Arlene Park Arnold/Sister Get-Together -Tradition

I talked with a man last week who just returned from visiting his daughter in England.  He said they have seen her FOUR TIMES IN THIRTEEN YEARS!  I was stunned.  Sometimes I forget how blessed I am.  In a world where families are scattered, and some try to avoid each other, it is a blessing that our family gets together often.  My daughters try to get together at least once a week.  It is a tradition my mother and her sisters faithfully kept.  They got together every week for over 45 years.  They gathered at their mother's home, did her hair, and had a quilt on or brought different projects to work on.  Grandma had never learned to drive a car, so her Hibbard Idaho home was where they always met.   After Grandma Park passed away, their brother said his sisters changed from Grandma's house to going to a "feed lot".  This was a funny farm term he used for the "formerly heifers, now old cows" eating at a buffet in Rexburg.  Their brother Elmer, the youngest of the brood  who had attached this phrase to them,  was invited if he wanted.   After Belva, the oldest sister had a stroke, they continued to get together, but in her room at the care facility.   When she passed away, it was changed to garage sales on Saturday mornings, followed by eating out.  I remember one time, I was visiting mother for a few days.  Mother invited me to go along on the sister's garage sale Saturday.  Aunt Wanda, Ruth, and Mother went to a ton of garage sales that morning.  As Mother and I were on our way home, I told her how amazed I was that they had been able to go to that many sales in one morning.  I can still her slow Park drawl in her direct-forth-right manner say, "Well, we usually go to a lot more.  Having you along really slowed us down."  I pray my daughters and then their daughters continue this precious remarkable tradition.

Goodbye Boring Purse!

This one is my favorite.

Hello Simplicity Pattern #2676.  A few months ago, I cleaned my closet and sent some old purses to Deseret Industry. As I looked at them in the box, I was struck by the fact they all looked the same.  BORING! Same old color, same basic shape, perhaps a little snap or opening difference.  I have looked at the fun, bright, fashionable purses the girls are using these days, but thought I would not want to switch all the "stuff" from purse to purse, so thus the boring Penny purses.  I am also very particular about the inside of my purses.  They have to have separate compartments  for just keys, cell phone, wallet, chap stick,  and on and on and on.  I have even taken a purse back to the store a week later, because it did not meet my interior standards!  Lucky it was Walmart, so there were no questions.

It took me hours and hours of sewing  to do just the basic purse.  I wanted everything absolutely in the perfect space.  As the inside stays the same, and the outside is what is changed according to the color of the day.  I have had tons of compliments on my new purse-look.  The only comment on my other purses were "is this yours?" when someone moved it.  Cori had a birthday and wanted a purse.  I made hers with handles on the ends.  She puts hers over her head on the opposite shoulder.  It worked out well.  I put magnetic snaps on hers, but on mine I put a velcro closures.

I tried a ruffle.  The pattern did not have one, so I made it up.  I have had more compliments on this look than any.   Blue check is the lining.  I thought it would look good as a contrast to the paisley.  I was surprised when it worked as a purse shell with the paisley on the inside.  Just can't go wrong with these combos.

I diverted from the pattern that called for
pellon.  I wanted my purse to have
a lot of body, so I used plastic canvas
on insides of bottom and sides of purse.

I hang them behind my door for a quick
switch.  So fun!

Destiny & Friends

Are we destined to particular situations, people, or experiences?  President Monson answered this question in three plain and simple words.  DECISION DETERMINES DESTINY.  An experience I had regarding one of my grandsons brought reflections of my past decisions, that seemingly small at the time,  set a course that led to positive benefits I have been reaping since my teens.   How does my decision,  made so long ago, bubble up again?   A couple of months ago, I received a call  asking me to go to the Mall and pick up my 14 yr old grandson.  He is a great young man, active in his priesthood, admired by his peers, and beloved by his Granny.  So I was surprised when his Father, out of town at the time, told me that my grandson was being held by Security and would only be released to a parent or guardian.   I found him being held by two security officers, along with two friends.  Security told me the "others" were being interviewed in another room.  Items had been stolen from the store.  My grandson immediately told me he did not steal anything, nor would he ever.   He said at the Mall some girls had started hanging around he and his friend.  He knew them from school.  They all decided to leave the store.  As they are going down the mall common area, one of the girls pulled some stolen items out of her purse, bragging about what she had got.  Next thing they heard security officers asking them to stop.  After 45 minutes, Security came in and said that my grandson had not known about the theft and could leave.  It was now dark, and as my grandson talked to his Dad and Mom on the cell, I started the car and turned on the lights.  When I turned on the lights, it was as if a light went on in my spirit.  The experience of my early- teen- past came forcefully in my mind.  I turned off the car and told my grandson the following.  " You did not steal, but you chose to hang out with those friends."  When I was about 13, my good friend moved away.  I was lonely, so I was very happy when a beautiful girl and her friend started to invite me to spend time with them.  One day this girl invited me to her home.  She showed me  a box full of pornography, then she took me to a store, and showed me how to steal.  She stole some sun glasses and wore them back to her house.  Later as I walked home, I felt sad.  My grandmother had taught me what filth was and that stealing was wrong.  I knew, somewhere deep inside, I had to find new friends.  This was hard, because middle school is hard enough.  The lunch room was where everyone got together, so I started to hang out in the rest room to avoid feeling uncomfortable.  I prayed so hard that I would find some new friends.  One day in the restroom, a girl named Ann asked me if I wanted to go with her for lunch.  I had gone to grade school with her, but had never known her on a personal level.  Ann was friends with four other girls that all went to 5th ward.  Those five girls became my devoted friends, and remarkably still are. They were good students, I wanted to be a good student.  They wanted to date good guys, I wanted to date good guys.    They attended seminary, so did I.  They wanted to go to college.  I went to college, and I received a degree.  Neither of my parents graduated from high school.  I look back now and I see clearly where my life would have gone had I not made the decision to change friends.  The beautiful girl who showed me porn and how to steal has led a hard life.  She and her friend experienced early pregnancy, several marriages, and a harder path than I have walked.  I shared this with my grandson in the parking lot that evening, and I have since shared this experience with several of my other grandchildren.  My prayer is that they will know, in their early years, that DECISION DETERMINES DESTINY. 

Lifetime friend, Ann Shirley Merkley and husband Reid.  She drew a circle that took me in.

Chris Rasmussen Leishman and husband Bron.  She is one of my five lifetime friends.