Prayers Whispered Beside Me

There are just some days that I find myself completely engrossed in other peoples blogs. I can't help it. I'm addicted. I usually drop a few minutes here and there at the computer instead of a few hours at a time. I feel that is quite unfair to my little learning Tazmanian running around. She just needs me.

So, today during one of my little ditty's on the computer I hear "Amen." I immediately turn to look and a few feet away from me on the floor is my Sweet Pea folding her arms, bowing her head, and saying, "Amen."

She tends to be the one to remind me of a lot of things. Brushing my teeth, combing my hair, and praying. The praying is the reminder that is the hardest for me. God and I aren't exactly calling each others numbers a couple of times a day. We are more like Facebook friends. I post on His wall and don't hear anything from him for months/years. It's okay. We enjoy our friendship. Apparently my little one has a more intimate relationship with Him than I do. That works for them. This works for us.

It's a good thing I have a one year old to remind me to do things. I might never get ready in the morning. Oh wait! I don't.

How to Stay Out of a Calling. . .

At the moment, I am a member of two different wards. This is, of course, unofficial. We attend our second ward as much as our "home" ward. We figure it's about every other week. This isn't because I HATE my new ward, they aren't so bad. Relief Society is a little fluffy, but overall, not so bad. It's just because there are so many holidays, birthdays, events that our family gets together for. And family is the most important, right?

Not attending on a regular basis has it's perks. The first and foremost being no callings. We've been here 7 months and don't have any. I think it's for the better. It has helped to keep my pregnancy stress levels down. Way farther than last time. Okay, really this is the only perk. Really we have no friends here either. Our only friends in the ward bought a new house and moved away. Now what do I do? Stand up in front of the Relief Society and beg for a friend? Now that would make RS bad. And I really don't want to be the next ward project. Bleh.

I would like to say that the reason we don't have friends is because we don't go to our ward, but we make friends at our "other" ward. We even have people, every week, ask if we are in their ward now. I don't get why it's so hard here.

Maybe it's all the old people in this ward? The segregation is actually comical. For example, there are two Sunday School classes possible to attend. All the people under the age of 30 go to one room and all those over 30 to the other room. This is NOT a ward commandment. It just happens. Even when they swap the teachers in the rooms, it still happens. Really funny. I do have to admit that I take my 1 year old into the older class on purpose. They need to be reminded that there are little ones around. (I get a LOT of evil looks for her babbling.) Secretly I enjoy this.

I understand now how my age group is the one the "church" loses the most of. We get forgotten. We haven't even had someone come over to find out anything about us. Never met with the Bishop, except for setting up our own tithing settlement the first week we were here. No visiting teachers (this I don't mind, but I would be okay with a visit once every quarter.) No home teachers. Nothing. It gets depressing after a while. It makes me want to drive the 40 minutes it takes to go to our "other" ward. They at least know we are alive.

Any ideas on how to make a friend here?

Half Way To The Light

I just can't believe that I am 23 weeks along. I know that I'm only half way, but it's gone by way faster than my last pregnancy. There are way more random days of nausea. But overall, a pretty decent pregnancy.

It is partly going by quick because I have a toddler to chase after. She keeps me so busy. Exercising, reading, movies (yes she demands this one), diapers, baths, food, laundry, and dishes. There is just never an end to her demands. Especially the fits she throws if I try to start the laundry or dishwasher without her. She is so funny.

I think the other reason my pregnancy is going by so quick is that I know this is the last time I have to be pregnant. No more aches and pains. No more not being able to do heavy lifting. No more exhausted feelings. No more headaches. No more nausea. It will be wonderful. I'm so excited. It just makes my days more bearable; even wanted. Because the faster they come the sooner it's over.

Now maybe this sounds a little weird to you, but it gets me through my tough days. It's the light at the end of my tunnel. A breath of fresh air. AND I can't wait.

Dairy Free Easter Basket

I know that it's been a week and you probably don't remember, but I wanted to update you anyway. I was really struggling to figure out what to do for my Sweet Pea for her Easter Basket since she was not only a toddler who doesn't need a ton of sweets, but allergic to dairy as well.

This is what the Easter Bunny came up with at our house:

Dollar Store Crayola Books
Baked Lays
Cheerios and Shreddies in the plastic eggs
Dollar Store Disney coloring book
Dollar Store plastic watering can


The Crayola Books were a HUGE hit. And I love them too. I get to teach her what all the things are and she LOVES pointing out the things she already knows and can say. Completely fun.

The plastic watering can became a big hit when we got to the tub that night. She loves filling it up and watching it pour out.

Yeah for a fantabulous 1st Easter.

Sewing Machine Problems

All of a sudden my sewing machine (in the middle of my project) decided to have the tension spaz out. And my thread isn't pulling tight anymore. I didn't move/change one thing. So frustrating. I tried to adjust the tension, but nothing worked.

I'm sure that my lack of sewing knowledge doesn't help my situation. I wish that I knew how to fix it so that I could finish my Amazing Quiet Book.

Anyone know where to go to get it looked at? I have zero idea. HELP.

My Quiet Creation in Progress

I'm not apologizing for not being here. I have been working on something that I think is going spectacularly. I am making a quiet book for my little ones. It is taking longer than I thought and my computer is currently buried under fabric and buttons and scissors and who knows what else. So, I just don't get to it. (not posting from my own computer)

You don't get to see any pictures yet. (mostly because I haven't taken any) But you will when it's all finished. I'm really excited. I designed it myself and am pretty proud of it. Hopefully it will be finished in a couple of days. They are harder to create than I originally thought.

Sorry, you have to wait in suspense. But it will be worth the wait. I promise.

Easter Questions

It's Easter already! I can't believe it. I feel like this year is flying right by. There isn't even time for me to think about doing some fun things with my Sweet Pea for all my favorite holidays. I did want to do something fun for Easter.

She already has her "ba" (basket) she has been carrying around all week long. So, I'm thinking it wont be too hard to get her to pick up filled eggs and put them inside. I'm not quite sure what to fill the eggs with. She can't eat dairy so that means NO regular chocolate. I don't really want her to eat a bunch of candy. Not enough teeth yet.

Any ideas?

Fabric Wall Hangings

My Conference weekend was filled with craftiness and new experiences. I got to use my Dad's power tools. The electric saw. The electric sander. AND his Nail Gun. Oh how wonderful. I want some of my own!!

You know how much I have been complaining about my empty walls and having no ideas and a very thin wallet. Well, I saw some fantabulous wall hangings HERE and just HAD to make them for my never ending empty walls. They weren't even expensive. I only ended up spending between $25 and $30. Fantastic. I could have only bought one for that price. Yea!

Fabric Covered Cork Boards

So, I have been watching the DIY blogs like crazy trying to figure out how to help my poor, bare walls. I don't love the way cork boards look. And the frames they come in are hideous. I have seen a lot of fabric covered cork board that have been re-framed with some fantastic frame, but I didn't want to spend too much money. I decided that I didn't want a frame. I came up with these:

MY FABRIC CORK BOARDS

FIRST, I pulled the ugly frame off.
SECOND, I measured and cut the board into three equal pieces. (I just used an exacto knife)

THIRD, I measured and cut the fabric I wanted to cover them with.
FOURTH, I tacked the fabric in place. Pulling very tightly so there was no bumps.

FIFTH, I hot glued the fabric down. Taking the tacks out when the glue was dry. (I would have taken a picture if I had more hands)
SIXTH, I super-glued the brackets on the back so that the cork boards could be hung on my wall.
THEN, I hung them up.


I think they turned out pretty well. I still have to do the third one and hang it on another wall. Now, I just need to do cute tacks to hang pictures up on them. I'm so excited.

The List by Melanie Jacobson

A couple of weeks back, I posted about my list of things to do before my kids leave the nest. I did it all so that I was entered in a giveaway on another blog. I WON! It's so fantastic. (does anyone out there feel like someone else is always winning those things? anyway. . .) My prize was this lady's first book. Her name is Melanie Jacobson.




I understood that it was her first novel and that it falls in the LDS genre (most of which can be extremely cheese or cream filled). So, I wasn't expecting it to be some amazing story. However, I received the book last week and I'm on #3 time of reading it. The first time I couldn't put it down. I read it in under 24 hours. The second time took the rest of the week because I wanted to slowly absorb the fun. Then when I couldn't exactly get the right words out to tell my Hubby just how great this book was I convinced him to read it with me again. So, the third time is out loud with my Hubby. Who laughs out loud to some of the conversations that occur in the story.

It was really good. A little cheese, but we Mormons are kind of cheesy. So a story containing any has to have some in it right? The List is all about this girl (Ashley) who, after seeing her mother and sisters marry young, doesn't want to marry until she has accomplished all 25 things on her bucket list. She wants to experience freedom a little bit and have a whole bunch of fun doing it. Reading about Ashley was completely satisfying. And I recognized the spirit in the conversations she has with #17-her summer fling, as that of the sass that fits in my Hubby's and my conversations. (this is probably why my Hubby enjoys it)

Anyway, I thought that I would pass along the knowledge that The List is well worth your time to read. It's quick and enjoyable. If you have ever lived with roommates, had FHE brothers, and attended an LDS singles ward you will appreciate this book. I hope you will go read it.

It made my night. Thank you Melanie for the book. I'll probably read it many more times.