Bulletin Boards and Blue Jeans

I like to craft and to create. Here are two of my recent projects. 

I texted our bishop to see if I could make a missionary bulletin board, and he readily agreed. My inspiration stemmed from Aubrey choosing to serve a mission, and a bulletin board that used to be up in the stake offices. 

It is kind of tucked away, and the only reason I ever saw it was because Brinley and then Parker served missions. I felt it was inspiring to see pictures of the youth in the stake and their mission calls.

Our stake does supply missionary plaques, but it seems they are never up to date.  For example. out of the ten missionaries serving from Odessa 1st, 2nd, and 3rd ward, only one has a plaque displayed in our building. This bulletin board will at least look sharp and be current with our missionaries.

My first task was finding a nice map. I found a download on Etsy of a beautiful watercolor map. The small business was kind enough to make the dimensions more square and add "Called to Serve" at the top. I added a black frame and a text box with D&C 4 to the bottom of the map and had it printed at Staples.

I got to work gathering mission calls and pictures from families in all three wards that meet in our building. I formatted and printed and cut and pasted...and then headed up to church to put it all together.

I love how it turned out. I hope it encourages future missionaries, young and old, to make the leap of faith, and  I hope it makes the families of those serving happy to see their missionaries on the board. 

One of my other projects this winter has to do with a pair of jeans I purchased. When I got them home, I realized they were very, very similar to a pair I already owned. Instead of returning them, I decided I would try to dye them to look distressed.

After doing a little research, I bought RIT dye in brown and orange and began the process. I found a Home Depot bucket, boiled some water, and used about a 1/2 of the brown and added 2T of the orange. 

I was pretty pleased with my results. They were a rusty color and looked a lot different than my blue pair. I wore them several times over the next 6 weeks. 

However, whenever I wore them, Brian or my dad would make little off hand comments like "What is wrong with your jeans?" or "What color would you call these exactly?" They were not being mean...they were truly confused/concerned.🤣🤣🤣

Eventually, I decided maybe the color was too different. (Maybe my girlfriends were just kinder in not calling me out?) I purchased RIT dye in blue... and Wala...the new and final finished product. I like them even better than the original or rusty version. 

It's a win! Now on to my next project.

A Little Lubbock Getaway

January 16-18, 2026

A quick weekend trip to Lubbock turned into the perfect family getaway. Everyone purchased tickets to the BYU-Texas Tech basketball game, and Brian and I found a nice three bedroom Airbnb to rent. Parker had just started his internship in Carlsbad, NM and was not 100% sure he would be able to make it. I'm so glad it worked out. It made it feel more like a vacation.

We trickled in on Friday night. Brian and I got there pretty early in the evening and settled into our cute house, grabbed dinner and then picked up a few breakfast supplies and snacks from the grocery store. Tanner and fam met u,p with one of Erin's best friends for dinner, and Parker arrive until after 9:00 pm.

Saturday morning, Brian, Parker and I went to the temple.  We haven't had many opportunities to go with our Parker Bryce. I loved that he wanted to go, and I loved being there together. 

Kaide's sendoff: "Have fun singing at the temple."

Tanner, Erin and Kaide went to an indoor playground. Kaide was a fan, but Tanner and Erin were a little disappointed. We met up for lunch at Chuy's and then headed to Main Event in Lubbock for some glow- in-the-dark mini golf.

Erin Noel, Kaide, Tanner & Papa

I had to bow out early from this fun family game because the lights were giving me an awful headache. I wasn't expecting that reaction. Maybe I'm just getting more sensitive with age.

After mini-golf, for the first. time. ever. in our marriage, Brian wanted to go to the mall. I was stunned. Seriously. He was on the search for more comfortable shoes to wear to work. I was more than happy to made that detour. I found a casual pair of tennis shoes and got an hour massage while he and Parker shopped. Sweet! 

Later that evening, we were excited to go to the big game. Tech was our only loss in football this year, and we were pretty sure we could beat them in basketball. We also have the number one recruit: AJ Dybantsa. Kaide went to the BYU-Tech football game a few months earlier and has been talking about how "B.I.U. did not win the big game. Texas Tech won the big game" ever since. 

We needed redemption.

Because Brian and I bought our tickets a few days after the boys did, we were sitting a couple of sections away from each other. My nephew Adam and two of his boys were a few more sections over. But we were all united in the nose bleeds! I walked a few laps during halftime and never returned to our seats. I stood and watched from a much closer section until some seats opened up and Brian joined me.

My nephew Adam with two of his boys: Lincoln & Christian

The best part of this picture is I used ChatGPT to add a baseball hat on my head. I was looking rough because after our early morning temple trip, I never had time to get properly ready for the day.

Me and my man

Tan Man

Sadly, "B.I.U." did not win this big game either, (71-84), and Kaide will probably be shaking his head and telling the sad news to anyone who will listen.

On to happier topics. Our Airbnb was newly remodeled and decorated so beautifully. We actually didn't have a ton of time there, but it was pretty comfortable with one small issue. Tanner & Erin had the master suite, but the heater was out. It was a freezing weekend in Lubbock and their room and bathroom was icy cold. Darn it. 

I think Erin and I were especially impressed with the remodel. These pictures don't quite do it justice--it honestly looked like something straight out of a magazine.

When we were home, we squeezed in some games with Kaide (nobody else would humor me). We played some UNO, follow the leader, and a few really fun games of hide-and-seek throughout the whole house. He also asked, "should we have Family Home Evening?" on Sunday morning. Of course we should, and we did. We sang Primary songs. Erin whipped out a quick lesson on the Creation, and we all joined in a final round of hide and seek.

Hiding!

I don't have great pictures from the weekend, but we had fun being all together. (Missing Bryn, Derek & Aub Daub, of course.)

I'm glad Uncle Parker enjoyed the family time--and lots snuggles with his favorite little guy too.

Even though we lost the big game, it was just the kind of weekend I needed!

Book Club

January 2026

I joined a book club in the fall, which is mainly made up of women from my ward. I have felt a little conflicted about the whole experience. We meet monthly, and out of the four books we've read, I hated one of them (Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers) , enjoyed two (this month's selection and The Rent Collector by Camron Wright), and the other, When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, was just okay. 

Also, it's taken us a bit to get into our groove. Our ages span from about 25 to almost 80. There is always an over talker or two. I tend to worry about that dynamic much more than I should. 

I do appreciate how it is set up. We vote on the next three books and rotate who is hosting and who brings food. I must say, the food served each month has been what's kept me hanging on! It's been impressive.

This month's book has been my favorite so far. We read The Residence, Inside the Private World of the White House by Kate Brower. The gathering was at my house. I made this fancy invitation, and the ladies who volunteered for the food delivered. They brought individual charcuterie boards in a fancy wrap, chicken salad on crackers, chocolate covered cherries, sausages, a layered cake, delicious drink options, and more. Also, my friend Debbie arranged for two of the young women in the ward to serve us refreshments throughout the evening...fancy! 

I am glad I didn't quit early on because it is growing on me. I have only been able to attend two of the four gatherings, but I've read all of the books. It's fun to be able to visit with my friends about the books we are reading even before the gathering. There are usually about twelve ladies who are able to make it.  The friendships are becoming deeper, and it's fun to feel the unity. 

The refreshment crew plus two cute servers: Michelle and Amelia Anderson, Liz C., Debbie Carlston and Diana Roach

Talent Show Flashback

January 2026

I was looking through some old videos and found this gem from our 2014 Christmas Eve talent show. We did a silly version of The Twelve Days of Christmas. The kids are so cute!

 *Our talent*

(After sending this out to the fam via email, Brinley privately messaged me and mentioned the cringe factor.😂 I didn't openly concur! So we can't sing....we are still a pretty cute little family.💕)