What we’ve been up to lately:

• The boys like to build Minecraft maps out of blocks. They don’t actually like to play Minecraft. Just watch videos about Minecraft and then pretend that their blocks or legos is actually a Minecraft world.
• We still like to go Geocaching. We visited my Grandparents and found four caches. The kids like to do geocaching at home, which I would more call treasure hunts or a game of hot or cold.
• Plans to upgrade a fence have been put on hold. Our property is legally 82.5 feet across. It measures 88. We are getting a survey done later. It looks like some of the ancient garage is at least partially on our neighbor’s property. It’s a bit of a mess.
• The front door has gotten to the point that I have literally had to kick it open. A new one has been ordered, but of course, that means we have to live with the broken one for a few more weeks.

It’s a great picture. In reality, it’s the tail of end of an overall disappointing garden year. I’m mostly blaming a large hail storm in June. On a good note, this is the largest harvest of carrots I have grown. (Swiss chard too, but this is a bit more than I would ever want. I froze it all, and have no idea what I’m going to do with frozen swiss chard.)

The kids are doing great at school. I don’t have any major problems in my life. I’m not currently depressed or unhealthy. I have a lot to be grateful for.

But sometimes life feels a bit like it has stalled. I go to work on projects and have to wait for other people and parts to get ordered. Changes in life are slow to come. Friendships stall as I have a lot of great acquaintances, but few close friends. I want opportunities that don’t seem to exist, or that I don’t feel comfortable pursuing or starting up.

I find myself unable to focus on my goals and really retain that vigour that I sometimes have. I’m distracted easily. I’m overall happy and content with my life, but also wish it could be something more.

I don’t have a great answer for myself, about how to start back up and keep progressing forward. I just know I do want to and to keep trying. I believe God will help me and will lead me to the opportunities that I need when I need them.

How to be creative in ten steps:

1)Go for it, find a reason to start.
It’s easy to put things off. We might be scared that we will fail, or we are too busy, or that maybe it’s not really that important. Find reasons to start instead. It might turn out awesome.

2)Do one thing, keep it simple.
One creative project at a time is plenty. By focusing on one thing, it makes sure that we aren’t left with a trail of undone projects, and also allows us to give our best effort.

3)Get inspired, don’t get ideas.
I don’t think copying a Pinterest pin is really being creative. When we are looking for creative things to do, look online to get inspired. Then create your own ideas.

4)Embrace where you are.
We all have to start at the beginning. Some of us won’t progress that quickly, and that’s just fine. Embrace where you are with all the imperfections, and know that everyone is learning.

5)Do what you love, not what others might like.
We can’t accurately predict what other’s like. But we do know what we like, and so our projects should be geared to pleased ourselves. At the end of the day, if we love it and we are proud of it, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. (If you have clients, this is obviously going to change.)

6)Gain knowledge.
The more we learn about the technical skills of a project, the better off the project will turn out.

7)Learn from and work with people.
Our best efforts are enhanced by the input of other people. Anything we create will be better if other people help.

8)Be persistent, and persevere.
Most creative endeavors take longer than we first anticipate. It’s worth it to keep going until we finish a project.

9)Cut your losses, and be okay with failure.
Sometimes what we create doesn’t turn out as we accepted. Failure is okay. We learn a lot during the process, and sometimes the end result doesn’t matter.

10)Build on past success, find what you are good at.
When we find something we are good at, we should keep going with it and strive to continually learn and get better.

I would be hard pressed to ever move. I took this photo from my front porch. I live in a beautiful town, in a house I love. I’m within walking distance of anywhere I need to go, and an hour’s drive from anywhere I want to go. The only thing missing is I wouldn’t mind more family close, especially my twin sister.

Joe and I went to a marriage retreat up at Cinnamon Creek Campground. We left early to attend Curtis’s soccer game (where he scored his first goal!), and then we decided to take the kids up there. They had kokanee salmon running in the creek. (I didn’t know we had salmon in Utah.) The first time I saw them, we were driving along and I looked down in the water and thought I saw koi fish. I knew that wasn’t right…but I was excited to realize I had seen bright pink fish and not just fall leaves.

We went on a short hike up to the top of a hill. Peter complained and was actually carried for some of it, but all of us made and enjoyed the view.

Big thanks to my sister Rissy for watching our kids for a couple of days and coming with us on the hike!