Made.

I've been busy making stuff lately.

I've been blessed with the opportunities (I enjoy the creative part),

the know-how (self-taught mostly - you know how awesomely tech-y I am),

and moments of time squeezed in between the rest of life's busyness.

Just thought I'd share a few.

I made-over our ward bulletin board.

The old board was looking pretty dowdy.

And washed out.

And can I just say I've NEVER liked it.

(I had started taking stuff down before snapping this pic - it had all kinds of this-and-thats on it)

The new board:

There were a few hiccups, so don't look too close, but I like this board much better.

(Don't worry - I created both boards so I am not offending anyone but myself)

Then I helped Bill get these ready to order:

Per Bill's request, I helped design these for him to hand out at Tithing Settlement...

(He thinks it's fun to let the kids choose which one they want)

...and since last year he was chastised by young ward members for not having a treat at Tithing Settlement, we came up with this to go along with the Missionary Game Plan:

 Those little chocolate balls are pretty darn expensive, so Bill is giving only one handout per family.

At least it's a treat, right?

I'm still working on finishing those up - hopefully today.

I've printed a couple of these on little notecards for my VT ladies...

(source)

...along with one for myself. Trying to keep my heart soft ;-)

In the middle of all this making stuff, I have pushed Shi along with her college applications (she's still not quite finished with Personal Progress - shucks), listened attentively to and advised Mar on How To Survive Lunchroom Drama In Middle School, and tried to decide if Lex should see a doctor for her chronic cheek/lip-swelling and hives problem. And I've done a darn lot o' hair this week. (Followed by a lot o' laundry today.)

Congrats to this little swimmer for being selected as one of the captains of her high school swim team this year:

I'm not sure if she knows yet, and I can't wait to hear who else is/are captain(s) since I got a hint of some drama from Shi yesterday after the team meeting. Although my first inclination was to indignantly email the coach with my complaint about the selection process, Shilo politely requested I not. My natural tendency to vehemently oppose things I perceive (the operative word here) are not right-and-fair weighed upon my mind as I drifted off to sleep last night. I don't want to react that way. I want to be cool. Calm. Easy-going. That's definitely a lesson I can learn from Shi.

Thanks to Rebecca for the walk this morning.

You're right.

BYU is better.

I'm not sold on i-phones, though.

I hope you'll forgive my need for objectivity over subjectivity.

I'm working on being more soft ;-)

You are a wonderful friend and I will sorely miss you and your family when you take off to the land of y'all.

Something for the Things I've Learned notebook:

Shilo took the ACT four (4) times.

She did not want to.

"After three attempts," she told me, "it's highly unlikely you will improve your score."

I gently persuaded her to take it one final time, the last opportunity she would have before college applications are due. "What if," I asked, "you don't get accepted to the school you want? You'll always wonder if you could have improved your score that one last time."

All I can say is Mother Knows Best. 

(Sometimes. Sometimes Shi knows best, as in the aforementioned example a couple paragraphs ago.)

She improved her best score by 3 points. 3 POINTS. An overall 5-point improvement from her first test.

I could barely contain my joy, I was so happy for her.
(some heel-clicking and squealing may have occurred)

Is a fourth attempt worth it? Oh, yes.