A New Year "doing less!"

To spare you all my New Year's resolutions I thought I'd just post this quote that has hung on my fridge for the last 3 months. As I thought about the changes I would make this coming year, this quote seemed to encompass so much of what I'd like to improve upon. Of course, there are the usual, healthy eating, weight loss, consistent FHE... but the task that weighs on my mind the most is mothering. Sis. Julie Beck shared this thought in October 2007 Conference. Her comments caused quite a stirring among some members of the church. Some found her talk old-fashioned and suppressing. I did not. I have to say many times I have left church meetings feeling riddled with guilt and despair, but surprisingly I found her words motivating, inspiring, and spot on for all mothers today.

" Mothers who know do less. They permit less of what will not bear good fruit eternally. They allow less media in their homes, less distraction, less activity that draws their children away from their home. Mothers who know are willing to live on less and consume less of the world's goods in order to spend more time with their children- more time eating together, more time working together, more time reading together, ore time talking, laughing, singing, and exemplifying. These mothers choose carefully and do not try to choose it all. "

- Sis. Julie B. Beck

Of course Brett loves the part where Sis. Beck said "mother's who are willing to live on less." Yeah, can't say I'm asking for a pay cut:) If you read the talk it doesn't say be barefoot and pregnant all the time, uneducated, and poor. I think Sis. Beck's intent was simply to help us remember what's most important!

New Year's with the Lemmons

We spent New Year's with the Lemmons in good ol' Yuma. What a great time we all had. The girls played nonstop. Visiting with Bobby and Sabra was just like old times... sitting out in the drive way, wishing, dreaming, and maybe even coveting to our hearts content. Brett finally admitted he really missed the place, especially seeing all the green. You wouldn't think Yuma's that green, but all the irrigation makes it beautiful. At least they have irrigation.

Poor Prescott:( A big thanks to the Lemmons for hosting us, they're the best!!!

Often times I feel like I need a photo to go with my posts. But since my computer is dying and I can't add any photo's from my new camera, I guess all my Christmas photo's will have to wait. We did order a new computer for Christmas, but it was delayed in shipping and won't be up and ready until the middle of January. Anyways, I was checking out one of my favorite textile designers, Amy Butler, and discovered she is now selling items from her website, http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/. I fell in love with her designs about six years ago when I found sample packs of her first line of fabric in a quilting store in Yuma. I bought the packs for about $15 and that was enough fabric to make a quilt for my best friend, Sabra. (I wish I had a photo of the quilt to show.) Now 6 years later, you see her fabric everwhere... aprons, pillows, purses, bags, stationary, scrapbooking. I absolutely love, love her style (about as much as Ana candles.) She's very popular among ebay, and that's probably the best place to shop for her fabric unless you have a local quilting store that sells it. She states her style as "midwest modern"and I think that fits her designs perfectly. Here's some pics of Amy's creations or items you can create yourself!

I am determined to create one of these bags this year. I absolutely love the bow!

No I did not cover this chair, but if given the opprotunity....

This look just screamed "Amberlee."

I love her stationary!

This was Amy's booth and the International Quilt Show. Wish I could have been there.

I can't say accessorizing a home is what I do best, I really don't like too many trinkets. Due to small children, I try to keep all tempting things out of my little one's sight. That said, my most FAVORITE accessory , my red and white Ana candles, came crashing down off my buffet into little pieces. It really was heartbreaking, almost as sad as when the movers 2 years ago just didn't seem to pack my black and white pair so well. So, I am completely void of Ana Candles in my home and I just feel like I have no style at all now. So sad.

My love affair with these candles began almost 9 long years ago when I discovered them in a small boutique in Ann Arbor. I think I purchased 3 or 4 pairs, giving them away for birthdays over the years and keeping the black and white ones for myself. A few years later, my friend Lindsay, gave me a red and white pair. Since that time I have seen them here or there in boutiques and never seem to have saved my pennies well enough to buy more. Occasionally I would search for them online with no success. Well what do you know, two days before my red and white candles came crashing down I came across the officially website for Ana Candles. I was thrilled to see such a great selection and only five bucks for shipping! I know, I know, they're just candles, but I love their graphic design, yet soft look. Of course I can't take them to heaven with me ( see next post, ha, ha) but while I'm here on this beautiful earth I will attempt to adorn my home with the simple, yet lovely, Ana Candle!

Here's just a little bit of wisdom my sister sent to me this week. Loved it, thought I'd share it!

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car wearing beautifully tailored clothes, my hair expertly coifed, and with long perfectly manicured nails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp. I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk's lawn. I want to be there with a smidge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children. I want to be there with dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden. I want to be there with sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

- Sis. Marjorie Pay Hinckley

Because of my usual distaste for Halloween, I was suprised at how much fun we had this year. Lots of parties, lots of treats, and lots of great costumes! Not necessarily our costumes, but many of our friends and family were great show stoppers. I would like to thank Coco for the girls beautiful costume, and Walmart for Taft's.

So now you all know how well I keep a journal... I stink! Consistency is not my thing, even though Brett's life mission is to teach me this fine art. He was born consistent. Anyhow, I've been meaning to update my blog, but.... well, there's really no excuse I can think of right now on why I havn't.

I hate to say I'm sooooooo busy. Like when you ask someone how they are doing and they reply that they're sooooooooo busy. Like their life is sooooooooo important, and yours is sooooooo NOT! O.K. I'm sounding like a valley girl. So I have to say I've been a little busy just being a Mom and trying to be creative on the side. I thought I'd post some pic's from a home boutique I did a couple weeks ago. Nothing special, just fun stuff to fill my "creative need" as Brett calls it. I am so bad at taking pictures of what I make, sorry Meg, no pics of the Ladies aprons.