Sunday comeback

In sunday school today someone made a comment about how important it is to write things down, to document the good things in life so that we remember.  It's been so long since I've posted and I feel my lack of record keeping in my life.  So it's late and my computer needs re-charging, but I figure I can take a few moments to jot down a few things I am grateful for right now in my life.

I am grateful to be blessed as a mother.  Though there are a lot of challenging, not-so-fun moments, motherhood is definitely worth it!  I do want more, I definitely do, but I am working right now on being content with my two, striving to be better everyday.  Their smiles, laughter, love notes, and sweet, kind words are good reminders of what matters most and what make life worth it!!  Watching them grow up is definitely bittersweet, the mother in me wants to keep them safe and protect them from the world and yet I know that life is all about learning and making choices and change.  Sometimes it makes me sad that this whole childhood phase is going by all too quickly...Faith just turned 8. EIGHT, people!!?!!!  Crazy...

I am grateful for family.  It's hard being so far away from my parents and siblings, but thank goodness for modern technology that helps to keep us all connected!  It's a comfort knowing that they are always there, supportive and prayerful, and that we can share important moments and laugh and cry together and feel so close despite the distance.  I do wish I could see nieces and nephews on a daily basis, though, and get to know them!

I'm grateful for the beauties of the earth that surround us on this tropical island paradise we call home.  For clean air and water.  For the soothing ocean to enjoy and mountains to play in and explore.  It's a wondrous playground my kids thrive in and it's such a joy to observe.

I'm grateful for wonderful friends who are always there, even though I don't make too much effort these days to reach out...I've got to work on that.  I appreciate and love each and every one of you, near and yonder.  You've influenced my life for the better and for that I am truly blessed.

I am grateful for the gospel.  Oh so grateful.  It is my anchor, my foundation in difficult times.  I love being able to read scripture and say a prayer to start my day off right.  I am working on making it a habit for our family.  Family home evening definitely needs to make a comeback in our home, it comes and goes in spurts and is another work in progress.  But then again, aren't we all?  Works in progress?

I am grateful for the wonderful young women I get to see every Sunday.  For their bright, hopeful countenances and spirits.  It feels good when I can be there for them.

That's all for now, off the top of my head.  I'm grateful for a great many more things, but 'tis time for bed.  And it feels good to post again, despite a lack of pictures.  I make no promises, but I want to have a thriving blog again and will try to be better at writing down the things that matter most.

quotes to live by

there's this really awesome site called pinterest where you can 'pin' things onto inspiration boards from the www.
i found some really great, uplifting quotes that make me pause and really think about things.
reminders of how i should be living or how blessed i am.
just thought i'd share.
enjoy.
{click on image to enlarge}

thoughts

We've been able to skype with family this week.  I love seeing and speaking to siblings and parents and getting to know sweet nieces and nephews who live far, far away and are growing up so fast!  Wish we all lived so much nearer to one another, but I'm grateful for technology.

I actually got to spend some time with a few friends this week.  Okay, well, two.  It feels nice because I need that interaction.  I feel the void when I'm lacking the company and uplifting qualities that friends provide and it has been MONTHS -- looong overdue.  It also feels nice to be so comfortable after not seeing one another for a while, however short and sweet the visit.  And despite how busy life can get, nurturing substantial friendships is important to me and I need to MAKE time.

I did my visiting teaching this month.  I feel I have been slacking in that department so when I follow through and do it, I feel really good.

Also jumped back on the fruit co-op bandwagon and seeing a fridge full of delicious produce makes me happy {and healthy}.

The other day, Malik's kindergarten teacher told me that they were talking about what to do if they ever got lost as Goldilocks did.  Malik said he would pray.  His teacher is in my ward and it was so nice to hear that as his honest response.  

It's October 1st already and I need to get crackin' on the kids costumes pronto, otherwise they'll just end up being something really easy and probably lame.  Malik wants to be a zombie and Faith Pocahontas.  Nothing too complicated, but I should still get started ASAP.

Faith is doing really well in school.  She's learning about word problems and borrowing, and she reads books aloud to me, Doug, and Malik at night before bed.

Every Sunday after church, I ask the kids what they learned in Sunday school.  They tell me and we need to work on LIVING what they're learning.  I love when they get weekly challenges from the lessons their teachers have prepared.  They are so enthusiastic about accomplishing them - one week it might be to say your prayers morning and night, another was for Faith to hum her favorite primary song whenever she got upset or angry with family {wouldn't that be awesome if our kids did this instead of fighting??}   

I'm now first counselor in YW and we had a presidency meeting this week that has me feeling excited and hopeful.  Relying on the spirit and the Lord is such an essential part of my life; some days are challenging and require more effort on my part to keep that spirit with me.

I love these last few months of the year because it's HOLIDAY time!!!

Malik found an old wallet and put some of his birthday money in it.  He's making plans on how to spend it and Doug is telling him to save.  Malik started asking me if I had any old credit cards he could put inside.  I didn't, so he cut some out of paper.  

We went to the beach as a family this afternoon and it was nice to get in the water and feel the sunshine warm my skin. 

Malik can swim pretty good now.  He runs and jumps into the pool and swims over to the side.  

This morning, Doug was doing some yoga and Malik joined him.  It was so cute and funny watching Malik get into {semi} lotus pose with his eyes closed, in pure concentration, complete with serene expression on his face.

I love General Conference!! 

I need to visit family on this island - aunties, grandparents, cousins.  My visits are too few and far between.

I need to act on things more.  Pray more.  Read my scriptures, go to the temple, make the most of every second I get with my kids.  Sew a bit.  You know, DO the things I know and say I should be doing. Find time, or rather work on making the most of my time.  Because when I'm doing what I should be, I feel the effects in every aspect of my life.  My days run a lot smoother, the kids don't fight as often, I have more patience, I am a better mother.  The list is endless.

just read it

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it.. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out.. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit.

If not, then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,

Ben Stein

thoughts on baby gavin

today, baby gavin passed away. he was two months old. he and his family went to the mainland for the holidays, and while there, he fell ill. he came down with RSV, then on top of that he got pertussis, and then pneumonia. he fought a hard battle. his little body tried, but in the end our Heavenly Father had a greater plan for him and called him home. the answers to our prayers may not always be to our liking, but the Lord, in His infinite wisdom is always there and hears them. all of them.
i can only imagine how natalie and her family are feeling right now. i tried to offer words of comfort to her postings, but sometimes fuddled them badly.
this whole incident made me think about my mom and her firstborn - my elder brother ehren. he lived for four days here on earth. i could not put myself in either of their shoes because i have never experienced the loss of a child.
baby gavin updates also brought back memories of when faith was born. when the doctor informed us of her heart defect, my first thoughts were that she was going to die. i didn't want it, didn't know what to expect, i felt an overwhelming sadness and helplessness. we all cope differently, i had my faith to turn to. i said prayers, priesthood blessings were administered, i had faith in the Lord. i had resigned myself to accepting whatever He wanted the outcome to be. being with her in the hospital was difficult. she looked very different from the first time i was able to hold her - right after she was born. there were tubes, she was somewhat swollen. more than anything in the world, i just wanted to hold her. hold my baby. the atmosphere in the hospital was heavy. there were babies who were very sick with grim outlooks, babies who were making progress, parents filled with hope. it was hard to get too excited when little improvements were made. you never knew what tomorrow would bring. you didn't want to get your hopes up. i tried to prepare myself mentally, emotionally for either outcome. i would be so thrilled to have faith here on earth with me, to have the privilege to raise her and watch her grow. but i also tried to prepare myself if she didn't make it. i found solace in my Savior, in His plan, in knowing that i would be able to see her again. i also found some peace in the fact that i could have babies. if her time here on earth were brief, i would be able to be blessed with more babies. i cried, i wrote down my feelings, my thoughts, i never wanted to leave faith's side to eat or sleep. i was in a daze. nothing else really mattered. not what i looked like, or what i wore, or what the latest news was, i had tunnel vision. i can only imagine the entirety of what natalie and richie are feeling. they are examples of extraordinary faith. my gratitude for temple blessings is as strong as ever. i am grateful for eternal familes. i am grateful for the plan of salvation. continue to pray for the nortons.

i saw this on another blog and decided to pass the message along.

"Family home evening brings my family together and helps me grow closer to my Heavenly Father."

This was Faith's part for the primary program today in Sacrament. She did such a good job and memorized it. Me and Doug sat and smiled. She waved to us with a HUGE grin on her face three times. It made us laugh. Every time the children stood up to sing, we could see her enunciating the words and really opening her mouth. She knew most of the words and she did it with a smile on her face. I was beaming. I was thinking maybe I should get her into a childrens choir -- she seemed to be enjoying herself so much. When Malik finally caught sight of his sister, he started giggling and pointing, saying,"There's Faith! I see her!" I had to hush him a few times, but he was excited. It wasn't the first time she was up there, but it makes me happy to think that she is learning this wonderful Gospel with every primary song she learns, every Sunday school lesson, every good example she sees, every family home evening, every prayer...

the small things add up.

Yesterday

we were in the neighborhood, so we decided to take a stroll around the temple grounds. while in the Visitors Center i listened to a portion of President Monson's talk about 'finding joy in the journey'. i really enjoyed (and sometimes need) the reminding. here are some excerpts:

This coming week Sister Monson and I will celebrate our 60th wedding anniversary. As I look back to our beginnings, I realize just how much our lives have changed since then. Our beloved parents, who stood beside us as we commenced our journey together, have passed on. Our three children, who filled our lives so completely for many years, are grown and have families of their own. Most of our grandchildren are grown, and we now have four great-grandchildren.
Day by day, minute by minute, second by second we went from where we were to where we are now. The lives of all of us, of course, go through similar alterations and changes. The difference between the changes in my life and the changes in yours is only in the details. Time never stands still; it must steadily march on, and with the marching come the changes.
This is our one and only chance at mortal life—here and now. The longer we live, the greater is our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistent future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey—now.
I am what my wife, Frances, calls a “show-a-holic.” I thoroughly enjoy many musicals, and one of my favorites was written by the American composer Meredith Willson and is entitled The Music Man. Professor Harold Hill, one of the principal characters in the show, voices a caution that I share with you. Says he, “You pile up enough tomorrows, and you’ll find you’ve collected a lot of empty yesterdays.”
My brothers and sisters, there is no tomorrow to remember if we don’t do something today.
I’ve shared with you previously an example of this philosophy. I believe it bears repeating. Many years ago, Arthur Gordon wrote in a national magazine, and I quote:
“When I was around thirteen and my brother ten, Father had promised to take us to the circus. But at lunchtime there was a phone call; some urgent business required his attention downtown. We braced ourselves for disappointment. Then we heard him say [into the phone], ‘No, I won’t be down. It’ll have to wait.’
“When he came back to the table, Mother smiled. ‘The circus keeps coming back, you know,’ [she said.]
“‘I know,’ said Father. ‘But childhood doesn’t.’”
If you have children who are grown and gone, in all likelihood you have occasionally felt pangs of loss and the recognition that you didn’t appreciate that time of life as much as you should have. Of course, there is no going back, but only forward. Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future.
If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.
Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.” We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.
Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”

back when i could still call them 'babies'

dear mom and dad,

thank you for creating such a delightful childhood for me and my siblings.

i remember it being fun, safe, full of laughter and joy.

so carefree, so many great, happy memories.

so imperfectly perfect.

i'll be eternally grateful.

i hope my children can say the same thing someday.

i'll love you forever.

the rains came down

matti came over to watch my kids today -- both of them have colds, mind you. (thank you from the bottom of my heart, matti.) i needed to do a follow-up with an oral surgeon {concerning an x-ray of my jaw and sinus area}. i was praying that he would say, "oh, it's nothing to worry about," and i could walk out the door and be on my merry way. you see, in the x-ray my left sinus is clear and black, and the right side is cloudy and has more white area (or is it vice-versa??) anyways, the oral surgeon says it could just be my anatomy, it could just be that i was congested on one side when the x-ray was done, it could just be the way my insides reflected the rays...it could be...but to be positive that it isn't anything serious, another CT scan may be in order. this time for my head; specifically my sinus area. so, the oral surgeon will get some second opinions from his fellow radiologist pals and then we will know whether or not to get the CT scan. he says that most likely they will recommend the scan; just to rule everything else out.

i ain't gonna lie: i was/am scared. it's just so ironic that right after you get news of something "abnormal", the people in the room try to convince you not to worry or be scared and all that jazz. as if that's even possible!

i walked slowly to my car through the lightly falling rain, shut the door, and shed a few tears. i was thinking worst case scenario: if it is something serious, i don't feel prepared for that. i want to be around to raise my kids (hopefully have some more while i'm at it). i want to watch them play and learn and love, hug, and kiss them. i want to read them stories as i tuck them in at night. time to spill the deepest desires of my heart: i want to have an eternal family. i want to have the priesthood in my home. i want to watch my babies grow up and get married and have babies of their own.

i remember growing up and always having my dad there to give us blessings. he would give us one at the beginning of every school year, when we were sick, or if there was a big test or event coming up. i think the last time i got a blessing was when we got news of Faith needing open-heart surgery. i miss having that sense of comfort and security in my home.

so the moral of the story is: don't go to the dentist.

just kidding.

the moral of the story is, don't ever take anything for granted. seize and savor every moment.

and i'd like to ask for your prayers so that if i do need to get a CT scan, that everything will be okay. and i will have the faith that it will be.

i'd really appreciate it. thank you.

wake-up call

yep - my first name is syreeta

on tuesday, i took the kids to the doctor for some shots. it's been a while, but they were such troopers. malik only got one and didn't cry, but faith had to get four. they call it the "four-year-old special". yeah. lucky her, right? she cried, but i don't blame her. when faith started crying, malik started crying with concern for his sister. he was saying,"i don't want them to give faith shots." it was sad and cute at the same. as soon as we exited the room malik ran up to some kids he saw waiting in the hall, and with a smirk on his face he walks right up to them, sticks his hand with the bandage-covered shot in their faces and says,"YESSSS!!!! i gotta SHOT!" it made me laugh.
and then as soon as we got home, i got on the phone and tried to schedule an appointment for myself. you see, on Sunday evening i began feeling some discomfort on the left side of my chest. on Monday morning, certain movements would made me grimace and cut my breath short. i couldn't take full breaths because inhaling hurt, i couldn't lay down or move in certain ways without aggravating it. my first thought: i pulled some muscle involved in breathing (we use a lot of different muscles when we breathe - as i learned in anatomy...). wasn't sure which one - maybe intercostals? so i thought i'd wait it out and see if it got better. well, Monday night was worse. i couldn't sleep very well because i couldn't find a position that would relieve it. and then on tuesday, i took malik to the park and could only sit there and felt winded. i'm thinking it's due to lack of oxygen from my inability to breathe. pathetic, i know. this entire time i am praying it's nothing serious. well, after feeling so tired and unable to do much physically, really, without feeling pain or out of breath, i decide to make an appointment. i explain my symptoms to the receptionist. she tells me that the next available appointment they have isn't til Thursday. i can't be feeling like this until Thursday, incapacitated as a wife and mom. then she goes on to say that the doctor is probably just going to send me to the ER due to my shortness of breath and pain when i breathe. great. perfect. she says i may have a collapsed lung. wonderful. so Doug is home from work at this point and he decides to look it up online. i don't like knowing what's wrong. if it's bad, i'd rather not know. don't know why, scared i guess. so he starts reading off the symptoms and i definitely have some of them. so we decide to go to the ER. when i get there, i'm thinking, 'if this is all for a muscle sprain or strain i'm gonna feel like a moron' but then again, i'm praying it's nothing serious. i hate hospitals.
anyways, they set me up, the doc comes in and asks why i'm there. then she says that it could be a muscle strain, or a collapsed lung, or a blood clot in my lungs (from birth control, people -- not worth it!!! i haven't been on any since January, but i have taken the pills for a while and had some shots at one point), or maybe something with my heart. keeps getting better. i'm scared to death at this point. Doug is entertaining the kids somewhere. they draw some blood, for a test that will determine if i have a clot (which, the doc tells me, is highly unlikely since i'm so healthy). they start on my right arm and can't get a good flow going there, so they switch to my left. it works. then they set me up with an IV and give me some kind of painkiller intravenously. then i go to take a chest x-ray (my first x-ray, people). then they put all these stickies on me and hook me up for an EKG to check my heart (just like they did to faith on monday). the results for the EKG look good. the x-rays look great. then it's the waiting game for the blood test results. i talk to Doug on the phone and tell him all looks well. while i'm waiting i realize how many characters come into the ER. some of the things i was hearing made me laugh. then the blood tests come back. i just recall the words "slightly abnormal". okay, so what now? i may have a blood clot in my lungs, and "that is something very serious" the doc says. so i call Doug and tell him i need to go and get a CT scan of my chest due to the possibility of a blood clot. scares him. and me. they have to start another IV in my right arm to insert iodine dye into my veins for the CT scan. that way, if i have a clot, they will be able to locate it. the CT scan made me nervous. i was scared. what if i had a clot - i would probably need surgery. i was scared about that. i was shaking, my legs, the CT guy was telling me to calm down and just relax and everything was gonna be fine. i tried. tried to believe that. at the same time i was mad - why do they even allow birth control to be on the market if blood clots, strokes or heart attacks are side effects? i'll take a baby over any one of those things any day.
CT scans are something else, lemme tell ya. when the dye goes through you and you get scanned, you feel really warm inside. and when you feel that way in your guts, "it almost feels like you are peeing your pants, but you aren't". those are the technician's exact words, and he was right-on about that. then i torturously await those results. after what seemed like FOR-E-VER, the nurse comes in and says, i know you were scared and worried, but here are your results - negative. relief washes over me. at this point i am glad i came in, even if it probably is just a muscle strain. the doc comes in and says that after all the testing it is probably musculoskeletal and i am probably wishing i never should have come in but that it was a good thing i did because chest pain and shortness of breath are symptoms that shouldn't be ignored. this has strengthened my testimony and gives me a big wakeup call. the mundane things in life are now more precious to me. at least i have them. at least i can hug and hold and love my kids and husband. at least i can give my kids baths everyday, and do the dishes and laundry. at least i am here with my family and can watch them grow. and i am glad i have insurance. oh, yes, i tried not to worry about how much all of this was gonna cost while i was in there...
here's to life and enjoying every moment and remembering what is most important. yes, sewing and blogging can wait (note to self). our children are only kids once, let's all enjoy every wonderful moment of it while we can!!! appreciate the small things!!!

mommy the patient -- following the looong ordeal

go on, have a laugh

since i can't really think of anything spectacular to post, i decided to share something i learned yesterday. while flipping through echo's sewing manual, i noticed a picture. it was of the foot pedal (for the sewing machine) with a drawing of a foot resting on it. and in that instant, i realized that this whole entire time, i have been using the pedal backwards. hehe. you see, i don't have a picture in my manual of the foot on the pedal. so my foot was resting on the highest side and pressing down that way. i wondered why it would always slip out from under my foot. now i know...and i'd like to think i'm not the first and only person to ever do that.

oh, and we also learned that malik is double-jointed. he can hold onto something with both hands in front by his belly and then reach up over his head and end up with both hands still grasping whatever he is holding by his butt. without letting go of the thing in his hands. yeah. weird. and he can bring it from back to front the same way. it's kinda cool to watch.


happy wednesday!!!

conference thoughts

i really enjoyed general conference this weekend. it's always lovely to hear the words of our prophet, apostles, and other general authorities. several, if not all, of the talks seemed directed at me and i feel spiritually edified and refreshed. i really enjoyed Elder Uchtdorf's talk about how living the Gospel refines us as we learn from our mistakes. Elder Oaks' thoughts on charity make me wanna go out and serve and i cannot wait to meet up next week with melissa as she gets that service club up and running. and Elder Bednar's talk makes me anticipate the re-opening of the temple even more. Elder Perry's words about missionary work made me think of my sister in south korea, and about some of my own family members and the joy i long for them to feel. and Elder Holland's thoughts made me think of my sister jessyca and how i feel, at times.

here's to being active, rather than passive and to embracing change with faith.

you know this book? i went to costco today and it's about $19something, for those interested. and i also saw a singer sewing machine with a whole bunch of different stitches - that was a bit more expensive than the book. a girl can dream, right?

now that i (try to) sew, i notice these kinds of things and have also come to appreciate beautiful fabric. when i was younger and my mom would go to the fabric store, i always got so bored (fast) and wondered when she was going to be done so we could LEAVE. hehe. now, i have become her and my kids are the ones nagging at me to hurry up.

two dresses

that i made. it's just too bad they don't fit either one

of their intended wearers. (darn it!)

the bodices are too skinny. faith got the living daylights

squeezed outta her when i forced her into one to try it on.

that was followed by a bit of a panic attack on her part. i'm just

glad we got it off without having to cut it. now i know. note

to self, for future reference...

this recession

is making its presence known. i feel like it is only beginning. i pray that things take a turn for the better. our family has been feeling the effects of unemployment since december. for those of you that remain unaffected, be grateful. i used to be one of you. after watching the local and national news this evening, it made me reflect. self-reliance, living simply - how we are striving to live. sifting through the wants and needs. i am hoping the stimulus plan will help, for the benefit of everyone who is hungry or in need of a comfortable place to sleep. our family is truly blessed, and we aren't in want of anything (at the moment), and we want to try and keep it that way. i am grateful for my husband providing for us, even in these hard times. i am grateful for all that we DO have. times like these help me to realize that family and friendships are truly priceless and can bring us the greatest joy, moreso than the things that money CAN buy. that and the gospel. these are my sources of peace right now. and all is well, we are healthy and happy on the miller front.