Scott and Mark gave me fabric on my Independence Day birthday to make a Halloween quilt to drape over our railing. I worked hard and finished it before Halloween. Only a few hours, but still…
Sue
First Snow
October 26-first day of snow in Alpine. Brrrr. My flowers are sad.
And it’s not even Halloween yet.
Fall Into Reading 2010
It’s time for the Fall into Reading Challenge, although I’m a few days late getting started. October is National Book Month, so I’m starting in celebration of that. The rules: make a list, write a post, and read from September 22 to December 20. Here’s the list from my TBR pile, in no apparent order:
- Shanghai Girls, by Lisa See
- The Serpent’s Children, by Laurence Yep
- Mountain Light, by Laurence Yep
- The Cross-Country Quilters, by Jennifer Chiaverini
- Summer on Blossom Street, by Debbie Macomber
- The Street of a Thousand Blossoms, by Gail Tsukiyama
- Red River, by Lalita Tademy
- Love Comes Softly, by Janette Oke
- The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, byAlan Bradley
- Prayers for Sale, by Sandra Dallas
- Buster Midnight’s Cafe, by Sandra Dallas
- Mississippi Trial, 1955, by Chris Crowe
- The Hourglass Door, by Lisa Mangum
- The Golden Spiral, by Lisa Mangum
Life Changes
Today I was released from the ward calling I have held since 2003. I was released for a few months in late 2006 and then called again in early 2007, so essentially I have been the ward choir director in the Mountainville 3rd Ward for 7 years. For most of that time I had 2, 3, or 4 other callings in addition to choir, but choir has been a constant. It’s a calling that I really love and I am sad to see it go, but with some current health issues that I am experiencing, it was felt by my Bishop that I need a break. I have worked with so many great people during those years and seen so much growth in my fellow musicians that I feel truly blessed. It’s been an emotional day, but I had visits from two families this afternoon with gifts to tell me how much I had influenced them, so I also feel loved.
My Happiness Project
Five of my dearest friends met together last month to discuss our book club pick: “The Happiness Project” by Gretchen Rubin. We had a lively discussion on the meaning of compromise vs. collaboration and what really makes us happy and what doesn’t. At first glance, we seem an unlikely group, thrown together originally because of our volunteer work, but the bonds we’ve formed have helped all of us in good and bad times. They gave me courage to change because I was wavering on how many of the concepts I wanted to implement in my life. I am not elastic enough to want a full-blown project like the author, so I gave myself permission to cherry-pick some of the ideas that really resonated with me. So I am going to spend the next few months working on the following resolutions. Some of these things I do already, but could do better; some need to be started; and some just need to be done with regularity. I am hoping to see an increase in my level of happiness as I am more mindful of what I choose to do in my life.
Vitality: exercise better; toss, restore, organize; tackle a nagging task
Remember Love: don’t expect praise or appreciation; give proofs of love
Aim Higher: blog regularly; enjoy now; plan my days
Lighten Up: take time for projects; cut people slack
Contemplate the Heavens: scripture study; temple attendance