Remembering Grandma W

This past weekend my sweet Grandma Widdison passed away.

I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time at her house in my younger years before she moved to Utah. I remember her tiny little home in The Valley. I remember turning the street corner and getting antsy to run into her arms. I remember the end table filled with puzzles. And I am just realizing that maybe this is why I am so crazy for puzzles to this day. I remember the cookie jar that mooed when you took off the lid. I also remember that cookie jar being a little lamb with a straw hat. I remember running in between my grandma's lines for laundry when playing in the back yard. I remember my grandma loved to sing.
My grandma sewed a lot, and she was great at it. Christmas meant homemade jammies.

This is a picture of my brothers and sisters at my grandma's house in our new Christmas jammies Grandma made. My nightgown is a Precious Moments flannel pattern. Pretty sure that little tree is set up on the puzzle-filled end table.

Grandma also made us girls beautiful dresses. Ali and I always matched. I specifically remember loving this dress because it reminded me of a Ragedy Ann doll, which I thought was pretty neat.

Grandma was also really good at cross-stitch, like incredible at it. As I developed my own love and respect for handicrafts, I remember going over to her house in college and staring at the thousands of tiny, perfect stitches in her work.

Living so close to her in college I got to see her again, as she had moved from California to Utah quite a few years prior. I remember sometimes going to church with her and she was so proud to show off her grandchildren. I remember every birthday I was sure to get a cute kitty or puppy card with her perfectly formed cursive handwriting inside. Grandma loved little cute baby animals.

When I got married Grandma made me a beautiful quilt in my wedding colors. I had it on display at my reception. And after I had it on my bed every day until I couldn't bear the thought of it wearing, tearing, and fading.  I wish I had a closer up picture to show the detail, but I don't have one with me.

At a full life and 92 years old, I know that she is happy now. I know she missed her husband and parents and friends, and even though I have a hole in my heart, I can fill it with the peace and comfort. Peace and comfort that this is just the next step in eternity, I can be with her again.

My dad, and his mom, my Grandma W.

QW #10 Storms & Ships.. & Sun!

Quote Wednesday has officially turned into "Quote Whenever" as it has now entered the "double digits" club. So, here are a bunch of quotes about storms, ships, and the sun. 

This week was irritating, maybe because last week was so good?

Either way, it was a hundred little trip lines put in my path. A hundred little things that are summarized by, "Really?" But I didn't punch a wall, I didn't whine and complain to everyone I saw, and I didn't even scream into a pillow. :)

But I thought of a couple of my favorite quotes and did a lot of shoulder shrugging.

This quote has been a favorite since I read Utopia by Sir Thomas Moore.

"You would not abandon ship in a storm because you could not control the winds."

-Sir Thomas Moore-

I imagine a super dramatic scene from Pirates of the Caribbean or something. Like a raging storm with thunder and lightning all around, water slopping up onto the deck, stuff breaking and crashing... then some one simply jumping off. 

A whole ship, a whole crew, a whole life... abandoned.

Why? Because the storm passes, and whether it is a light Grenadian rainfall storm, or Pirates-of-the-Caribbeanesque, forever-long storm, the light will shine through.

http://daytobeyou.com/

"...Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I am suggesting that as we go through life we try to accentuate the positive. I am asking that we look a little deeper for the good..."

-Gordon B. Hinckley-

Sometimes I am guilty of seeking out storms, instead of sunlight. Because there is sunshine on the darkest days, if we look for it in the right places. Look for a friend, look for family, look for an inspirational quote, a funny picture, a happy song, your favorite scripture verse, hey, you could even scream into a pillow! :)

http://hollytherobinson.blogspot.com/

"We can't direct the wind but we can adjust the sails"
-Thomas S. Monson-

(Maybe good ship quotes come from Thomases?)

Sometimes I think the answer is to adjust my sails straight for the Los Angeles coast line, but I remember #1, its not a straight shot to the L.A. coastline, and #2: "A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor."

http://daytobeyou.com/uncategorized/a-smooth-sea-never-made-a-skillful-sailor/

So stay on the ship, search for the sun, adjust your sails in the best possible direction towards your goal aannnnnnd:

REFUSE TO SINK!

And, no, I have plenty more sea related quotes, just in case you were wondering! ;) 

PAM Wrap Up

Well, my volunteering at PAM was cut a little short this week when the secretary e-mailed me and said that since this is the last week of school, it is a week of half-days, so there was no need for me to come teach.

But I did get a couple more pictures the last time I was up there. The girls were finishing up most of their projects, using the sewing machines to make little zipper pouches out of their "chicken scratch" work. I must say it is pretty funny to see teenage girls sew. They want the cute zipper bag without all the work. Renica, the assistant clothing and textiles teach, gets pretty sassy and frustrated with them. This also involves a lot of the girls breaking the serger and sewing machine and Renica sassing at them and fixing it. The serger is always where it gets intense, as the girls usually work together, one holding the fabric and controlling the foot pedal, and the other helping to guide the fabric straight.

Pretty much I did a lot of sitting around, with some answering questions and helping with supplies such. But overall the girls have really taken a liking to embroidery and just like to do their own thing. It is great to see them get so creative.

I thought this one was pretty clever, Princess, the girl who is doing this one is pretty lazy, so this is a big thing for her!

I was really happy to see that the embroidery seed of desire spread to the other students!! The second year girls are really getting into it. Seeing all of the cool supplies and beautiful work the other girls have produced has really got them interested.

One of the second year girls made this fun little pac man purse, which is a combination of "chicken scratch" and cross stitch.

After searching every craft and fabric store downtown I learned that Aida cloth used for cross-stitch is recognized, but not sold anywhere here. At one point this lady looked at me, rolled her eyes, and sassed, "Good luck."
Thanks.

And in case you were wondering, none of the girls ever want to be in the picture with their work. Haha. I don't know if I will be returning to PAM next term, the clothing and textiles permanent teacher will be back, so there won't be much of a need/ time for me to teach a class. But I am looking for other volunteer options to keep busy.

PAM Update

I continue my volunteering at the Programme for Adolescent Mothers up in Mt. Parnassus. Since we got supplies things have really gotten rolling. Here the girls are working on their first project, making a panel for a pillow.

Most of the girls really enjoy it and they take the supplies home and work on it there. The girls came up with their own designs and I told them to try to do a variety of stitches on their designs. I think all of the girls put their child's name on the pillow and/or their name and their boyfriend's name.

That was all before I left for Thanksgiving. I gave them a project to work on in the two weeks I was gone. It is a type of embroidery/ cross-stitch called "chicken scratch." I learned this one from my mom, who learned it from her grandma. My mom used it to make a beautiful tablecloth for me as a wedding gift. Here is a picture of the center of the tablecloth. It also has chicken scratch on the corners as well as a eyelet ruffle, very fancy!

When I returned to PAM I didn't teach anything. I walked into the classroom and all the girls were already sewing and stitching! I felt pretty useless but it was awesome because it was such a change from when I first came to PAM. At first the girls would sit around and do nothing and stare at me when I taught. But now they are working on projects in between classes and getting right to work when they get to class! It is fun to see them so excited and proud of their work. They are turning their chicken scratch work into purses. Kyadisha was the first to finish hers, she was helping the other girls with putting the zipper in the purse.

I only have three more times going up to PAM before I am done and they are off for break. I am trying to think of what else I could teach them in that short time. I know some of them are pretty checked out, mentioning every ten minutes that "school is already over." Haha. I've been there before.

QW #9

I know I talk about my parents and my family a lot, but they do so much for me, I don't plan on stopping any time soon. That is why I will continue to talk about them this Quote Wednesday #9!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/92635403/roots-wings-quote-8x10-art-print-free?ref=sr_gallery_36&ga_search_query=quote+print+child+decor&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_mh_hub=kids&ga_mh_eid=1115794253&ga_mh_section=clusters&ga_mh_cid=furniture-decor&ga_page=1&ga_ref=related&ga_search_type=all

Now of course I don't have children to teach this to, so I will reflect on how my own family has given me these two gifts. My parents love me unconditionally. They are always there for me. Unconditional love also includes their right to tell me when I am being stupid.
These are the parents who didn't get to bed until around 2 in the morning because they picked me up at the airport. This includes my dad waking up at 2 in the morning to get me to the airport a week and a half later.

I am forever in debt to my parents who give me wings to fly. Or rather, give me a breeze to keep me up in the air. Specifically, for housing me, feeding me, and schlepping me around. Lucky for them, this didn't end when I graduated high school, or college. I suppose True love is buying your child groceries, no matter how old they get. I am happy to announce my parents' generosity has no limits. :)

I want to give my parents much love and thanks for bending over backwards for not only me but also my husband to make our life here in Grenada happier, healthier, and more comfortable.
I LOVE YOU!!

SURPRISE!

I love surprises!

For example, I love getting presents mostly for the thrilling of not knowing what the heck is in that wrapped box/ gift bag. I just love the suspense. And for this reason it was hard for me to contain the best, most expensive, and biggest surprise I have come up with yet!

In mid-October Ross and I had talked about me going back the the U.S. for a trip. I had mentioned that I didn't want to go home for Christmas or next summer but for Thanksgiving (maybe I love Thanksgiving because of the food? Shut up Teo!). I had thrown out the idea but Ross was all for it, he told me to buy the ticket and go go go. :) He is awesome, because as it turns out I really needed it.

I have always wanted to surprise family around the holidays. You know like in all those movies when someone just shows up on the doorstep and everyone cries and hugs and its oh so dramatic? Yep. Like that. I found a great price on a ticket with a minimum amount of pain involved in layovers and airports. I had to let my parents in on it, but no one else had any idea! I was so excited.

So the day after my birthday I embarked with my suitcase stuffed suitcase to bring back some good stuff. I had a 7 hour layover in the Miami airport since I went through customs freakishly fast (of course when I have a 7 HOUR LAYOVER I get through quick). And I F-R-O-Z-E, I can't even remember the last time I felt so cold. I thought I was going to die, and  a lady sitting near me laughed at me when she asked if I was cold.

Lucky for me my momma had a sweatshirt waiting for me when I met them at the airport in L.A. It felt so good to be back in Southern California!

Birthday Celebration

I definitely like to keep my birthday on the down low.

I rarely tell people about my birthday because long story short-I'm weird. If you care for a real explanation I can tell you with some references to phonies and Holden Caulfield.

I had a genuinely perfect birthday this year! Really probably the best yet. It is great to get older! But I decided 23 is a good age to stay. I guess I better make the most of the <365 days I now have, because 24 is inevitable. 

Here is my birthday stash! I have always had a hard time waiting to open presents! So when Ross encouraged me to open them ALL, I couldn't NOT open them all before he went to school! 

I was so incredibly spoiled this year. I got TONS of presents. And I just want to take a minute to give a public THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who spend time, effort, and/or money for the wonderful gifts I received. I feel so special and loved! :) 

The day started off with cake batter pancakes with sprinkles! Thanks Nicci for the sprinkles! Ross cooked them up and did the dishes. 

Then I went ahead and opened presents. Aunt Carrie gave me a card and some money (yipee! I definitely looked forward to using it when I went home). My Grandma and Grandpa gave me a card, money, and some really cute pearl earrings. My grandma included a poem she wrote "Pearls of Wisdom." It was really sweet, plus pearls are my favorite.

My parents, being the only ones who knew I was coming home, sent me a whole FREAKING BOX that arrived the week of my birthday. They are really thoughtful, my mom said, "Well, you needed something to open on your birthday!" Haha. I love those parents of mine. The box included a book for me to read on the plane. "Son" is by Lois Lowry and is the fourth installment of the series The Giver. I was so excited to start it because growing up that was my favorite series. Lowry started the whole Dystopian-society-book-writing before it was cool okay? Also, my parents pick out the cutest birthday cards. I always keep them up all year round. The pug in a pink shimmery boa was one of my favorites.

Ross gave me a TON of presents. I am such a spoiled brat. He gave me a gorgeous necklace, a St. George's t-shirt, and .... LUSH. So much happiness in such a small bright yellow bag!

Enough pictures of me sitting around with my presents. Ross left for school and I went with Patty to pick up somethings for the Recipe Swap which hardly any one showed up to. It was still great though and I ate *of course* a lot of food. I just really like food okay?

When Ross eventually came home from school we manuvered our way to the tidepools here in Lance aux Epines without getting too lost. The sun was going down fast, and we kind of missed the sunset, but it was still beautiful and fun to have a picnic. 

Since you can pretty much do whatever you want on your birthday. I decided to treat myself to a picnic in yoga pants! Oh, and did I mention dessert first?

Ross got creative and did a "2" "3" for 23! Despite his valiant efforts though, the wind was too strong... so I just pretended to blow them out. Haha. We had lasagna for dinner, which is a bit of a tradition. It was a great day!

My birthday also had a bunch of surprises from friends. The night before my birthday a couple friends organized a fondue dinner/snackage! It included fresh homemade french bread. And cheese fondue. Now I don't know if they knew but fresh bread + cheese = happy me. It seriously doesn't take much! And there was beef, granny smith apples (yes!), broccoli, and chicken nuggets to dip in the fondue. Did I mention I am ridiculously spoiled?!
Then the night of my birthday I was tricked again and a couple friends had made me an amazing oatmeal cake and sung happy birthday to me with some rather stumpy birthday candles. :) It was the perfect day and it felt like 7 days in one, it was so much constant fun.

Thanks again, to everyone who helped make my birthday fantastic! This next year is off to a great start!