Pedaling Fast & Trying To Keep Up

My man Mitt is back!

2012-01-27T09:36:00.000-07:00

Romney was on his game, holding tough throughout!

Santorum did well- I actually like his anger. I'm angry too. I get that! I like the man, he just doesn't have the funds organization it would take to win a national election. I am hopeful he will be placed in a meaningful position under a Romney presidency.

Below is the best short summary from the website Big Government, of what went down last night,
If you're interested in a quick view of the highlights, be sure to click the links

Joel Pollak, Editor-in-chief, Breitbart.com:

This was one worth watching. Top ten best moments in the CNN Debate:

10. Gingrich refusing to back down on Israel after moderator Wolf Blitzer tried to challenge his comments on Palestinian identity.

9. Santorum giving a sincere, beautiful tribute to his wife–a great answer to a rather awkward question.

8. Romney’s answer to the question about why he was best to beat Obama was flawed, but passionate.

7. Santorum’s answer on religion–insisting our rights come from God–was sincere, relevant, and convincing.

6. Paul’s answer on his age was both funny and cutting; he surpassed Gingrich in confronting CNN by using humor instead of outrage.

5. Romney’s answer on a question about Palestinians was a brilliant articulation of the pro-Israel position and how Obama has let our ally down.

4. Santorum on Romney: ”We cannot give the issue of health care away in this election. It is foundational.” The simple political truth of RomneyCare.

3. Santorum repeatedly pivoted on questions to provide bigger, better answers–particularly when he was the first to criticize Obama’s State of the Union address.

2. Santorum seizes the opportunity to cite his record on Fannie & Freddie, and to attack both Romney and Gingrich for “petty, personal politics.” That set the stage for his win.

1. Romney to Gingrich on illegal immigration: “Our problem is not 11 million grandmothers.” Gingrich never recovered.

Overall, Guy Benson said it best: “Micro: Santorum wins. Macro: Romney.”

If that wasn't enough, The Right Scoop posted the debate in its entirety, here.

stupid in school

2012-01-25T14:54:00.000-07:00

sometimes it's just good to laugh

and laugh

and laugh,

which is just what we did the other night -as we cashed in on that christmas gift i had given big daddy!
we had four tickets so we grabbed our longtime friends, randy & amy, to join us on our date to see brian regan live and in concert!

after selling out, almost immediately, here in utah, to his originally scheduled shows,
more were added, with a total of 10 night performances and 2 matinees.

not one swear word, nothing inappropriate, and tons of positive energy filled abravanel hall with laugh after laugh! regan was welcomed with a rousing applause, cheers, hoops, hollers, and shout-outs all throughout the show! the guy has got to love coming here! he sells out his shows, adds more...then sells out again-- every time, to this kind of enthusiastic response!

my kids dig him too. they know most of his material and we quote his stuff all the time!

i guess the reason why any funny guy is so funny would be due to his ability to connect and have his audience able to relate to his jokes and brian regan does just that.

this one, in the clip below--stupid in school, is baylee's favorite.
....i guess she feels like she can relate ;)
probably due to her memory of an early year in elementary school when she had studied hard for the spelling bee, really hoping to go far. she made it a few rounds with the words getting harder each round, only to be crushed of her dream of being crowned the spelling bee queen.
since then she has been known, on occasion, to take this approach-

'....cat---k.a.t.- alright, i'm out of here...can i sit down now?'

he didn't do that joke, but it is one of our favorites.
no, he came on stage with all fresh, hilarious material!
it was such a fun night.
definitely somebody i would go see again, because laughing is the best mood lifter in the world! and i'd like more of that, please!

Books I read (and liked) last year

2012-01-24T11:19:00.000-07:00

I am not the best book club member.

Many months I show up for our meet up having not read the featured pages.

Sometimes I begin the book, then get bored or distracted, never to finish what I started.

The conversation is always a lot more fun when I've actually read the entire book for that month.

If you are looking for something interesting to read, then I offer to you a short list of my favorites. These are the few I read and liked out of our 12 club reads, read last year.

Heaven is For Real is a story of a young boy who emerges from a life-saving surgery with remarkable stories of his visit to heaven.
Colton, the four year old, is the son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven.
He survives the surgery and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room.
Told by the father, but often in Colton's own words, the disarmingly simple message is heaven is a real place, Jesus really loves children, and that we should be ready for a coming last battle.

I'm always interested in stories shared on near death experiences and found this one to be compelling. I felt like the little boy's account was sincere in the beginning, though as the story progressed and he continually recounted what he saw and felt, it seemed a bit enhanced. This may have been due to all the attention and interest he gained in repeatedly telling of his experience.

~3 stars~

Every time you dress, you assert your identity. With style, you tell the world your story. In that way, style affords you opportunities to think about your appearance as a quality of your creative character. The Little Black Book of Style helps you to explore your own fashion voice—the piece of you that joyously revels in the glamorous experience of creating your best self. From cultivating good taste to guarding against definite fashion faux pas, Nina Garcia offers readers the ultimate guide to follow when it comes to dressing their best.

I liked it and would describe this as a fun, light read. It made me want to revamp and simplify my closet.
I was reminded that style doesn't have to be complicated or expensive.
When I finished this book I gave it to my 16 year old daughter who loved Garcia's style of writing and found a few new tips to incorporate into her own wardrobe.

~4 stars~

We live in a time when the practice of representative government in the United States of America is under siege from both the left and the right. Scandals abound. We are first shocked, then wearied, to learn that our national leaders have feet of clay. We live in a time, in short, which demands that we return to our origins to discover the common principles that make us essentially American. Our Sacred Honor reveals those common principles. They are articulated by the flawed but deeply admirable men and women who first wrote what it is to be American. The pledge made by the Founders to one another that hot July day in 1776—the pledge of "our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor"—has been redeemed many times in the centuries since, but the nation they founded has never failed to profit from their example.

With a corrupt government currently overseeing our educational system who love to change the facts on the divine intervention, and the truth about the morality & great courage of our founders, every parent should have this book in their home. We must do what we can to retain and teach the incredible miracles and history on which our country was found.

~5 stars~

Stepping back into a time when fledgling advertising agencies were active partners with consumers and everyday people saw possibility of participating in all kinds of commercial & advertising contests, Terry Ryan tells how her mother kept their family of ten afloat by writing jingles and contest entries.

I think I love the 50's -something about that time period just speaks to me. This book was one of my favorites! Quickly finishing it from beginning to end - a sure sign that this would be a keeper- I'd recommend this entertaining read to others.

~5 stars~

An awe-inspiring, often hilarious, and unerringly honest story of one mother's exercise in extreme parenting, revealing the rewards-and the costs-of raising her children the Chinese way.
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother chronicles Amy Chua's iron-willed decision to raise her daughters, Sophia and Lulu, her way-the Chinese way-and the remarkable results her choice inspires.

I found this book fascinating. It made me tired just reading all she did and demanded as a mother. I'll admit, after reading this approach, I felt rather lazy as a parent. Lazy and tired. Though I don't agree with every facet of this kind of parenting, nor do I have that kind of drive within, I do agree that we in America could do much better in not coddling our children so much and we would do well in raising our expectations regarding the abilities and potential of American children in general.

~4 stars~

And now we are off to a new year with a whole fresh list of books to read!

I'll be sure to let you know which ones I end up liking the best!

Always on the look-out, I'd love to know

what fun, interesting, or inspiring books did you read last year?

Another Debate

2012-01-20T10:30:00.003-07:00

Rick Santorum won.

It's no secret,
I really enjoy watching the debates.
I like to step back, set aside all my bias thoughts, and just listen and see who can win the art of debate whether I agree with them or not.
I'm not very good at debating. I have my views and thoughts and convictions which I trust to be sound, but in convincing others in the fashion of debate....I'm just not good at that.
Maybe that's why I appreciate a good political dialogue even if I don't like the politician winning the interchange.

Newt Gingrich, once again, did well last night.
But, boy oh boy, how I hope I don't have to vote for Newt come election day.

Ron Paul was Ron Paul. Gotta admire the guy for standing firm in his ideas.
He has his good points, but he is so wrong on foreign affairs and he loses all credibility every time he opens his mouth regarding the Middle East, Osama Bin Laden, 9/11, and our duty and relationship to our allies.

Mitt Romney did well defending capitalism, going after Obama, and he remained strong on foreign affairs, the economy and jobs. Though I feel he can win against Obama in the election, he has not been as convincing in the debates as I had hoped. I sure wish Mitt would step it up and quit playing it so safe!
Can't he see that the people want somebody to go harder after not only Obama but the left in general, and in particular the media? That is why Newt has gotten such a positive response. They like how he controls the media and any given questions on stage. Conservatives are tired of being bullied and tired of being the nice guys to their own detriment.

Rick Santorum came out last night ready to win this thing. He was strong, he made some valid points speaking throughout the event with conviction and deeply rooted values. He came off as confident while still being humble. He projected intelligence and like-ability. I would happily vote for Rick Santorum if he were to end up being our nominee. I'm just not sure he has the money or organization behind him needed to win a national election against the most corrupt and evil administration this country has ever seen.

Have you watched any of the debates?

What are your thoughts?

I'm curious to know.....

Here's the debate in its entirety:

Newt won last night's debate...and here's why:

2012-01-17T10:26:00.001-07:00

Mormons in America

2012-01-16T08:51:00.000-07:00

With a Mormon as a serious contender for the presidency this year, along with a popular musical in New York, though its representation leaves much to be desired, then add to that the inspirational I'm a Mormon messages all throughout the country, it seems natural that there would be an inclined interest in the belief system of our faith.

Just this last week a study conducted by The Pew Center's Forum on Religion and Public Life, the first ever study of this nature published by a non-LDS research organization, printed some interesting findings. The released study focused exclusively on members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and their beliefs, values, perceptions and political preferences.

According to this report a Mormons’ faith, beliefs and practices translate to satisfaction with their lives. After the nationwide survey of 1,019 Latter-day Saints, this study which sought to determine the levels of religiosity among Church members found that 77% of members say they attend religious services at least once a week, 83% say they pray every day. Mormons are nearly unanimous in describing Mormonism as a Christian religion, with 97% expressing this point of view. Indeed, when asked to volunteer the one word that best describes Mormons, the most common response from those surveyed was “Christian” or “Christ-centered”
The study confirms that Mormons exhibit higher levels of religious commitment than many other religious groups and believe firmly in the distinctive tenets of their faith.
In addition, this nationwide survey found that Mormons share many of the same religious practices and beliefs of traditional Christianity.

The survey compared the same questions and answers given by members and non-members alike and the findings were interesting as to what Mormons really believe and how the rest of the world views our faith. It seems there are still a few misconceptions regarding our faith. No surprise there, so we continue to enlighten those who are interested in understanding what we truly teach and know to be true. As members of the church we strive to share what has brought such joy to our lives. Certainly many have seen the young men all throughout the world who leave home and devote two years of their life preaching the gospel.

TJ with his life-long friend Aaron who heads off to Mexico this Wednesday~

The overwhelming majority of church members are satisfied in their own lives and content with their communities. Nearly nine-in-ten Mormons (87%) say they are satisfied with the way things are going in their own life. The study went on to confirm that we are a conservative bunch, politically speaking. We are a moral people who believe in modern day revelation and we put a very strong and high priority on family and its unit in society.

I found the study fascinating and am hopeful as a more accurate understanding of our faith throughout the world is revealed. I feel the more people learn about our faith the better they will come to understand who we are and the values and beliefs we cherish.

You can read the full report here.
The response from the L.D.S. Newsroom here.

one for the record book--the Guinness Book of World Records, that is.

2012-01-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

the week between christmas and new years found tj and a few friends playing a non-stop basketball game which broke all records!

and it was for a good cause.

the proceeds from this event went to the fallen heroes scholarship foundation.

It was rough to say the least.

from the standard examiner:
The goal of the event is twofold:
Break a world record with 108 hours of continuous basketball playing and raise money for a good cause.
The Fallen Heroes Scholarship Foundation is attempting to set the world record for the longest continuous basketball game. The effort started at 9 a.m. Monday and should end around 10 p.m. Friday.
All proceeds are going to the scholarship fund intended for surviving family members of soldiers, firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty.
Officials have said the goal is to raise more than $50,000.
Each team -- one white, the other blue -- has five players on the court at a time. These players are of all ages and from as far away as Missouri.
Kasey Kennington, a 27-year-old teacher at Ogden Preparatory Academy, decided to play after he heard about the event through word of mouth.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be a in world record-setting event," he said. "Besides, I love to play basketball."
Kennington plays basketball in his spare time several times a week, though he has never done anything like this before.
"We get to play basketball while helping raise money for a good cause," he said. "It's the best of both worlds."
The number of spectators varied, with many people filling the bleachers for the morning start. By 10 a.m., fewer people were in the stands, but there was a constant trickle of folks coming and going.
17-year-old Bruce Christy, A junior at Paradigm High School in Sandy said the event offers a rewarding and difficult challenge. He explained each team has 12 people, but only five on each side play at a time.
Each player's time on the court lasts roughly two hours, then he gets a 3 1/2-hour break. Players can sleep on cots or can eat and relax.
"Hopefully, it won't be too hard," Christy said.
Player T.J. Heap, an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, is sure the event will be a great experience.
"It's a fun challenge," he said. "It will be hard but good because it is for a good cause."

~tj going up for the shot~

tj blocking on the left. he said he was so wet with sweat that nobody wanted to guard him. he ended up being the high scorer for his team. (even though his team lost, he scored over a thousand points over the 5 long days) tj's good friend bruce on the right, in the white.

~tj in the white~

2 players on their team dropped out, causing their rest times to be shorter and their play times longer.

their knees and legs were so tired, this position seemed to offer some relief.

from the salt lake tribune:

After five straight days of nonstop basketball, they were bleary eyed, bandaged, achy and limping.

But they did it!

Two teams of 12 b-ball loving volunteers played nonstop hoops for 109 hours — from Monday at 9 a.m. until Friday at 10 p.m. — at Clearfield Aquatic Center. It left the word “marathon” sounding like a walk in the park.

“It’s a whole new kind of tired,” said 21-year-old Jordan Petersen, of Roy, as the end drew near. “There isn’t one part of my body that doesn’t hurt.”

It wasn’t a record simply for records’ sake, either. It was a charity event for the Fallen Heroes Scholarship Fund, which provides educational aid to families of slain military personnel, law enforcement officers and firefighters.

tj ended up getting sick, toward the end. some kind of stomach bug that had him going to the bathroom at every break. he did not feel good at all, but he endured and finished the game. he was glad it was over. he and the other guys said it was one of the hardest physical things they have ever done. they were sore and a bit dehydrated, not to mention their sleep patterns are still trying to find their schedules.

it was something they will never forget. it's nice to make a bit of difference, stretch yourself and do something good.

what a way to end the year!

images from the deseret news and the salt lake tribune

2012

2012-01-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

things i'm looking forward to this year:

studying, in depth, the book of mormon

taking advantage of more opportunities to serve

crafting with my gal-friend

electing a new president

getting caught up on my blog books

just being better.

favorite instagram photo's from my phone

2011-12-29T08:59:00.001-07:00

comments off

christmas break odds and ends

2011-12-27T14:27:00.000-07:00

I made these chubby hubby bars.

the ward had a small, live nativity.

we took the fam to see the hale theatre production of A Christmas Carol.

seriously, one of the best performances of this story you could possibly see.

if you've never been-- then, may i suggest you buy your tickets early and go next season.

first it was cafe rio- then off to the theatre. it's not often that i get every one of my natural born children available. what a treat for me and big daddy!

phone pics

three of the family snowboarders ventured out into the cold and dreary slopes to do what they do out there.

they had fun.

christmas day

2011-12-27T08:10:00.004-07:00

we made the kids wait till after our 9am church meeting before opening presents.

around 10:30 we got comfy and cozy, then gathered all around the tree-- ready to see what santa brought.

i love my card door. december mail is the best!

then, in the afternoon it was time for our mexican fiesta!

O, Holy Night

2011-12-26T11:59:00.001-07:00

This is a practice run, right before church yesterday, of Ted and Amber singing, O Holy Night.

They sang this at the closing of our Sacrament meeting.

I thought it was beautiful.

christmas eve at temple square

2011-12-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

the next few posts are a bit, well... actually more than a bit, of christmas journaling.
gotta get the memories down and into my blog book.
i'll be turning the comments off till the first of the year.
hope y'all had a very merry christmas.

there is something fun about bundling up and going downtown to see all the beautiful lights!

big daddy loves his kids...a lot!

more on christmas eve

2011-12-26T09:44:00.000-07:00

after seeing the lights downtown, we headed home for a simple dinner, our devotional and a gift exchange.

~sparkling apple cider~

every year ted reads from luke 2 by candlelight.

then we exchange family gifts.

garrett had bay- she was gifted with a set of knitting tools and yarn along with this angry bird shirt.

i had big daddy---i surprised him with four brian regan tickets!

sadie ordered a necklace shauna had pinned on pinterest. shauna was thrilled!

isn't it cute how shauna's head is positioned right in front of a stocking giving her head a nice cone shape. ;)

ready or not!... and christmas time with the grands

2011-12-24T11:20:00.000-07:00

we were all pleased as punch that krista drove up with the kids from california this past week. we were sad to miss ryan--the working man had to work.

~we baked & decorated cookies~


opting for a warmer version of seeing some lights, we drove over to thanksgiving point. what a beautiful display of all sorts of lighted shapes! as we preceded to the gate to pay, we were told that the car in front of us paid our way in....ahhh, that christmas spirit in full force....

after the drive through, we went inside for a little treat. bay shared a sundae with the little ones and krista went for the hot chocolate float.

now, krista and her crew are back home awaiting santa's big visit-- pretty exciting for them as they just moved into their first home.it is beautiful! hopefully krista will blog all about it in the near future.

we are ready around here.
tonight it will be temple square to see more lights and more hot chocolate.
~and a little surprise we have in store for the homeless you always see~
then home for soup and a devotional, reading luke 2.
following that we will exchange gifts and settle down for the night.

merRy, MerrY ChRisTMaS!

A Gift to the World

2011-12-23T16:28:00.001-07:00

christmas time happenings

2011-12-19T22:55:00.001-07:00

a phenomenal Jr. High concert, complete with actual CHRISTmas songs!

a dish my family enjoyed. thank you Paula Deen for making me look good. ps- I always add a little more spice than most recipes call for. my family detests bland food! here i added red pepper flakes to the filling and sprinkled the top with a bit of paprika.

i'm still getting up at the crack of dawn (5:10am) and going to my tri-metrics class. it has gotten easier, but is still a tough, tough workout! chicken divan is not on the workout food menu...that was strictly comfort food for the kids; though i did have a taste.

i baked and baked and baked...and had many "little" tastes.

book group was at my house this month. we read a simple book called, the other wise man. the read was okay, but getting together, visiting with my friends, & playing a gifted book exchange game was a good time!

gave a little christmas lesson in sunday school. .. such a joyful time of the year to rejoice in the savior!

DeCorAted!

i'm enjoying my fake tree.

and last night....

look who showed up!

Why Mitt?

2011-12-15T18:30:00.000-07:00

As I sit here getting ready to watch the GOP debate tonight on Fox,
I thought it would be a good time to type my main reasons as to why Mitt Romney has my vote.

1. I trust him.
I trust that he will repeal Obama Care. I trust that he'll get the economy back on track. I trust that he will be a compassionate support and a strong leader to our military. I trust that he will show strength in leadership regarding the Middle East. I trust that he will treat Israel with the respect they deserve as our friend and ally.

2. He says he is pro-life and I believe him. Am I troubled by the fact that this seems to be a change from when he was governor? Nope. I think it's a wonderful thing that he has changed on that front. How I wish more governors around the county would change their views on this issue in the same way.

3. He actually understands how to stimulate the economy. In stark contrast to Obama, who would like to take from the wealthy and spread their wealth around as he sees fit, Romney truly understands how to get our economy back on track. He is a friend to those in the private sector and would create a good business environment for working America.

4. He will keep taxes low in order to aid the private sector in their ability to produce and employ.
Mitt Romney understands that it is lower taxes, less litigation in business, less government red tape, & less regulations that are the basic fundamentals in a thriving economy.

5. So why Mitt over Bachmann?
Bachmann, in all honestly, is my favorite in the ring.
So why not Bachmann? One critically important reason--
though I believe both she and Romney would, in effect, lead the same while in the White House...the big difference is that Mitt Romney can actually beat Obama!

We have got to get the candidate on the ticket who can win!

No matter how much you or I love or hate any one candidate--if we have two or three or even four different candidates who would basically follow the same path in the White House, we have to go with the one who could win. Why is that so difficult for some to understand?

Do you remember how Obama got in the White House in the first place?
He had the powerful Progressive left organization behind him. They were determined to get the most far left candidate in history on their ticket, and they did it! It was the Progressive left who had the groundwork laid and money coming in to their candidate from all directions. Yeah, Obama had the media in his back pocket, as well as some other major factors, but a huge part of his win was his charged up, incredibly corrupt, well laid out organization.
None of this has changed. The machine has only become stronger.
One thing has changed though. More people are speaking up. More average citizens are seeing this impostor for what he really is. We can win this. We will prevail. We just have to stay united and strong. We have to vote and not let our emotions get the best of us. I think there are many, and hopefully most, who realize that this election is do or die for our country and who realize we have got to put somebody on the ballot who can compete with the money and organization ahead of us.

So we've got Bachmann, Santorum, Romney, and I'll even, reluctantly, throw Perry in the mix. All four will lead us down the road to prosperity & freedom while adhering to the Constitution, but only one of those four can win! All four would take care of the men and women in uniform and repair our relationship with Israel.
But Mitt Romney is the only one with the organization and funds behind him, giving conservative America the chance to save our country.

We do want to save our country, right?

Let's keep our eye on the ball.

If you believe in America,
If you'd like to save this country from disaster
and If you are truly committed to beating Obama in the next election, then we have got to get real and vote Mitt Romney 2012!

Enjoy the debate tonight! It's broadcasting on Fox News here in about 10 minutes!

candy cane cookie note

2011-12-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

The dough for the recipe below needs to be refrigerated for at least 2 hours before rolling into the candy cane shape.

mrs. horton's candy cane cookies

2011-12-09T08:48:00.001-07:00

this is a family favorite.
i love it because it is not a peppermint flavored candy cane cookie.
instead it's flavored with a hint of lemon rind.

cAndy caNe coOkiES

2 & 3/4 cup sifted flour

1 tsp salt

1/8 tsp nutmeg (secret ingredient)

1 & 1/2 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup milk

3 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter

1 tsp grated lemon rind

1 egg

sift flour (or not), baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg onto waxed paper. cream butter with sugar til fluffy light in a large bowl; beat in egg, lemon rind & vanilla. stir in flour mixture, 1/3 at a time, adding alternately with milk and blending well to make a stiff dough. if the dough is too sticky, you can add up to 1/4 cup more flour. it also helps to flour your hands while shaping. spoon 1/2 of dough into medium-size bowl; blend in a few drops of red food coloring tinting pink; leave other half plain.
REFRIGERATE THE DOUGH FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS.
pinch off a teaspoon-full each of pink & white doughs at a time, roll each into a pencil-thin strip five inches long. press ends together then twist into a rope, bend top to form a cane shape. place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

bake in 350 oven for 10 minutes.

at the request of my children, i make these every year.

they have a sweet tang with a little spice & are especially yummy dipped in milk.

image via tastes of home

from The Blaze

2011-12-08T09:41:00.000-07:00

BECK‘S VERY EPIC ANALYSIS OF OBAMA’S ‘NEW NATIONALISM’ SPEECH — ‘HE IS LYING’

'Airing a clip in which the president repeatedly tells an audience, and the greater American public, that capitalism has “never worked” — not in 1920′s, the 1950‘s and 60’s, nor in the 1980′s — Glenn took major issue with Obama’s “fairy tales about history” and proved the president wrong by pointing to the historical instances that made each of those decades Obama smeared as a “failure of the free market,” an actual success.'

If sometimes you think nobody is seeing what is really going on; If maybe you think you're going crazy as you watch our country being taken for a ride....
Take a look here.
There are still those who get it and are not afraid to challenge the lies with- what else but the truth.
Thank you Glenn Beck!

Participation trophies?....go get 'em, right along with your sledge hammer.
Love this!

"Oh, excuse me, he's in his Mussolini pose..."

Yeah, let's just say it like it is:Obama is a foolish liar!

wordLesS WedneSdaY

2011-12-06T09:05:00.002-07:00

trimmin' the tree and other happenings

2011-12-05T12:54:00.093-07:00

sunday night, after dinner, the kids and i decorated the tree.

my children are all getting so old. it kinda makes me sad... even though we do have a lot of fun together. I'm glad they still get excited for Christmas!

big daddy sang to us as we decorated. i think he may get the most excited of all. he's such a kid when it comes to the christmas season. he loves everything about it and really goes all out on the gift giving, the food, the service and making sure the meaning of it all isn't lost. we didn't get the lights up on the roof (because i wanted to spend that $$ on a fake tree this year) and every time we drive up to our home he is bummed. oh well. our tree looks magnificent, by the way!

it's been a very busy week. blogging has certainly taken a back seat. hopefully next month i can get back in the blog posting and commenting groove... i miss that groove.

we are keeping our fingers crossed that krista and ryan get here with the little ones sometime during the month. it's just not the same without them.

i would love to post more political or maybe on the awesome blessing which we call a miracle that happened last week--- thoughts on sunday's lesson which covered parts of the book of revelation, or ted's tender moments spent with a dying friend.....i have tons of thoughts on other things besides family...but, oh, the time it takes...so lately i've just been doing what i can to document family happenings--which, let's be real, probably gets kinda boring to everyone else.

my side

2011-11-28T08:23:00.001-07:00

my side of the family ended up going different directions on thanksgiving day.

some went out to eat, others went to their in-laws, and a few just did their own thing.

so we did our best to get together on friday, meeting up at matta's,

one of the many mexican food restaurants we enjoy every time we're in arizona.

i always order the robert's taco. always.

of course, it's always the best hanging with mom!

more stripes

i would have been so disappointed had we not been able to get together. i missed the few who weren't able to make it, but you do what you can. we always have a great time laughing, teasing and playing. i've said it before... i truly have such a deep love for my nieces and nephews. i feel like we are tied close and i just really like being with them.

~saying my good-byes~

lots of family time. good people tied together, always in love.

thanksgiving day-- picture overload!

2011-11-26T10:33:00.087-07:00

this year big daddy's family had almost the whole clan there to celebrate all that we are thankful for!

we made the long drive, yes drive, from utah to arizona for some good kinsfolk bonding.

sadie watching as grandma works her magic in the kitchen.

this seriously may have been the best turkey i've ever tasted. so moist and full of flavor. glor is such a great cook! her pie crusts rocked it as well, with the perfect flavor and flakiness! she is amazing! and see that smile? that's how she is all the time- smiling and laughing. it's no wonder the grand kids love her so.

let the feasting begin!

my sis in law denise made the rolls---they melted in your mouth and were gone by the end of the evening.

i was sooo lucky to have all my kids with me for the entire day -- the best gift ever! i do wish, though, that at some point in the evening somebody would have told me that my shirt ribbon thingy was hanging out of my blouse all night long. didn't notice till i saw the pictures. niiice.

try not to let the ribbon distract you.

~catching up~

talking grand kids, politics, sports, the latest and the greatest, and more!

a huge shout out to my sis in law deena for being on top if it and capturing some of the best shots of the night.

COUSINS! honestly, some of the nicest gals you could ever meet- and i'm not just saying that; that was the observation from my son in law, ryan, who is still relatively new to the fam-- and what is it with the stripes this year? holy moly they are all over the place!

~shauna and alyssa with the heart shaped potato~

getting tickled by uncle ted

a group shot of the kids who took it outside for a mean game of tag!

big daddy with his brothers and ma and pa

super fun holiday this year, surrounded by much love. doesn't get much better!

before we ate, we ran

2011-11-25T22:28:00.001-07:00

what better way to start off your thanksgiving day morningthan with a turkey trot, trot!

tj (in the red shorts) picking up some speed and getting real sweaty running the 10k!

let it be noted....he did, in fact, beat the turkey!

my biggest little fan!

how you look as you go to hug your brother and realize his shirt is soaked in sweat...ick!

krista met her goal in the 10k run. can't remember what it was exactly, but i know it was definitely under an hour. we all are pretty much awesome in our own minds and felt ready and motivated for the feast that awaited us later in the day. it was fun to run with my girls and niece jen on what was a beautiful arizona morning.

gratitude

2011-11-25T17:16:00.001-07:00

so many things to be thankful for on a daily basis,

i think about them all the time.

it has been more recently that i've been able to find blessings

in the adversities of life.

i don't think i'm to the point where i can actually say ~ bring it on ~

but i understand the depth and growth that comes through the difficult times

and i am learning to be thankful for those events.

i see how they make me better.

this month has been a good one.
sometimes we just have to take it month by month
or even day by day.
but we take it and we learn and grow. we develop depth and character along the way
and we rely on the lord.

my heart is bursting with love

with much to feel pretty darn good about.

i hope your thanksgiving was a happy one- a time to reflect and to loVe, to strengthen those family bonds, to overeat, to laugh, & pray, and to give much ThaNks.

The Epistle of James & Pure Religion

2011-11-20T13:30:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the author of The Epistle of James was the half brother of Jesus?

Having been raised in the same household, under the same roof in childhood, he had to have known the Savior as intimately as anyone. James’ writing cannot help but reflect those lessons learned in childhood as he grew with Jesus. It is of little wonder then that James focuses on the essence of Pure Religion as a very practical, down to earth activity.

It is interesting to note that James was not fully converted until after the Lords resurrection--but then with a witness born of the spirit he knew him as Lord and God.

In his epistle, James teaches that religion is what we do because of testimony and love, focusing on the little things of which the stairway to perfection and exaltation are built.

"To have a book written by the Lord's brother is akin to having one penned by the Master himself. And in this General Epistle we find the son of Joseph, often in language reminiscent of that used by the Son of Mary, setting forth the practical operation of the doctrines taught by his Elder Brother"

"James -- religious by nature; schooled in the strict Judaism of the day; converted after our Lord's resurrection; and said to have died a martyr's death -- took upon himself the awesome responsibility to write an epistle to the saints in the dispensation of the fullness of times."

quoted by Elder Bruce R. McConkie:

Through practicing PURE RELIGION we:

* endure affliction patiently.

* pray to God in faith.

* control our tongues and be "slow to wrath."

* are "doers of the word," showing our faith by our works.

random stuff

2011-11-15T07:13:00.093-07:00

one full week of michael banks, tri-metrics class behind me.

now into my second week.

how long am i going to do this? i don't know.

the goal is at least 3 months.

that first week was killer.
and i mean K.I.L.L.E.R.

it's been a very long time since i've been that sore.

did i lose any weight?

nope, not one pound.

lovely.

saw a few movies lately.
my movie going seems to go in bundles.
puss n boots--saw it with bay and sadie. absolutely hated it. didn't laugh once. don't waste your money or your time.
moneyball was the highlight of my date-night with big daddy. loved it. a little slow moving at first, but it kept my attention and i really felt like brad pitt did it well.
tower heist--went saturday night with shauna. we both laughed. if you're up for a totally unrealistic comedy and you like eddie murphy, you'll enjoy this flick. the best part of that movie, besides being with shauna, was that i went in my sweats, ugly ugg boots and not a drop of makeup. something about that, for some reason, just felt so deliciously good.

see my newest bumper sticker

i've received more inquiries as to where one could get one just like it
than any others in my bumper sticker history.

yesterday while in the carpool lane i looked over to a knock at my window,

wondering what i did wrong, i opened my window to yet another request.

i need to order a stash and just hand them out.

last week i had the opportunity to attend two veterans day programs.

every year baylee's school puts on quite a spectacular tribute for the veterans. it never fails to be a heartwarming event.

a few years ago, the board of her particular charter opened another few schools. one is downtown and is school to many children who have immigrated here from different countries. my daughter amber is a teacher at that school. she is an english aid to those jr. high school kids still struggling with the english language. it's been a crazy, busy adventure for her.

i love this school. i love its diversity in color, and religion, and language. so different from the city in which i live. i seriously must live in the whitest city of all the nation. it is soooo vanilla and so boring in that way!

for their program they had many veterans show up. it was truly amazing.

and to hear the children sing throughout the program was just a wonderful thing. all the grades had something to present, whether it be a song or a poem or a little talk or routine.
even with all the bad and all the tearing down of this country,

good things are still happening in little pockets of this nation.

well, i'm off to lunch with some gals!

i'll leave you with a shot i took awhile back that made me smile.

looks like the movie is going to be good. can.not.wait!

2011-11-14T18:11:00.001-07:00

~A few things I've learned about receiving answers to prayer~

2011-11-13T21:19:00.095-07:00

1. We need to prepare ourselves to receive answers.

The way we are living makes a difference in recognizing answers from our Father. Where our focus is matters. That's not to say only the righteous get answers. That is not what I mean. (We all mess up, right? We are all sinners) Answers can and do come to all. I've just found that for me, the better in tune I am to my Heavenly Father and his will, the more frequently I clearly receive personal answers.

2. Prayer by itself is good; it causes us to exercise faith.

It is a way to access our Heavenly Father, giving us a connection to Him. It helps us organize our thoughts, meditate, show humility and focus on what is appropriate.

3. You get better at it. It is a practiced skill.

One can’t expect to play a beautiful song on the guitar in one sitting or with one lesson. In the same way, we develop a relationship with the Father through diligent prayer and get better at understanding the language and the promptings that come as we pray often. It takes practice. Jesus taught the parable of the pestery widow so that we would understand to ask repeatedly. (Luke 18:1-8) Through frequent prayer, we become better at it.
4. Seldom does the whole answer to an important matter or complex problem come all at once.
More often, it comes a piece at at time, without the end in sight. Some prayers require considerable effort on our part. Sometimes there is a space of time from when we pray to when we feel we have received and answer. I believe that is, in part, because our Heavenly Father knows what is best for us and wants us to gain experiences along our road to answers.
"When we seek inspiration to help make decisions, the Lord gives gentle promptings. These require us to think, to exercise faith, to work to struggle at times, and to act. Seldom does the whole answer to a decisively important matter or complex problem come all at once. More often, it comes a piece at a time, without the end in sight." Richard G. Scott.
5. Heavenly Father likes that we are asking.
It shows where our focus is in our decisions. It demonstrates faith. And He will bless us with something when we ask. see Matt: 7:7-11.
6. Through persistence and faith you will recognize your own personal answers. Sometimes answers may come in the form of other people, lessons, talks or scriptures. They may come as a little inspiration here and a little there. Some answers will come by very direct and powerful inspiration and the promptings will be clear and unmistakable.

-just a few notes from yesterday's Sunday School lesson-

we call it the 12 year old trip

2011-11-07T22:16:00.000-07:00

it goes without saying, big daddy loves his children.

he loves spending his free time with his family, talking to our children, and seeing each one flourish.

during our early years as young parents ted worked many long hours. often times he would travel on business for the better part of the week. it was a busy time with a growing business, little cash, involved church callings, and growing children of different ages and interests within the walls of our home.

so for two main reasons, we came up with the idea of a one on one trip with dad.
reason #1:
it was a way we could actually take the kids somewhere extra fun and nice.
something, at the time, we couldn't afford to do with the entire family.
reason #2:
a trip like this provided another way to give both dad and child a means for some undivided attention. a perfect opportunity for some one on one time to do and talk about whatever they wanted. it was what we hoped to be a nice approach to spending some major, quality time together, while seeking an additional opportunity for the kids to feel individually important and loved.

we decided there would be a trip with dad at the age of 12 and then again when they were in high school around the age of sixteen.

through the years, that's how it's been in our family with each of the kids

and it has proven to work out quite nicely.

that's how the 12 year old trip was born.

the kids each get to chose (within reason) where they would like to go.

at 12 years old, krista chose to go to san francisco where she and dad went to see the phantom of the opera. they also did some shopping, went to the wharf, and rode some major roller coasters at a six flags park.

amber, shauna, and sadie all went to disney world in florida.

tj went to honduras on a scuba diving trip.

baylee had the hardest time trying to decide where she wanted to go.

she finally decided, after consulting with her sisters, to go with the disney world trip.

so ted planned it all out and it ended up being disney world, epcot, disney's wild animal park, and universal studio's.

these trips always include much talking, a comfy hotel, lots of spoiling, and as always when you're with big daddy-o, a whole lot of eating!

ted can turn the eating on and off like a switch.

he can totally indulge while on vacation, then come home, do a juice fast, lose the weight, and get back on a more healthy eating schedule.

~it's not that easy for me~

~for the record, regarding this big dad one on one trip,

i'm good with the arrangement. i spend plenty of time with the kids, and though i don't have a set age where and when i may go one on one...i still go when the opportunity arises.

it's a partnership, this parenting thing, and if i remember correctly, it was me who actually came up with the idea of the dad and child one on one trip- because that's where the need was at the time.

and it's where the need is still today.

the big attraction right now at universal is

hogwarts & the harry potter world and ride.

baylee was pretty proud of herself for braving the very scary,

wild and crazy

topsy-turvy,

upside down,

loopy

& fearfully fast hulk roller coaster.

baylee loves taking pictures. i was so grateful for all the images she returned home with on her camera.

at the wild animal park you have the unusual opportunity of getting up close and personal to all of the exotic animals.

it was such a joy for both bay and for ted.

baylee was sad when it was over and time to come home.

ted, as he always does, came home reflecting on what a wonderful time he had

spending this one on one time with one of his kid-O's.

the end.

Body By Banks....let's see what we can do!

2011-11-05T13:01:00.003-06:00

today was the start of my newest fitness plan of action.

our gym is offering this new nutrition and exercise program.

i thought it might be something good for me to try,

something a little extra to help me get through the holidays without gaining any pounds,

with the possibility of even losing a few.

it's an exercise program, with major eating accountability,

~because the truth is- losing weight is really all about the eating~

which left me wondering....why did the workout have to be so hard?

seriously, two times during the 75 minute workout, (which i thought was supposed to only be 60 minutes) i started seeing black dots---thought i was going to pass out right there on the middle of the floor...

but, i endured and made it through. barely.

honestly, i really thought i was in better shape than that.

yeah, i definitely ate a little bit of humble pie today.

all my measurments, body fat percent, and weight were taken this morning.
ugh, didn't like those numbers. um yeah, and i won't be sharing those numbers.

i guess i'm supposed to take a picture and document everything that goes into my mouth,

text it to mr. micheal banks, and watch for results.

this should be interesting.
wish me luck.

an undefeated season

2011-11-04T12:50:00.000-06:00

bay just finished up her fall season of lacrosse.

her team did well, never losing a game.

~the fans~

what started out as simply something new to try,

is now a sport she is growing to love.

comments off

hey, occupy wall street.....i am the 53%!

2011-11-03T00:06:00.000-06:00

don't know about you,
but when it comes to paying taxes, working, & saving,

i am the 53%.

~the 53 percent refers to the estimated percent of people who pay income tax~

Occupy Wall Street protesters might say they represent 99% of the nation, but there's a growing number of Americans who are making it clear they are not part of the dissident crowd.

They call themselves the 53%...as in the 53% of Americans who pay federal income taxes.

The number originates in the estimate that roughly 47% of Americans don't pay federal income tax, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. The 53 percenters stress the fact that they are paying the taxes that support the government assistance the protesters say they want. (from cnn money)

the following is from my favorite political website-- the blaze--

“Show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are.”

That line is one of the famous “Mom-ilies” often heard in homes all around the country.
Perhaps mothers have drawn this wisdom from the Bible and Proverbs 13:20:

“He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

Either way, The Blaze has presented details on the people inside the OWS movement as well as those believed to be supporting it with money, material goods (sleeping bags, non-perishable foods, etc.), organizational skills, and even storage space. We have named names from the White House to the American Nazi Party, we have shown connections to several unions (like SEIU, UFT, and TWU) and pointed out the organizers like the Working Families Party and ACORN.
This morning we ask you to consider the recently posted Official list of Occupy Wall Street’s supporters, sponsors, and sympathizers put together by intrepid blogger Zombie.

“Local” supporters:

Communist Party USA
The American Nazi Party
Revolutionary Communist Party
Black Panthers
Nation of Islam’s Louis Farrakhan
CAIR

Some big names in the political world have also lent support to the cause:

President Barack Obama
Vice President Joe Biden
Nancy Pelosi

International Leaders and Governments:

Iran’s Supreme Leader, the Ayatollah Khamenei
Hugo Chavez
Revolutionary Guards of Iran
The Govt of North Korea
Communist Party of China
Hezbollah

“As each new controversial endorsement has appeared over the last month, OWS supporters have dismissed them one by one as ‘isolated examples’ that don’t reflect any overall trend toward extremism,” writes Zombie. “But when viewed in aggregate like this, it becomes much more difficult to dismiss any individual endorsement as an aberration; instead, an undeniable pattern emerges.”

Zombie has sourced the list with links back to evidence of participation or support of the Occupy Wall Street movement. It will be regularly updated.

The full list can be seen here.

halloween- 2011

2011-10-31T19:59:00.000-06:00

the dress-up festivities began with the high school,

girls choice, halloween dance.

sadie and her date went as crocodile hunters.

with it being girls choice and all,

i didn't get any pictures of the two of them together,

but i did get a few of her with this crazy boy

before she headed out.

~then it was sunday dinner--HallOweEn style~

where's waldo?

basically, just the family with bryce (garretts brother--who is kinda like family, too)

i've been wanting to have a family halloween party for a few years, but have been waiting till krista and ryan could make it into town so we could do it up right with everyone.

well, krista and ryan weren't in town,

but i went ahead with the party anyhow.

it's never the same without them- but we still managed to have fun!

but, it really bugs that they're missing out on all the family bonding merriment.

these two scored the prizes for best costumes.

tj was a red-neck

a costume he put together himself minutes before the party started.

bryce came as tony stark.

very clever. he totally deserved that win!

big daddy did not disappoint with his famous chili!

of course, we had games

and prizes, lots of food,

a dog in costume,

root beer,

and a very scary clown outside our door.

the girls team rocked the halloween themed pictionary game!

amber and shauna came out the winners of the wild and crazy, matching card, musical chairs type game.

peace out!

HapPy hAllowEen!

i am the apple lady

2011-10-28T10:44:00.000-06:00

try as i might, i just can't seem to rid myself of this reputation

and that's alright with me.

this year i put the caramel blocks into the crock-pot and melted and dipped them right there in the crock.

it worked beautifully.

we had about 25 ladies from the neighborhood show up to make their own gourmet apples.

it was crAzy fun!

first you dip in the caramel and let cool

then you dip the apple in chocolate

and sprinkle on some fun toppings.

i like the colored, sparkly sugar,

and the white, apple pie varieties the best.

~wrap them up for a beautiful presentation~

then, hurry up and give them away before you eat them all!

i'm thinking the few left that i didn't give away,

might make the perfect little prizes for our impromptu family halloween party.

Boo!

2011-10-26T16:23:00.000-06:00

fall break---california style

2011-10-24T22:18:00.000-06:00

sadie and i headed off to california for a bit of

~sister/aunt/granma/mom/daughter~

bonding time.


we spent time chilling, reading books, eating, talking---and then we were off to Disneyland!

with our little minnie mouse in tow

and our own handsome, black bat

...off we went!

october makes for an extra-interesting, people watching, time to visit the magical kingdom.


(can you guess the disney movie?)

we got in some good rides....


and some sista' time.

and a tight hug from

the original minnie!

on a recommendation from the picky palate

we stopped for lunch at the hungry bear restaurant.

sadie went for the crispy chicken sandwich. krista and i ordered the fried green tomato sandwich.

i think i enjoyed it more than krista did. their famous lemon cupcake was good--but the fruit pies, in particular the peach fruit pie, was outstanding!

saturday it was our time alone with the kids.

we headed out to a fall fair held at bates farm.

cute little sid and eliza are easy to please.

mainly, they just love the attention and being with us.

they are happy to do whatever.

and i am too.

it warms my heart every time i hear their little voices say...."grandma"

honestly, it really doesn't get much better than that!

their sweet little voices,

baby soft skin---innocence, love...

they are just so dang cute- i can't stand it!

thanksgiving can't get here fast enough!

i'm glad we took the time to go.
it was wonderful to have sadie with me
and more than just nice to visit with krista
and that cute little family of hers (including sweet ryan, of course!)
all of them...i love, love, love!

hearty potato soup and hilarious, scared people.

2011-10-20T03:00:00.000-06:00

i made this thick and creamy soup, chock full of rich, cheese flavor.

my family really loved it. i hope you do, too.

12 servings

Ingredients

9 cups cubed peeled potatoes (i threw in one sweet potato in the mix, because i love them so. brilliant call on my part. YUM!)
3 cups water
1 1/2 cups sliced celery
1 1/2 cups sliced fresh carrots
1 chopped onion
some canned or boxed chicken broth. how much ever you like. i added two boxes which was about 8 cups.
3 tsps chicken bouillon granules ( or beef base, which i really like and it has no msg)
3 tsp dried parsley (or if you have fresh, that would be better, but whatever)
1 1/2 tsp salt
few dashes of pepper
3 Tbls flour
2 1/2 cups of milk or half & half or cream or a mix of the 3....whatever, any of 'em will work.
handful or so of cheese....whatever you like. (i like the monterey jack and cheddar mix)

Directions

*in a small saucepan, combine the first nine ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

*in a bowl, combine flour and milk until smooth. stir into vegetable mixture. bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. reduce heat to low; stir in cheese until melted.

for a good laugh and the full photo-stream of people being scared in a haunted house,

go here.

(thanks krista for pinning this--super funny!)

can't go wrong with paula deen

2011-10-19T16:52:00.000-06:00

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

by Paula Deen

Ingredients:

Bars

4 eggs
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 cup canola oil
1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
3-4 cups confectioners' sugar
1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
Mix the eggs, sugar, oil and pumpkin with a mixer until light and fluffy.
Pour flour, powder, cinnamon, salt and baking soda into another bowl and mix.
Pour flour mixture into pumpkin mixture and mix until incorporated and smooth.
Pour the batter into the baking dish and level out the batter.
Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool before removing from the dish or frosting.
Frost the bars when they have cooled -- To make the frosting: Combine cream cheese and butter in a bowl and mix until smooth. Add the sugar slowly until you reach the desired consistency. Stir in the vanilla.

the perfect little autumn dessert!

you know what else is perfect?

...going up into the canyon, building a campfire and spending an evening with your family playing campfire games, singing songs and roasting marshmallows.

then, going home and sleeping in your own bed.

fun to do and good to eat

2011-10-18T09:01:00.000-06:00

fall fun with the family at cornbelly's

if you live in utah, near thanksgiving point, then you should grab your family and head on over to the cornbelly's maze.

baylee went there with her friends friday night. they had a lot of fun in the haunted corn maze and other fun activities on the grounds.

it was full of hay, haunted mazes, funny mazes, fire pits, food, hot chocolate and more.

the perfect place for some grand family fun or maybe a friday night date.

and for something good to eat,

try a very delicious greek pasta salad,

one i am sure you will like.

Greek Pasta Salad

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients:

For the Dressing

1 cup olive oil
3/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons basil dried basil
2 teaspoons dried oregano
2 teaspoons Za'atar*
1-1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons granulated sugar

For the Salad

1 pound rotini pasta cooked according to package directions
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, cut in half
1 large cucumber, seeded and chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
4 green onions, thinly sliced
3/4 cup Kalamata olives
1-1/2 cups crumbled feta cheese (or if you don't have it or if you don't like feta, you can use mozzarella)
1 7-ounce pepperoni stick, sliced

Directions:

1. In a a large Mason jar or other sealable container, combine olive oil, vinegar, garlic powder, basil, oregano, Za'atar black pepper, and sugar. Shake well to combine.
2. In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, green onions, olives, cheese and pepperoni.
3. Separate and reserve ½ cup of dressing in the refrigerator.
4. Toss the pasta salad with the rest of the dressing until evenly coated. Cover, and chill overnight.
5. Right before serving, freshen the salad with the reserved dressing, tossing to coat.

Notes:

- Pasta salad is best made the night before it is served. Reserve about ½ cup of dressing in the refrigerator and freshen the salad before serving.
- This Greek Pasta Salad recipe is totally customizable. If you aren’t a fan of something on the ingredient list, substitute it with another vegetable. You can add mushrooms, artichoke hearts, and banana peppers to this recipe with great results.
If you don't have it just make the salad anyway and put your favorite Mediterranean kind of spice in and it will still taste delicious.

recipe week

2011-10-17T07:33:00.001-06:00

i have a bunch of recipes that i've made over the last few months.
i think i'll just post them all these next few days and call it recipe week....
because i'm original like that.

starting with a salad that comes with rave reviews from my family;

posted by cinnamon girl,

it's a southwest, chicken salad.

Southwest Chicken Salad

(by Reeni)

4 corn tortillas

1-2 teaspoons olive oil

sea salt and fresh black pepper

4 cups chopped Romaine

4 cups shredded or chopped Iceberg

1 (14 ounce) can black beans, drained, rinsed and heated

1 (14 ounce) can black olives, chopped

2 ears corn, cooked, kernels removed from cob

1 cup tomatoes, chopped

1 small red onion, cut in thin slices

1 cooked rotisserie chicken

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Brush each side of the tortillas with oil. Stack and cut into 1/8 inch thick strips. Spread on baking sheet, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake about 10-15 minutes until golden brown, tossing once halfway through.

2. Meanwhile toss romaine, iceberg, beans, olives, corn, tomatoes and onion in a large mixing bowl. Thinly slice the chicken or shred. Serve on top of the salad or toss right in with tortilla strips and drizzle generously with dressing.

the original recipe comes with a salad dressing to make,

i did make it, but found that we preferred the kraft green goddess salad dressing.
also, i just used store bought corn tortilla chips instead baking them myself.

for more delicious recipes complete with some of the most beautiful food images,

check out the cinnamon girl recipe blog.

brandon flowers is a husband, a rock star, and a mormon

2011-10-16T08:47:00.000-06:00

and i raaaan

2011-10-13T07:25:00.000-06:00

i ran so far awaaayy

couldn't get away.

it was the love your body event, at thanksgiving point.

deb and i ran the 6k

on a wet, chilly morning

jogged the entire distance-

keeping a good pace.

when it was over we felt gooood!

don't let the facts get in the way of a good story

2011-10-12T07:22:00.000-06:00

she said it for me and many others.

today's post of note:

right on & right here!

day of service

2011-10-10T09:02:00.000-06:00

saturday, the members of our ward (church congregation) all gathered together for an organized day of service.

(if you know anything about our faith- you know we are a faith of service. it is a part of who we are. as active members of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints, we aid and assist our fellowmen on a regular basis. worldwide you will find 'the mormons' on the scene and providing aid at the biggest disasters. but even more so often, you will find us making meals for new moms, aiding in our communities, holding church services and visiting those in prison. members provide some of the most unseen acts, for members and non-members alike, every single day.)
typically it is not an organized event such as this. but sometimes it is.

those who participated saturday, first met at the chapel where various opportunities had been pre-arranged.

many came out to help, then spent several hours working, serving, and doing what they could to lift the burdens of others, to beautify the community, and to share and show love in action.

ted was on the organizing committee of this event. he put together a wonderful program of music and visiting at a rest home not far from our neighborhood.

James 1:27

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

the youth went from room to room making personal visits. they had a little list of questions of to ask to help spark a conversation. they also had in hand a board game of checkers.

"Too often, charity is extended to another when his actions or conduct are acceptable to us. The exhibition of charity to another must not be dependent on his performance. It should be given because of who we are- not because of how we behave."

-H. Burke Peterson, "Our Responsibility to Care for Our Own," ensign, May 1981,82

ted and amber put on an informal concert in the open hall.

they sang some country, a little bit of blue grass, some gospel, and a few hymns.

after that they took requests.

the old folks sang along to "god bless america."

"Our words, like our deeds, should be filled with faith and hope and charity, the three great Christian imperatives so desperately needed in the world today. With such words, spoken under the influence of the Spirit, tears can be dried, hearts can be healed, lives can be elevated, hope can return, confidence can prevail. ...May we all rejoice in the thoughts that when we say edifying, encouraging things unto the least of these, our brethren and sisters and little ones, we say it unto God."

-Jeffrey R. Holland, "The tongue of Angels, " Ensign, May 2007,18

this little lady wanted to sing "you are my sunshine" and so we did.
she knew the words and sang them loud and bold.

it was beautiful.

for those who couldn't make it out into the open hall, personal visits where made.

~i love this shot~

ted has a great love for the elderly. he visits here often, many times taking his sunday school class of 17 yr olds with him.

"Is it not possible to look beyond the canes, the wheelchairs, the braces, and the crutches into the hearts of the people who have need of these aides? They are human beings and want only to be treated as ordinary people. they may appear different, move awkwardly, and speak haltingly, but they have the same feelings. ...They want to be loved for what they are inside, without any prejudice for their impairment. Can there not be more tolerance for differences-differences in capacity, differences in body and in mind?"

-James E. Faust, "The Works of God," Ensign, Nov. 1984,54

it was a great afternoon.

for more photos of the other service projects

going on that day,

go here.

sunday funny

2011-10-09T13:06:00.003-06:00

wordless wednesday at the farmers market

2011-10-05T07:13:00.001-06:00

comments off

the last of the warm weather

2011-10-04T09:08:00.000-06:00

this last week-end my bro-in-law (big daddy's brother) an his wife, my sis-law denise, were in town for an africa mission reunion. it's always fun when they come and such a treat as they stock our fridge with tortilla's from carolina's and authentic red chili peppers that just can't be found here in utah.

they were sweet enough to get up bright and early and come with us to baylee's lacrosse game.

later in the afternoon, the weather was perfect for one last little bit on the lake. so off we went.

i think most people have called it a season, as far as boating is concerned, so we pretty much had the entire lake to ourselves.

other stuff we did over the week-end:

denise, my mom, and i headed over to tai pan to check out the goods. (i'm really considering one of their fake christmas trees this year) denise loves to cook and craft, so i soaked in a few good tips of hers in those areas.

we all had lunch at red iguana (we never tire of mexican food)

and strolled through the farmers market.

all that mixed in with a little talk about paul the apostle, where we want to go on our next big trip, and of course some chatter on the latest in politics.

it was a fun week-end.

conference week-end

2011-10-03T08:52:00.000-06:00

this week-end was our semi-annual world wide conference broadcast

for members of our church

and any others who wanted to listen in.

we have a tradition of gathering as a family,

beginning sunday morning

with my famous crepes.

this year i think the nutella banana crepes were the all- around favorite!

here in utah all the conference sessions are easy to watch. they are broadcast right on our tv in the comfort of our living room.
people all over the world gather for this conference. they meet in church houses where they can listen via satellite or they live-stream it through the internet.

after enjoying all the uplifting talks on sunday, we decided to take a little ride up the canyon to see all the fall foliage.

so we hopped in the truck--some in the front, some in the back and a few in the bed (yes, it is legal in utah) and off we went up big cottonwood canyon.

baylee shot this one from the bed of the truck

one of my favorite talks this year was given by president monson.
he talked of prayer and inspiration from the lord.
the following are the notes via lds.org from his talk.

'Communication with Heavenly Father — including "our prayers to Him and His inspiration to us" — is necessary in order for Latter-day Saints to weather the storms and trials of life, said President Thomas S. Monson. The Lord invites us: 'Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you. Seek me diligently and ye shall find me. As we do so, we will feel His spirit in our lives, providing us the desire and the courage to stand strong and firm in righteousness — to stand in holy places and not be moved."

Speaking during the Sunday morning session of the Church's 181st Semiannual General Conference, President Monson said he felt impressed to share "certain thoughts and feelings which I consider to be pertinent and timely." President Monson said he has lived on the earth for 84 years. "Yesterday's science fiction has become today's reality. And that reality, thanks to the technology of our times, is changing so fast we can barely keep up with it — if we do at all. … Also evolving at a rapid rate has been the moral compass of society. Behaviors which once were considered inappropriate and immoral are now not only tolerated but also viewed by ever so many as acceptable." President Monson told the worldwide congregation that they need not "wring their hands in despair" and wonder how they "will ever survive in such a world." "Indeed," explained President Monson, "we have in our lives the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we know that morality is not passé, that our conscience is there to guide us, and that we are responsible for our actions."

"Although the world has changed, the laws of God remain constant. They have not changed; they will not change. The Ten Commandments are just that — commandments. They are not suggestions. They are every bit as requisite today as they were when God gave them to the children of Israel.

The Church's code of conduct is definitive; it is not negotiable.

It is found not only in the Ten Commandments but also in the Sermon on the Mount, given to us by the Savior when He walked upon the earth. It is found throughout His teachings. It is found in the words of modern revelation."

"Father in Heaven is the same yesterday, today and forever. His constancy is something on which we can rely, an anchor to which we can hold fast and be safe, lest we be swept away into uncharted waters."

It may appear at times that those out in the world are having much more fun than those in the Church, he said. "Some of you may feel restricted by the code of conduct to which we in the Church adhere. My brothers and sisters, I declare to you, however, that there is nothing which can bring more joy into our lives or more peace to our souls than the Spirit which can come to us as we follow the Savior and keep the commandments. That Spirit cannot be present at the kinds of activities in which so much of the world participates."

President Monson told Church members they must be vigilant in a world that has moved so far from that which is spiritual. "It is essential that we reject anything that does not conform to our standards, refusing in the process to surrender that which we desire most — eternal life in the Kingdom of God. The storms will still beat at our doors from time to time, for they are an inescapable part of our experience in mortality. We, however, will be far better equipped to deal with them, to learn from them and to overcome them if we have the gospel at our core and the love of the Savior in our hearts."

President Monson said it is necessary that Church members communicate with their Heavenly Father through prayer.

"He wants us to do so. He will answer our prayers."

"Not a day has gone by that I have not communicated with my Father in Heaven through prayer. It is a relationship I cherish — one I would literally by lost without. If you do not now have such a relationship with your Father in Heaven, I urge you to work toward that goal. As you do so, you will be entitled to His inspiration and guidance in your life — necessities for each of us if we are to survive spiritually during our sojourn here on earth. Such inspiration and guidance are gifts. He freely gives if we but seek them. What treasures they are.""

President Monson said he is always humbled and grateful when his Heavenly Father communicates with him through inspiration. "I have learned to recognize it, to trust it, and to follow it," he said. "Time and time again I have been the recipient of such inspiration."

"As the winds of change swirl around Church members and as the moral fiber of society continues to disintegrate, may we remember the Lord's precious promises to those who trust in Him:

'Fear thou not; for I am with thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.'"

I especially loved the experience he shared about the inspiration he received to call on a specific speaker for a conference, many years ago.

it was a beautiful weekend. i am glad i was able to share it with much of my family close by.

2 things i like

2011-09-29T10:57:00.000-06:00

this new toby video

uhm yes, he is sexy.

and the new egg cooker, my sexy man bought!

now, everyday, our eggs are cooked to perfection without the shell sticking to the white.

i love it!

that's all.

worDlesS WedNesDaY

2011-09-28T07:27:00.000-06:00

image via shauna

Week-End in Pictures

2011-09-26T08:31:00.000-06:00

Friday evening started out with dinner at the Red Iguana. I had never been there before. It was deeeLicious!

Looking for something to do- we rode over the the Usana Amphitheater;

Wandering over, without a clue... and what do you think we found?

Only one of Big Daddy's favorite bands, STYX along with REO Speedwagon, getting ready to take the stage!

Score!

We bought two tickets and in we went for a night of good ol' 80's Rock and Roll.

Concert crowds are always an interesting bunch.

Tommy Shaw;

He's still got it!


Saturday started off with a lacrosse game in American Fork. *Why is that dang school so hard to find?*

Then later, for half the family, it was Mary Poppins!

I stayed behind and went to a broadcast featuring my favorite living apostle,

Elder Uchdorf.

Loved his talk, as usual!

Sunday morning church service and meetings, a much needed nap

and dinner (we're talking beef tacos and veggies)

with this for dessert.

all that mixed in with the stresses of raising teenagers,

the madness from a few crazies,

and a roaring headache.

How'd YOUR week-end go?

Fall Decor and other random things makin' me happy

2011-09-23T14:23:00.003-06:00

I think I enjoy decorating for fall even more than for Christmas.

Fall is in the air and it's making me want to throw some kind of autumn party.

Secret deodorant in vanilla flavor. Yes, that makes me happy every morning when I flavor my underarms with one of my favorite scents.

Around my house you can find some of the best running trails.

I've been jogging more lately - trying to make sure I'm ready for this little event-

and I sure appreciate the variety of trails to choose from.

Finding all kinds of events to take advantage of via the Heber Valley Railroad. The zip line looks pretty fun or maybe just cruising down the canyon soaking in all the beauty and colors of the season.

I think any one of these activities would bring a smile to my face.

Going to Costco, for some reason this little weekly outing is something I look forward to.

Pinterest- Have you discovered it yet? It's the best answer to my organizing & filing needs. I've found it helpful as I stumble upon some of the greatest ideas around. Pinterest is just plain fun! You'll love poking around and seeing what's new out there in the world of undiscovered ideas. Plus, it's solved many a dilemma's for me on what to make for dinner on any given night.

My weekly Monday afternoon religion class. I love studying the life of Christ in detail. Our teacher is one of the best. It's the highlight of my week.

That's what's been making me happy lately.

What made you most happy this week?

sadie's first dance.....homecoming 2011

2011-09-20T08:44:00.000-06:00

this last week-end was the big homecoming football game and dance for the kids at our local high school.

sadie was so excited to be asked to the dance. in our family and within our faith, the kids typically wait until they are 16 years old before they start dating. so last year, when she was only fifteen, as the dances came and went, sadie patiently waited and looked forward to her junior year.

aren't big sisters the best!? shauna helped her get ready for the big date.

i think she looked beautiful.

...always happy when it's a nice clean cut, handsome boy coming to the door. the two of them looked stunning together.

here they are in living color.

sadie had a very fun evening. they went to texas roadhouse for dinner. then, off to the dance where they stayed for quite a long time, because they were having so much fun, and then the group headed over to jeff's house to watch a movie; the dark night (one of sadie's favorites)

the halloween dance is next. it's girls choice and i'm pretty sure sadie already has somebody in mind who she'd like to ask.

fun times!

2011-09-19T08:09:00.000-06:00

comments off

sunflowers

2011-09-16T09:10:00.000-06:00

it's that time of year again

while on a bike ride, deb and i passed a brilliant field of sunflowers

not wanting to stop our momentum, i cycled right past, vowing to come back

i wanted to come back

i needed to come back

big daddy patiently waited while i mosied through the field

i felt the warmth of the sunshine mixed with love throughout my body

deep into my soul

and i liked it.

delta airlines.....YOU STINK!

2011-09-15T15:10:00.003-06:00

i'm not one to complain. (well, at least that's how i'd like to think of myself. some in my family--eh hem big daddy-- might beg to differ) but seriously, complainers are some of the least fun people to be around.
yet, sometimes in a free society, where there are other options and when a company is flat out wrong or deceiving in their measures......then, it's time to complain.

recently when i booked a flight for my 12 year old to go visit her sister in california, i ended up greatly disappointed in the events that transpired.

the following is my complaint letter to delta airlines:

To whom it may concern,

I am very disappointed in Delta airlines. I recently planned a trip for my 12 year old daughter to fly from Salt Lake city to San Diego for a visit to see her older sister. I chose Delta Airlines after searching on the internet for the best prices. In comparing, I noticed that Delta had a non-stop flight which sold for about 30 dollars less than Southwest. I filled out all the required information, including her age and a proclamation that she would be flying alone. Upon entering the information, the website fed back to me the details and final cost of her flight, including a reminder that she was too young to sit in an exit row seat.
When we arrived at the ticket counter to pick up her boarding pass we were then informed we would be required to pay an additional $100 for a non-escorted child under the age of fourteen. I was shocked to not have read a discloser stating this policy when booking her flight.
I understand your right to have and enforce this policy. What I don't understand is why it wasn't included in the price when I booked her flight in the first place! As I stated before, upon booking I listed her age and that she would be flying alone.
This kind of marketing is flat out deceitful and it is wrong.
The Delta representative in Salt Lake said this $100 fee would cover the underage child both distances; round trip.
That was not true. Another $100 was required & charged as she left San Diego for her return trip home to Salt Lake.
(Insert sarcasm here) Hey, I know, how about when booking a flight THE REAL COST FOR THE FLIGHT IS LISTED for children under the age of 14! I ended up paying two hundred more dollars than initially charged when I booked the flight online. You successfully deceived me and I am sure many other customers in this situation with your listed prices on your Delta web site. This company has a bad reputation of nickel and diming customers with baggage fees and food and everything else. It's ridiculous and you should be ashamed of your misrepresentation and unfair non-disclosure of you policies.
From here on out, I will go with Southwest, America West or Jet Blue, ...any airline but Delta!

Sincerely,
Another very unsatisfied, FORMER, customer!

side note:
i complained to anybody & everybody i could find at that airlines that day;
the lady at the ticket counter, the website feedback line, and then i called delta airlines.
the phone call was pretty much par for the course with everything else regarding delta.
first it took me forever to get to the right department to issue my complaint. then when i finally did get connected, do you know who was on the other line?
a freakin' woman from india with an accent so thick i couldn't understand what the crap she was saying. was she sympathetic? i have no idea. would i get a refund? who knows. i finally just uttered something to the sort of 'are you kidding me?' told her i couldn't understand a word she was saying and that i'd take this up somewhere else.

now, what to do with the $2000 in delta vouchers ( from a prior delta screw up) we still need to use?

anyway, the moral of the story,
don't fly delta unless you have to.
delta airlines stink!

on the lake

2011-09-14T07:47:00.000-06:00

my hottie

upside down

boating makes kota smile

comments off

lea salonga

2011-09-13T11:38:00.000-06:00

big daddy has a little culture
and i love how it rubs off onto me, enriching my life.

the other day he called the ticket booth, desperately wanting tickets to the lea salonga performance at the Y. her concerts had been sold out for weeks. of course, as his luck would have it, 2 tickets had just become available! can you say..."up close and center seats!" so, off we went to our spontaneous outing and most spectacular concert starring, lea salonga.

if you enjoy musicals, you might remember her from this production:

les mis, definitely a family favorite around here.  pretty sure my kids know every word to every song in that musical. 

lea salonga has the voice of an angel. her voice and rendition of 'for good' brought me to tears. big daddy said that was his favorite of the night.

other songs and performances she is famous for include the singing voice of mulan in mulan and the song voice of jasmine in aladdin.
of course, she was kim in miss saigon, another wonderful musical performance.
most recently she performed as fontine singing i dreamed a dream for the 25th anniversary production of les miserables in london.

it was truly a night of beauty and just plain relaxation as we sat back and enjoyed her talent.
she sang ballads, hits, songs from musicals, and broadway favorites, mellow stuff, and pop.
one of my favorite, off the wall, performances of the night was when she broke out with a little gaga.

it was a fun, fun outing. if you ever have the chance to see her live, do it! you'll love the feeling of her music and it will prove to be an enjoyable evening.

scenes from the sandy city 9-11 memorial

2011-09-12T09:45:00.000-06:00

lately, on sunday afternoons, big daddy and i pick a new destination to check out on the harley.
yesterday we headed to sandy city.

more than 3,000 american flags were on display at the healing field flag memorial
adjacent to sandy city hall.

utah flags were placed with names and descriptions in honor of utah's fallen soldiers.

the statue, known as "hope rising - to lift a nation," depicts the three firemen who raised the american flag at ground zero after the attacks at the world trade center.

each flag was tagged with a card containing a memoir of a 9/11 victim.

i quietly listened as this sweet mom explained the events of that day, 10 years ago, to her daughter.

here we have a grandma sitting with her grand kids; again, explaining the meaning of this memorial and the events which brought it about. i witnessed many similar scenes throughout the field.

after reading this card, i couldn't bear to read any more.

it was a beautiful memorial. when big daddy and i headed over, we had no idea how magnificent and touching it would be. we simply thought we were heading toward a field of flags. this was so much more. it was touching to see so many there remembering, teaching, and paying their respects.

2011-09-11T20:34:00.002-06:00

~and grandma loves her so!

10 years ago

2011-09-10T19:07:00.000-06:00

things changed.

Ten years ago,

I changed.

On that morning, while getting the kids up and ready for the day,
I remember my daughter Krista coming into the kitchen and telling me to turn on the tv.

Afterwards, I remember how it felt like each day passed in slow motion.
I recall that I was unable to rid my mind of the images; people perched on buildings....jumping....
And the unimaginable sight of the twin towers collapsing in upon themselves.
I remember praying for the victims, their families, and for our nation.
I remember a country united.

Today, I look and I see a nation divided.
I am sick to my stomach with the thought of a mosque just steps away from the twin towers site and what that truly signifies. It seems like this is nothing but another type of Islamic jihad against 9/11 survivors, their family members, and our country.
I cringe as I listen to the current mayor of New York justifying his ban on religious leaders sharing their thoughts on God, faith, and love at the remembrance ceremonies held this weekend.

Speaking of remembrance ceremonies, the key word is "remembrance." That is what we are doing. We are remembering;
remembering the families affected, remembering our service men and women who went to battle in our name. Remembering the Hero's of that day. There were many.

Today, we have at our head, a president who never quite gets it- who preaches September 11th as a day of service.
Why is he so dead-set on distracting us from the fact that, on this day, we were attacked by Jihadist Muslims?
From the start, this President's head just has not been in the American freedom loving game.
It never seems like he's in the cheering section for this nation or the people he has been elected to lead.

You know what else I remember? I remember leadership and courage. I remember Rudy Guiliani providing great comfort and empathy with a resolve to support the people of New York.
I remember President Bush who, during those days and weeks, even months after, making decisions appropriately and with sincerity. I remember those on both side of the aisle, who cared and understood what we were up against and who proclaimed a firm resolve to never allow something like this to happen again.

That is what I remember.

Former U.S. president George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush bow their heads during ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attack in Shanksville, Pennsylvania September 10, 2011.

As I often do around this time of year,

I've been looking for just the right video to post;

something that speaks to my heart.

I found it this morning.

It's a beautiful speech, one of his best.

George W. Bush speaking at the Flight 93 Memorial Speech, September 10, 2011

And this, my friends, is just another example of why I love and respect George W. Bush.

May we never forget.

hat tip to gateway pundit for the video and image

the happiest thing this week

2011-09-08T14:59:00.000-06:00

came in the form of a quick visit from these munchkins

alpine bike jump

2011-09-07T08:25:00.001-06:00

tj and friends latest thrill

a few images from sadie's portfolio

2011-09-06T22:02:00.003-06:00

her youthful 15 year old look

a more grown up statement

fun & in school

rockin' her pink high heels

sadie has been enjoying this new modeling venture she's been exploring.

she's always been my 'dress up' girl--
so this little form of dress up has been a whole lot of fun for her.

Thoughts on Charity- The Pure Love of Christ

2011-09-04T16:59:00.001-06:00

1 Corinthians 13: 1-3

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not ^acharity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the gift of ^aprophecy, and understand all ^bmysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the ^apoor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

I love Paul's teachings regarding charity. As he proceeds in the verses following, he does not define charity philosophically; instead he defines its behavior.
In other words, he does not tell us what love is or is not;
he tells us what love does or does not do.

The pure love of Christ
does—

Have patience (is long-suffering)
Rejoice in the truth.
Bear all things.
Believe in all things.
Hope for all things.
Endure all things.
Persist without failing.
Have preeminence among the spiritual qualities.

The pure love of Christ
does not-

Envy.
Vaunt (or exalt) itself.
Have puffed up or inflated ideas of its own worth.
Behave itself unseemly.
Seek its own ends.
Provoke easily.
Think evil.
Rejoice in iniquity.

As I studied to teach this lesson on charity, I was reminded,
it's not really about what you do for others- it's about how you make others feel.

The reoccurring thought kept coming to my mind;
At the end of the day....all anybody wants is to be and feel loved.
It is through the pure love of Christ (charity) that...
missionaries rapidly learn difficult languages and are blessed with words with which to defend the truth; fathers give inspired blessings to their children; through faith mothers assist their husbands in healing ill family members; teachers are granted special thoughts while preparing and delivering lessons so that the students are edified. Testimonies grow, people are healed, directions are given, knowledge and wisdom come to the thirsting unenlightened--
All based on the love which transforms the giver into a Christlike servant who blesses, encourages, and strengthens others in love.

I believe it's a switchboard in our life to our teaching--this charity. Once we can look at those who are hard to love; the drug addict, the prisoner, the rebellious child; when we see the shy child in the corner or the mean girl; the grumpy old lady..when we see the sad and the lonely, and say to ourselves, 'deep down, all they really want is to be is loved', then we have changed.
And in that change we are better equipped and able to help bring others to Christ.
In that change, we, ourselves are more ready to meet Him.

CS Lewis (whom I lovingly like to call our 13th apostle..wink wink) voiced it well-as Compound Interest- when he wrote his explanation of how a Christian develops such charity.
From his writings in Mere Christianity he wrote:

Compound Interest

Though Christian charity sounds a very cold thing to people whose heads are full of sentimentality, and though it is quite distinct from affection, yet it leads to affection. The difference between a Christian and a worldly man is not that the worldly man has only affections or ‘likings’ and the Christian has only ‘charity’. The worldly man treats certain people kindly because he ‘likes’ them: the Christian, trying to treat every one kindly, finds himself liking more and more people as he goes on- including people he could not even have imagined himself liking at the beginning.
This same spiritual law works terribly in the opposite direction. The Germans, perhaps, at first ill-treated the Jews because they hated them: afterwards they hated them much more because they had ill-treated them. The more cruel you are, the more you will hate; and the more you hate, the more cruel you will become- and so on in a vicious circle for ever.
Good and evil both increase at compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance. The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of. An apparently trivial indulgence in lust or anger today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible.

This lesson was a great motivator. As I studied, I certainly felt the love and patience of my Savior. Once again I am recommitted to do better, to to take this particular principle into my life and to love more fully.

a successful first week

2011-09-02T17:40:00.001-06:00

so far she loves her teachers--hooray!

her math teacher is her favorite -she says, he's funny, interesting and super nice!
and if there ever were a favorite to be had, let it be the math teacher, for sure!

she said the kids are nice- she already knew most of them.

her history teacher opened class by having the students write a little essay on what things are great about our country and what could be improved. i had to laugh at her first recommendation for improvement. it went something like this: ...(you know what's coming, don't you?)

' for starters, we could get obama out of the white house'

yes, she is my daughter-(and she has an extremely high i.q ;)).

then at roll call, in science class, her teacher called out her name and wondered if she was related to one of his favorite football players! he casually/jokingly asked....'haha you related to todd?' he about fell out of his seat when she nonchalantly said, yes.

today, when i picked bay up at the end of the day, she reported that she was having troubles keeping everything straight in her head & organized.

7th grade is a bit of an adjustment that way.

in addition to her full time school schedule, she now has lacrosse games, as well as basketball practices, and guitar....she's a busy little lady. which is just the way we like it!

bye, bye summer.

2011-09-01T10:36:00.002-06:00

just a few highlight of our summer time fun.

sadie landed her first job at the snow shack.

she worked many hours and received some pretty nice tips.

she loved having all that extra spending money.

then it was especially for youth in salt lake, girls camp and youth conference.

baylee snuck in her own trip to california to touch base with big sis krista and family.

...and many other fun events and happenings:

fun on the boat, beautiful yellow roses for my b-day--many days of enjoying my favorite summer treat (the snowie) fun in the sun; of course our big family trip to the beach in north carolina--4th of july fireworks, a girls trip, motorcycle rides, an outstanding performance in joseph by amber, ice cream and bike rides.

oh, summer time....how i will miss you!

tennis anyone?

2011-08-30T09:28:00.000-06:00

baylee had been wanting to take tennis lessons.

so, with a few free couple of weeks before school started, that coincided with lessons offered at one of the community clubs,

i signed her up with one of her neighbor friends.

this looks more like a basketball move than any kind of tennis form.

that's better.

baylee and riley took the morning lessons

while me and riley's mom-& my sweet friend, kim, ended up taking our own lessons in the evenings for two weeks.

it was quite fun and i learned a lot;

but it was so much harder than it looks.

I loved getting out in the sunshine and learning something new.

and i must say, when i looked at these pictures, i was struck once again with how incredibly beautiful it is here in utah-- being surrounded by such magnificent mountains and blue skies... absolutely gorgeous!

happy monday!

2011-08-29T08:59:00.000-06:00

have a great DaY!

Sunday Devotion --Ordained

2011-08-28T14:54:00.003-06:00

A few weeks ago T.J. was ordained an elder and given, through the authority of our Heavenly Father, the Melchizedek Priesthood.

This priesthood is the eternal power and authority of God. Through the priesthood God created and governs the heavens and the earth. Through this power He redeems and exalts His children, bringing to pass “the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39).

God gives priesthood authority to worthy male members of the Church so they can act in His name for the salvation of His children. Priesthood holders can be authorized to preach the gospel, administer the ordinances of salvation, and govern the kingdom of God on the earth.

Through the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood, Church leaders guide the Church and direct the preaching of the gospel throughout the world.
In the ordinances of the Melchizedek Priesthood, "the power of godliness is manifest" This greater priesthood was given to Adam and has been on the earth whenever the Lord has revealed His gospel. It was taken from the earth during the Great Apostasy, but it was restored in 1829, when the Apostles Peter, James, and John conferred it upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery.

Although the authority of the priesthood is bestowed only on worthy male members of the Church, the blessings of the priesthood are available to all—men, women, and children. We all benefit from the influence of righteous priesthood leadership, and we all have the privilege of receiving the saving ordinances of the priesthood.

I am grateful for the power of the priesthood. I have felt its influence within my home. My dad held this priesthood, (and still does, even in the next life), as does my husband. It is truly a great spiritual gift and a wonderful blessing in my life and in the life of my family.

sourced via lds.org

9-11...Coming up on 10 years

2011-08-26T10:44:00.003-06:00

Though I remember vividly the events of September eleventh,
I feel it important for my younger children to know and understand what happened to our nation on that dreadful day.

In this preview of a national geographic special on 9-11, President Bush recalls the unfolding events of those first moments, when we knew our nation was under attack.

The full documentary, "Remembering 9/11", will air on Sunday, August 28th.

girls, a grizzly, bikes, and a boat!

2011-08-23T15:36:00.001-06:00

a few weeks ago, i along with a few others, was invited on a ladies get-away.
the destination...my friend carrie's family cabin in montana.

carrie and i have been close since she moved in right next door to me, several years ago.

we have much in common, we are the same age, we both love to cycle and have fun. she's super easy to be with and talk to, and the two of us truly hit it off right from the start.

i was thrilled she asked me,

but resisted going.

girl trips longer than a day have never been my thing.

i couldn't image we'd have enough to talk about for 3 days straight.

and besides, i really am kind of a homebody.

but she did not give up and i was prodded- just a bit- which is usually all it takes.
yep, a little prodding and absolutely loving the other two ladies in tow, was pretty much all it took.

the next thing i knew, i was packed and in the car, headed toward the adventure that awaited us, five hours away.

and here we are. ann, one of my very good friends and cycling buddy, me, carrie- the hostess with the mostest, and my sweet friend and neighbor who lives right across the street, shawn.

let it be known, right from the start-- we had plenty to talk about, plenty to do, and a whole lot of fun!


we took a little trip through yellowstone. just a bunch of middle aged ladies....well 3 of us anyway, ann is the baby of the group, just a cruising together through the beauty of the park!

we came upon a grizzly bear. the highlight of our yellowstone, day-trip!

and a very large elk!

i was pleased to find i'd have my own space for the 3 nights. isn't this just the cutest little cabin room you ever did see?

this was not just some -sitting around eating and talking- kind of trip.

we broke out the mountain bikes and pedaled around.

we saw many bald eagles!

we hooked the tube up to the boat & headed out on the lake for some good ol' youthful fun!

carrie suggested a wet suit, so i tried it.

it was horrible and it didn't take long before i ripped that baby off!


did some skiing, had the tunes blaring loud and we laughed, talked, and snacked all day long!

pelicans in montana! who knew?

carrie--the life of the party. she was ready for fun & adventure every minute of the day!

here we are in the cabin kitchen getting ready for a wonderfully delicious dinner---taco salad!

and of course, we did step into town for a bit of small town shopping!

as the nights fell, we chilled at the cabin to some soft music (think james taylor and john denver, billy joel and other oldies....all played on grandma's old record player) then it was movie time and muddy buddies. then it was off to bed!

it was a super fun trip and i'm so glad i went.

funny thing is i was in a bit of a funk the last little while,

this little get away, full of support and love and friendship ended up being just what i needed to get back on track!

friendships must be given time and nourishment.

i am grateful for the good friends in my life.