Sunday was fast and testimony meeting at church.
First, a miracle of sorts happened. Austin finally beat his fear and stood up to bear his testimony. Prayers are answered. EFY taught him a lot and built his testimony. Well worth the almost $500.00. You can't put a price on testimonies and those spiritual experiences for our kids. So it happened that 4 of the 5 in my family bore testimony on Sunday. It felt a little like we were taking over, but it also filled me with joy. Heston is obviously too little to do it without help yet.
Our neighbor is a spiritual giant. Very knowledgeable in the gospel and the scriptures. He and his wife now work in the temple once a week. In one of their meetings President Grimshaw from the temple presidency told a story to confirm how prayers work. There were 2 neighbors who both were going through struggles at the same time. One had a heart attack and had gone through open heart surgery. The other had cancer and was going through treatment which was obviously a longer recovery process. These 2 men helped each other and talked with each other as they were recovering. They were noting how much love and support they got from the people around them as they were going through their trials. As they started to recover the people and support got less and less until a point where the man going through cancer treatment started to feel alone. He went to Heavenly Father in prayer pleading with the Lord that if he wasn't going to cure his cancer to please just take him and that he couldn't do it alone any more. He had a dream shortly after that where a man came to him and he was holding a scroll. The man unrolled the lengthy scroll which had columns of names on it and he told this man that he wasn't alone and this scroll contained the names of all the people who were offering prayers for him. So it isn't just people here who are praying, but also on the other side of the veil. Prayers are powerful and answered!
Friday, June 12, 2015
Thursday, June 4, 2015
New favorite gadget
If you cook at all this post is for you.
A month ago my sister and I took a sister trip to St. George. In our shopping adventures we visited a kitchen store. I am not sure what it is called but it's in the factory stores. I found this little pocket knife that was plastic, or looked plastic. I thought it was some type of bag opener or something. I had my hands full and tried opening it with one hand and soon found it was not plastic but ceramic and super sharp. I left the store with an open wound. Sorry to the customer who bought that knife. I was in a hurry to get out and find a Band-Aid. I got up to the check out and low and behold a ceramic chef's knife was on sale for $5.97. My sister didn't fall for the deal because she had been burned in similar deals in the past. I, however, thought it's only $6.00 what have I got to lose? I bought it and let me tell you....that thing is AWESOME! I immediately wash it each meal so it is ready for the next one.
I won't guarantee all ceramic knives are of the same quality but certainly the ones at that kitchen store are sharp and fabulous!
I am sure it is nowhere as nice as Cutco but I also paid $6.00 not $100.00. Happy camper here.
I guess I am off to cut some veggies.
A month ago my sister and I took a sister trip to St. George. In our shopping adventures we visited a kitchen store. I am not sure what it is called but it's in the factory stores. I found this little pocket knife that was plastic, or looked plastic. I thought it was some type of bag opener or something. I had my hands full and tried opening it with one hand and soon found it was not plastic but ceramic and super sharp. I left the store with an open wound. Sorry to the customer who bought that knife. I was in a hurry to get out and find a Band-Aid. I got up to the check out and low and behold a ceramic chef's knife was on sale for $5.97. My sister didn't fall for the deal because she had been burned in similar deals in the past. I, however, thought it's only $6.00 what have I got to lose? I bought it and let me tell you....that thing is AWESOME! I immediately wash it each meal so it is ready for the next one.
I won't guarantee all ceramic knives are of the same quality but certainly the ones at that kitchen store are sharp and fabulous!
I am sure it is nowhere as nice as Cutco but I also paid $6.00 not $100.00. Happy camper here.
I guess I am off to cut some veggies.
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Like the children
In the past few months we've had a few experiences with prayer and faith and who better to learn from than the children?
1. My friend's mother was having some health issues and I told her we would pray for her. It happened to be that fast Sunday was coming up and the kids don't like fasting (typical right? It's hard, even for me). This particular fast Sunday I explained the situation and that she could use the fasting and prayers that day.
2. Kycie. You most likely know the story. Type 1 diabetes with a traumatic brain injury as a result. I went to school with Kycie's dad and was friends with one the uncles. Having a 5 year old myself this hit close to home. Another great reason to fast and pray.
3. Britton. Another boy with a TBI as a result of an ATV accident. His dad grew up in the same valley. I don't know them personally, but after seeing the blog, we figured it was also worthy of fasting and prayer.
4. Drought. We have had a very mild winter and needed moisture. Again, definitely a reason to fast and pray.
5. Ellie. My niece who suddenly got an infection in her knee that caused it to swell and hurt her to walk and she had to have 2 surgeries to drain the infection.
So after explaining to the kids these different scenarios (over the course of a few months) we have been fasting and praying for these either together or individually. A lot of times the kids's prayers seem to be redundant and very scripted. We are working on that. However, Stetson, my 10 year old, is my sympathetic, worry about everyone kid. He was particularly praying for the above situations through the last few months.
The first time he fasted it was for rain and wouldn't you know, the day he fasted we got rain. When he prays he has that faith that his prayers are going to be answered. You have probably read the updates on Kycie (Kisses for Kycie on FB) and Britton (Believe4Britton). Both are not back to normal, but definitely have seen miracles with their health.
Ellie was in the hospital a few days but the doctors were finally able to figure it out and get it treated.
A short time after we fasted and prayed for my friends mom she decided it was time to quit smoking. Stetson prayed for her every time it was his turn in family prayer and continually asked about her. She had smoked most of her life and was able to just quit.
It is awesome to see direct answers to prayers and see the miracles. Just a little faith is all we need as I have seen through Stetson.
1. My friend's mother was having some health issues and I told her we would pray for her. It happened to be that fast Sunday was coming up and the kids don't like fasting (typical right? It's hard, even for me). This particular fast Sunday I explained the situation and that she could use the fasting and prayers that day.
2. Kycie. You most likely know the story. Type 1 diabetes with a traumatic brain injury as a result. I went to school with Kycie's dad and was friends with one the uncles. Having a 5 year old myself this hit close to home. Another great reason to fast and pray.
3. Britton. Another boy with a TBI as a result of an ATV accident. His dad grew up in the same valley. I don't know them personally, but after seeing the blog, we figured it was also worthy of fasting and prayer.
4. Drought. We have had a very mild winter and needed moisture. Again, definitely a reason to fast and pray.
5. Ellie. My niece who suddenly got an infection in her knee that caused it to swell and hurt her to walk and she had to have 2 surgeries to drain the infection.
So after explaining to the kids these different scenarios (over the course of a few months) we have been fasting and praying for these either together or individually. A lot of times the kids's prayers seem to be redundant and very scripted. We are working on that. However, Stetson, my 10 year old, is my sympathetic, worry about everyone kid. He was particularly praying for the above situations through the last few months.
The first time he fasted it was for rain and wouldn't you know, the day he fasted we got rain. When he prays he has that faith that his prayers are going to be answered. You have probably read the updates on Kycie (Kisses for Kycie on FB) and Britton (Believe4Britton). Both are not back to normal, but definitely have seen miracles with their health.
Ellie was in the hospital a few days but the doctors were finally able to figure it out and get it treated.
A short time after we fasted and prayed for my friends mom she decided it was time to quit smoking. Stetson prayed for her every time it was his turn in family prayer and continually asked about her. She had smoked most of her life and was able to just quit.
It is awesome to see direct answers to prayers and see the miracles. Just a little faith is all we need as I have seen through Stetson.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Yummy ham and cheese sliders
I got this recipe from a church recipe exchange. It is delicious and my whole family eats them. Miracles do happen! I thought I would share.
Ingredients:
24 white dinner rolls
24 pieces honey ham
24 small slices Swiss cheese
1/3 c mayonnaise
1/3 c Miracle Whip
Poppy Seed sauce:
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1-1/2 tablespoons yellow mustard
1/2 c butter, melted
1 tablespoon minced onion
1/2 teaspoon Worchestershire sauce
Instructions:
In a small bowl mix together mayo and miracle whip. Spread onto both sides of the center of each roll. Place a slice of ham and a slice of Swiss cheese inside of each roll. Close rolls and place them into a large baking dish or heavy cookie sheet. Place very close together.
In a medium bowl whisk together all of the poppy seed sauce ingredients. Pour evenly over all the sandwiches. You do not have to use all of the sauce. Just use enough to cover the tops. Let sit for 10 minutes or until the butter sets slightly. Cover with foil and bake at 350* for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Uncover and cook for an additional 2 minutes or until tops are slightly brown and crispy. Serve warm.
Note: Sandwiches can be assembled ahead of time but probably not more than a day or they may get soggy from the mayo mixture.
Let me know how you like it!
Ingredients:
24 white dinner rolls
24 pieces honey ham
24 small slices Swiss cheese
1/3 c mayonnaise
1/3 c Miracle Whip
Poppy Seed sauce:
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1-1/2 tablespoons yellow mustard
1/2 c butter, melted
1 tablespoon minced onion
1/2 teaspoon Worchestershire sauce
Instructions:
In a small bowl mix together mayo and miracle whip. Spread onto both sides of the center of each roll. Place a slice of ham and a slice of Swiss cheese inside of each roll. Close rolls and place them into a large baking dish or heavy cookie sheet. Place very close together.
In a medium bowl whisk together all of the poppy seed sauce ingredients. Pour evenly over all the sandwiches. You do not have to use all of the sauce. Just use enough to cover the tops. Let sit for 10 minutes or until the butter sets slightly. Cover with foil and bake at 350* for 12-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Uncover and cook for an additional 2 minutes or until tops are slightly brown and crispy. Serve warm.
Note: Sandwiches can be assembled ahead of time but probably not more than a day or they may get soggy from the mayo mixture.
Let me know how you like it!
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Aging
Lately I've been thinking about this aging process. Aging is proof that God has a sense of humor. Am I right? Let's talk.
First, let's talk about hair. Why is it as we age that we get hair showing up in unwanted places such as chins, ears, nose, toes. Why does it change to thick wiry hair and grow at the speed of light? Then for men and some women, the hair they do want seems to disappear. For the last 5 years or so I have been seeing more and more white show up in my hair. What is up? I'm not even 40 yet! Should be at least 50 before that happens. Thank goodness for good beauticians. We definitely need to invest in some good tweezers or a wax kit and make space for frequent salon visits.
Skin. There's the issue of the softening and relaxing skin. Wrinkles. Gravity takes its toll. The zits and acne from teenage years are still here, even though I'm not very youthful. Some processes should be able to be turned off with a switch when you hit a certain age. I thought acne was for humbling the know-it-all teenagers! Spanks and wrinkle creams may be in my future.
I've been working out 5 days a week, running and exercise class. As I get older I am having to work out and watch what I eat a lot more and seem to be gaining weight rather than losing. I feel like our metabolism should get faster as we get older to fight the lack of activity and energy that comes with age. Instead, all the kids get metabolism and energy. Gone are the days of eating whole bags of candy without so much as a gained ounce.
Then our inside organs...they just seem not to work like they should or maybe just die altogether. I am lucky to still have all my body parts I was born with, but my gallbladder flares up to let me know it's still there.
Getting out of bed takes a little more effort than it used to, maybe because I'm tired or my back gets sore if I lay there too long.
Today I'm just grateful my body still lets me run and exercise and I can still read without glasses or holding the book at arms length.
Might as well step back and get a good laugh while we grow the unwanted hair and sag in all the wrong places, right? Enjoy the journey!
First, let's talk about hair. Why is it as we age that we get hair showing up in unwanted places such as chins, ears, nose, toes. Why does it change to thick wiry hair and grow at the speed of light? Then for men and some women, the hair they do want seems to disappear. For the last 5 years or so I have been seeing more and more white show up in my hair. What is up? I'm not even 40 yet! Should be at least 50 before that happens. Thank goodness for good beauticians. We definitely need to invest in some good tweezers or a wax kit and make space for frequent salon visits.
Skin. There's the issue of the softening and relaxing skin. Wrinkles. Gravity takes its toll. The zits and acne from teenage years are still here, even though I'm not very youthful. Some processes should be able to be turned off with a switch when you hit a certain age. I thought acne was for humbling the know-it-all teenagers! Spanks and wrinkle creams may be in my future.
I've been working out 5 days a week, running and exercise class. As I get older I am having to work out and watch what I eat a lot more and seem to be gaining weight rather than losing. I feel like our metabolism should get faster as we get older to fight the lack of activity and energy that comes with age. Instead, all the kids get metabolism and energy. Gone are the days of eating whole bags of candy without so much as a gained ounce.
Then our inside organs...they just seem not to work like they should or maybe just die altogether. I am lucky to still have all my body parts I was born with, but my gallbladder flares up to let me know it's still there.
Getting out of bed takes a little more effort than it used to, maybe because I'm tired or my back gets sore if I lay there too long.
Today I'm just grateful my body still lets me run and exercise and I can still read without glasses or holding the book at arms length.
Might as well step back and get a good laugh while we grow the unwanted hair and sag in all the wrong places, right? Enjoy the journey!
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Isn't it about time?
I don't know about any of you, but it seems as though there is never enough time. I've thought about how I could add time. I could quit sleeping which might work for a day or 2 or I could quit my job which would result in a whole bunch of other problems including not being able to feed my family.
I remember when I was a kid how long the days were. There were some days of boredom that, as a child, I knew would never end. I'm pretty sure my mom didn't think they would either as I would tell her a million times a day how bored I was. I was involved with softball here and there for a few years (because they had cute shirts, not because I loved the sport or competition). I took swimming lessons and I also took piano lessons. I had homework, but I don't remember it being my whole life. I do realize I've been out of school for 20 years and things have changed.
I don't have my children involved in every sport or every activity they have available, but for some reason I can't keep up. I know there are people with a lot more kids and all involved in a lot more than mine...just not sure how they do it. Here's a glimpse of my week, proving a point, not for you to feel sorry for me, maybe for Austin. ;)
Monday:
Work 8-4:30
Drive Heston to preschool 12:30
Austin practice duet for recital 5:30
Tuesday:
Up at 4:45 to run
work 8-4:00
Drive Heston to preschool at 12:30
Take money to Austin at school
Stetson piano at 4:00
Austin teach guitar 4:30-5:30
Austin take down flags 6:30
Austin scouts 6:45-8
Voting
Work job 2 for a few hours
Wednesday:
Up 4:45 to run
Work 8-4:30
Austin piano lessons 5:00
Stetson wrestling 6:00
Little Mermaid play 7:00
Thursday:
Up 4:45 to run
Work 8-4:30
Stamp club in Wellington at 6:00 p.m.
Relief Society activity also 6:00 p.m.
Friday:
Up 4:45 to run
Work 8-4:30
FREE NIGHT!
Saturday:
Run
Clean
Ok, that is a glimpse of just the scheduled stuff. This doesn't show my dishes and laundry and cooking dinner not to mention the nagging to get kids to feed horses and do their homework and helping with homework and practicing piano, which by the way nagging is one of the hardest jobs I have to do.
The moral of this post...we simply fill our lives so much with "stuff". Just last week our 6 week local soccer league ended. Both Austin and Stetson were playing and of course different ages were on different teams with different practice and game days. It was a wake up call when Austin said, "I'm glad this is the last game. I just don't have any free time." It's true. The kids have no free time. They don't get to experience childhood like me or my parents did where we rode bikes to friends every afternoon or played night games at night. Time does seem to go faster but the kids school is more intense which causes more homework and our society thinks they need to start at age 3 in every sport or they won't have an "in" to play in high school because they will be behind all the other kids who have been playing 10 years. I believe all these things are tools to keep us and our children from the better things such as family activities and reading scriptures as a family and spending quality time. Satan has his ways of wedging in the family to break it apart. Even if the activities are good, it keeps us from spending time together. The LDS church had a theme a few years ago, maybe 10 years now that said, "Family, isn't it about time." How prophetic!
So, my new goal...try to SIMPLIFY! Take time to do what is really important and has eternal benefit, not just for the now.
Ok, I'm out of time. ha ha. Gotta start the taxi service. TTFN
I remember when I was a kid how long the days were. There were some days of boredom that, as a child, I knew would never end. I'm pretty sure my mom didn't think they would either as I would tell her a million times a day how bored I was. I was involved with softball here and there for a few years (because they had cute shirts, not because I loved the sport or competition). I took swimming lessons and I also took piano lessons. I had homework, but I don't remember it being my whole life. I do realize I've been out of school for 20 years and things have changed.
I don't have my children involved in every sport or every activity they have available, but for some reason I can't keep up. I know there are people with a lot more kids and all involved in a lot more than mine...just not sure how they do it. Here's a glimpse of my week, proving a point, not for you to feel sorry for me, maybe for Austin. ;)
Monday:
Work 8-4:30
Drive Heston to preschool 12:30
Austin practice duet for recital 5:30
Tuesday:
Up at 4:45 to run
work 8-4:00
Drive Heston to preschool at 12:30
Take money to Austin at school
Stetson piano at 4:00
Austin teach guitar 4:30-5:30
Austin take down flags 6:30
Austin scouts 6:45-8
Voting
Work job 2 for a few hours
Wednesday:
Up 4:45 to run
Work 8-4:30
Austin piano lessons 5:00
Stetson wrestling 6:00
Little Mermaid play 7:00
Thursday:
Up 4:45 to run
Work 8-4:30
Stamp club in Wellington at 6:00 p.m.
Relief Society activity also 6:00 p.m.
Friday:
Up 4:45 to run
Work 8-4:30
FREE NIGHT!
Saturday:
Run
Clean
Ok, that is a glimpse of just the scheduled stuff. This doesn't show my dishes and laundry and cooking dinner not to mention the nagging to get kids to feed horses and do their homework and helping with homework and practicing piano, which by the way nagging is one of the hardest jobs I have to do.
The moral of this post...we simply fill our lives so much with "stuff". Just last week our 6 week local soccer league ended. Both Austin and Stetson were playing and of course different ages were on different teams with different practice and game days. It was a wake up call when Austin said, "I'm glad this is the last game. I just don't have any free time." It's true. The kids have no free time. They don't get to experience childhood like me or my parents did where we rode bikes to friends every afternoon or played night games at night. Time does seem to go faster but the kids school is more intense which causes more homework and our society thinks they need to start at age 3 in every sport or they won't have an "in" to play in high school because they will be behind all the other kids who have been playing 10 years. I believe all these things are tools to keep us and our children from the better things such as family activities and reading scriptures as a family and spending quality time. Satan has his ways of wedging in the family to break it apart. Even if the activities are good, it keeps us from spending time together. The LDS church had a theme a few years ago, maybe 10 years now that said, "Family, isn't it about time." How prophetic!
So, my new goal...try to SIMPLIFY! Take time to do what is really important and has eternal benefit, not just for the now.
Ok, I'm out of time. ha ha. Gotta start the taxi service. TTFN
Monday, September 8, 2014
Let's talk about laundry...
Ok, so you all saw my embarrassing pictures last week of my filthy house. I'm still embarrassed. But we are friends right? You all love me anyway. ;)
Let's just say that even after cleaning top to bottom, my house looks the same, maybe even worse. It's a competition here, 4:1 and I'm losing! For the most part I try to let it slide because I know that it doesn't really matter in the eternal scheme of things right? I don't remember what my house looked like growing up and not even what my friends houses looked like. The kids will remember if I spent time with them and hopefully not what the house looked like.
So you know that the majority of the time my house is cluttered. There may be 1 day a week where I don't have stacks and stacks of laundry waiting to be washed and folded (that's if you come on a good week). Generally since I work from home I have a few minutes to get up and put laundry in to wash and dry but don't have time to fold it on the spot so it stacks until I find a day or until the stacks are so big we can't get into the pantry and am thus forced to fold. This weekend we were out of town and I didn't have my Saturday to play catch up. To top it of it, Kevin just got home from 3 weeks on fire. So, I have his clothes plus now extra towels etc from him being home. Now, imagine this scenario....I have 2 baskets with at least 4 loads each stacked on top and a dirty pile next to the washer that is almost as tall as the washer. (My laundry room is probably only 4 feet by 3 feet).
So here's my embarrassing story for the week. Kevin had a staff meeting today and they all do pot luck. He comes walking in the door and yells out, Darren and I need to use the BBQ grill. I about died. You have to go through the laundry room to get to the deck where the grill is. I went running in to move the ginormous stack of clean laundry up on the washer so they can even open the door, all the while apologizing to Darren that he had to see my house and laundry room like this. I said are you serious? It is terrible in there. Kevin reminds me Darren has seen this before when Austin and his daughter were working on a science project together and Austin took them out on the deck. I said I know, but this is way worse. I tried to get him to close his eyes but don't think it worked.
Oh well. We live here, we are real. Some day when the kids are all gone I'll have a cleaner house and I'll miss all the stacks of laundry and the continuous messes.
Here are a few laundry quotes for ya'll.
Have a blessed day and may your cleaning fairies not neglect their duties as they have at my house.
Let's just say that even after cleaning top to bottom, my house looks the same, maybe even worse. It's a competition here, 4:1 and I'm losing! For the most part I try to let it slide because I know that it doesn't really matter in the eternal scheme of things right? I don't remember what my house looked like growing up and not even what my friends houses looked like. The kids will remember if I spent time with them and hopefully not what the house looked like.
So you know that the majority of the time my house is cluttered. There may be 1 day a week where I don't have stacks and stacks of laundry waiting to be washed and folded (that's if you come on a good week). Generally since I work from home I have a few minutes to get up and put laundry in to wash and dry but don't have time to fold it on the spot so it stacks until I find a day or until the stacks are so big we can't get into the pantry and am thus forced to fold. This weekend we were out of town and I didn't have my Saturday to play catch up. To top it of it, Kevin just got home from 3 weeks on fire. So, I have his clothes plus now extra towels etc from him being home. Now, imagine this scenario....I have 2 baskets with at least 4 loads each stacked on top and a dirty pile next to the washer that is almost as tall as the washer. (My laundry room is probably only 4 feet by 3 feet).
So here's my embarrassing story for the week. Kevin had a staff meeting today and they all do pot luck. He comes walking in the door and yells out, Darren and I need to use the BBQ grill. I about died. You have to go through the laundry room to get to the deck where the grill is. I went running in to move the ginormous stack of clean laundry up on the washer so they can even open the door, all the while apologizing to Darren that he had to see my house and laundry room like this. I said are you serious? It is terrible in there. Kevin reminds me Darren has seen this before when Austin and his daughter were working on a science project together and Austin took them out on the deck. I said I know, but this is way worse. I tried to get him to close his eyes but don't think it worked.
Oh well. We live here, we are real. Some day when the kids are all gone I'll have a cleaner house and I'll miss all the stacks of laundry and the continuous messes.
Here are a few laundry quotes for ya'll.
Have a blessed day and may your cleaning fairies not neglect their duties as they have at my house.
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