Ding dong went the door bell, but before I could restore my modesty (having just fed the baby for the 100th time today) and answer the door, my secret friend had already departed, leaving behind a yummy plate of goodies.

But it’s no secret to me that this dear friend has so much more than cupcakes on her proverbial plate right now. She has a close friend in the hospital who just received a bleak prognosis. She struggles with her own severe health problems. She has four busy, busy children to care for. And that’s just for starters. Yet, true to her charitable nature, she somehow found the time and energy to whip up a batch of gourmet cupcakes for me. 

Thank you, my dear friend–not just for the delicious dessert but for your sweet example of love and service. Tonight, after a long day of feeling not so good about myself, I will go to bed feeling loved.

Following a single adult fireside that BT spoke at last night, Vivi spied the brownies that were being served as refreshments.  I reminded Vivi that we had warm apple crisp at home waiting for us.  I tried to get her to visualize the delectable homemade dessert, topped with smooth vanilla bean ice cream.  I warned her that if she chose the dry, crumbly brownie, she would not be able to have her self-proclaimed favorite treat when she got home.  

Undissuaded was she, so Guppy fetched Vivi a brownie, and we all sat back and waited for the golden teaching moment that would inevitably present itself.

Sure enough.  Upon polishing off the brownie, Vivi promptly changed her mind and decided that she wanted apple crisp.  She begged.  She pleaded.  She cried.  She went to bed knowing that when she had settled on what she wanted at the moment, she sacrified what she wanted most.

As difficult as it was to watch sweet Vivi sorrowfully taste the bitter consequence of her choice, I know that one of my most important responsibilities as the mother of three young children is to help them practice their agency in these early years when the consequences are not life altering.

Free agency gives you the right to choose, but it gives you no immunity from the deprivation and sufferings which wrong decisions bring. Once you have set your feet upon the highway of life, the turning is not easy, especially if that highway be filled with heavy traffic and if it be a downward road.

~ Spencer W. Kimball

Upon hearing the weather forecast on the radio this morning, Guppy nearly burst with excitement.

Forecast: A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies and isolated storms this afternoon, continuing throughout tomorrow.  High around 70F. Wind SE at 15 to 25 MPH.

Foggy as to her abundance of glee, BT asked why she was so giddy. Guppy brightly replied, “Because SCHOOL IS GOING TO BE CANCELLED TOMORROW!”

“School is NOT going to be cancelled because of a few raindrops and a bit of thunder.”

“Dad, you weren’t listening!  It said that we’re going to have ISOLATED storms!  School is definitely going to be cancelled.”

And then it hit him like a bolt of lightening.  

• What the forecast said–“isolated storms.”
• What Guppy heard–“ice-o-lated storms.”

Sorry to rain on your parade, sweet Ariana.

On Saturday, the girls and a couple of their special friends visited the residents of a local assisted living center to deliver some little Easter baskets that they had crafted and filled.  When Vivi had to give up her last basket to one of the elderly ladies there, she threw herself on the floor and screamed in a fit of rage. The recipient of the gift was unmoved by the tantrum and, standing her ground, refused to give it back. Oh, how I love spunk in both young and old!

Taking a week off from his usual early-morning Sunday schedule, we enjoyed having BT with us.  But even with his help getting the kids ready, I was still a few minutes late to sacrament meeting. Oh, well.

I’d like to say that I did a good job this year of helping my children focus on the true meaning of this sacred holiday, but I fell short. I had grand plans of reviewing “The Greatest Week in History” and helping our family better understand the miraculous events leading up to Easter morn. I had hoped to make the day less about candy and more about Christ. Yet as I sit here and reflect upon my shortcomings, I am bouyed up by the blessings and promises of the Atonement. Tomorrow is fresh with no mistakes, and His infinite sacrifice makes it possible for me to try and try again when I don’t succeed.

Although I don’t pretend to understand everything He did for me in the sacred series of ‘Easter’ events, I am eternally grateful that Christ broke the bands of death, paid the price for my many sins, and provided a way for me to be together forever with those that I love.

Shoulders slouched and head drooping, Ariana shuffled her way into my bedroom this morning to confess her culinary catastrophe.

Lesson Learned: Plastic plates and toaster ovens don’t play nice together.

I am grateful that Ariana is always honest, even when she’s afraid to be.

After a few failed attempts and with the help of my dear genius mother, I laid these eggs last night.

I just love simple, inexpensive projects, and in the end, this one is a keeper!

I got the glass nest/bowl and the green moss from Dollar Tree.  The fabric and ribbon were on sale at Hobby Lobby.  

If you’re interested, I’ve posted the pattern I created and instructions HERE.

My craft room is a veritable PIGS (projects in grocery sacks) sty.

Our “tornado closet” looks like a tornado hit it–it’s full to the brim with tubs of fabric, some of which I inherited from my Grandma Gold. (By hanging on to her stuff, I can blame my craft addiction on genetics).

Just this week, my mom, sister and I made plans to start yet another BOM (Block of the Month, NOT Book of Mormon). 

And I have quietly started up my own little business, Simple-Blessings.Com (or Simple-Blessings.Net)–“lovingly handcrafted jewelry & photo keepsakes.” 

More often than not, I feel guilty that I suffer from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hobby Disorder).  But when I watched this message from Pres. Uchtdorf (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhLlnq5yY7k), I realized that the desire to CREATE is a divine attribute–definitely not someting to feel bad about.  

Of course, finishing things that I start would be even more DIVINE, but perhaps it’s kind of like creating the earth in seven days.  One “day” doesn’t necessarily mean that it was a single 24-hour period of time as we know it.  And so, the books I have that promise a “Quilt in a Day” may likewise not be reckoned according to earthly time–at least not for me.

All this talk about creating makes me want to go to Hobby Lobby this morning…I’m dying to make darling little fabric easter eggs and bird from a new Fig Tree book that I just got. (Or maybe I should brave the ‘tornado’ and find fabric in my stash).  

If I actually finish something today, I’ll be sure to post it. 🙂

Viral blogging at its best! 🙂  Thanks to Melissa Clark for this cute idea . . . 

Pass it on…

The first five people to comment to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. What I create will be just for you.
3. It might take a few weeks (months).
4. You have no clue what it’s going to be. I don’t even have a clue what it’s going to be.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did it win a homemade gift! It may not be great, but it will be fun!!* * *Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!* * *

Make Good Neighbors . . . and a big, costly mess when they fall down!

We knew that it was only a matter of time before our rickety, builder’s grade fence tumbled down.  BT had already patched one portion together with a ghetto-like contraption of a steel pole and flouresent orange tie-down strap. Perhaps our neighbors all got together and pulled the rest of the fence down in hopes that we’d stop pulling down their property values. 😉

BT had grand plans to someday rebuild the fence himself . . . a fabulous idea but probably not entirely realistic given that the demands for his time far exceed supply.

Some couples go to France for their anniversary.  We’re getting a new fence. France . . . Fence–so close, but oh so far!

Some would say, “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”  I say, “baloney!” Especially if that baloney is supposed to be on sale at Kroger.

In the fine print at every checkout stand is Kroger’s price accuracy promise–if something rings up at the wrong (higher) price, you get it free.  I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve been the recipient of free food at Kroger, compliments of this policy.  In fact, it happens so often that I’m absolutely convinced Kroger misprices things, hoping that no one notices.  Kroger also hopes that you don’t notice the fine print and, 99% of the time, attempts to simply do a price correction instead of voiding the item.  Nice try.

So, while I simply despise Kroger’s total lack of customer service, I appreciate the free food they seem to be so willing to give me on nearly every visit.

• Diligently watch them ring up each item.  
• Respectfully point out errors.
• Ensure that they honor their price accuracy promise.
• Enjoy your free lunch.