January Project

So, things have gotten a bit busy and I haven't had the opportunity to update on my January project.

In January, I worked for Empower Women in Africa, where I made 13 different feminine hygiene pads and 40 different inserts. Each pad requires 3 inserts to make it a "complete set," so I had to do many more of those than the actual pad. Still, for this I broke out my serger sewing machine for the first time and, voila, it was pretty much a snap from there.

Well, actually it took me nearly 3 hours a night for three weeks to complete all the cutting, pinning, and sewing, but I was really proud of what I did. Here are some pictures of it:

Each girl gets 3 pads and 9 inserts, meaning that I helped 4 girls in Africa get a complete set with the work I did here. I LOVED doing this project, and I felt wonderful being able to help my fellow sisters have a more comfortable monthly experience.

Plus, now that I know how to make them, I'm tempted to make several for my 72-hour kit. After all, they're washable, reusable, and practical. Who could say no?

If you want to learn how to make these, or to help out, just click here to get more info: http://empowerwomeninafrica.com/get-involved/

A New Year's Resolution

Normally, when I make goals each year, I try to make them in the following areas:

• Physical
• Spiritual
• Financial

And, because I choose ONE goal for each area, I often am able to accomplish them pretty well. For instances, last year (for 2011) my goals were as follows:

Physical: Run a marathon in May. I did NOT accomplish this because, when I made the goal, I was injured. So, a month or so later this changed to: be able to run again. And that goal I did accomplish. In fact, I run 3 times a week, 2-3 miles each time, EVERY week. I've done this for six months and have only missed two days so far, over Christmas break when we were out of town.

Spiritual: Read the New Testament. I did most of this. I got stuck somewhere after Acts (I think it was in Ephesians??), but I did a pretty good job at working toward that one. I count it as accomplished.

Financial: Pay off my remaining student debt of $15,000, which we did. We sent our last check in on January 5, and I am thrilled that I am now, officially, debt free! Woot!

Having had a fairly successful year, I've decided my goals for this year (2012) will include the following:

Physical: Run a 5k in under 30 minutes. Speed, not distance, will be my bear to beat this year. I am running a 5k in April with my sister, in May with my brother, and probably in September (Bass Lake) and October (Susan G. Komen). There should be plenty of opportunity to increase my speed over the year, and test it at these races!

Spiritual: Study the scriptures for at least 30 minutes every day. So far, I'm right on track with this one and I'm loving it. At church in Utah there was a lesson on January 1 about devoting time to God. In the lesson the teacher discussed how each day is 24 hours long and, if we just give 24 minutes a day to scripture study then we are really only giving 100th of our time to the Lord. When she put it like that, it made it seem very doable, and so I have done it. I'm really enjoying the experience, too!

Financial: This one gets a bit tricky because there's a lot involved with it. We want to pay off two more, smaller, debts this year. And then we want to use the rest of the money to further our future a bit. Let's just say that by the end of the year we'll either have a baby (birthed or adopted, TBA) or a better car, and that's my financial goal right now.

BUT, in the midst of all these other things, I wish to add one more.

On Christmas Day, again in church, one of the speakers talked about the importance of having the true meaning of Christmas in your heart all year long. She asked, "So, what will you do to have Christ in your heart throughout the coming year?"

I thought a lot about this, for some reason. I kept thinking, "What is something I WILL be able to do, will WANT to do, and can bless the lives of others?" The more I thought about it, the more I thought about my hubby's family tradition of "Jesus Gifts." Every year his family makes a gift for a sibling, on the sly (like a homemade secret santa). Then, they exchange it on Christmas Eve. I thought, "Wouldn't it be cool if I could make Jesus Gifts for God's children every month this year, rather than just one for one family member?"

And, thus the idea was born: I am going to donate (at least) one item to charity every month of the year to make it 12 months of giving to others.

I decided, too, that the following are the rules for this goal:

1. Each donated item must be homemade on some level. Note: homemade can include making a meal or two for women in the ward, for example.
2. Each donated item must be completed within a month and sent to the appropriate place before a new one can be started.
3. Each month must involve a new/different charity than the months before.

This month, my charity is Empower Women in Africa. This is a beautiful Non-Profit that does extraordinary things to keep young African girls in school as long as possible. They do this by providing re-useable, fabric, feminine hygiene products to girls so they do not have to miss school and work during "that time" of the month. Please, check out their website - it is a beautiful organization and I could not be more delighted to be making these gifts for my sisters in need!!

Days 5, 6, and Today: 7

Day 7 (Today): I am grateful for my job. Sure, there are days I hate it. But, today I did not hate it. At the end of the night a student said, as she left, "I love this class." There was no irony, no sarcasm, just open and delighted honesty. It made me feel good - worthwhile - and like what I do matters, occassionally, to some students. I like that part of my job a lot: influencing people and making their lives better.

Day 6 (Sunday): I am grateful for a good cry, occassionally. I am also really grateful for General Conference talks, played while I cut Aaron's hair. They were exactly what I needed to hear, when I needed to hear them.

Day 5 (Saturday): I am grateful for a husband who recognizes my sometimes inexplicable and otherwise unrecognizable needs. Tonight he saw that I needed to go to JoAnn's, so off we went to buy fabric. Then, in the store he noticed I was hungry (I did not feel hunger, mind), so off we went to Panda (yum!). He is very aware of me, and of my needs, and works very hard to make sure needs are met, even when those needs exist before I recognize they do!

Day 4: Meds

I am grateful for readily accessible and useful medicines: for anti-itch cream that I can rub all over the stupid allergic reactions I've been breaking out in for no explainable reason (pollen count today: low, so explain that), and for medicines that make bad things feel better.

I am also grateful for prescription meds when I get really, really sick. I'm not sick right now, but when I come down with some hideous bacterial bug, it's nice to know some sort of -cillin's got my back. Also, on a side note, whoever invented Diflucan should get a free pass into heaven. That stuff is a life saver. Just sayin' - when the need is there, I'm super happy to have access to the medication to make it all better.

Meds certainly make my life a lot more pleasant on a daily basis. Today is no exception, seeing as I'm having a headache. Bring on the ibutabs, people. Thank heavens for them.

Day 3: Mediocrity

Today, I am grateful for mediocrity. I am so glad that I can do lots of different things at a mediocre level rather than just one thing at a great level. This is because there are so many different things I enjoy doing, and I cannot imagine being pigeon-holed into one pursuit. I think that would be a very boring life.

So, here are just a few things I enjoy doing at the level of mediocrity:

Running, or more like jogging
Playing the piano
Playing the violin (this is a new one, so it's the very beginning of mediocrity)
Crocheting
Knitting
Quilting
Sewing
Acting
Cooking
Baking (the cheesecake I make is slightly more than mediocre, but otherwise, this fits here too)
Floral Design
Sketching
Using Photoshop
Teaching
Speaking Spanish

There is nothing quite like being mediocre, and I am so grateful today that I can be only mildly proficient in so many varied activities. It definitely makes my life more interesting, that's for sure!

Thankful For

I am going to really focus on what I am grateful for this month. I've done this before, but never online. So, here it goes:

Yesterday's (Day 1):

I am grateful for Alan, Aaron's brother (he's the one on the left in the above picture). I had a dream about him again two nights ago. He was twelve years old, and laughing a lot at a family get together. I thought, "Wow, Alan, that's weird. Why did you decide to be 12 today?" And then I thought about how I knew how he would sound when he was older, and what he would look like. I thought about how I was aware of the man he would become. His little chubby, round cheeks were rosey as he laughed and said, "Hey, Hey...Aaron?! Hey, Aaron!" with excitement, to my husband.

And then I woke up, and realized he was gone.

I felt so sad, but I also felt so grateful. I thought about him the entire day, like when my radio spontaneously turned on, or when a song he loved came on while I was showering. He used to BLAST his music from his iPod when he showered at our house. I thought about him when I watched a sci-fi film, and when I started the dishwasher. I felt happy that he is such a part of my life, even though he is no longer with us.


Today's (Day 2):

I am grateful for the smell of autumn. I opened the door last night to the most beautiful smell of burning fires. That was the smell of the air when we lived in Provo, just as the leaves were turning brown. It is a beautiful smell, and represents the season to me so much more than anything else. I love the air this time of year. It feels crisp, but not cold, and is so refreshing. I love the long walks with the dog, and the beautiful autumn sunsets. Fall is, easily, my favorite season. I am so grateful I live in a place that has seasons. I would miss the change in the weather.

Registered

I just wrote a long, beautiful piece about what motivated me to register for the half marathon. Then, the computer died.

Stupid computer.

Point being, I did it. I registered. I'm running the half (and walking as much as I need to).

I did it. I'm doing it.

Finally!