Thankful Thursday

I am Thankful for Peter Pan

I can't let the day go by without telling you how grateful I am for Peter Pan! I know, I know...Peter Pan??? Let me explain...

When Brent was just a little guy he was Peter Pan for Halloween. He LOVED being Peter Pan. He wore the costume everywhere long after Halloween had come and gone - to the grocery store, playing outside, and even to piano lessons. He tried to wear it to church, but I put my foot down and said no! His days and nights were filled with flying and fighting Captain Hook. It was a very magical time in his life... for him and for me. It was too cute for words. Recently, I ran across that costume in a box, it was stretched way out of shape and it is quite holey. Considering how much it was worn I am surprised it was still in one piece. At one time the costume was just above his knees - by the time it was lovingly placed in the box it was up to his waste... well worn from use and imagination. Brent was so absorbed in his Peter Pan persona that when you asked him;

"Brent what are you going to be when you grow up?"
His answer was usually, "I'm going to be Peter Pan!"

Peter Pan, the quintessential little boy who didn't want to grow up. But now that Brent has grown up - this year there is another Peter Pan to take his place. This time it is "Beary Pan," Elliot's version of the famous boy who can fly. With Evie at his side as the pixie "Tinka-bo-bo" (Tinkerbell) they are ready to take flight...the second star to the right and straight on til morning!



Thank you Elliot for reminding me of another little boy who use to wear that coveted costume. Sometimes, in my minds eye, when I look at Elliot I can see Brent in that confident stance - with hands on hips. All it takes is a little faith...trust...and pixie dust!

Recipe of the Week

Spicy Pumpkin Soup


Ingredients

4 Tbsp unsalted butter
2 medium yellow onions, chopped
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 teaspoons curry powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
Pinch ground cayenne pepper (optional)
3 (15 oz) cans 100 percent pumpkin or 6 cups of chopped roasted pumpkin*
5 cups of chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegetarian option)
1 can (15 oz)of coconut milk
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream

Method

1 Melt butter in a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onions and garlic and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 4 minutes. Add spices and stir for a minute more.

2 Add pumpkin and 5 cups of chicken broth; blend well. Bring to a boil and reduce heat, simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.

3 Transfer soup, in batches, to a blender or food processor. Cover tightly and blend until smooth. Return soup to saucepan.

4 With the soup on low heat, add brown sugar and mix. Slowly add milk while stirring to incorporate. Add cream. Adjust seasonings to taste. If a little too spicy, add more cream to cool it down. You might want to add a teaspoon of salt.

Serve in individual bowls. Top with a dollop of sour cream and freshly ground nutmeg.

Serves 8.

*To make pumpkin purée, cut a sugar pumpkin in half, scoop out the seeds and stringy stuff, lie face down on a tin-foil lined baking pan. Bake at 350°F until soft, about 45 min to an hour. Cool, scoop out the flesh. Freeze whatever you don't use for future use.

Reflections of Christ

What started out as a publicity shoot for an Easter Pageant is now touching the hearts of people all over the world. Photographer Mark Mabry first shot the photos for the Reflections of Christ exhibit as a way to promote the Mesa Arizona Temple's Easter Pageant.

The dramatic images quickly blossomed into a spiritual exhibition of photos depicting the life of Christ. Hundreds of thousands of people have personally witnessed these awe-inspiring photos. More than 1.3 million people from around the world have clicked online to see the images.

Reflections of Christ is fast becoming internationally known to people of many Christian faiths and the exhibit is currently touring the United States and Canada.

Mark Mabry thought he’d be a lawyer one day. But instead, he walked out of an upper-level political science class at Arizona State University and never turned back. Now he’s a photographer on a mission, and Reflections of Christ is what he calls his life’s work.

“It’s a movement toward reality in Christ,” Mabry said. “We need him to be real and we need to take his hand.”

“It has changed my life in every way,” Mabry said of the Reflections of Christ project.

Wake UP People...

This article scared the begeebers out of me!!! We don't need skeletons, gobblins, ghosts or creepy noises under the bed at night! We have Obama!!! It would be interesting to know why anyone could support a candidate who would seek to unravel the constitution and bring socialism into this country???

The Real Obama

By INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Monday, October 27, 2008 4:20 PM PT

Election '08: Barack Obama's "spread the wealth" remark to Ohio's Joe the Plumber was a rare peek at the radical behind the guarded rhetoric. A newly-unearthed 2001 radio interview provides full view.

The real, unguarded Barack Obama has been exposed, and Americans should hear it for themselves before they make the most consequential electoral decision of their lifetime.

Speaking to Chicago public radio station WBEZ seven years ago, then-Illinois state Sen. Obama reflected on the history of the civil rights movement.

"Where the movement succeeded," he said, "was in court-imposed remedies regarding segregation and voting rights."

But where it failed was that "the Supreme Court never ventured into the issues of redistribution of wealth and sort of more basic issues of political and economic justice in this society."

The man now a week away from possibly being elected president then lamented that "the civil rights movement became so court-focused" that it veered away from action to "put together the actual coalitions of power through which you bring about redistributive change, and in some ways we still suffer from that."

"Redistributive change" — so that's the kind of "change we need" and "change we can believe in" that a President Obama would give America. Exactly as he told Joe the Plumber.

It's pretty hard to spin a term as obvious as "redistributive change," but the Obama campaign is doing its desperate best. He was actually defending conservative legal principles, an Obama legal adviser absurdly told the Politico Web site.

The 2001 interview also finds an unwary Obama saying the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Earl Warren — which in Warren's 1953-to-1969 tenure was the most activist and power-grabbing in U.S. history — "wasn't that radical" because "it didn't break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution, at least as it has been interpreted."

Asked by a caller about further "reparative economic work" from the federal courts, Sen. Obama replied that he was "not optimistic about bringing about major redistributive change through the courts," but that "any three of us sitting here could come up with a rationale for bringing about economic change through the courts."

As president, however, "economic change through the courts" would be only a Supreme Court appointment or two away, supported by dozens of Obama's lower-court appointments.

Congress too is eagerly getting ready to enact "redistributive change." Last week, top House Democrats discussed taxing Americans' pretax contributions to 401(k) plans, with the promise of tens of billions of dollars in new government revenues every year — plus forcing workers to invest in government debt, shifting trillions of dollars from private savings to government control.

Could that be part of what Obama meant in Colorado this weekend when he warned, "make no mistake . . . we will all need to sacrifice"? Was it part of what running mate Joe Biden meant last week when he said of corporate executives, "their pensions go first"? Do workers' pensions then "go" next?

Too many Americans think this radical urban organizer is just another Clinton or Gore. But a vote for Obama is a vote for socialist "spreading of wealth," as Obama admitted to Joe the Plumber, and a vote for "major redistributive change," as he put it in 2001.

That is the scariest thing anyone could do to me for Halloween!

You Make Me Sad!!!

We took Elliot to the Pumpkin Patch today for his pre-school field trip. We had so much fun. This was more than just a Pumpkin Patch. There was a corn maze, farm animals, play grounds and those big jumping air toys. Only they don't blow up the air toys until 4:00 pm and we went at 9:30 am. Can you see where I am going with this???

When it was time to leave Elliot was NOT a happy camper and then he caught sight of the jumping air toys. Now Elliot can throw a fit extraordinaire and today was no exception. Screaming accompanied by going completely limp and I think begging was in there somewhere. Up until that point we were having a wonderful time! But once he figured out we were going to the car without the jumping toys he began to unravel quickly.

We managed to get him into the car seat and he started to calm down and be resigned to the fact that we were leaving. His yelling became crying, crying became whining and whining became mumbling under his breathe. Brooke and I got in the car completely exhausted from the ordeal and as I was buckling my seat belt I hear from the back seat, "Mommy makes me sad and Magah makes me sad."

Brooke's question to me was classic - "Now why did we do this?"

Recipe of the Week

APPLE PUDDING DESSERT
This has got to be one of my non-chocolate all time favorite fall desserts! We look forward to fall JUST for this dessert! It is "to die for"...maybe literally - since it is anything but low fat and as Paula Dean would say - "You start with a stick of butter..."

1 cup + 2 tablespoons butter, melted - you thought I was joking!
2 cups sugar
4 large apples, peeled and cubed
2 eggs
2 cups flour (measure level cups)
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg (grind it fresh if you can)
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Batter will be thick. Pour into a 9 X 13 baking dish covered with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Sauce
1 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 cup brown sugar
1 Tbs vanilla

Combine all ingredients in a sauce pan on the stove. Cook over medium heat, bring to a boil and stirring constantly until it becomes thickened. Serve warm sauce over warm pudding slices. Yummmmmm!!!

Fasting for the Family

I received this email today asking us to fast for the family. I know a few people who are involved in the Prop 8 campaign in California and you need to know that the polls show it to be very close - too close for comfort. But California isn't the only place where traditional marriage is at stake. Many other states will see this issue on the ballot in the coming years.

So here is the email I got:

We of the LDS persuasion will be participating. How about your joining us?

Special Fast November 2, 2008

This November's election will be one of great significance for each one of us and our country as a whole. It is suggested that the Sunday before the election, which is November 2nd, we take the opportunity to fast for our country and the leaders who will be elected and the voters who will elect them.

Whether you are of a political persuasion or not, this year's election will be significant. I personally encourage you to learn about the people who want to lead our country and make a prayerful decision.

Should you feel to pass this on to those you love I would encourage you to do so. Our fasts and prayers will make a difference and at this time, more than any other in our lifetime, our country is in need of the Lord's guidance.



Also we got another email this week sent to BJ (son-in-law) from his dad. This shows how heated this issue has become:

Prop. 8 Persecution begins @ Oakland Temple


Makes some of the talks in Gen. Conf. quite Prophetic don't you think?

We received this e mail from a temple ordinance worker and thought that we would pass it on to let you know how ugly Prop 8, against gay marriages, is getting to be in California.

Dear family and friends,

I had a very disturbing experience yesterday that I would like to share with those of you that live outside of California (or outside of the San Francisco Bay Area).

This weekend we have stake conference. Our stake conference always begins with a stake temple session on Friday or Thursday night. Early Friday morning I received a call from the second counselor in our bishopric to let me know that there would be numerous protesters outside the temple, and to remind everyone to stay calm and to drive carefully. The beautiful Oakland Temple is located right across the bay from San Francisco, very close to the city of Berkeley. Apparently the opposition to
proposition 8, the amendment that seeks to make marriage in CA between a man and a woman again, has realized the deep involvement of the church and begun to protest right outside of the temple and harass temple patrons.

The fastest way to get to the temple from our house is to take the 680 freeway, but the exit is a bit tricky. The off ramp is extremely short and straight uphill. You then make an almost blind left turn, an immediate right and another left into the parking lot. As we approached the off ramp, I realized there would be trouble. There
was a backup onto the freeway from cars stalled on the off ramp. As we moved forward inches at a time, we realized this was due to a large group of loud protesters who were standing on both sides of the street, yelling, screaming and waving signs. When we got to the top of the off ramp, ready to make our turn, one protester jumped out right in front of our car.

It took my husband all his self control to carefully maneuver around him to the left and proceed to the temple. I tried not to listen to all they were shouting at us, but I was shaking as I got to the temple front door.

Several of the sisters, especially the ones driving on their own, were crying (which made me snap out of it and go into RS President mode to comfort them). Later, as I was sitting in the perfect quiet of the chapel, I couldn't help but think of Lehi's dream, and the people who mocked the Saints from the big spacious building but
"we heeded them not." It was a truly surreal experience, I'd never thought that I would have to go through an angry crowd to get to the temple. As we left late at night, the protesters had dispersed, temple security (who all looked very large and Tongan) stood by the gates. I never saw a single police man.

Please pray for those of us in California fighting for prop 8--it's getting kind of scary out here!

Thankful Thursday

Ever since Brooke started doing Thankful Thursdays I thought it was a great idea and I wanted to do it too. So now I am a big copy-catter and she will just have to deal with it! I think she won't mind though because it is such a great thing to do.

I have so many blessing to be thankful for that many things have been on my mind with week:

I am thankful for my doctor, Cheryl Johnson. I think I am FINALLY closer to a diagnosis for my constant-all-over-my-body-for-no-good-reason pain. Most of you don't know about this because I haven't been very verbal about it. I am of the mind that if you don't talk about it - then it will go away. That doesn't always work but it is a nice idea! I have been dealing with this widespread pain for over a year now and for the most part ignoring it has been helpful in making it feel better. I have gotten back some of the things I just couldn't do. But yesterday, after going to multiple specialists with no helpful results - I now know all the things I DON'T have, she came closer to a diagnosis. AND she finally gave me some pain medication that REALLY works! I could actually sleep last night without my pillow fortress in the bed. Scott will be so happy! (We can talk more about the diagnosis later.)

Scott - He works so hard to take care of our family and our ward family. Most people have no idea of how much he does... but I do. And he works tirelessly. Thanks Honey!

Brooke - Can I just tell you how totally awesome she is? She works with me every single day and most of the time it is without pay. She has been by my side since the start of Elliot's Preemie Tees! We have such a good time working together. We laugh and have a great time, she really is my best friend. I can't even tell you all the things she does for me. Brooke, you are amazing - I am so lucky to be your mom!

Brent - it is so nice to have Brent back in our home. He is so awesome too! I get to hear the wonderful, beautiful melodies that pour out of his fingers onto the 88 keys of our piano once again. Thanks, Brent, for filling our home with music! Music is an extension of Brent's soul - to listen to him is to know him. He is an amazing, sensitive, thoughtful young man. Did you know he made my bed for me? He tried to do it without me knowing it was him - but I knew...

Ashley - Reminds me what it was like to be a teenage girl. We share so many similar likes through the ages that had we been born at the same time I think we would have been best friends. Go Jonas Brothers and Donny Osmond!

Why Another Blog???

So I finally broke down...and got my very OWN blog. I thought that the business one would be enough but there is so much more I want to say that I just can't say on my business blog so here I am with ANOTHER BLOG!!! As if I didn't have enough to do already, but I think this one will be more fun and way more interesting. Just be warned that my private self is much different-er than my professional self...and even "the Bishop's wife" self! This is where you will see the real me...READY OR NOT HERE I COME!