What's a girl to do . . .

when she misses her mom so much her heart hurts.

I grabbed my purse and car keys, jumped in the car and headed to Broadbents in Lehi.  As soon as I walked in to their Christmas Wonderland, I was home with my mom - I could picture her making bows, finding the bare spot on the tree that needed an ornament, arranging bears and dolls, stirring fudge and cranking up the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as they celebrated angels, snow, sleigh rides and the birth of the Savior of the world.

I remembered her laugh, her childlike joy at the wonders of the Thanksgiving/Christmas season, her smuggling in 'just one more' Snow Village building while hoping that dad wouldn't notice (he didn't - at least not until he went to carry it downstairs to the basement) and her unfailing love of family.  She mentored grandchildren as they helped her 'deck the halls (and the bedrooms and the bathrooms and the front door . . .).  She loved life, my dad, her family and the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  She reached out to those who needed a friend and remembered many with a thoughtful gift.  Before she passed away she had stockpiled gifts in anticipation of the next Christmas and was often found with a glue gun in her hand and some Spanish moss on the kitchen table.  It's no coincidence that her name is Mary (as in Merry Christmas and the mother of Jesus).

 

As I wandered through and explored every nook and cranney of Broadbents, I inhaled every hint of Christmas spirit and thought about how much my mom would have loved this idea or that.  For an hour, a week before Thanksgiving, I was with my mom - in a world that never has too many Christmas trees or too many doodas.  A Winter Wonderland that fulfills every child's dream.

As I was preparing to pay for my new found treasures, I spotted a Russell Stover's Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Santa.  The perfect antidote to a longing heart - you see, my mom ALWAYS bought those Santas for 'Santa' to hand out to the family at our annual Christmas party.  She would buy in bulk at the BYU Bookstore 20% sale that ran every year before Christmas.  She always bought a few extra because you never knew when you would need one to help keep your strength up during the holidays - what, with all that wrapping and cooking and decorating.

As I sat in my car, I savored my Santa and thanked God that I was blessed with a mom like mine.  No matter where I am, my heart will always be home for Christmas.

(My new favorite Christmas song - Mom would have loved it!)

It's beginning to look a alot like Christmas . . .

Teaching old (feed) dogs

I have been taking a sewing class offered with my new machine.  At first I thought that, after many years of sewing, I really didn't need a 'How to hem, seam, tuck and pleat' refresher course.  

Then I brought my machine home and turned it on.  

My old machine does not beep, send messages (There is no thread in the needle.) or remember me each time I turn it on.  (This machine has a bigger - and better - memory than me!)  My old machine has does a fantastic job turning out Halloween costumes, baby quilts, aprons, etc. but the new generation machines - well they do everything but burp the baby and fix dinner!

It has been fun to meet other 'middle-aged' women who, after sewing faithfully for years on a basic machine, have treated themselves to an upgrade.  We are beyond pretending that we are 'saving money' by sewing quilts using $9 a yard fabric.  One woman said that when her husband saw the price tag on her new machine he commented that, for that price, you should be able to drive the thing!  Mr. W. calculated that the costing of hemming his pants worked out to about $XXX,XXX,XXX.00 a leg (I'll let you use your imagination!).


Instead, we are sewing just for the pure joy of creating.  We find delight in stitching love in to each creation and blessing others with our God given talent.  Our personalities and tastes are represented in the patterns we choose and the fabrics we create with.  We have shared knowledge and the delight of learning new things as we work on our samples and glue them on our handout pages.  (Now if we only had time to color the pictures . . . )


My return to the classroom has blessed me with new friends and a reminder that you really can teach an old (feed) dog a few new tricks and have fun doing it.  

And guess what, Show and Tell is still my favorite part of the day!

Sleep in heavenly peace . . .

The twins &  Aunt Vanessa

- November 2009 -

God's Gift

The greatest story
ever told.

As a mother,
my job is to
take care of what
is possible and
trust God
with the impossible.
 - Ruth Bell Graham -

Give thanks for . . .

the restored gospel.

Before we leave


What are
you thankful for?

A little inspiration
as we head in to
the Christmas season.

A Fancy Nancy Friend

A Fabulous
Fancy Nancy
Friend.
Joan Pitts
creates
awe-inspiring
centerpieces
for each
Relief Society
Dinner.


She readily
tutors
Fancy Nancys
in training


and blesses
the world
with her
creative genius,
exquisite jewelry


and divine ensembles.
Thankful for fine friends.