{a project a day}

Are you like me? Do you have so many projects you would like to do that you don't even know where to begin?

I love projects...and by projects, I mean crafts. I am not really an adrenaline junkie, I don't like computer games or electronic games, but I do love crafts {just look at earlier posts in this blog}. So, I decided to add one more project to my huge list of ongoing projects: Project Life {website: http://beckyhiggins.com/}. It is a new way to scrapbook based on journal cards, mementos, and pictures. I love traditional scrapbooks with all the pretty stickers and embellishments, but I have a son. And I don't think he is going to be as into that sort of thing as I am. So, I thought I would give this a whirl and see if it would make a good baby book for him. I'll post updates...we'll see.

For now, I have to finish my little quilt that I made using fabric and embroidery floss that I found around my house! {shows you how much stuff I have for projects}. I am almost done, and can't wait to show you!

Here's a preview with the pillow I already finished that will match the quilt:

PS - This is a quilt and pillow set for children - not all of my home decorations involve a lobster wearing sunglasses...although it could be fun...

{after a party}

Well...this has been the busiest couple of weeks... My husband got to take his oath of office and is now a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps...it was a big deal, and we threw a big party. Now I have the remains of a party to clean up. I usually dread that part. It is never as much fun to clean up from a party as it is to set up for one...but I have been trying to change my attitude about that. As I was folding napkins to put them away, I realized that the memories from the party are still there...I guess cleaning up can be a good way to reflect on the laughter and friendship that was present there... I will share pictures eventually - no one who brought their camera got any good ones, and we haven't received the pictures from the photographer yet.

{meaningful remembrance}

Through meaningful remembrance, the sacrifices of those who have gone before will not become distant memories. 

~James Conway, General, United States Marine Corps

Two years ago today, my dear friend Joe gave the last full measure of devotion to God and Country, and went home to be with the Lord in Glory.

And I have no words today to properly remember my friend. Words are not enough to express my gratitude for his choice to serve and defend our country. 

Today, I choose to remember his legacy with honor. 

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 

~John 15:13

{remembering: part three}

In the day of emails, texts, tweets, facebook posts, and blog posts, it is easy to forget to make a meaningful impact in someone's life. While those instant media channels of communication are fun, there is nothing like an in-person conversation with a dear friend, or a hug from someone you haven't seen in a long time, or a hand-written letter or phone call to a loved one you can't see in person, or even a smile from an acquaintance or stranger.

Today, I want to share with you the way that I remember my friend Joe every day:

Jack - 10 weeks old

This is obviously not a picture of Joe like the previous posts remembering Joe - it's a picture of my son, Jack. My husband and I knew the moment we found out Jack was going to be himself {namely: a boy} what his middle name would be: Joseph. We chose to remember our friend in our son's name.

Make sure to impact those around you in a meaningful way, and remember to honor those you cannot be with in a meaningful remembrance.

{remembering: part two}

Today I would like to remember how wise Joe was. I have many snippets of wisdom stored in my heart that Joe shared with me through the years that I knew him.

Joe hanging out in my favorite park

I would like to share just one: there was a time in college when a few not-so-nice things were said to me about me that were very hurtful {shocking, I know: gossip in a group of young college students}. Joe pulled me aside and I just remember him saying that the best way to react to something like that would be to make sure that my actions did not reflect others' words. If you are above reproach in character, untrue words won't go very far among those who know you.

I think that is a very important thing to remember. Make sure that your reputation is, well, reputable. Joe's character was reputable, and he was loved and respected among all his peers and the parents of all his peers.

{remembering: part one}

I told you this was my month to reflect and remember. A big part of that is because of Joe.

Joe was a friend I met when I first started attending community college during my junior year of high school. He was funny, wise, and the goofiest, wiriest person I have ever met.

Joe is on the right, with my husband on the left. Typical Joe. 

Today, I am remembering how fun Joe was to be around, how his sense of humor just cracked me up. Just to give you a sense of how goofy Joe was, I would like to share with you a "note" he wrote on his facebook. {please note: this is copied directly from FB as Joe wrote it.}

BOB! go to sleep. - written by Joseph White. November 18, 2008

"at first i considered him a mouse problem (i'm assuming he's a dude mouse because i'm uncomfortable with the thought of sharing the room i get naked in with a female). anyway anyone (even if it is a mouse) who steals cookies that my girlfriend makes for me is a problem. but he just helped himself to them like his mother never taught him manners. so i trapped him under a pillow one night and punched it as hard as i could (it was on my couch and i'd rather get rid of a couch pillow then have mouse guts all over my hand.) i heard something pop and thought it was the mouse but i'm pretty sure it was just my knuckles now because when i lifted the pillow he was no where to be seen. i took it as a sign to leave him alone (well more like i didn't want him thinking i was a problem and bite [me] while i was sleeping at night... well sleeping anytime really i'm not sure why i put at night.. whatever. i have serious ADD) so i named him bob and told him to help himself to MY cookies. i'm such a nice guy. i'm sure bob's forgiven me for trying to turn him into mouse sauce with my fist. at least i hope he has. i am sharing my cookies after all."

I am thinking that an adaptation of this would make a funny children's book. What do you think?

{the whole picture}

September is my month to reflect and remember {more to come on why that is}.

Today I would like to reflect on something I alluded to in my last post. When I was 17, I enlisted in the Washington Army National Guard, and went to Army Basic Training {"boot camp"} in the middle of summer at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina.

I am from the Seattle area. I am whiter-than-white {lack of exposure to sunlight}, and there is very little humidity here - it doesn't stay in the air, it condenses and rains. I live in a state that has real dirt, not sand. And we don't have cockroach problems, and our little black ants don't bite. Also, greens, lima beans, and squash are not usually on the everyday menu around here. So, needless to say, I was not in an environment I was used to {even minus the drill sergeant/boot camp part}.

Today I want to share with you a small part of boot camp: shin splints. Maybe you are a runner, maybe you exercise {see my last post to get an idea of how much I hate exercise}, but I am not athletic. So you can bet after running miles every day, and then wearing combat boots for days on end, I got shin splints. Now, being a non-exerciser, I didn't know what they were. By the time I finished boot camp {a story for another day}, and returned home, I had bi-lateral stress-fractures and painful shin splits from knee to ankle. Ouch! After a year of "Drilling" {one weekend a month training with the National Guard}, I was given a discharge from the National Guard because I was still not able to run a mile under 15 minutes {note: I can walk a mile in 16 minutes, so I am a really slow runner}.

I was bummed. And a bit angry. God had obviously orchestrated the channels needed for me to go to boot camp, He had been with me the whole way, and he could have prevented or healed the shin splints. But He didn't. He let me go to boot camp and then not have a career in the military. I didn't get my enlistment bonus, and they didn't pay for school. And I still can't run worth beans.

But it was worth it. I am so glad I did it. And I hope one day I get to see the whole picture. Even if it is the day I die and go to heaven. I want to know why. But now, I want to know why so I can marvel at His plan. I want to know whose lives were affected by me being there {in my earthly way, I kinda want it to be like "It's a Wonderful Life" and see what would have happened if I hadn't been there}. I am not angry anymore. And I am not bummed anymore. It's nice to be a mama to my sweet boy, and to be a military spouse now {note: being a spouse is harder than being the one serving, just sayin'}. And I have faith in His perfect plan. Although it is hard to be patient while He waits to reveal it.

Check back later for more on the boot camp experience.