Stake Conference

We have enjoyed a wonderful stake conference. (stake conference is a biannual meeting where we meet with other congregations in our area and receive instruction from priesthood leaders.)  Our stake leaders love the Lord and love us and are trying to help us be the best we can be. I love that this is obvious.  I love hearing. Now if I can just truly receive their instructions as well as the quiet whisperings of the spirit that accompany their words.

Highlights

• Make a list of goals of how I plan on pleasing God.
• Pray that a wall of righteousness will surround your children and angels will attend them.  (I can't help but believe that the more time we spend together at home the better chance of this prayer being answered.)
• control media, set rules, no cell phones or ipods at night in the children's rooms, turn off wireless at night.  (I intend to go through our movies again.  I want to introduce my children to quality media which I would imagine is usually live performance and more classical.)
• Eternal sealings save ourselves and our loved ones, even those who may be making poor choices.
• As we change and become more godly, we can pray with more efficacy.  The stronger our love, the more powerful our prayers.  (efficacious = producing an intended effect)
• study Preach My Gospel
• work on the heart.  Be kind. Everyone is fighting their own battle.
• what am I teaching through my example?
• Priesthood - should protect and defend virtue and purity
• Seeking to live a Celestial life in a Telestial world is hard.  We just have to keep trying like Peter.  He boldly moved forward with what he knew.  He accepted chastisement and made necessary changes.  He got up each time he fell,  The Race. 
• We need to fortify and have a battle plan.  Moroni did everything possible to fortify his cities, we need to do all we can to fortify our family and community.
• We must move to higher ground, set high standards, be peculiar, keep covenants, love the Lord first.

I have been surprise how deep the desire to avoid work has become once I chose work as my word for this year.  I pray that I am up to the lessons I need to learn.  I will be seeking those portions, manna from heaven as often as He is willing and I will watch for the thieves that steal joy from me. 

Enjoy these links, I did.

On portion control
Watch for the theives

holding Nellie

I got to hold my sweet new baby today.  She is off all her cords and doing great.

Great Day!

When two people who have fallen in love, wait for one another, make sacred covenants and keep those covenants through righteous choices are having a family, I get a taste of Heaven and Heavenly Father's great plan of happiness.  Today was one of those great days.  It began at 3am with news that they were headed to the hospital to have their baby.

 All things progressed bringing forth a beautiful baby girl who looks like her mother.  She weighed 8.4 and 19.5 inches long.

 The day continued with little miracles from heaven.  She was created perfectly.

 Adored by loving parents, their own little angel.

Nellie had some complications with breathing but through priesthood power is doing so much better.

not allowed to hold her for the first 7 hours

 One of the hardest things to do is to receive a beautiful gift from heaven and not be able to hold her but she is an energetic fighter who continues to get stronger and progress to being able to be with her mom all the time.

finally get to hold her, 4 hours later she was allowed to nurse.

Thank you, my dear family, for sharing this sacred day with me.  Thank you for letting me be a part of the eternal generations that are cheering you on as you continue the legacy.  Thank you for loving each other and having that love spill over in children.

* * * * * *

The other half of my great day was hearing from my missionary daughter as she passed through Florida.  She got to call home to say a final goodbye before heading out to Peru.  Having little girls that you can't hold whenever you want is hard, even when they are 21.  Today 18 months seems like a very long time.

Sundays

Sunday mornings have been fun.  We have church a little later in the morning and I love the time my kids have to enjoy each other.  They squeeze a lot in.  

Do you remember this game.  You lay on each other's tummy and start laughing.  It's contagious and you all laugh.

I'm wanting to teach Tall One to cook.  He has actually done some and is not afraid to try.  He is quite good at cookies.  We are trying to expand his abilities.  Last night we made bread.  I make bread at least once a week.  It always works.  Last night he followed all my instructions and it didn't work.  It was super slow to rise and a bit frustrating.  We got so tired of waiting that by the time I put it in the oven we headed downstairs to do something else for a while.  Well I forgot about it, it cook an extra 20-30 minutes.  Dark brown heavier loaves were not the reward we were looking for.  He tried them this morning and said that it didn't taste as bad as it looked.  Yeah?

 Today's orange chicken turned out quite good.  We substituted the brown sugar with sucanut and honey because we are on a sugar bet (no sugar for a month if you want to join but if you cheat you have to admit it in the comments.  If you succeed you definitely have to share in the comments.  It might help it become more of a lifestyle for me if I hear enough good things about it.).  It was delicious but the recipe did catch on fire.  Neither of us are accept responsibility but he did blow it out.  It a good thing we print out a recipe that can be tossed afterwards.  Glad it wasn't my cookbook.

We have also been roasting marshmallows.  Great fun.  I promise I didn't have any.  They do have sugar in them and I haven't convinced the rest of the family at home to join me on the no sugar deal but my adult girls are.  We are involving money as an incentive.

Asian Orange Chicken

"Enjoy delicious citrus chicken marinated in lemon and orange juice with brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. It's terrific served with rice."

INGREDIENTS:

Sauce: 1 1/2 cups water 2 tablespoons orange juice 1/4 cup lemon juice 1/3 cup rice vinegar 2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon grated orange zest 1 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger root 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic 2 tablespoons chopped green onion

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes  3 tablespoons cornstarch 2 tablespoons water Chicken: 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2 inch pieces 1 cup all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 3 tablespoons olive oil

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Pour 1 1/2 cups water, orange juice, lemon juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce into a saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Stir in the orange zest, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, chopped onion, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, and cool 10 to 15 minutes.
2.	Place the chicken pieces into a resealable plastic bag. When contents of saucepan have cooled, pour 1 cup of sauce into bag. Reserve the remaining sauce. Seal the bag, and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
3.	In another resealable plastic bag, mix the flour, salt, and pepper. Add the marinated chicken pieces, seal the bag, and shake to coat.
4.	Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place chicken into the skillet, and brown on both sides. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels, and cover with aluminum foil.
5.	Wipe out the skillet, and add the sauce. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Mix together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water; stir into the sauce. Reduce heat to medium low, add the chicken pieces, and simmer, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

work

I need work.  I need to submit to work.  I need to do more work.  I need to teach my children work.  I need to establish a house of order and this takes daily work.  It requires the mundane, the simple, the hard effort, the organizing, planning, persuading.  It is better when I remember it is a blessing to work.  It is easier when I remember it is a service to those I love the most.

Moses 5:1

And it came to pass that after I, the Lord God, had driven them out, that Adam began to till the earth, and to have dominion over all the beasts of the field, and to eat his bread by the sweat of his brow, as I the Lord had commanded him. And Eve, also, his wife, did labor with him.

My Adam working

Work, given to Adam and Eve blesses there lives with purpose, perspective, and meaning.  It is through the simple work that I can find fulfillment.  I find the internet a major distraction.  I check my emails too often.  I love reading a really good blog or article.  It is distracting me from the work I was sent to do -- yet I learn so much.  (I wish the time didn't seem to speed up when I enter the world wide web.)  So I am trying to refocus.  I no longer check blogs in the morning.  I have been waiting until lunch.  It is not working.  I still spend too much time away from my children.  

I was blessed to find this article open on my computer today President Uchtdorf Of Things that Matter Most.  I was reminded, again, of my need to focus, to be there for my children.  They are my work at this time.  Though I enjoy and learn from my readings I need to refocus on those things that matter most.

I think most of us intuitively understand how important the fundamentals are. It is just that we sometimes get distracted by so many things that seem more enticing.

I recognize the fundamentals of scripture study, prayer, service.  I consider all these things to be things I need to work out.  I need to work to make time for them.  I need to work on caring for my family so that we can all treasure the time we have to study and learn.

 The holy scriptures and the spoken word of the living prophets give emphasis to the fundamental principles and doctrines of the gospel. The reason we return to these foundational principles, to the pure doctrines, is because they are the gateway to truths of profound meaning. They are the door to experiences of sublime importance that would otherwise be beyond our capacity to comprehend. These simple, basic principles are the key to living in harmony with God and man. They are the keys to opening the windows of heaven. They lead us to the peace, joy, and understanding that Heavenly Father has promised to His children who hear and obey Him.

and   focus on the significant, lift up our eyes, and truly see the things that matter most.

I don't want to miss the "experiences of sublime importance" because I think that I need the internet to teach me how to be a better mom.  I want to return to the simple basics of study and prayer.  I want to be able to expect revelation for my life and my family.  I want to see the miracles that come when we are doing all that we can to submit to the will of our Heavenly Father.   

I don't want to miss these moments by being distracted.

I thoroughly enjoyed kneading a batch of artesian bread for a mom's luncheon we recently had at my house.  I mixed by hand the batch of blueberry muffins.  It was work.  My arm got tired but it felt good and brought me joy.  Simple work that I want to teach my children.  Teach them how to do things, fundamental things, and not be afraid of the effort or time spent in worthwhile endeavors. 

Yes, work needed here

we invited the boys to help

Because this sweet girl had been a great, fun aunt while J was visiting.

I have had many good examples of people working more with their children, I just haven't properly implemented.  This is the year to work together.  

I love when they forget this is work and do a nice job on the details, like putting the furniture in order

success!

Goals for work include

1. cleaning and organizing
2. studying and sharing insights
3. spending time (lots of it) together
4. building relationships - with God, family, fellowman, and self.

Grateful

• family work
• clean bedrooms
• DI trailers coming to take away our junk
• quiet early mornings for reading

TV? what's it doing to us

I was walking out of Sam's Club today past the guys at a Direct TV booth when they asked if I wanted to hear the great deal they were offing members.  Easy out

me:  We don't watch TV
guy: huh?
me:  We don't watch TV
guy:  You don't have cable or stallelite?
me: No
guy:  You wanna get started?
me:  No thanks :)
guy: (look of disbelief, what do they do all day?)

I can't tell you how glad I am that we gave up TV years ago.  We have scaled way back on our movies too.  We use to each get a movie for Christmas in our stocking.  The theory that we needed to have entertainment at home to keep the kids happy just isn't real.  I have gotten rid of a lot of our collection and find less and less desire or satisfaction in watching.  I especially don't like my kids watching.  We do have a few old favorites but once in a great while is plenty.  It is still a struggle for my sweetheart at times.  When he has free time in the evening he thinks of getting a movie.  We will keep working on him.

We watched the first Pirates of the Caribbean a couple of weeks ago.   It is very entertaining but I find myself analyzing, wondering what the message may be.  I liked how valiant Will Turner is in the beginning.  He is against evil, against pirates, willing to defend the honor of women.  He slowly learns to accept the pirates life, see good in basically bad people and pretty soon we all think a lot of the bad guys.  They are funny, smart, clever.  It all left me confused.

Then yesterday I read this post about Despicable Me.  I have not seen it.  I have heard people I appreciate say they like it but I wondered again what the message is.  Are we being desensitized?  Are we learning tolerance?  Just because someone has a bad side we shouldn't judge them? or their actions?  It really is an interesting balance necessary in our world today. We can't just accept entertainment as mindless fun.  There are messages being taught.  We need to be purposeful in what we welcome into our home.

Elder Cook said in October 2011 General Conference:

Protecting Family

An ever-present danger to the family is the onslaught of evil forces that seem to come from every direction. While our primary effort must be to seek light and truth, we would be wise to black out from our homes the lethal bombs that destroy spiritual development and growth. Pornography, in particular, is a weapon of mass moral destruction. Its impact is at the forefront in eroding moral values. Some TV programs and Internet sites are equally lethal. These evil forces remove light and hope from the world. The level of decadence is accelerating. ⁵ If we do not black out evil from our homes and lives, do not be surprised if devastating moral explosions shatter the peace which is the reward for righteous living. Our responsibility is to be in the world but not of the world.

In addition, we need to greatly increase religious observance in the home. Weekly family home evening and daily family prayer and scripture study are essential. We need to introduce into our homes content that is “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy.” ⁶ If we make of our homes holy places that shelter us from evil, we will be protected from the adverse consequences that the scriptures have foretold.

I don't believe that watching Despicable Me is a lethal bomb but maybe each time we accept something without thinking it through, each time we welcome something into our homes because "it's not that bad" we risk allowing in an ingredient that could be used against our home and family.  I guess that is my issue.  Is "it's not that bad" a valid reason to hold on to something?  Is it wrong to be Zealous?  (see this post)  Can I afford not to be watchful.  I'm sure there are so many influences that slip into my home and family without notice that when I may question one (an influence) I better act on it.  

There are plenty of good and true influences.  Let's seek after "virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy".  Lets risk not knowing all the latest in movies or games (interesting post on games).  Let's remember what the Oompa Loompas taught in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the book) as shared on this blog and here below.  We have so many more screens to beware of, lets be vigilant in protecting our family.

"Mike Teavee..." 

(from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)

"The most important thing we've learned,
So far as children are concerned,
Is never, NEVER, NEVER let
Them near your television set–
Or better still, just don't install
The idiotic thing at all.
In almost every house we've been,
We've watched them gaping at the screen.
They loll and slop and lounge about,
And stare until their eyes pop out.
(Last week in someone's place we saw
A dozen eyeballs on the floor.)
They sit and stare and stare and sit
Until they're hypnotised by it,
Until they're absolutely drunk
With all the shocking ghastly junk.
Oh yes, we know it keeps them still,
They don't climb out the window sill,
They never fight or kick or punch,
They leave you free to cook the lunch
And wash the dishes in the sink–
But did you ever stop to think,
To wonder just exactly what
This does to your beloved tot?
IT ROTS THE SENSES IN THE HEAD!
IT KILLS IMAGINATION DEAD!
IT CLOGS AND CLUTTERS UP THE MIND!
IT MAKES A CHILD SO DULL AND BLIND
HE CAN NO LONGER UNDERSTAND
A FANTASY, A FAIRYLAND!
HIS BRAIN BECOMES AS SOFT AS CHEESE!
HIS POWERS OF THINKING RUST AND FREEZE!
HE CANNOT THINK–HE ONLY SEES!
'All right!' you'll cry. 'All right!' you'll say,
'But if we take the set away,
What shall we do to entertain
Our darling children? Please explain!'
We'll answer this by asking you,
'What used the darling ones to do?
'How used they keep themselves contented
Before this monster was invented?'
Have you forgotten? Don't you know?
We'll say it very loud and slow:
THEY...USED...TO...READ! They'd READ and READ,
AND READ and READ, and then proceed
To READ some more. Great Scott! Gadzooks!
One half their lives was reading books!
The nursery shelves held books galore!
Books cluttered up the nursery floor!
And in the bedroom, by the bed,
More books were waiting to be read!
Such wondrous, fine, fantastic takes
Of dragons, gypsies, queens, and whales
And treasure isles, and distant shores
Where smugglers rowed with muffled oars,
And pirates wearing purple pants,
And sailing ships and elephants,
And cannibals crouching 'round the pot,
Stirring away at something hot.
(It smells so good, what can it be?
Good gracious, it's Penelope.)
The younger ones had Beatrix Potter
With Mr. Tod, the dirty rotter,
And Squirrel Nutkin, Pigling Bland,
And Mrs. Tiggy–Winkle and–
Just How The Camel Got His Hump,
And How The Monkey Lost His Rump,
And Mr. Toad, and bless my soul,
There's Mr. Rat and Mr. Mole–
Oh, books, what books they used to know,
Those children living long ago!
So please, oh please, we beg, we pray,
Go throw your TV set away,
And in its place you can install
A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Then fill the shelves with lots of books,
Ignoring all the dirty looks,
The screams and yells, the bites and kicks,
And children hitting you with sticks–
Fear not, because we promise you
That, in about a week or two
Of having nothing else to do,
They'll now begin to feel the need
Of having something good to read.
And once they start–oh boy, oh boy!
You watch the slowly growing joy
That fills their hears. They'll grow so keen
They'll wonder what they'd ever seen
In that ridiculous machine,
That nauseating, foul, unclean,
Repulsive television screen!
And later, each and every kid
Will love you more for what you did.
P.S. Regarding Mike Teavee,
We very much regret that we
Shall simply have to wait and see
If we can get him back his height.
But if we can't–it serves him right."

Wish me luck!

• People are thinking
• options
• libraries
• little girls playing make believe

A new year

A new year brings so many thoughts.  It's a new start in many ways.  Homeschooling often leads me to feel that September is the new year for us as we make schedules, gather ideas, and watch routines take form.  January happens to be a wonderful time to re-access what is or isn't working.  I haven't been one to make a list of resolutions.  The few times I have written things down I have usually kept them very private.  I worry that if others know then they will know when I fall short.

I'm trying to be braver.

I'm trying to be purposeful

I'm wanting to make improvements that will bring joy, that will bring needed change, that will bring direction and inspiration and motivation to my days.  I fear that I have gotten lazy in my efforts and let too much of my mornings slip by before I get my kids involved.  I have so many great ideas floating around but not always sure how to implement them.  I need direction as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend.  I need to know how to be a better me.

I am really grateful for the inspiring women that share their ideas.  I have recently found several people that pick a word or a theme.  I like this idea.  So now I am trying to figure out what my word for this year might be.  I am praying for guidance.  The way the word may work for me is as a reminder of the gentle ways I wish/hope to improve.  I wish to understand more how God would have me be.  As I study, ponder, and look for examples I can see that a single word would work into my thoughts.  It would help me see things differently.  I sometimes want to just be putty in God's hand and let him form me but I realize that I am suppose to make an effort.  If I am not working, trying, stretching and growing then maybe it is like working with runny putty that just won't hold its shape.  Together we can accomplish all that needs to be this year.

Thought I don't have an answer yet - a word, I would like to share with you some of the links that I have enjoyed.

•  year of joy   
•  goal of submission
• Effort
• One little word

Going no-poo and other simplifying

Strange way to say it but in the fall I read about a new way to wash my hair on simplemom.net with out shampoo.  I waited until after family pictures to try it not knowing what the transition period might be like.  It was actually a rather smooth transition and I am still enjoying the results.  I  have had some family members tell me that my hair has more life.  I like that. I use a ketchup bottle for the soda water and a spray bottle for the vinegar.

A couple of weeks later I tried the skin care oil cleansing method.  A very new idea but intriguing. It too seems to be working.  I didn't dare tell anyone for a while but my daughter found out and she tried it.  She has struggles with blemishes and feels like her face has never been so clear and doesn't feel dry.  That is really saying something in our dry cold climate.

Although this whole experiment has made me feel a bit "crunchier" than I had been, I love it.  I would say that there has been a couple of adjustment periods but it is working and it is so cheap.  I feel like I am doing something very good for me and it isn't taking a chunk out of our family budget.  In fact as I start using it on the kids I will actually be saving money for all of us.  It make sense to me that taking care of our selves should be simple.  It shouldn't require chemistry degrees and lots of money.  It is so freeing to find natural ways to run my home.  Next I'm going to try dish washing detergent.  The store bought doesn't seem to do a good job and we go through a lot.  I haven't gotten brave enough to make my own deodorant but it is on the list.

New resolutions include new ways of doing the same old thing, especially when it is cheaper and better!

Grateful:

• people who stand for standards
• plenty of fire wood and warm blankets
• those who share their stories and remind us that we are all doing the best we can
• missionary letters

homeschool is back in session

kind of.  We are coming back slowly.  We got Twinkle sent off this week and next week we have Tall Ones surgery.  Then we are staying flexible for when Elise decides to have her baby (or the baby decides).

 Enjoying watching wildlife.  This deer and its mother were looking in my kitchen window when I looked out.  We watched each other for a while and then they got camera shy.  The kids see deer quite often out our windows but usually out back.

 Tall one decided that our little ones hadn't experienced the sucking up of the sofa cushions so we did that today.  They were impressed and amazed.

 Then he reversed the air flow and they blew up the garbage bags like balloons until they popped.

 That's when it moved to blowing plastic around the room.  This definitely counts as science and groundwork for future physics lessons.  Learning is always taking place.

Ike has discovered Billy and Blaze as a great easy series for boys.  We also rediscovered flash cards and are enjoying the dolch word list and math facts to keep us sharp.  We will keep working on more structure but in the mean time we are enjoying Swiss Family Robinson, The Long Winter, and James Herriot's Treasury for Children as great read alouds.

Hermana

My heart is full today.  My little Twinkle left to serve a mission today.  She will teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ for 18 months in Bolivia.  She has had so many experiences and trials and triumphants that have prepared her to be a great missionary and representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

She spoke in church on Dec. 26.  Her assigned topic was the Atonement.  She chose to focus on Grace, the enabling power of the Atonement.  I had a dear friend share that her sons had been visiting that day and were touched by the spirit.  One of them is ready to have the missionaries come and teach him.  Her spirit of enthusiasm and righteous living is contagious.  As she was set apart by through priesthood authority last night she was promised blessings of the gift of tongues, health, wisdom, and peace. 

Today we began as usual with our family devotional but we sang a few more songs than usual.  We sang Build an Ark, Called to Serve, and I Will Follow God's Plan.  It was an interesting mix but just right for us.  My heart is truly full.  I have been given time with a choice spirit of Heavenly Father's.  I got to be her mother.  I got to learn from her example.  I get to continue to share the growth that will surely come as she works and prays and walks in his way.  I can't wait to hear from her.  (Pictures coming when the computer will read them)

This snow sculpture of the temple made by Twinkle will slowly fade with the snow but the letters will come, the experiences shared, the love will  grow.  The most important things in life last - like relationships, like family!

I'm back

For several reasons I have not blogged for a while.  I have been rethinking my blog and why I share and what I hope to accomplish.  Really I blog to share my life with those who care about me or have similar world views.  I blog to organize my thoughts, share my latest insights, and hopefully inspire others.  I blog to keep a record of my family happenings.  My children love seeing there pictures here.

I have given myself time to step back and wonder.  I am learning that many people blog similar to the way I do.  It is a place to reason things out and join a dialog.  It is not my intention to declare that I have discovered the only way to parent, raise children, celebrate holidays, run a home, or live a life.  I am not an expert in communicating, in relationships, in life.  I have friends that have quit blogging.  I am starting to understand that they may have been attacked for their views and no longer feel safe sharing.  I don't want to have to hide who I am or my journey.  I don't want others to think that if I do something a certain way that they are wrong for doing things differently.  I don't want to have anyone think that I have all the answers.  I don't.  I continue to learn and grow, repent, change, slip, try again, hope, and continue forward.

I ask you as my readers, family, friends to read if you want but do not feel obligated to always be here. If you don't like a path I am on, ignore it.  If you have helpful ideas, I would love to hear them.  If you have other success you want to share, I am open.

I want to keep writing.  I need to keep writing.  I find it is a way for me to learn, to organize my thoughts.  I know that I learn so much from others as they share their journey.  I realize that we are on different paths at times but I don't want to just receive, I want to give back too.  I appreciate openness from others and I want to be open.  Some have turned off their comments, I would rather not.  Some have gone private, I would rather not.  I want to be better at sharing strong words, words that strengthen and build, not tear down.

I will keep writing in my eclectic way.  I will share whatever feels right.  I will pray over my words and hopefully there will be times when my words bless others as well as myself.   This dear woman has said many of the things I have felt.  Let's give each other the benefit of a doubt and love one another where we are.