This video is amazing. I have no more words for it. Just watch it. You'll see.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Relief Society
We had a Stake Enrichment last night where they invited the Sacramento Temple President and his wife to speak to us. I guess the theme for the night was "Women are, that they might have joy." So they talked about 3 words that brought great joy to their lives and that they tried to ponder on and apply everyday. 1) The Creation. 2) The Fall. 3) The Atonement.
Even though, I thought she was going to say something entirely different, I was able to apply it to my life imeadiately. Each new day is a Creation. I can Create things with the kids, I can Create fun and happy times. I can Create smiles and laughter. But there is going to be a Fall. The kids are going to Fall. They are going to whine. They are going to disobey. I am going to get mad, lose my pateince and yell. That is life. But I have to realize that there is the Atonement. That I can give that anger to the Lord and let him deal with it and I can go back to the Creation stage.
In the original Creation, after they created something, they would always say, "And it was Good." I need to look at my life and say, "And it was good" more often. I need to realize the good in everything and everyone. They also talked about our Trials and how we can find joy in them and that each trial is just an opportunity to know the Savior better.
They were both great talks that had more to them, but that is what I got out of it that I need to apply to my own life. But the best part of the night was the closing song. I've sung this hymn before but it had never hit me like it did last night. It seems like a prayer I need to say everyday.
Hymn #131
More Holliness Give Me
More holliness give me,
More strivings with-in,
More patience in suff'ring,
More sorrow for sin,
More faith in my savior
More sense of his care,
More joy in his service,
More purpose in prayer.
More gratitude give me,
More trust in the Lord,
More pride in his glory,
More hope in his word,
More tears for his sorrows,
More pain at his grief,
More meekness in trial,
More praise for relief.
More purity give me,
More strength to o'er-come,
More freedom from earth stains,
More longing for home,
More fit for the kingdom,
More used would I be,
More blessed and holy-
More, Savior, like thee.
Even though, I thought she was going to say something entirely different, I was able to apply it to my life imeadiately. Each new day is a Creation. I can Create things with the kids, I can Create fun and happy times. I can Create smiles and laughter. But there is going to be a Fall. The kids are going to Fall. They are going to whine. They are going to disobey. I am going to get mad, lose my pateince and yell. That is life. But I have to realize that there is the Atonement. That I can give that anger to the Lord and let him deal with it and I can go back to the Creation stage.
In the original Creation, after they created something, they would always say, "And it was Good." I need to look at my life and say, "And it was good" more often. I need to realize the good in everything and everyone. They also talked about our Trials and how we can find joy in them and that each trial is just an opportunity to know the Savior better.
They were both great talks that had more to them, but that is what I got out of it that I need to apply to my own life. But the best part of the night was the closing song. I've sung this hymn before but it had never hit me like it did last night. It seems like a prayer I need to say everyday.
Hymn #131
More Holliness Give Me
More holliness give me,
More strivings with-in,
More patience in suff'ring,
More sorrow for sin,
More faith in my savior
More sense of his care,
More joy in his service,
More purpose in prayer.
More gratitude give me,
More trust in the Lord,
More pride in his glory,
More hope in his word,
More tears for his sorrows,
More pain at his grief,
More meekness in trial,
More praise for relief.
More purity give me,
More strength to o'er-come,
More freedom from earth stains,
More longing for home,
More fit for the kingdom,
More used would I be,
More blessed and holy-
More, Savior, like thee.
Monday, January 26, 2009
The 1500's
I've gotten this e-mail before but thought you all might enjoy. I have done no research to back it up so take what you can and leave what you can't.
~~~
* LIFE IN THE 1500'S *
~~~
~~~
The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the1500s:
~~~
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
~~~
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water."
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water."
~~~
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no woodunderneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying. "It's raining cats and dogs."
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no woodunderneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying. "It's raining cats and dogs."
~~~
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.
~~~
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, "Dirt poor."
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, "Dirt poor."
~~~
The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entrance way. Hence the saying a 'thresh hold.'
~~~
In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, "Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old."
In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, "Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old."
~~~
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat.
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, "bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat.
~~~
Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
~~~
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the 'uppercrust.'
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the 'uppercrust.'
~~~
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple ofdays and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of "holding a wake."
Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple ofdays and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of "holding a wake."
~~~
England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, "saved by the bell" or was considered a ... "dead ringer."
England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift.) to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be, "saved by the bell" or was considered a ... "dead ringer."
~~~
And that's the truth. Now, whoever said History was boring!!!
And that's the truth. Now, whoever said History was boring!!!
~~~
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo
Ok, this picture was taken the first time I made this a few months ago. I've made it several times since then and I love it. It's so simple yet I still feel like I'm cooking something fancy. My mother in law gave me this recipe book called, 'Campbell's 1-2-3 Dinner.' Here is their recipe and then I'll tell you the changes I made. 
1/2 package uncooked linguine (8 ounces)
1 cup fresh or frozen brocoli flowerets
2 tablesppns butter or margarine
1 pound skinless, bonless chicken breasts, cubed
1 can 103/4 ounces) Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1. Prepare linguine according to package directions. Add broccoli for last 4 minutes of cook time. Drain.
2. In medium skillet over medium-high heat, heat butter, Add chicken and cook until browned, stirring often.
3. Add soup, milk, cheese, pepper and linguine misture and cook through, stirring occassionally. Serve with additional Parmesan cheese.
Makes 4 servings.
I'm not a huge fan of linguine or any other type of long noodle, only in spaghetti and even then I don't enjoy it all over my chin. So I changed the pasta to rotini (or corkscrew) because I like it better and it's easier for the kids to stab themselves. Even though we are pretty much considered a family of 4 (3 adults plus 2 kids) I usually double the recipe witch means 16 ounces of pasta. I also put in way more than a cup of broccoli and less than half a pound of chicken. (We are trying to cut down meats and add more vegies.) I kind of forgot about the milk and the butter when I made it again so I guess those aren't completely neccesary ingredients, but I also use one of the family size cans of Mushroom soup so that probably accounted for the lost milk. Since I doubled most everything else I also double the cheese and pepper sometime adding even more cheese.
I'm usually not a fan of pepper but it really added to the flavor of this meal. I tried too put the pepper in as one of the first things to the sauce so that it had time to simmer throughout rather than being real strong in certain spots. All in all it's my favorite mean to make right now so I hope you all try it and enjoy it as much as I do.
Friday, January 16, 2009
New Hobby
One of my friends from the ward is super awesome at Scrapbooking and Cardmaking and has ALL the fancy do-dads to go with it. Since this is an area I feel I am lacking in she let me come over to her house (several months ago) to make some wedding cards. Watching her work was amazing and it opened something inside of me where I was like, "Wow, I think I could actually do this and be good at it." Not as good as her of course but decent enough for my own standards.
The reason I didn't like Scrapbooking before is because I have to do something different for each page or else it's boring and I don't have that many creative juices all at once. But Cardmaking is a whole different story. Because you can come up with one idea and copy it several times because they are going to different people. Assembly lines and patterns are something I AM good at.
So after that, I went and raided my moms house for fancy paper, buttons, ribbon, lace and whatever else I could talk her out of that could go on a card. But I had too many things going on at the time and restrictfully never allowed myself to get out the mess. Then my parents decided to move (downsize) and wanted to know if I would babysit her stamp collection. So I got ALL of her stamps, stamp pads, embossing stuff, and whatever else goes allong with that craft. But still... I didn't allow myself to get out the mess because there was way too much going on.
However since I am the Relief Society Secretary I thought it would be nice to send a handmade birthday card out to each sister this next year. I finally allowed myself to get out just enough to make a few cards to start off the year and this is what I came up with.
The reason I didn't like Scrapbooking before is because I have to do something different for each page or else it's boring and I don't have that many creative juices all at once. But Cardmaking is a whole different story. Because you can come up with one idea and copy it several times because they are going to different people. Assembly lines and patterns are something I AM good at.
So after that, I went and raided my moms house for fancy paper, buttons, ribbon, lace and whatever else I could talk her out of that could go on a card. But I had too many things going on at the time and restrictfully never allowed myself to get out the mess. Then my parents decided to move (downsize) and wanted to know if I would babysit her stamp collection. So I got ALL of her stamps, stamp pads, embossing stuff, and whatever else goes allong with that craft. But still... I didn't allow myself to get out the mess because there was way too much going on.
However since I am the Relief Society Secretary I thought it would be nice to send a handmade birthday card out to each sister this next year. I finally allowed myself to get out just enough to make a few cards to start off the year and this is what I came up with.
The bear on the front is raised up a little and the star and the square are little gems that I glued on. I colored in the bear with colors that matched the paper I was using so that it wouldn't be too busy. The only thing I think I could have done differently is embossed the "Happy Birthday" stamp but I wasn't really prepared to get out that big of a mess right then.
The inside says, "Sending you warmest wishes on your special day."
This was the back that said, "When you care enough... you make it yourself!"
I had fun doing it and am looking forward to doing it at least once every week or so this next year. And I'm sure as time goes on I'll get better and more creative. I might take pictures of them all but I probably won't post them all on here because what if they are for you?
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
I am Thankful!
I got this email a few days ago and I thought I would post it up here because I think 1) it is fitting for the season and 2) there is a lesson to be learned here... especially for me.
I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO, BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.
FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.
FOR THE TAXES I PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED .
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.
FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE
FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME .
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .
FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.
FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.
FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.
FOR A BROKEN HEART BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE LOVED DEEPLY
FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.
FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.
I think we need to remember our blessings and no matter how bad a situation may seem, there is always something optimistic about it. I recently found a quote from John F. Kennedy that says, "The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word 'crisis.' One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger - but recognize the opportunity."
I AM THANKFUL:
FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO, BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH ME AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.
FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.
FOR THE TAXES I PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED .
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.
FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORK BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE
FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME .
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING I HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
FOR THE PARKING SPOT I FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKING AND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION .
FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.
FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.
FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.
FOR A BROKEN HEART BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE LOVED DEEPLY
FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.
FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.
I think we need to remember our blessings and no matter how bad a situation may seem, there is always something optimistic about it. I recently found a quote from John F. Kennedy that says, "The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word 'crisis.' One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger - but recognize the opportunity."
Monday, November 24, 2008
Bear Cake
It's understandably going to take me awhile to get in a routine to post on here everyday but for now I'll show you the bear cake that I made for my brother-in-laws birthday. I decided I wanted to try something I've never tried before and so I did. I didn't look at any pictures to get ideas because it was a kind of spur of the mometn decision. It was interesting trying to figure out which pans to use for which body parts but it ended up working out pretty good. 
I used a big bread pan for the body, littler bread pans for the arms and legs and then just cut them in half. Then for the head and ears I used mini bundt pans. I filled the hole in the head and the area inbetween the legs with Andes Candies bits and then I decided to use those on top as well to make the tummy and the claws. I wasn't sure if I'd have enough frosting to frost all that so I whipped the frosting and it pretty much doubled the amount I had. It took awhile to get all those edges covered but it worked out in the end.
Let me know what you think.
I used a big bread pan for the body, littler bread pans for the arms and legs and then just cut them in half. Then for the head and ears I used mini bundt pans. I filled the hole in the head and the area inbetween the legs with Andes Candies bits and then I decided to use those on top as well to make the tummy and the claws. I wasn't sure if I'd have enough frosting to frost all that so I whipped the frosting and it pretty much doubled the amount I had. It took awhile to get all those edges covered but it worked out in the end.
Let me know what you think.
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