"Q" is for Quilting
not quitting

Today seems like the perfect day to tell one of the greatest stories I have to tell and it is all true.

The summer after Jeff's first year at Tulane, we were flying back into New Orleans from a west coast family vacation. It was a flight that got in around 11:30 pm. On the flight I noticed a guy our age in a blue polo shirt sleeping on a spread of three seats. He slept the whole 3 hour flight from Salt Lake City.

When we got off the plane to get our luggage we were talking to another passenger who was there with his family who happened to be flying in for freshman orientation as well. The young man in the blue shirt overheard us talking and asked us if we were Jeff and Kristi. He explained that he as well was moving here to start school... The next day. We were a little surprised of how he knew our name as we had no idea who he was.

During graduate school we kept our name on a board at BYU to have anyone interviewing to come stay with us and that was where he got our name, as we was also a BYU graduate like Jeff, And also was a member of our church.
It now being almost midnight we stood with him waiting to get our luggage and found out that David had just found out he was accepted and hopped on a plane with no real plans of where he was going to stay that night. Jeff and I both said, "come home with us!" After much convincing we brought him home and he was able to go into school with Jeff the next day.

I wish I had a photo of a friend at works face when I told her this story the next day. She said to me, "WHAT? You brought home a stranger from the airport to come live with you!"

David lived with us for 4-6 weeks I don't really remember but it seemed like 2 days. He is hands down the best house guest we have ever had. The fact that he is still friends with us after living with us shows what a forgiving and understanding guy he is.Mardi Gras 1998

His wife was getting ready to come out once he found a house. I remember the very night I asked him to tell me about his wife. I was wondering what she was like, what she liked to do. He said she loves aerobics and to quilt.
My mind said to myself, "QUILT?" Like sit around a big wooden frame with old ladies and quilt. I even chuckled and tried to convince myself it was not like what I was thinking in my mind.

catching cabbage St. Patricks day 1999

I had hoped that me and his wife could become friends because David was such a great guy and we looked forward to getting to know them better. There were only a few friends from church who went to school with Jeff and it was fun to think there was another coming in.

David found a home and then his wife Mindy moved out. I don't remember meeting Mindy like the first time I met Dave but I will never forget the impact she had on my life while we lived in New Orleans.Kristi and Mindy with the doubloon man

The fun story continues and Mindy and I became fast friends or I guess I could say I fastly wanted to be her friend.

She has been given many spiritual gifts and one of them is how you feel when you see her smile. You can't help but smile and feel good when you see it. What always amazes me about Mindy is she has no fear when trying something new. This quality in her is something I will always admire and becomes contagious when you are around her. She makes you believe you can do anything.

my first quilt mindy "helped" me make.

While living in New Orleans my Nona passed away in Utah she left me a wedding ring patchwork quilt. I brought it to Mindy and said "please teach me how to do this" {oh how I was eating my words of my first thoughts of.. "She quilts?"}
I remember her patiently teaching me how to quilt. Every step. from picking a pattern, choosing the fabric, cutting, organizing, cleaning threads out of your vacuum cleaner to quilting and binding. She is a wonderful teacher and again makes you feel like you can do anything.
She bit me with the sewing bug. She took me to Wal Mart where I bought my first machine for $77.00. I remember charging it on a credit card because I didn't have the money to buy it, thinking is was the most expensive thing I had purchased on a card. That sewing machine is what I used to sew all my quilts on and start a purse business. She told me it is not the machine that makes the seamstress it is the person behind it. She made me feel like I was using a $5000 Bernina.
She taught me and MANY other women to quilt in New Orleans and and don't think there isn't one of us that has not taught some sewing skills to someone else, her gift keeps giving and spreading.
I still keep a piece of the fabric used for the binding in my scriptures to remember the week we made this quilt.

Selfish thinking would make me believe that David was accepted to Tulane because Heavenly Father was sending in reinforcements for me. I have cried many a tear on her plaid couches and will be forever grateful to the power one person has made in my life. She taught me to serve and not complain. She taught me to face trials head on. She taught me Q is for quilting not quitting.

Today is Mindy's birthday it is a day for her! I love you girl. fill her blog today with birthday wishes.

the top Noah's ark quilt was a baby gift Mindy gave me for Annie Kate. It had to have taken her 100's of hours to complete. The day she gave it to me I cried so hard I got a bloody nose. I have often said that if my house was on fire I would grab my kids and that quilt. My favorite part is the rainbow and whales. The detail is amazing.

this
plus this

equals this

which is what I brought to enrichement (women's church group) last night. I had to run it in because I could not go.
Why did I not save one for myself...

Costco Staples

Costco is such a double edged sword with me. I have so many opportuities to save money but so many to spend money too.

Jeff went to Costco for me the other day and it was funny to see what things he picked up. He does not like shopping but this store he loves going to.
Last spring I started talking photos of things I buy there to remember what we like and don't like. And my friend after hearing me say how hard it was to take the girls shopping encouraged me to be creative and come up with a way to make it easier. My plan was to print the photos of the things I regularly buy, print them and then have them hunt for them. (on my to do list)

So I started a new gallery of "What happens when Jeff goes to Costco" He buys such fun food I would never get. (like the slim jim's, AK is in heaven)

These are a favorite of ours. My kids don't drink a whole juice box and these are half the size.

or favorite frozen pizza, remember the movie?

What are your staples at Costco or Sams? I would love to know.
You can see Jeff's items here.

Happy Blogiversary

A year ago today I started my blog. I can't believe I have done this almost every day for a year! I am patting myself on the back as I type.
I have a Christmas tradition of picking one Christmas card that I receive and picking up the phone and calling them. I pick someone that I have not talked to in a long time or regularly see. Last year I called Jill. This phone call will go down in history as one of the best decisions I ever made.
Jill had shared with me her new blog she had just started. I would race to my computer each day to see her new post. I always remembered Jill in college as a good writer so it made total sense that she would have something like this. She had asked me after a few weeks if I thought about doing one and my response was, "I have nothing to say" ... can you imagine the thought. and here is me 582 posts later. (this should help those on the fence about starting a blog see this is not a valid excuse)
Jill spent some time on the phone with me helping me do the techno stuff and then I began. I told her I would do a blog only about craft stuff and good finds but that was it. My posts later became more about my family, trips, feelings and experiences.
I have thought so much lately of what blogging has done for me. I made a little list

1. I am amazed at how therapeutic it was for me with our move from TN to D.C.
   
2. It has been a self discovery of talents I did not know I have
3. reconnecting with so many old friends
4. discovering so many new friends
5. losing any guilt I have of scrapbooking
6. Pink Christmas - what an amazing project can't wait till next year
7. learning that I love to read
8. the benefit of good mail
9. the best birthday I think I have ever had
10. challenging my self with my camera
11. documenting our D.C adventures

I just really can't say enough of what a blessing this has been in my life. I am always hesitant that someday something is going to come back and haunt me, but I hopefully will remember all the good that continues to come out of it.

So, what I have always wanted to do for sometime is to make a blog family tree. I have said many times if there was a tree with branches, Jill would be the ground that the tree grew on.

So, if you care to comment on this post, tell me if you somehow link to me or Jill in starting your own blog or if you are an avid blog reader (we like to call you lurkers) if you have started from reading Jill's. I would love to some how give a gift back to Jill from this post for her to see how many lives she has touched. Because I would NEVER have started this if she had not encouraged me to do so.

And how could I not give something away on my "blogiversary" so I thought to the 11th person that comments about why or how they got into blogging I will send my "11.5 yards of ribbon" to them.

side note... to the cute Amanda from the UK. do you have a blog? I would love to see it. email it to me at pinkeverythingpink@yahoo.com. I have so enjoyed your comments!

side note #2. I just got an email from my local friend who swears I bought one of her donations at Value Village last week. How funny is that!


click here if you want to see my first post

Sunday Dinner

I am a huge believer of the importance of sitting down and eating dinner as a family. Please don't mistake the word believer to mean doer. It has been a difficult practice for us over the years with crazy schedules but something I have always felt strong about. I think it is important to do even if everyone in the family can not be there. Children love habits and traditions and dinner as a family can accomplish so many goals as a family.

1. eating as a family at home is where manners are learned. (I do not believe manners can be taught in a public restaurant the same way as at home)
2. praying as a family
3. eating dinner usually means cooking it too. This is where my girls are going to learn to cook for their families and my friend Liz H. taught me you can never start too young teaching your children to cook.
4. the practice alone of setting the table is an easy task for children that they can feel proud of
5. dirty dishes need to be cleaned. even though it is easier to do the work yourself doing the dishes for children is a great way to keep to spend time with them
6. dinner conversation - truly priceless

Last week our friends had us over for dinner and it was WONDERFUL! After the holidays we kind of got out of the habit of thinking about what our Sunday dinner would be ahead of time. We don't shop on Sunday's and so this can be difficult when you don't plan ahead and have to run out and get something.


I decided on Saturday to make an entire meal from the recipe box that my friend Michelle gave me for my birthday. This collection of recipes is unbelievable.

Chicken Parmesan
{the best I have ever had and better than our favorite at Semolina's in New Orleans}

Ultimate Quick and Easy Pasta Sauce
{so incredible}
Green Beans with Bacon-Balsamic Vinaigrette
Denver Chocolate Sheet Cake
{This became Jeff's birthday cake as we had not celebrate yet}

Michelle, this is the gift that will keep on giving.

So we made a great dinner, Jeff and I both agreed the best I have ever made, the table was set with my favorite dishes and placemats and the chaos began. Due to our new church schedule are driving and church time is about 5 1/2 hours in the middle of the day. We didn't get home yesterday until 5:30 pm and had left at noon. So the little girls were a little off on naps schedules and Caroline was still asleep but then woke up right before dinner. We sat and ate our yummy meal with screaming, crying and my 6 above points were rapidly flying out the door. Jeff and I just sat there and laughed. We both grew up in homes that rarely ate out and sat around the table together. (we each grew up in families with 6 kids)
It is something I still think is important, but difficult. I feel like me making dinner and bringing the family together is my job. It is part of the role I play in this family. I look forward to a day without screaming and watching my children actually eat what I make, until then bring on the Chicken Parmesan!

My Country

I have had this online journal for almost a year and am amazed that I have not made one mention that our country has now been at war for the past 4 years.
I first recognize that even though I have been intrigued of late to learn more about this war and why we are in it, I don't think I know enough to say if we should. But I do know that I appreciate and respect the hard work of those that do.
Since living in D.C. I have become much more aware of how this country works. The other night I was glued to the State of the Union address by President George Bush, something I have never watched before.
I watched the hearings or interviews the other day with Gen. David Petraeus, and the decision to make him the top commander of the war. I was so impressed with Senator McCain who publicly thanked his wife and children for the sacrifices they have made during this war. Gen. Petraeus then stated that he has been in Iraq for 3 years!
I am so grateful for the military families who sacrifice so much that goes unnoticed. A big shout out to Missy and her family to have her husband home now!
Due to where Jeff now works we see a different side of the war that often is left unsaid and goes unnoticed. His stories have been sobering and heroic. Many times I have wanted to share them on my blog, but they really are not my stories to share.
One of the amazing things about our new calling in church is that all the soldiers who come to the hospital are in the ward boundaries of our new ward. It can be difficult for someone from the ward to get on base right away to be there... for Jeff is a few steps away from letting them know he is from their church and here for them.
Jeff has been out of town all week and it has been on the crazy side. We have missed him so much, and it has only been 1 week. The feelings I have had this week have motivated me to be more involved with a friend who's husband is in Iraq for a year and see what I can do to help her out.
I don't think I know enough about the war to make the decision if we should be there or not, but know I care about those who do make those decisions, soldier who are are there and sacrifice so much.

If you feel like you want to make a difference click here.
video about the Fisher House

the above photo is a Willow Tree statue my parents gave me for Christmas.
Thanks Mom and Dad this sums up how feel every time I see our flag.

"People seek out antiques because what the past offers is often more interesting or vibrant than what is available in today's marketplace. "

Fritz Karch Martha Stewarts Collecting Editorial Director

This month in Martha Stewart Living , Fritz Karch, who simply does not hunt and tell, shares what he has his eye on at the moment as far as collecting. The above quote was in his article and it sums up how I feel about looking for all things old. And hopefully will help those who think I am crazy for digging through thrift stores.

I discovered a new D.C. treasure. Value Village. It is an awesome and extremely organized thrift store in the College Park area. I went there last week and was in heaven. It is like a Nordstrom rack (many new things with tags) a great estate sale, wonderful garage sale all rolled up in one. Every pair of socks is on it's own hanger and small items are in their own baggie.


I went with jus the two little ones and won't be doing that again. It was kind of crazy and Caroline loves to hide in the clothes. We went to the toy section first and filled the cart with BRAND new toys in their original boxes, so we didn't really get to hit the kids clothes (which they are known for great items) The pick up neighborhoods for this thrift store are really nice areas of Maryland so they get some great items. I did get some great kids shoes and a brand new pair of Birkenstocks for me. ( I love Birkenstocks) But I can't wait to go back with either some help or without the kids. Here are a sampling of my finds you can see the rest here in my smugmug gallery.

cool old umbrellas that work great. $1.81 each

Caroline's new favorite toy. Included every piece $1.81

I found this excellent condition pink and green hat. The inside brim is bright pink
$2.00

while trying on hats Sally Jane found this bonnet and wore it in the store along with her $.40 glasses. It will be a great hat to keep out the sun in the summer.

I loved these great oval frames with the hanger on them. I am trying to figure out what I will frame in these. Some cool piece of fabric I think.

I was so excited to find this. I have seen them in catalogues for like $40. I can't wait till the ice melts so we can try it in our cul-da-sac

Right before I saw this metal pineapple I said to myself, keep an eye out for anything Pineapple. Many would be turned off by this brass finish. But I can't tell you how many things I have bought over the years in brass and spray painted a different color. I am not sure yet what I will do with this. I may paint it pink and green and put it in the girls room. It opens to store coins and such.

My total score of brand new Birks. What is so funny is last year I wanted a pair of white sandals, but just could not justify a pair. I usually wear my Chaco's everyday in the summer and thought " I don't need to pair of shoes" But for $4.00 I could not turn them down.

Brand new with the tags "Goldie" bag. Which was a perfect match for my friend Emily Gold.

I found these great glasses thinking I could now be as cool as my sister in law, Lenessa, who has some white glasses and is very hip. I hope it works. These were a little pricey for me at $4.00 but sometimes you have to pay big money to be cool.

I would have bought 10 of these if they had them. I bought these to store my ribbon that are smaller pieces and have wrapped them on the bolt. (I will take a photo when I am done)

So if you are not tempted to visit me because of the ribbon outlet or the wonderful history and memorials, maybe Value Village will entice you to make the trip!

I was happy to add Value Village gallery to my smugmug gallery of Trash to Treasure. I love documenting great finds.

Happy Birthday to my husband.

Today is my husband's birthday. Even though I know most people will not read this long list, it will be a great thing to printed in my blog book for future generations.

Here I go. 100 things about Jeff

1. He was born in California
2. His middle name Lyle was named after his Grandpa who passed away before he was born
   
3. He has lots of wonderful freckles
4. growing up he was always embarassed of his ears.
5. He is an Eagle Scout and completed it the night before is 18th birthday
6. He grew up in Seattle, Washington
7. He can imitate any voice and recognize any actors voice in commercials
   
8. He graduted from BYU with a degree in Physical Education
9. His PE teacher in Junior High was his favorite teacher ever
10. He knows how to juggle, (better than his wife)
11. He looks up to his older brother more than he will ever know
12. He looks up to his younger brother even more
13. He has climbed Mt. Rainer twice ** edit oops 4 times **(bring it on Adam)
14. He had a early morning newspaper route in High School
15. He loves to golf, especially if it is early so he can be home by noon
16. He spent two weeks in Nigeria on a medical mission that was life changing for him. He brought wooden animals home and Malaria.
    
17. He lost his wedding ring the first year he was married, camping.
18. His current wedding ring is from a kiosk in the mall for $12.00 and has had it ever since.
19. He used to teach skiing to little kids in High School
20. He is confident but not cocky ( he was on the cover of the National ENT magazine this year and never told his family)
    
21. He served a 2 year mission for his chruch in Argentina
22. He is a great singer but would not admit to that
23. He runs every day at 6:00 am
24. He was given the best friend a mother could wish for their son.
25. He tells his girls stories about his best friend, Curtis, often. They both have all girls
    
26. He speaks spanish
    
27. He wears the suit he wore at his wedding most Sundays
28. He loves Civil War history
29. He loves and appreciates art
30. His favorite tie is pink
31. He applied to 27 medical schools
32. He was accepted to one
33. He graduated third in his class
34. He loves to be outside
35. He has a hard time spending money on himself
36. He is a Major in the U.S. Army
37. He can win over anyone throwing beads off a float at Mardi Gras
38. He loves chocolate cake with pudding in it
39. He has saved someones life
40. He has watched someone die
41. He very rarely talks about himself and what he does for a job
42. He used to wear glasses until his daughter broke them in half
43. He broke his nose in Argentina
44. He loves that he has all girls
45. He has a few toothbrushes, one lives in his shower
    
46. He has longer eyelashes than his wife
47. He loved his time at Vanderbilt
48. He rarely if ever complains
49. He does not quit.
50. He is still catching up on sleep from 2001
51. He loves his nieces and nephews and they are often found around him at a family reunion
52. He loves healthy competition
53. He does not over react and thinks things through
54. He is often seen kissing his little girls till they giggle
55. He loves to do anything wear you have to wear a helmet
56. He has two gorgeous dimples and all three of his daughters have them too.
57. He loves mocca chip ice cream
58. He can tie some incredible knots
59. Annie Kates loves to see him wear the color orange
60. He always has tube of chapstick in his pocket and it is most often Vanilla Mint
61. He had a wonderful group of friends in High School.
62. His inlaws love him
63. He loves his grandparents
64. He is a hard worker
65. He fly fishes and can tie his own flies
66. He loves and respects him mother immensely
67. He was captain of the 4 square team in our old neighborhood
68. His favorite D.C. memorial is Jefferson
69. He is very reverent when he prays
70. He has a firm handshake and will always look you right in the eye
71. He loves good running socks and won't let them be folded together but likes them laid on top of each other so they don't stretch out.
72. He hopes to work for many, many years
73. He believes his life has great purpose
74. He appreciates a home cooked meal
75. He makes better gravy than most
76. He respects the advice of his sisters and would not propose to his wife until them met her and approved. (whew!)
77. He married his first and only girlfriend.
78. His dad is one of his best friends even though he says he can whoop him golf
79. He has his own soupie that is monogrammed with the nick name Mark S. gave him
    
80. If you cook him dinner he will do the dishes. He gets that from his dad
81. He sleeps with the fan on even in the winter
82. He absolutely loves to ski
83. He broke his thumb skiing on Christmas day in Colorado one year before graduate school. The hand surgeon looked at him and said I hope you don't ever plan on being a surgeon
84. He always says I love you before he gets off the phone
85. He will pass on mushrooms and olives
86. He can blow a wicked bubble from magic plastic
87. He secretly loved the 80's
88. He loves to play Rook
89. He loves sports but will rarely invest the time in watching an entire game and is fine with just checking the score at the end.
90. His favorite toy as a kid were his legos
91. He had a dog named Maxi
    
92. He loves Kareoke
93. His favorite broadway show is Les' Miserables
94. He is not afraid to get his hands dirty
95. One of the first things he does when he gets home from work is empty the dishwasher if it is full
96. He is not afraid to ask questions
97. He loves going to church
98. Costco is his favorite store
99. Considering what he is doing on his birthday this year tells a lot about him
100. His wife and girls love and respect him very much!