Teaching... my favorite thing to do! I will just need to lay low for 3 weeks, then I'll be back!

I have been teaching different art classes for over 30 years. I simply love to help others create something special! Today I took on another Quilt Shop ( Keepsake Cottage ) in Bothell, it was really fun and a great place to teach! So now you will see me in Kirkland and Bothell!


I think meeting new ladies, and then being able to see old friends each month when I teach ...makes it the perfect job. Now you probably noticed that I now have a stool beside me. I had to get that last week, so that I could get my weight off of my knees when I am teaching. I found out last week that I have a meniscus tear on each knee. It happened when I had my car accident in June. I just kept wondering how my knees could be going bad both at the same time?



So tomorrow...I will go in for Arthroscopic surgery on both knees so... I will be down for awhile.
I am a bit discouraged about having surgery but..I don't want to be hurting any more either so... we will do it!
I have many blessings... so that is where I need to focus my energies, well on that... and on healing and getting my knees stronger.

Since I won't be able to do stairs for 4 days... we brought our recliner downstairs, got my Chicken Soup Quilt and a good stash of yarn, so...I think we are ready and I'll be fine!

 Good Night dear friends!
I like the quote " By doing what you love, you inspire and awaken the hearts of Others."

Tough couple of days!

 I have been trying hard to get things organized,
figured out and ready to start off this new year right.
 It has been a long time since I have written in my blog, one of the biggest reasons is that my computer is acting up all the time now. Tonight I will try to write this quick!
I have been doing this blog for 8 years and have truly shared some of the toughest lessons that I have learned in my life.
 This past year I have been up against something a bit bigger than me. I hesitate to mention it because I am not sure exactly how I am handling it. I have been warned about it for years and although I know that it is just a normal part of a Woman's life, it has been a tough one for me. Menopause!!!
Menopause was something that I watched my Mom struggle through and even though I am much older to start going through it than her... still I am beginning to understand why so many women dread even the word.
I realize also that every woman goes through it at different times and through different degrees, but I am sure a few things are just the same for each of us.
My emotions are changing a bit more than I would like. My internal thermostat is changing just about as fast... but only from Hot to Cold. My body is changing and not for the better and that is making it tough on a daily basis. Now before you call or email me of all the things I could be taking....thank you in advance but as a 2 time Cancer Survivor, I can not take them. So I am trying all the other natural things I can try.
I went to get a massage the other day at a new place and the secretary was a man. When he asked if I wanted the massage therapist to heat up the table before I got in there and I casually said " No thank you, I have my own internal heating pad turned on most of the time", he just smiled.
As I finished my paper work and turned it in to him, he smiled again and said " I am a 2 time survivor". I looked at him and said " I am glad for you....what type of Cancer did you have?"
His reply was " Oh I meant a two time survivor of Menopause! I survived my Mom and my wife!"
So I guess he said it all :)
Sunday night I started getting some terrible back pain and nausea, it went on for the rest of the night and all day yesterday. It started to scare me, because I couldn't figure out what it was. Many times in my life, my back has hurt so bad that it makes me sick to my stomach, but this felt different. After a bad day and into the evening it finally dawned on me that this is exactly how I felt last February when I had Kidney Stones. So the last 2 days have truly been tough. I keep drinking and drinking hoping to flush them out and pray that I can do it on my own and not have to go to the hospital. I started feeling better later this afternoon.
Today two dear friends came by and brought me an amazing dinner, fresh flowers and this beautiful snowflake garland. So even though it has been a tough two couple of days I realize that I am blessed and have much to be grateful for.
I have missed talking to you dear friends.
Good Night!

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Simply just do what you can do!

Well, it's a new year and a new chance to start over in so many areas of my life. Like with LynnMade, we have had some challenges and we have had to rearrange how we are working the whole business. At first I was really upset but realize now that I was going about it all wrong. I really tried to make my business become something that it isn't. I am still not sure exactly what I want LynnMade to be ...but I do know what I don't want it to be.
So for now I will just try to focus on what is most important and then trust that I will make the right direction choices in my life. I love LynnMade, and some day I pray that it will become something known for helping and inspiring others to create something beautiful fro the ones they love!
I am going to try to do more teaching so that people will know who LynnMade is and what we stand for.
I have neglected this blog since I started LynnMade a year ago, it just seemed too much to do 2 blogs and get all the things ready that we needed to start LynnMade. I loved writing this blog, I love sharing what is on my heart. I love sharing the lessons of life that I am learning. I feel like even though I am having fun with LynnMade and making it happen, still I realize that I let some of the important things go.
I haven't been paying enough attention to my health or my personal goals...so I am going to regroup and start this year over...trying hard to keep my priorities in order.
Life teaches you over and over. Sometimes I wonder why I can't learn something the first time...why I have to relearn things over and over?  I guess that is just life... or just me!
So thanks for your patience and for being such a great friends and a great support to me. Thanks for believing in me, that means alot!
Good Night dear friends!
PS I think this quote was written for me!

Have I taught my children to fish and to sharpen their axes?

Finally my back has gotten better and I am terribly grateful for that. I forget how hard it is to function or concentrate when you are in such pain. It has been a long time since my back has been that bad...I think it scared Jeff and I both. I don't want to have surgery on my back, I pray that I can get stronger and keep it that way!

Today I was able to go to church and teach the women in Relief Society. The lesson was how important it is that we teach our children about God and how that can change their lives. One of the things that stuck out to me was ...that the reason that it is important to teach your children about God and Jesus Christ is because, there will be times in your kids lives that you can't be there.. but their Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will always be there. What a great source of strength that can be.
I love the quote...

"Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man To Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime"

I would love to keep all my family close to me always and shelter them from anything bad in the world, but that isn't possible. I just pray that Jeff and I have taught them well enough to fish on their own. I hope that they will read the scriptures and go to them always for strength and comfort.

I hope that they know through and through, that they are a child of God and with that knowledge they will be able to be happy and have peace and hope...no matter what is going on in their world.

I hope that they love and teach their families to love and serve others. That they will never see someone in trouble or hurt...without helping them. 

you can watch the video HERE:

What a better world we would have if everyone loved one another.
It was a great reminder for me to study the scriptures, pray more often and look for opportunities every day to help someone in need.

Good Night dear friends!

PS If any of you think your lives are too busy to take time and read your scriptures...then read this story below!

The Wood-Choppers Contest

Once upon a time there were two men in a wood-chopping contest.  They were tasked with chopping down as many trees in the forest as they could from sun-up to sun-down.  The winner would be rewarded with both fame and fortune.

From morning till noon, both men steadily chopped and chopped.  By noon they were neck and neck, but then one man took a break and stopped chopping.  The other man saw this and thought to himself: “The lazy fool, he’s probably taken a break for lunch. He’s given me a chance to get ahead of him and I will without doubt win this contest!”

A while later the man got back to work. As the day continued he chopped more trees than his hard-working (and hungry) competitor and by mid-afternoon he had taken a clear lead.

When sundown came, the man who had taken the break at noon had chopped almost twice as many trees as the other man, who was drenched in sweat, hungry and exhausted.

“How did you beat me?” he asked puzzled. “You were lazier than I and even took a break for lunch!”

“Ah,” said the other man, “I did take a break, but it was during that break, that I sharpened my axe.”

A Mother who fights for you, no matter what!

I love this story! I love how this Mother fought for her child! What a great message for us all!

11Alive first introduced you to Asher Nash last week. The 15-month-old’s mother said he hadn't been submitted for a job by a children’s modeling agency because the child has Down syndrome.

After hundreds of thousands of people rallied in support of Asher, he managed to land an interview with OshKosh B’Gosh.

On Friday, the family received the good news: Asher has been offered an ad campaign with OshKosh for the spring of 2017!

PHOTOS: Asher Nash

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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com
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  Asher Nash (Photo: Crystal Barbee Photography)Crystal Barbee Photography http://www.crystalbarbeephotography.com

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His mother, Meagan Nash, admitted to being a little nervous when they went in for their meeting with OshKosh’s CEO earlier this week.

As it turned out, she had no reason to worry.

“He went in there and he was Asher,” the proud mother said. “He was waving, he was blowing kisses! The CEO held him and he didn't want to leave.”

OshKosh told Meagan they wanted to feature Asher in an ad after they saw what he could do.
His big sister Addi agrees.

His family wanted to highlight his disposition, and his disability.

“Even though he has Down syndrome, he's not different,” his sister Addi said. “He's just Asher.”

The family wanted to get him in to ads to raise awareness that people with Down syndrome are just people.

“Not just in advertisement, but in schools, in their work place, in the community they live in,” Meagan Nash said.

And it's worked. Meagan says she's received thousands of messages from all over the world about the impact Asher has had.

“They say, 'You made it all the way over here, we're so proud of what you're doing,'” she said.

Meagan Nash said she's proud of Asher too.

“He's bringing joy to people,” she said.

And it's not just OshKosh.  Asher will be featured in an OBALL ad in 2017, and possibly an Ingenuity ad as well.

This kid has an amazing future ahead of him. We’ll keep you posted as his star continues to rise.

I found the story HERE:

Hope you had a wonderful Sabbath!
Good Night dear friends!