Another missionary almost there

It seems to happen so quickly.  Dane received his mission call early Thursday morning.  He agreed to wait until Dad got home that evening and invited friends and family to join us.  They all came to support and cheer his decision to serve a full time mission for 2 years and to find out where the Lord would have him serve.

He will be serving in the Florida Orlando mission and will arrive in August to quickly adjust to the beautiful heat and humidity as well as the amazing people there.  I feel such gratitude for a young man who has remained worthy to represent the Lord and be His messenger in sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It just so happens that he will be serving in the exact same mission as his brother Peter returned from just 18 months ago.  So amazing and exciting.

Dane has been attending an online high school and has friends all over the country. We also have family members (sisters and grandparents) that live too far away. He did a live feed so they could be here and find out with us.  I'm so grateful for technology that erases distance and allows us to share special times.

Unfortunately he used youtube and received some very hateful comments and dislikes.  Already within just one day of his call he is needing to cement his beliefs and defend his desire to serve the Lord and follow the prophet.

Grateful:

617 Youth of a noble birthright ready and willing to stand for truth and right

618 The gospel of Jesus Christ blesses lives

619 Receiving a fulness of truth requires keeping God's commandments (D&C 93:27-28)

620 "Light and truth  forsake that evil one." (vs. 37)  Truth does prevail.

621  My son will enter manhood through serving God and his fellow men.

pictures and celebrating Easter

I'm missing pictures.  With so many other social media and places to share I haven't been taking or sharing pictures as much as I would like.  We have a couple of different computers and people using the camera and things are getting spread all over.  I was looking for pictures for Dane's graduation and had a hard time finding anything of just him.  It has been a busy year of studying for him and being more independent.

So here is some catching up with pictures.

Ike and Sim both participated in the piano festival contest and received superior ratings on their songs.  This was Ike's 3rd year of superior ratings and so he also received his first gold cup.

These two pictures are just breakfast time at our house.  I think I would like to catch more of the daily life in pictures.

 We also woke everyone at 12:30 am to watch the eclipse.

P. cousin Easter egg hunt at Grandma's

Elise and her family came for Easter weekend and we loved having them.  Doodle read stories to Nellie and Jack

We colored Easter eggs.  It was especially fun to write on the eggs with the clear crayon secretly and then have the little ones so surprised to see their name on an egg as it came out of the dye.

This little table has sure been a great place for fun eating.

I can't believe that these locals of mine had not hiked Devil's ribs.  

John caught a lizard and let everyone hold it.  He even put it on Ike's ear and let it hand like an earring.

Easter egg hunt at the park.  Actually more of a crazy age-grouped race for candy.

Mom joined us for Easter weekend

Dear friends singing Happy Birthday to me.

We joined the Rowley/Jones family for some crazy fun of egg torturing.  Family brought eggs pack to survive and then the torture began with John shooting each package with his new pellet gun.

The then threw the eggs and those that didn't go far enough go the big hammer.  This was after someone had a try at them with a pick ax. No survivors this year.

Then they shot raw eggs into the orchard. 

Anyone that could catch it and bring it back whole won a candy bar.

We also enjoyed a fun wedding shower with the Rowleys

Finally we are to Easter Sunday

 I love Easter Sunday.  We enjoyed a family breakfast, attended church together and had grandparents join us for dinner.  After Saturday's egg torture our little hunt seemed a bit tame.

Please know that I love my Savior Jesus Christ.  I love celebrating his Resurrection, his atonement, and the hope of eternal life.  I have an elder brother who died for me that I might live again and he did the same for everyone of you.  He knows you.  He loves you.   

Another couple ready to create a family

My first son, my man child all grown up and on his own has fallen in love with a beautiful young women.  They met at college.  He noticed her first and tried out for the same choir she was trying out for.  She didn't make it. He did and felt stuck.  He found her at western swing club and they danced together.  They spent time together in the cold and the mud on a 4 wheeler and enjoyed the Fall.

He waited patiently and would not date anyone else.  He loved her. He treated her like the princess that she is.  He respected her.  Then he asked her to be his for all eternity.  She said YES.  They are young and in love and will make a beautiful life together.

He first noticed her confidence, her feminine ways.  He noticed her modesty and her goodness.  She was worth pursuing and waiting for. She is smart, spunky, and will keep him on his toes.

She noticed his integrity.  She noticed his respect for all women, especially her.  She saw his desire to work hard and provide for a family, to have fun and to protect.

We are so thrilled to have this wonderful woman join our family this spring.  She brings joy to our lives and enriches our family and especially the life and future of my first born son.  I am so excited for them.

Grateful:
610 God's plan of happiness
611 Hope for the future and families combining together in one to multiply and bless others.
612 The joy that saying Yes brings to a young couple
613 for 2 whole months to put together a wedding.
614 for 2 young people who are obedient to answers to prayers and not afraid of the hard work (and fun) ahead of them.
615 that in a changing world truth is truth and happiness is found in family units.
616 I said yes to sharing a candy bar today and I believe the more I say yes to sharing the better I'm going to feel both morally and physically.  This could be a new health strategy.

soup and biscuits for dinner

We are finally getting some rain.  Soup and biscuits seems to go so well with a cool, rainy day.  In our mountain deserts of Utah we are in a drought and praying for rain, snow, moisture of any kind and so we are celebrating answers to prayers and a wet day.

This recipe was shared at a Relief Society event a few years ago and is so simple and delicious that it has become one of my favorites

Colleen Puett’s Broccoli cheese soup

6 cups water

4 chicken bullion cubes

12 to18 oz frozen chopped broccoli

                            

Bring to boil until broccoli is tender

In separate pan melt ½ cup butter, stir in ½ cup flour and a little milk until smooth.  Stir into broccoli

Add cheese, salt and pepper to taste.

This simple biscuit recipe was a fun find and great with any soup or even for breakfast.  Unless you are worried about garlic breath.

Amanda's Buttery Garlic-Cheese Biscuits
2 cups flour (I used my sprouted wheat flour)
2 Tbs sugar
1 T baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 Tbs butter, melted
3 cloves garlic, minced

1. Preheat oven to 375.  Grease a 12 cup muffin tin.
2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Add milk and cheese; stir just until combined. Divide batter amount 12 muffin cups,
3. Here's where it gets really yummy. Mix together melted butter and garlic; drizzle over biscuits. Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Serve hot.

This recipe is from Family Feasts for $75 a Week.  I got this book at the library and then my dear granddaughter got it, ripped a page really well and I ended up buying it from the library.  It actually has been a fun one to have.

Grateful:
607 home made food for dinner
608 dinner hour when everyone is home and they wish I had made more biscuits. Next time I'll double it.
609 my Saturday chores are done and the house is clean for this moment.

secrets?

I have a blogging friend.  Whether she knows it or not I consider her a sweet friend and someone I learn from and cheer for.  She shared some of her secrets recently and challenged others to do the same.  It has been an interesting thing to think about.  I do have things that I would rather not share at times.  I often subscribe to the 'fake it 'til you make it' idea and hope that I really will make it.  Sometimes it is in the becoming real and allowing our walls down that we are able to really get to know others and let them in to our life. So with that goal of become more real, kind of like the Velveteen rabbit and all its worn out spots, here I go.

I love sweets.  Not just enjoy but love them and sometimes it takes a bigger spot in my heart than my family. Today I hid and ate a just caramel milky way.  I had the idea to share it with my husband but decided I would enjoy it more.  Selfish and silly.  Food is very important to me and good food sometimes makes me hoard and binge.

I think adult children are one of the very hardest to parent.  For our family, teenagers have not been difficult. There were/are moments that are challenging but I usually felt grounded and had direction. I felt like I knew my job and position and where I fit in. With adult children I feel the need to tip toe around.  I'm trying to juggle being a parent, being available, being a cheerleader, not being a judge.  I would really like to be a friend but I don't always feel like I have what it takes to 'be in the club'.  Don't get me wrong.  They are each wonderful, amazing, loving, successful adults who are moving forward with righteous goals and decisions.  My son recently got engaged.  My daughter asked if I knew Rachel very well.  I don't.  I feel really good about her.  She is a very good person, treats my son well, and I know they will be happy together, but I don't really know her very well.  I admitted this and the next words out of my mouth were that I don't really know my sons-in-law very well either. They are also amazing, great men who are taking great care of their family, working hard and leading in righteousness.  I would love to develop a closeness with all of my family but I feel like a social retard at times.

I don't use shampoo.  I have been using  primarily baking soda for 3 years now.  I save money. My hair is healthy and clean. I avoid chemicals and I like finding something different that works.  There have been a few times that I thought it wasn't working anymore and I would occasionally use a natural shampoo bar but for the most part I have been successful and felt good.

I am a slow reader.  I love good books. I value quality reading.  I do not get enough time or energy to read all the things I would like to read.  I wish I were faster and I wish I could stay awake when I read.

I don't like to swim.  I don't want to get wet, look ugly, be cold, and have to get all dressed up again.  I prefer getting all the way dressed and ready for the day in the morning and just being done with it.

I don't like A Christmas Story movie. Some consider it a classic but I do not enjoy it.  Once was enough for me.

My dog needs better training than I am giving her.  I can't wait until she gets past the chewing stage. She is a year old and still gets into stuff she shouldn't or takes off and scares people at the park.  Any suggestions would be welcome.

I realize that I am a highly sensitive person.  I recently found this article about habits of highly sensitive people and I have felt those things.  I took the test and found I scored rather high.  I don't want to use any of this as an excuse but it does help me understand why when I  plow forward and meet with an obstacle I get so thrown. I find noises and smells irritating. I hate the idea of failing and let that keep me from trying.  I also realize that I feel judged by people.  Chances are very good that the reason I feel this way is that I am judging.  My desire is to learn to love unconditionally.  I want to learn to accept people (including myself) where I am and just love them, enjoy them, serve them, and be grateful for them.

confessions.

Now you know a little more about me.  Maybe you would enjoy sharing a few unknown items.  Please be gentle with me.  I don't know if you feel any closer to knowing me but I feel like I have exposed a bit of me and hope that it will only bring understanding and a closeness as I continue to share my life and thoughts written here in black and white for anyone to read.

I think I'll post a recipe or something more soon just to keep this from being top of the blog.

May you remember that you are of worth simply because you exist. You were created by God to do great things and you are here now.  Do not doubt that you have value.  Any other interests, talents, abilities are just icing on the cake.

grateful:
606 blogging continues to stretch and challenge me

Continue as you commence

In Doctrine and Covenants I read this morning

"... it is because that you did not continue as you commenced... that I have taken away this privilege" D&C 9:5

When I feel inspired to do something, I pray for direction.  I pray for strength and courage, I look for ways to make it happen.  I am wanting to succeed, move forward, accomplish something good.  I often feel inadequate and need to trust my Heavenly Father.
So what happens between that and the middle where I seem to lose steam, or forget where my strength comes from, or slip off in the wrong direction?

"... but you feared, and the time is past," D&C 9:11

There are certain things I am asked to do.  I have the privilege of saying Yes.  With that Yes comes responsibility to continue as I commenced.  Because I feel that something is right and pleasing to God does not mean that I can suppose that He would give it unto me.
If I stumble.  If I doubt or hesitate or procrastinate or let my fear of the unknown paralyze me then the time may pass. The Yes needs to be for the whole experience.  A journey or adventure is always more exciting at the beginning. It is when the mountain gets steep or the sun gets hot or the thirst becomes great that we wonder if we should go on.  It's when we are in the woods and can not see clearly the destination that we doubt our path.

"For, do you not behold that I have given unto my servant sufficient strength, whereby it is made up?" v.12

We are invited to be tools in his hands.  We are invited to be enabled in our ability to truly serve through his love.  We are not amazing power tools ready to do all the work.  We are more like the rough materials that tools can be made of - with effort, refining, time, and patience.  He knows we will make mistakes and has provided more than one way for his work to move forward but

"...neither of you have I condemned."

He is ready and willing to forgive my shortcomings, my weakness.  He trusts me and loves me enough to forgive me and even let me try again.  Like a young child learning to walk, if I am willing to get up he will help me and cheer me on and see me succeed.

"Do this thing which I have commanded you, and you shall prosper.  Be faithful, and yield to no temptation.  Stand fast in the work wherewith I have called you..." v 13-14

As I answer each call with Yes I am submitting to the master's plan.  When I continue as I commenced I will be blessed to reach the destination he has planned for me.

Grateful:
602 Those who stand fast in the work wherewith they are called.
603  for a place to share today's study and scripture insights.  Please respect my testimony, my simple way of putting things together and learning a message directed right at me.
604 adult jazz class and a chance to move in new ways.
605 that I can make delicious cookies.  Wanting strength to stop with just one cookie.

Happy Valentine's Day and Birthday and Single Awareness Day

Valentine's day is a beautiful day full of reminders of love and joy and relationships and an excuse to do nice things for people.  At our house it is not all about romance though I do love my sweetheart.  I have tried to keep it through the years as a chance to tell many people in my family that I love them and am grateful for them and I like doing this with yummy food.

Ten years ago it became a birthday and now that is the main event and the rest of it is a side attraction.  We love celebrating Sim.

a real leatherman.  He is so excited.

He is such a joy and easy to please.  May I just take a moment to say he is so amazing and sweet. He is my fourth son. He has a way of sharing love and being thoughtful.  He is the son that says, "Mom, can I do anything for you?" and he means it and actually does it.  I admit his brothers think he is up to something but he just sincerely serves and loves.  He also goes into warrior mode when he thinks he has been wronged by a brother.  He is pretty fierce  We are working on appropriate ways to express oneself.

I do enjoy the playful Valentine's shared from Disney characters and some unique to the LDS crowd that make us laugh at ourselves.  I like the sincere, full of love, Valentine wishes that show real, unconditional love that almost always involves sacrifice and service.  And my heart goes out to those who wish there were some one  special they would be spending there day with.  Though there are those that claim "Save money this holiday and change your status to single", there are deeply planted desires to find that special someone and make and keep sacred covenants that lead to joy, happiness, struggles, unity, stress, learning experiences, and enduring who knows what.  It is Heavenly Father's plan that we create families here on earth. It is why we came.  Though things may not be falling into place the way we might wish it is comforting to know (as this article so beautiful shares) that we are dealing with appropriate and righteous desires but we can also enjoy the stage we are in.  Isaac reminded me of this today. He has a goal to reach 6 ft this summer.  He is now at 5'5" and does what he can (including a big glass of milk before bedtime) to make it all happen.  Today he said that he has decided that he will enjoy his current height because when he does get to be 6 feet tall he will be that tall for a long time and he will never again be this height again.  

He is a wise young man.  I want to remember that though we may be waiting for better things there are always great things in our lives right now worth enjoying.  They may not last forever.  Seize the moment and be grateful. Lets all strengthen the relationships around us and especially strengthen that most important relationship with our Savior. When that relationship is strong and right, all the waiting, all the patience, all the little moments work out and our other relationships improve in beauty and value.

Happy Valentines Day!  May you feel love and see the evidence of it all around you.

Grateful:

592 Love in all its different forms

593 My little boy who is now ten

594 hearts

595 flowers

596 chocolates

597 all things sweet and delicious.

598 My husband who proposed to me 30 years ago yesterday in front of the Provo, Utah temple, in the car because it was raining.  I said yes and we have been very happy learning, growing, building, and becoming - together.

599 My dear friend Shelly whose son is marrying today.  She has been very sick and has the opportunity to have so many of her dear sisters in the ward help her out.  She is constantly giving and serving. I hope she is feeling the love of receiving.

600  I have said YES to several ideas that have popped into me head and have found opportunities to serve and strengthen friendships.  It sure works great.

601 The strength that does come from a seed planted in romantic love, marrying and teaching children the path that leads to real and lasting happiness.  Some of those greatest lessons come from a father properly loving his wife and his daughters.  I 

602 I am so very grateful for my father and my husband.  They love and honor wife, mother, daughter.  Respect women.