Little Mrs.Quilting

At the beginning of the year, I started looking into some options to go to community school. I wanted to take something that would be enjoyable and that I would feel relaxed doing. I decided to take quilting because I have always liked to sew and my sweet grand-mother in law gave me a sewing machine as a wedding present, and I finally wanted to start using it. I also had been talking to some women at church, including my sister, that were interested in getting together to quilt.

The turn-out at community school was really great and the instructors gave us a couple of options of quilts that we could make. I decided to make one that was a little more intermediate, but I decided that if I was going to be there with instructors that I would make one that would be a little more challenging. The quilt I am making at community school is called "strip surprise", and every time I hear that I think it is super dirty. Quilting can be so inappropriate...My dear husband helped me pick out my fabrics one afternoon. He was so patient with me!

This is a picture of part of the quilt that I will be making at community school, followed by the fabrics I picked out for it, and then the strip sets that I have made so far. 

We got together as a church group shortly after and my sweet friend Julie gave us some options of quilts we could make. I wanted to be able to help my sister as much as I could, so we decided to make the same quilt pattern, a four patch baby quilt. We went shopping together for our fabric, and again my sister was very patient with me as I couldn't decide what kind of theme I wanted to work with. Eventually I decided on some pinks, greens and blues. Simply some colors that I liked that I could throw on my lap while watching TV or writing a post on my blog!

I will be pretty busy in the process of making them, but I hope to take lots of pictures as I learn more, sew more & quilt more!

Russell M. Nelson: A Plea to my Sisters

It would be impossible to measure the influence that such women have, not only on families but also on the Lord’s Church, as wives, mothers, and grandmothers; as sisters and aunts; as teachers and leaders; and especially as exemplars and devout defenders of the faith.

The women of this dispensation are distinct from the women of any other because this dispensation is distinct from any other. This distinction brings both privileges and responsibilities.

The kingdom of God is not and cannot be complete without women who make sacred covenants and then keep them, women who can speak with the power and authority of God!

“We need women who are organized and women who can organize. We need women with executive ability who can plan and direct and administer; women who can teach, women who can speak out. …

“We need women with the gift of discernment who can view the trends in the world and detect those that, however popular, are shallow or dangerous.

Today, let me add that we need women who know how to make important things happen by their faith and who are courageous defenders of morality and families in a sin-sick world. We need women who are devoted to shepherding God’s children along the covenant path toward exaltation; women who know how to receive personal revelation, who understand the power and peace of the temple endowment; women who know how to call upon the powers of heaven to protect and strengthen children and families; women who teach fearlessly.

We know that the culminating act of all creation was the creation of woman! We need your strength!

tender mercies

This past weekend, Haig and I had a lot to think about. We had the sister missionaries over for dinner on Saturday night and they shared this scripture with us:

But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.

1 Nephi 1:20

The sisters asked us some of the tender mercies we feel in our lives and Haig came up with the best answer ever. He talked about over the past year of us being married, everything has always worked out. We have been worried about little things here and there, but the Lord has always provided for us. That is our tender mercy. He is always there for us.

The next morning, we were late getting into church. I wasn't very nice to my husband, telling him that we needed to get up earlier and be at church on time. I also wasn't very reverent as sacrament meeting started, chatting with my sister and asking silly questions about the program. The remainder of the afternoon was tough too. I was upset with Haig for saying a couple of hurtful things, not towards me. He slept for a little bit while I put some things together for work this week. We went to my parents house for dinner and we chatted around the table with them but as soon as we got back in the car we were silent again. I couldn't think of what to ask him, why we weren't speaking to each other. I wondered what he was thinking about.

When we got home I rested in bed and continued to read "My Story" by Elizabeth Smart. I have decided that I love reading memoirs. As a writer and blogger, I love nothing more than to read someone else's story from their perspective. Elizabeth has so much courage and I really am having a hard time putting the book down. She had so much faith and hope throughout her experience. 

Haig came in and laid down beside me and we started to talk a little bit. He wouldn't say too much though so I kept reading for awhile longer. Finally, I moved to read on the couch, assuming he was done talking for the night. In a few minutes he came to talk to me, and then we moved back to our room to talk on the bed. It was a hard day, but in hindsight I am so glad I have a husband who takes the time to collect his thoughts. I know if we had have talked earlier, he might have not known what to say.

We both have a lot of things we need to work on, We are both feeling that we can be more productive at home, at school, and at work. We both know that there are things we would like to learn more about, projects we would like to accomplish and goals we would like to achieve. We talked about all of these things for a long time. Haig held me as I cried, because I continue to struggle with my feelings of inadequacy. We are really hoping that we can make 2016 a great year and that we will make lots of things happen. 

I don't know what I would do without Haig by my side. Yesterday really did tug at my heartstrings. It is hard to not talk to the one you love. Sometimes it is really hard to be married. We know however that we needed to be married, almost one year ago, because we need to work on all of these things together. I love him so much and I am so happy that he does so much for me to make me happy. 

Over the next little while, I will post some of our goals and how we are going to make 

some of these big things happen.

Quotes from Anne of Green Gables

Last fall, I started reading Anne of Green Gables. I have never read it! I know, it's pretty sad that I have lived on Prince Edward Island my whole life and I have never read this most famous book that even kids in Japan read in school. I think it should be in our school curriculum too. I still have yet to finish the book, because I have started some other projects and I have also spent way too much time watching netflix, but I am hoping to change that and read more! I just love some of the things that Anne says or thinks about. In my defense for not reading or finishing the book, I love the names Lucy (Maud-Montgomery), Anne, Diana and even Marilla. One of them will probably be in our children's names someday, but most likely Anne because that is my grandmother's (middle) name and she was born on Prince Edward Island.

I started to write down some of my favorite quotes from the book. I hope I can reflect on them sometimes when I need to smile or need to remember to use my imagination.

  

But I do hope that some day I shall have a white dress. 

That is my highest ideal of earthly bliss. I just love pretty clothes.

Because when you are imagining you might as well imagine something worth while. 

I've always heard that Prince Edward Island was the prettiest place in the world. 

It's delightful when your imaginations come true, isn't it?

Isn't it a splendid thing that there are mornings?

All sorts of mornings are interesting don't you think? You don't know what's going to happen through the day and there's so much scope for imagination. 

It's been my experience that you can nearly always enjoy things if you make up your mind firmly that you will. 

There is so much scope for imagination out there

It's lovely to be going home and know it's home.

Anne felt that life was not really worth living without puffed sleeves.

I guess ice cream is one of those things that are beyond imagination.

Looking forward to things is half the pleasure of them.

And there's one thing certain, no house will ever be dull that she's in.

At a glance...

Laura, I have been feeling the same way about this week. It is going by so slow. I don't know what it is about the winter time that just makes everything seem longer, more drawn out than other seasons. I am not really enjoying it to be honest, but there's not a whole lot I can do about it either. I try to stay busy doing a number of different things. Here are some things that kept me pretty busy this week...

-Work as per usual. I am taking a CPR course tomorrow which should be pretty exciting. Whenever I think about CPR I always think of the scene from the Office and Kelly Kapour dancing while Michael Scott sings "Staying Alive". It's very iconic in my mind.

-Played a game of soccer with my after-school kids, until they got upset about the teams and then they started fighting so we went back to the classroom. Pick your battles kids.

-I officially started my quilt for community school. I went last night for the second time because we were cancelled last week. I already cut out my fabric into 2 1/2 inch strips with some help from Julie. Then we learned how to find our 1/4 inch seam last night and start our strip set for our "strip surprise" quilt. When you hear the term "strip surprise" it does sounds kind of dirty and scandalous doesn't it?

-Not a whole lot of baking going on over here this week. Oh, well I did make a huge batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. It made about 4 dozen. We also got cupcakes one night because a shop in town is closing. They were very good. I even took some home to share with my family.

-I am working hard on getting back into the habit of meal planning. It is so difficult with Haig taking two night classes, but we will figure it out. It's almost the end of January and I don't think I have had a meal plan all month and I really want to get back to planning!

-Uh, it's almost the end of January, like what?

-My mom and I are throwing an epicure party tomorrow night. I am nervous because I don't think a lot of people will show up, but I don't even care because food.

-Started season 7 of Gilmore Girls. It has probably been a waste of my time but most people have a "show" right? Well this is my "show" right now and I will have to finish it, especially with a revival coming out soon. I won't go into too many details, but Lorelai is the worst for leaving Luke. I just can't even. And then sleeping with Christopher? What the he-l-l Lorelai!!?!?!

-Made the most delicious epicure guacamole yesterday for dinner before community school. There's just a little bit left over for me to have some for lunch today.

-My husband is taking me on a date tonight: grocery shopping. This is marriage people

-But in more exciting news, we have a hotel room booked for our first anniversary! Thanks to Jocelyn for getting us a great deal ;)

january11-15

what I did this past week:

planned for work, made slideshow presentations of crafts and science experiments
started knitting a new scarf on a knitting loom. it looks so pretty, I am excited for it to be done
finished buying fabric for my community school quilt
got together with sisters to plan for our church quilting group
finally took my sewing machine out of the box. thanks Granny Cliff
cuddled with my husband on a snow day
learned how to play a new game: Five Crowns (it's pretty fun)
made a new recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars
hung out at home for a little bit with my family. talked about good friends & planned for the month.
Planned an event to host an epicure party next week
watched a lot of Gilmore Girls.....
went to a staff meeting, saw some of my favorite co-workers (all of them)
went grocery shopping by myself the night before the storm
made delicious tacos with my husband on the stormy night
consumed approximately 7 cups of hot chocolate
got a decent pay cheque from my other job
ordered a new pair of boots that were on sale

pretty good week I guess.

clean the bathroom sink

I have been feeling like so deep lately. So many things are happening in our lives. A lot of our friends and family are struggling with a number of different things. Of course many people in the world are experiencing things I wouldn't even know about. Haig came to pick me up at work last night. I was surprised when we were about half way home he said "there's something we need to talk about".

Usually if there is "bad news", he would wait to tell me at home. But he told me right as we were coming up to a red light. I was sad by the news he told me and I prayed for this family member in my heart. When we got home, I got cleaned up from work in the bathroom. I thought about the struggles of everyday life. I thought about the challenges that some people face everyday. I have probably said this on here before, but I literally know that some people can't even get out of bed in the morning, and I need to be more grateful that I can do that. As I washed my face, I noticed how dirty our bathroom sink was and my first initial thought was , "woe me I need to clean the bathroom sink".

I bet those people who are experiencing things way worse than I have it would love to be able to just take some time to clean the bathroom sink and get away from the world. The people who can't get out of bed in the morning on their own, I bet they would love to be able to do the simple things like clean the bathroom sink too. But there I stood, sad that another week was before me with so much to do and decide and I was worried about another thing: cleaning the bathroom sink.

Whatever worries you, whatever scares you, whatever you've done wrong, the challenges you face the struggles you have can all be conquered with faith and vigorous courage. As I laid in bed last night with Haig my mind raced on all of the ideas, thoughts and concerns I had about this week. Suddenly I was in my husband's arms and I knew that all I needed to do right then and there was to just be with him and not worry about anything else. Sure, I woke up this morning and got to work on some things but sometimes it's not about cleaning the bathroom sink, it's about finding your simple ways to be happy and forget about the bathroom sink.

Well, for now that is. I should probably clean it a little later today.
 

January 11th

It's January 11th, and these are basically the only two pictures I have taken in 2016. 

The rest of the pictures that I have taken (maybe 5 more?) are just of my work kids. 

I am so cool right. 

I will do better! This is going to be a great year!

What Lack I Yet?

Every month in Relief Society, a member of the presidency (leadership of the womens' organization) selects a talk that they feel inspired to teach to the group. I can't imagine what it must feel like to do this. Each woman in the room has different needs, goals and certainly we each need to hear different things for the different places we are in our lives. Our Relief Society president however really hit the spot with the talk she chose. We can all apply this in our lives.

I am grateful to know that as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, I can continue to grow and progress towards my Heavenly Father and ultimately exhalation. I was reminded of this when I went to the temple last week with my husband. There was only a couple of us in the session that was going through, five people to be exact. As I sat close to my husband I could feel his spirit pondering the questions we had come to the temple with. I felt peace and assurance that my life is on the right track, regardless of my insecurities and doubts. The challenging part about this life, and my life in particular at this given moment is that a lot of the time I am questioning "how can I improve?" and "what do I need to change".

What Lack I Yet?

When we ask the question, what is keeping me from progressing, we might not get the answers that we want. When we decide to ask the question it can be scary and intimidating. However, when we ask with a sincere and humble heart, the Holy Ghost (spirit of our Godhead with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ) will speak to us, lead and guide us. When I ask what things I need to change about my life at this time, I had been reminded to:

-stop complaining
-be patient
-trust in my husband
-stay organized
-smile always

Obviously none of us will ever be perfect, but we will someday obtain perfection because Heavenly Father loves of that much. When we are striving to become better, he will bless us. "Sometimes we need to ask what we are doing right, so the Lord can lift and encourage us. He rejoices in each step we take closer to Him". Also, remember that your progression is not the same as someone else's. One sweet sister in my ward started to explain what she mean't by that statement. She explained that "your potential is yours. What you ask Heavenly Father for is specific for you. You are great in Heavenly Father's eyes. You path is different than someone else's. That GOT me as I have been struggling with feeling "behind" others in my life. I cannot be thinking in such a way. The Lord has unique experiences in store for all of us, we just need to continue to trust him and his timing.

"It is our duty to be better today than we were yesterday, and better tomorrow than we are today"  

Nova Scotia New Year

The last week of 2015 was spent in Nova Scotia with our Pinsent family. We drove over on Tuesday afternoon, after a rough 24 hours of sadness on my part. We almost didn't go. Haig already called his mother and told her we wouldn't be there. It was suppose to start snowing soon and it was getting too late in the day to head over. We continued to talk about me, about us and we decided that we did need to go and see our family and also attend the temple.

I was already mostly organized to go, but we packed out stuff in a solid 12 minutes and we were out the door. The funnest part was trying to get the Christmas tree outside while we were trying to leave as soon as possible. Luckily my husband is pretty fantastic. He got the tree outside and assured me that he would clean all the needles that had fallen off when we got home, because we didn't have time to do it. I trusted him, because if you know me well enough, you would know that I do not like leaving a mess.

We also had a couple of stops to make along the way, but finally we were heading towards the bridge. By the time we got to the bridge, it was snowing a fair amount. The highway in New Brunswick was mostly snow covered and the highway to home was down to one lane (double-highway). Every time Haig went to pass someone I was so nervous. I kept saying little prayers to help us get there safely. We did of course, because again my husband is a ninja.

When we arrived our family was out. We waited at the house and cuddled together on the couch. We even had a little nap for a bit. It was nice to play some games with them later in the evening. It was nice to have Victoria and Eli with us too because they also spent some time with his family while we were there, but it was good to have them with us for that night. Haig and I slept in the basement on this visit. I like spending the last few minutes of the day with him. Although we sleep in the same bed every night, Haig and I usually each end up on the end of the bed, not facing each other. So when we do get into bed at the end of the night, we always try to cuddle for a couple of minutes before falling asleep. And that is why being married is awesome. You literally get to cuddle with your best friend everyday.

On Wednesday, we spent the entire morning at the temple. We decided we needed to go to the temple with some important questions about what we needed to be doing right now in our lives and in the new year. It was great to feel the peace that the temple brings. I was great to feel so much love coming from my husband. Sometimes I think we forget to really stop and slow down in our everyday life. The temple changes that. We stared into each other's eyes for a long time. We participated in a lot of temple work that day, and it made me feel so happy and I know that the Lord will bless us in this new year.

For the next day or so, we were able to see our family a lot. We spent some time with extended family. We played a lot of board games and ate lots of snacks and good food. We went shopping and got our pictures taken as a family. We spent the last hours of 2015 together as a family. It wasn't anything exciting. Even from 11pm-12:00am New Years Day, we were all scattered around the house doing our own thing. We shared our first New Years kiss as a married couple. New Years Eve has always been our thing.

On New Years Day we gathered as friends and family to eat more good food and play street hockey. We saw old friends and also made new friends. We were reunited with Haig's long board that he gave to someone before his mission. We drove home that afternoon and made it back to PEI in the evening.

Our family is growing up. Everyone is so different and unique. Our parents are amazing for all that they do. We sure do love them. We don't know everything that the new year holds, but as long as we have our families support I know we will continue to make it through lots of things, the good and the bad. We are truly blessed to have these wonderful people in our life.

Happy New Year,

Love the Pinsents