Those of you who have been long-time readers of my blog remember the fabulous days when Heather spent lots and lots of time crafting her little heart out and doing a bazillion creative things for her visiting teaching people. Yeah...oh bless...I wish I had time for that now. I barely have time to use the restroom every day. I so wish I was exaggerating. Still trying hard to create balance in my "new normal" since my divorce..between getting the kids to school, karate, dance, baseball, soccer, piano, scouts, swimming (starting soon), my part time job, my other job, my church callings, family time...and somewhere in there, time to maintain friendships and have a social life. Turns out, it's not as easy as you'd think. Holy Hannah. So unfortunately, I just don't have time to craft as much as I used to. I really miss it....but that day will come around again someday. Today is not that day. And I'm okay with that. 90% of my time goes to doing things for and with my babies and that is just FINE by me. Nothing in the world better than being a Mama.
ANYWAY...one of the things that I really have missed, is my dedication to being a visiting teacher. I believe in visiting teaching with every single fiber of my being!!!!! It has NEVER been a challenge for me...because I DO believe in it so much. However, in the midst of trying to create balance, I have totally dropped the ball in that area. No bueno. That is one thing that SOMEHOW, in the midst of the craziness, needs to skootch on up the priority list. I can't do ridiculously time-consuming crafts for my sweet ladies anymore...due to lack of time and budget. In fact, it kinda needs to be done on "no-budget" and "very little time." But you know me...I canNOT go empty handed...so I am recommitting to being a 100% active visiting teacher...and to POSTING my little "visiting teaching happy things" on a regular basis again. Maybe if I know that you are all waiting to see what I am doing for my ladies every month, it will light a little fire under me. Some of you that are newer to my blog probably don't even know what I am talking about. Here are a few examples of some of the things that I did in the past..... CLICK HERE, AND HERE, AND ANOTHER ONE HERE, AND HERE, ANNNNNND HERE AS WELL, AND ANOTHER ONE HERE, AND A FINAL EXAMPLE HERE.
So frustrating that I even NEED a fire lit under me to do something that always came so easily for me....but it is what it is. New life, new responsibilities...and although it's frustrating for a woman who felt she could "always do everything" to NOT be able to find time for everything...this is something that I need to do and AM going to do. Somehow. And because it is something that God has asked me to do...and because my sweet ladies need me...then, by the Grace of God (and by His Grace alone)...there will SOMEHOW be time to do it. And so, turning over a new fabulous leaf, I was able to go visiting teaching today and bring along a "visiting teaching happy thing" to go along with one of my favorite quotes from this past conference (and a fun tag I threw together to go with it). And thanks to a gift certificate that I received over a year ago and just remembered that I had, I was able to get loaves of delicious CHUNKY CINNAMON BREAD from Kneaders to go along with the quote for $FREE.99! Hit it!
*sigh* It felt so good to be visiting teaching again....it felt so RIGHT. So happy to be rededicated to something that I love so very much...and know will bless the lives of those I visit..and mine in return. I truly have such an amazing testimony of visiting teaching...and service in general. Service has never been a "sacrifice" for me. In fact, serving others has often been like oxygen for me....I can't afford NOT to serve. I love it. My life is smothered with miracles and my heart is filled with complete peace when I am serving others. And as this quote by Melvin J. Ballard so beautifully states, we pay such a SMALL SMALL price to serve others....for the AMAZING AMAZING blessings that God sends our way in return. If we will but give the smallest "crust" to our Savior, He will SMOTHER US with loaves. I testify of this because I have witnessed it countless times in my own life. I love this quote. I love my Savior with all of my heart. I love visiting teaching. I love this day.

I'm glad you are doing this again, Heather! I have always especially enjoyed reading about what you do for your ladies.
Posted by: Betsy | May 25, 2011 at 08:11 PM
and I love YOU!!! Yay, so missed all your creativity. You are the most "awesomest" and don't ever forget it.
Posted by: Stacy H | May 26, 2011 at 07:50 AM
Woot! Woot! I LOVE that you took the time out of your crazy schedule to "make" these!!! I've missed your creativeness!!!!! You are the queen!
Posted by: Stevie | May 27, 2011 at 06:34 PM
You are am amazingly creative & generous person. I look forward to seeing what you can create on a time & dollar budget.
Whenever you can squeeze it in ...
Posted by: Nancy | May 27, 2011 at 09:06 PM