easter

Together

Together

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Of creativity, family and work

Last weekend I was expecting Rachael and family to visit and together we would make a homemade Halloween costume, two actually. Lily would be a flower and Tessa a bee. Neither appeared to be too difficult, on the surface. Probably needless to say, they were not exceptionally easy. However, other than the bee's wings both are finished now. (See Beck's blog for a pic of the flower)

The weekend held much more than a visit from the Niusulu's and costumes. There were the D. Nolan's who had to come up anyway for a birthday, and the Coxes who came--just to visit I think-- and just to make the family complete, Sarah made the trip north as well. If we had planned the thing for weeks it would not have come off as well. It was such fun to have everybody here. I had lots of help in the kitchen and with all the little ones. In the end I got to do what I may do best, create!

I also got to do another one of my favorite things, listen to the kids laugh and play games around the table...well at least the ones that were not holding children or changing diapers. And there was certainly a lot of both of those activities going on! I think Great Granny was on the right track when she commented about the noise level in the house, "you could see the roof pulsating as you approached the house," or something like that anyway.

As each group left the noise subsided, a relief and a sigh, when would it come again? I wouldn't trade weekends like this for anything in the world!

Back to the Create part. I am excited, yes, actually excited to get on with the making of Christmas gifts for the Grandchildren. I am glad they are still young enough to not groan (like I did at times I am sorry to say) at the thought of homemade gifts from Granny. Each will recieve at least one thing I made myself. If I get on the stick and carry through on the plans!

This week I have been teaching the Carreer Workshop again. I had the night class this week. it feels do good to have such great information to share with what I call the "cream of the corp." Each of these people is somewhere in the process of securing employment which can be very trying and depressing. But each of them are also taking full advantage of the help the Lord has sent them. Each of them is anxiously engaged in a good cause, temporally caring for themselves and their respective families. They are not just sitting around expecting the government or the church or even their families to take care of them. They are such a contrast to so many I meet of the latter persuasion. (Now I will get off my soap box.) How very grateful I am for my children and my husband who have incredible work ethics! They each inspire me to try harder and work more diligently to achieve my goals, even if they are just homemade Christmas gifts.

How very blessed I am! Thanks guys for the reminder and opportunity I have had to be inspired by my family.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Black eye

Gee I wish i could keep up with this thing like my daughters do' I include Lexy as a daughter. It has been a week since Conference and the most lasting impression, I am sad to say, has been the black eye. Lily gave me a good bonk with her head and I have proof. She never even cried.

I've been telling people that Pat hit me but no one believes me. Which is the way it should be. After all it wasn't him. Just and enthusiastic 15 month old bookworm. I can't count the times we read and sang her favorite books that evening. She just wanted more and knew just where her head should be. It seems I get some odd injury to the face about once a year. What can I say?

We were supposed to get snow today, and we did. But nothing like the west side of the mountain or Salt Lake. We only have a skiff on the ground. Everything melted as it hit the ground. But it is sure cold!!!

It was another marathon Sunday. A full 8 hours of religion. But it was a day well spent! I attended Welfare meeting, got 70+ Visit Teaching slips and letters prepared and mostly given out. Of course, I attended my meetings but after Dad helped me pass out leftover potatoes and then we went home teaching. I am glad there were potatoes left over to go with our steaks adn fresh garden tomatoes, nummy! Too bad the garden relly bit the dust. We were loving the fresh stuff.

This week I get to teach again. I have so much enjoyed the time off. I do not know if I will sign up for additional duty or not yet.

I helped Dad and the High Priest have a successful Satke group dinner on Friday night. Actually they seriously lacked the ability to plan such a big dinner. we were asked to prepare for 300 and we did as we were asked. Too bad only 147 showed up. Bad timing I think as there were no meetings last week to remind the "silver and grays" there were little flyers passed out, I should know I made them, along with posters in each buildong, I made those too. Oh well, it was fun to see so many old friends, eat good food and be entertained by our old friends Kent and Lanae Ricks. It was exceptionally nice to see the High Priest Group members of our ward pull together and do so much of the work, setting up tables and chairs and setting all the tables, serving, and cleaning up...without complaint! they do so much for the Relief Society. Every Enrichment activity they help with setup . . .and four times a year do our nursery. Of course, we feed them but still they always come through. THANKS GUYS! Ther RS sisters also cooked 10 really large pans of Funneral Potatoes, 60 pounds of frozen hashbrowns. We had 5 pans left which we are saving for the Ward part on Saturday of this week.

Life is busy, life is good, days well spent are counted in the plus column. this week looks to be more of the same.

Life with children in the house is a real change for me and Pat. I forgot how much work they can be. Mia is a sweetheart and only asks for food (bottles with nipples that actually work are a necessity) and sleep. Ella at four years old is just a sponge-soaking in everything adn always onthe prowl for new and exciting adventures, most of which have beentaking place at the kitchen table. We've mad books and cards and cut up paper untill vacuuming has become nearly a daily activity. Thanks to Beck the kitchen, and I must say the rest of the house as well, is holding up rather well! Considering the messes Ella and I can make, that is saying a lot. thanks Becca!

As you can tell I have yet to locate the spell check on this blog thing. Sorry, just laugh and remember, no one is perfect, least of all me, mommy nolan aka Granny PhD.