Observations

~this has been a low key holiday weekend. I got Addi Thursday night when I got home and then the rest of Brandi's girls plus Rylee on Friday. Brandi's Ryan was out of town and David took Parker and went to our friend's ranch in Circleville, to help with branding, vaccinating, etc. so Brandi came after work and we had a giant sleepover.

~Thursday night was also Megan Wilson's shower. She is funny Kathy's only daughter. They live in the area I used to live 20 years ago, where most of my closest friends still live, so it is always like going to a reunion. Love these people. And the part I love most about this wedding is "the nice girl won the prince!" She is actually marrying the boy across the street from her house, who is the son of Erica, who is in my Bucket group as well. Perfect!

~this week I have several weddings. Thursday the daughter of one of our friends (from Sandy) is marrying the son of someone from my hometown of Moses Lake, WA. My new cousin, Sharon, is friends with the Moses Lake side (the Earls) and I am friends with the Sandy side (the Hensleys) so we plan on going together, maybe having dinner before so our husbands can meet.

~this week our gold medal winner, Torah, is marrying Tenille's little brother, Jake. I'm excited both for the wedding and reception. Pictures to come!

~last night the tornado hit. That is what we call it when Travis's family comes to visit. They are a whirly wind of energy/chaos/laughter. Sadi practically gets run over in the wild stampede but already, at one, she is holding her own. We had to laugh because she loves to get into "stuff" she knows already she's not suppose to get into. Our entertainment center has two doors that open on the bottom that has dvds in it and she kept heading right to those doors...while surrounded by toys. I finally tied the two door handles together and it took her about a second to realize that she could still pull on a door and stick her arm through the tiny little slit to reach a forbidden item. We just watched her and laughed in amazement. Why do we always want what we can't have? Instead of concentrating on our abundance, we think we will only be content with those things just barely out of our reach.

~on the other hand, while I was in Washington last week, a friend in my neighborhood emailed me with a bird question. They had seen unusual exotic-looking birds around their house and wanted to know what they were. I emailed back saying I was in Washington and without my bird books but I suspected they were my favorite bird, the Western Tanager. They live up in the canyons but usually come down in the spring for a feeding frenzy. Whenever I see one, it is a gift. Well, now that I am home, they are flying all around my yard. They make me happy but unfortunately, when I went out to swim this morning, one was trapped in my greenhouse so the whole time I was swimming, this beautiful bird was flying frantically above me. I left the doors open plus there are several broken windows (how he got in the first place) and hours later, he's still flapping around in there. That sort of thing used to send me over the edge because I felt responsible for making it right. Getting the bird out. Now I'm just opening the windows and doors- realizing that when I try and control, even to help, the situation, I usually make it worse.

...reminds me of parenting.

And too much of a good thing makes one lose the longing. Kind of like dessert.

~so today for the holiday, David and I are working in the yard-sprinklers, planting, all that fun stuff. Then most of our family is meeting in Lehi at a good burger place for dinner at 4 followed by going to the Eagle Mountain rodeo. Eagle Mountain is where Ryan and Marci live....and this is the first year for this rodeo. Sounds like a perfect family outing. Love this time together.

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matt. 6:21

Turbulence

When I got home from Washington yesterday, I quickly emailed my mom to let her know I had arrived safely but not without incident. Luckily I was seated in an Exit row (with leg room!) on the flight. A gal (younger than me) sat down on the aisle seat. We had a seat between us. After the attendant came around explaining what we would need to do in an emergency, my new seatmate turned to me and said, "Just so you know, I'd be worthless. I'm terrified of flying!"

The flight was smooth until about 15 minutes from Boise (where she was headed.) It was rainy outside so the plane started to bounce just a little with the turbulence. I was half asleep and didn't think anything of it until I turned and saw my seatmate. Her eyes were flared and she was holding on for dear life! I reached over and took her arm and said something to try and break her attention and encouraged her to breathe in and out. She said she felt like she was going to have a heart attack, she was so scared. For the next 15 minutes I held her arm, her hand, told her jokes, kept reassuring her that everything was fine, it was normal, I have been on a hundred flights and this was no big deal. The claw marks on my arm let me know she wasn't buying it. I talked her down and when we finally landed, I have never saw such relief, such gratitude. She hugged me, she KISSED me...and then she crossed herself.

It made me smile all night.


I've been thinking of fear since....those times I could not be reassured. I have a fear of heights and used to have panic attacks on the ski lift. What if I had never worked my way through that...I would have missed out on one of the most enjoyable things I've ever done. How many times have I limited myself by my fears? Our home is surrounded by quail and I love watching them. I wish I could talk to them, though, because they spend most of their life scurrying around on the ground and only fly when they are afraid or startled. They only use their full capacity when they are afraid.


I'm glad that when I've had hard things in my life, I've been surrounded by people that I could hang on to. I've clawed a few in my life, haven't we all? But I'm so grateful for the strength I've discovered during the difficult times, the lessons I've learned about myself. Hard things cause us to work through things in our minds and our hearts. I think of Christ, who suffered not only the nails marks for me but continues with claw marks and tears. Willa Cather said, "There are some things you learn best in calm and some in storm." Yesterday was a little of both. My friend said during the storm that she would feel better when her feet were on the ground. I knew what she was talking about but I truly believe we were meant to have wings.....

Home

It's getting late but I'm just packing my bags to fly home to Utah tomorrow. This has been a short trip with my folks but an awesome one. Three pounds can't lie....

I've recently read "that our 3 basic needs- for food and security and love- are so entwined that we cannot think of one without the other."

That's a pretty good summation of going/coming home. Do I know how lucky I am to still have both my parents? Yes! Do I know how lucky I am to have parents that I am close to and adore? Yes!

This has been a good trip. Lots of laughter (each time I come, I think, "Dang it! I wish I had a tape recorder to record my parents in the car." Their banter is so funny, no one would believe it) and

~game playing (I'm about Phase Ten'd out....)

~and we cheered for mom's favorite to win "Dancing with the Stars" ("Derek and that girl he dances with"- mom's words)

~and my choice for American Idol (Lee although I think Crystal's voice is amazing )to win as well.

~We saw "Letters to Juliet." Cute show although we shook our heads about "instant" love.

~We moved the last of the boxes in their old home to the garage.

~I also met at least a hundred people in their retirement center. Today I met a lady that is 102 and plays poker with my dad. She's gorgeous and sharp and I'm thinking 100 might not be so bad after all!

~I read the book "The Help" which has been on my reading list for months....and my heart ached for how hard the world can be. It was a bit disorienting while I was reading and watching television out of the corner of my eye and seeing blacks on television shows and commercials and mentally cheering to the people in the book, "Hang in there. Be brave! It's going to be better!"


Recently I shared the thought with a friend, going through change, "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." (Anais Nin) I'm thankful for brave people. For people who elevate others. For goodly parents that always made me feel like I was the most talented, wonderful, beautiful person on the face of the earth...although it was quite the shock to go out into the world and find out I wasn't!


Just grateful.....

Washington

I've been here at my parents since Sunday and, as always, am having a wonderful time. It was my dad's birthday yesterday...and today. Like Groundhog's day, we celebrate over again. We always celebrated his birthday on the 25th his whole life (well, I wasn't around him his whole life!) but then he found out he was actually born the day before....so we celebrate both. I like to celebrate my birthday for a full month so two days is nothing. Today is Susie's birthday as well (Ben's girlfriend.) We love her and want to keep her forever.

This is my first time staying with my folks in their new "independent" living quarters. I love their little apartment (which is little compared to a home) but especially I love this facility. It is like country club living. The dining is fine dining. Mom plays bingo 3 times a week, Dad plays poker, and Mom skunks everyone on the WII bowling league. I'm so glad they've chosen a place that is so lovely that is safe and helpful but they still can do their own thing.

Yesterday Mom and I went shopping. We also got lost forever but we just laughed and drove and drove and drove until eventually we found our way home. Whenever I get lost, my philosophy is I'm not really lost, I'm glad I've finally been able to see what was on this particular road (that I'm sure I've always wanted to see...)

Tonight the girls are going to see "Letters to Juliet." (My sister-in-law, Cher, won't be going since she is a Red Cross volunteer and has been in Tennessee for over two weeks with the flooding. She said that it is every bit as bad as Katrina. One of her assignments is searching for what they call "hotspots." She and another volunteer drive around until they found areas where there are trapped or untapped areas....the other day they found an area that no one had reached with 90 houses flooded....mostly elderly people confused about what to do/how to get help. Mom and I probably passed them one hundred times when we were driving around confused.... I'm so proud of Cher's humanitarian service!)

Last night my brother Gary (my only sibling) and my folks and I went out to dinner. Just like old times, when we were growing up. Gary and I tried real hard to behave...no kicking or pinching or saying, "Mooooom! He looked at me funny!" I adore my brother who is funny as heck...not surprising since my parents are a comedy act. I'm loving this time together.

Today mom and I are making Dad take us to the store we were trying to get to yesterday, then I'm hoping that I can get out and take some art pictures. Was it just last year when I came that I made mom go with me, and I'm out taking pictures of cows in the field when the next thing I know, a man in a truck pulls right in behind our car and asks what in the heck I'm doing? Apparently he had break-ins on his property. Mom and I were amused that he thought the two of US likely criminals! We took it as a compliment!

Fauladeen Cassoulet

Fauladeen
Have you ever had Fauladeen before?

I thought it was some high-falutin' French name for the dish Linda M. served to us at our writing group. I asked what it was and Linda replied, "Fauladeen's Casserole."

What she really said was "Paula Deen's Casserole."

I'm such a ditz. But forever this casserole will be called Fauladeen. I'm even going to call it Fauladeen Cassoulet. Find the recipe on the cooking blog.

So, after getting the recipe, I said to Linda, "where is the celery? There was celery in the casserole!" She laughed and said the celery was in the salad, not the casserole. Both Carolyn and I thought the celery was in the casserole and loved it. So I'll add it when I make it with spinach, not with broccoli.

Intoxicated

The writing assignment for today was to write about something you would do if there were no limitations-

I'm telling you, it is hard to write by assignment rather than by an inspired thought. But I completed the assignment. And now I'm off to Santaquin (about 50 miles away) to have lunch with Linda and Carolyn and hear what science fiction/fantasy Linda will write about and the article Carolyn will write about the subject. It is fun to see how 3 completely different writers treat the same subject. (I am finding that it isn't lining the way that poem is really lined even if I go to a smaller font. Oh well...)




Intoxicated

Marilyn stretches out kinks of inhibition.
She’s never been adventuresome
but a map of varicose veins on her legs
looks surprisingly like Italy,
that boot of a place
where sunflowers bob their
swollen heads, grapes burst forth with
flavors of the earth.


"All roads lead to Rome"
and she finds that is true as she traces
one age spot to another.
Eyes closed, she hears the water splashing
in Trevi Fountain, throws a coin
over her shoulder for good luck.


Fortune is found in 341 flavors of gelato,
hundreds of types of olives, pasta
in every shape smothered in layers
of aged cheese. Oh, the food!
Ciabatta. Gnocchi. Prosciutto.
She has heard Italian women
do not gain weight
so she takes another bite.


It is wonderful, freedom unleashed,
to walk, to run the rambling paths
of CinqueTerre. Cobblestone winds
from village to village,
miles of layered terraces above the sea,
chock full of brightly painted villas,
sparkling like a postcard from Gauguin.


It is here she will plant
herself with fountain wishes
at the mouth of the Spezia,
the Poets’ Gulf. Like a drunkard,
she will swizzle the scent of basil and lemon,
get woozie while splashing canvas
in alizarin crimson and the deepest of ochre.
She a teetotaler, will give in to passion
completely seduced by that intoxicating
cerulean sky.

Conversations

Yesterday class was wonderful, with Debbie Nelson leading the discussion. Lots of good thoughts to ponder. (When I teach journaling classes, I encourage people to be specific. You never say "class was wonderful" and then don't say what made it wonderful since a year from now you won't have a clue was the wonderful was. But I'm in a hurry this morning and don't have time to explain it all....) She had asked me to write the genealogy of Abraham on the board and while I was doing so, Jonna motioned me over to where she and I were sitting. She whispered, "Your phone keeps ringing." I looked at her puzzled since my phone has a distinct whistling ring, it was in my purse, I thought I had turned it off and I certainly hadn't heard it but she insisted again that it kept ringing and was probably an emergency. She said, "It just keeps vibrating and beeping." So I got my purse and started to look for my phone, knowing it wasn't set to vibrate, then Jonna exclaimed, "There! Oh wait? That's my phone....."





We had a good laugh.





So after class, Elsa and Debbie Stowell and I head to Highland/American Fork where one of our favorite nurseries is located. I'm telling them the funny Jonna story, then, in the middle of the conversation Elsa said "I told my grandson I wanted a Harry Potter ring for my birthday and I didn't get one." I thought about that for a second and then said, "Elsa, what in the heck did that have to do with our conversation?" (thinking, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter ring?) Elsa and Debbie looked at ME blankly. Elsa said, "A Harry Potter ringtone." Then we really laughed. I'm the one who was clueless! I'm telling you, the only fun part about getting closer to 100 than one is because you have friends who are doing the same. Our conversations are getting convoluted and distorted because I think what you are saying and vice versa is nothing like what is really being said......





We had lunch at the (correct name) Flour Girls/Dough Boys in American Fork. It is a little out of the way place. I remembered when I saw their wall arrangement, that I had been there before with Brendalyn. Good little sandwich/bakery kind of a place.









Highland Nursery is always a heart-be-still for me. Look at the petunias I bought yesterday....so beautifully different. I usually don't plant too many petunias since the deer think they are candy but I couldn't resist these and they'll go in pots in the greenhouse and just get to go outside on special occasions.

No Empty Chairs

Can I just say, last night was a moment. Yesterday was a wonderful exhaustion (I told someone that if sacrifice/service isn't sometimes hard/requires effort- it really isn't too much of a sacrifice.) Lunch for Arlene's ladies went well...had to leave out the pina colada since I was racing the clock. Dinner to my neighbors went well as well. One of my next door neighbors has diabetes and so I'm trying to be a little more diligent about what I take there although she said she's "not that bad" which I translated to mean she "wants dessert!"





Truly, truly, you need to make OOMS Makawao Salad. My family loved it and several insisted we need to take it to Lake Powell. We only eat the BEST things at Lake Powell so you know it is a winner.



And also, if you haven't made pina colada slushie, you need to get going. Take a tall bottle of pina colada mixer (found at the grocery store) and add a can of pineapple juice both in a gallon ziplock freezer bag. Throw it in the freezer and when you have a gathering, put the block of pina colada (sans bag) in a punch bowl and pour 1 liter of Sprite or 7-Up over the block. Start chiseling the block a little and the entire punch will turn to slush. My kids and kiddos love it and you don't have to have a blender going all night.



But OOMS also shared a recipe at Creative Cooking for a Pina Colada Smoothie that she found on the same Hawaiian trip. It is a can of cream of coconut (found in the same grocery section) and 1/2 gallon of vanilla ice cream and crushed ice blended in the blender. OH SO GOOD as well! Really, I'm thinking Hawaii. We haven't been for years.....







Maniac Rose came to swim this morning and I was telling her that last night was a happy moment for me. Years ago I saw a saying that said, "No empty chairs." It resonated with me and I think of it often. I told Rose that last night was a "no empty chairs" event for me. All our children/kiddos were here....laughing and interacting. It isn't just a physical presence but also emotionally on the same page. It was so awesome and although I was completely worn out from the day, I went to bed with a happy smile. I love my family so much and love it when the kiddos are laughing and SCREAMING (they don't just talk but shout over each other) and the adults are all talking and enjoying each other as well. It is moments like that when you can say life is good...and go on.....





Today (having already swam but Brendalyn will come and we'll do it again after work), now I'm headed off to my class, then Elsa and I are heading out to the Highland Nursery and eating at some Dough Boy/Girls something (Karla, I can't remember the name....I hope we find it. Will you be there with my cupcake that I HAVEN'T forgotten I won????) I know I'll pick up more plants but honestly, I need to get planted the tons I already have. The weather is acting like the Pacific Northwest, rain a little, cloud a little, rain a little, cloud a little. But our desert is acting green and happy!



“Life is like a rainbow. You need both the sun and the rain to make its colors appear."

Monday Cooking Madness

One of my neighbors, Arlene, is having her study group today. This group of ladies have been together forever...they study a country and then visit that country. I think she told me they actually took 3 years to study China before they went. I don't think they are traveling together anymore (but maybe) but today she is hosting lunch. (I'm not in their group.) For my birthday giftie to her, I'm doing the cooking. I've played with different menus but after sampling OOMS Makawao salad at Creative Cooking on Thursday, I've decided to go that route. That will be what my Monday-meals-to-families will get as well. Then all the kids/kiddos are coming tonight for Home Evening/dinner/swimming to celebrate all the birthdays....Travis, Tanner, Nash, Noah and Joshua (who's birthday is today!) I'm making Makawao salad all day long!

Makes me dream of Maui. In my mind, I can see David and I kayaking. It is about destroying our marriage until we hear Cathy and Kirk yelling and capsizing. It WAS funny. Just what we needed. Outdoorsman son Ben says kayaking together always brings out the best in a relationship....ha! Okay, that was my Maui story, now back to the salad. It has grilled chicken, fresh oranges, madadamia nuts, avocados and won tons on it. Yum-o! We are having the Hawaiian salad, grilled pineapple, maybe a shrimp/cocktail/cream cheese thingie (I just love my technical names...) cheesie rolls and pina coladas. For dessert, chocolate almond fondue with strawberries and rice krispies and blackberries.

Okay, we are really need to start talking butters again. After maintaining the weight-loss for 2 months, I decided this past week to go back to the diet center and get back on track for the next ten. I think I've gained 2 pounds this week..... It's SUCH a mental game!

Things to look forward to this week:

~lunch with my two writing friends, Linda and Carolyn. Carolyn and I will make the trek to Santaquin where Linda lives. I've got my poem written so the pressure is off. This is always a look-forward-to day. Our writing topic was "if you could do anything you wanted, without regard to money, age, health, time etc.- what would you do." I'll share my poem on Wed.

~bridal shower for a darling girl in our Ward, Hannah.

~wedding reception for the youngest daughter (Molly) of my BFFFC (Best Forever Friend From College) Peggy (from Nyssa, Oregon) who is marrying a Smedley from Layton! (a cousin of my nephew Jareds' wife Jenny... such a small world.) Molly is the true owner of........

our favorite dog, Jenny. I can't wait to see Jenny in her bridesmaid dress.....

~After last weekend, I think David is now having his scout camp out in our back yard this weekend as well. He is suppose to do a monthly camp out and I suggested he just do it here since it is last minute and he is always struggling with boys playing sports, having games and practices. They can come here after practice and still get to their Saturday games. We might need to turn our property into a regular campground...

~and I'm heading to Washington to see my folks again this weekend! Yippee! Can't wait. Mom and I are already planning to see "Letters to Juliet" and any other good movies anyone recommends.

Nash

Honestly, this kid is amazing! He won't turn 3 until next week but today he insisted Travis take off his training wheels....which Travis did at the soccer field. I'm hauling Annee and my granny lawn chair to Rylee's game today when this little squirt goes riding by! He just took off like he had been riding a two-wheeler his whole life. He could turn, ride forever on the grass, totally balanced. We've been shaking our heads all day! Then, this afternoon, he came over and rode one of the horses by himself as well. Just trotted around the arena alone. Did I mention he's two until next week????? (It's a good thing I wasn't there at the arena or I would have had a fit that David and Travis let him ride alone!!!!!)

Tenillie especially loves the gatorade stain around his mouth! Isn't spring grand!

Camp Out

Camping: nature's way of promoting the motel industry. ~Dave Barry, Only Travel Guide You'll Ever Need


I have mentioned that my son Ryan and Marci attend (with their 4 tow-headed kids) a Hispanic Ward in Eagle Mountain. Although they are Caucasian, they are Hispanic at heart and love associating with these fun and humble people...from all nationalities. (Ryan went to Guatemala on a mission and Marci went to Paraguay.) Each year in May, they have their fathers and sons outting here at our home. This year there are almost 40 people, 10 tents staked out on the yard and a huge BBQ-er they brought to grill carne asada and other delicious meals. Last night they swam for hours, then ate and told stories around the campfire. I love to hear the laughing voices. Right now (in these pictures) they are having breakfast, then will do a service project, then more swimming and some horseback/getting mauled by the steers activity that they do every year. Honestly, when they pack up and leave and no one is seriously injured, I sigh a HUGE sigh of relief!


Yesterday was my sweet baby boy's birthday. I have Annee overnight as well so Tanner and Brooke could have a get-away. (for those who may have forgotten, when Tanner married Brooke last year, Brooke had Annee- who is 9- so we got an instant granddaughter.) Annee loves her Grandpa (horses) and it is awesome to watch her just follow him around, begging to ride (which she does and does well.) This little girl was born with a heap of challenges and I'm glad our home is a happy place for her. We love her.

Creative Cooking

Creative Cooking yesterday was awesome. We had a huge turnout, new converts realizing this was the party to be at, great cooks, house tour of a GORGEOUS new home....and we ate ourselves into oblivion. Perfect!

I'm posting the recipes at my cooking blog- constantgrowingamazement.blogspot.com

What's Cookin'

Mother's Day was wonderful and I wanted to show this darling flower arrangement that Tenille and Rylee made for me. I am crazy about pinwheels lately and I thought this whole idea was darling. (Don't you wish you could adopt them?) All my kids were so darling to me over the weekend and pampered me and I love them all to death.

My mother-in-law made the comment yesterday that every time she comes up stairs, I'm cooking.

That would be the truth. This week has been crazy busy coming off of Mother's Day weekend and the Eggstavaganza. I actually just have a minute to comment right now since I have my new cleaning friend coming in a few minutes, I have my new cousin's genealogy computer class this morning for a couple of hours, then I run straight to Creative Cooking that I host. Thankfully C.C. isn't at my house today which makes it stressful (a happy stressful but nonetheless.....) A neighbor, Cari L. just built a new home down Dimple Dell, and she's consented to have it there today. Can't wait to see and obviously everyone else wants to since we have over 20 people coming. Today we are doing summer salads and 4th of July ideas. I'm excited to share the salad recipes, including one I am doing but that will be a job for tomorrow.

Monday was my meals on wheels. I usually take to an out-of-the-blue family besides my 3 regulars. Last week I told Libby G., who is in my Bucket group, that I wanted to bring her and her husband dinner on Monday. She was surprised. On Monday I called to remind her and she said, "I'm so excited.....now WHY are you doing this?" It was funny. But let me tell you about Libby. She's a knitter right out of the Blossom Street books. She is always knitting wherever she goes.

I've told you all this before but my friend, Cynthia, works in a big hospital in Portland. Once, when visiting, she told me she had a cake "ministry." The "ministry" was one of just bringing joy to another person. She got a list of birthdays from everyone that she worked with and make a gourmet birthday cake for them on their birthday. She's an amazing cook and it was an event people took great delight in. For over a year, I decided I would have an earring "ministry." I had my magic earrings that every time I wore them, someone would say "those are soooo cute!" So I went to the store and bought up a dozen or more, and whenever I wore those earrings and someone said they were cute, I reached into my pocket and said, "Here. Have a pair." They were always so shocked and asked why? It was a joy-spreader. Well Libby is a knitter. Her deal is that if you buy the sock yarn, she'll knit you the socks. I have two pair of wonderful wild hand knit socks that I love, thanks to Libby.

And I wanted to repay her kindness. I didn't want her to think for a minute that all the hundreds of us who wear her socks aren't constantly amazed by her service.

Libby's husband, Spence, likes to put together baskets of fruit and drop them off to homes whose yards he admires. Kind of to thank them for all their work to make the world a better place. Imagine their surprise!

I loved how on Mother's Day, a young boy talked in church and paid tribute to his single mother, about the service he has observed her do all these years. He said that she loads up on canned nuts and when she sees a homeless person, she gives them a can. What a sweet thing......

There is a song we sing at church, "Have I done any good in the world today, have I helped anyone in need...."

There is something about this wonderful weather that just "springs" service. Catch the bug!

"Be yourself. Nobody is more qualified."

A Fun Time Had By All

2010 Eggstravaganza
about 80 people attended
1700 eggs to find
horseback and swimming for those who desired
salads, bread sticks, gogurts, chips and dips, fresh fruit and assorted desserts to eat

and the weather was PERFECT!
Thanks for everyone's help~

Finally! Heart Be Still!

It isn't suppose to rain. It isn't suppose to snow. I'm sooooo EGGScited!!!!

I forgot the word....

I've been down for a few weeks, unsettled with myself. My faults have been jumping out in the forefront of my mind and driving me nuts. I'm not happy when I'm not doing what is right. I'm not content with excuses. Yesterday I was reminded in a gentle, internal way, that I had forgotten "my" word. You know that word I picked at the beginning of the year.





The word was Felicity. Besides happy and joyous, it also means spiritual and appropriateness. From my prior post I wrote:





This word implies to me a state of seeking for happiness or contentment through proper and appropriate means. This word and all the definitions speak to me. I also realize that this state requires effort on my part. And the word appropriate stands out to me in more ways than one. I've had a few "ta-da's" recently reminding myself to "not" speak in certain situations. I'm learning that I have to earn my own trust. I'm trying to "tame" myself. I know this makes no sense to no one but myself....


but then again.....I chose my word for me. It matters to me.




Sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can pretty much change your life forever. (actually, this is a quote from a television show. A show called "Felicity".....)



Last night when I said my prayers, I reset my goal-word, realizing the difference appropriateness makes to me. I said things recently that I regret. I wasn't loyal to someone I care about. I got off-track.





Today I'm going to be better......



Make the most of your regrets; never smother your sorrow, but tend and cherish it till it comes to have a separate and integral interest. To regret deeply is to live afresh. ~Henry David Thoreau

Guess what I found?

Ever since Voila! took me to Bruges, and I took Sophia, my heart has been on the quest for learning how to make yeast-risen true Belgium waffles with pearl sugar. Check out the cooking blog for recipe. constantgrowingamazementcooks.blogspot.com

These Are A Few...

Today was Bucket group at Sheron's home. Always lovely. Always uplifting. Always yummy.
Sheron does everything perfectly. This was her table.....



She served one of her family favorites. She made chicken Parmesan....

and you top it with a yummy salad. She also served fresh strawberries and rolls. Homemade lemon pie for dessert. I looooove Bucket group!

Her theme was "These are a few of my favorite things." (cutest invitation but I couldn't get it to download.) We were to bring 3 of one of our favorite things. It was fun to see what everyone brought. Our names were put in a bowl three times, and when someone shared what they brought, 3 names were drawn and they got to take them home. So everyone brought 3 things and took home three things. The item couldn't cost more than $5. I took two pina colada items....the pina colada mixer and cream of coconut. I attached the recipe for pina colada slush to the mixer and a recipe for pina colada cake to the can of cream of coconut. I brought home a good pair of gardening gloves, a rice pack that you heat in the microwave for aches and pains and also a bouquet of flowers. Such a fun activity and always fun to visit. And eat!

This afternoon I planted and planted and planted. I have a ton of work to get done outside before the weekend but it feels so good to be moving dirt around. Tonight David and I and my MIL went to the temple so it was a lovely day. What a wonderful way to end the day.

Happiness does not depend on outward things, but on the way we see them. Leo Tolstoy

Finally!!!

Thanks, Rosebud

These beautiful flowers were delivered as a surprise the other day. How thoughtful! It cheered my heart since I've had to cover all my outside flowers that I have planted with sheets and towels and old underwear (I didn't really cover any with old underwear. I was just seeing if you were paying attention) because of frost warnings. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for spring (don't you think its time?) Yesterday when I woke up and saw the snow on the ground, I thought that it looked like what manna must have -every morning it appears..... (can you tell what I'm teaching in Gospel Doctrine.)

The world is a rose; smell it and pass it to your friends.- Persian Proverb

What is It?

Find out on constantgrowingamazementcooks.blogspot.com

Jump Up and Downs

Sophia and I were talking the other day about how differently minds work. Some people hate to shop (I hate to shop cars!) Some people are selective shoppers. Some people see creative things and say, "Oh, that's nice." But for me (and Sophia) we have to have a jump and down moment. We have to take pictures. We have to file it away in our brains for a future "something." We have to figure out how to make it even if it makes no sense to anyone else.

"I have no idea what I really want but I won't be satisfied until I get it!"

This was a paper topiary that we saw in Heartland paper (the one in Taylorsville.) It would be so fun as centerpieces for a garden party, a shower or.....

They were in flower pots with tulle inbetween the clusters. VERY cute!

Then they had these party favors that got my juices jumping.

I also liked the party princess hat. I actually want to make birthday party hats for my grown-up friends....

I know. That's just plain weird.

The Perfect Bite!

Guess where visiting friend, Sophia and I went for breakfast??? Say yumo ten times!

Gardner Village and Home Again

Friend Sophia was in town so as part of the playing/field trip, we headed (after breakfast and Heartland Paper Company) to Home Again and also Gardner Village, a funky little village of specialty shops, great food and delightful ambiance. Sophia hadn't really been before so it was a treat.

The best line was Sophia mentioning that someone she knew was related to Archibald..... someone. Who the village was named after. .......

Sophia, really? Might that be Archibald GARDNER?????


Below- Gardner Village