Homecoming

After geo caching, shot gun shooting, an air soft war and wandering the mountain in trucks the dates were brought to this remote spot for dinner.

May I just say that my son was impressed with the puddles I willingly went through to get to this surprise spot and serve a gourmet dinner with my partner in fun (Mark's mom).

They enjoyed a prime rib dinner

They were then given time to clean  up and we had them stop by again for pictures.  Sure grateful they were such good sports

And such handsome couples.

I'm told that these two enjoyed some fun swing dancing - eastern and western, cowboy cha cha and waltzing.  I might have to keep following next time.

Grateful:
190 That small towns can still throw big, clean fun.
191 dating doesn't have to be expensive
192 Liz makes great corsages and boutonnieres (that is a very hard word to spell) and she is so reasonable.
193 for well rounded young adults who can play hard in any setting.
194 fasting and praying for presidential election
195 I got my kitchen floor mopped after way too long.
196 My friend lent me her wheat grinder while mine is in the shop, again.
197 weelicious.com and making recipes with Debbie
198  Fall leaves
199 enjoyed Michael Vey.  Lots to think about.

some of our busy month

The Aristocats was performed by the children in our community. They did an amazing job.

 My cats especially enjoyed being a part of this musical.

 This was on my nightstand as I retired one night.  It is so fun to have a little girl.  She is always so thoughtful and full of love.

 We have never had a garden produce this long.  We have had tomatoes continue to ripen on the vine and we are still picking summer squash.  We haven't had a freeze yet.  This is all very unusual but we are enjoying it and hoping we also get a good winter with lots of snow as we have been short on water this year.

Part of our yard clean up and downsizing is done in the rabbit hutch.  13 rabbits is too many, especially with the cost of feed going up.  They had some pretty good success in selling the rabbits but no takers on the squash.  Still have a few more rabbits we need to find homes for.

We have also been enjoy community soccer.  It has been a very busy month.  We have had a lot of fun and enjoyed the challenge of scheduling so many events among canning and gardening but we survived and I am happy to see life becoming my own again.  I don't know how soccer moms do games year round or jump into all the sports.  My hope is that they at least get to know the rules, have some fun and enjoy being on a team.

grateful:
181 soccer season only lasts 6-8 weeks
182 beautiful Fall weather has been so very pleasant and long lasting
183 I grew more than enough tomatoes and have been able to share our bounty with neighbors and people at church every week.
184 entrepreneurs at our house are content with a very short sales season.
185 The grass is not growing quite so fast and I have sons who are learning hard physical labor pushing our no motor lawn mower around.
186 My little daughter loves me and makes me want to do nice things for people.
187 Our new printer still prints in black and white at least.
188 missionary letters come every single Monday and brighten my day.
189 chickens are still laying eggs

September 11

I forgot. I forgot that there would be flags up today in remembrance of a terrible day that changed our country.  It was the day we were attacked on our own soil and many innocent lives were lost.

It is interesting to me that recently I am remembering my word for this year.  It was "Present".  I recognize that I am not always really in the moment, really there being present.  Today I had my daughter, her husband and children here for a quick visit.  It was fun and although we busily got peaches bottled, lunch served, the parents to the temple and the grandchildren playing with aunt D in the backyard and the gathering of eggs and petting of rabbits, I wasn't really there.  I knew everyone was well cared for but I was arranging food or schedules, cleaning up the details.  I realize that those are good things too.  My joy came when this Granny chose to take Mom and the kids to the park.  I thought about the camera.  I almost grabbed it.  I usually do and get some fun shots but I chose not to take it this time.  I chose to play at the park instead.  I got to visit with Elise, chase kids on the playground, dig for treasure with Jack, and just be there and be available.  It felt good.

They have left for home again already and I am back to my distractions of computer time.  I was blessed to find this post today about putting the camera down and enjoying the moment yourself.  I love when another source seems to validate the choice I made and help me understand why I made it.  So no pictures today but hopefully that little bit of time was a deposit in the love bank of those I love.  May they know that I enjoy being with them, helping them, and just being present.

I think that might be one of the best things to come out of September 11.  We were all reminded to cherish the moments and keep family close.

Really?

Last Sunday I gave the lesson Avoiding Degrading Media Influences to the Laurel class.  A lot of our discussion was on pornography.  We (my husband and I) are involved with the 12 Step program of the church and particularly an aftercare program that is truly helping people overcome addition.  As I was preparing the YW lesson  I was told that women have become a huge target and more and more women are addicted to porn.  I was saddened but hadn't heard much more.  The lesson went well with much fasting and praying in preparation and a humble but willing recovering addict that helped our discussion.

Today I found this post about another book that sounds absolutely horrible.  I had heard the name only and was instantly wary.  I have no desire to go anywhere near shades of gray.  Sadly there are plenty of women who are being lured into such trash.  The discussion on this post and comments were helpful.  I'm sharing here because I want women to be aware and warned.  Satan is working hard to destroy the family.  Please stay close to the spirit, learn to discern, and avoid all media that chases away the spirit.  We must live the gospel every day, let it govern the things we think, hear, speak, and see.

President Ezra Taft Benson said, “Some of the greatest battles you will face will be fought within the silent chambers of your own soul” (“In His Steps,” p. 60).

and here are the important points discussed in our lesson.


Guidelines for Evaluating Media
Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,
As to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.
(Alexander Pope, “An Essay on Man,” epistle 2, lines 217–21.)

Satan’s Tools
Uses logic to confuse.
Uses rationalizations to destroy.
Will shade meanings.
Opens doors an inch at a time.
Leads from purest white through all the shades of gray to the darkest black.
(See Spencer W. Kimball, “President Kimball Speaks Out on Morality,”
Ensign, Nov. 1980, p. 94.)

Standards to Judge Media
Whatever weakens your reason
Whatever impairs the tenderness of your conscience
Whatever obscures your sense of God
Whatever takes off your relish for spiritual things
Whatever increases the authority of the body over the mind
(See Ezra Taft Benson, “In His Steps,” Speeches of the Year, 1979 [Provo: Brigham Young
University Press, 1980], p. 61.)

How to Avoid Degrading Influences
Do not see or talk about objectionable movies.
Do not look at pornographic magazines, pictures, or stories.
Have courage to walk out of an off-color movie.
Keep television shows with suggestive conversation and experiences out of your home.
(See H. Burke Peterson, in Conference Report, Oct. 1980, pp. 56–57; or Ensign, Nov.
1980, pp. 38–39.)

Grateful:
173 There are plenty of good, wholesome books to read
174 there are plenty of good, wholesome movies to watch (I liked The Odd Life of Timothy Green)
175 there are plenty of good women seeking to make good choices by the spirit
176 there are good men and women who are fighting and overcoming pornography addictions with the help of the atonement and professional guidance.
177 I got all my peaches bottled
178 Thomas (15 mo. old) learned learned to give kisses
179 Nellie (19 mo old) says MommyO and DaddyO
180 Family Night comes every week

wholesome recreation

va·ca·tion

   [vey-key-shuhn, vuh-]  Show IPA

noun

1.

a period of suspension of work, study, or other activity,usually used for rest, recreation, or travel; recess or holiday:Schoolchildren are on vacation now.

2.

a part of the year, regularly set aside, when normal activitiesof law courts, legislatures, etc., are suspended.

3.

freedom or release from duty, business, or activity.

4.

an act or instance of vacating.

I don't feel like we take many vacations in the formal sense of the word but we do grab a free evening here and there to do something unusual, out of the norm, or something that has become a loved tradition.

rec·re·a·tion

   [rek-ree-ey-shuhn]  Show IPA

noun

1.

refreshment by means of some pastime, agreeable exercise,or the like.

2.

a pastime, diversion, exercise, or other resource affordingrelaxation and enjoyment.

or from the 1828 Webster's dictionary

Rec"re*a"tion (-?"sh?n), n. [F. récréation, L. recreatio.] The act of recreating, or the state of being recreated; refreshment of the strength and spirits after toil; amusement; diversion; sport; pastime.

I may feel like we don't get vacations in the sense that we visit an exotic location but we can re-create.  We can take time to do something that refreshes our strength and spirits.  We are going to work on purposeful recreation so that we might strengthen family relationships and fill ourselves so that we are better able to meet the daily toil of life.  There is nothing quite like recreation after a big job or long day.

 Tall one shimmies up the rock wall to get the ropes in place.

 Even Doodle did quite well.

Sunsine

 We always blame my side of the family for our extra cautious nature around high places. Some of us being much more cautious than others.

Ike

 This boy loves his cowboy boots and says they work for everything . . . even rock climbing.

 We got to spend one night camping this year.  We loved it and will just be grateful.

 AAaah, Tall One.  We did a night hike up to the Arch

 Then the next day in box canyon.  Love the challenge of big rocks in the path.

 The path ends at this rock wall.  We are prepared to keep going.

Once again Tall One blazes the path and prepares the rope so those that follow can be safe.

Grateful:
158 All returned safely home from our climbing adventure
159 Peach season is finally here
160 Corn season was great.  We love this new recipe for corn.
161 4H record book is turned in and Ike loved his first year raising a lamb.
162 Sprinklers still working
163 Mitt Romney gaining in popularity.  He is a good decent principled man with proven ideas.  Sounds like the right kind of change for our country
164 Soccer season has begun for 3 children.  So glad it is fun and short.
165 wearing reflective vest during early morning walks makes me smile.
166 Business is picking up
167 for home school and learning together
168 Simeon has a great sense of humor and is willing to laugh at himself
169 Debbie likes to do her own hair
170 Isaac is learning to play the clarinet
171 fajitas for dinner with our own home grown peppers.
172 Debbie made it to the top of this wall and down again.

zucchini

Sharing some of my favorite zucchini disguises

 Mom’s Zucchini chocolate cake

½ cup butter

½ cup oil

1 ¾ cup sugar

2 eggs

2 cups grated zucchini grated

2 ½ cup flour

1 teas. Vanilla

½ cup sour milk

4 Tbsp coco

½ teas cinnamon

1 teas salt

1 teas. Soda

1 teas. Baking powder

Combine all ingredients. Spread in greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle with topping and bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes.

Topping

¾ cup chocolate chips

¾ cup brown sugar

¾ cup chopped nuts

Grandma Giles Zucchini Bread

3 eggs well beaten
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
3 teas. vanilla
3 cups flour
1 teas salt
1 teas baking soda
1/4 teas baking powder

1 teas cinnamon
Combine all ingredients, stir in
2 cups grated zucchini
Put in 2 greased loaf pans and bake at 325 for 60 minutes.

Classic movies

Can I just say I love this movie. We have it on vhs and spent the last 2 nights watching it one tape at a time.  I was especially happy that my 11yo, 8yo, and 6yo all loved it.  Doodle is taking a singing/dancing class for the first time and they are learning  "A few of my favorite things" and no one seemed to know it.  Well, we took care of that at our house and now we are all singing the fun songs from the movie.

It is one of my desires to instill in my children an appreciation for those things that entertain generations, that can be shared through families, that teach good and right.

grateful:
142 enthusiastic YW teacher teaching about personal purity and the power we have to make good choices.
143 dinner of garden vegetables
144 peach shortcake with homemade ice cream
145 seminary challenges to bear testimony
146 positive peer pressure for me to memorize the JSH scripture mastery, thanks Laurie
147 adult children calling home
148 needed rain
149 first week of home school done
150 new books coming in the mail and great hopes for lots of good reads.  I may need more bookcases soon.
151 reading Glenn Beck's book The 7 Wonders
152  Mitt Romney is a decent man who has the ability to get our country back on the right track
153 Mr. O excited about recent business activity
154 our summer activity pass got extended to the end of the year,
155 feeling good on a week of milk fast
156 chewing food again
157 nice neighbors bringing zucchini bread