New Year, New Me????

I was looking at all the posts on facebook about Happy New years and the Resolutions that people are making, when I came across this picture with the question of, "What spiritual resolutions are you making for 2013?" which really made me think. In the 15 years I have been a member of the LDS Church I have never really given this any thought. It was like BOOM. I really should do something like that. Sure I have always had goals for church but not something to work on all year long.

My goals resolutions for this year: 

#1. Get Healthy. This is my big one. I have already started on this one talking to my Doctor and working on getting out of pain so I can do stuff without hurting myself more then I already have (I fell on a wet floor in 2000 and hurt my back and my pregnancies and weight have made it worse.) Then loose weight and get fit not just for me but my family too.

#2. Work with my daughter Carolyn to be ready for her baptism in October. (She will be 8 this year.) I already have part of that going on.

#3. Work on a new project. (business venture) I am super excited about.

#4. Get very involved with my calling and doing it to my maximum capacity.

#5. Read more.

#6. Spend more time with my family doing family things and teaching my kids.

My Spiritual Resolutions:

Try to be more consistent in everything. Reading scriptures, prayers, tithing, going to the Temple going to church, FHE and so on.


So it looks like I have a lot to do and get going on I hope I can have the strength and courage to make the changes that I need to make. I have a lot on my healthy list to do and I want to make that change it is so important for me and my family because they rely on me so much. I don't want to disappoint them.
So what will you do in 2013? Talk instead of text? Finish your degree? Go back to church? Start a journal? Spend more time with your kids? Just remember that time is short, goals and resolutions are great, so make the most out of what you have, and don't loose sight of the biggest goal you should have in this life, heading back to Him.

Light at the End of the Tunnel

With everything that has gone on since Friday December 14th, it is hard to ignore that we live in scary times. I had a conversation with my daughter Carolyn that I never wanted to have. I had to tell her before she saw the mess that was on the news. Almost every channel had what happened at Sandy Hook. I told her the facts which are 20 children, who were her age, and 6 adults were killed by a man who was very sick and needed help but hasn't gotten it. It is okay to be scared and sad. I am too. Then I told her that most likely it won't happen at your school but in case it does your teachers are trained to know what to do so stay calm and listen to them.

I thank God that I have my children everyday!! I hold them closer to me now knowing that this is a possibility anywhere. Carolyn just turned 7 so she is the same age as most of those kids and it breaks my heart to know that.

In the heart above there are 27 candles one for each of the children and staff and one for the mother of the young man who needed help, because she was a victim too. I saw the poem below on someone's facebook page and thought it was perfect in how to describe how I feel and how I know those children now feel, welcomed into the light safely home in Heavenly Fathers arms.

twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38
when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.
their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.
they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.
they were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.

they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.
"where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.
"this is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."
when what to their wondering eyes did appear,
but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.
He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.
then He opened His arms and He called them by name.
and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring
those children all flew into the arms of their King
and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,
one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.
and as if He could read all the questions she had
He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."
then He looked down on earth, the world far below
He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe
then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,
"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"
"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"
"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"
then He and the children stood up without a sound.
"come now my children, let me show you around."
excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.
all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.
and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,
"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

Written by Cameo Smith, Mt. Wolf, PA

My hope is that through all this tragic mess that conversations will take place that things will get fixed so that this won't happen again. There needs to be an open dialogue about the problem of mental illness not being treated with the respect it deserves. My hope it that this comes about there is such a need for it.

It is hard to see this as light but I say it is because it has opened the eyes of people who don't know to learn and start to care. Social media is great but communication and love for one another is what is needed to help our nation heal and learn to care for those who have issues like this one.

DIY Tea-Light Lanterns

Well my friend got married to the man of her dreams April 28th of this year and I  could not afford to but her something for her wedding. So I asked her if she had center pieces for her wedding and she said no. So I said I had an idea and I would do them for her for her gift to her and her new hubby. I had most of the material already being the crafty hoarder that I am.
 

These were not hard to make the hardest part was figuring out a way to make the lace stay on. I fixed that with safety pins. I pinned a hem vertically which created a very minimal seam, but I am getting ahead of myself.
First you need canning jars I really like the wide-mouth ones for this because you can fit your hand in the jar much easier. Then you need lace and safety pins. The lace provides the pattern on the jar. Stray paint (I used a flat paint but when I taught a class on this found that I liked the gloss look better and it didn't scrape off as easily) and a plastic grocery bag. Then you have your embellishing items and glue gun. I pinned the lace on as tight as I could so that there was no running when I painted them. I used the plastic bag to cover my hand when I sprayed the jars apply as evenly as you can and remember less is more so don't over spray. If you use a flat paint you can take the lace off right away if you use a gloss let the paint dry some before removing the lace or it will smudge. (Found that out the hard way.) Wait until the paint is totally dry before you decorate. I used rhinestones ribbon flowers and charms to decorate the jars and placed a tea light candle in each. These were really pretty when lit.
I made 12 of each size. They cost me about 15-20 dollars to make (I already had the jars and some other stuff). My friend and her hubby were so happy they kept saying thank-you and people couldn't believe that I made them. I gotta say I get inspired by pinterest that is where I got this idea (click the word idea and it will take you there.) Anyway that is what I did if you have any questions just comment below and I will answer for you.