Zzzzzzz...has it really been that long? Call me Rumplestiltskin

As you can tell, it's been almost forever since I've posted. Guess I've just been living life. We do that sometimes. A few years older, a few years wiser (hopefully), and a few more wrinkles and gray hairs. Still plugging along and feeling blessed by God's grace in my life. So, the reason I'm back is that I had a great idea. Originally, my idea was for when summer started but I can't wait that long. If you don't know, I love to read but have a hard time picking out books. I took my daughter to the library tonight and just grabbed a book off the shelf and decided I would read it. Never heard of the author, never heard of the book. So here's my idea: Each week this summer (ok starting now instead cuz I'm impatient) I will go to the library and randomly grab a book off the shelf and read it. Then I will write a review, an amateur review, on that book. What do you think? Are you ready to go on this journey with me? I kinda think of it as that girl who took Julia Child's cookbook and cooked everything out of it and blogged about it -- but I don't like to cook. I'm pretty sure I won't get to every book in the library, but it's a start. My book for this week is called David by Mary Hoffman. Let's see how it goes...

Thanksgiving

Isn't it funny, and maybe it's just me, but every time I try to focus on the things I'm thankful for, so many things happen to go wrong?? Is it just because we are trying so hard to see the good that the bad rears up it's head and demands some attention? Is it the forever-present devil that is attempting to steal the light? Or is it just the opposition in life that shows us that the good wouldn't be so good if we didn't have the bad to compare it to?

I have tried this month, somewhat successfully, to think of one thing each day that I am thankful for. I'm totally thankful for my home, my family, my friends, hubby's work, food, clothing, the Gospel and so on. But sometimes I wonder if I really see the picture? I've never been without any of them so I feel quite pampered, but do I really appreciate them from the perspective of someone who doesn't have these things? And I sometimes wonder if I can be happy if I didn't have those things? I would hope so.

I thank my Heavenly Father for blessing me so richly; to live in a free country, to be able to worship the way I choose, to have nice things and enough money to be able to help others who are in need. I am grateful to have been brought up in a good, religious family and have been taught to be charitable and loving. I am grateful for my mother, for her attempts at teaching me how to cook and sew and keep a house, even though I was not very teachable at times. I am grateful for my health, that I can get out of bed in the mornings and keep myself busy through the day. I am especially grateful for my awesome husband and children, and that I can pass on what I have learned in life.

To all of you, I wish you a very happy Thanksgiving and that you can have so much to be thankful for too!

Gonna Sell

So, if anyone out there still reads my blog, I'm gonna start selling my crocheted items! Wahoo! I know you want some!

I'm in the process of taking pictures (camera ran out of battery so it is taking longer that I wanted) and trying to figure out how to do this.

Anyone know if there are rules for these blogs about selling stuff?? Can I sell it here?

Well, anyway, hope you like what I have.

It snows in ....

Went on vacation, snowed the whole time!! What a crappy way to start Spring Break!!

Ken had a bicycle race to run and only was able to get about 60 miles of the 100 because of the sleet and rain and snow. The poor guy was a Popsicle by the time I picked him up.

Then, of course, when we get back from our trip, the weather forecast says to expect more snow.

Blah!!!

As the Season Changes

The leaves turn from green to yellow, orange, and red. There's a nip in the air and it's just right for those comfy sweaters. And having any little excuse to light the fireplace.

I love Autumn! My favorite colors: oranges, reds, browns, golds and the deep greens of the evergreen trees. It brings to mind cozy country evenings, rich with colors and smells! Cinnamon, nutmeg, baking, and the smells of nature - pine. If I close my eyes I can smell it now.

I love the feelings of thankfulness, warmth, and love that comes along with it all too! I wish my world was enclosed in the pages of the autumn design magazines - who really has their houses decorated so fantastically? - sipping warm cider and enjoying the company of friends. I think that would be my heaven!