Houses and a Retreat


Amy, Me, Mom, & Michelle

At this time of year I feel it necessary to identify a feeling I am hearing in my heart – "I am sooo glad that I'm not building a house this year!"  I would probably be telling the truth if I told you I think that thought at least 3-4 times a month and also every single year around this time. Building houses has been one of the most stressful times in my life, but I will admit it is very satisfying and rewarding when the journey ends.  I left town the past weekend for a Baldwin Girl retreat with my family. While there I went running with a few sisters. We ran past a house being built and I could smell the wet wood blowing my direction. It was a nostalgic smell. A smell that represents mixed emotions in my nostrils. I am grateful to an ambitious and hard working husband who built my house with his two hands. I am not sentimental about too many things in life, but I am about my houses. It could be a one room, no bathroom house and I would love it if my man built it for me. I am just grateful it isn't a one bedroom, no bathroom house and also grateful that (crossed fingers) this could be the last house I might have to help build. Notice I can't sound too convincing because I have eaten my words 4 times previously. 🙂

I had a fun time this weekend at the Baldwin Girl retreat in Boise, IDAHO. My brother Eric and his wife, Magan, have a beautiful home, two great kids, and also a ninja cat named, "Bootsy". It was cold but didn't matter much because we were crafting and shopping inside. We made cute pillows (thanks to my Parker Sister in Law's idea, Stephanie) and painted cake stands that my dad hand crafted for us each. Over the weekend we came to the consensus that the Baldwin siblings don't appreciate or care for toenail clippings, that dry shampoo would be a good idea to try, and that my niece Ashley leads a dream life and should date Jimmer – the BYU Basketball star. It was a diverse group of girls and a mom which are each experiencing life in different ways and on different journeys, but each infused with pieces of common Baldwin threads binding us together as sisters. Good times, great laughs, and wonderful memories.


A few of the cake stands finished

Me & Magan with our felt flower pillows

Comments:

Magan said…

Thanks Jodi, it was a good time.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011 12:07:38 PM

Patricia said…

Great week-end! Thanks everyone. Thanks to Eric, Magan, Grant and Grace for sharing their house and all of the great food. Thanks to everyone for all of the treats, projects and entertainment that made for a super fun week-end!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011 12:08:38 PM

Anne said…

Looks fun! Love the crafts you did, and YES I love dry shampoo!
Thursday, March 31, 2011 6:48:06 PM

Leave a Reply