Gratitude - A Happy Memory

Imagine camping and you come across an uprooted tree with some roots sticking straight out and shaped into a two prong fork. If I would have taken some pictures and saved them somewhere, then I could show you.

But that is exactly what we found while camping one year when the kids were still little.

Doran took an ax and shaved off the bark on both sides so that a bare bottom could sit on it and not get slivers. Then he prepared one little branch close by to store a roll of TP on it. He then dug a hole below the "seat" and taught the girls how to go potty then cover it up when their duty was done.

It was so funny to see the girls grab the shovel and say; "I'll be right back!" as they skipped down the path. They seemed to enjoy going potty and did more frequently than other camp trips.

Gratitude - Crochet

What is something that I am grateful to have today that I didn't have a year ago?

The ability to crochet.

My mom taught me to crochet between Saturday Conference sessions last year. I went over at lunch and she helped me get started by letting me put a border on a project she was working on. That was pretty trusting of her. I did realize that you can rip out what you don't like or if you mess up, and start again.(I have had plenty of practice "ripping".)

I made each of my girls a scarf for last Christmas.

I also make head bands for my Primary girls.

This green, grey and white baby blanket was my very first solo project. I had plenty of practice ripping and redoing, but I was pretty pleased with how it turned out. I ended up giving this to my ministering teaching partner for her new first baby.

This was another baby blanket.

This cute blanket I made for McKinley for Christmas last year. I made the boys a rag quilt and she got the crocheted blanket.

I then thought I could tackle a big project so I decided to make this for my friend for this Christmas. She is a die hard for a school that wears red. The slippers were an attempt to go with the blanket but I couldn't master those very well. I might have to try them later.

And then I thought I could jump right into making baby clothes. What a joke. I found so many different patterns and tried and failed so many times. These are the only ones I finished. After the pictures I added ribbon around the waist on both of these. They were given to Ayla when we went up to see them this July. Can I say...I don't enjoy clothes. At least I haven't found a little dress that was easy enough for me to read and follow the pattern...yet.

I found a pattern for an easy C2C (corner 2 corner) pattern and thought I would give it a whirl. I also revamped the border and just made it my own. I enjoyed doing this. I also made another one but not sure where the picture is.

I made this for Cortney's new baby coming in July and I also made Ayla a matching one for her baby doll.

During our travels, I have been trying to crochet without getting car sick. It worked for the most part, but lately I can't do much without getting sick. 

This was my first attempt at a bag. Not super happy with it but maybe when it gets stuffed with stuff, eh?

This grey and white blanket is another project I worked on while traveling. This was actually a kit I bought and it is a lot smaller than I thought. It is also a baby blanket size. I love how the border turned out!

This baby blanket is the last completed project I worked on. I enjoyed this pattern! I think I would like to make some more of these.

I am currently working on this...but I ran out of grey. 

I would like to make a bunch of blankets and find somewhere to donate them.

So what am I grateful to have today that I didn't have a year ago?

The ability to crochet.

You CAN teach an old dog new tricks!

Gratitude

There are so many things that I am grateful for but a simple pleasure that I am grateful for is...

Hot chocolate and toast.

Some days this is such a comfort food for me. 

During my simple pleasure, I either enjoy a book, scriptures, Hallmark or just ponder.

It is never a bad idea to enjoy this simple pleasure.

Gratitude

I can almost see retirement.

I won't say that "I'm almost there." because I can't stand that saying when I am still so far away.

The decision is to go out in

FIVE month

or

ONE year and FIVE months

or

stick it out until my 30 years are up in

TWO years and FIVE months.

As with most people, health insurance is the clincher.

Once Doran retires, we lose our health insurance.

Doran will wait until I retire before he does.

Today he received an award at work for 40 years of service. Not many people can say they have been at their job for that long. I am so proud of him and so grateful that he has been such a dedicated provider for all these years! We aren't rich but we aren't in need.

I can't wait to wake up NOT to an alarm.

I can't wait to wake up WITH my best friend by my side.

I want to put more energy into:

exercise

quilting

baking

traveling

camping

hiking

a mission

yard work

gardening

and just anything that involves spending more time with Doran.

Yep, THAT is something that I am looking forward to.