October is almost behind us, and snow is falling here in Northern Utah.  We are setting weather records for cold temps this week.

Last week I was at a Victims Conference.  I learn something new each time I attend.  One thing that really stuck out was the Utah Homicide Survivors group.  Not that we ever want to experience a homicide it was very interesting that this is a non-profit....costs survivors zero.  Brandon serves the communities of Utah when tragedy stikes by protecting victims properties, assisting prosecutors and police to bring others to justice and obtain all personal entitled property.  He can also assist with civil lawsuits to claim damages.  Brandon is an attorney, and a good one who solely specializes in this area.

I encourage you to reach out, even if there is no homicide, but a loved one who has passed and you would like advise and maybe help in searching for and securing what is theirs.

http://www.utahhomicidesurvivors.org/

Who Would Have Thought.............

July 29, 2019 was an exciting day one could have never imagined.   My mom became an official published author in this big world.  My dad, being a seasoned photographer also used one of his beautiful photos to grace the cover.

This book is a result of her years of study, living life, observing and learning about our ever changing world.  

I encourage all who are seeking deeper meaning or understanding of the bible and their faith to read this and share with others.  Published by world renowned WestBow Press, she was encouraged by the publisher to share this subject.

https://www.amazon.com/Equipped-Holiness-Thurman/dp/1973667770/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=equipped+for+holiness&qid=1564578107&s=gateway&sr=8-1  

#equippedforholiness #drshirleyfthurman #christianloliness

Our Squirrels

It has been over 3 years since my last post.  My last post was done at the time we bought our first home and moved north.  Owning a home has been sweet, but also a struggle.  Not a struggle as one may think, but........  decorating......making it mine........   I am struggling.  We have moved so much over the years that for the past 3 years I've lived with bare walls and only 2 rooms repainted in colors I chose.  It's clearly the refugee look.

This is leading me to a new subject on "ADuLtINg".  We know hind sight is 20/20,and had I known what I do now we would be living much differently I assume.

This was not do to poor parenting or anything, but just critical things that we never learned in school.  I see people from all walks of life......everyday that lack basic living skills, the millennial have kindly dubbed "ADULTING".  I have a plan to address and talk about changing behavior that sets one up for failure.  Again, this is not about bad or lack of parenting.  There are things for example that have to do with simple money management that some of us were never taught.  For example CREDIT....  what is it, how do I get it, how do I keep it, why is it important?

Creating a budgeting, cooking on a budget, cleaning, laundry, accountability, the legal system (probation or traffic citations).  All these day to day things that one has to deal with or find themselves having to deal with do to a poor decision.

Squirrels are living creatures that seem to be born with the entire world figured out.  All day, they work........just like birds.  They are always working to build a home, work to find food, and take care of young while playing or fighting with others over territory or food.

One's instincts would say they are lucky to be born and instantly know what's expected of their short lives.  But we humans........we got issues.  You ever wonder if we are observed as zoo animals by animals?  Imagine how comical that must be.

#adulting101     #easyadulting   #diyadulting

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So for a new little project I recovered an old stained office chair.  Looks as though it's water damage or stained.  I did not want to bother cleaning it, so I made a quick slip cover for it.

I had some fabric that has been with me for a few years that I haven't used yet.  It's a pretty dark color and adds a unique style.

 After choosing the fabric, I took the easiest and fastest way to create an easy slip cover.  I simple cut it roughly around the shape of the chair and left the bottom open.  I sewed up the sides and hemmed the bottom leaving a 3/4" seam hem in order to thread small ribbon through so I could slip it and gather and tie it to secure the fit.  I chose white thread for this in order to show how this was done.

 After this was threaded I did the same thing to the seat.  This took only about 30 minutes and the great thing is that it can be taken off and gently washed.

     Since my last post in a lot has happened.  It has been tough as a friend of ours took his own life in his families home in early June.  This was a sad experience where we processed many emotions.  Through this however I think everyone affected has learned a great deal about themselves, each other, and others in need.

     On the brighter side me and my husband both graduated college together.  We opened our business, which is a mobile hot dog trailer, and just this past week bought our first home.......a little bungalow.  

     I look forward to settling in and updating my Etsy store with many handmade items.  This takes time, but hope I can become regularly engaged. With fall now approaching it is time to get ready for winter weather.  This time is the best time to work on projects as there is not much to do in winter outdoors here.  I have not really worked on anything for months, so we will all see what I come up with over the next few weeks and months.

It's Marriage Season!

Over the next 90 days there will be hundreds of newly married couples.  There will also be divorces.  Have you noticed how fashionable divorce has become.  How fashionable selfishness has become?  How society today does not want you to seek out help....  especially faith based help to heal your broken marriage?  I have noticed that when conflict arises individuals act like children "if you don't do what I want or what I say, or hang out with the friends I want, they I'm outa here".  Hello, one needs to be very careful, especially women to NOT turn your marriage into a parental role.  Your spouse is an adult and capable, and no they are not perfect.  

Let me just say...  marriage is not a fad, it's not about the fancy dress, and how many guests you invite and the gifts you receive.  It is about a sacred promise to each other and God that you will remain together through the good and the bad.  There is no perfect marriage, or person.  We all come with our own set of baggage and expectations.  Many of those expectations are skewed as we look to the examples from our own parents, television, movies, and then put our own spin on it.  

Think of a broken marriage as a severely broken bone.  Your leg is so badly broken the doctor does not know if surgery can even repair it.  After it's repaired it may not be the same, but it could also be better than imagined.  

WORK , WORK, WORK,  it takes two to fail in a marriage and two to repair it.  You have to feed it daily, and sometimes we forget and the weeds begin to grow.  We all know what a garden looks like when the weeds take over.........  you can't see the potential or the beauty that lies beneath those weeds.  And how does one weed a garden?  By pulling one weed at a time, and continuing to weed often to keep them from popping up and taking over the good things that grow.  What is great about the garden is you can choose what to plant.  One of you may want beautiful flowers (love and comfort) where the other may want tomatoes (strength and stability).  This is fine, as without knowing these things both are things of nourishment and beauty.  As a married couple works in their garden they begin to appreciate the contributions of the other.  The garden begins to look like a green blossoming orchestra built by the two of you and prosperous through God.

In our current world it is more important than ever to "PROTECT YOUR MARRIAGE"!

So they are no longer two, but one. No human being must separate, then, what God has joined together. – Matthew 19:6

And most importantly "DON'T GIVE UP"!

Nothing is impossible for God! – Luke 1:37 

Please visit my partner blog www.happitohelp.blogspot.com 

#marriageworks, #notodivorce, #marriageweeds

NOTE: I am not saying that there are not valid reasons to divorce a toxic individual, but I am pro-marriage.

This is a writing from a friend of ours who has a wonderful way with words.  She speaks from the heart and has great insight for improving ones self through struggles of daily life, while embracing all the good that she can capture.  by: Jannah Weiler

Hello boys and girls. Today I would like to write about composting. Yes, composting. Okay, but only to bring it home with a great analogy. ;P

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environment Protection, "Composting is a technique used to accelerate the natural decay process. The technique converts organic wastes to a mulch which is used to fertilize and condition soil. Composting can take as long as a year or as little as 14 days, depending upon the amount of human control."

So why am I writing about compost? Well, this morning I was thinking about inner garbage. Each of us has garbage. We have all been hurt by people and life experiences. This has created emotional waste, which can sit and pile up for many years. This inner garbage continues to build up and some spend a great deal of time and energy trying to get rid of the garbage only to attain new garbage, or even realize the smell of the old garbage is still lingering. These thoughts are what brought me to composting.

Compost is old garbage allowed to go through a decaying process and turned into soil that helps plants grow. See where I am going with this? wink emoticon

What if we quit trying to get rid of the inner garbage and learn how to turn it into compost? Compost is put into CONTROLLED storage bins. We control this process. All the garbage is then layered strategically on top of each other and allowed to sit and decay. Once it has decayed, it becomes the very fertilizer for healthy growth. Many people go through years and years of therapy. Personal "composting" can accelerate the process depending upon the amount of human control as mentioned above.

Some blame others for their personal garbage and allow their own emotional waste to stink and it shows and smells for that matter. These types of people think the garbage of others stinks too much so they remove themselves from the situation, only the garbage is still there and without proper care, the stench becomes unbearable! smile emoticon

We have the ability to take control of our own inner garbage instead of continuously throwing it out or blaming it on others. We can use it to be our very source of living and growth and become the masters of our own beautiful and healthy garden. Corny? Yes! It's how I roll. wink emoticon We will have to continuously keep weeds out of our garden and it may even stink for a while, but we can continue to utilize new garbage to become our fertilization of growth. If we were to follow this natural and organic process, we can develop and grow into greater and better people. We will truly see the fruits of our labors in ourselves and in our relationships with others. heart emoticon