New adventure!

I have embraced the need to learn and grow in every area, in every stage of life.

A couple of weeks ago, my mom asked if I would host an ONLINE Virtual Pampered Chef party.

Well...here is the entire story:

And then...I made this Fresh Pineapple Salsa...

Here is the link to the recipe:
https://tinyurl.com/yd8b33z5

So...if you are looking for something productive to do...on FB..more than just scrolling through other people's posts, contact me...host a party.
It's super fun, easy...laid back.
You'll earn lots of free product, 1/2 price items...as well as a percentage off.

Shoot me a text, email, FB message.

The other day

The other day, my mom reposted a rough pix of this photo of her father,

Henry Czekala, who passed when she was just a couple of months old.

She has only stories...and we all have searched for links back to an extended family.

When she reposted this photo,

I realized how my own Evan looks very much like my grand father...

his Great Grand Father.

Then my mom reposted Evan's first day of school photo.

Some quickie shot after school..b/c I failed to remember to get one before he left the house that morning.

And there it was...

the same hair style, same wavy hair...

same eyebrows and casual look/demeanor...

same ears, similar nose...see the chin? matchy match.

So...with the help of Photoshop,

I scaled them to match...First in B&W,

then back to color...

Evan prefers the color...I think maybe I do too.

Although, I am rather fond of seeing the contrast in B&W...

with the clothing that says 1940s...and 2019.

I'm so grateful for these pix...and technology..and a few skills to make them match and fix spotted old photographs...

and even more grateful for the knowledge that one day, my mother will be able to really meet her father...
I will be in line to meet him...and so will Evan.

And, we remember him...always.

Scripture Study

In an effort to be better scriptorians, we make posters to illustrate this concept in the Book of Mormon. (2 Nephi 9:39)

To be spiritually minded is life eternal. 

Ken and E* drew their poster quickly...

A* is creatively sketching her idea out. I know it will be lovely.

I did mine in Photoshop...which is pretty crude..and I borrowed this phot of  what can only be Lakewood Beach Park on Lake Erie (hehe)...and the smilie.  But hey, Sharing is Caring!  So thank you to who ever cared enough to share these un-watermarked photos!

Other ideas we have done so far is making lists of things such as all the names of the Lord, both from our heads and researched from the scritpures.

We also found many references/stories that foretold the coming of the Christ. That was all before Christmas.  Anyway you look at it, our family time has improved and we can send these fun posters to Elder Barrett!

Life of Kernels!

With graduation happening soon,

you will want to give young adults some parting advice. 

Why not be a little fun!

This set from The Project Bin is called "Just Poppin."

I can just picture this with some funny money for movies and popcorn for the college coed.

This paper is from Echo Park. I picked up a few darling pads at the Stamp & Scrapbook Expo in FL

last weekend.  Where I got to meet two long time Virtual/Cyber friends. I have known Lois and Deb for 12 years!

Here is a pix of Deb and I...on Saturday..after a long weekend of chatting, eating, working, shopping, ukuleleing!!

Lois was so good to stop by twice to meet and greet me!

In case you were wondering,

the Glitter Washi, ticket brads and enamel dots can be found at Eyelet Outlet.

With so many colors, you can certainly coordinate to papers and inks!

Just one of those days

I enjoy celebrating my half birthday.

Me celebrating me.

New Beginnings 2016

When I was first married, I was serving in the Young Women's program for several years.  I was able to write skits for 3 or 4 New Beginnings. This year finds me back in the YW Program. I suggested to the YW presidency that we have a Rock Climbing theme for our New Beginnings.  This afternoon, I wrote this skit for it. (Too bad I will be out of town when it occurs.) It uses the words and scriptures from the Personal Progress booklet.  It's going to be a grand way to remember the importance of having these eight values in our lives...as teenage girls...as newly wed women, middle aged women, or elderly sisters....

Reaching the Summit

New Beginnings Skit

Lake Orion Ward

1/16/2016

Dawn Mercedes Barrett

Scene: A mountain on the white board.  Brenna with a backpack.  Each person along the path will have a “hello, my name is” sticker with their character name on it…and perhaps a prop.

Narrator:  Set the scene: Brenna is a 12 year old…going on an excursion to get to the top of a high summit.  Will she make it? How will she get to the top?  Who will she meet along her way?  What will happen once she gets there? 

(**After each character says their part, they hand Brenna a flag with a value on it. Brenna adds it to the mountain on the board.)

Brenna:  Hi! I’m off for an adventure now that I am not a little kid any more.  See that mountain over there? I want to get to the top.  (In walks Brenna’s Parents.)

Brenna’s Dad:  (Holding Scriptures) Sweetheart, getting to the top of that mountain is going to take time and patience and faith.  You won’t know exactly what obstacles you might encounter.  In the Book of Mormon, Alma said “Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore, if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.”   Brenna, you are a daughter of Heavenly Father, who loves you.  You must have faith in his eternal plan, which centers on the Savior, Jesus Christ.

Brenna’s Mom:  (wearing an apron)   Remember! You have divine qualities from your Heavenly Parents.  While on this journey, take time to develop these traits and share them with those along the path that you come in contact with. Remember what the apostle Peter taught the saints in the early Church:

“Be partakers of the divine nature. … Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity” (2 Peter 1:4–7).

Holy Ghost 

Delivery girl walking by with a messenger bag:

Special Delivery for Miss Brenna!!

Special Delivery for Miss Brenna!!

Brenna:  I’m Brenna!

Opens the padded envelope, takes out the banner and reads the accompanying letter aloud:

“To Miss Brenna

From the Holy Ghost

As you have been baptized and live righteously, I am here for you, always.  I am here to teach you truths and guide you on your path.

Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God (D&C 18:10).  Brenna, you are of infinite worth with your own very special, divine mission.   I can be your constant companion as you strive to fulfill your mission in life.”

Brenna’s Beehive Teacher: (Carrying a church bag)

“It is so nice to travel with you for a portion of your journey, Brenna!  I enjoy the time we have in class as we seek opportunities for learning and growth.  As you progress toward the summit, you will be able to learn about the gospel and spiritual things. Also, study from the best books to learn about the earth of of men.  Remember what the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith in D&C 88:118:

Seek learning, even by study and also by faith.”

Brenna’s YW President:  (Chunky jewelry)

“Brenna, every day you will have to decide what path to take on your journey.  Will you go left? Will you go right? Will you read your scriptures? Will you waste your time?  Will you be kind? Just what path will you choose?  Remember that you are responsible for the consequences of your choices.  So it is very important to choose good over evil, always.  Some of the best advice I can give you, is what Joshua gave to the Children of Israel: 

Choose you this day whom ye will serve; … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).”  I have faith in you Brenna! Keep pressing forward to the summit!

Brenna’s RS President:  (In a skirt)

Welcome, Brenna!!  (Put her arms around her shoulder.)  We are so glad to see you working hard to progress to the summit of that mountain!  As sisters in Zion, we help others and build the kingdom through righteous acts of service to those around us and those far away.  Remember, Jesus Christ served others when he walked among men on earth.  To the Nephites after his Resurrection he counseled:

“Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven (3 Nephi 12:16).”  We can be the Lord’s hands as we serve and lift one another on our path to the summit of the mountain. Keep up the good work!

Brenna:  Whew…I’m getting tired. I think I’ll sit down for a moment to listen to General Conference. Pantomime’s turning on the tv.

Prophet walks in:   (wears a tie holding a For The Strength Of Youth Pamphet…possibly in a tv box?)  We live in a world where people are confused. If you don’t believe me, just turn on the news.  Now is the time to stand up and have the moral courage to make your actions consistent with your knowledge of right and wrong. You have been blessed with the gospel in your life. Now, as you journey on, stand up for truth and righteousness. Don’t be afraid to speak up.  Remember what Job declared in the Old Testament, even when he was going through so many earthly trials…

“Till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me (Job 27:5).”

Brenna’s Bishop:  (In a tie)

You are almost to the summit of the mountain, Brenna.  You have learned through your travels to continually learn about yourself and the world around you.  You have served the Lord as you helped others. You have showed the Lord of your love for Him as you kept the commandments.  You have kept your thoughts and actions clean and pure. You are ready to worthily enter the temple.  

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies (Proverbs 31:10).”

Hands her the Virtue Banner to add to the mountain. 

Brenna:  I made it! I made it to the top! YES!!

Brenna’s Bishop: Yes Brenna, you made it to the summit!  The Mountain of the Lord. The House of the Lord.  The Temple.  (Adds a picture of the temple to the top of the mountain.)  As you go in and make covenants with the Lord, remember, this is just the half way point of your earthly journey.  Mountain climbers know that the summit is not the end goal…the descent is the actual goal.  At times, it can be trickier than the climb up.    You are half way to your celestial home.    You must use all those values and apply them to your life, each day, as you endure to the end and return to your Heavenly Home with your Heavenly Parents.

Narrator:  Each of us is just like Brenna. We have been taught by parents, teachers, leaders, the Holy Ghost and prophets about the plan of Salvation.  We know the Plan of Salvation and Personal Progress helps us to remember the values that we must have to be able to reach the summit…to enter the House of the Lord to make sacred Covenants.   Just as Brenna’s Bishop has reminded us. That is not the end of our earthly journey. Once we attend the temple, we must return regularly.  We must press forward, feasting on the words of Christ as we lovingly help others to reach that summit of the temple too.   Whether going up the mountain, or coming back down, the values of the Personal Progress program will help us be able to return our Heavenly Home.

Happy Birthday, Cara Peace!!!

My life as an only child was cut short when I was 17 months old.  On January 4th, 1975, my younger sister, Cara Peace, showed up on the scene. Of course, I don't remember anything about the next couple of years, being so young myself. But my parents tell the story about how I tried to comfort Cara when she was crying....or maybe I was trying to change her diaper.  They walked in to find me in her crib...and Cara covered in baby powder!  My own earliest memory of Cara was when we lived in the apartments in North Olmstead, right by the mall. We had these white paint brushes, that probably came in a cheap watercolor set. For some reason, my parents let us drop them off the balcony. Then we climbed down so many steps, rushed out side and retrieved them...Lumbered back up those steps, the 50's/60's kind with no back (so they were floating in a way)...through the door to our apartment and back out to the balcony...only to drop the paint brush once more and run to retrieve. Here we are in our apartment:

I remember that rocking chair on the left. We also had a  yellowish one. 

And that stereo system and cart..that carpeting...that plastic kid table set....

and of course that sewing table on right.

Doesn't she look angelic here?

My sister and I were so lucky that we got to share the upstairs bedroom in the 809 Warwick Drive Bungalow.  I remember our beds situated underneath the double windows on the south side of the house, just like Bert and Ernie. And to me, my sister was always so serious.  (But in the end, I think she was just more like Nephi and I was probably more like Laman/Lemuel.) I remember countless Sundays when I was told to go "find Cara's missing black patent leather Sunday shoe." Oh how I disliked doing that...minutes before leaving for church.

 I remember one year, just before school started in the fall, we had all of our new supplies. We sat up on our beds and pretended we were an infomercial for all of precious new items.  (Now, this was before infomercials or HSN! We should have cashed in on the idea.)  My book bag had a rainbow handle and it had a rainbow on the canvas front. I'm wondering if Cara had the same one; only in a different color. That was often the case.  I remember she usually go the red item (the red tupperware lunch box, the red tupperware crayon box).  But if that is true, it was probably b/c Cara knew early how to make up her mind..and she probably chose red as her favorite color. She was good at choosing.

Of course, prove me wrong...here is me in the red. haha

I remember watching the old B&W Disney Movie called "The Shaggy DA." That night, I had a nightmare about Cara. We were told (yet again) to go clean our room. (It was usually a mess.) Cara decided she would go down stairs and pick a couple of roses from the rose bush that was directly under that south window. After sometime, when she didn't come back, I looked out the window. And it was Cara's head on a dogs body! Oooh, what a nightmare!  But, I also witnessed 2 tooth fairies, dressed in white to pick up a tooth one night. That was pretty fun!

Back then we were forever "starting a club" with the neighbor kids.  Of course we also needed supplies. One day, while we were at the grocery store, I took a pad of paper and she took a small bottle of Elmer's glue. Well, of course, I got caught and had to return the paper and apologize...a most tramatic event in my life!  But I didn't rat out Cara.  To this day, I am convinced there is a small Elmer's Glue Bottle in the rafters next to the chimney at 809!

Cara was lightening quick on the playground and with anything athletic. Every spring, she would bring home lots of ribbons from the Forestlawn Field Day.  I remember singing  Primary songs with her as we walked to and from the Parks & Rec Summer program behind that elementary school every summer.  While we were there we played games, made so many loom pot holders and other crafts like leather working, plaster of paris treasures, and so many popcicle stick items. haha.  She learned to ride a 2 wheeled bike with out training wheels months before I did.  One summer, mom signed us up for gymnastics at Knollwood Elementary. Every morning we had class, we'd ride our bikes a couple of miles to this school. It seemed so far away and such an adventure to us.  Cara tried out for sports teams...and made them in high school!  She even walked on as a red shirt freshman at Eastern Michigan to try to get a chance to play basketball in college.

But we didn't always get along and mom and dad got tired of our squabbling.  Soon enough, there were too many bodies and not enough bedrooms and my dad slowly finished off the basement for us. Her room was completed and she got to move in first. Cara was always so patriotic and her colors were Red/White/Blue.  I remember Gunner and BonPapa gave her this large Statue of Liberty pix for her room which has white walls and red carpet.   After a while, my room was finished so I could sleep down stairs too. As Christmas approached, we plotted how we could stay up all night waiting to be called up at Midnight to open gifts. We had a schedule of times and whose room we would be in. What games to play. When to eat the stuff we had smuggled down to the basement.  We would take the top mattress off so each of us had a "bed" when in the other person's room.

Cara always seemed to be a planner.  She had drawings of how she could arrange her bedroom. And she liked to switch it up.  She knew early on she wanted to go to a MI school...then figured out how to do just that.  While she was fast in sports, she was slow to wake up. SO SLOW. In fact, I think she had 3 alarms at one time...to get her going for Seminary.  Cara was quick with the dating too. As a freshman, she caught the eye of a senior. So..sure enough, she went to Prom that year!  His name was Mel...and that year I worked in the Guidance Office. They had some new candy bars to hand out that were called Caramello bars. Well, I thought I was so funny giving her these candy bars any time I could snag one to share. Cara + Mel. The perfect candy bar for them!  Another funny:   In high school, you always had to double check the water pitcher lid...or salad dressing cap b/c Cara didn't screw it on all the way. We had several spills after she took the top off the water or dressing!   I remember in Middle School when she was a 6th grader, and I was in 8th. A class member of mine thought Cara was rich. I laughed out loud. "That girl? That is Cara Hatch! She's my sister!" I exclaimed. But Kathy Burget  said, "Wow...she is always dressed nicely and her hair is always done up nicely too."  To this day, Cara does have an up to date style of dress and hair.  She even tries to help me. She got me new make up when I turned 40..and this year, trendy, chunky jewelry for Christmas.

Cara got married while in College and quickly became a mother. But that didn't stop her from finishing a degree, even though she was very pregnant with #2 when she walked through Commencement Ceremonies.   In high school, my mom said repeatedly, that Cara would marry a doctor...and sure enough, she did.  Even though she and Jacob lived on a shoe string while he was attending Medical school and Residency, she always found ways to make or buy gifts. Cara was Miss Moneybags as a teenager too. She saved money and things. I remember a years ago seeing her old sticker book...saved after so many, many years! haha. I had an identical one...but not saved. haha. I think she still has a marionette puppet from Grandma Hatch. She was always careful and worked hard.  Growing up, she had a small black safe where she saved her money! She made good decisions and had a testimony of the gospel and choose the right.

I remember when Andy Lester took her to a car race in high school. It was later in the day and he had her "hop the fence." She really didn't like being dishonest. And the next day was Sunday...and she chose to repent and skip partaking of the Sacrament till she felt worthy.  Of course, I rolled my eyes at that.  B/c Cara and I don't speak the same language at times.  In recent years, I learned of a time when a guy was interested in me at Brookside High School. Cara didn't think he was good enough for me...and she told him in no uncertain terms to "leave my sister alone."  And he backed off.   But she has always been a good sister to me. Except this one time at Girl Scout Day Camp. I was probably in the 4th grade...and on Thursday night, my age group was allowed to sleep over. Boy, I must have been so home sick. I remember being in this cinder block room...waiting for Cara the next morning when my mom dropped her off for the last day of camp.  I ran up to her crying and tried to hug her. And she pushed me off her and said, "What is YOUR problem! Stop crying."  So, I guess if that was the worst thing she has done to me, then she is a pretty great sister.

She was so patient and long suffering when it came to dealing with her problems.  She didn't get loud or seem upset.  Most things were internalized...for better or for worse.  I was away at College when my parents had an exchange student from France for a year whose behavior was not up to Hatch standards. This so ruffled Cara, yet she kept it in check. Until that one day....when she dumped a tray of ketchup and fries all over him.  Boy, I would have loved to see that!  (I think the teachers even cheered.)  Then years ago, she suffered from severe Rhumtoid Arthitis.  Cara just didn't complain about it.  She didn't give us updates.  I was talking to her one Sunday morning when I had afternoon church. Cara said she was in a lot of pain. And for her to say something, anything, meant it was bad. I got off that phone and (thank goodness for the internet) found the phone number for my parents' ward. When someone answered, I said "Hi. I need to get a message to Susan Hatch who is teaching a class this hour. She needs to call her daughter Cara. ASAP." And that was all that my mom needed to hear. Within hours, my mom was driving to Indiana to help her out.  Cara and Jacob had such faith that they were granted a miracle, a reprieve from the hurt. Although, she has to continually keep on top of it....diet, exercise.  We know that she is still in pain from time to time...yet she continues to carry on.

Smiling and serving and keeping it all in.

I wish I did understand her thought process. B/c now I have a daughter who reminds me of my sister every day. My daughter runs fast like her Aunt Cara. She has started asking for more than one alarm clock so she can get up for Seminary. Adelle fixes her room up so neatly...it is always clean, just like Cara's teenage bedroom. Adelle always has oodles of money and is generous in her gift giving. But just like Cara, I don't understand how she thinks.  I must have missed out on a lesson from Cara...and now I need to learn it from Adelle.

I have always said that Adelle couldn't wait to join Connor here on earth and that is why she came so quickly after he did. And perhaps, Cara felt the same way about me.  At least I would like to think so, even if she is the better person (who wants to live until she is 107...shudder!)

My sister is kind, generous and patient and peaceful...just like her name.

Cara has always chosen the right and been blessed for it.

She has shared this with her family growing up as well as with her young family now.

I'm sure there will be many more memories for me to recall.

But for now...enjoy these...

Happy birthday, Cara Peace!

I love you!!

A hand made, from scratch tradition

If you knew my mother, Susan Jane Hatch,

you would understand why my siblings and I value hand made, homemade, from scratch.  

She has filled up our lives with the gift of time, patience, and love that handmade items bring.   Every year, I make at least one gift for my small family.  I regularly make things for friends and extended family.  Of course, yes, these items are not perfect. But they are made with such love and thoughtfulness.  My sisters have carried this tradition into their own families.  When my sister Cara and her husband were going through medical school and residency, Cara came up with such sweet home made gifts for my parents. One idea I know my parents cherish to this day is a plate listing fond memories. Cara has made me a gigantic rubber band and a picture framed note board.  I took that idea and ran with it earlier this year with the girls in Young Women to make and use to announce the ways they love their own family members.  My sister Jocelyn has used her talents and skills to sew me a quilt, a scarf (which I opened early this year b/c I couldn't wait for the 25th) and a table runner.  (We love a nicely set table!)  She cross stitched a personalized, vibrantly colored frog family for us.  Jocelyn and Marissa both teach their kids to make hand made gifts for family members.  Marissa has made amazing throw pillows and Halloween decorations as well as sweet Christmas Countdowns. Her boys are learning what Jocelyn kids' know...to make a handmade gift is giving more than a gift. It is giving a part of you.  When he was about 13 years old, my brother made me this amazing mirror...which broke only a couple of years ago, much to my dismay.  I had it on my shelf above my laundry at both of my homes.  It was a large, heavy commercial grade mirror that Jordan carted home from some adventure.  He sliced a garden hose and wrapped the edges of the mirror with it.  Felt wrapped the hose.  Then, letters were cut from red and white gingham fabric....so it read "I love (arrow).."  I always felt loved when I looked into that mirror.   Now in her later years, my mom seemed to have forgotten that she started all of us on this path.  Today, I gathered up some of the gifts she made me. I know that so many of the gifts she gave me are lost to time or intangible. But here are some of the ones that have lasted and continue to be cherished.

Crafting for Christmas started early for my mom.  Every year she would give me a new ornament. Many years, those were hand made like these:

The candy cane was stuffed.  (There is also a matching cherub that I will  have to add a picture of in the future.)  My list says that I made these in 1977.  I'm sure with a lot of her help.

She and my dad painted up these wooden ornaments. I used to have one that was Cinderella..but a few years ago, it came up missing. So sad  These were made in 1976...when I was 3 years old.

Along with these, my parents started the tradition of "Making a Christmas Ornament after Thanksgiving dinner."  She came up with creative designs that our little fingers could paint, glue, stitch together.  My tree might not be the most elegant, but it has the greatest memories tucked in the branches. Although these hand made ornaments we made over the years show the passage of time, I simply can not get rid of them. Even if they sit in my box, only to be admired when hanging up the tree, they will be kept.

My mom made this one from beads and safety pins with her friends at Friends & Neighbors.

(Wanted: a friend and neighbor to craft with me!!) 1979

Even after I grew up, she continued to make ornaments for me.

Reindeer Spoon: 1988

Lace Snowflake:  1982

Snowman tealight face:  I'm guessing 2013...Mom kept better records than me!

I noticed a stuffed, sewn 3D Christmas tree on the tree a few minutes ago that needs a picture too!

When the grandbabies came, she made them ornaments to be loved, cherished and admired yearly.

Santa Tie: 1999...C*'s first ornament!

Quilt Square: ooops...this was not made by her...still home made from Evan's preschool teachers.

Paper ornament: 2011:  (Need to ask her!  But she does all sort of crafting...even paper crafting!)

Knitted Robes: 2010

There was another tradition my mom and her sister had as we were growing up. Since both families had 5 kids, my mom and aunt decided that instead of gifts, they would make a handmade Christmas decoration. We could open it early, usually just after Thanksgiving..and display it all season long.  I know that I was not the only one jealous of my mom's amazing handmade items. (Esp when my aunt started buying store bought decorations after a while.)  

One year she made them these polar bears and somehow, I got an extra one.  

At least that is what I remember. Mom, let me know!

In 1999, my mom and dad made me this snowman that resides on my mantle from the day after Christmas (when I box up Christmas decor)

until the end of February when my snow decor is displayed.  

In 2012, my parents made this block nativity for each of my kids.

They wrote a little note on the back.  It will be cherished for years as they take these decorations from their childhood bedrooms to their own dorms and apartments.

Crafting did not stop at Christmas...

In 1985, if you completed all 12 Personal Progress goals the stake leaders made you this very trendy (for the time) wall hanging with your initials. They were passed out in a stake meeting at the beginning of the next year.  When the girls saw mine, with beads in the flowers, you can be sure they were envious that my mom  had taken the time to add the extra touch. Again, adding beads to your cross stitch was "the" thing to do at the time....way before Pinterest!

As a freshman in college, I received this turkey to decorate my dorm room in 1991.

I believe this spider was created for a stake RS meeting the next year.

And once again, mom sent me one to cheer me through October, midterms and Halloween.

This year, 2015, she discovered a way to make fabric postcards and mail them through the mail...without an envelope!  This fun post card will be displayed every October!!

She learned to tat and one year I got a tatted snowflake for my ornament box (sniff, sniff, another one that went missing at some point.) She knits delicate booties for every baby that is born in her extended circle. A*'s American Girl Doll has a knitted sweater too. (I better not rummage through her organization for a picture.)

Last year I was trying to impress to my kids the importance of learning and developing skills and talents. We had a weekly "talent show" in our home. When it was decided that we would host Thanksgiving that year, I announced that we would have a family talent show. Show off your skills, let us know what you are learning/doing. My mom had started knitting a lot more...and she surprised me with this amazing, reversible cape! The grey side has ears for the wolf, and the red side is sweet for Little Red Ridinghood.

My mother sewed from a very early age.  

  Mom sewed me my baby bonnet from a hankie when I was an infant.  I remember the year she made Cara and I matching, full sized blankets.  Mine was pink gingham, while Cara's was blue gingham. They were such big blankets for two little girls. We LOVED them. She sewed matching Easter Dresses for my sisters and me yearly.  She sewed my Senior Prom dress and my high school graduation dress.  

A few years ago, she sewed a floppy sun hat for each of us girls for our birthdays.  The year before that, she sewed us bags and dad helped pick out fabric and patterns to match the season when the birthday fell.  He chose orange and green and flowers for mine...an August birthday.   When I was sewing more often she made this lilac colored pin cushion with attached scrap bag.  It is weighted so it can hang off the table...giving you work room, and organization. Another year, she sewed each of us an apron...

Mine uses fabric from my grandmother's stash after she passed.

It's large, reversible with long straps and ties that make it a great fit!

One year, she used her macrame skills to make each of the boys/men in the family a

survival bracelet out of paracord for Chrismas. Tucked inside each bracelet is fishing line and hooks!

When my kids were young, she made three amazing quiet books for church.

Filled with the truth of the gospel for little hands and short attention spans.

The year Jocelyn was born, Cara and I caught her sewing bonnets.

She fibbed and told us they were bonnets for baby Jocelyn.

I remember being told to go into the kitchen that Christmas Eve where there were some large garbage bags...

and inside those bags were these amazing dolls!  A pair for each of us. With the bonnets we had seen her sewing!

I named mine Peter and Susan. (Susan being my mom's name.)

Peter wasn't bald. Several years ago, I started restuffing them after a cleaning and giving them new hair. Poor Peter never got done...and Susan's hair seems to need a better fix too. It would seem that I have a to do list growing for next year.  (Note: fix that turkey's legs!)

These were loved and cherished and saved.

I am blessed with a strong maternal line...

and years ago, when she was suffering from carpel tunnel, my mom cut out windows in this mat

and made me a generational picture back to my great, great grandmother up to my dear daughter, A*.

In 1995, she made me this sweet box.

I am sure that it is probably my most favorite, most cherished item she has made for me.

It is something that would only appeal to me. 

I was a very tired college graduate, coming home from a semester aboard.

Moving back home without a job, without the guy I so desperately wanted.

This was my gift on that Christmas eve from her.  (The illustration taken from the Christmas book we read and cry over every Christmas Eve night as a family...together, on skype, or alone.)

I would chose this "small, unsightly box" out of all my treasures if I could only grab one of the home made items she made for me...

But out of all the wonderful gifts she and my dad gave to me over the many years,

they gave me this amazing, eternal family.

One that will stand the test of time.

No matter what.

Although we at times get annoyed with each other, 

it never lasts long...

B/c we know what is most important and most cherished and most loved in this world and in the life to come.

 I love you, Mom...and Dad...

Thanks for everything...handmade and tangible

and for the intangible.

Disclaimer:

As I typed this up and tried proof reading it, I was reminded of more and more handmade items given to me by my mom. And my dad, as he provided the supplies and loving support..and once in a while, the muscle.  Each time, I ran to find the remembered item to snap a pix.

But it is growing dark...and I have my own hand made gifts to finish up and cookies to bake.

B/c if you knew my mom, you would know that she never does store bought cookies or breads.

Never!

But THAT...is another blog post entirely!

A bathroom BOO!!

Last night at book club, I learned that my friend, Alisha, did not decorate for Halloween.

Her kids, esp the October birthday boy, are dying to have Halloween decor up in their home

So, when I dropped my kids off at their house for seminary this morning, I walked into the bathroom, locked the door.,.and bedecked it in Halloween fun!

I took a few things from my stash that didn't leave the decor box.  But I took some time last night to design a "Boo!" frame for their BOO Bathroom using products from the Robin's Nest.

First I sanded this frame to give it a weathered look.

Then I dug through my Robin's Nest supplies and found this "boo" paper. I love the sparkles!

You can't go wrong with Googlie Eyes!

Glue Dots ® were used to adhere all the elements on this decorated frame.

I chose to use Advance Strength and Pop Up Relief to make sure it was secure as there are 4 kids in this vivacious family!

The Little Friends bat and snow angel (though I used it as an angelic ghost) 

are also found on the RN website.

I added diamond shaped dew drops to embellish that bat!

These glitter die cuts made embellishing a cinch!

Who doesn't love dew drops!!

The Spider Brad is from the Eyelet Outlet.

This verticle strip of paper is Robin's Nest Famous Glitter Cardstock in black.  

I opted to rip a page out of a dictionary for the newsprint.

Here are the two elementary kids...enjoy the surprise bathroom...

Boy, it is fun to make others happy!

Me, according to my blessed mother...

Dawn's day

Today is Dawn's birthday, born as our first in 1973.  I quickly posted pictures of her on FB to commemorate the day and figured I would add an entry here.

1976

Robert was finishing up his degree in Provo (I had completed my degree the year before) and we moved to Parma, Ohio.  My daddy Center had died in September 1972 and Robert got a job at USSteel and my mom needed some support so it all worked out well for everyone.


It was fun being pregnant altho back then you never knew if you were having a boy or girl.  My mom had secured a tiny little house on Grantwood Avenue, just east of State Road.  Our wall telephone cord could read to all 4 corners of the house!  We had a bright, large kitchen, a front room.  The bedroom had an 'attached' room at the one end which would be Dawn's room.  The utility room housed our very tiny bathroom, food storage shelves and hot water heater/furnace.  Mom had bought a crib and baby dresser for the little room and had painted it aqua before we got home!  We had a changing table with baskets to hold things from Carol Etzel.  Robert found me a rocking chair.  It only had one arm (yes, I would say we were scraping the bottom of the barrel) but it worked just fine.

I went picking strawberries a the Historic Johnson Farm in Hiram, OH when I was very pregnant and everyone worried or laughed that I might deliver in the fields and then would have to name whatever baby came, Strawberry Patch Hatch.  Nope, not that day.  Not that month. Nor the next.

Finally on August 2, I visited the doctor and he said delivery was very near.  Well, it had better be!  I was so far over my due date (and did the same with 3 of the rest of my 4 kids).  I had just gotten home, and felt the first signs of labor.  Knowing that once it all started I would not be able to eat anything, I drove the 67 Buick LaSabre to McDonalds.  I kept the car running since it often had trouble starting and there were no drive through windows in that day.  Grabbed a burger and fries and headed home.  Robert came home from work and we waited awhile.  Finally we went to the hospital with my mom. Robert went off somewhere...didn't know at the time but it turned out he went Home Teaching AND to the auto parts store. Thanks a lot!

But finally we had our baby daughter!   She was named Dawn Mercedes...Dawn after a Robert's best friend's wife (Robert had been their best man) and Mercedes because Robert had promised me that once day he would buy me one since I had drive one at BYU when I typed for the underground newspaper (rag) called Zion's Opinion.  Dawn Mercedes. I stayed in the hospital for nearly a week which was standard back then.  Since Robert couldn't get off work to bring me home (don't ask me why not) my Aunt Carol picked us up in her big ol' truck. She had a cinder block for me step on to get into the truck.

My mom would come by each morning on her way to work and then stopped by each evening.  (She and Aunt Ven Gaul went to Hawaii almost as soon as we came home.)  I had the very classic British baby buggy that was used by my sister.  I would put Dawn in it and we'd stroll to the store, to the laundry and to my mom's house.  It was delightful.  Dawn HATED cloth diapers and we finally gave in and used paper diapers which were a fairly new item in the day.

We were very excited to take Dawn to church for her name and blessing.  Robert's first cousin, Craig White, happened to be serving in our ward at the time and assisted in the blessing. Robert was overcome with emotions and altho the blessing was short it was long on love for his daughter and has always been so.

In 1973 we were still having Sunday School and Priesthood in the morning and then returning in the late afternoon (6:00) for Sacrament Meeting.  To this day I remember dressing Dawn in my grandfather's christening gown.  I had knitted the Baby Mary Janes booties but had forgotten or had been too tired to remember that I needed to make a bonnet out of a white lady's hankerchief.  I hurriedly sewed it together the night before and in the morning, when I put it on her, I had to laugh. I had forgotten to gather the lace around the hanky and so it was flat.  I laughed and Dawn laughed.  It was a great moment. 

 

 

I am still in the process of sorting through pictures and scanning them...and boy do I have the photos!  Bag and Boxes and Albums filled with them.  So I will be adding more pictures as I get to them.

But here's a picture of Dawn's first visit to Santa.  Because my dear, beloved Scottish Terrier, Bonnie Lassie, had gotten very old and needed to be put to sleep, my Uncle Al came to do the deed.  I just couldn't stay around the house so I took Richard, Al and Carol's son, and Dawn and we went to May Co. at Parmatown to visit Santa. Dawn didn't cry at all.  Not sure what she told him she wanted for Christmas but I remember quite a few boxes that year. 

Dawn keeps in daily contact with me.  We have been known to craft together, cry together.  Work things out together. Yell at each other together...well, ok not exactly yell but spoke loudly.   The kids are good at keeping in touch altho most it's Evan.   Just this morning as I had been chatting with Dawn for her birthday, Connor helped me sort out how to make my handout for Visiting Teaching using MS Word.

Dawn's encouraged and pushed her kids to excel in what they wanted/needed.  They are as smart as she is.  And just as independent.  This is a good thing but doesn't always fit comfortable.

I'm a lucky mom in so many ways.  Happy Birthday, Baby Dawn.

2015