Last night I went with a group of YM/YW leaders and 10 of the 12 kids on the youth committee for our Summer Pioneer Trek up to the other side of Heber to a cabin for a leadership retreat. The kids were great. They did everything we asked them last night--including a nighttime candle walk in the storm dropping thick, fat snowflakes on our already thigh deep snow. There was a series of "object lessons" and a lot of sharing of feelings and ideas. The point was basically to get the kids to bond and form a real cohesive unit. They were great.
There is a lot of preparation and then clean up from even an overnight away from home. I had a crock pot, 2 cake pans, laundry, sleeping gear, snow stuff, etc. I just put the laundry type stuff in the dryer.
I figure about the time I get all my junk cleaned up, The Boy will come home from his first winter Scout camp out (also last night) and ice fishing trip. Then the clean up will begin again.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
Report from the Trenches
Genius Golfer's Light Show Extravaganza ended New Year's Eve night. So yesterday the family took the donations over to friends, Rick and Tammy. They didn't know that this was the purpose behind the light show--them! Rick's cousin and her hubby had video taped it for us so we gave a DVD copy of the light show to them so Tammy could see it. They were surprised to say the least. On the way home from their place, I asked The Boy about the whole process. "It felt good to do something nice for them, Mom." Mission accomplished.
Today, the final Christmas remnants will come down. I leave the Christmas cards, pictures, and newsletters up until the last day of Christmas vacation. I love to look at the bright colored cards, shiny, smiling faces in the photos and recall all the friends and family behind the newsletters as I sit in the dining room each day for dinner, or work in the kitchen, or loiter aimlessly before going, again, to the Gas 'nSip.
I finished the TV TShirt Quilt yesterday. I sewed all the Tshirts together and then backed them with fleece and then top stitched each of the Tshirt seams to strengthen it. No batting this time at all. the fleece makes it high statically charged though. I hadn't thought of that. But it just the right size to curl up under to watch yet another British costume drama from the BBC and/or PBS's Masterpiece Theater.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year!
Last night I was wondering to myself, 'What is it about New Year's that makes people drink so much more than any other day?' I'm not a drinker, but I have a theory that seems to work in my mind.
At New Year's Eve, people remember the past year. They think about the things they did or didn't do, the goals that they met or didn't meet, the opportunities that came their way and what they did with those opportunities. I think for some people, this dredges up a lot of regret and sadness that the year ending didn't live up to its potential for them. This in turn, makes then sadder and more regretful and drives them to drink, to try to forget all the sadness and regrets.
Now, like I say, I am not a drinker, but as the year came to an end last night, I thought about things too. Some things made me sad, others made me regretful. But most were happy memories, full of gratitude for another year, for family, for health, for time to doing things, help people, make changes. I ended up drinking too, but my flavor of choice, is of course, Diet Coke!
The New Year's Eve and Day are just calendaring notations. I figure there is already a way set up to make changes. You needn't wait for the turn of a new year to turn a new leaf. Every time you set a goal for yourself, it is a New Year chance to get better, do better. The important bit is to decide to change and make things better. Only you can do that. I can encourage, cajole, torment, tease, and wish for you--but only YOU can make changes that will truly affect your life.
So, while I wish each of you a very Happy New Year and do indeed hope 2009 will hold peace, joy and happiness for you, only you can make that happen. So here's a wish that you have a moment of clarity and realism and make goals that will uplift and encourage yourself to do better in ways that only you know.
You may see a list of New Year's Resolutions from me here, but probably not. I set goals for myself, but most will seem silly to other people. That is OK. I am here to just tell you the goals you make for yourself need only to help you. But if there is something I can assist you with in meeting those goals, I would consider that a privilege of friendship, and would be happy to do it.
Good Luck and Happy 2009!
At New Year's Eve, people remember the past year. They think about the things they did or didn't do, the goals that they met or didn't meet, the opportunities that came their way and what they did with those opportunities. I think for some people, this dredges up a lot of regret and sadness that the year ending didn't live up to its potential for them. This in turn, makes then sadder and more regretful and drives them to drink, to try to forget all the sadness and regrets.
Now, like I say, I am not a drinker, but as the year came to an end last night, I thought about things too. Some things made me sad, others made me regretful. But most were happy memories, full of gratitude for another year, for family, for health, for time to doing things, help people, make changes. I ended up drinking too, but my flavor of choice, is of course, Diet Coke!
The New Year's Eve and Day are just calendaring notations. I figure there is already a way set up to make changes. You needn't wait for the turn of a new year to turn a new leaf. Every time you set a goal for yourself, it is a New Year chance to get better, do better. The important bit is to decide to change and make things better. Only you can do that. I can encourage, cajole, torment, tease, and wish for you--but only YOU can make changes that will truly affect your life.
So, while I wish each of you a very Happy New Year and do indeed hope 2009 will hold peace, joy and happiness for you, only you can make that happen. So here's a wish that you have a moment of clarity and realism and make goals that will uplift and encourage yourself to do better in ways that only you know.
You may see a list of New Year's Resolutions from me here, but probably not. I set goals for myself, but most will seem silly to other people. That is OK. I am here to just tell you the goals you make for yourself need only to help you. But if there is something I can assist you with in meeting those goals, I would consider that a privilege of friendship, and would be happy to do it.
Good Luck and Happy 2009!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Out with the Old...In with the New?
As 2008 fades away and the bright shiny New Year comes in tonight, I am knee deep in a project to clear out, clean up, and make better use of the space I have in my house.I have a lot of TShirts. I come from a TShirt family. I enjoy picking up a shirt when I go somewhere. I like to think it commemorates the visit and helps the memory last a bit longer. Since I don't wear a lot of jewelry, TShirts are always appropriate souvenirs for my kind of travels. You know, the ones where swap meets are part of the itinerary.
Several months ago, I cut the fronts and backs out of my travel TShirts and set them aside for a TShirt quilt. This is my third one. I have a completely quilt of TShirts from high school plays, teams, and clubs. My mom made me one from TShirts from many years of Girls' Camp. So one more for my more recent travels and collections and mementos.
I guess this feels like the right thing to do as I tend to subscribe the "Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do, or Do Without" philosophy. Maybe not to the extent of my Grandma Bernice who literally saved EVERYthing. The quilt will end up on a winter bed around here and the backs that are blank make fantastic rags. So here is my effort this week to "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle".
I'll let you know how the project turns out when I get it done.
In the meantime, I am off to see Sister and Nephews with The Boy and The Girl for our indoor surfing activity. I plan to stop at the Gas 'nSip for a really big Diet Coke to try to help me hold my tongue, then Genius Golfer and I have a standing hot date with our last set of now married friends from our former singles ward for the early bird New Year's Eve dinner out. Then apparently, we are headed to SIL#1's place for games and treats with GG's family.
If you head out tonight, be sure to celebrate responsibly. I KNOW we will.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
From East to West...Camp Ritchie is the Best!
Today on Facebook, I ran across a fan group for CAMP RITCHIE. This was the girls' camp I went to for 10 years in a row. Holy cow! When was this put up--and by whom?! I gotta leave a note.
Why, you may ask, in the middle of winter, Christmas vacation, and this week would I be thinking of Camp Ritchie? Good question. I am not sure of the answer.
A lot of good things happen at girls' camp. Any girls' camp. Good things happen when girls get together with the pure intent to strengthen their testimonies, develop skills, build friendships, and do all that in the beauties of nature. Add a lake and a you have a lot of good memories, and good things happening.
I first went to Camp Ritchie the week I turned 13. My mom had gone the year before as a leader. I didn't get to go then because my birthday was the week after camp. I was told I had to be 12 to go. So the following year, camp was the week of my birthday and I was a yearling.
We had probably 5 or 6 high schools in our stake at home and it was like fresh air any time the youth from the whole stake got to be together. Camp was no different. I loved the girls I knew from camp. It was always fun and a little unexpected when I ran across a camp friend at a speech tourney or a football game or something for school, outside of church.
While I know I had a basic testimony before I went to camp each year, I know that my testimony of Jesus Christ was deepened and strengthened at camp. There was a feeling of peace and love at that place that I have never felt in the same degree since. There was a lot of silliness and singing and pranking, but it was always done in love and when you were the "butt" of such a prank, you knew you were accepted and loved! It was an honor to fetch your bra or undies from the flagpole!
Rolling through the 200 plus people signed on the Facebook group as "Fans of Camp Ritchie" was like hearing voices from the past. Our stake wasn't the only one to feel that Camp Ritchie was "our camp"--every stake that used that lovely piece of land felt that way. And the fun part is, we still feel that way. The comments posted reflected the same sentiments. From oldies like myself to the very fresh, newbies that are still attending Camp Ritchie.
I am happy for the nostalgic feelings and the fondness I remember when I think of that place, those girls, our leaders, the fun. Not a bad feeling to recollect int he middle of the week, in the smack of winter and from under the snow.
Why, you may ask, in the middle of winter, Christmas vacation, and this week would I be thinking of Camp Ritchie? Good question. I am not sure of the answer.
A lot of good things happen at girls' camp. Any girls' camp. Good things happen when girls get together with the pure intent to strengthen their testimonies, develop skills, build friendships, and do all that in the beauties of nature. Add a lake and a you have a lot of good memories, and good things happening.
I first went to Camp Ritchie the week I turned 13. My mom had gone the year before as a leader. I didn't get to go then because my birthday was the week after camp. I was told I had to be 12 to go. So the following year, camp was the week of my birthday and I was a yearling.
We had probably 5 or 6 high schools in our stake at home and it was like fresh air any time the youth from the whole stake got to be together. Camp was no different. I loved the girls I knew from camp. It was always fun and a little unexpected when I ran across a camp friend at a speech tourney or a football game or something for school, outside of church.
While I know I had a basic testimony before I went to camp each year, I know that my testimony of Jesus Christ was deepened and strengthened at camp. There was a feeling of peace and love at that place that I have never felt in the same degree since. There was a lot of silliness and singing and pranking, but it was always done in love and when you were the "butt" of such a prank, you knew you were accepted and loved! It was an honor to fetch your bra or undies from the flagpole!
Rolling through the 200 plus people signed on the Facebook group as "Fans of Camp Ritchie" was like hearing voices from the past. Our stake wasn't the only one to feel that Camp Ritchie was "our camp"--every stake that used that lovely piece of land felt that way. And the fun part is, we still feel that way. The comments posted reflected the same sentiments. From oldies like myself to the very fresh, newbies that are still attending Camp Ritchie.
I am happy for the nostalgic feelings and the fondness I remember when I think of that place, those girls, our leaders, the fun. Not a bad feeling to recollect int he middle of the week, in the smack of winter and from under the snow.
Monday, December 29, 2008
The Qualities of Hope
Yeah, I know. Yesterday's post was pretty lame. I wasn't up to speed yet when I sat to write, and not even caffeinated at all. But as I listened to a discussion in my Relief Society class yesterday morning, I heard something that made me lean over to Dear Friend Micheale and say, "I should blog about that." So today's topic is a bit more thought out for you than yesterday's.
Our discussion focused on President Uchtdorf's talk in October Conference called "The Infinite Power of Hope". The entire message is amazing. Our lovely teacher, Marilyn, emphasized that hope is an active quality. You can just sit back "hoping". That is the same as wishing, and except for a few fairy tale princesses, that never came to fruition. Hope requires action. DF Micheale succinctly called it "fake it 'til you make it".
Marilyn kept us thinking toward the Hope we can have in Christ. (After all, that is why Christmas is such a jubilant celebration, right? We have hope in Christ.) She brought 10 of us to the front and handed us a little word strip. As someone in the class read the following quote from the article, she asked us to turn our word around for the group to read. The collection of words used in defining and describing hope was powerful.
President Uchtdorf said the following: "Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding TRUST that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us. It is CONFIDENCE that if we live according to God's laws and the words of His prophets now, we will receive desired blessings in the future. It is BELIEVING and EXPECTING that our prayers will be answered. It is manifest in CONFIDENCE, OPTIMISM, ENTHUSIASM, and PERSEVERANCE. In the language of the gospel, this hope is SURE, UNWAVERING, and ACTIVE."
Our discussion focused on President Uchtdorf's talk in October Conference called "The Infinite Power of Hope". The entire message is amazing. Our lovely teacher, Marilyn, emphasized that hope is an active quality. You can just sit back "hoping". That is the same as wishing, and except for a few fairy tale princesses, that never came to fruition. Hope requires action. DF Micheale succinctly called it "fake it 'til you make it".
Marilyn kept us thinking toward the Hope we can have in Christ. (After all, that is why Christmas is such a jubilant celebration, right? We have hope in Christ.) She brought 10 of us to the front and handed us a little word strip. As someone in the class read the following quote from the article, she asked us to turn our word around for the group to read. The collection of words used in defining and describing hope was powerful.
President Uchtdorf said the following: "Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding TRUST that the Lord will fulfill His promise to us. It is CONFIDENCE that if we live according to God's laws and the words of His prophets now, we will receive desired blessings in the future. It is BELIEVING and EXPECTING that our prayers will be answered. It is manifest in CONFIDENCE, OPTIMISM, ENTHUSIASM, and PERSEVERANCE. In the language of the gospel, this hope is SURE, UNWAVERING, and ACTIVE."
As she read this, and the ladies in the front turned their word around for the group to see I thought, what a great time to give this lesson. Each of these qualities can be practiced and developed.
I thought they would be a great place to start with New Year's Resolutions. I'm not sure how to quantify them yet, but just to have a quality of hope to practice for say a month, may help along the personal improvement I am looking forward to making in 2009.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Dilemma of the Day
I was lucky enough to get an iTunes gift card for my Christmas gift from Grandmama. It is exactly what I wanted. Perfect color and size!
But here is the dilemma.
I thought of a very fun thing to do for next year's neighbor gifts already. Actually I read about it in the newspaper and thought, "Yes, that is what we will do." Is it lame to download some stuff for a neighbor gift a year away using the gift card gifted to me this year?
Maybe the problem is that I can't think of a pile of songs/books/etc that I am just DYING to download for myself at the moment. But the list for the gifts for next year may just be more immediate. Hmmmmm. Dilemma, indeed.
Any insights here would be great.
But here is the dilemma.
I thought of a very fun thing to do for next year's neighbor gifts already. Actually I read about it in the newspaper and thought, "Yes, that is what we will do." Is it lame to download some stuff for a neighbor gift a year away using the gift card gifted to me this year?
Maybe the problem is that I can't think of a pile of songs/books/etc that I am just DYING to download for myself at the moment. But the list for the gifts for next year may just be more immediate. Hmmmmm. Dilemma, indeed.
Any insights here would be great.
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