Sunbeams again

2014, right after a Primary program

Our Sunday dinner question was inspired by all of the Primary programs I have been attending lately. I asked everyone to tell us what their Sunbeam-level talk would be, which is basically a simplified version of something we believe, as a 4-year-old might say it. This made us feel surprisingly vulnerable, but I loved the responses.

Tim: “I like reading the scriptures.” (Pronounced without any “R’s”)

Mark: “I like my family.”

Richard: “Jesus wants us to be kind to one another.”

Angela: “Jesus Christ is my hero.”

Michael: “Families can be together forever.”

Paige: “The pretty fall leaves help me feel Heavenly Father’s love.”

Daniel: “Heavenly Father helps us when things get hard.”

McKenna: “Jesus makes things less scary.”

Clair de Lune on the violin and harp

This version of Clair de Lune played on my radio station today. I stopped unloading the dishwasher to look up the artist and I spent time searching online so I could enjoy it again. I bought the song, then I listened and listened some more, and never got back to the dishwasher task. I guess I needed this song more than a clean kitchen.

Thanks to Paige who found this on YouTube so I could share it.

A Few Recent Screenshots

In the early 2000’s, I remember writing down a wishlist for a system to keep track of important family events. It would need to be a place for writing and pictures which would also allow for incidental and everyday things to be saved. I think I’m my mind it was an organization system in a three-ring binder. I didn’t know then that I was describing a blog. Today I was going through photos on my phone and realized I have a collection of screenshots that I would probably like to remember. So, here is a post of incidental things that mattered to me during the past month or so.

Thank goodness!
Comic relief when the Department of State rejected something on Tim’s passport application.
No credit was given to the artist on this post.
Forgive me. I took a screenshot of a Zoom women’s meeting with Elder and Sister Renlund. In this picture, Sister Renlund is teaching that when we focus on our own problems, we can’t see the big picture beyond them. (Her fist represents the problems in our lives.) When we make a fist in front of our face and focus on it, that is all we see clearly. She invited us to focus beyond our fist of troubles. As we focus on the bigger setting beyond ourselves, especially on Jesus Christ, our troubles seem less pressing. Try it, make a fist, focus on the wall beyond the fist, and the fist almost disappears.

Cold snap

Many years ago, I bought two hot water bottles, but until recently, I have been almost the only user. This year, our pup is my new hot water bottle buddy. It got really cold all of a sudden around here. Sorry about a post about the weather. Life isn’t always very noteworthy.

Missionary Armor of God video

https://www.facebook.com/587112552/posts/10157933781037553/?app=fbl

I wish that this video was available in a different way, since you probably need a Facebook account to see it. I am posting it as a place marker in time, as these are the missionaries from our ward. Tim is in it, too.

Tim begins his missionary service in 32 days. We have all the gear to prove it.

This is only about 1/10 of the stuff we have for the mission. This is my current workshop for gathering and rudimentary tailoring.
Now that we have almost everything, it’s time to attach labels.

I’m on my knees about his passport, which had a hiccup in processing. I could use some fellowship in prayer on this.

Doll Work 7

Someone had her hair styled this weekend. Happy day, I have moved through my creative slump. I’m setting up my doll factory for Christmas and I have a few more dolls planned.

This is the doll I was making for the blog tutorials in early 2021. To see the tutorial posts, you can click here. I made changes to the hairline on the back of the head before I created this twist and fold hairstyle. She’s come a long way.

Museum of miniature art

I have opened a miniature art museum on my front porch. It delights me to find the children in the neighborhood are displaying their art here. I got the idea online and sent invitations to create pieces no bigger than a library card. Slowly, the art began to appear. Paige kindly contributed a piece early on just in case no one showed up. 🙂 I have never “caught” anyone leaving art, and that is part of the fun. What will I discover in the museum today?

Autumn light

This year for our church conference, our family paused the t.v. after each talk to write a summary statement together on a white board. It didn’t take long, but it was a good way to review quickly and work together. I love autumn light, and it comes in many forms: sunrises, sunsets, golden afternoons, and general conference talks.

Here are just a few of my favorite talks.