The summary-
I went to the Bryce Canyon's Ruby's Inn to a winter quilt retreat with Grandma and Grandpa. On the way we stopped at the Norman Rockwell exhibit at BYU. I was inspired, rejuvenated all week and loved being with grandma doing something she loves. I felt Heavenly Father's help as I ponder what to do in the next stage of life. I was reminded how much I love family, love, love being outside, love hearing good people that do hard things, love feeling Heavenly Father answer my prayers and lead me line upon line.
Could you take a picture a week of the ordinary scenery and life of Ghana? Send them when you can.
Advice of the week- Avoided focusing on misfortune, conflict and the problems of life. Instead, find the inspiring stories of people that are serious or humorous and learn through the spirit from them. The Lord gave you two ears to listen and two eyes to see and one mouth....use them in that ratio.
The long version-
The trip started out with me wondering if I should really leave. Dad's project was still going long and I stayed home longer than planned so that he could go into the office...... but I didn't let panic overcome me. I was able to leave in daylight and make it to Grandma and Grandpa's.
I left with two big questions in my mind; 1) What good can I do as Drew goes to school this fall and I move into a new stage in life? Work.. hobby.. something that is fulfilling and healthy, something that Dad and the kids could support, something inspiring for me, something that doesn't drain money, but contributes to our financial stability. 2) How can I strengthen my testimony and focus my life on the things that matter for eternity?
Here are the pieces of the puzzle that unfolded:
The best thing about riding with Grandma is she stops on the fly for great art exhibits...and so we did for the Norman Rockwell exhibit at BYU. One quote that struck me was, "Norman Rockwell's illustrations avoided misfortune, conflict and the problems of city life. He preferred to tell stories, whether serious or humorous that entertained." I have always marveled at how Elder Uchdorf is able to describe in words the common feelings of humans in humorous and meaningful ways. Norman Rockwell does the same thing in picture.
Then on to Bryce Canyon. We stayed at Ruby's Inn. Ruby Syrett and his wife homesteaded a property on the edge of nowhere. After coming to southern Utah with their two young kids, property bought sight unseen, their neighbor asked if they had seen the hole in their backyard. They went to the hole to find something amazing (what is now Bryce Canyon) and since then started a hotel and restaurant.
I love hearing stories of good people who do hard things.
Grandma has been coming to a winter quilt retreat here for 20 years. She teaches a couple classes a year....enough to cover the costs of the retreat, hotel, meals and $ for material she wants to buy for the upcoming year. Since I have been working up her patterns, she asked if I would like to come this year and learn and sell her patterns. I hand pieced my first quilt from grandma's patterns on the way down!! Yeah. Her quilts are like none at the retreat. She is unique with her landscapes.... and very much a minority. The ladies in her classes love her. Every afternoon and evening there was a program with lady's showing their AMAZINGLY CRAZY quilting habit. But it was a very wonderful comedy show at the same time. The 150 ladies are all nice, funny, talented and very uplifting to be around. I didn't let the overwhelming feeling of under-performance on my part overtake me...knowing I was pondering my deep questions. It was great to have time with Mom doing something she loves. I loved when she shared the history behind the scenes that she taught. I loved being around happy people.
I made enough to cover my expenses plus some great leads to sell more of the quilt patterns. One morning it was -14F, so instead of go cross country skiing I went with Grandpa and Grandma into Bryce Canyon. There weren't any crowds. On our way out we stopped at the visitors center for a bathroom, and I had the thought to take some patterns in to see if I could sell them there. The first thing the director said was, "I just got your patterns approved by the foundation to sell. I am so glad you came in because I didn't know how to get a hold of you." I hadn't even sent her a pattern. She picked it up from somewhere???? She also gave me contact numbers of several the other visitor centers in the Utah, Arizona area and is meeting with them in two weeks and asked for sample sheets to give to them. She also gave me ideas of new projects and info for a annual conference of all the National Parks in March. She bought patterns on the spot and also bought more at the end of the week that I hadn't sold at the quilt retreat. Mom's students bought extra patterns... spending $100 at a time.
The Ruby's Inn gift shop bought quite a few new patterns as well. Then two young quilters that are associated with a large fabric line mentioned going to "Market". I asked what that was and they said that this year the International Fabric "Market" is in Salt Lake and companies have booths for wholesale purposes. One of quilters designs fabric and the other makes patterns. Grandma and I are hoping to go and see. I might try to make some appointments with companies that may team up with me.
Even though I was so inspired by the other quilters and also had some opportunities open up to sell more patterns, I still worried about the balance of time for kids and family which are more important to me that money and things. Then the last night when they were having a show and tell, a lady who reluctantly wanted to learn to applique took a class from an applique fanatic. She couldn't believe that the fanatic produced so much work in her "stolen time" (time waiting for kid's lessons, appointments...ect.). The fanatic carries with her a little bag with 3 hours worth of work at a time. She put the claim to the test. The result was a queen size quilt with intricate applique....in only 2 1/2 months. It was hard to believe as I looked at it. But it is relaxing for me to be productive while waiting.
A few other times the idea of a "Nest" came up. A "nest" is a place to recenter and work out the problems of the world.
I love hiking...but I love cross country skiing just as much, or more. It fills me up. I love being outside, the sunshine, the scenery, the exercise. Two of the mornings I rented some skis and went through the forest and out to the canyon rim on a 4 mile loop. I could do that all day....for days. My dream is to take a year and home school (in an RV) while we visit all the National Parks that we can.
I stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's on Saturday night to avoid driving home while drowsy and had Grandma give one more lesson on finishing the quilt. By then I was addicted to the colorful thread that she uses. It is such a fun creative process. Lots of ideas flooded my mind of things I would like to try and avenues to pursue. I came home with fabric from grandma's stacks and new scenes we want to make this year. So I made my list and started back to reality. I would love to do one of Ghana and give it to your mission president or important people in your mission.
I haven't cooked for a week. There are lots of good things to do in this life, but I want to do the best things and the right things.
On my drive home I listened to D& C and Howard W. Hunters lesson #4: Help from on High. They spoke to my soul.
The thought that came to me when listening to this scripture is that I can continue prayerful and be guided day to day. I also need to be fulfilled, inspired and a happy mom to have my lamp full and ready to help in the second coming of the Lord. Being in nature, being inspired, being creative, being with happy people, being with family, being a support to Dad without big distractions, being there when my kids are in their crossroads, and having something that I can work on in my stolen time is a way to trim my lamp.D&C 33:17 Wherefore, be faithful, praying always, having your lamps trimmed and burning, and oil with you, that you may be ready at the coming of the Bridegroom—
Everyone was alive and happy when I got home this afternoon. I think they will write their side of the week the tales of their week.From Howard W.. Hunter "All of us face times in our lives when we need heavenly help in a special and urgent way. We all have moments when we are overwhelmed by circumstances or confused by the counsel we get from others, and we feel a great need to receive spiritual guidance, a great need to find the right path and do the right thing. In the scriptural preface to this latter-day dispensation, the Lord promised that if we would be humble in such times of need and turn to him for aid, we would “be made strong, and [be] blessed from on high, and receive knowledge from time to time.” (D&C 1:28.) That help is ours if we will but seek it, trust in it, and follow what King Benjamin, in the Book of Mormon, called “the enticings of the Holy Spirit.” (Mosiah 3:19.)"....But, we may say, Joseph Smith was a very special spirit, and his was a special case. What about the rest of us who may now be older—at least older than fourteen—and have not been destined to open a dispensation of the gospel? We also must make decisions and sort out confusion and cut through a war of words in a whole host of subjects that affect our lives. The world is full of such difficult decisions, and sometimes as we face them, we may feel our age or our infirmities.Sometimes we may feel that our spiritual edge has grown dull. On some very trying days, we may even feel that God has forgotten us, has left us alone in our confusion and concern. But that feeling is no more justified for the older ones among us than it is for the younger and less experienced. God knows and loves us all. We are, every one of us, his daughters and his sons, and whatever life’s lessons may have brought us, the promise is still true: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5D&C 1112 And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.
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