Reflecting on my blessings

As I start this month I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Of course it didn't hurt to have a new little grandson born the very first day. It didn't hurt that after a weekend of bad weather, we were blessed with gorgeous crisp air. Blue skies, cool temperatures, leaves falling~ lovely. I love November. The red and gold colors, the feelings of gratitude that the holiday brings on, the gathering of family for dinner on that special Thursday. I love to set my table with my mom's china and remember holidays past and hopes for the future. I love to count my blessings. I have been thinking lately how I grow in my love for others by serving them. As Ty and Melanie will learn from their little boy, they will love him so completely because they are serving him so selflessly. The last few months I have been blessed to serve in both Relief Society and Primary. My blessings have been doubled. I am growing to love the women in my neighborhood more and more each day as I see the acts of service that go on around me. I have written before, but I will say it again, I have never seen such caring unselfish women. I know, because while I was sick I was served by them. They just continue to find the need and step in and help wherever needed. Nothing big or overblown, just quiet and sweet and yet collectively the service is monumental, especially to the one in need.

The other area where I am being blessed is in the Primary where the love I feel for these little ones continues to grow. Each child is so sweet with his or her own unique personality, wanting to be heard and loved. They are heard and loved ~ they make sure of it!! I don't know if it is because I am tending my two little grandsons at this time, but I am identifying with the tiny ones. The nursury and sunbeam age. I just want to scoop them all up and hold them. They are so innocent. Full of promise...and mischief...and love. What a gift to be associated with these little children, so recently from their Heavenly Father. His light is still with them.

I may have a few extra jobs these days, but I certainly am receiving blessings.

I am grateful for the love I receive each day from these lovely sisters and children.

Darling #7 Finally Here!

We are so happy to welcome our 7th grandson! What a joy to have these little ones join the family. Of course we have started a club. "NO GIRLS ALLOWED" !

Until somebody has a girl.

Right now we are having fun with all these boys!

Happy Halloween

Have a Happy Halloween!

October!?

It's certainly amazing what can happen from the beginning of October to the end! The beautiful fall weather has left and winter is upon us.

Simplicity

artwork by Robert Duncan

We've been learning this hymn in choir. I love the words, what a lovely message.

'Tis a gift to be simple,

'tis a gift to be free,

'tis a gift to come down

where we ought to be,

and when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained

to bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed,

to turn, turn, will be our delight

till by turning, turning we come round right.

I personally feel this song is teaching me to be humble, to bow and to bend to learn, to turn myself toward others and serve in simple ways~ and things will come round right.

Love to the Girls of the Harvest Boutique

           "The essence of the beautiful is unity in variety"

                                                                                                  William Somerset Maugham

I have had the opportunity to be a part of the Harvest Boutique this weekend.  What a lovely experience to work with some beautiful ladies.  I would like to give each one of them some blooms from my garden. All of these girls are talented and unique in their own special way.  They are all just spilling over with creativity, and yet there is no rivalry going on.  Just support for each other and lots of love!  Help with each other's displays and excitement when someone made a sale.  I have never been so grateful and proud to be associated with my daughters and nieces, and the darling friends they brought in with their products.  We couldn't have done anything without Kathy's beautiful home.  So thanks to you all for letting me be apart of the fun.

"To be creative means to be in love with life.  You can be creative only if you love life enough that you want to enhance its beauty, you want to bring a little more music to it, a little more poetry to it, a little more dance to it."   ~Osho   And I might add,  a little more stitching, quilting, crocheting, sewing, candy making, picture taking, flower making... You girls certainly love life and are enhancing its beauty through your creativity!  Love to you all, Polly

Harvest Boutique

All the flowers from my garden are packed and ready to be taken up to the Harvest Boutique. Can't wait to see all the lovely things brought by the others involved. It will be a great way to get a little Christmas shopping done.

2061 Mahre Drive near the Canyon Resort

Watch for signs!

How my Dad influenced me.

I read an article by Ann Cannon yesterday. She wrote about how a friend who had a difficult life carried on with resilience. The answer was that she had a good dad. She had a good mom, but having a good dad was a double blessing. No one had to convince her that she was as good as the guys, she already knew it. Because of her dad she could hold her own in a room full of men. And she wouldn't even know she was doing it,  it was second nature to her. Ann goes on to ask, "how do you raise a daughter like that?"
Her answers are: Tell her she's smart. Take an active interest in her schoolwork. Listen to her when she expresses an opinion. Make eye contact. And it doesn't hurt to tell her she's pretty, but let "smart" trump "pretty". Laugh at her jokes. Tell her your stories. Pay your daughters as much attention as you do your sons. The list goes on.

I had just such a dad. He talked to me, and gave me such confidence that as I grew he listened whether he wanted to or not. He told me I was beautiful when I smiled, which made me want to smile alot. He told me I could accomplish anything I set my mind to. He took me to work with him from the age of 12 and taught me how to work, and the importance of work. During those years of working with him he told me stories of his life and lessons he learned.

When I was young my dad coached church basketball. At a very young age he taught me how to take stats during the game. It was my job to sit close by the bench, so during time out, and and half time he could look over my stats to see how the team was doing. I never missed a game. I learned the game of basketball. I felt a part of his world. I felt important and included.

How grateful I am for a dad who loved me enough and was smart enough to teach me to believe in myself. To give me self-confidence. To teach me the value of work.

To love me.

Thanks dad.

Harvest Boutique

I've never had such a year! Here we are in October when I am normally cleaning my garden up and putting my blooms to bed for the winter and I just keep picking more and more every day! I guess I was really good at dead heading or something?!? They just keep coming ~ and, oh the colors. Look at these beautiful cream roses...and that little yellow one, I just couldn't resist pinning it to that knitted black hat.

This darling had to go on a head band.

My garden is not forgetting that Christmas is only a few months away. The golds, greens and can you believe it? even red plaid? who would have thought~ that new fertilizer I'm using is really something!!!!

Come and see all the great treats at the Harvest Boutique, a week from today in Park City.

I Continue to Learn

I have a friend. As we have walked and talked our way through 30 years of friendship, we have discussed many things. The state of the world, religion, our children, ourselves, just why things are the way they are. The answer that we continually come up with is "we just don't get it." I guess we just aren't that smart. But we continue to love, laugh and learn. I think learning is the key here...

I've decided that I was put on this earth to learn. Always, never getting to the point where I've learned enough. When I was in rehab, my counselor told me I was successful, because of my ability to learn. I remember how awful it was for me to be there. How horrible I felt at the thought that I could find myself in such a predicament. Yet I felt as long as I was there I might as well listen and learn everything they had to offer. And I did learn.

There are many things in this life that I would have liked to be, that I just wasn't that good at..

I love to paint - even though I am not a painter.

I love to sing - even though I am not a singer.

And so I learn. And as life goes on and gives me experiences, and I say "I just don't get it?" I ask myself, " what can I learn from this, what will this experience teach me? Will I learn to love more completely, or be more compassionate?" I don't know, all I can do is try. Even if my painting isn't beautiful or the notes aren't right on pitch at least I made the effort.

" Everything in life has purpose.  There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from".
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross