Turkey

~Yesterday I went to lunch with my Visiting Teaching group (actually two groups.) We went to our new California Pizza Kitchen (at Fashion Place Mall) (LOVE CPK!) This group of women are real travelers...Berty and her husband just got back from a 1200 mile Harley ride with friends to Banff National Park in Canada and now, she and Elsa are taking off with half our Ward to the Republic of Czeck, Austria and Germany (where they'll also see the Passion play.) I thought for a minute last week I was going to get to go (since they had two cancellation and I just had to find a date) but then I realized that Rylee's baptism is scheduled while they are gone and I also have Lion King tickets for all the little girls and moms. We were talking travel stories and one (I promised I wouldn't say who) laughed and said, "Well, whatever you do, if you go to Turkey, DON'T go to the Turkish baths!" She and her husband went....and thought it was like a massage. She's wrapped in only a towel but she kept thinking it was massage modesty. Then this GUY comes and and says "give me your towel." She's freaking out and then he proceeds to give her a complete scrub down!!!!! Yikes! Like in Bare Naked Lady!

Doesn't this look yummy? It is the Poor Man's Pudding I took to the families I take meals to on Mondays. It is one of our favorite desserts.

I made it for our dinner as well. It tasted HORRIBLE! I put in baking soda instead of baking powder and honestly, it was so gross, David swears it made his stomach sick. (my exaggeration is rubbing off on him...) One of my neighbors is going in for his 3rd treatment for chemo today. That really was not the way to send him off! Nasty, nasty!

“For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearance, as though they were realities and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are."
Niccolo Machiavelli

Sinking Ships

I'd much rather be a woman than a man. Women can cry, they can wear cute clothes, and they're the first to be rescued off sinking ships. Gilda Radner

~thank you for sweet notes asking if I've fallen off the face of the earth. I haven't. Life is just stinkin' hard sometimes. In spite of everything, life is also good. There is joy. In spite of sinking ships, there are life preservers all around for rescue. Family. And a beautiful world to live in.







~this past week I have been on the jury duty list. I say list because what I had to do each day was to call to see if they needed me for jury duty the next day. All week long. You know me and my brain. I had to put the calling card right on the front of my computer. Then during the day my memory would be jogged to try and remember to call after 5:00. I'm usually not on my computer around 5 so then, when I would see the note, I would set my kitchen timer to go off at 5. Do you SEE how difficult it is ....this getting closer to 100 than one...and losing millions of brain cells everyday? I don't trust my brain at all! On the other hand, I do not like jury duty which drives my husband crazy. There are several courts in the valley that you can be called to serve at...and my name just keeps being drawn. Too bad it isn't the lottery. But luckily I didn't have to go in all week. I've served on several trials and where most people think that is fun, I don't. I think going out to lunch with friends is fun. I put jury duty up there with trips to the dentist...





~I didn't mention some trauma here last week. Mallory had a friend, Taylor, come for the weekend. We played and had fun and I think Taylor was going to help Mallory get packed up to go to Utah State. For about 3 weeks now, Mallory had called her financial advisor to finalize how much student aid she was getting. This little gal has worked hard all summer but she needed additional financial aid for schooling. She was told about what she could expect. Each day she called she would be put on hold. After waiting for 10-15 minutes, she would either be dropped or someone else would answer and say her counselor had just stepped out of her office. Honestly, this was so frustrating and went on and on and on. Mallory had been working with her for months but each time, nothing would be settled. Finally Mallory got through on day before tuition was due. The gal told her the amount, which was about a third of the amount Mallory needed......and too late to really get any other type of student aid. I'm writing about it calmly here but this was horrendous and Mal was hysterical when she realized she wasn't going off to college the next day after all. I felt so bad for her. It is one of those things that maybe someday we'll sing "thank God for unanswered prayers" but not today. Mal had already worked her last day of work at the rehab center where Brooke works but was able to call them and get put back on the schedule. She'll work another semester and then will probably start at BYU/Idaho in January (my favorite school!) where tuition is about a third of what it would be at Utah State. I'm so NOT impressed with the Utah State financial counselors right now!!!!





~our Tuesday study group, after having completed "Jesus the Christ" then "The Articles of Faith" just began our new course of study which is the Book of Mormon following the institute manual. I love this course of study and know it will be just what I need at this time to help me tread water.






~we had a great weekend which included going up to Alta to Ben and Susie's new place and bbqing. I'll share pictures tomorrow. Love these kids.






~my neighborhood meals on wheels today menu-



stuffed baked chicken breasts
potato salad
homemade breadsticks
steamed vegetables
Poor Man's pudding cake with ice cream (I'll put the recipe on the cooking blog later.)

~and last but not least, today is Boston's first day of real school! Kingergarten! We went over last night and got to see his backpack all ready, along with his paper doll that was to be dressed like him to put on the wall of his new classroom. I would love to be a fly on the wall at his teacher's house when she gets home from school today!

While we have the gift of life, it seems to me the only tragedy is to allow part of us to die - whether it is our spirit, our creativity or our glorious uniqueness. Gilda Radner

Meals

Yesterday was my neighborhood meals day. I figured I've just passed my 6th month marker. I haven't been too good about posting meals (since some of you asked for the meal ideas) so I'll just mention the last two.





Yesterday's meal:



pork chops (cooked in crock pot with 1 package of onion soup/ one large can of mushroom soup. Add 1/2-1 cup sour cream toward the end.)

baked whole yams with cinnamon honey butter (so yum!)

fruit salad (that one with cottage cheese, cool whip, dry jello and mandarin oranges/crushed pineapple- an old time recipe)

Rhode's multi-grain rolls (love these!)

No-bake cherry cheesecake (the one you make with sweetened condensed milk)





Last week was yummy- I made -



chicken crepes (I'll post the recipe later on the cooking blog.) (these are kid friendly as well!)

steamed asparagus with lemon


salad

chocolate cake with coconut pecan frosting



A person wrapped up in themselves is a small package. Think outside of the box. Try service.

Canwich

Last month my Internet homepages were flooded with links to this product. It showed up on a segment of the Today Show, all the big news agencies printed stories, even comedy shows made parody of it. The canwich has arrived! The Kirklands are in our Ward and so this product wasn't new to us....but it is cool that finally it is going to take off! Cool idea- yeah, Kirklands! This will be so cool for food storage/emergency preparedness, camping and moms on the run. It will be in production later this year.

Here's just one article:

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38268129/ns/today-foodwine/?GT1=43001

Reception to Remember

Last summer by this time, we had hosted two wedding receptions at our home. It was a whirlwind summer (what with 4 other big events as well.) My how time flies. My good friend, Cali, who writes for an online magazine in Southern Utah has imortalized at least one of the weddings in an article here. I call it the "You Can't Catch Me, I'm The Gingerbread Man" Wedding....)

Reception To Remember

By: Cali Grimshaw

(to find other columns, check out http://www.aliveutah.com/ This month's article about pampered dogs if unreal! Click Giggle.)

The rituals of summer have begun. There are vacations, reunions, and if your mailbox is as full as mine, an on-going string of wedding receptions to attend.

We all know the reception ritual well…buy and wrap a gift, dress in something uncomfortable, and be ready to stand in a LONG line most of the evening chatting with strangers. If you have the stamina to “hang in there,” you will eventually be able to wish the bride and groom well, shake hands with a few more strangers, revive yourself with some cold punch and a treat or two dipped in the chocolate fountain, then head for home.

It’s all pretty predictable stuff for the most part, unless you happen to be the parents of the bride or groom. In that case a reception can become anything but simple and predictable. From the moment your daughter comes home with a ring on her finger, be prepared to have the next few months of your life turned upside down.

I should know. Each July brings back memories of the July reception we hosted in our own yard when our daughter was married over ten years ago. Being a family of builders, artists, gardeners, musicians, and die-hard DO IT YOURSELFERS you can only imagine the creative juices that began to flow when my daughter shared with us her vision of the perfect garden reception. I’m sure my future son in law wondered what kind of creative torrent he had unleashed by asking my daughter to marry him. It was like going over Niagara Falls in a barrel, once it got started there was no stopping, just full speed ahead and hang on for the ride!

Our trouble was that we probably had TOO much time to plan and prepare. With each passing week the reception became bigger and more complex, until by July the event had become larger than life itself. Our plans grew to include the partial relandscaping of our half acre yard, the building of a gazebo, (so the string quartet had a place to play,) a new trellis, beds and containers of flowers, paths lined with lanterns, a wedding cake, tables and chairs for the refreshment area, entertainment, etc.,etc,etc. Not only did we have to visualize and create this wonderland, we also had to plant, weed, water, and maintain it until the 16th of July! This included the daily chasing out of squirrels, dogs and neighborhood kids…. exhausting work. All this, while knowing that even after all the work, a chance thunder shower might show up the evening of the reception and ruin everything.

We were lucky! It was ultimately worth all the effort, sweat, and tears, as the night came off without a hitch, and surpassed even my daughter’s expectations. The day after the wedding no one had the energy to pull one more weed or plant one more flower….and no one cared. The yard had reached it’s zenith that night, never to return. After such a monumental effort, we all lost interest and ignored it the rest of the summer.

Now, if you value the preservation of your sanity over that of your bank account you will do the sensible thing. The minute your daughter announces her engagement you will get in the car and drive straight to the nearest reception center. After handing over your life’s savings, and aside from being broke, your stress and worry will be gone. About all you have left to do is get the couple married and show up at the reception center. They will do the rest, from set up to clean up. It’s simple and it’s sane.

Still, there’s something alluring about a garden reception in your own yard. If you really have your heart set on an outdoor reception but lack the space, there is an alternative. You might be able to find a friend with a beautiful yard who is gullible (I mean generous) enough to share.

My friend and former neighbor, Marilyn, is just such a person. Generous to a fault, she is constantly hosting parties and events of all kinds in her yard. Because she lives on several acres of land in a rural segment of the suburbs she has the perfect property for hosting a crowd. The house and yard are set back from the street by a long drive through, with the barn and roping arena at the back of the property. It is a beautiful setting and ideal for entertaining.

Just last summer she offered to share her yard for the wedding reception of a friend. It was truly an elegant affair and decorated to perfection with gorgeous flowers, food, and Marilyn’s special creative flair. Paper lanterns hung from strings, creating just the right ambience and setting the yard aglow with a magical touch.The evening was going nicely. All the guests were enjoying the food, company, and setting as the summer twilight began to lend a soft light to the event .As the sun began to set, everyone thought the evening was coming to a perfect end. Little did they know the party had just begun!

The surprises began when one of the grandsons got bored and decided to wander down by the horse arena to see what he could find. And find he did…a five foot long, wider than your hand, big old blow snake! He coiled it around his neck and headed back to the party to show off. Needless to say, it got mixed reactions from the guests…everything from amazement to shock and horror. It just wasn’t what you expected to sit by at a wedding reception.

Just as Marilyn was trying to calm the astonished guests and talk the boys into taking their new friend back to wherever it came from…hopefully to a galaxy far, far away…she heard a fearful sound. At that very moment three long horned steers from her husband's roping arena crashed through a partially opened gate and stormed through the party. It all happened so fast. People were running every which way in shock; some to get away from the wild steers, and others to chase them down.

The loose steers thundered through the crowd and headed for the street, creating chaos in their wake. The snake, by this time was all but forgotten, as the cowboys in the crowd ran after the steers, and the women ran for their lives. It was like a scene from one of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Shows!

By this time it was getting dark, and three loose steers wandering the roads in different directions can be a dangerous and deadly thing when you mix in people and traffic. Most of the men went home to saddle up their horses and join in the round up. Several hours later, the cattle were safely back in their pen, the guests had made their way home, the bride and groom were off on their honeymoon, and no one knows what ever happened to the snake.

WOW! WHAT A PARTY! And I thought all wedding receptions were the same. Not this one…. excitement, drama, suspense, and unsurpassed entertainment, including a reptile show, a rodeo and a full fledged cattle drive! Talk about a good time!

All I can say is that if you are looking for something “out of the ordinary” in the way of a wedding reception, call my friend Marilyn. (Phone number unlisted by her request.)

Oh…..and be sure to invite me!

Enough Already!

~Everyone has been sick at my daughter's home in the past two weeks. B. and Parker have had a flu/cough. Addi 's turned into croup. Gracie thought she had broken her leg (x-rays/no break)

~Last week B. also took Addi to the Dr.'s because of continuing ear issues. While B. was thinking "tubes", the Dr. declared although he is conservative, Addi needs her tonsils and adenoids out. They scheduled surgery for a couple weeks out.

~While with babysitters (and we were in San Diego) Hallee fell from the monkey bars and broke her arm in two places.

~Three days later, Addi took a tumble down the stairs and caught and tore her ear which required 12 stitches (and another trip to the ER) to put it back together. (It was just a freak thing. Mallory and I were there when it happened, thankfully to help...)

~A friend was making dinner for B.'s family when her own child was rushed to the hospital with injuries sustained by a bike/moving vehicle.

~B. was also watching that friend's two young children when Addi fell since her friend's father died the day before. This friend is like part of our family.

~Later, when B. took Addi to the ER to get her head bandages changed, they found she had a blood clot and her ear drum had ruptured in other ear. It was horrible draining the clot without sedation....

~While B. was at the hospital (which was excruciating for B. and A.) we had a huge cloud burst in the valley. B. had several windows open which meant rooms were flooded when she got home.

This isn't all of the story but it is enough. The week before that B. got home from work to find some power switch had gone out on her freezer and all the meat and everything had thawed or melted. And the week before that.... And the week before that...

Enough.

(and switching families, we still don't know if baby Sadie's finger has taken. Remember a few weeks ago she cut off the end....)

Today I taught Sunday School on the book of Job. I really wasn't in the mood to be reminded how to suffer properly. But honestly, as I studied (thank you, dear Lord, for the scriptures) my heart has changed on many levels. Job lost all that he had and yet, though he was sorrowful and didn't understand why, he still remained full of faith in the Lord. It was important for me to be reminded that sorrowing is part of the healing process but at some time, you have to pull yourself up and move on. We also need to rely on the Lord for sustenance.

Elder Richard G. Scott said: "When you face adversity, you can be led to ask many questions. Some serve a useful purpose; others do not. To ask, Why does this have to happen to me? Why do I have to suffer this now? What have I done to cause this? will lead you into blind alleys. It really does no good to ask questions that reflect opposition to the will of God. Rather ask, What am I to do? What am I to learn from this experience? What am I to change? Whom am I to help? How can I remember my many blessings in times of trial?" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 18; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 17).

Elder Orson F. Whitney: "No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God . (quoted by Spencer W. Kimball in Faith Precedes the Miracle, p98)

Make A Wish...

I have probably mentioned before that one of my favorite cookbooks is called, coincidentally, "Favorites." It started out as a successful family or neighbor collection and at some point, it became a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish foundation (granting wishes to terminal young patients.) You can order this cookbook at www.makeawishutah.org and half of the price is tax deductible (since half of the price benefits Make-A-Wish.)

This past month when BFF Cathy hosted Bucket, she made one of the salads from this cookbook. I have never "not" loved any recipe in this cookbook and although it may seem like a typical pasta salad, it isn't! I made it several days after bucket because it was so tasty and shared it with others this month and they both called for the recipe to make it again. I'll post it here and on the cooking blog.

Salt Lake Tortellini Salad

8 ounces cheese-filled tortellini

1 cup broccoli florets

4 ounces fresh grated Parmesan cheese

1 (13 3/4 ounce) can quartered artichoke hearts

1 (6-ounce) black olives, drained and halved

1 (15-ounce) can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

1/4 pound sliced dry salami, cut into thin strips

1 (16-ounce) bottle Bernstein's Cheese Garlic dressing

1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

1 avocado, sliced

Cook tortellini in boiling salted water according to package directions. Drain well, rinse with cold water, and place in large salad bowl. Add remaining ingredients, except the avocado and tomatoes, and toss with half the dressing. Refrigerate for several hours. Just before serving, stir in more dressing, as desired, and top with tomatoes and avocado.

Give Me Five- You're Eight!

I woke up early to make it to Rylee's to decorate her lawn with birthday balloons.....

She had a sleepover with her Grandma Jo so I had to wait and wait and wait for her to come home....

The 8 colorful sacks had "Give Me Five- You're 8!" written on them. Inside were small treats (candy, lip gloss, gum...) and a five dollar bill (hence, the "give me 5")

Had I thought about birthday pictures, I might have taken the time to wash my face, put on make-up, do my hair (although it doesn't look much different when it is done...) and put on something other than a sweatshirt. But what the heck! Rylee's eight!!!!!!

Love, love, LOVE this girl!!!!!

San Diego Dreaming

We had an awesome time last week with Kirk and Cathy in San Diego.





We stayed at the Marriott at La Jolla.....

We borrowed bikes from the Tillotson's who have a fabulous home on Coronado Island...

and biked all over the island, ate crepes at a sidewalk cafe, then biked, then ate at Miquel's..... SO MUCH FUN!

The next day we went to the horse races at Del Mar. I've never been to the horse races before. It was all very fun and enjoyable until a horse went down in one of the races (broke his leg) and they scurried out with curtains so you can't watch...and they put him down, winched him in a horse trailer.....drove off.





takes a little wind out of your sails.....





We had the best of times with good friends. Played hand and foot each evening for hours in our hotel room. On our last day, we also played at the beach.



Not to belabor food but we had the breakfast buffet at the Marriott for $20 a piece. It was OK. (I know, we're spoiled...) Then on our last day, we stopped at the Encinatas Cafe... a little divie place in town....for $10- we each had the best breakfast we have ever eaten! This is a MUST GO for our next trip!

A Winner

Rylee, who turns 8 in a couple of weeks, competed in her FIRST TRIATHLON this weekend! She was amazing! She had to swim two long laps (I can't remember the distance)-

-then bike for 3 miles.....

Then run 1/2 mile.

Rylee competed with one of her cute friends.

Each of the competitors got a medal for competing. I like that. But little brother Boston (age 5) somehow didn't understand that if he didn't compete, he didn't get a medal. (someday Boston will kill us for recording this but he's pretty dramatic. He threw himself down on the ground (he WANTED a medal) exclaiming, "This is the WORST day of my life!") No one could console him. Rylee, after all that hard work, took off her medal and gave it to her little brother with a hug. She is an amazing big sister. That was the big win of the day.

P.S. Rylee also won the first place medal for the 7-8 year old group!

What a gal!

“One person practicing sportsmanship is better than a hundred teaching it."

Rodeo Queens

Annee's birthday was in July but she finally had her "Rodeo" birthday party here at the house on Monday night. Of all the kiddos, Annee is the most horse crazy so it was the logical choice for a party. She invited some of her friends from Lehi (where they live) and all the girl cousins. First they made rodeo queen sashes and everyone got a tiara. David saddled up all the horses and they rode forever. A pinata, pizza and ice cream finished the night.


While they were partying, all the "uninvited" (the rest of the family) swam and had dinner and clapped for the rodeo queens. It was a great party and we love our Annee Bug.

The Standard

Recently I have been the recipient of small kindnesses and again, it makes me realize how important we are to each other. In simple ways, we can lift each other's burdens and hearts. It is easy to be kind and generous when life is good to you but much more difficult when you've been betrayed or are in the midst of the battle. A few weeks ago I was able to teach the story of Abigail and Nabal and David from the Old Testament. The story is basically this: David and his army had been wandering (hiding from King Saul trying to kill him) in the wilderness and spent some of their time protecting the herds and flocks of a rich man named Nabal. As was custom at that time, when you would provide a service like this, you would be paid a tribute in supplies. Nabal was a wicked man and spurned the requests for compensation. David was angry and offended and drew his sword and called his men to battle. Then off in the distance, David saw a woman approaching, with donkeys overflowing with goods. The beautiful woman, named Abigail (who was Nabal's wife) knelt down before David and said that she hadn't seen David's servants come to ask for compensation and she basically apologized for her husband's transgression and asked that his sin be taken upon her. She also pled for David's heart....that even though he had been wronged, he wouldn't sin himself by how he re-acted.

What an amazing story. Basically Abigail is a type of Christ- meaning that is exactly what Christ does for us. We need to trust that He will take care of the matter of the sinner. We need to be concerned with what happens to our spirit when we are filled with anger or revenge. God requires our hearts to be forgiving before we are given the gift of forgiveness ourselves. (one of the beatitudes.) Another scripture in the New Testament actually calls the "reaction" sin even greater. That seems harsh but I think the point is, when we have been sinned against, or been betrayed or offended, it is really important to make sure our hearts are right toward the offender and how we conduct ourselves basically becomes "our" test. Being kind matters.... a lot.





Be kind to all as our Father in Heaven is kind. He sends his rain upon the just and the unjust and gives the sun to shine upon the evil and the good. So let our goodness extend to all of the works of his hands, where we can but do not yield to the spirit and the influence of evil. Do not encourage wickedness in our midst. Brigham Young








Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you - not because they are nice, but because you are. ~Author Unknown








What this world needs is a new kind of army - the army of the kind. ~Cleveland Amory

Sunday Sermons

I need Sundays in my life for renewal. Here are a few notes I took yesterday-





Hope is some extraordinary spiritual grace that God gives us to control our fears, not to oust them. ~Vincent McNabb

Heidi Staples said: water is hot at 211 degrees but at 212 it boils. Boiling water creates steam and steam can be powerful enough to run engines and trains. Are we content to be lukewarm or merely hot or do we take that extra step that brings us power?

Natalie Summerhays said: "Alone I am ordinary but when I have the spirit with me, I feel almost amazing!"

Sharlene Oborn told of working at the food bank and seeing a teenager, in the dead of winter, sockless and poorly dressed, digging through the dumpster. The spirit said, "Go! Help!" but she didn't act on it immediately. When she finally made it to the door, the boy bolted and the opportunity was lost. (I've had so many opportunities when the spirit has said "Move!" and I didn't or didn't move fast enough. Listen, Marilyn, listen!)

In every age we are faced with adversity. We can trust in our own stength or we can journey to higher ground and come unto Christ. Holland

Each choice has consequences, each consequence a destination.

Remember that too much of anything in life can throw us off balance. At the same time, too little of the important things can do the same. M. Ballard

Yesterday I also taught Sunday School on Elijah and the Still Small Voice. This is probably one of my favorite lessons in the Old Testament. I love the prophet Elijah, who had, as Heidi said, that "power"....to speak and the heavens obeyed his word. (1 Kings 17:1) I love being reminded about the widow of Zarephath, who was fixing the last meal for her son and her before they died of famine and yet, when Elijah, a stranger came unto them, and asked for bread, she freely gave.


I loved reading again about Obadiah- a courageous man who hide 100 priests from the wicked king Ahab and fed them during the famine. I love the question that Elijah asks 18:21- which is the question that is asked of all of us "How long halt ye between two opinions?" (which brings another scripture to mind- "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.") The duel of Elijah and the 850 false priests is one of my favorites and yet, after all the people bowed down, recognizing the true power of God, within less than a chapter they were seeking to take his life again.



And Elijah, in his discouragement, was taught a wonderful lesson. A great wind came and wrecked havoc but the Lord wasn't in the wind. Then an eathquake came and God was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake, a fire; and after the fire a still small voice.





I'm so thankful for the still small voice in my life- even after, during and before the storm.


God loves each of us as if there were only one of us. ~St. Augustine