Inspiration

Around this time of year I am on the look-out for inspiring stories. Stories with heart and grit. Stories of people that inspire me to try harder to be better.....a better wife, a better mother, a better daughter, sister, friend. I have been following the blog of Stephanie Nielson for quite some time now. See, Stephanie has the most inspiring story to tell. Her story is also being told by a reporter from the Arizona Republic. Here is a beautiful telling of the hardest year in Stephanie's life. If you are struggling with any form of self doubt or loss or even some self-pity....you really should read this article. It has helped me to shift my focus and look at my priority list. Things around this time of year are a little dicey for me. Emotions run high and threaten to drag me under their fast running current. Stephanie's courage to press on in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds has given me an extra dash of courage to face my own demons....my own problems seem small and silly compared to what she is dealing with. So friends, I wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy day. Be happy....

A Year in Review

This is our Christmas letter from last year. This year I have decided to do the same sort of letter....on my blog, of course. I think the people who really care about what we did will find it on my blog and those who don't won't have to be bored to tears by the endless stream of sticky sweetness that these Christmas letters seem to contain. Seriously, I read one letter that was sent with a darling Christmas card yesterday. I felt like I needed to brush my teeth is was so syrupy. I was amazed at the amount of smoke this letter was trying to blow......yeah. Anyway, to avoid putting any of you into insulin shock, I have decided to keep it more realistic this year. Here goes...

January:
I was still working at the kindergarten very regularly.
Jim-still working at the bakery
Jo and Kev-still in school. Not loving it....not getting straight A's
February:
Dark day....We hit the first anniversary of Mom's passing. Dark day indeed.....
March:
More school....lots of work.....snow.....ish.....
April:
Jim and I celebrated our anniversary
Michelle (my sister) delivered a healthy, beautiful baby boy! Welcome to the fam, Cooper!!
May:
I flew to Idaho to see Michelle and Cooper (and the rest of the fam...of course)
While I was in ID, Kevin received his mission call to the Texas, Fort Worth Mission. I was standing in Kohl's when he opened it and read it to me over the phone! hahaha I did get some strange looks as I stood there, my eyes leaking.....
June:
This was my favorite month of the ENTIRE year!! My sisters and their families and my Dad came to visit me in Minnesota. It is a hellish drive and it was made even longer when one of the vehicles hit a big rock in the road and they were delayed for hours!! I loved the time with them here and will always remember their kindness.
Jo went home with them....I was pretty sure she would come back!! hahaha
My best pal Jackie and her family made the drive to see us. I am so grateful for her and her friendship. They were here for the only good week of weather we had in June!!
Kevin turned 19 and we finished our preparations for him to go.
July:
Kevin flew to SLC to enter the Missionary Training Center. We miss that guy so much!!
Dad brought Jo back to us and stayed for a visit. He brought along his best traveling companion (Lacey) and we had such a good time with them here!!
Jo took the 2 week drivers training course. So scary that she is old enough to drive. She has to drive with an adult until she turns 16....and then.......
August:
Kevin left the MTC and headed to the great state of Texas!!
Jo went to Stake Girls Camp and met Elaine Dalton!! She was so excited to meet her. Jo said that Sister Dalton took time to talk to each girl and let them know how much she loves them all.
Jim went to Flagstaff.....long story.....turned down an opportunity to escape the cold......
September:
I started work again. This time I was a full time sub at the school that houses grades 1&2. Their special ed program was in need of a new para and I filled the job until they could find one. It lasted 2 months and I loved it. They asked if I wanted the job....I said no.
Jo turned 16.....man I'm getting old!!
October:
I canned apple pie filling with my friends.
Jim started his new job....sort of. He was given another bakery (in Grand Rapids, MI). He loves to travel so much (HA) that he gets to go there once or twice a month for a week or 2 at a time.
November:
I got some much needed new carpet....not a lot....just some.....
We got to go to ID for Thanksgiving. It was the best trip home EVER!! Well, except for the fact that Kevin was missing. I find that punk left quite a hole....he is so missed!!
Jo passed her driving test and is now a licensed driver (gulp!)
December:
Kevin was transferred for the first time. He loves his new companion and is getting to know the area. I will miss having him in Fossil Ridge....Now I don't have anyone there to keep me informed on his well-being!!
Jim finished up his work in Michigan. Now he can just hold phone meetings and cut back on the travel. With the Smucker's plant in Fargo closing.....that does leave our future a bit up in the air. We have made some preliminary plans....more on that to come.

For the most part we are healthy and well. We get along with the day to day operations as good as the next group. I have tried to keep this year-end re-cap as real and gritty as it was. I hope I didn't get too gooey sweet for you all.

I do hope that all my friends and family are deliriously happy and well. I have loved keeping up with everyone on facebook. That has been a blast. I hope that you all have an adequate and satisfying New Year....as I'm sure we will as well. Keep in touch!!

((HUGS)).......Lori

Another Wreath

So first off....look at these colors!! Can I, just for a minute (since it's -30* with the wind chill), think of a stunning Fourth of July wreath? How gorgeous will that be??
So you saw the "random" wire hanger method. It didn't make my heart flutter....well....not in a good way. I just almost can't even look at it. The colors are gorg and I do love me a pretty wreath....but I decided to try again. This time with a foam center. This was a bit tricksier than I had imagined....and truth be told....it still needs....something. But I LOVE the fact that I was in control of the ball placement and all that jazz.
So, start by taking the top off the ornament and pushing the exposed glass edge into the foam. Trust me, do this every time.....before you glue it! After you have made the hole, pull the ornament out and put hot glue on the top of the ornament. Shove it back into the "pre-drilled" hole and let the glue cool a bit. Do this all the way around the outside of the foam ring. Learn from my mistakes and do the inside of the foam ring next. Just do it....trust me.
Then I started on the face if the foam ring. I do wish I had been able to find more of a medium sized ball to use along with the normal size and the minis. I do think it would have filled in easier.
Now, here is where you go back over it all and fill big holes and gaps with the mini balls. I used jingle bells too. They are small and easy to work with fun and festive. Sheesh....what is that big blue blob in the shiny ornaments?? Weird......
There it is hanging on the door. This one I love. I do. It warms the very corners of my heart. A couple of things that I learned again because it didn't quite sink in the first two dozen times doing this project: Hot glue....yeah....hot. Burns like a ....well....you know...Glass balls, when broken....become very sharp. You probably don't have to use the death grip to get them into the foam. Just sayin'. And when doing a Christmas project.....always. always. always. have Christmas music playing. It is just more festive.
So there it is. I will be filling in a couple more holes....and looking for....whatever is missing. I know it will come to me. Just gotta keep looking. AAHHHH....my kind of random!

Check out Blue Cricket Design for some great project ideas!!

I'm a Follower

I'll admit it. I'm not a leader. I'm more of a follower. It's something I've always done. My Dad once asked me "If your friends jumped off a bridge....would you?" Why, yes Dad, yes I would. No lie. Now the next sentence wasn't true of my friends back then.....but of my current friends I would say absolutely....I would jump. I am lucky enough to find myself surrounded by friends that would only ask me to jump off that bridge if it was really in my best interest. That being said....I have seen the most gorgeous wreaths around blog land lately. "They" have taken glass Christmas ball ornaments and either strung them on a coat hanger that has gone straight(hahaha)....or they have glued them onto a foam wreath base. Personally, I was dying to try the foam base method...but alas.....it was not to be. No where in my town was there a foam wreath base to be found. Sad....So I got busy unwinding the hanger. It wasn't hard. Oh....and you really should follow the instructions found here. I have been picking up ornaments for a couple of months. I got some at Target and some at the Dollar Store and some at the Wal-Mart....all on sale. I dumped them out and glued the tops on so they don't make my life more frustrating than it already is.
Then I looped one end of the hanger onto the bar stool so I didn't miss a minute of Phinneas and Ferb so I could string the balls like odd colored cranberries. You really need a lot of ornaments...more of the larger size than I ended up with. I strung them and twisted them around and even added a few jingle bells. I did glue a few smaller ornaments in the gaps where the hanger was showing.....nothing worse than having your hanger showing!
I added a bow on the top (that needs to be tightened) and there you have it! I don't hate it....but I have a reeeeaaalllllly hard time with anything random. I need a little more order. I need the colors more evenly spaced. It's just how I roll. I am still going to try the foam based wreath. I'll let you know how it turns out.
I am linking to BNTP. Check it out for some great project ideas!!

I Love Trees

I love Christmas trees. I always have. I have 6 trees that find their way into my decorating. Small ones like these....but not all of them are homemade. I do buy them when I see one that speaks to me. A while back I bought these foam cones to make a tree covered in buttons like my friend Heather did for her sister. I made one and gave it to my Mom on her birthday in 2008. I haven't made any more like that. I found some super soft, kinda chunky yarn at Michael's the other day and thought it would be perfect for trees.
I started at the bottom and worked my way to the top. I made sure to cover all the green foam. A wound and wound I went until it was covered and then (until I could go get the glue gun out which only took me three days a couple of hours) I secured the yarn on the top with a push pin. On the white tree I dove into my button stash and threw a few red and green "ornaments" on with some long pins. So far...I am loving how they look.
I picked up these stars at the Wal-Mart the other day. Not sure I am digging the green one. I will check out Hobby Lobby today and see if they have anything that will make my heart sing.
The red star started out being gold....didn't work here so I took it to the basement my workshop and spray painted it a color I love.
So easy. No special tools required. I stood in my kitchen and did this while I watched one episode of Gilmore Girls. Not bad for an hour of time. I love them.

Fun With Muffin Tins

It's been a while since I did anything way crafty. I have a ton of projects waiting for my attention. I finished a couple up yesterday. This one I started in Idaho with my sisters. I found it here. I guess I should have used my brain looked at it closer. Maybe it would have saved me from cutting 2 1/4 inch strips of paper and then cursing the instruction for being wrong when my squares didn't fit over the holes. hhhmmmmm...Can you guess what I did? Yeah...it says to buy a muffin tin at the Wal-Mart. Did...the 12 hole one...duh!! I guess if you start counting at 1 there would be 24 days until Christmas...see....So what size of stupid dang muffin tin should you get....right....mini muffin pan with 24 holes. Right....So mine will be a little more complicated in that I will put up 24-13 first and then when they are opened I will put up 12-1. Works for me! I started with a lot of different papers that have been in my stash from Hob Lob when they have scrapbook paper 50% off. I cut all sizes of squares making sure I had at least 24 that were big enough to cover the holes.
That was really the most time consuming part of the whole thing.
I printed off some numbers in a cute font and then had it copied onto white card stock. It worked out really good that way. My sister has a 1 1/2" hole punch that was perfect to cut the numbers out. Then I tried to be random with the colors and everything. Due to my OCD I don't do random very well. I try...really I do. I think it will be OK.
I bought these sheets of magnets at the Wal-Mart. They were cheap. I used my fancy cutter handy kitchen shears to cut them to size. I only put one on the top. If you wanted a stronger hold (you know...for BIGGER treats) you could put a magnet on the bottom too.
I put them on the muffin tin to see how they looked...and I like it. I think it will work.
Here is the candy reveled. Not my personal favorite...but what did you expect? If I kept my favorite in the house it wouldn't be around long...if you catch my drift....
13-24 are just as cute. I did ink the edges with some chestnut colored ink. I thought it was an appropriate color choice....you know "Chestnuts roast on an open fire...." an all that jazz.
Gotta say...20 & 21 are killing me. What was the thought process there? Who knows. I did make a pink and green one too. It makes my heart go pitter pat. Wanna see.......
As I was putting the numbers on the muffin pan, it occurred to me that I must have been tired of the project by the time I got to the pink and green one. They are so less ornate. Too funny. No bling or ink and very little embellishment at all. Huh...well, I still love it.
The thing I like most about this kind of advent calendar is that it's totally customizable. Not only could you fill this baby with candy....you could put little slips of paper with quotes, or service opportunities....or clues to a treasure hunt. Marvelous!!

Home Again

We drove through the night into the most beautiful sunset on the 20th. In our yearning to be with family for Thanksgiving, we blocked from our memory the horrible drive that separates us. The memories quickly resurfaced however, as we hit the sixth hour and we were only half way through North Dakota.
But this was waiting for us. Cooper and Cylie, Bridger and Brook, Lacey, Tyler, Denver and Cade, my sisters and Travis, and their spouses, and of course my Dad were there to greet us. Well...eventually....as we pulled into town bright and early...we had to wait before seeing EVERYONE!! It was so worth the drive. Let me tell you just a bit of our holiday vacation.
We celebrated Tyler's birthday. We set up my Dad's Christmas tree....and some (not even close to all) of the decorations.
We laughed until we literally couldn't breathe. We cried and cried with laughter. There were a few nice comfortable silent moments when words were unnecessary. It's nice to be with people who just "get it" no explanations needed.
Jo and Kim and I got pedi's. So nice to relax and chat without having to wonder what Miss Cylie was up to.
Pretty toes!!
We started a craft. We made muffin tin advent calendars. Such a funny/stressful/wacky afternoon.
We danced and danced. The joy at being together was just contagious.
We made donuts. 'Nuff said!!
Lacey read to the little kids. She is becoming such a beautiful young woman. She is wiser that her 1o years would suggest.
Miss Cy...into anything and everything. She climbs up or in to any place she wants to play in or explore. She has the BEST personality.
Beauty. She is so sweet and caring. Just like her Grandma.
Ah, yes, Cade. He has the world by the tail. What 18 year old doesn't?
Travis loved that Cooper wanted to play with him. They were so cute together.
Not one to wait for an invitation....Cy decided to see what Lacey was doing.
This was actually on our way home. She was hanging out with a big ram right on the side of the road as we summited the pass at Big Sky.
Denver just couldn't seem to hold still. Bridger was able to "freeze" when asked...but Denver just had to keep moving.
Like I said....on or in everything!!
Jo took her camera and some cousins downstairs to play. She is one of their favorite people in the whole world.
Two cute girls.
That Brook is a riot. Jim loved visiting with her this trip. He always has fun with Bridger, but this time Brook had is attention a lot too. She tells him, "You know, Uncle Jim, we never talk any more." And then proceeded to ask him all kinds of funny questions like "Where would you run away to?" She is a funny girl.
My CyCy. What a doll.....a naughty girl!! hahahaha
Now you have seen a incredibly long with way too many pictures nice recap of our Thanksgiving trip. I have only a couple of regrets. Jim's parents and sister moved before we got to see them and I didn't get to see any of my friends. Other than that it was THE PERFECT THANKSGIVING. I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful family.