making

I'm taking some time while my good Mr. Dub is out of town to work on a Christmas present.

A few days ago I had a momentary glimpse, a vision, you might say, of what my front room would look like if I didn't have all my crafting stuff in there. It would be emptier for sure, but so much more peaceful and serene and there would be so much less accusation and guilt.

While I was rifling through my things looking for the supplies for this project I realized again just how much there is for how many projects and I felt a little overwhelmed and alarms started going off in my head. All I can do now is refrain from buying any more things and make all the still very awesome and cool projects I'm supplied for right now. I've managed to stop the too much shopping and not enough doing, because otherwise I'm no different from those crazies that get put on TV. Whenever I feel like getting more stuff for a new project all I need to do is go in there and remind myself of all I currently own and get going on some of it.

It's a lot.

Buttercup Baby

There is nothing about this girl that I do not adore.

When my kids were babies/toddlers they didn't like having their hair washed in the bath. They cried and wailed and flailed. It's like they thought I had waited, patiently biding my time, until I found the perfect opportunity to do them in. To bump them off. To silently and cleverly drown them under the pretence of washing their hair. It's like they thought that it was only by the strength of their will to survive that they had ever lived through any bathtime. They knew that each time they were bathed they risked death by such deadly weapons as a cup full of tepid water and a bottle of no-more-tears baby shampoo.

I tried to comfort them and I respected their fear. I gave them a washcloth to hold over their eyes. I had them lay back in shallow water while I poured it carefully along their hairline. I used a cup and held my hands just so to block so much as a drop of water from flowing over their faces. I had them look up to the ceiling so that water could only flow down and back and never so much as dampen their eyebrows.

None of it ever worked. Eventually they grew up (despite all my murderous inclinations) and learned how to wash their own hair.

But this little grandbaby o' mine, whenever I bathe her, will lay back in the water while I wash her hair. She will look up into my face with an oh-so-slightly concerned expression and ask, "You'll take good care of your Buttercup baby?", and so reassured will relax and confidently enjoy the experience.

No more fears, and truly no more tears.

You know your husband is a...

... keeper when you irresponsibly leave your camera in Sweden and he gets you another one, an even better one, for Christmas.

I love my Mr. Dub. He doesn't hold my screw-ups against me.

Happy Easter!

That Easter Morn, Hymns,#198

That Easter morn, a grave that burst
Proclaimed to man that "Last and First"
Had ris'n again
And conquered pain.

This morn renews for us that day
When Jesus cast the bonds away,
Took living breath
And conquered death.

Thus we in gratitude recall
And give our love and pledge our all,
Shed grateful tear
And conquer fear.


This hasn't ever been my favorite Easter song because it's not beautiful in an obviously typical "beautiful" way. And I am all about the obvious. But the words hit home today, and I'm grateful to be one of those who love the Lord.

The choir sings it here.

spring chores

I've been out working in the yard this week. We had a couple of hard freezes this year, which hardly ever happens, and my plants are showing a lot of freeze damage. The grass is starting to turn a beautiful shade of green and the weeds are nothing short of emerald but everything else looks kind of sad.

Or so I thought.

While weeding, pruning, and mulching in the big flowerbed in the backyard, I happened upon these oxalis clumps again. Shamrocks! And just in time for St. Patrick's Day. They aren't damaged at all, and it was a nice surprise to see them. Then I remembered that later on this spring they'll have small pink flowers, and it made me happy.

Ah, springtime!

Tender Mercies

Psalms 103:2-4 - "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquites; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies."

I had a tough week last week. Somebody said something to me last Sunday that hurt my feelings. It wasn't a kind remark and it seemed, while I was busy feeling sorry for myself, to bring into focus in a negative way everything that this particular person has said to me in the last six months. Which up to this point I had not taken in a bad way.

Because of her words I lost my way. I shed many hot, bitter tears and was filled with self-doubt, shame, fear, anguish, and despair. I didn't know what to do and didn't feel like I could do anything. I felt paralyzed, diseased and destroyed, if you will, by my insecurity.

I went to bed on Saturday night feeling very bad and sorry for myself. I didn't sleep well. And then I woke up feeling very different.

I woke up feeling hope for the future. I woke up knowing exactly what I could do. I felt encouraged, peaceful, and calm. I woke up feeling the Holy Spirit.

I'm grateful that in a very real way, the Savior makes his presence known in my life. I'm grateful that I am not left to my own strength in this Relief Society calling and in this life, and I'm grateful that there is help for those that ask for it.

I'm grateful that even when I sometimes don't ask for the help I need, when I'm so busy feeling sorry for myself and feeling particularly overburdened and unappreciated, the help comes anyway, and I am left feeling literally crowned with love, kindness and mercy.

I'm grateful that in the midst of darkness and despair a light comes shining through, lighting the way and giving me enough confidence to take another step.

Come on in and stay awhile

Well, I never got around to sweet and lemony today, but I had a very busy and gratifying day just the same.

I had meetings this morning before church, then a short nap after church. I love a good Sunday afternoon nap. The truth is that I take at least a short nap almost every day - for some reason Sunday naps are especially nice.

Part of my responsibilities as Relief Society president include visiting the new ladies who move into our congregation, and visiting sick people in the hospital. I actually really love these two Relief Society jobs.

Tonight I visited with a woman who moved in a couple of months ago. We had a meaningful, uplifting, insightful, and hilarious time.

22

= the number of lovely pink lilies we've picked out of the lawn in the last two days.

Life is beautiful.

1

= one bff.

Thank you, my friend. Life is more fun and less tedious because of you.

You make my life better!