Gearing Up for Christmas

Picture by Liz Lemon Swindle

I know the title suggests that I am not really ready.  And to tell you the truth, shopping wise I haven't even started.  However, spiritually I am so totally ready for Christmas.  I love that Christmas is all about the birth of our Savior, His life and the gift He has so freely give us.  I am so truly blessed and love that at this time of year I can show my gratitude to Him in serving others in a more focused way.  I guess that is why I'm not really in a panic about all of the shopping and commercialization.  I know the gift buying will happen and I really do enjoy that part too.  But for me it's more about the gift of giving that I really like to focus on. 

We will put our Christmas decorations up this Saturday as a family.  We've already started enjoying all of the Christmas music that we've accumulated over the years and then we will plan how and who we will be serving this year.  We will begin the baking and making and I can't wait!  I love the feelings that come with celebrating the birth and life of my Savior!

Picture by Liz Lemon Swindle



Snow

Softly falling

Clouds of white,

Quiet continual silence,

Drifting,

Piling,

Days of whitness,

Winter has begun!

A Celiac's Night Out

Last night was our daughter's High school girl's soccer banquet.  I did the decorations for the tables and they turned out way better than I expected.  I will post pictures when I learn how to download them from my phone. 

But on to the subject at hand.  When my husband and I usually go out to dinner, it is at the same old place eating the same old thing.  I do this to ensure that I don't get gluten, or glutenized as we say around here.  So imagine my surprise when the manager of the "Lodge" at Maddox in Brigham City, Utah told me that they were prepared to offer me a gluten-free substitute for most of the dinner items. 

We had arrived early to decorate and the manager gave me a sampling of the rolls that were gluten-free.  They were great.  So when the rest of the team arrived and they started serving dinner, I got rolls just like everyone else.  I even got cornbread muffins.  Then they made me a turkey-steak dinner (Gluten-free of course) with all the trimmings.  I was so stuffed, no pun intended.  Then, one of the waiters asked if I wanted just a scoop of ice-cream for dessert and I told him "No" that I was okay with the meal I had eaten.   Well, shortly after the manager brought me a cinnamon roll covered in a caramel sauce with whipped cream (all gluten-free!!).  So of course I had to eat it.  It was truly delightful and I felt so stuffed but wonderfully so!!  It was so nice to go out for a special occasion and to be able to be treated so kindly!  I can't say enough about this place.  I can't wait to go back there again, it was wonderful!!

Oh, and my daughter was honored as an all region academic at the banquet.  She was one of three girls that had high enough grades to get this award.  She also lettered (this is her 3rd year lettering) and has done well this year and I'm proud of her.  She has loved playing soccer with the Bear River Girl's soccer team.  It has been a wonderful experience for her.

Today I went crazy!  It was a fun day!!  I called a friend on Sunday and asked if she wanted to go to some quilting shops in Salt Lake with me today.  I've got the bug.  I did a quilt for Hannah and now am beginning another one.  My son asked me to do one for him, so I was on the hunt for some lovely fabric. 

As we entered our first quilt shop, I had no idea that there were such beautiful, vibrant colors!  I was in heaven.  I just wanted to stand and soak all of that color in.  I want to do so many quilts and do them right now.  I think it's called quilter's fever.  However, I know that I am just a beginner and that I need to go slow.  Being who I am if I make one that I don't like it will kill this desire and I don't want to do that.  I tend to want perfection, but I am determined to make at least one quilt for each of my children.  That way they will have something of me!  Something that I made specifically for them.  So that they will know how special they are to me.  Not that they don't know that they are special to me, but it's just one of those mom things.  Anywho, once I found the fabric for the new quilt, I started seeing lovely fabrics that would make darling, little girl clothes for my grandbaby.  I had to get out of there quick! 

Okay is it normal to want a room in your house just dedicated to fabric.  I wish I had room to have it all layed out just like in the stores.  Where all of the colors match and are arranged by color.  I'm also on the hunt for a great deal on a quilting machine.  I think I've found my new hobby!  I'll let you know how it goes and post pictures as I do these quilts!!

I appreciated having a good friend want to spend the day doing this with me!  We had so much fun just talking and laughing.  I think everyone needs a friend to laugh with.  We even planned what projects we needed to get done so that we can go on another outing together.  I loved today!!  Thank you my friend for spending time with me and being the inspiration for my next few projects!!