It was very

strange today.  I called Natalie to see when she was coming over, but the phone rang once and then the Beatle's song "Hey Jude" started playing.   I thought it was odd that Natalie was playing a song for her message, but since she loves the Beatles, I wasn't too surprised.   I kept waiting for it to stop, and in the process was talking with Gary and saying, "She's got ;Hey Jude' playing.  When is it going to end."  Finally, I hung up and tried again.  The second time it went straight to a regular message.

She called me back and asked what was going on.   She had heard my whole conversation with Gary and had been trying to talk to me, but I couldn't hear her.   All I could hear was the song.  Now, I know I don't hear everything, but I don't generally hear things that aren't there.  Very strange.  She doesn't even have "Hey Jude" on her phone.  It was like her phone was hijacked.  Or I am really losing it.

"Losing it" made me think of an article I read last week about a lady who has written books called "How to Babysit Grandpa" and "How to Babysit Grandma."   I told Natalie that if she could do the illustrations for me, we could  write a book like that.  

It would include things like "Before you empty any garbage cans, check them for money."    "Follow her around the house and pick up after her."   "Make sure you have GPS before she tries to drive anywhere."  "Hand her her hearing aids before you try to talk with her in the morning."   "When she is baking, and 6 timing a recipe, have a calculator handy and check off the ingredients so she doesn't leave anything out."  Just to name a few.

It could be quite a large book.   I think we just might have a bestseller on our hands.

 

I was right in the fact

that my life has changed quite a bit since the studio moved back to Utah.  Today I worked from 11 to 7:30 in Draper and came home and worked another hour at home.  I'm going up again tomorrow and Friday. The time goes very quickly and I'm doing varied projects.  There is printing and cutting, but there are also interesting projects like creating prototypes for packaging the products.  I still have so much to learn, but fortunately they are very forgiving of mistakes.

They are going to be hiring someone to come into the studio for 4 hours a day, and once they do that I probably won't be spending so much time up there  Which will be good, so the house doesn't fall apart.  But then again, if I'm not home making my usual messes, maybe the house will stay cleaner.
           

When Natalie came today

She wanted to create a magnetic sign for her dishwasher that said "Clean" on one side and "Dirty" on the other.   She came up with this, and made me one, too.  She cut everything out with the Cricut machine and laminated it.  Pretty clever.

It's been quite

a week.  I spent two days working up in the studio in Draper.  It is fun to learn how to create proofs and cut and package the products.   The job will definitely be much more time intensive, with about 3 days a week away from home.   But there will also be quite a bit of variety.  I'll still be doing what I have been doing on the computer for 2 years,  but now there will be quite a few more hours.

Here's one of the odd projects I brought home.  Gary thought it was crazy, but he's used to me doing crazy projects, so that wasn't anything new.




   I was supposed to spray all of the hardware (that was silver) gold, so I covered every thing but the hardware, and spray painted.   It worked really well, actually.  The trick will be if it stays on.  The binders are going to be used to display the products at Paper Expos coming up.            

Our friend

Was in the Hale Theatre production of Le Miserable.   It never fails to touch on every human emotion.

Tonight as the

hostess was leading us to our seat in Chili's, she said "I love that you are so happy and smiling."  I didn't really know that I was smiling, but when she pointed it out, I realized that it was just a carryover from the conversation we had just had with Misty.

I don't think anything makes me laugh and smile more than hearing funny stories about my grandchildren.

Misty had been telling us the latest stories on Marshall.  He is such a Mommy's boy, and is always telling her how "cute" she is.  Misty said he is a great self-esteem builder.   When they were at a Baptism awhile ago, he was obviously listening, because he took her face in his hands and said, "You are a child of God, and you are cute!"

Here are a couple more "cute things" from this week:

Tiffany was taking Ashton bowling.  He randomly said, "I'd sit through any of grandpa's lectures just to have him here right now."  He was remembering when we took him bowling and Gary was giving a lesson on physics (or something like that) on the car ride.   (I don't remember the incident myself, but I do tend to tune out when Gary starts making up facts and stories)

Then, in Church someone was talking about the faith of a mustard seed.  Lucienne leaned over to Tiffany and said, "Grandpa would like this talk."  (because of his love of mustard)

I think I'm going to do a weekly blog entitled "Cuteness" and record these cute things so I don't forget them.

Oh, and as a side note.  Gary had been feeling slighted because he hadn't gotten a Chili's free Queso and Chips coupon for more than a month.  So when he got one, we just had to go.   Gary said I was probably smiling about that when the hostess commented on my smile.  But when I told her it was because I had just been talking to my daughter, she said "Oh, that is so sweet."

It was fun to

try something different for our St. Patrick's Day breakfast.  The Roylance's gave us the Ebelskiver pan awhile ago, and I've wanted to try them.

 

Awhile ago I got this strawberry slicer at TJ Max.  It was on clearance (the clincher) so I thought I would try it.   It actually works really well, slices them thin, and I use it all the time.

Waiting for Natalie to come.

And then enjoying.

I know St. Patrick's day is not until tomorrow, but Natalie can't be here tomorrow.

The clerk at

Walmart asked, "Are you canning Peeps," as I checked out with these.

My response, "Well, kind of."

Details later.   

It was our

Relief Society dinner tonight, and we had a program by the Utah Valley Hand Bell Ringers.  It was really amazing to watch and listen to them.  I told Gary that maybe this is something I could do to satisfy my musical desires.

I'm so jealous of people who can open their mouths to sing and have beautiful sounds come out.  I know you are not supposed to covet what others have, but I have to say that I covet the gift of a beautiful voice.   I would even be happy with a voice that doesn't crack and could carry a tune just a little.   It would be heavenly, really.   

But, I guess I'll have to be content and look forward to singing in a heavenly chorus.  All things will be made perfect, so that is one thing I look forward to.       

It feels like I've hardly

had time to breathe the last few days, let alone blog.

Let's see . . .

We had a luncheon here on Saturday with my cousin, Jeniel.   We are in charge of the Hall family cousin reunion this summer, and Jeniel was in town from California.  Anyway, that meant I had to clean and cook Friday and Saturday morning.   I know, cleaning wouldn't be such a big deal if kept up with it.  But, I also had to put the Valentines away, which made it so I had to clean the deep enough to put Valentine's away, and then I had to get the St. Patrick's out, etc., etc.

 I made the rolls early Saturday morning,



Went to my Quilt Sampler class after that,

Then came home by 11 and we had a really nice lunch and visited for about 4 hours.  Gary and Lynn and Richard came down to help plan.  We've set the dates of Friday and Saturday, July 18 and 19.

Then I was up until midnight preparing for two Ward Conferences that were yesterday.  That plus daylight savings time cutting an hour off, and then 6 hours of church meetings, I was pretty tired by the time I got home at 4.  But I was also invigorated physically, emotionally, and spiritually. So, since I had so many rolls and so much soup, I packaged it up and delivered it to two families who had babies in the last few weeks. Then came home and spent an hour cleaning up the kitchen and enjoyed an evening with Natalie and Gary.

It reminded me of how it really is easier to keep going when I am already busy.  What I mean is that it easier to keep going, and to accomplish more, because I'm already in the moving mode.  I've been wanting to take meals to my friends with new babies for two weeks, but it has seemed like more energy than I wanted to expend.    But when the energy is flowing, you make it go further.  I think that is why busy Mothers seem to have endless energy to keep going.    It looks overwhelming to me now.  When I see Misty and Tiffany's schedules, I feel tired just thinking about it.  But I don't remember feeling overwhelmed with my schedule when I was in the thick of it.   Of course, I was 30 years younger, which makes a difference.

Judging by my rambling thoughts,  I think my weekend is catching up with me.

 

Reciprocity

I looked the definition of Reciprocity up to make sure it meant what I thought it did.   It does.

Here is one definition:  "Reciprocity in social psychology refers to responding to a positive action with another positive action, rewarding kind actions."

I've been thinking about that principle of reciprocity since I got a call from my niece, Leslie, last week.  She and Scott were in town, from California, for a wedding.   They had some golf clubs for Lydia and wondered if I could mail them to her.

 I hadn't heard anything about it, but at Christmas Misty and Dan were talking to Leslie and Scott about golf clubs for Lydia.  Scott works for Calloway Golf and Lydia was going to join the high school golf team.  So, Scott had spent time figuring out what clubs would be the best for Lydia, and had arranged to get some.

I was overwhelmed by their generosity.  It was such a gift for Lydia. 

When they dropped the clubs off, Leslie asked me about some aprons I had made and wondered if they were difficult to make.  She was asking because Scott's grandma had just moved into an assisted living center, and she needs to wear aprons at dinner.  I happily told her I already had a couple of aprons made, and that I would love them to take them for Scott's grandma.

Now, I would not normally be so generous about giving away aprons.  But, because of their generosity, I was so happy I could give something in return.  To reciprocate. 

Even when we are not able to give something in return to the person who has blessed us, it increases in our hearts a desire to be more giving to others we come in contact with. 

Generosity begats Generosity.  Kindness begats Kindness.    

And brings happiness . . .

I think my

life is going to change a bit in the next few weeks.  Loralee and family have been wanting to move back to Utah, and now they have the opportunity to.  They've found a home in Draper and will be moving there soon.  I think it will bring on quite a few more hours doing production, photo shoots, and running around.  I think it will all be good, as I need more hours, but I am hoping it doesn't become too overwhelming.

Maybe it will just make me use my time more wisely.   That, and making more money, could be a plus-plus situation.    

It's not perfect,

 but this month's quilt project is done before the Saturday deadline!  Lots and lots of little cuts and sewing.  

The medicine is kicking in and I'm feeling so much better today.

I'm planning on

feeling a lot better tomorrow.   I finally went to the Dr. today and got medication for a sinus infection.  I've had a hacking cough and a headache (that wouldn't go away) for a week.

I'm thinking positively and tomorrow I'm going to wake up full of energy.  I'm even watching a Wayne Dyer program on PBS to get myself motivated for my new day tomorrow.    

Some inspiration from the program:  1) You can either live from a place of love or live from a place of fear. 2) Think about the openness to divine guidance.   3) When the student is ready, the teachers will appear.  3) Live with passion for what you were meant to do in your life.   4) Stay in gratitude for everything that happens.  5)  Let go of the ego.  Let go of thinking that what you are what we accomplish or earn or accumulate.    Have humility.  Have compassion.  Let ego of the ego and move into a place of compassion.