Mason, Kristi & Harley

Mason, Kristi & Harley..so happy.

Harley is kinda a snuggler.

"Get down!"......"Make me!"...LOL

Yay, for Sunday dinner and time together.

Harley chillin in his 'spot'. That's his

monkey on the floor. :)

I told them I was going to post their cute faces on my blog. But I also promised to behave and not DTR. Bummer.

Promise keeper,

Momma D

A Thoughtful Valentine

Valentines Day kind of snuck-up on me this year. Then Cami walked in and announced she needed everyone's presence in the living room asap. So, we gathered around and she presented everyone with thoughtful sweet gifts and cards. This was the night before Valentines since she has school in Paris early Valentines morning and has to leave before the crack of dawn...she gave us our gifts early. Here's mine.

A bouquet of gorgeous flowers,

and a long stem chocolate rose. Awww.

I loved her gift. In fact that evening when everyone had gone to bed and I was folding laundry I began to notice how many different kinds of blossoms were in this arrangement. Each flower is so unique and beautiful, just like my children. To look at the whole arrangement at once is nice...but to really get the full effect I began to take a closer look, at each lovely blossom individually. I wanted to capture what I saw, felt, and was experiencing in my heart, so I took out my camera and started using the cool darkened room & my OTT-light to snap some more pictures of my flowers.

Looking at these flowers reminded me of one of my favorite poems (author unkown):

It is only a tiny rosebud
A flower of God’s design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so sweetly,
Then, in my hands, they die

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
The flower of God’s design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So, I’ll trust in Him for leading
Each moment of my day.
I will look to Him for His guidance
Each step of the Pilgrim’s way.

The pathway that lies before me
Only my Heavenly Father knows.
I’ll trust him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose



Thank you for the reminder dear Cami- I love you

Momma



Christmas 2011

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, but Kristi & Cami weren't home so, though it was nice, low key, and my cooking was delish, inwardly I was pining for Christmas dinner when ALL of us would be home together. The fact that my efforts were appreciated by my darlings at home helped, but inside my heart I was glad to see Thanksgiving pass so I could move on to the next big thing which was packing all the Fall/Thanksgiving decorations up so I could dare to unleash the beast held at bay for far too long. I had spend so many lonesome teary Monday's with flat screen emails. With Kristi serving her Mission in Raleigh, North Carolina I had spent the last 18 months with thoughts of Christmas 2011 dangling in front of my minds-eye like a carrot in front of the weary horse plodding along it's well worn path. Now it was here. It was time.

Cut loose the beast. LOL!

There was joy in the flurry of planning, cleaning, scrubbing, and decorating. Jerry & I have been married for over 30 years so you can imagine how many Christmas decorations we have accumulated over the years. When it's time to pulled the bins and tubs of decorations out of the garage my kids roll their eyes and tell me it's going to look like Christmas 'puked' in our house. I tell them, "No it won't! Because most of the tubs are filled with paper since I pack so carefully. In case I ever wanna turn and RUN!"... Hahahah! Decorating for me was both exilerating, and excruciating because I could hear in my head our little Kristi as she'd sing as we decorated... (from 'Little Mermaid') "I have gadgets and gizmo's a-plenty, I've got Hooz-it's and whats-it's galore, you want thing-a-ma-bob's?...I've got 20. But who cares, no big deal...I want MORE!" Then I'd unwrap an ornament she made when she was in kindergarden. Oh...my.

My family kept asking me what I wanted for Christmas. I felt like I was in a state of perpetual thanks and gratitude to Heavenly Father. I was continually thanking Him for one blessing received after another. There I was standing there as my valiant daughter walked through the airport doors and into my waiting arms. Visits by family, friends, and hearing my daughters reports, testimony, and songs. Parties, good food, shopping, wrapping, laughing, loving, and HUGGING (lots of hugging). But there was also tears, adjustment, confusion, as our wonderful full-time Missionary came home from her busy, scheduled, intense, Spirit filled days of service....to...well...us. :) By the time we went from Thanksgiving to these pictures in our living room on Christmas morning...Christmas was sweet, and calm, and wonderful. I just wanted to absorb them all. To inhale my sweethearts and hold them close. I could picture a mother hen gathering her little chicks under her wings. That would be me. If you see me and I am beaming..it is most likely that it's because my Jerry and my kids must be close by.

Kristi handing out the gifts. We slept til

around 10am. It was so nice.

Jered is over there grinning because he finally gets to use his new hard drive for his Xbox 360. And his new Batman game. He had opened the sides of the packages to 'Make sure I'd gotten the right ones.' He didn't want to be disappointed on Christmas morning. He wasn't LOL!

Cassi and Jerry. He got an Iowa

Hawkeye hat. He LIKES it..a LOT!

Cassi & Kristi got clothes, clothes,

oh...and did I mention more clothes?

I got Jerry an autographed copy of

Dan Gable's autobiography which is

completely out of print. It was one of

'those' finds. Also a brand new retro

Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling Hoodie.

Momma got a new toy. Jerry is a KEEPER!

 I didn't have time to do my annual Christmas letter this year. I may do an Easter one. I really do enjoy making one each year. So much has happened and I love reading the ones from our other friends and family. This year was kinda wild though and since I am not Linda Carter (Super Woman), or Zena (Warrior Princess), or Jeanie (well...you know)...I just ran out of time. I love y'all though. Trully!

I feel so blessed to have the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. I have experienced the wonder of having one of my children serve the Lord on a full-time basis. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is amazing. He changes lives. His message is also an invitation to Come Unto Him...for His burden is easy, and His yoke is light. Following His teachings will bring us closer to Him, because as we follow Him we become like Him. How can we know and profess to love Him if we don't, won't, and have never done what He asks us to do over and over in the scriptures? And that is..."If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15) No-where in the scriptures does our Lord tell us..."Tell me you love me." He does not. But the scriptures are filled with the Lord telling us the way to show Him we love Him is to 'Keep His Commandments'. My prayer for myself and my family this year is that we take the Lord at His word. That we keep His commandments and in so doing we honor our Savior, and show Him of our love for Him.

Merry Christmas!

Sandi

14th of Dec. Picking up our Missionary...FINALLY! :)

Well, indeed our daughter Sister Dodge came home from the Raleigh North Carolina Mission on Dec 14th. We'd planned our morning and was thwarted by a frenzied call from Ulta (Cassi's workplace) saying they needed her ASAP and so with a promise that they'd let her go by 12:30...she left. But not without getting a little teary first.

We had to wait for Cassi to get off work before heading to the airport. Kristi's flight was to arrive at 12:50pm. I was so nervous. I just wanted to get there. Like...GO! When we got to the terminal we were able to get an excellent parking place right near the baggage claim area. So in we ran, to wait....

Jered standing by the revolving doors

determined to be the first to get a hug.

Cassi told me to not worry about getting video, or pictures, that she would do all the recording of her arrival. I have been waiting for her to forward me those pictures, but so far all I've gotten is... a wait. LOL. So I am going ahead with my blog and showing you the pics I took of Kristi's with Jered & Cassi.

Finally...here comes Sister Dodge!

Home again, home again, fiddle-dee-dee!

Kristi marveling about Jered's growth!

Cassi sharing the love. There were tears.

She wore a red shirt because it's my favorite

color. Her humor is very much in tact.

Laughing at Daddy. It was wonderful!

The carriers of the bags. Two medium

size bags that aren't even bulging at the

seams. That's because she had to leave

about 30lbs of it at the Mission Home. LOL

The ride home. I can't believe we've got her.

Straight to Anamia's for Tex-Mex!

Our Cassi-girl! She leaves in a couple

weeks to head back to BYUI. {Sniff sniff}

Seeing Alexa for the first time in a LONG time.

Sister Dodge & BFF Alexa Stucki

Waiting to see Stake Pres. Blake to be

officially released 14 Dec, 2011

Proud & Happy Daddy

Well I am trying to play catch up since so much has been happening since Kristi came home. So much more to come. So visit often. I cannot tell you how much I love having her home. My hubby & children are my favorite people on the planet. Not to say there aren't challenges, and hitches in our giddy-up...but aren't the whoopdy-doo's the funnest part of a rollar coaster? Love+work=Happiness.

Momma D



Five More Days!

Sister Maria C Dodge

Yup, our beautiful Missionary comes home in '5' days. I am so excited. I just want to sit by her and have her talk, laugh, sing, talk, laugh, sing! There is so much to talk about and do together. But mostly I just want to hug her long and tight.

The preparations have been a little stressful, and it's been hard NOT to make everyone around me cray, cray, crayzzzeeee in the process. AS things stand right now there are a few things that HAVE to get finished...but other than those...everything else I know will fall into place. Can I help it if I want her homecoming to be PERF?

Meanwhile we are being blessed with a visit from Elder Russell M Nelson from the Quorum of the 12 Apostles this Sunday at our very own Stake Conference. Cassi and I are singing in the choir so we will be up close and personal with him. I have been listening to his Conference messages in preparation for hearing him & I feel so blessed to have this opportunity. What a cool way to get grounded, focused, and put things in their proper perspective before the flurry of Kristi's homecoming? It's a tender mercy from Heavenly Father. He knows me so well.

Elder Russell M Nelson

I'm also really, REALLY excited that my Dad is coming and bringing a couple of my darling nieces. That makes me so happy. Kristi will be so pleased. They come in on her Birthday (the 15th). Yay!

My Dad= Best Dad- Moe Beaujeu

OK- Just a reminder: Kristi will be reporting on her Mission in the Carrollton 4th Ward on Dec 18th at 1pm. If you need directions or more info please contact me. She will also be singing with her sister Cassi. They haven't been able to sing together for a very long time and I am thrilled to hear them.

We are also having a get-together so people can touch base with Kristi & re-connect, share contact info, plan fun things, etc on the evening of the 18th at our home, from 7-9pm. Come on by.

One Happy Missionary Momma

Sandi

She's Almost Home!

Hi Everyone!

Well, Kristi comes home in ‘9’ days…and counting. I already have ‘Christmas Eve’-syndrome, where I cannot sleep more than a couple of hours before opening an eye to look at the clock and see what time it is so I can check off another day. Do all Missionary Moms do this? J

Here is the information you may be interested in:

Kristi arrives home on Dec the 14th. Whehoo! (Doing Steve Martin's Happy Dance)

Kristi's
 Birthday is Dec 15^th but she has requested no party. J I believe we usually call December ‘Kristi Month’ anyways so what-evs. Fun WILL be had.

She reports on her Mission in the Carrollton 4^th Ward Dec 18^th at 1pm. The address there is

4000 Nazarene Rd, Carrollton, TX 75010

. ALL are invited to attend. She will also be singing with her younger sister Cassi, 'O Holy Night'. What a treat. Please come.

Then that evening at our home we are hosting a little get-together for her from 7-9pm. You ALL are invited. It's a very casual come & go as-you-please event that will help everyone come touch base, trade contact info, and enjoy each other after her long absence. For our address & phone number please email me at jsdodge@verizon.net -or- leave me a comment here and I will get in touch with you.

This is such a wonderful, joyous time of year, and to have our Missionary come home is just overwhelming. My heart is full to over-flowing. Please come and share our joy. Hope to see you.

Jerry & Sandi Dodge

Our Missionary- Sister Dodge

Our beautiful daughter, Sister Maria Dodge

Sister Dodge, and Sister Mecklenburg

(Please forgive me, I misplaced this young lady's

name. I will find out and post it as soon as I can.

I so wanted for you to share the joy)

Taylor F, Sister Dodge, & Carmen in Deep Run, NC.

Before the last transfer of her Mission.

It has been such an amazing blessing to have a Missionary serving the Lord from our family. We recieved a letter from her Mission President this last Friday telling us that it has been such a pleasure to work with her. That she will be released with honor on Dec 14th, 2011. I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to laying eyes on her again, and holding her in my arms. Here are a few of her latest photos:

Sister Bateman and Sister Dodge in Dunn, NC.

Zone Conference (Sis Dodge is at Top Left)

Elder & Sis Jensen (lime) (Cntr) visiting Gen. Auth.

sitting next to President & Sis Cotterell.

The Sister Missionaries of the North Carolina

Raleigh Mission. There is Sis Thurston (purple), then Sis

Dodge, Sis Bateman, ?, Sis Gallego, ?,?, Sister Dean

(brown sweater 2nd from end on rt) Beautiful women.

On the last transfer of her Mission, she was placed

with precious Sis Gallego.

If you'll remember Sister Gallego was the first Missionary Sister Dodge trained fresh out of the MTC. Can you see the joy on these two Missionaries faces? What a blessing.

Well, so much is happening and time is passing quickly. Only 22 more days until her flight lands at DFW. She will report on her Mission in the Carrollton 4th Ward on Dec 18th at 1:00pm. Come if you can make it. If you need further information or instruction just let me know. Email (jsdodge@verizon.net), FB, text, twitter @Sjdodge6, leave a comment here, or call me. :) If you cannot get ahold of me....well....bless your heart. ;)

Excited!

Missionary Momma D



A gift for Cindy

This is Dennis & Cindy L (my BIL & Sister).

This past year I went down to my sister's little farm in Levan, UT. It's awesome there. They have the coolest little place. AND they have chickens. I love chickens. Me and my brother-in-law went out with our lawn chairs & he let them out and we sat and watched them cluck around their pen, and the yard. Such well behaved chickens. :)

So aren't they great? In this pic they were still little.

They are much prettier now. But still so cute!

Anyways, I'd been wanting to make my sister something for her house for a while, so I kinda thought I'd try to find something about chickens. I didn't have much luck. I didn't want old mauve and blue chickens from the 80's LOL. I was happy when I came across this idea instead. No, not chickens...a TURKEY! Thanksgiving was coming.  Also, out in the area where they live there are a LOT of turkey farms. It has been great fun when we'd get a fresh turkey to cook from one of the farms there. Another thing I liked about the picture I found was that it had Dresden Points & I love those because they remind me of my Grandmother and I'd never tried to make them so I was excited to learn & try them out.

This is the image I found via google.

No pattern...just this 2x3" picture.

I enlarged the tiny picture on my printer & started planning. Ya gotta love technology. I decided to make Cindy and I both one so I could think of her when it hangs in my house & she could think of me. (We live about 1300 miles from each other). I do that alot. Remember I did that with the wall hanging I made for my Dad and Marilyn? :)

First I had to figure out how I wanted the lay-out.

I decided to frame it so it would look more 

framed when it was finished. 

Then I went looking at fabric shops for the background material. I needed something that looked like grass or weeds. Something that looked like turkeys would dig hanging out in. I scored this fabric at Quilt Country in Lewisville. Perf.

I also had been looking far and wide for a fabric that looked like wood. Cassi & Jered had even gone to fabric stores with me searching for 'wood' material, and believe me when I tell you we found some that looked kinda like wood. But I knew what I wanted and I also knew I'd find some...somewhere. I scored that too. Check out the wood fabric of the fence. Great right? This project was starting out fun for me. :)

Next I began choosing the fabrics for the

turkey tails and started making my very

1st Dresden Points. Here I am using a cool

tool I have to make points nice, and pointy.

Look at these fun fall fabrics for the turkey tails.

Applying the feathers to the fabric. Fun!

I have a cool little ironing board and

Iron that sit beside where I sew.

The board is about 13" square that sits by me in my work area. That way when I am piecing I don't have to jump up to my big ironing board for every little crease. Here is also a shot of my mini Rowenta iron. They are spiffy to have. :) Yay for my 40% off JoAnn's coupons! I think the iron I got for 50% off. Oh I do love a bargain.

Here both wall hangings are pinned to the

backs and batting. I am ready to machine

quilt & blanket stitch around the applique. 

BUT- now I notice a problem. I'm looking at my cute little turkeys and something just is NOT right. I stare, and stare, and I keep looking at that turkey's duck feet. I say to myself...those don't look like turkey feet! They look like DUCK feet. Oh NO! So...I couldn't leave it like that. And I was READY to sew. Who would notice...right? Who would care...right? I WOULD. So...I started undoing the pins & taking apart both wall hangings. I took out a pencil & paper and started sketching turkey feet. When I finally sketched the ones I liked I found the fabric & made the changes. NOW I was ready to sew. See what you think...

This was much more turkey-like. T or F?

Here it is ready to send to Cindy.

I had ordered the hanger for it from a friend.

I found this incredibly 'wow' fabric for

the binding. It's a Moda fabric. My fave.

I got a call from Cindy today. She got it and really likes it. She even sent me a text picture of it on her wall.

She said: "Sorry that big ole dehydrator

is in the pic, but there it is! I LOVE it!

Then I sent her this picture of mine which I have in

my little mini-quilt stand sitting on my fireplace.

No, Cindy and I won't be together

for Thanksgiving this year. But I think

we'll be thnking of each other.

I know we will.

 I think ole Tom would be proud.

I love you Cindy. And I love my Jerry & each one of my children for a million reasons. I am so thankful to have Kristi out serving a Mission in the North Carolina Raleigh Mission. We got the letter from her Mission President today saying how wonderful she's been to serve with & that he will release her with honor on Dec 14th. She will fly into DFW at 12:50pm. I am so thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives and the foundation it is to us all if we let it. I'm grateful for my Dad & Marilyn, and for my little Brother (Jeff) & Sister (Shannon) & their darling families. For each of my In-laws and all my incredible nieces and nephews whom I adore, and all their beautiful little precious babies. You are each such a blessing in my life. Aunts, Uncles & cousins. Oh, how richly I've been blessed. Love to you all., and Have a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Sandi