A Bunch of Chicks

Remember the chicken that Malia made in her sewing camp? Remember that I said she wanted to make chickens for pretty much everyone she knows? Well, she had this grand plan to sew chickens for everyone who would be attending our girls’ trip to Cedar City. She spent the week before gathering info about favorite colors and crafted a chicken for each of her aunts and cousins who would be attending. She was going to give everyone their chickens when we arrived in Cedar City and the plan was to have at least one chicken in every picture we took on our trip. It was going to be so much fun. And then…Covid happened. She had finished all the chickens by the time we found out we couldn’t go and that was one of the things she was upset about. She had worked so hard, had spent so much time, and now her wonderful plans were spoiled. She still planned to gift her flock, but she felt like it wouldn’t be special anymore. I assured her that it would be. When you put thought, time, and effort into creating something wonderful for the people you love, it is always special. Nonetheless, it was one of her great disappointments.

Today we had lunch at my parents’ house, and we knew that Rachael and her girls would be there, so Malia carefully packed her chickens into a backpack so she could distribute them to those in attendance. When we arrived, we were surprised to see that both Patti and Esther were there too. Yay! The only one who was not present was Sarah, but since she lives in Idaho, that was not at all unexpected. Malia gave out her hens and everyone loved them. While we didn’t get the fun trip part, they were still a special gift that she had created for each of them. 

One random tidbit about all these chickens is that the only planned road trip participant who doesn’t have one is me. I guess that tells you where I fall in Malia’s list of important people. But I’m not offended. Honestly! I think it’s funny. 😂 And I LOVE that she loves her family!

A Passion for Poultry

Remember a few days ago when I said that Malia wants to make chickens for everyone she knows because she loooooves the chicken she sewed in her sewing camp? She started with her cousin Kate, of course, because Kate is one of her most important people. Malia asked me to text my sister Rachael to get a picture of Kate’s favorite chicken (because they keep chickens and consider Kate to be the “chicken whisperer” of the family) as well as that chicken’s name. The yellow Buff Orpington, named Orpy, is Kate’s favorite because it is so fat and fluffy. Malia made a mini Orpy, packed it up very nicely in a gift bag, and gave it to Kate when we had dinner at my parents’ house on Sunday. This evening Rachael sent me a picture.

Kate loooooves the chicken!

Sew What?

Malia is a very opinionated person. Yes, I know we all have our moments, and yes, I also know that with Kevin and I as her parents she was bound to have a strong personality, and yes, I would much rather have her be able to stand up for what she believes in the wacky world in which we live, but sometimes, it makes me a little crazy. For instance, she is a crafty girl. She loves to create things. And I’ve long thought that she would really enjoy adding machine sewing to her list of skills as it would open up a whole new world of creating for her. But does she want to hear that from me? No way. If I suggest it, it is no good. It has to be her idea. Last summer she spent an entire day with my mom learning some basic sewing machine skills and creating a fun tote bag with a million tiny pockets for her LSP (the Littlest Pet Shop toys). She had a great time and was really proud of what she created. But once she got home, she didn’t want anything to do with any encouragement or suggestions that came from me. 

We have a lady who moved in up the street from us last year who runs an in-home business teaching people to sew. She offers a variety of small classes and workshops as well as private lessons. And in the summer, she holds a few sewing camps for kids. They learn some basic sewing machine skills and create a different project each day using the skills they learn. The mother of one of Malia’s friends in the ward asked me a few months back if Malia was interested in attending one of those camps with her daughter. I consulted Malia, and she agreed, but I honestly think it was because it would be time spent with Shar and not for any real excitement about the activity. Nevertheless, agree she did.

Her three days of sewing camp were this week and before they started on Tuesday, her reluctance was showing. She asked about the time when it would be held and when she learned that it would be 2 ½ hours for each of the three days, her response was a somewhat morose, “That’s a long time.” But again, the lure of Shar sent her off to her first day of camp.

Malia came home a changed child. She was bubbling with excitement and was incredibly proud of the projects she had created, especially the chicken. (She did some basic stitch practicing and made a gathered flower and a chicken.) In addition to Shar, one of her friends from school happened to be in the class and the time had flown by. She immediately asked if I would show her how to use my sewing machine and followed that up by asking how much a kids’ sewing machine would be. Her lackadaisical attitude was completely gone, and she was highly enthusiastic about her newfound confidence and skills. 

I was more than just pleased. I was thrilled! Having someone else teach her suddenly made everything exciting and new. And having friends who shared in her enjoyment of the creative process certainly helped. She trotted off to her next two days of camp with anticipation and joy and came home contented with her progress and anxious to do some more sewing. On the second day she created an otter pop holder and a scrunchie. The third and final day of the camp was spent sewing a drawstring backpack. She did a fantastic job, and her response was, “When I look at it, I can’t believe I made it!” It really does look great. I’m so proud of what she has learned in such a short time and I’m hoping her enjoyment of sewing continues. I plan to feed the fire and encourage her however I can.

As for my neighbor, I owe her a big thank you. It was the best $75 I’ve spent all summer. 

Oh, and now Malia wants to make chickens for everyone she knows. She loooooves the chicken. And it is cute. 😂

Are You Chicken Committed or Pig Committed?

Last week Sunday we were read the letter from the stake president about a special meeting that means ward boundary changes are going to happen.  Knowing that this is going to be a major change, much of what was said in church yesterday was about how to go forward with a good attitude and embrace the changes that are inevitable.  The gospel is, of course, true no matter what ward we are in or how the boundary lines are drawn.  Having change does not change the truthfulness of the message, but it can often be hard to accept the changes, especially when they take us out of our comfort zone or separate us from friends.  Our gospel doctrine teacher, who is a former bishop, put it all into words that I really liked.  He compared the gospel to a ham and eggs breakfast.  Random, I know, but stick with me.  To produce a ham and eggs breakfast, the chicken lays an egg and takes off.  The pig, however, lays down his life for that ham and eggs breakfast.  He then posed a question: are you chicken committed or pig committed?  Do we do our small part for the gospel and then take off when the going gets tough or do we give it our all and lay down our lives for the gospel?  He then reminded us that if we lay down our lives for the gospel, we will be blessed. 

I really like this particular analogy.  I think it can be applied to many different aspects of our lives.  So when the going gets tough, ask yourself, “Am I chicken committed or pig committed?”  And I would surely hope that when it comes right down to it I can proudly say that I am a porker. :-)

As for the results of our major boundary adjustments, the nine wards in our stake were re-organized into twelve wards.  Half our ward plus a street or two is still considered the same ward.  The other half plus a street or two is a brand new ward.  And a small section (our house included) is now part of another existing ward.  We still have the same bishop, but our next door neighbors are no longer in our ward.  Nathan lost a couple of friends to other wards, but gained a few school friends that he is excited about being in the same ward with.  Matthew’s two best little friends from preschool and primary are no longer in our ward, but I’m not really sure he will be affected much.  I’m still friends with their mothers and playing with them necessitates arranging a play date anyway so I really don’t think that he will find it much different.  Kev and I both find ourselves with many friends gone to other wards but a sprinkling of pals still with us.  Poor Daniel is the one who got hit the hardest.  Unlike Nathan, he doesn’t make friends easily and I have written more than once about how grateful I am that he has made a couple of really good friends here.  Unfortunately, his little trio now finds themselves in three different wards.  I cried for him.  And then when Kev and I came home and told him, Daniel cried and I cried some more.

I remember how hard it was being in this situation when a similar change happened before we moved out here.  While I really struggled for awhile over being separated from friends (I was pregnant with Matthew at the time which did not help my emotional stability), the changes presented new opportunities for many people and I ended up meeting many more wonderful gals (several of whom are probably reading this) who will have places in my heart forever.  I hope, for Daniel even more than for myself, that there are friends waiting to be made in this new ward.  And I’ll try all the harder to kick Daniel (who is a bit of a homebody) out the door to go find his buddies.