My Mother

I remember sitting at the sewing machine, set up on the card table in the family room, a few days before I left for college, trying to finish a quilt for my bed. My eyes were refusing to focus and I had a headache from all the hours I had spent working on it that day. I remember wondering how I would ever finish. As I gathered my courage and tried to convince myself to persevere, my mom came over and asked if I wanted some help sewing the rest of the squares together. It was such a relief in that moment. Could I have done it myself? Probably. But, that moment became a reminder to me that the Lord will send us help to finish whatever task is at hand when we feel like we've reached the end of our rope.

There are so many small moments like this that have stayed with me over the years. My mom always comes to my rescue when I need her most. She is amazing. She is one of the most capable people I have ever met. I'm not sure how she accomplishes everything that she does, but I am awed by her example. I am always proud to describe my mother when people ask about my family. I could fill hours talking about her community involvement, her intelligence, her amazing food, her creative writing style, her down-to-earth mentality, and so many other qualities. Beyond all of these visible talents, I am most grateful for those small moments when she has come to my aid or taught me by her Christlike example.

So, thank you for all the laughter, fun adventures, as well as the quiet moments that may not have seemed all that important at the time. They did matter. And even if it didn't seem like it, I was listening.

P.S. - I realize that this isn't a really "Mother's Day"-ish picture; it's more of an anniversary one, but this is one of my favorite pictures of my parents. They are so in love, even after almost 40 years. It's one of the great lessons I've learned from my mother over the years: it is possible to stay in love forever.

My sister, Ann, recently posted about a quilt that she made. It got me thinking about my own most recent project: a baby quilt that took approximately FOREVER to make, but was really fun. It was my first experiment with actually "quilting" rather than tying a quilt. This one went to my friend Katie for her little boy. It's an "I Spy" quilt inspired by my mother.

Like it? (Please say yes. If the answer is no, I don't want to hear it:).)



I love quilting. To me, it's magical to see seemingly meaningless bits of fabric come together to form a really cool, and useful, piece of art. As I sat staring at this quilt when I finished it, I couldn't help thinking that it's a lot like life: we go through seemingly trivial events of daily life, but somewhere along the line we begin to see how those pieces fit together and have turned into the masterpiece that is a human life. When I look back, I can see the the uneven stitches and imperfections of how my corners line up with each other. Sometimes, we even have to rip out seams all together and start over (not that I have EVER had to do that...ugh). But I can also see how the experiences of my life have come together to shape who I am today. So, even if my quilt is a little crooked, I'm grateful for the loving eyes that look past the minor imperfections to see the value of the whole product. And, I look forward to adding to my quilt. After a lot of work (and the help of the master creator) the masterpiece will be something pretty amazing to behold. In the meantime, it's still pretty nifty. :)

For the Love of the STAGE

A couple of weeks ago was my ward's talent show. Truthfully, I usually dread talent shows. I always feel like I should do something to be supportive, but I can never think of what to do, and it becomes stressful within the first few minutes of thinking about it, so I always just opt out...which is a bummer, really, because I actually LOVE to perform. I just don't always have tons of time to put into performing these days.

I'm the kind of person who needs a lot of support and encouragement in situations like this one. Thankfully, I have three ridiculous friends for roommates who fit the bill perfectly. We (much to my initial dismay) decided to do a lip sync/dance to "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls. We choreographed the whole thing in less than two hours on a random weeknight, and ran through it only a handful of times before performing, but I was so pleased with how it turned out! We had a ball coming up with the moves in our too-small living room, and we got a great reaction from the crowd as we hammed it up on stage. I LOVE the adrenaline of being in front of a crowd. All tiredness melts away with the applause and laughter of people you know and love cheering you on. Talk about roommate bonding!

Things I've Learned from My Big Sister

My sister, Ann, turned 37 last weekend. I was only seven years old when she moved out of the house, but as I've gotten older, we've become great friends. I don't even think about our age difference any more. She's been a great support to me over the years, as well as a great source of strength and knowledge. So, here's to Ann and all the things she's taught me:

*It is unacceptable to wear pink and red together, unless it's Valentine's Day. (Equally unacceptable are polka dots and stripes.)

*Alliteration can be used under any circumstances to liven up a dreary day. For example, Dancing in the Dining Room, Lounging in the Living Room, Cuddling in the Kitchen, etc.

*Cleaning corner by corner is the most efficient way to be sure your room is spic and span.

*Take time for yourself. Read, do yoga, or whatever makes your socks go up and down.

*You can drive for quite a while with fuel gauge on empty.

*Dancing is not just a hobby; it's a way of life.

*Follow your dreams, even if they lead through unknown paths.

...and the list goes on. Thanks, sis! I always know I can count on you for good advice and a listening ear.

March's Identity Crisis

Spring is finally here!...Or, is it? March is always a unique month in Utah. After a long, dreary winter for those of us Californians who can't stand the snow, the first hints at warmer weather appear. Finally, sunny days actually mean warmth (as opposed to January sun, which just means there are no clouds to insulate us, leading to deceptively COLD days).

Still, March is always indecisive. One day it might be warm (65 degrees is a heat wave here!), like last Friday, and the next day it could alternate between rain and snow for 12 hours straight (that was last Saturday). CRAZY.

They say that March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, but in Utah, the lamb and the lion aren't doing a very good job at taking turns. Oh well. I'll rejoice in the sunny, warm days as they come, and remember on the cold days that their days are numbered.

The warmth is on it's way!

The Power of Persuasion

It's that time of year again. No, not tax season...time to prepare my students for their persuasive essay test at the end of this month. It's amazing how much 7th graders DON'T know about essay writing, so I'm trying to give them lots of strategies and do lots of modeling. Today in class, we were writing supporting body paragraphs together as preparation for them writing their own tomorrow. To keep it exciting we did crazy prompts and (for my own sanity) I did a different topic with each class. Here is what they came up with (with a little prompting from the teacher). Enjoy!

2nd period
Thesis: Pigs are great animals.
Supporting paragraph:
First, pigs are experts at providing food. Without pigs, Cafe Rio pork salads would not exist. This dish is one of the restaurant's most popular items, and it would be a tragedy to lose it. In addition, pigs are the source of ham, bacon, and sausage. These meats are common, inexpensive parts of most Americans' diets. The variety offered by pigs makes them perfect for any meal of the day!

4th period
Thesis: Chocolate solves all problems.
Supporting paragraph: First of all, chocolate gives people energy in a quick and easy way. Chocolate contains sugar, which can increase blood sugar levels. This increase of sugar allows people who are on the go to have a quick energy boost. Chocolate also includes a small amount of caffeine. This can help people stay awake to do homework or while driving. Chocolate is not only a quick way to refuel, it's also a tasty treat.

6th period
Thesis: Love is dangerous.
Supporting paragraph: First, love is dangerous because it makes people do crazy things. For example, in Romeo and Juliet, the teens who are in love kill themselves at the end. Because they are so sad that they can't be together, the end their lives prematurely. In another instance, a guy might drive several hours every weekend just to see a girl he likes. He will waste money and time that might be better spent on something more valuable. When in love, people sometimes irresponsibly give up everything, even their lives, just because they want to be with that person.

Okay, so we're still working out the kinks, but they're making progress...I think.

I LOVE MY STUDENTS.

The Need for Renewal

I am a busy person, sometimes CRAZY busy. I'm pretty sure everyone feels this way, and I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. I always say, I'd rather be busy than bored. I like knowing that I've been productive and seeing all that I have accomplished at the end of the day. However, sometimes, I say "yes" too many times, do too many things and end up tired, overworked, and somewhat discouraged as I look an my endless list of things "to do".

This is why I need renewal. Thankfully, this weekend has been filled with opportunities to do just that. I got to take two days off work and go to a literacy conference in Salt Lake, I went to a regional YSA temple day at the Salt Lake temple yesterday, and I am currently enjoying some much needed relaxation time.

As backwards as it seems on the surface, we sometimes need to stop and rest in order to be more productive later. Stephen R. Covey calls this "sharpening the saw." I call it remembering why I love all the things I do in the first place. To "renew" is literally to make something new again. We have "renewable resources" and plants that are renewed to life each spring.

This weekend has truly made me a new teacher, disciple, and individual. I like my students again, and I am amazed at how much more capable I feel. I'm ready to take on the world and whatever chaos may come my way. Oh, what a little rest can do.

So, take some time for YOU this week!