Check!

I have a wonderful talent of starting HUMONGOUS projects that can seem quite impossible to ever finish. I've got a whole list of projects that I've started and have not finished. And I have yet another list of projects waiting in the wings. To some, this may seem depressing, but it is not to me! I absolutely love it! I like daydreaming of what it will be like when these amazing projects are completed. I don't dream about them all at once, but just will sit and think about one every once in a while. And for sure, I will never ever use the excuse that "I'm bored" or "I have nothing to do" because I ALWAYS have some awesome project sitting on that back burner waiting to be stirred up. I really enjoy working on them, just a little bit at a time. That's how things get done! And I do work on them just a little chunk here and a little chunk there. And on occasion I actually have completed a project in the works and that has got to be one of the best feelings of accomplishment ever! I love it!

So today I get to check off (well, I guess half a check) a project on my list. I LOVE cross stitching and there has been a pattern sitting in my bucket of cross stitch stuff for a couple of years. It was one of those "waiting in the wings" projects and about 10 months ago I decided to pick it up and start it. And today I completed it! The reason I say "half a check" is because I still need to frame it and hang it on my wall. Then it will be truly completed. I really have been so excited to show off this finished stitching the second it was done though, so I can't wait until it's framed!

It's a Mirabilia design titled the Queen of Peace. And it was SOOO fun to do because I got to use beads, metallic thread and little crystal jewels too! I stitched it on linen, which means each stitch is over two threads of material. This is the third piece that I've stitched on linen and I love it! It looks so pretty. The final stitched area is 10 1/2" x 20".

As I stitched, I thought a lot about the beauty of the piece and realized that it reminds me of some things very close to my heart. I love the way the woman is poised. She truly is queenly in her stature and that reminds me of my own divinity and destiny to be a queen with my husband for eternity. I love all the jewels in her dress, her necklace and in her hair. The beauty of her adornments symbolizes to me the beauty of virtuous traits that I am striving to cultivate. And last of all, I love that she is holding a dove in her hands. The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit and it reminds me to always take the Spirit as my personal guide. So while I initially bought the pattern because I would be able to stitch with beads and jewels and the design was beautiful, as I stitched it became even more beautiful and treasured to me because of the things that it reminds me of. I am so excited to have it framed and displayed in my home!

I'm Blogging...

to the tune of my two snoring boys sleeping on the couch!!

Just wanted to make a quick post to announce that: I'm returning to the realm of higher education!!!

For those of you who know me well, you'll know that's quite an accomplishment to even get that far! I felt many whispered inspirations over the summer to "qualify" myself to be able to be a resource that people can turn to for advice, guidance and direction... a.k.a. counseling. So I decided to heed those whisperings and applied as a junior at SUU to major in sociology. I don't feel a sense of urgency to get a degree, just that it is important for me to do *someday*. So I figured I might as well start working on it a little chunk at a time. I'll be taking two classes each semester and the plan is to graduate in Spring of 2014 with my BA in sociology and then apply for the 3 year, part-time Master's of Social Work program through the University of Utah extension at SUU.

Funny story. I applied, was admitted, filled out my applications for financial aid and was awarded some aid and a loan, and registered for my classes at SUU all before it occured to me that I have no idea how I'm even going to get to the university that is 40 miles away from my home. Yeah. It didn't even occur to me. We currently only have one car and not a whole lot of wiggle room in our budget. True story. The end is still yet to be written.