Choosing

No one is in control of your happiness but you; therefore, you have the power to change anything about yourself or your life that you want to change. - Barbara de Angelis



I had a conversation yesterday with my Visiting Teacher, Lynda, a dear friend. We were talking about life’s whammies and how easy it is to replace a positive nature with a glass half full or a "waiting for the other shoe to drop" attitude. Neither of us want that. Happiness is something to be chosen. It is active, not reactive. It is counting our blessings and choosing to live with faith, not fear. I have MUCH to be thankful for.



Thoughts on this week- -thankful that K., who had a serious health concern (out of the blue) is on the mend. Life can change in a moment and we feel blessed prayers were answered.



-our son, Ryan, came home from taking a humanitarian group to Guatemala, then an archaeologist's group to Belize- came home with raging fevers and chills which have lasted well over 2 weeks. We thought he got Dengue again...but two of the kiddos got sick but they were over it quickly. I guess it was just a terrible flu virus but he has been sicker than a dog, and eventually it turned into pneumonia. Two trips to the emergency room but hopefully he’s on the mend. I can’t tell you how worried I’ve been about him.



-can’t go see and hold my baby! I got home from Washington and developed a great little cold. Hopefully I can see Peyton this week. He’s gained back his birth weight and then some....ha! Tanner should have named him Peyton Manning like he wanted!



- I was busy yesterday with one thing or another and didn’t make it downstairs to visit with my MIL until about 4 in the afternoon. She had gotten up at 6 and was dizzy and took a fall. I think the bed post got her (she looks like she’s been in a fight and lost)...but she cleaned herself up (bloody nose) and went back to bed and then spent the day in her rocking chair. She "didn’t want to bother me." Man! I’ve been bawling a ton. I love this dear woman! She’s had a little bug and has been dizzy for over a week. I hope a "bug" is what it is.



-this weekend is Conference weekend, something we always look forward to to recharge our spiritual batteries and fill our souls. Niece Mallory is coming (hurray!) with a roomie and friends. I see some Hand and Foot games in my future.



-also this weekend, we have wonderful tickets to see George Strait, Reba McIntyre and LeeAnn Womack in concert. We are taking Cathy and Kirk and which will make it the perfect date night. (Thanks, Amy B.!)



-taught our Tuesday study group this week. Always a joy. -Brandi’s kids are off track so I’m just heading off to pick them up. They all slept over on Monday night and Tuesday we hit the movies. Saw "Martians Need Moms" (who thought up that silly title?) It was okay. Not a jump up and down good movie but fine.



-David’s in trial preparation this week so I’m not seeing him too much. Won’t see him at all next week. Everyone thinks it would be so cool to see him in trial....and I would too! But he won’t let us come and watch. I don’t think any of the kids have ever seen him in action (except on a horse) and I’ve only seen him once. Dang it! A huge case that has received national attention, after about 8 years, is finally done- verdict in our favor. Whew! Funny how you can be sued (not us personally but David’s client) and found innocent and have spent over a million dollars to defend yourself....none that you can recoup.




Maybe I’ve shared this recently but I have been thinking about it since my conversation with Lynda. Rather than looking at our glass as half full or half empty, look around yourself and see who needs something to drink. Good thought.

Out of Africa

When I grew up in Washington state, we lived out in the country (although we didn't farm) where I often felt lonely (from lack of playing companions)(thank goodness for imaginary friends...they were a riot!) but my brother was in paradise. He learned to hunt and fish from my father and constantly had a fishing pole or pellet gun in his hand. He is still a hunter and a fisherman- going all over the world for various adventures. While my views on hunting are polar opposites, I adore my brother and respect his views. While in Washington this past week, my dad and I picked Gary up from the airport from yet another hunting adventure- this time in Argentina. David had business in Portland so he flew in on Tuesday and that afternoon we went to Gary and Cher's to meet all the new members of the family. (Actually, they are from his hunt last year in Africa.) This is my new favorite character. He is a red hartebeast and as Gary says, he looks like he got put together with all the left over animal parts! He's very comical and I truly think he should be a star in a Disney movie. I think he is from the antelope family.

This nasty guy gave me nightmares! Really, he looks totally wicked and not someone I'd like to meet in a dark alley. He is a civet. I'm totally hoping hoping he's left out of the family will....

And then there is THIS guy. He was shot at about 40 feet away. How would you like THIS running at you? This is why their dog Lexie won't come upstairs to hang out with Gary in his den.

We won't talk about the elephant. You KNOW how I feel about elephants. But an elephant does feed a village. And Gary feeds a lot of people.

Oh me, oh my! Somehow having a saddle in my living room seems trivial!

Married to a Cowboy!

If you get thrown from a horse, you have to get up and get back on, unless you landed on a cactus; then you have to roll around and scream in pain.

One of the great surprises of my marriage is that I married a cowboy. I knew he liked horses but we were college students and there wasn't manure anywhere I could see. I didn't really think about it much.

We had been married for 25 years before we got our first horse. You think you would "get" someone before 25 years but here we are....

This weekend has been nutso but I won't go into that now. The good thing of this weekend was that David was excited about a two-day roping he was planning on entering. He called me on his way home Friday night (I was already asleep with a crazy night) and when I asked him how he did, he said I had two prizes to choose from. I laughed and asked, "A tee-shirt and another tee-shirt?" Nope. "A tee-shirt and a belt buckle?" Nope. Besides cash prizes, he won first place and second place (heeling) with about 170 teams entered. He won a beautiful saddle and a rope bag. (I never even knew rope bags existed...) Today was another day. I actually flew to Washington this morning to be with my folks...and when he called, again I asked him how he did. He took first today again (only heading this time)...and won another saddle (which he promptly sold back to them!) Woo-hoo! I'm going shopping! What a guy!

p.s. for those, like me, that didn't know a header from a heeler, this timed rodeo event is called "team roping." It takes two cowboys and a steer. The steer is let loose from a chute and the first cowboy (the header) ropes the steers head and then turns the steer. When the steer turns, he kicks up his feet and the second cowboy (the heeler) then ropes the two back feet. How in the heck that happens, I don't quite understand...although the first time David roped my feet and I fell on my face, I decided then and there that we needed children. Unfortunately they grew up but lucky for him (and me!) we now have more than a dozen kiddos to rope. And he does.

p.p.s. I wonder if that saddle will still be on my sofa when I get home....

Baby Sadie's Turning Two!

Don't you want to eat this little one up???? She is the sweetest cupcake ever!

Coming Home

We brought little (!) Peyton Max home from the hospital Wednesday. He's lost almost a pound since birth (from 9 lb. 11 oz. to 8 lb. 14 oz.) but he's doing great! Brooke is doing awesome as well. Oh happy day!

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. Elisabeth Stone

And another happy note is that yesterday, David and Tanner and Brooke and Annee went to court. Annee is officially adopted and is a Williams! Two kiddos in one week! (although we've counted Annee ours for years.)

Happy St. Patrick's Day

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.~Irish Blessing


Here I am, frantically getting my little St. Paddy's treats done for the kiddos so I can get them delivered today. Each family gets a box of Lucky Charms....then each kiddo a baggie of sugar love. It is filled with Leprechaun juice (with their own limerick on the bottle), gold coins, green gumballs, pop rocks and bubble gum tape. Enough sugar for their parents to curse me! Here's a sampling of the kiddos limericks:

There once was a girl named Heidi

Who thought she was very tidy

She cleaned and she scrubbed

Her room and the tub

Please give her a High-5-tie!

There once was a boy who loved jumping

He was always bumping and thumping

His mom said, "Oh what can we do?

He should live in a zoo

with the monkeys cause Elijah is somethin"!"

There lived a boy in Lehi

Who loved to climb in a tree-high

He fell on his head,

His mom tucked him in bed

Now Josh has a big goose egg- Oh my!

Once there was a boy named Noah
Who brought home a pet snake named Boa
His mom had a fit
And in a lickety split
That Boa was out the door-ah!

Okay, okay, not the greatest poetry but they're limericks for Pete's Sake!

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Two Thoughts

Today was my Tuesday morning RS study group. Since I watch Addi on Tuesdays, I have been hit and miss on my attendance since I don't like to leave her too much (my MIL loves to keep an eye on her if I need to run somewhere) but I was so glad that I was able to attend today (and any day...it is always such a lift) I was reminded of two analogies today that I think are excellent.



The first one has been circulated as an email but I hadn't received it. It is about a teenager who had a terrible day, life, etc. with a lot of frustrations and disappointments. As the mother is listening to the woes of her daughter, the mother suggests that she make one of her daughter's favorite cakes to cheer her up. The daughter thought that would help. But then the mom encouraged her to have a bite of flour. Yuck! How about a raw egg or a tsp. of baking soda? How about some cooking oil to wash it down. When the girl expressed disgust, the mother then went on to explain that life is much like a cake. We don't always enjoy the individual elements which are sometimes bitter or unappetizing. Sometimes we feel the heat or pressure of life and it takes it out of us. But sometimes those are the ingredients of a life that make it, make us, wonderful. That all of our life experiences combine to be something beautiful and rich and satisfying.





I know that you can't know real happiness without knowing sorrow and I do know that adversity creates two kinds of people, victims and victors....but sometimes you just need to be reminded that "all these things shall be for your good."





The other story is about a ruler (Christ) who told a young man to go to a certain road where a huge rock blocked the way and to push on the rock. The man did but the rock didn't budge. Each day the young man worked on the rock, frustrated that it didn't move and he didn't have any success. After a long period of time, the young man expressed his frustration and failure to the ruler. He had not been able to move the rock out of the way.


The ruler responded compassionately, “My friend, When I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push. And now you come to me with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so?”

“Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass that which you used to have. Yet you haven’t moved the rock. But your calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in my wisdom. This you have done. I, my friend, will now move the rock.”

St. Patrick's Day

St. Paddy's is coming up and I don't have a creative idea going on. I did find this printable from one of my favorite giveaway sites- Beth Proudfoot. And it is using the same scalloped punch that I used for my 12 Days of Christmas. I've used it alot.


(you are my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Fill a pretzel bag with rainbow twizzlers and gold coins at the bottom.)

http://bethproudfoot.blogspot.com/











Yesterday I saw large mint green chocolate-covered malt balls at Chocolate Covered Wagon (our nummy neighborhood chocolate store.) The tag on the bag said, "Leprechaun Droppings." (you could use green jelly bellies as well...) I'm afraid I would eat all the dropping if they were malted....

I always love water bottle or other drink labels. Here's a freebie-
http://www.ishareprintables.com/st-patricks-day-printables

All I know is that if I'm going to do something for the kiddos, I'd better get boogying. If you have an idea, please share it!

Monday Meals

Today's neighbor meal:
sausage strata
sticky orange rolls
fresh fruit with pina colada dip

Find all the recipes on the cooking blog:

www.constantgrowingamazementcooks.blogspot.com

Josh Wright

Check out Josh's performance playing two grand pianos at once. His new CD is coming out the first of April. We are so lucky that Josh's family lives in our Ward so we often get to hear him play in church. He's just amazing (as well as his siblings.) He's won many major competitions, even international and played at Carnegie Hall. Have a listen!

http://www.facebook.com/l/61469/www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNxbHFmPY8Q

Japan

The Biggar family finally heard via email from their missionary after 3 plus days of worrying! He's well and tells everyone not to worry (ha! he's in Sendai.) They were in their apartment on the second floor when the quake hit. He said it felt like they were swaying back and forth like a swing on a playground. They were shocked at the strength of it since the 3 previous ones were only a 5.6. At first they started to laugh (at that time they had no idea of the tsunami, and wouldn't for another 6-8 hours.) Their building was alright but one on the corner fell apart on a car so they helped clean up the mess until about 1 in the morning. They didn't have electricity or water or gas and spent the first couple of days searching for food and water. They had food but it all needed to be cooked. (Good thing to remember for emergency preparedness.) Diane Sawyer's team has made contact and is planning on interviewing them (he's sure she's doing tons so he doesn't know if it will air.) They are expecting another large quake soon so it is a "wait and see" mode. They continue on, helping people (they have bikes for travel) and doing what they can. There are so many aftershocks (or earthquakes) he said you just get used to it...like the rocking on a cruise ship. (a lullaby at night.)



Elder Biggar doesn't have news service and he thought about 1,000 people had died. Little does he know the devastation. He also didn't talk about the tsunami (their building is on a hill and we heard it went around them.) or anything about the nuclear plant meltdowns. It is so heartbreaking, watching this devastation on the news.

Peyton Max Williams

Peyton Max was born this morning via C-section. I could say "little" Peyton (Annee was just a little over 3 pounds) but I couldn't say that....he was 9 lbs. 11 oz.! Wow! Talk about an over-achiever! (which reminds me, when Tanner was little, he was explaining to someone else how big some baby was and he would have said, "9 pounds 11 OZ (like Wizard of Oz!) Love that boy...he'll make a great dad! Brooke's doing great! What a happy day!

Japan Two

"Public calamity is a mighty leveler." Edmund Burke

Vast destruction after Japan quake, tsunami...A magnitude 8.9 earthquake — the biggest in modern Japanese history — slammed the island nation's eastern coast Friday, unleashing a 23-foot tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland and prompting a "nuclear emergency." (MSN news) (note: hundreds of people have been killed, many unaccounted for, nuclear plants are in bad shape...)

We actually have 3 members of our Ward in Japan. Mark Parkinson (his wife Michelle leads our Tuesday New Testament class) is there on business, Kevin Walton (son of Debbie- author of The Health Seeker's Kitchen blog) traveling, and Elder Robbie Biggar, who just got to Sendai last week. (Sendai is a city of about a million.) Mark and Kevin were able to make contact home almost immediately (thankfully!) but it wasn't until late last night that the Biggars finally received word that Robby moved to higher ground after the earthquake but before the tsunami hit. Apparently the tsunami went around them. He's in a shelter...and already working helping remove debri and find people. I know it had been a rough 24 hours for his family, for all these families. I know they probably won't be content just to hear through the grapevine that he is safe but to hear his sweet voice. Prayer for all these people affected by this tragedy continue.

There's no disaster that can't become a blessing, and no blessing that can't become a disaster."

Japan

A boy from our Ward and neighborhood, Robbie Biggar is serving a mission in Sendai, Japan....the one area where the church hasn't had any contact with. The devastation of this earthquake is horrific....and when someone you know and love is there...really brings the heartache home. I know everyone has had all those affected by this tragedy in their prayers today. It is hard to go to bed tonight without any certain news.

Guess What's Coming!

Guess what Addi and I are doing this morning????? This is just the first batch (probably about 1/4 of the eggs) getting a tubbie. We washed them, dried them (one by one)

and have started to fill them! It's just over a month until Easter but we haven't had the Eggstravaganza on the Sat. before Easter for several years now.....

because this is what our yard looks like today. March 10, 2011.

Isn't it beautiful?


I love Utah. I love the snow.

But this is our backyard. You can't even get into the Tijuana pool. See those metal things about


in the middle right of the picture. Those are at least 6 feet tall. They are grape arbors. They look minature in the snow.

We could lose a kid or two in the drifts.

So, Addi and I will start filling eggs. It takes a lot of days to fill 2,000 eggs. I think I'll make Pretty Patty Petty help me while we're watching movies tomorrow night. Ha! She just thought she wasn't going to have to help me work!

We might just have to watch Steel Magnolia's to get into the mood. (i.e. the Easter egg hunt at the end of the movie is my inspiration although I have yet to get David dressed in a Bunny costume....)

Funny Friends

I don't have a profile picture on my Facebook account so my funny evil dear friend J. found one for me.

J. knows how I feel about these guys. I replied that BB guns and tainted meat came to mind. (kidding.) (well, kind of....)(really, magpies drive me nuts...)

I also mentioned that the picture also reminded me of conversations with her in the car.

You see, we were having a serious conversation while sitting in her driveway. I have flashies out the corner of my left eye (old age) so when I kept seeing things fluttering off to the side, I didn't give it a second thought. Then I saw them to the right. What started with a few kept doubling and doubling.  

We're talking easily a hundred birds or more.  Magpies. They swarmed her yard. They swarmed her trees. I was freaking out! She was thinking I brought "evilness" to her house. We didn't know whether to sit in the car until we were pecked to death or make a run for the house. It was surreal!

J. also sent me this picture, since it reminded her of me as well:

She said:

Oh...and one more. The only thing that isn't realistic about you in this photo is that you're still holding on to your purse.

I replied that it wasn't realistic that I was wearing a belt either. Oh, those were the days....

The Birds was the scariest movie experience I had as a child. Nightmares galore. It was repeated on television when I was a teen....and once after I watched it, I heard this "flutter,flutter,flutter" coming from the fireplace. I got closer and closer. "Flutter, flutter." then OUT shot a bird from the flue. MAN! I was screaming my head off. My parents were down at the boat dock and came running. They saved the day. But what are the odds that at the moment I finished watching The Birds, one would fly out of our fireplace? What are the odds that while we are sitting having conversation, that birds would swamp J.'s house?

Kind of Hitchcockie....

Images of people's eyes being pecked out came to mind.

Thanks J. for making me snort out loud. Thanks for reoccuring nightmares. I found this item I wished I could send you for your birthday. Too bad it was sold out.

p.s. it is a sign of pure class, when you're being attacked by birds, to continue to carry your purse and run in high heels. Fiction doesn't get any better than that!

Just stuff

-Besides the perfect dinner date Friday night, the weekend was wonderful. Saturday I went to Brooke and Tanner's to help get the nursery ready. I didn't get all I wanted to do done but it is a start. I did put this Winnie the Pooh quote up on the wall.

-It was a wonderful weekend since it is PBS's fundraising weekend...so they have shown the 25th Anniversary Special of Les Miz that I saw in October with Susie. I've watched it over and over- and tried to imagine Alfie Boe (who plays Jean Valjean) , a friend of Susie's family....coming to Christmas dressed as Santa Claus! His rendition of Bring Him Home actually brings tears and I can hardly speak. (he received such a long standing ovation at the end of it, he was almost brought to tears!) If it is on in your area, make sure you watch it. Keep watching after the end of the play, since they then bring back casts of the last 25 years and 4 of the Jean Valjeans sing together.





-Sunday was nourishing. Heard several things I need to work on. Several things that brought comfort to my heart.





-my sweet cousin, Deanna, was back in town for a quick visit with her new granddaughter. Deanna met us at our church, attended with us and then came home for lunch and visiting. I love her and feel so lucky to have time with her.





-Monday was crazy busy with one thing after another. I'm not very good at multi-tasking anymore- here is a little sample:


early started working on Monday neighborhood meals . It is one year this month that I started neighbor meals. It has been a blessing both to them and me.


ran my MIL across town to her podiatrist appointment (1/2 hour)


picked up car seat at Brandi's, picked up Addi and Brandi's friend's little boy at pre-school, took Gage home


picked my MIL up at Dr.'s


ran home, dropped off Addi and MIL


ran to nail appointment- thought it was at 1, it was at 2 so


I ran to the grocery store to pick up last minutes for meals. Also picked up wedding gift.


Back to nails


Home to finish Monday meals (chicken noodle soup, corn bread, salad, my new favorite banana cake with caramel, banana and whipped cream toppings)


delivered them (with Addi)


delivered wedding gift


Addi and I went to Blockbuster to pick out movies for a marathon


(good thing since our satellite t.v. is out with 1 foot of snow that was dumped! 3 feet at Ben's place at Alta!) (Addi had to "pray us home" since the roads were so bad!)


home to watch Alien's and Monsters, plus Princess Protection
and to color....

fed everyone


sleep over with Addi. Whew! I think I put 100 miles on the car today...

Sunday, while trying to help me get Sunday dinner on the table, my sweet MIL was trying to clean the whipping cream off from the beaters and accidentally turned on the mixer and whipped cream flew everywhere and on everything (the second time this week! Her mixer at home has a button to push get the beaters out and mine doesn't- easy mistake.) That's what I feel like, especially on Mondays. Splattering all over the ceiling!



In the middle of chaos, I found two different opportunities when someone needed help. Right then. Both were emotionally spent. Both dealing with heartbreaking situations. It is easy to get so busy, you don't take the time to stop. I also had several situations when I needed help, especially to remain patient. I'm naturally a very impatient person so that is hard. But I'm working on it, one chip at a time. All in all, a wonderful busy day.





-things to look forward to-





Today is Bucket at Gail's home. I hope I can make it out of our driveway and onto Dimple Dell. We have a TON of snow!





Tonight is GNO at Elaine's.





Have to have a good day today since tomorrow I have a ROOT CANAL! Edd-gads. I think I would rather give birth. And speaking of THAT! Tanner called last night and I think they are going to start Brooke on Saturday!!!!! Oh happy baby day!





And Pretty Patty Petty is finally coming to town. Can't wait. We need therapy really bad. I love this friend and have missed her terribly. (Life just keeps getting in the way....) (And for ONCE I'm not going to have her work on a major service project with me. She won't know what to do!)






Jenny Miller just called (Brandi's BF, Valene's daughter, Gail's DIL) and she shared a funny Addi story. Gage is friend Lizzy's little boy. He is IN LOVE with Addi and several times when I've taken them home from pre-school, he has professed that "he is going to marry Addi." Addi is adamant that she is not going to marry Gage. Finally Gage said, "Addi, but I'm going to work so hard and give you all my money!" Addi replied, "Gage, I don't care about your money. All I care about is Disneyland."


So Addi. The girl just makes me laugh!

Self-discipline

The BYU honor code is not about school officials wanting to control, harass or punish students. The code isn't about repression or penance. It's about something older and more basic. The BYU honor code is about self-discipline.
When cadets run afoul of the rules at military academies, nobody says the Army or Navy is behind the times, that the armed services are unfair or invasive. It's understood that soldiers and sailors agree to live their lives by a code. If you don't care to live the code, you live some other way.
That's what is happening at BYU.

Spiritual discipline — once the hallmark of Christianity — is today viewed as quaint and even harmful. All you need do is check the advancing age of U.S. monks to see how antiquated the notion of spiritual discipline has become.
But for those who consecrate their efforts to God — as many Mormons do — discipline feels natural, even joyful

The Post's own Kathy Orton wrote that "I'm rooting for BYU, and not just because I think Jimmer Fredette is one of the most exciting players to watch in college basketball today. The reason I'm throwing my support behind the Cougars is because the school recently did something few colleges and universities are willing to do these days: It stood by its beliefs."
And regular "On Faith" contributor Michael Otterson, who heads the public affairs department for the LDS Church (which also sponsors BYU) wrote: "BYU isn't going to throw this young man aside. Ultimately, the honor code is as much about the individual as the team or the school. Brandon Davies is more than a trending topic on Google. He is a young man full of energy, talent and opportunity, all of which remain present as he moves through what is undoubtedly a difficult time in his life. While this one mistake may redirect his life for a time, it does not define who he is. Those who care for him, including his church leaders, are reaching out to help, guide and support. Friends, family and true fans likewise. There are a lot of people at BYU who will do all they can to help Brandon get through this trial in his life and come out on top. He isn't just an athlete, but a child of God. No one knows yet how that will happen, but I do know that they will do everything they can to make it work and help him put all this behind him."

The Washington Times' guest opinion piece "A national champion in deed," penned by Southern Virginia University president Rodney K. Smith, who has served as a member of the NCAA's Infractions Appeals Committee: "As a college president, I wish more universities and their leaders would stand firm for such principles, rather than seeking to find ways to skirt the principle to obtain a momentary financial or reputational reward. Wins translate into dollars, especially at this juncture in the season for schools with excellent basketball teams like BYU's. Wins also bring attention, students, accolades and even donors to institutions with successful big-time athletic programs. They tempt institutions to relent on their obligations as educations.

"In the long run, wins slip into record books, but lessons taught and learned about commitment and honesty, about being true to one's self and a higher standard can shape a life and are critical to our nation's future. If the culprits in the Enron scandal or the major players in other economic or political lapses of integrity would have learned the lessons BYU and Mr. Rose [BYU basketball coach Dave Rose] are teaching Brandon Davies and others touched by this story, our nation's future would be more secure."

In its opinion titled "Three cheers for BYU which, sad to say, is unusual in putting honor before sports success," the New York Daily News offers this: "At another school, Davies' dalliance would not have raised an eyebrow — if anything, they'd raise him a beer. But BYU follows a different path, one that is extreme to many but central to the school's ethos."

In writing for the Bloomberg Businessweek, Scott Sochick says BYU's action "is reason for celebration": "What we have here, at long last, is an institution of higher learning acting the part. Pathetically, it's an all-too-rare case of a university placing a higher value on values than athletic glory and the massive payday and promotion that accompanies winning in these billion-dollar television contract days."

"Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody else expects of you. Never excuse yourself. Never pity yourself. Be a hard master to yourself-and be lenient to everybody else."
— Henry Ward Beecher

Marci

This is my sweet DIL Marci's most recent recording. She sang this duet (she's the first part) on the new Jenny Phillips cd for Young Women. Someone made a video that goes with it. I love the song (but it is in Spanish....)

Listen here:

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150096167874720

Bon Appetit One

Yesterday I called Valene and left a message using my best Julia Child impersonation and said, "Yum." Well, my yum (while making dessert) didn't even compare to what was coming.

So, last night was our first Bon Appetit dinner at the Cooks. Chef Valene made everything except dessert. I can easily say it was probably the best meal I've ever had in my life.

Starters:

Potato, Green Cabbage, and Leek Soup with Lemon Creme Fraiche

Rosemary Bread

Salad:

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Raspberry Balsamic Dressing in Parmesan Baskets (the baskets are the coolest things ever)

Baked asparagus

Main Dish:

Blue Cheese Steak- this one isn't from Bon Appetit but is actually a recipe I found on a cooking channel and is probably the favorite dish of mine to cook. It is Tenderloin steak that I sear in a hot, oven proof pan, then bake in a 400 degree oven for about 5 minutes. I saute mushrooms in butter, then add blue cheese crumbles (I also add 3 oz. of cream cheese but I don't think Valene does) and it melts and you have the most marvelous sauce to spoon over the steak.

Dessert:

Sticky Toffee Banana Pudding

While I was making this dessert, I had a little chip on my shoulder. After all, I AM a banana cake snob. I have searched the world (actually the Internet and my millions of cookbooks) until I discovered the best EVER banana cake. So I thought I would make mine, then make the Bon Appetit recipe and have a little taste test at the dinner. When I took them out of the oven, I couldn't resist doing my own little taste test first.

I ended up not taking my recipe cake to the dinner. Can I just say that when I tasted the new recipe is when I called and left my Julia Child impersonation. It truly was spectacular! I'll be making this again and again and again!

After we ouued and ahhed over the dinner, we retired to the t.v. to watch one of comedian Brian Regan's tapes. Funny! Afterwards we taught the Cooks hand and foot and Valene and I skunked the guys. We had such an awesome time, laughing and talking with friends.

The best thing about good friends is all the shared funny memories (and I have shared this story with you before but that's what good friends do, share their stories over and over....) Valene started right out by having a potted plant for me on the table. I just glanced at it and said, "Roses?" She laughed and said, "What? You don't recognize it? After seeing fields and fields of them?"

She, of course, was referring to me referring to a girlie trip to Carlsbad,California where we went to a ranunculas farm...with blooming ranunculas as far as the eye could see. As I was exclaiming the beauty of said farm, Valene interrupted me and said, "Marilyn, we were there in October. The flowers bloom in the spring. We just saw the mural."

Oh.

Way to ruin a perfectly good story, Valene! (way to host a PERFECT evening of yum, Valene!)

Bon Appetit

~ BFF Valene gave me a subscription to Bon Appetit magazine for my birthday. I do call her "Chef Valene" and she is probably the best cook I know. Maybe because her last name is Cook....but I always tell people Valene's house is my favorite restaurant. And goodie! We are going there tonight. Valene and I decided that periodically we will do Bon Appetit meals. Valene is making several from this month's issue and I am making Sticky Toffee Banana Pudding (which is really cake.) Doesn't it look nummy? So looking forward to date night, with friends, with good food. And then we're teaching them how to play Hand and Foot so we can all be addicted together. (I'll post recipes later on the cooking blog.)

~been reminded lately on so many levels of how our choices affect and hurt other people. A good example is BYU's basketball team. How one player's choice may be the downfall to their teams opportunity for a National title. I have been interested in reading comments in the national news about this situation. BYU has an honor code, which each student must read and sign and agree to maintain in order to attend. This honor code has to do with morality, honesty, integrity. One of the lead scorers of the basketball team (that was seeded 3 nationally) was suspended from school this past week in lieu of compromising the honor code. On a national survey, the polls suggest that this boy shouldn't have been suspended because "the honor code is stupid. Who could expect college students to not have fun?" Last week, I taught the Beatitudes in Sunday School. In ancient days, a man's "oath" was his honor and if you said you would do something, and made an oath to it, you did it or were put to death. That is how much weight an oath carried. Christ goes on to say that our word should be our oath. If we say we will do something, we do it. If we sign an honor code, that means we agree to live it. (On the other hand, no one is perfect...we all make mistakes and my heart aches for this young man. And shame on those who made his transgression public. BYU didn't.) I think of Bill Clinton's lack of integrity. Before a nation, he lied under oath and much of the world didn't think that was a big deal (boys will be boys!) BYU is a religious school built on values that Christ taught. I'm proud of them for taking the stand that integrity is more important, both for the young man and the university, than a sports title. But my heart aches for those whose dreams suffer from others choices.

Back to Bon Appetit. It means good appetite. In the world there is much that is nourishing and good with a lot of junk food thrown in. God gives us commandments to help guide us in a better life, the most nourishing life. Happy eating.

Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught. ~J.C. Watts



If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters. ~Alan Simpson