The 11 questions/requests for Scary:
1. What is your favorite part about blogging? I love encouraging others through my faliures and successes. This is probably my favorite post to laugh at The longest 3 hours of the week
 2. What made you decided to start a blog? I originally started my family blog here, just to share the perspective of a crazy, mormon, house wife, who wasn't living a perfect life. Really hoping to make others laugh, and just let them know, that it was OK not to be perfect right now.
3. If you could live in any house where would it be located and what would it look like? I sort of love Laura Ingles Wilders, Little house Series. I think my ideal location would be to live on a homestead with at least 40 acres, where we could just rough it, and make it our own, and live self sufficiently.
 4. Give yourself job descriptions to describe your day to day tasks. I guess I would say I am the CEO. I prefer that to the peon. Though, sometimes, through my own fault, I fall in to that roll, as well. Do y'all ever do that?, you go along managing the home just fine, and then one day, you realize that you are doing all the work, and your little peons are managing you? Yeah, I fall for that trap from time to time. But not right now, at this moment I am the CEO.
 5. What is your favorite thing that you have ever blogged about? The blog post, that seemed to really flow was this one The Sun Will Rise
6. Second Honeymoon, where would you go (first if you haven't gone on one yet)? Hubbin and I go on a "Honeymoon" every year. I am a really nostalgic person, so I love to do sentimental things. I would just go back to the place we originally went after we were married. woowoo It is a cute bed and breakfast in Logan Utah. We stayed in the The Victorian Room, and felt like royalty! We went their again for our 5th anniversary, and it was just as fun as we had remembered!
 7. Greatest Blogging Strength. I think my blogging strength is the sisters that I have. I love talking with them about upcoming posts and really making the posts significant, without my sisters I fear my posts would be shallow.
 8. Greatest Blogging Weakness. My weakness, would have to be the photos that accompany my posts/voice. The "girls" will vouch for this one! (I call my sisters- "the girls")  I am vowing to get better, using photo editor, and making sure the pictures are my own.
9. First 5 minutes of your day. Shut off the alarm clock at 6:00am, use the restroom, pray, stretch, shower. (I have been on this schedule for 3 days now-you caught me on the good side, with this question)
 10. If you could meet one blogger who would it be? Amanda Blake from http://www.soulemama.com/ I love her! She has such a strength for remaining calm and living life to the fullest. I have faithfully followed her blog for 3 years. Our #5's were born within about a week of the other, and from time to time I catch myself talking about her, as if she actually knew me.
 11. One word to describe what you aspire to become? Mother

We decided that it would be super fun for you all, to get to know us.  So the next "get to know you" of this sequence will be Awesome Al, coming from Awesome track :)
On Thursday, she will lend her voice, to answer these questions about herself.
1.If you could use 1 word to describe yourself, what would it be?
2. What is your favorite Artistic medium?
3.  What does your husband do, that makes you feel giddy?
4.  Who is your favorite ancestor and why?
5. Tell us one childhood memory, that has shaped who you are today.
6. What books are you reading, right now?
7.  What has been your lifes biggest challenge, and how have you overcome it?
8. Do you look like your mom or your dad?
9. What is your greatest blogging weakness?
10.  What is your greatest blogging strength?
11. Plan your ideal romantic date, detail-by-detail and share it with us.

Last fall I took the opportunity to sew every week in Project Run and Play's sew along challenge. It was the first time I had done something so creatively demanding and emotionally rewarding. (I know you have heard it all before, stay with me)
One of the seamstress that I had the pleasure of meeting in that community is sallyavena from Daisy Chain Creations. Last week I received an e-mail telling me that I had been nominated for the Liebster Award. I was so tickled, and excited to participate.

The Liebster Blog Award is an award given by bloggers to up and coming bloggers, most of whom have less than 200 followers (or have been blogging for less than 6 months). It is to show newer bloggers that they are appreciated, and to help spread the word about new blogs. It was created to promote appreciation and recognition among the blog world. Liebster translates to “dearest” (or favorite/best) in German. It is also known as the Love Blog Award." It's been fun to get to know some bloggers better and a great way to pass on the love.
Here are the rules:
1. You must post 11 random things about yourself
2. Answer the 11 questions given by the nominator.
3. Create 11 new questions for those you nominate.
4. Choose 11 new blogs and link to them in your post.

11 Random Things about Myself (Scary)
1-6.My nickname Scary comes from: My legs are scary long and always have been (now they are 35" long, which is as long as my 6'5" husband's) so it started out as Scary Legs. My name is SarahLynn and my mom would never let my sisters call me by Sarah (or anyone else for that matter. Remember, Kiri that time that Mom hung up on you in elementary when you asked, "Is Sarah there?"). Scary Legs was too long it got shortened to Scary without any protest from Mom. Since, I have such long legs you might have guessed that I am pretty tall (roughly 5'11 1/2") and yes I did play basketball and volleyball. I played basketball under the nickname of Scary (which people assumed the nickname was because I was really aggressive on rebounds) until I blew my ACL. When I had surgery on my knee they told me that my three ligaments for my hamstring were fused together (apparently uncommon) so they had to fix it differently than they had planned by taking a piece of my patellar. Instead of a 1/2" scar I ended up with a nasty 3 1/2" scar that serves as a conversation piece for observers of my knee cap. Since that point, for the most part I wear tea length or longer skirts/pants to avoid the conversation. So now I guess you would say Scary Leg as opposed to Scary Legs might be the more fitting nickname.
7. My first kiss was with my sweet/hot/tender/kind husband when I was 20. It was on my couch of my college apartment, romantic light provided by a Christmas tree. It was approaching curfew and he leaned over and whispered his request to kiss me. His move might not make it into a chick flick anytime soon, but it was exactly what I wanted (He did his intelligence with mutual friends that were sure to know what would be the right approach). To me this approach is the mark of a modern gentleman not to just assume a girl wanted to kiss because you wanted to. PS. It was his first kiss too!

Picture from our First Date we doubled with our really good friends even to this day. Oh and our friends are really tall too, just so you know why I don't look very tall in the picture apparently if you take a picture with every one being over 5'11" no one looks extremely tall.  Don't worry we love the vertically challenged as well.

8. I love Non-Fiction books and always have. I love that non-fiction books can make you something better than what you were before. That continuous process of self improvement has always been important to me. I remember when I was growing up I asked my mom for 10 habits of Highly Effective Teens (when I was 12) and Life Strategies for Teens (when I was 14). My favorite book in high school was Talking Peace by Jimmy Carter. Now, it would probably be tied between a number of my cookbooks, political science books (example: Justice as Fairness, thanks to Professor Chris Henrichsen to introducing and helping me love political theory or First Family: Abigail and John Adams), How to Win Friends and Influence People, and my sewing books.
 9. I have two kids, been pregnant twice but never actively labored. Both Ryder and Boston were born C-section on 39 weeks and 2 days, and both times I was dilated to nothing. Ryder was 9 lbs. 12 oz. and Boston 8 lbs. 5 oz.

Ryder meeting Boston for the first time.

My two babies are my morning wake up calls, my exercise, my daily humor, my greatest worries and my biggest blessings. And because of them I remembered why I loved to sew, because creating for them is just one way that I can show them how much I care. Though I love the blogging community and being able to share my experiences at the end of the day, seeing my little ones cuddle up to their favorite blanket that I made or seeing how sweet they look in the newest clothing creation is the best reward this momma could have. I often tell Ryder when he wants me to hold him as he falls to sleep that I am with all of the love that I put in each handmade blanket that sits on his bed.
10. I love sewing but I actually feel most comfortable in the kitchen. I love how recipes can be a vessel of love and culture. I have never left the United States but I love traveling the world through food. Feel free to share your favorites recipes in the comment section, I can never have too many recipes. I hope in the future to be able to share more recipes with you.
11. 90% of my home decor is brown, light turquoise or beige, so a piece of furniture could easily be moved from room to room without any change. I do realize this is super boring, but it makes color blind Slim Jim happy to have brown and beige. The turquoise is my addition to the party. I love dramatic damasks and elegant prints so it isn't entirely boring.

11 questions from Daisy Chain Creations:
1. What's your go to place when you are stumped and need a solution when it comes to sewing/crafting?
If I need to know how to put something together when I am sewing I ask Mom and if she doesn't answer her phone then I turn to my favorite sewing blogs for the answer or leave a gazillion voice mails until she calls me back. If I need advice what would look best together usually I go to Al, because our tastes are the most similar. Though hers are usually a brighter variation of the same idea. Crafting....so I don't really craft besides refinishing/building furniture for this my Dad, Slim Jim (husband), Power Shoes (Al's husband) and Bubba (Nae's husband, my big brother). The sweet thing about all my male family resources is they have the power tools and the desire to play with them, which usually gets me free labor.
2. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
Wow, this one is hard. Africa, has always had a special place in my heart, I would love to go there for humanitarian service and that only deepen by in my study in college of international politics. Argentina, for Slim Jim since that is where he served a two year mission for our church, he says the food (pasta and beef, how could you beat that), culture and land is amazing. Canada, first off because of Prince Edward Island (Anne of Green Gables, anyone?) and a lot of my friends from there are pretty awesome. Austria, because my uncle and his wife live there so we would have more money for sight seeing. Because we would have a free place to stay (Right, Uncle Scott?). Australia, because when I was little I was convinced that I would marry an Aussie and live in an Australian paradise for the rest of my life. The list would go on and on if I kept writing. But I guess I will stop and instead tell you a few places I don't want to go. North and South Pole because I can't handle the below zero temperatures we have had in South East Idaho (currently -17F). And add Greenland to that list. Maybe I could convince Kelly with Sewing in No Man's Land to just pack me along on her world travels.
3. Who taught you how to sew and what do you wish you could ask them now?
My Mom, my Grandmas, aunts/great aunts and tidbits from a bunch of the sweet ladies in my town. Most of them are still alive so any question I have, I could still ask them. The experience from being around them and basking in all of their knowledge has made me a better seamstress. From my Mom, I learned that if you don't have the answer to how to do something, don't let it stop you just find someone THAT KNOWS. When I told my mom that I wanted to make a civil war inspired gown she didn't tell me no, we couldn't do it, just because she didn't have a lot of experience in boning or applying eyelets for laces, or working with an insane amount of fabric. We just went around my small town of 500 and we talked to every person that could be resource that she could think of.
The one person that I don't have around anymore that taught me a bunch is my Grandma Twila. I was looking at a dress she made for me one Christmas. I loved the piping detail that she put on it and the lace on the skirt. I remember going into her sewing room and her fitting it to me, it is still a tender and cherished memory.
4. If you were able to pass on your love of sewing to someone, what is the first thing you would tell them/teach them?
I think I would want to teach them about my favorite projects, and I think I would have a hard time deciding between those. I would probably tell them that the best way to learn to sew is to challenge yourself by making something that you really want. NO MATTER HOW HARD IT IS! But when you do that make sure and use all of the resources you have.
5. What is the must have by your sewing machine/craft table when it comes to snacks?
Dove Dark Chocolate, though I can't keep it at my table because I would have a tummy ache and no chocolate. Instead it is in an undisclosed location in my house where, when I just screwed something up and need the drive to keep working through it I can easily grab one and keep going.
6. What is one time period you wished you lived in, if only for the clothes they wore?
Before I begin, this is only for the clothes and not for the political or economic conditions.  I am torn between Regency period in England and the civil war time period. I love the ball gowns of both eras, which is interesting because they are very different but my two favorite dresses (other than my wedding dress) that I have ever worn have been modeled these eras.

This is the dress that my mom made me to wear  to the luncheon of my  wedding so that I wouldn't get  my wedding dress dirty. Great job mom and great idea!  Because I could have seen myself spilling fruit punch down the front of my wedding dress. And I wore it a ton afterward just by switching  out the ribbon color at the empire waist.

Sorry, I don't have any great pictures of the whole dress  that doesn't involve x-boyfriends.  But this is from back in the day with my roommate Laura doing my nails.

7. Favorite thing to do/favorite hobby, non sewing related?
Cooking or Photography. Cooking is a pleasant chore and I love photography because it is just capturing what is already there and preserving it in a beautiful way forever. I hope in the upcoming year that I can share more from these two hobbies.
8. If you could indulge yourself in something sewing related, what would it be and why?
I am trying to figure out my next big sewing purchase right now so this question is especially timely. Silhouette would be neat to be able to do T-shirt vinyl but I am also considering buying Pattern Making Software. But 10 years down the road it will probably be a cover stitch serger, because I have loved my rolled hem serger but I can see wanting to go one step up.
9. Milk or Dark Chocolate? Why?
Dark. Most of my political science mentors have loved dark chocolate and cashews. The duo is dynamite, I guess especially if you like political science too!
10. What is the funniest thing you have seen or heard lately?
Slim Jim showed me something a few weeks ago that had me cracking up and I still don't think I could read it out loud without laugh/crying. You might feel the same if you dragged your husband to Les Miserables after he has dragged you to all the superhero movies for years.

11. Sunrise or sunset?  What is your favorite time of day?
I am always up for the sunrise and I love that feeling of new beginnings. And there is something magical about the rays of sunlight as they being to rise from the horizon. I often feel like the sunrise is a great way to start the day and is a little bit of a secret because it seems like so many people miss it. But I love sharing warm (not hot) sunsets with my whole family, while sitting on the cool grass. I like every part of the day, I used to be opposed to the afternoon but that is when my kids nap=make dinner/take shower/sew/veg out, so now I like it all.

So what I have learned about myself while filling out these questions is that I am not satisfied with one answer  for one answer questions. Guess I am a little bit of a rule breaker.

Now to the blogs I am nominating:
Foster Ramblings
precious and few
My Naptime Journal
Call Ajaire
Pennies and Pancakes
The Life of Compulsive Life of a Crafter
Lovely Things
Mommys Apron Strings
D & G Stories
P Goodys
Be It Ever So Humble

The 11 questions/requests for you:
1. What is your favorite part about blogging?
2. What made you decided to start a blog?
3. If you could live in any house where would it be located and what would it look like?
4. Give yourself job descriptions to describe your day to day tasks.
5. What is your favorite thing that you have ever blogged about?
6. Second Honeymoon, where would you go (first if you haven't gone on one yet)?
7. Greatest Blogging Strength.
8. Greatest Blogging Weakness.
9. First 5 minutes of your day.
10. If you could meet one blogger who would it be?
11. One word to describe what you aspire to become? 

This completes project 4 of 4 with the crib re-purpose series. We used the 2 ends of the crib and some scrap wood to make a corner bench. We ended up shortening it some so that it would be more accessible for the little ones. I don't want to tell you my exact parameters, but my advice would be to work with what you have and follow your gut feelings on what size you make it. I was able to look at 2 different tutorials and I just meshed the 2 together plus my own intuition to make it work. I got most of the techniques from Gail at My Repurposed Life and she was inspired from a headboard/foot-board bench that Jessica at Running With Scissors made.


The yellow paint didn't work out quite like I would have hoped. After more than 5 hours of priming and painting, you can still see glimpses of darkness (from the original crib color). I am going to pick up some grey paint and then distress it so that you will get bits of the yellow and original dark brown. Despite the color mess-up, the kids love it and it is the perfect piece of furniture in their room. Not only that but there is room for Ryder and Boston when they come over.

Joining the Fun
Scary had so much fun doing PR&P sew along last season, that I couldn't help but join the fun in a more involved way this time around. Both of us were going to do projects this first week, but she ended up getting such a bad head cold she could hardly function to finish the dress. So I'm borrowing some of her bravery to make and post about what I've made for Ty. I'm not exactly sure why, but clothing terrifies me much more than really intricate quilts. Maybe that's because so much of what I made growning up didn't turn out exactly like I wanted it too. I've probably done about a ten wardrobe projects for my kids in the last year and each one is adding to my confidence in my ability to make clothes. Luckily kids clothing is easy. They are all built like rectangles, so you don't really have to account for shape.


The Remix
This week's challenge is a pattern remix of the Party Dress from The Cottage Home. This is probably the one I was most excited for because I knew pretty quickly what direction I was heading with it. I decided to change the neck line from rounded to boat neck. I also decided to add sleeves to the dress so that I wouldn't have to worry about always having a cardigan or some kind of undershirt to go with it. Once I had decided on a cheveron print, I looked at some of the many possibilities of chevron. I decided to make the chevron part pleated like Crafty Cupboard did on Sewing in Noman's Land. Once I had decided on pleating for the skirt, I decided to go ahead and include it on the sleeve as well. I used the sash fabric to make bias tape to keep the pleats somewhat together on it.


Putting it Together
This was the interesting part because since I added sleeves I had to do everything on piecing it together in a completely different order. I just worked through slowly but surely and learned as I went. The great thing about the way I did it was that I didn't have to do any hand stitching (besides to put the buttons on) and the only top stitching was to attach the skirt to the top, the bottom part to the skirt, and the bias tape to the sleeves Which means that most of my stitching is hidden! I used a metal headband from our local craft store, 1/2" of bias from the plaid fabric, and E6000 to make a headband that corresponds to the dress.  


The Outcome
After one crazy day of sewing, Ty has another beautiful dress to spin in and I have made something to be proud of. She was so excited when it was finally done (she gets annoyed at trying things on when they aren't finished). She started playing her ukelele and singing a song about her pretty dress and candy. She was really ecstatic about the outcome. This flashy and upbeat dress is a prefect fit for her personality. Here are some more chevron projects:

Insignia Go Go Toddler Dress

Waves of Summer Reversible Tunic

Blue Skies Smiling at Me Summer Jumper

Coming up with the Design
A design station is something that Scary and I talked about putting together for a very long time. I wanted something to organize everything I needed for sewing projects, but was unsure of how to have all that I needed and still have something aesthetically pleasing. We keep our sewing machines and tools in our living rooms, so it needs to look good.


It's actually funny how this project went down. This was the one part of the crib I had no idea what to do with and this is the one crib re-purpose that I truly reap benefits from daily. It was late one night when the idea came to us. Scary and I were walking around the house with the side of the crib in tow. We were holding it up to the ceiling saying it could be used to hang something on, we were taking it to the table saying it could be the backrest to a bench, and probably twenty other ideas that didn't fit the bill. Originally, we had thought that maybe we could use it to hang quilts on since I love them so much, but I needed something that was both functional and space efficient.


Scary had the bright idea that we finally make the design studio that we’d always talked about but never done. I held it up on the wall above my sewing machine and instantly loved the thought of it. We stayed up until at least 2am planning and discussing all of the possibilities and things that we should include on it (between our own ideas and things we had seen on pinterest). Probably  about 3 hours before this, our husbands had grown bored of our crafty conversation and greeted their pillows for the night.


Getting Supplies
After Scary went home I stayed up even later price checking the bits and pieces of it on the internet. The next day I went to Ace to see what they had by way of the things I wanted. Because I wanted it done as soon as possible and prices weren’t all that different, I ended up getting pretty much all of it there. Between the sheet metal, wood (a lot of places do one cut free), corkboard sheets, spray paint, towel rack, hose clamps, wooden dowels, large hooks, and aluminum rod I had spent about $60.


I did make a few changes from the original plan to what I ended up doing, but it was a good place to start. Since the window shutters were costly and not necessary, I ended up going with both cork sheet and sheet metal. My logic was there would be things you would need or want to push pin through and things you wouldn’t want to have holes in.


Putting it Together
I was going to make the magnets with the glass rocks and paper behind them, but that seemed costly and extra steps I wasn’t willing to take. I ended up going through my coin jar and choosing years that were significant to me or were unique. Then I used E6000 to glue the magnets to the coins. I actually love this look and how we could eliminate some of the bulk in magnets.


Scary took a picture of my rug and worked her magic in Photoshop so that I could have the outline of the flower from my living room rug as an image to cut vinyl on my silhouette and incorporate in my design studio (I used vinyl as both a stencil and regular application). I ended up using this shape on the sheet metal and the clip board.  I appreciate how cohesive it makes my sewing space to the living room. We also tried to go with the same color pallet that was already being used.


I had Power Shoes cut the top 3/8” off the top rail of the crib so that we could have a flat edge to add the shelf to. We also had to cut of the ends of the crib, similar to what we did on the headboard.  Then we used wood glue and screws to attach the shelf to the top part of the crib (my Dad’s saying is, “glue it and screw it”). In any part that involved using the screw driver we always pre-drilled so that the wood wouldn’t crack and chip.


Power Shoes also drilled out holes on the crib so that I could put in the cut wooden dowels. On some of them, they were a little loose so I just slid them in with some wood glue and they stayed. Since I used cork sheet, I had to take some scraps of wood and put it between the railings behind where the cork sheet would go the exact height. Before putting any of it on the crib, I used the matching paint and painted everything that hadn’t yet been painted.


I then spray painted the sheet metal and cork sheet, with my designs (the design from the rug on the sheet metal and Al’s Creation Station for the cork). When everything was ready to go, we attached it all. I used industrial spray adhesive to attach the cork sheet to wood.  And I used screws to attach the sheet metal to the other side. The rest of the project was just tying off loose ends. In total I spent about a week of working on it after I put the kids to bed until I could no longer keep my eyes open (probably close to 30 hours).

The last and final step I needed was to put a phrase that inspires sewing to me. I often read One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. One of these days while reading this as I was putting Ty down for a nap, I realized that I had the perfect quote. It is exactly how I feel about sewing and creating, “If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good.”

One of our goals for 2013, is to connect to our readership better. One of the ways we have decided to do this is to get into social networking. Here is the run down of the ways that you can reach us:
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter
Shaffer Sisters Inspire Us Flickr Group
Instagram: shaffersisters

And if you ever forget this information you will see that we have placed some social networking buttons on the left sidebar.

Returning to health in 2013. That is the plan.
Which means more whole foods, and less processed foods.  Here is a recipe for a quick lunch, that hits the spot.  It is full of nutrients and hunger reducing protien.  I love putting good food in to my body, and seeing the results of energy and vitality!
                                                 


Yummy European Style Bean Wrap
Gluten free, Vegan 
1 can of kidney beans-drained
1 can of black beans drained
 1 can of drained olives
 a clove garlic
 a stalk of parsley
 and a teaspoon of salt
 Blend into a nice thick bean dip consistency.
Take about 1/4 c of it, and slather it on a nice big tortilla shell and add about two cups of spring mix salad.  I actually made two of them.    I use the left over spread as a dip for celery and carrot sticks as an afternoon snack.
                                             


   






Al and Scary are on a health kick as well, check out their Resolve to Sweat.

This week besides PR&P, we will be focusing on 4 useful things you can make with one crib.

A little while back Scary decided to get rid of her crib because it was falling apart. She told me she would either take it to the dump or I could use it for some projects. I took the helpless, orphaned crib and gave it a new beginning. There was practically a zero waste on all of these projects put together.

Twin Size Headboard

The first project we did was to take one of the sides of the crib and cut it down a little on each end (because the top and bottom bar that extended on each side made it too long). It really just depends on how big your bed frame is; measure from the outside edge of one side to the outside edge of the other side. Pre-drill where your headboard bolts into your frame. Sand any rough edges.

The original crib was a dark brown, so I used it as a base coat. Then I took a royal blue craft paint and painted over the brown. At that point all you could see was blue. I pulled out a piece of sandpaper and sanded away to give a distressed look. I was really glad to use craft paint because I had it on hand. Also it's not a super high quality paint so it distressed easily.


 Ty loves it and it saves the pillows from falling onto the floor heater.
 

 The total project took about 2 hrs. And only required some cutting, drilling, craft paint, sand paper, bolts, and nuts.

Photo Clip Board

Can I just say I loved this project!? It took a total of 10 minutes to prep and hang.

This was made from the spring board of the crib. All we had to do was drill out the rivets that attached the spring board to the crib. In order to do this you will need a drill and a drill bit the right size.


Then I got some miniature clothes pins and hung up different pictures I had lying around.



Anyone have other ideas you could do with with the side and spring board of a crib? Check back with us Thursday and Saturday to see what we did with the rest of the crib.

This is the second time I have written this because the first time blogger deleted my blog post, but I decided that this message is so important to somebody out there (I know your there somewhere) that I have to do it again, so forgive me if it is a little less polished and well written. 
 
I have wanted to share my experience with panic disorder and marriage for some time but every time I begin to write I am hit with serious writers block. I have felt our story could  be a message of hope to a couple going through a similar experience. Every time I put my mind to writing about panic disorder and marriage my emotion just stops me cold and I can't bring myself to continue writing or even publish what I have written down, but today I have finally found the words.

Al was asked during church today to read the following story

My wife, Harriet, and I love riding our bicycles. It is wonderful to get out and enjoy the beauties of nature. We have certain routes we like to bike, but we don’t pay too much attention to how far we go or how fast we travel in comparison with other riders.

However, occasionally I think we should be a bit more competitive. I even think we could get a better time or ride at a higher speed if only we pushed ourselves a little more. And then sometimes I even make the big mistake of mentioning this idea to my wonderful wife.

Her typical reaction to my suggestions of this nature is always very kind, very clear, and very direct. She smiles and says, “Dieter, it’s not a race; it’s a journey. Enjoy the moment.”
Of Regrets and Resolutions by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

As the final words of this story were read I was reminded of when panic and fear had immobilized Slim Jim to such an extent that he was unable to leave our home under any circumstances (work, grocery shopping, visiting family, etc.) I felt so alone and so helpless. I had so much concern that our lives were forever fixed to those circumstances. I was so turned inward on that mammoth trial that I felt no joy.
We had a hard time feeling joy for our friends as they moved on to the next stepping stone, we felt jealousy as we had concerns that we were being left behind.
As I was under this rock of depression I talked to my friend, Chey, and she offered condolences, understanding and hope. She reminded me (in a gentle and kind way) how loving and kind Slim Jim was and how blessed we were to have each other. From that point on my viewpoint shifted, I realized that my blessing was that I was getting to experience this really tough thing with Slim Jim, that I loved so much. And our love for each other was our tool through this lifetime trial.
From that point on (mind you there were some natural man moments among the great ones) I tried to keep my eye towards our love and remember that it is our journey and that life is not a race. Many people asked me how I could stay so strong and have patience in our struggles, I told them that I loved Slim Jim and if I remembered that what else really mattered.
As Slim Jim has been able to take elements of his life back from panic and fear we have had great joy in the smallest things. Like when I cried all the way through Toy Story 3 because I was so happy that Slim Jim was finally able to travel out of town and sit with me in a movie. Or the much larger events like when he was able to make it to the hospital to be with me when Ryder was born.
Among the real heart breaking moments since the panic attacks we have had joy. I am so grateful for this journey and how it has really helped us realize how every little piece of a "normal life" is a blessing. For every moment of pain we have had thousands more moments of joy.

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I don't know what kind of challenges you, our readers might be dealing with but I thought this gentle reminder might be powerful for you as well. A symbol of where you have been and that tomorrow you will have the opportunity to have many more moments of joy. 

Dear Friends,
    It has been awhile since my last post but I think I might be getting the hang of this!  :)  We hope right!! This last month has been crazy busy with all the different thing going on from traveling, to being Santa's little helpers, and making presents.  What great fun we have had!!!  Now the tree has been taken down presents been put away and a new year has begun!!  I wish I could say I have gotten off to a good start on my new years resolutions but to be honest I haven't been. I will start and do better now!! :)
The new year started off busy like always. Bubba is getting ready for school to start again which means work, buying book, and starting homework, Ralph is back in school and had a great week back so far!!!  And I have started my substitute teaching job as well as working with Ralphs after school program!! It was so much fun!! 
 Speaking of new years resolutions I have a few, such as,
                               -keep on top of our budget
                               -losing weight! (which is always a new years resolution)
                              - getting my apartment set up and organized!! I have said that since I got married and with two boys, myself and a dog well lets just say the process has been slow!! 
                              - finish the projects I have started such as:
                                     - a Job chart
                                     - baby blankets
                                     - a nursing blanket
                                     - pajama pants
                                     - clothes I started to make for myself
 Overwhelmed yet? I am!! Goodness!! No worries they all won't be accomplished in the first month of the year!! I have started a few and am almost done! I will post some pictures. Can't wait for the next blog post, to show how we are doing!!! For now TaTa!!!