Have I done any good in the world today...

...have I helped anyone in need? 

About a month ago, my cousin Jason's Shayla sent me a Facebook message asking me if I would be willing to do a favor for her.

Over the course of the past month, we've been in contact and finally, yesterday, I was able to complete my portion of the requested favor.

I made and delivered dinner to a recently widowed sister in our valley.

Shayla lives too far away. And this is what she wanted to do for her friend.

What a blessing it was to me to be able to take part in this act of service.

...There are chances for work all around, just now. Opportunities right in our way...

It wasn't much. Rigatoni, french bread, caramel popcorn. But it was food. Ready to eat, homemade, delicious comfort food. 

In one of the most important declarations of what it means to be a true disciple of the Master, Alma describes in clarity and simplicity the covenant and responsibility of one who would enter the waters of baptism. We have all entered the water. We have made the covenant. In the eighteenth chapter of Mosiah, Alma describes the conduct of a true follower of the Savior, a true disciple. For he said, “And now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

“Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things.” (Mosiah 18:8–9.)

He has stated simply: If we are to be the Savior’s disciples, if we are to become like him, then we must serve one another, then we must assume responsibility to help with one another’s needs, then we must assist each other through the thorny pathways of life.
H. Burke Peterson, April 1981 General Conference

I often forget just how meaningful something so simple as a ready to eat meal is to those who are just so tired. 

President Monson in April 2001 General Conference said, "There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save."

...Has anyone's burden been lighter today because I was willing to share?...

...When they needed MY help was I there?...

Thank you, Jason's Shayla, for allowing me this opportunity, this gentle reminder that what we do for each other really matters.

...doing good is a pleasure. A joy beyond measure. A blessing of duty and love...

[big news and a little bit of creativity]

Well, hello. I've really not been a great keeper of the blog these past few months. Truth be told, I've had a hard time being a great keeper of anything. I hope to change that. In all areas of my life.

My starting point is this...I will be submitting my letter of resignation to the school district next week. Yikes. 

This year of leave has been the best thing for our little family. It just works for us.

But as much as I've loved being home... As much as I've loved being able to be here when Goosey gets home from school... As much as I've loved getting stuff done during the day (which happens a lot less frequently than it should...)... I've missed teaching.

We're not willing to give up that time together. Or that peace that is in our home when I'm not so stressed about testing and observations and school.

But I miss teaching. 

Over the past 2 weeks, a series of tender mercies have occurred that have led us directly to the next fork in the road.

I will be submitting that letter of resignation. And embarking on my life-long dream of opening my own preschool. What the freaking heck?! Ha! There is an undercurrent of excitement in my home. I know Kenton is smiling so big at this decision. We're all thrilled that this is happening. 

I meet Thursday with our city council for final approval. And with that, the Little Fireflies Learning Center will be up and running fall 2016.

The flexibility offered by teaching from my home is so great. My own hours, my own curriculum, super small class sizes, and the opportunity to teach again! 

This also allows me to continue my work with a couple of different digital scrapbook designers, continue to be "scrapbook mom" for 5 (soon to be 6) missionaries, and most off all, allows me to be MOM. (McKayslin is super excited about pre-school and knowing she gets to help on her days off from school!).

So...in the coming weeks/months/years - MamaGoose will look an awful lot the same (only more frequent!) - recipes, scrapbooking, life in general - but with the addition of some fun preschool stuff! 

Yesterday was new release day for Dandelion Dust Designs' latest kit called Thanks so Much. 

I love the colors in this kit and can see it being used so many different ways! So far I've only played with it long enough for one layout, but I have a whole lot of ideas for this one! :)

Sure do miss this handsome boy of mine!

Thanks for sticking with me through all the crazy! 

I'll be back on Monday for #MenuPlanMonday!

See you then!

[O, youth of the noble birthright...carry on, carry on, CARRY ON]

Firm as the mountains around us, 
Stalwart and brave we stand
On the rock our fathers planted
For us in this goodly land...

...the rock of honor and virtue,

of faith in the living God...

See, this morning, this school morning, my little Goose was very excited to wake up early (we're talking like 4:30 am early!) to go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead with her friend Mighty CK.




I have very distinct memories of my 6, maybe 8, opportunities to attend the temple to do baptisms in my youth. The Idaho Falls LDS Temple is located less than 45 minutes from my home, yet going to the temple was a big deal. Huge. Months of planning, interviews, arrangements - so much so that we only went once, maybe twice each year. 

I loved going to the temple, especially as a new beehive with all of the laurels in our ward looking out for us, helping us, doing our hair all cute after we finished. And we always had dinner in the temple cafeteria. They had the best coconut cream pie.

My memories, however, are lacking in the way I felt at the temple. I don't remember recognizing the importance of the work we were doing, nor do I remember clear impressions or feelings during or after our visits.

Last night, McKayslin asked if I could take her to the temple this morning (I took her and Roo 2 weeks ago (on a Saturday morning) and Luke and I took the girls again last Saturday morning) before school. I might have hesitated. It's so early to get up. It's cold. She has school...

Yet, very clearly, I received the impression that I needed to take her this morning. One of the things I'm working on is listening and acting when I receive gentle nudges to do something good.

It took one text and CK was on board to come along. To be at the temple at 5:30 am. On a school morning. Do you know what that does to a Momma heart? As we prepared to tuck McKayslin in for the night, she shared this simple testimony...

"I like the way I feel at the temple. I really like the way I feel after. I think I need to go in the morning to give me strength and to energize me for my day."

My little barely twelve year old craves temple attendance like I have only learned to do in my 40s. Seriously, how great is that?!

This morning, early, Luke left for work, and I grumbled out of bed and into the shower, where this hymn wound itself so tightly around my heart. I found myself humming, smiling, and excited to be the mom that got to take the girls to the temple this morning. And I knew Kenton was smiling. 

Even though Kenton never was able to attend the temple physically, he was so excited when Bishop McDonald brought him his recommend at the hospital. Luke took a picture and sent me a text. Although Kenton was very sick at the time, his smile stretched from ear to ear as he proudly held up his temple recommend.



I was reminded of a story that Cal shared with me. When they were waiting in the baptistry waiting room one morning, one of the temple workers encouraged the kids to really think of the person they were performing the baptismal ordinance for, and to realize that at that moment, they were acting as missionary companions with those who had gone on before, bringing these ordinances to those who had died without the opportunity to receive them. She shared how great it was that our boys could work together on something so great - Kenton in the Spirit World and Payts here.

And now, my little Goose gets to work together with our Kenton in that same capacity. 

We picked up Mighty CK a little after 5 and arrived at the temple right around 5:30. We entered the temple to find youth already there, filling the baptistry, anxiously engaged in the work of the Lord. I watched as the girls confidently participated in the ordinances. I could see their love of the temple and the work performed there.




We exited the temple in a snowstorm. 




Stopped for some breakfast. Listened to them plan and prepare for their next trip - even making plans for the future when finally all of the friends were 12 - giggling about how we'd have to rent a bus every week. And then I dropped them off at school.

As they tumbled into school, facing the challenges of the day with a renewed outlook, with strength, and with faith, I took a moment for a quick prayer of thanks that I was the mom allowed to bring them to the temple this morning. Because, guess what?! Those blessings were mine this morning, too.

These kids of mine teach me so much...stalwart and brave they stand.

...Holding aloft our colors,
We march in the glorious dawn.
O youth of the noble birthright,
Carry on, carry on, carry on!"

Carry On
LDS Hymns 255
Text: Ruth May Fox
Music: Alfred M. Durham

[the truth about happiness]

It's been right around 5 months since I last went to work. 

I do other things - photography, card making, scrapbooking, piano lessons, baking etc. - as little side jobs. 

But as of right now, my going to work looks an awful lot like staying home (mostly in my jammies because that whole line about getting dressed makes you feel like being more productive just kind of made me want to punch people in the neck instead of actually be productive) and taking care of my home and my family.

The problem here is that while I absolutely love being home, I can be incredibly lazy.

I can spend a whole day on Pinterest. Or Facebook. Or binge watching Netflix. And, all of a sudden, it's 2:15 and I have yet to shower, or make the bed, or figure out what's for dinner, or clean anything - most days I have forgotten to eat...and I feel horrible at the end of the day. Grumpy. Useless.

I can also be incredibly creative.

Other days I spend all day in my Deb Cave. Crafting. Scrapbooking. Carding. Those days, my creative spirit smiles, and I'm joyful, content, and happy - until I emerge from my cave and find that it's once again 2:15...

I can also be incredibly productive.

There have been weeks where every day, I busted out a serious to do list of cleaning/organizing/purging. But around 2:15, I was still unshowered, unfed, and completely ornery.

And there are days that, for my own healing, are days filled with a whole lot of tears, reflection, reading, sleeping, studying, and prayer. And at 2:15, well, those days look just like the other days.

Luke asked me one day what I do all day on the days that he comes home and he can see my happy and feel the peace in our home. (Now don't get all ticked off at him - he didn't ask me like that!!). He was just curious. I told him I mostly craft, cook, and clean.

And we burst out laughing because, seriously, CLEAN (as a verb!!) made it into my top 3 list of things I do on a good day?! Ha.

The ironic thing about being a homemaker (oh, how I adore that title!) is that the days I enjoy the very most - the days where I am completely at peace and my home feels peaceful and calm and happy - are the days where I combine all of the parts of me.

Today, well, today, I wasn't sure what today would be. I started off the day with the bed made, laundry started, McKayslin off to school, a completed scrapbook page, and breakfast eaten. I stopped by Pinterest for a minute to check out a few pins from last night. And, knowing what would likely happen, I stayed there...

And was sucked into the Little Girl Designs page after clicking through Pinterest about letter writing. There, through a series of other clicks, I found exactly what I needed for today.

She referenced several articles that really caught my attention...

Consume Less. Create More. At first, I thought this was another article on minimalism, which fascinates me, so I clicked over. It's so not. Consuming doesn't have to be stuff - it can be things that take our time - learning is the big one touched on here. 

And this one: The Simple Truth About Happiness. 
Oh.my.freaking.heck.

“The opposite of happiness isn’t sadness — it’s boredom."

This. So much this.

And so I did something. I took two challenges from Little Girl Designs (#2030create) and (#bringbacksnailmail) - both old challenges, but exactly what I needed today. 

I quickly chose a couple of pieces of paper (which ended up being replaced because they didn't match after I colored the image), a couple of stamp sets, and decided who I needed to write to and got to work. 28 minutes (plus 42 seconds) later, I had a delightful little card made, written in, addressed, and in the mailbox. My heart smiled.

Then I got up out of my chair, left the Deb Cave, and folded the laundry. And put my clean clothes away. And figured out what was going to be for dinner. And wrote this blog post. 

Today, I remember, that my happy is found when I combine all of the parts of me. Today, I will make something else. I will play the piano. I will eat delicious food. I will watch a show. I will clean something. I will shower, actually get dressed (maybe one day I won't want to punch people in the neck when I'm not in my jammies), do my hair, and wear make-up.

Today, I will choose happiness.

[menu plan Monday] OR [sketchy dinners Sunday]

Yesterday, I asked Luke and McKayslin to write down 3 things they would like to eat this week. I wrote down 3 things as well. And as I went to hang the list on the fridge, I had to laugh - there are now 4 menu plan type lists on my fridge. FOUR. Ha.

Going off the list from yesterday, our menu plan (which really should be called a sketch, because there's nothing "planny" about it!!) and weekly schedule look something like this...

Meal Sketches - alfredo, sloppy joes, steak and potatoes, all day steak and cheesy potatoes, pollo con queso (Luke is hereby banned from playing on my Pinterest account!), pancakes (Goosey already volunteered for dinner this night!), Grandma Rainsdon noodles in broth over potatoes, chimichangas, tacos, Grammy mac, chicken parmesan

Schedule -

M: 1 piano lesson (cancelled) so I'll have McKayslin do her lesson today instead. Tonight feels like a good cajun chicken alfredo pasta night.

T: 1 piano lesson, Goosey has rehearsal until 4, I have glee club from 7:30-9 and it's Kenton day. I think Grammy Mac or steak and potatoes.

W: 1 piano lesson. Reflections judging (10-12 or 5-7). Pancakes (we use the same recipe for pancakes and waffles) so McKayslin can cook if I'm gone. Or tacos if that sounds better.

TH: Goosey has rehearsal until 4. Bread day. All day steak and cheesy potatoes. Unless we opted for steak and potatoes on Tuesday, then pollo con queso.

F: Feed the Elders. Friday is always pizza night, so either homemade pizza or pizza sticks I think...

Sa: Clean out both freezers - we need to go pick up our half beef in Lewiston, and our chicken breasts will be here in a couple of weeks also. I'm hoping for Grandma Rainsdon noodles this day.

Su: I teach Sunday School. Grilled or toasted cheese sandwiches. It's tradition.

M: 2 piano lessons. Chicken parmesan or sloppy joes.

[The Quietest Classroom Pencil Sharpener]...and you'll want one for home, too!

I can't even tell you how much I love this pencil sharpener brand! I had them in my classroom (yes, them, plural), and we have a super cute car one that they sent to Kenton when he was in the hospital so he could keep his drawing pencils sharp. We use that one here at home all the time. Fast. Quiet. Easy to use. And always a nice sharp point!

This morning there was a pretty exciting email in my inbox...something new and super fun is coming soon from the makers of The Quietest Classroom Pencil Sharpener! Stay tuned for more sneak peeks and the grand reveal on October 26! You're going to want one of these!!

[MamaGoose_KWJ2]

Just finished up Kayl's July 5th pictures. He takes lots of pictures which makes my job so much easier!  From now on, his letter pages will only be shared with his family, but you can look forward to seeing lots of picture only pages!

For these I created a new kit MamaGoose_KWJ2 based on the color palette of this week's photos. 

It's currently available for free download. But only until the end of August. With soon to be 3 missionary shared folders on my Dropbox, it's getting pretty full pretty fast! At the end of August, all of August's free kits will be removed and replaced with September's kits. That's the plan anyway.

If you pick it up and would like to share your creations, I'd love to see them!