Marbles, sliding doors, and BRAVING

Brene Brown has always been a favorite of mine to listen to.  I remember her on a stage acting the part of a waitress at a diner and thinking she has an amazing way of using story to teach deep ideas. I recently stumbled on her talk, Anatomy of trust, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I realize that I want to be able to be vulnerable in a healthy way and I want to be worthy of trust.  I have always felt like truly connecting with people requires a give and take relationship. It is not that you keep score but more that you create a dance. You find a way to give and receive graciously. You give your best and you accept another's gift assuming that it is their best. It seems to me that trust is one of the gifts we give and receive. Click on the link above and let me know what you think, what you learn, and maybe what you want to change in your relationships.

I believe that my most important trust relationship is with Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ. As I learn to trust them it is so much easier to trust others.  The knowledge that comes from trying their trust and finding they are always there for me, they always take care of me, they always keep their word makes it so much easier to be vulnerable, to trust myself to follow my intuition, to receive inspiration. It becomes easier to put myself in their hands and move forward. All good comes from Christ.

Happy Tuesday

Days have been busy lately but not too busy. Each day has a few things to accomplish and a few things that I get to choose along the way. It is a good way for me to find balance. Tuesday has been Young Women's day.  We have our board meeting in the afternoon and the dear sisters I get to serve with willingly give that hour so that we can together be edified, trained, and organized.  I pray that the meetings feel worth the time.  There are times when I don't know what we need to cover or if we really need a meeting but every time we do it out of obedience to counsel given and things work out, topics of importance are covered and we women are able to connect and be on the same path heading the same direction.  It is amazing the comfort that comes because we sustain one another. Not only comfort but power to magnify our callings.

At 6 we went caroling with the YM and YW and delivered fruit baskets prepared by the Relief Society. It was very cold outside and we had arranged a hay wagon to sit on and pull us through town. Afterwards we had hot chocolate and donuts.

Isaac and I left before the caroling was done because we had an appointment with the patriarch.  Brother and Sister England were delightful to visit with.  They welcomed us into their home filled with peace and light and Christmas cheer. Isaac had his recommend for his patriarchal blessing for 2 months and had not made an appointment.  Monday night he called and by Tuesday night we were there.  He mentioned that he had put it off wanting to think more about the blessing in preparation but that when we said it's time to call and move forward he had realized that he was ready to have this experience. We began fasting at that moment  and by the next night had fasted more than 24 hours in seeking the spirit for this special night. Isaac wore the suit given him by his Grandpa Peterson and looked very much like a preparing missionary.  He humbly listened with intent as we visited and discussed patriarchal blessings. It has been fun lately to read him articles in the church magazines each mroning as he gets ready to leave for early morning drivers' Ed.  He listens with that same intensity that brings understand and creates a special learning opportunity.

My cough has been acting up again and gets rather insistent at times.  I thought I was ok but part way through the blessing my cough took over.  I had to leave the room and was rather distracting in my hacking in the other room.  I was a bit sad and embarrassed.  Sister England came to my aid with water and cough drops.  Milt said it was a bit distracting to the patriarch and he had to work hard to keep up his concentration.  Not only did I miss part of the experience but I made it harder for everyone. I felt bad but there remained a spirit of love and understanding.  I can't help but wonder why it happened but I also have this quiet thought that says God can make it all work for good.  Maybe the patriarch having to listen harder to the Spirit helped the blessing. Maybe as he reviews the written version, additional insights and thoughts will come to him. I will trust that God is in charge and the experiences we have as we are seeking to be obedient are exactly what we need at the time.  With God, nothing is impossible and he will ensure that Isaac receives the guidance and direction in his patriarchal blessing that will lead him to fulfill God's will for him.

I have an increased desire to live daily increasing my hope and faith. I want to get really good at recognizing and obeying the Holy Ghost.  To do that I need to repent daily and to forgive daily.  I need to study and ponder and seek learning.  I want to be better today than I was yesterday.  I like to think that  I can be just a little bit better because I am a little bit smarter in my choices and a little bit more worthy to receive charity, to allow charity to lead my actions. I am ready to begin my Happy Wednesday. Just another ordinary day with a few things to do and a lot of love to spread.

Rachel's Rolls

3 cups water
3/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup oil
1 Tb. and 1/2 ts. salt
9 cup flour
2 1/2 Tb. yeast

Combine in bosch adding flour until dough pulls away from sides. Knead until smooth but don't knead a long time like bread dough or they might be a little tough.

Let raise until double, if you have time. If not, just raise at least 20 mins.

Form into rolls, and place on greased pans. Let raise until double. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes, or until golden.  Makes 1 cookie tray.

It is definitely Rachel's recipe in our family but apparently she gives credit to Becky McKenzie. So thank you Becky for sharing the yumminess!

shepherd and sheep

I get to teach the young women in church today and our lesson is "How can I help my less-active friends return to church?" We are our brothers keeper. We do have the responsibility to look out for one another and love each other.  I have enjoyed studying the resources and preparing.  I have been reminded of the great blessings that come from being an active member of Christ's church. Active is a verb and there may seem to be much required but it comes with such huge blessings.

As it is Christmas time I wanted to tie in the season and my thoughts have gone to shepherds.  They were the first to receive the good news, first to see the babe lying in a manger and then they went out to spread the good news.  These same shepherds were the ones entrusted to watch over the lambs that would be used to sacrifice in the temple.  Christ is the good shepherd and we are each sheep of his fold.  He knows us by name. He would leave the 90 and 9 to come find us when we wander. He loves us and wants us safely in his fold where we can enjoy the blessings of his love and protection.

If we are sheep then we have the responsibility among the sheep to help each other. Sheep tend to follow one another. Am I following the shepherd so that those that follow me will be with him too? Am I loving the way he does - every single sheep? Am I offering encouragement? strength? help? direction?  Am I one that warns of a dangerous step? or helps someone that has fallen?  I don't think sheep are like chickens with a pecking order or need to establish their place in the flock.  I believe they easily welcome any who want to be there. Our Savior invites us to come follow him. We can help him by following him and his example.  We can invite others to him and he can love them right where they are.

Enjoy this video of the good Shepherd

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way.  That is what we can do as fellow sheep - we can fellowship our family and friends. We can lead them back to safety. We can honor their agency and share the good that comes from living the gospel actively. I can be a fellow sheep and walk along with them.
I'll walk with you. I'll talk with you. That's how I'll show my love for you.

Mixed potato augratin

1 yam, about 1 1/2 lbs., peeled and thinly sliced
1 sweet potato, about 1 1/2 lbs., peeled and thinly sliced
2 russets, about 2 lbs., peeled and thinly sliced
1 red onion, thinly sliced
4 TBSP. butter, cut into small pieces
1 TBSP. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 TBSP. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 cups heavy cream
2 cups grated Gruyere, Swiss or Emmanthaler cheese (I just used mozzarella because that is what I keep on hand)

Place the sliced potatoes in a mixing bowl: toss well. Grease a 2 quart baking dish. Place 1/2
of the potatoes in the dish and top with 1/2 of the sliced onions and dot with 1/2 butter. Layer remaining potatoes, onions and butter in top. In a mixing bowl combine thyme, nutmeg, salt, pepper, cream and cheese. Pour over the potatoes and cover with foil. Bake at 375 for 1 hour, remove foil and bake an additional 5 minutes. Serves 10-12

orginally found as Dave Litti"Coat Your Potatoes with this Au Gratin"

Thanksgiving

So grateful to be reminded to give thanks!  We had a delicious Thanksgiving this year.  It was a feast of friends, family and blessings. We enjoyed pie morning at 9am with any family that chose to come.

 Thomas, Josh, Nellie, and Jared make this little table the "fun" table.

 This year we had razzleberry, apple, pumpkin, banana cream, pumpkin chiffon, blackberry cobbler, peacan, chocolate, lemon merange, cherry, sweet potato, razanna, carmel, mincemeat, pumpkin yumminess from Em pies with ice cream or whip cream.

 Then dinner at 2 with BBQ turkey, mixed potato au gratin, green salad, green beans, jello (made to remind us of Lake Powell), rolls.  It was appreciated by all.  Thanks to Brian and Emily we had lots of squash and supplies for pies and decorations.

Samuel

 Jared

 Thomas

 I could go negative about all the selfish gorging that seems to mean Thanksgiving day but I think I will look for good. At Christmas we often look for meaning in the things we choose to do so why not look for the symbols of Thanksgiving in the things we do. 

- pies - remind us of the sweetness of life, the variety of blessings and how good it is to start our day with the most delicious thoughts to sweeten our view of the coming day.

- BBQ turkey - the sacrifice of a proud bird that has been feeding the hungry since the beginning of our country.  It is marinated slowly that it might absorb the proper mix of flavors, the melding together of family visits, deposits in the relationships over a long period of time.  It is then cooked outside on an open flame filling the are with a warm inviting aroma like giving thanks fills hearts with more gratitude. The flame is like the light in each of us but this flame makes the turkey safe to eat. It purifies.  Maybe the light of God also purifies us and we become something much more useful to those around us.

- The potatoes this year were russet potatoes, sweet potatoes, and yams cooked together in harmony with a delicious cream sauce.  In family we are similar but still each one is different with our own unique qualities that add to the whole of our family.

- green salad reminds us of the need for living foods, foods that  provide the very best of the vitamins that our bodies need.  Honoring and giving thanks for the beauty of the earth, the many living things that bring joy to our eyes and our mouths.

- green beans remind us of a simple vegetable that is often overlooked but would be missed.  This reminds us to look at the mundane around us and recognize all things have value and are to be cherished.

- gingered carrots cooked to perfection remind us of eternal circles reminding us of family circles that can last through eternity because of temple sealings. They are seasoned just lightly to honor their natural flavor.  We each bring a little season also to add the spice to our eternity.

- striped jello made with layers of gelatin to resemble and remind us of past family vacations where joy and fun were shared with the hope of more in the coming year.

- rolls, fresh and warm with butter and jam remind us of lost traditions that are best prepared with love and patience. They take time and may be one of the first things cut from the menu when making cuts but their value and the sacrifice they represent are a gift of love.  They rise with time just as family traditions become more valued with time and experience.  Even the homemade jam is an act of love in preserving for the future the goodness of the present.

So there you go. I have just justified all those pictures of food that represent to me Thanksgiving.  It really is a matter of our intention.  The food is just a vehicle that brings family together and gives something tangible to share with each other and to remember.  When we remember the pictures, the food, the goodness, we remember the feeling that was there and we crave being together again. Maybe food will be involved, most likely.  Most likely not so much but again we will have a symbol that will remind us of the time together.

We did take time to list what we are thankful for.  Milton, my dear husband, said he was thankful for Becky (that's me).  I don't know how common it might be in a marriage to not use a person's name.  I am often referred to as Mom, Granny, my wife, my sweetheart, Hon, the boss but on this Thanksgiving day I got to be me.  I loved being recognized as more than the role I carry.  I can't explain how wonderful it was to be appreciated for being me. I am very grateful for the roles I carry but sometimes I might feel lost in them or that my value is in how I perform in a role.  I am always Becky and for my Milt to be thankful for me was a sweet tender mercy and that day my love grew so much.  

BBQ turkey

Mixed potato augratin

Gingered Carrots

Rachel's Rolls

catch up with phone pics

I miss browsing through old posts and seeing our life in pictures so I am updating from my phone pictures a little of what has been happening.

 Isaac spent a bunch of time shoveling coal out to the old temple boiler room.  He and his friends shoveled out 3 rooms full as they converted to gas. It is amazing how much fun hard work and getting dirty with friends can be.

 I never know quite what will show up with Debbie on my phone. I may have to share some of the movies she makes too.

Invited ourselves over to carve pumpkins with the VanO family and had a great time.

 Got a call one day from our neighbor letting me know that her fence suddenly falling in. Turns out that Chief got his foot caught in a wire and threw his head into the fence during his fight to get loose.  He was a little scared by the experience and was up hiding by this fence as far from the white fence as possible.

 We enjoyed some bridal showers with Brian and Emily.

 Nellie's amazing talent with holding balloons

This was especially fun for me as we had the opportunity to stay in a cabin that I visited often as a child.  It brought back so many fun memories and we hiked the old trails and made new memories.

 The Porters have come to stay for a few weeks so I have 3 little grandsons brightening up each day.  For Halloween they were super heros.

 Visited a pumpkin patch, did the straw maze and came home with a bunch of pretty colored squash for the wedding luncheon decorations.

 And here is the bride to be working on a facial  pampering session.  I think it worked. Emily is a beautiful bride.

 While late night shopping with my sister we enjoyed some inspiration.  Wasn't willing to put out the money but loved the truths of this plaque.

 My front yard ornament for way too long. Milt bought this boat for the engine and then finally hauled the rest of it off to the dumb.  If we go boating next summer it will be because of this (mess) project.

 More fun with Samuel, Jared, and Thomas

 Making waffles with Grandpa is a real treat for everyone.  I think waffles are definitely his signature  talent.

 This contraption is suppose to help me get in shape but these boys with so much imagination declared it a bird that they all could ride one.