"Sew" Much Fun!

My dad had given me a nice sewing/embroidery machine a couple weeks ago and I have been really enjoying my new machine and very appreciative of this wonderful gift.  So far I have made a jean quilt for Jerry and 4 table runners in the last week and a half on it.  The kids are equally excited to use it and Raelene even helped me make a table runner last week. 

The only draw backs that I can find with sewing is that ...
1.  I didn't realize how much of a perfectionist I was until it came to sewing.. and believe me I am not typically a perfectionist in anything! So it has been kind of funny seeing me this way and I still don't have the stuff I have made done perfectly....
2.  It is very addictive!  I can't wait to do more and dream at night about what I am doing and want to do!
3.  I find that if I start something I want to finish it that day and with the table runners I have been able to do so, very rewarding...(The Jean quilt I made for Jerry for Christmas.. and btw.. I am making all my kids one for Christmas and yes they know.. took me only 3 days to make.)

But, I really enjoy my sewing time, it is very rewarding for me and it is something that my back allows me to do.  I don't do it every day, but it is wonderful to me to be able to create something and hopefully have it turn out beautifully and that others will benefit from it and enjoy it as well.  I hope you enjoy the pictures of what I have made so far and don't tire from seeing them....

Happy Birthday

 On Wed, Brayden's 4th Birthday we had a special day. We have started a tradition by taking the birthday person out to dinner on their birthday, just them and Ross and I.  Brayden wanted a Blimpie Sandwhich for his birthday dinner so we took him there on our way to pick up Kato from the hospital. 

When we came home we found this in our living room...

 Raelene had taken the time to decorate the house and then made him no bake cookies for his cake.

We will celebrate it here next weekend but we were so thankful that we were able to do something for him on his special day!  We love you Brayden and are so blessed to have you as our Son.  May you always remember how special you are to us!

My First Quilt

I am so excited to have finished my first quilt!! Sister Farnworth in our ward showed me how to do my first rag tie quilt and I took it home to my neighbor Patty's and finished it there.  I have never made a quilt before and had so much fun doing so.  It feels so wonderful to have created something with your own hands (and sewing machine)!  I can't wait to move onto more sewing projects and to learn!

"Sew" I had a lot of fun and hope that they are enjoyed as much as I did making them...

Tender Mercies

Today is a day that I want to remember for the rest of my life. It is so hard to put into words how my heart is feeling.  A sweet Sister in our ward emailed me today telling me that I should write, books, etc.. she said that I have a way with words and she loves to read what I have to say.  I didn't think that I was that good of a writer.. I just express what is on my heart. Nor did I really realize that others care what I have to say or write so it is refreshing to hear that.

Then my dad did something so amazing  and special today.  A great gift was sent to me, but it wasn't the gift that meant so much to me.  It was the meaning behind the gift. He did something unexpected and was so thoughtful.  I received a nice embroider and sewing machine today and I just cried with gratitude.   I just feel so loved right now and that Heavenly Father is blessing me with His tender mercies.  I am praying that I can feel deserving of His blessings.  I want to be that blessing to someone else.  They when you are blessed to be a blessing and that is what I hope and pray to be each day.

I can't wait to get it hooked up.  I can't wait to make things to bless other's lives and now when I sew on it I will always think of my dad.  I am so thankful for the Lord's timing.  I am thankful for my trials and blessings.  May I always remember where they come from.

New...

Lots of new and wonderful things have been happening lately.  The ones that are closest to my heart and mean the most are:
1. My Dad and I got together and met some new cousins a couple weeks ago.  In the process of being at my Dad's Sister's house I met my Uncle for the first time.
2. A door opened up for me and my dad to be able to talk.  We talked for 2 hours at his house that day and I didn't want it to end.  He apologized for things and so did I.  He opened up about his child hood which he cried and I cried.  It was so good for the both of us.  For the first time in my entire life I felt loved by my Dad.  He wants the relationship to be repaired and to move forward.  You have no idea how much this means to me.
3. My Aunt is wanting to teach me how to sew.. and a friend in our ward is currently helping me to make my first quilt!!  It is a rag tie quilt out of flannel.

4. I am learning to sew and just ordered my first sewing machine thanks to the wonderful advice of my sweet sister ( in law) and it should be here in a couple weeks.
5. We were able to go to the Temple on Tuesday in support of Janeen's birthday and Jerry and Raelene did the baptisms for my Grandparents and so forth.  That was a very emotional and spirtiually uplifting day! They did a total of 12.
6. A new puppy has joined our home.. he is so cute and so much joy!
7. I started PT for my low back 2 weeks ago.  Some times I am making a little progress, others not so well.  As soon as the painful spasms subside we can do more strengthening.  I am in high hopes.. for something needs to change for the better.
8. Rae took these pictures of our beautiful roses outside, they still had rain drops on them.

9. Jerry and Rae participate in their first Road Show tomorrow night up at the Church.  I am excited to see it !

I have so many things to be thankful for.  My family, Ross' family and sweet friends who have adopted me as their sister...Thank you for your patience with me.  Thank you for loving me and putting up with me.  I love you all so much!

Puppy Love

We got a new puppy on Friday and he is soo cute!! Puppies are so fun.. they are playful, innocent and full of love!  He is out of our Stud Dog, Kato and a friends female.  After several name attempts we all decided on one, after Ross' grandpa's Stud Horse.. Bracken.  We just love him and wish they could stay little longer.

Wahooz! Hours of endless fun for so little money!

The other day my sister and I went to Wahooz fun center.  For only $3 they could play in this play area as much as they wanted to.  There was a fun slide, rope swing and all sorts of fun things.  It was hard to take pictures though due to the netting.

After they were done, we had lunch and then my sister had some tokens that the kids could use to ride or play games.  I love this age because they can be on the rides and you don't have to put a coin in for them to feel like they are playing!

While taking a picture of Brayden while he was pretending to play this dancing game, a guy came up to us and handed Brayden at least 20 tickets.  I said that was very nice of him and he replied that he didn't need them.  Then while we were up having the kids pick out their toys or candy at the ticket counter, a young couple came up to Brayden and I and handed us 2 receipts with the ticket count on them for a total of 78 tickets! We were so surprised and thankful!  Then while Brayden was trying to pick out what he wanted, he asked if he could have 1 tootsie roll.  Then when the lady behind the counter gave it to him he said "thank you, thank you soo much! OOh I love this, thank you!"  It was sooo cute, we all chuckled!  I am so thankful that he has a grateful heart at such a young age!

We had a great time and yes, I even braved going out without any make up(foundation)!  I am thankful for family and memories that we create!