A.DD. blogger

 I get in to something. Then I move on to something else. Then come back to it. A bit ago I realized another writing blog I had was deleted and was devastated since it was not backed up anywhere. So I’m beyond excited when this one was still active. 

I also want to sell my clay stuff again and I don’t want the business cards I printed to go to waste too. Anyway, there’s my keep it active post. Yay! Let the crafting begin!!! Again… 

 Why abandon something just because you haven't been consistent on keeping up on it. I am at a season in my life where I can write here again. I also feel like it is extremely therapeutic and remember it being so back when I created it. I have to admit, Pinterest has made me less creative. I search there before I search my own brain for ideas. I know there are those out there that feel similar. 

I love my life. Of course there are good days and bad days but I love the blessings that have come to me because of the good choices I have made and the hard things I have gone through and continue to go through to enjoy the life I have right now. Right in this very moment. 

Lifes too short

I feel like I started this blog and even though I go months or years without posting why re create another one? I enjoy looking back at past posts to see how Ive changed (and how my skills have improved on the clay creations) There is this Studio C where heaven or hell doesnt want this man who has died because he has done nothing with his life. Worked,watched Netflix, ate microwavable dinners. I then randomly came across an info video on youtube about self disipline and productivity, along with one about how short life is and after all the things we have to do, we have 12 years worth of time to really choose how we fill that time. All those things combined opened my mind pretty wide. I dont want to spend it watching tv. I want to spend it writing which is what I enjoy doing and spending quality time with my family. There is a whole long list of projects to finish and small bucket list items and I thought, why wait? There is nothing too personal in these posts so why not put my little journal entries on the world wide web? If I die young, people may be interested in this site who knows. Ha. Or my grand kids will have something helpful to read when their young mothers. 

Moving Forward, No matter how slow

So, Ill just tell it how it is. As my daughter says it, "I'm into this toy today." Then the next day, she'll be on to a different toy. I get "in to" different things and don't stick with them for long. But this blog is here and there is no sense is making a different one just so the dates are all consistent, so I'm "in to" this blog again so here goes.

I am picking this up again, honestly.. I paid $20 for some business cards when I was selling my ornaments and clay creations at my friends Craft Fair booths. I needed a place for someone to be able to see pictures of what I have done and contact me just in case they needed a special order. I have a lot of business cards left that I also don't want to go to waste so here I am.

I have another friend opening a flower/gift shop and she would like to sell some of my items in her store. I also need a place to continue to put these things somewhere to be accessed.

I love crafting. Always have always will. You compare yourself only to how you used to be and the improvement you have made in any aspect of life. This is the most important part of being you. You can never be real if you compare. We all have different talents in many different things and it is possible to sincerely appreciate our own talents and others talents at the same time. That is what I strive for.

Becoming

I want to come back to this talk and read it when I have time. I came across it when I was planning my talk for this Sunday. I need to access it again here. The theme for a week at BYU was "The process of becoming." That randomly popped into my head as Kraig was praying. But this theme was given the year I was born, so unless I am having some crazy flash backs for a conversation I heard when I was just learning what sounds are or something else brought this on.. but I'll think of it eventually.

New Beginnings 2016

I was in charge of decorations for New Beginnings. 

"Press Forward for Sweet is the Work"

 You kind find the sight where she found these and the instructions here.

 I filled the boxes with candy necklaces and also had these so they could put the treats from the candy bar when they get a chance to pick away. (More candy was added after I took this picture, and even then we ran out very fast)

 My grandpa had these awesome jars with the colored lids so I covered over the original labels with printed paper.

 The Young Women President had the candyland version that I remember playing growing up. Researching it, apparently there are quite a few versions they have come out with.

 This is me attempting to make large candies from balloons and clear plastic wrap without any specific instructions.

 So our YM Pres was the one that helped me set up. With two adult helpers and two munchkin helpers, we finished in two and a half hours. It looks like it took maybe an hour. :D We used push pins into that crazy wall you find in churches and it stayed up the whole time. We just used the plastic tablecloths for the wall and the cloth tablecloths for the actual tables. The girls dress up accessories worked great for their prop enjoyment. "Grab a Prop and Smile Sweet."  Was the sign.

 The path led to Gumball Lake. If they chose, one person draws a card (the color cards from the actual CandyLand game) , shouts out the color; who ever had the next turn, finds that next color. If their spot has something written, the move forward according to what it says. "You spent your Sunday afternoon working on Personal Progress, move forward two spaces." Etc Etc. The first to Gumball Lake wins!  (Yes I came up with this game all by myself)

 Press Forward For Sweet is The Work. That is how I tied in the decorating theme. When I heard Press Forward, I thought of a path. When I thought of a path, I thought of Candyland because she had said New Beginnings is more of the fun light hearted activity and Evening of Excellence was more of the spiritual serious type meeting. I had to jump on this while I had the chance.

 I did a path for fun from the front door right to the Relief Society Room.

 I found scriptures that had "sweet" in them and broke down this year's scripture by having definitions of the different words found in that scripture.

The girls seemed to have a lot of fun. They liked sitting together in the ball pit to take pictures. The thing that took the least amount of time is the activity they enjoyed the most which was the photo booth. The other dessert was a lemon cake which was great. We also gave them their charm of Christ for this year's charm bracelet. So wonderful! I love my calling. The more I am in it, the more I enjoy it. This and Evening of Excellence decorations I counted towards hours to my Personal Progress project. (Since they told us the leaders can earn their recognition award as well along with the girls.)

Happy Potion

As these words are my diary screaming out loud, here is my release. A place I can write. I've been having a hard time lately, for no reason in particular. It comes and goes and it is extremely hard to explain. As H was trying to pour out his heart in compassion, the kids were being loud. He calmly said, "Girls, you need to hear this too. Mommy feels sad in her head and she needs our cooperation." As K has been into empty polish bottles as princess potions, she rushes to her room to "make me a potion to help me feel happy."Later Shalae insisted on taking the piles of laundry off to each designated room. She said "I help with the laundry. Mommy, I love you so much." How astounding that a 2 and 1/2 year old could be so in tune of what is going on around her. (Yes tantrum city 7 minutes later when sister wouldn't let her open her special drawer but it was still a previous beautiful moment.) She was taking some clothes to mommy and daddy's bed and as she came back out she said, "Mommy, I'm not scared of the dark. The dark helps me sleep." I had taught her that only once last week as she was telling me how scared of the dark she was. I told her the dark was alright and we walked to each room saying hi to the dark. Only once and she let me know she was not afraid. Those moments. Few and far between at times. Those times smack dab in the middle of some glob of despair; it finds you. It seeks you out as if it was so easy to find me. This reassurance that everything is going to be alright. And these are those little moments that helps your day to heal so that healing can carry you to your sleepy early morning. As it finds you, you can sleep knowing you saw a tiny miracle shining just around that corner you thought would be hard to spot. Its a truly beautiful thing.