Self taught sewing

I have been attempting to sew lately... I have NEVER had any classes or lessons and thus it is a little tricky. I have the users manual for my circa 1950 sewing machine and consult it regularly. What I have learned is that being self taught isn't necessarily a good thing. I have probably made more mistakes than anyone in the history of the art and have learned very little...unless you count the obvious like eyeballing the measurements isn't really a good idea.

So...buddy here and I - we self taught ourselves, but we probably shouldn't have. I'm pretty sure I have less oxygen in my brain now than when I started this venture. :)

It's Not Easy Being Green

Well, the last few days I have spent being sick. It is likely the same yucky bug my kids had last week and it gives me renewed sensitivity to what it is like to be sick. I hate feeling soggy, nauseous and tired. It reminds me of being pregnant. At least this time I can rest easy knowing it will be over in a few days instead of most of a year! Can you imagine being terminally ill? What a difficult road that must be to go down - and it must feel so lonely. I am so grateful to have good health overall.

I recently read "the Last Lecture" so of course being sick makes me recall the things Mr. Pausch went through and I have to ask myself, "have I completed any of my childhood dreams?" The answer - not too many. My biggest childhood dream was to become a famous singer. Now I hardly have any room in my life for singing. My kids come first right now and music is an all or nothing type of pursuit if you want to go big time. So for now that is not going to happen. I did record and album a couple of years ago - 20 copies. My three year old loves it and my husband listens to it from time to time. That's almost as much use as it has had. Matt would like me to record another album - for real this time - not just an hour in a studio with myself and the studio guy. Ahhh - where to find the time, money and the musicians?

Okay so I could count being a mom a completed dream. Oh and owning a house I love. I was always a bit embarrassed by my parents home so it was a big deal to me to get a house I could be proud of. We completely remodeled our current home and I did much of the design work, almost all of the painting and a lot of the tiling. So I am pretty proud of it. I often walk around and think - "wow, I love our house."

I can't think of what my other dreams even where right now. I guess I will have to finish this little task later since the 13 month old is dismantling my kitchen cabinets!

Ahhh ...Friends

Last night I joined half of the female population of Utah at the movie theater for the premier of "Twilight." Yes - I read all four books and no I'm not in love with Edward Cullen. I think Ms. Meyer is an excellent story teller and the books grabbed my attention but I am hardly a true follower. I was disappointed by the movie - it's like super budget quality with B level actors. I guess nothing can be as good as you imagine it.

The great thing about last night was the opportunity to connect with old friends. Two of my college roommates met me at the theater and we spent a good couple hours after immersed in conversation. How wonderful it is to have good friends! I love that even though our lives have taken us different places, and we don't have the chance to get together that often, that we can reconnect and it is just like we haven't missed a minute of each other's lives.

I love when a friend is a friend regardless of whether you are "on" and can appreciate the things about you when you are at your best, worst, or whatever it may be. I love that we can have such ranging views of life and how it should be lived and still be appreciative of each other and accept each other as we are. I love to just chat about the mundane, the trivial, as well as the big things in life. Thank you to my wonderful friends.

(I wish I had taken a picture but...)

Little Moments

Three Year Old Feet

I spent most of yesterday and last night up with sick kids. It is amazing to me how something as small as a virus reminds you how fragile life is. Maybe it is seeing those little guys become pale and lethargic, but suddenly I am more tolerant, patient, and kind. I just can't let them feel sick without extra love and attention.

It reminds me of Lonestar's song, "Let Them Be Little", these moments really are fleeting. I wish in some ways that I could freeze them at a certain age (my favorite is three) and yet I don't want to deny them the experiences and opportunities that come as they grow up. If I could somehow capture every little thing they do, cute story they tell, and amusing face they make I could let go easier. I guess that's the idea - learn to let them be little while they are, and then enjoy what comes next without wishing it away either.

So I guess my wisdom learned for today is seize the moment., even if it includes vomit stained clothes...

Today is a new Beginning

Redfish Lake, Sawtooth Mountains, ID

With all the amazing blogs out there I'm not sure why I am going to the trouble of creating my own. Probably because I am terrible at keeping any sort of a journal - perhaps this will suffice.

One thing is certain, my life thus far has certainly been a journey for me. I learn new things about myself almost everyday. I can't believe how much of my life I have lived already with very little knowledge of who I am and what I am doing here. I would like to think that my life is a contribution to the lives of others in some small way... I hope at least for my children. I hope to chronicle in the next few weeks something of what I have learned, and maybe it will be helpful to others as well. I'm sure I will keep learning and those moments while embarrassing, or difficult for me might prove entertaining for someone outside my present circumstances. So here's to another blog littering up the universal web space...