today is a banner day!  We added one more Ladle to our family.  We knew Brittany was going to go to the hospital last night and things would start to rock and roll today (11/10/11).  And they did.  Rob was great at keep us all up to date with what was happening via text messages and not wanting to miss one thing I didn't get a whole lot done.  But here is a sneak peek at what we were sent!  I'm in LOVE and think he is the most perfect and beautiful grandson around!

This is when life really begins.  Children are truly a gift from Heaven.  And I'm excited to give this whole grandma thing a try!  I can't wait to snuggle this little guy! Dec can't come fast enough.  Truly this is a miracle from heaven. 

Welcome to our family little one!

Learning bits at a time

I am down in Orlando for 3 straight weeks- 2 more after that before my work here is done.  With Mike gone to CA it made no sense for me to drive home and then turn around and drive back with one day in Tallahassee.  So here I am in Orlando and today is Sunday.  It's been an interesting to be down here and finding myself with free time mostly during the late afternoon and evening.  The memories have flooded back with things Mike and I have done down here.  The temple was dedicated in 1994 and we have spend many hours and days in this wonderful city.  Mike and I love going to the temple and just being together.  We have enjoyed the times we have brought our children down for various temple trips and family vacations.  The time we went to Universal Studios close to Christmas and it was freezing.  Some rides were closed because of the cold and we found the best ride was the one where flames shot out at the end.  We all held our hands out to get them warm during the 10 seconds we rode by it.  It never really did warm up that day but we were together and loved being together.  So as I drive around O-town I think about my family and it makes me sad they aren't here.  I have been taught over and over again about how family is really the best part of life.  It's true!!!

Today while in church (11:00 start time yet I walked in late because it was Stake Conference) I had a few things I wanted to write down.  I sat in the foyer where the soft chairs were.  I don't do well on hard chairs.  I first noticed all the little boys at church.  Most walking with their dads.  Those little guys were so sweet and some jumped as they walked, some chatted in their own little language but kept looking up as if they were sharing something important.  There was a mom who walked out of the Mom's room with a sweet little guy in a plaid shirt and brown cord pants.  I am sure my ability to focus on these sweet boys is because in 3 short weeks I get to become a grandma.  I can't wait.  Brittany and Robby will be bring their first little soul into the world.  They will be awesome parents.  I can't wait for this little guy to come into their family and so I can snuggle, cuddle and kiss this little person. 

The second was what was said in church.  There was a bit of a theme of missionary work.  I loved what one young lady had to say.  She was a new member of the church and she talked about her conversion.  She said two things- A candle looses nothing by lightening another candle.  When we share the gospel we don't lose anything by lightening someones own candle with gospel knowledge.  I loved that image.  She also said God can't drive a parked car.  Gosh that can be used in so many ways.  I'll let you think about that one.

I learned a lesson a long time ago.  It was Pres. Packer who brought about this change in my life.  It is the concept that faith and fear can NOT occupy the same space.  If we have fear we can NOT have faith.  So if we push fear out with faith we will be happier in life.  I took that challenge and worked on that for a year.  It proved to be a marvelous year for me.  Today the Mission Pres. wife talked of course about missionary work.  She said- "Doubt and fear of sharing the gospel are tools of Satan."   That is true!  If fear and faith can't occupy the same space then Doubt and fear have to be tools of Satan.  Heavenly Father does NOT use doubt and fear as tools.  Ah yet another piece of the puzzle appears.  So many times I have thought oh what if...  and have used fear as my crutch to not share the gospel.  I have used doubt enough times alone in I'm  not sure I can share the gospel.  I don't know enough to share the gospel.   But today is a new day.  Those two words are going to leave my life.

Another story she shared was another stake was having their Stake Conference and Elder Neal A. Anderson was the visiting authority.  There was a young man who the missionary had met and invited to Stake Conference.  Upon hearing that Elder Anderson would be there they called this young man and told him he really needed to come.  They made arrangement with an EQ Pres and this young man was picked up along with his friend.  They arrived just after the opening song.  They stayed for the whole meeting.  After the missionaries introduced them to the Mission Pres and his wife.  He asked the missionaries if they had introduced their investigators to Elder Anderson yet.  No they hadn't and quickly joined the line.  When these two young investigators came to Elder Anderson he said to them "We can't live one more day without you joining this church."  They both will be baptized Nov 5th.

Since working I have had many opportunities to share things about the church.  I have loved sharing what I know.  Sometimes my co-workers come and ask me, and sometimes I hear the whisper to share something with them.  They have been sweet times and I have always been glad I followed in faith.  Recently my Uncle passed away.  I had a wonderful conversation at work about temples, life after death and forever families.  

I love this gospel.  It is why I am me.  It has shaped me in so many ways.  I am thankful I have it in my life.  As the world swirls and turns during these uncertain times I have knowledge of what, where and who I am.  I don't have to wonder!  Today was a wonderful day.

Iowa!

As Kathy and I were headed home we stopped for a day in glorious Iowa!  Ya you heard me right.
                             I LOVE IOWA ! 

Bruce and Midge live there and they know how to show you a good time.  Midge is into quilt making as well so she was full of thoughts and help.  Bruce was his amazing self and I always love his hugs and any time I get to sit and chat with him is heaven to me.

They suggested the following day that we drive to Kalona.  Home of the Amish.  This truly excites me.  I love seeing the farms, the buggies that run along side the road.  The simpleness of their lives.  Not only were we able to drive to Kalona but we did it in fashion.  Bruce and Midge drove their T-bird and I drove a 65 mustang (I think that was the year) and we had the top down. 

Bruce and Midge introduced us to Amish baked oatmeal.  Oh my goodness it was the best thing ever and stayed with me most of the day.  I was even more in love with the Amish.  We stopped at a few fabric stores where I instantly feel in love with a quilt that I knew I needed to do for Bryan's birthday.  I purchased all the needed supplies and off we went. 

 One of my obsession with Iowa is the fact that they have what are called quilt barn squares.  This is where barns take big squares and paint a quilt block on that square. 

I know I have talked about this before.  When we were in the fabric store the woman who owns the store told us about how they represent people's heritage.  I love that idea!  I found a quote that says- We are who we are because they were who they were.  That is exactly how I feel!  I love my heritage.  I would love to do a quilt barn trip.  Anyone with me?

 Here are pictures of the quilt I made for Bryan-  

"Quilt As You Go Flag Throw"

It's hard to see the smaller stars that are on the blue