Quote: James E Faust

I have a quote in my scriptures that I refer to from time to time by
James E Faust

"The Lord can do remarkable miracles with

a person of ordinary ability

who is humble,

faithful

and diligent

in serving the Lord

and seeks to improve himself."

I truly believe this.

So often in the scriptures it says,

if ye have the desire... ye are called to the work

Our desires play an important part.

We don't have to have the skills - to begin to do great things...

the Lord can work mighty miracles-- with our ordinary ability.

We just have to focus on

being humble/ teachable

faithful

diligent

trying to improve our self....

and then- once we do -- do something amazing..

be sure to give all the praise and credit back to the Lord.

That people can see our good works--- and glorify our Father in heaven...

Good Works

This month - our theme is
"Good Works"

"Therefore let your light so shine before this people,

that they may see your good works

and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

(3 Nephi 12:16)

Our goal/focus this month:

I will help others and build the kingdom through righteous service.

We were just talking about Shining... last month.

Specifically- Not being afraid to shine.

NOt waiting until we are good enough,

accomplished enough,

skilled enough...

to share our talents and serve people.

Which is a good goal for me this month.

I instigated a school Fall play. Whenever BYU-H has a casting call in the community for children- they get a large number of children  who try out- but only two or three get to perform. I thought, Why don't we have a school play? I asked around- to see if there was interest. There was A LOT of interest... yet no one willing, brave, what-ever enough to take the lead and organize it. Lots of people willing to help- but no one wanted to shoulder the task of organizing this a week before our Fall break.
(gulp) So I stepped up.

I love - being behind the scene... and gathering people together to get this project rolling...

I loath at the idea of being the "face in front"

the person "running the show"... shall we say.

Yet that is my position.

{gulp}

It's that whole leadership challenge.

I'm up for the task. (that is my attempt at positive affirmations...)

"Because I am smart enough,

and skilled enough...

and by golly...

people like me"

(Okay- that is from an Old Saturday Night Live skit... )

THANKFULLY- I am working with a great group of kids and families and teachers and administrators.

Everyone is so supportive and willing to jump in and help out.

 

Serving isn't about showing off - though.

and you defiantly shouldn't try to be front and center when you are serving.

Often the most meaningful service- goes unnoticed.

In our Personal Progress book- they challenge us for two weeks to look for this kind of service- that often goes unnoticed... and record it in our journals.

Things like..

preparing meals, reading to a younger child, listening to a younger child...

holding a door open for someone, picking something up for someone

offering a friendly smile, a helping hand

jumping up to get someone a drink

When you look for it- ---you'll notice those moments...

Update: I had a lot of help! And we were able to pull it off! A week to write the script- and get key positions filled: director, music coordinator, set designer, costume designer, etc.. etc.. all the supplies, permission from the school, etc. etc. And then  4 days to practice- only spending 2 hours a day on rehearsals... with a performance on Friday. It was amazing... and happily this is now a beloved school tradition! Still going strong-- even after I am gone.

Easy Handbag

Okay- Megan is genius!

Here she made this cute -carry-all out of a TANK TOP!!

and not even "so sew easy" because it is NO sew!

she just turns the tank inside out- gathers the bottom of the tank with an elastic... turns it right side out and uses the arm holes as the shoulder straps....

BRILLIANT!

and totally adorable~

You can see her tutorial HERE

(Just a word of warning: if you visit Megan's site. She is not LDS- so some of her ideas and fashions don't comply with LDS standards. Some might think I should only share ideas from women of our faith. But for me, personally, I like having friends/connections with women of different beliefs. (They keep me on my toes.)

And after all- don't we try to seek after anything praise worthy and of good report. (13th Article of Faith)

Megan has a handful of great ideas- I can learn from.

I want to praise her for her ideas that we share in common... thrift and frugality.

I would love this site to be a missionary opportunity to build friendships with like-minded (young)women across many faiths.)

One Inspiration for Sew Simple

You might have seen this gal already

(on yahoo news... or the Nate Show)
She made a goal to restyle 365 dresses in 365 days and her budget is $365 dollars.

 

her website is

www.newdressaday.com

I've been following her blog for about a month-- she is almost done with her goal.

Amazing.

Amazing on so many levels-----

one- that she stuck with a goal for 365 days... daily

two- that she is able to make cute things out of some really sad dresses

three- her creativity... sometimes she wears the dress backwards!

Just the things she thinks of ..

So she is actually the gal who inspired me to sew simple.

That altering clothing doesn't have to be rocket science....

It can be done... with simple sewing skills.

 

I really like her clear goal- with budget!

 

Sew Simple skirt pattern!

So I stumbled upon a really adorable person in the blog-sphere.

Her name is Stephanie and she lives in Arizona- I think.

Here she is modeling how to use ribbon as a belt.

Pretty adorable- no? That is an easy accessory!




Here is a picture of a sew simple skirt for she and her daughter made together.
you can find a free- pattern {here}


there is a better picture at Stephanie's site: it's a cute elastic waist skirt.


I've asked Stephanie to guest post some of her ideas.





She is amazing- I've crusied her blog and she knows how to sew!
plus she is a delight and enjoys her life



- I love reading blogs written by genuine people.


Here is her tutorial on how to hem jeans- very clever!



Let's cross our fingers and hope she wants to be friends.

Explore your inner Fashionista!

Shabby Apple- is having a dress design contest.
Check it out here.

I love the concept and goal of Shabby Apple- their goal is to create and provide modest/fashionable clothes for (young) women.

I love that they give consumers (you and me) an opportunity to design one of their dresses! How cool is that!

Be sure to check out the details HERE.

** if you don't have a blog- don't fret. I will be happy to post your dress sketch/idea on this blog for you. just email me your dress design with the required information. ( your idea of what kind of fabric and colors your dress would be made out of ... )

Then it will be up to YOU to click on the post title

go up to the http: address bar and copy

and paste the blog post address to YOUR dress...

and then you email Shabby Apple at:

daretodesign@shabbyapple.com.

I'm off to sketch!

We have the ability....

Continuing my study of Choice and Accountability~

I looked up Agency in a little book titled: True to the Faith p 12.

I really like this quote,

" We have the ability to choose righteousness and happiness

regardless of circumstances".

That goes along with my last post about "blooming where you are planted" and looking for opportunities around us.



It is MY responsibility to develop my talents.

We are accountable for what we do with our gifts (and how we use our time).



It is so important that we don't idle away our time.



One of my neighbors is an amazing musician- as a hobby. (It is one of my friends- husbands) He has a small band that plays at community events and he plays multiple instruments. One day- I over heard him talking about how he learned to play the piano- his first instrument.



He said when he was growing up- his family didn't even have a piano. But that didn't stop him from learning how to play. When he started seminary in high school- he would go extra early while the teacher was still setting up and practice on the church piano.



I think about my own desires to learn how to play the piano- I've always joked that my parents gave up with my older sister and gave the piano away before I ever had a chance to learn.

But - it just goes to show- if I really was dedicated and WANTED to learn how to play, I could have found a way.



Don't put off learning and developing a talent you are interested in.

We have the ability to choose..... regardless of our circumstances.

Don't give that power away and let your circumstances limit you!



Now I am off to "go and do"... enough talk... it's time to walk the walk!