Bess-a-Leave-Her-Alone

Need a Piano Teacher?

2010-01-30T14:09:00.001-08:00

Need a Piano Teacher?

I know that the economy is tough right now and people have a hard time affording the extra things in life like piano lessons. But have you ever tried a student teacher? If you are looking for a piano teacher I am affordable and capable. I am a 21 year-old returned missionary, I have studied piano for 17 years and I am an accomplished pianist and composer. I have been teaching children for 3 years. I love teaching children and have a great rapport with them. I use the Bastian and Faber Piano Series with an emphasis on music performance and theory. References are available upon request.

For a Limited Time – this Special Introductory Offer!!!

½ Off your first month’s tuition

(When you sign up and pay for two months!*)

(Current students will also receive this offer when they refer a NEW student to me.*)

My tuition is already one of the lowest in the area –

I charge $40.00 a month.

Spaces are filling up fast so call to reserve your lesson time TODAY

~ Brent Besselievre (801) 472-0613

* To receive this special offer you must pay the two months tuition at the first lesson. Current students will receive the discount along with the new students they refer.

What's a Conservative to Do?

2009-05-08T08:35:00.000-07:00

I have started a new blog called What's a Conservative to Do?
The purpose of this blog is to help us all stop complaining about the state of the country and to actually find something we can DO to make it better!

I think the topic of it is pretty self explanatory. Sooo...if you want to keep getting a regular stream of political info go here.

This blog will return to my private and family stuff!

The Ant and the Grasshopper

2009-05-06T14:43:00.000-07:00

This is a modern retelling of the famous Aesop's Fable. This was given in a speech by Lt. Governor Gary Herbert to the Utah County Republican Women. I hope you enjoy it!

Original Intent:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he’s a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away.

Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper, though, has no food or shelter so he has to beg for his survival or die out in the cold.

The Liberal Perversion:

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he’s a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.
CBS, NBC, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

America is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can it be that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Keith Olbermann of MSNBC names the ant the “Worst Insect in the World” and Senator Harry Reid calls for a senate investigation into “why wealth should be more equitably distributed.”

Then a representative of the NAG (National Association of Grasshoppers) shows up on Nightline and charges the ant with “grasshopper” bias, and makes the case that the grasshopper is the victim of 30 million years of anti-tobacco juice prejudice.

Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when he sings “It’s Not Easy Being Green.” Bill and Hillary Clinton make a special guest appearance on the CBS Evening News to tell a concerned Katie Couric that they will do everything they can for the grasshopper that has been denied the prosperity he deserves by those who benefitted unfairly during the Reagan Summers and because of the “Bush Tax Cuts.”

Nancy Pelosi Exclaims in an interview with George Stephanopoulos that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and calls for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his “fair share.” Congress calls for an immediate tax hike on the ant to “re-distribute the wealth” as the President’s economic team begins to work on a “federal bail-out” package for all grasshoppers.

Finally the EEOC drafts the “Economic Equity and Anti-Grasshopper Discrimination and Excess Profits Tax Act.” This is retroactive to the beginning of the summer. The ant is fined for failing to hire proportionate number of grasshoppers, and then having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government.

“Sixty Minutes” Later shows the now fat grasshopper finishing up the last of the ant’s food even though spring is still months away, while the government house that he is in, which just happens to be the ant’s old house, crumbles down around him because he hasn’t maintained it. Inadequate government funding is blamed.

The ant has now disappeared in the snow and the story ends as we see more grasshoppers and fewer ants, more Joe-bums and fewer Joe-the-plumbers as we depart from capitalism and the risk/rewards of a free market and the realities recognized by Adam Smith when he said: “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, or the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but—rather from their regard to their own interest.”

Or as George Bernard Shaw said, “A Government which robs Peter to pay Paul, can always depend on the support of Paul.”

How Stupid Are We?

2009-04-18T07:46:00.000-07:00

Something happened this week that is extremely disturbing. But it seems to have slipped past most people's radar as if it were a joke. Trust me this is NO JOKE!

Our own Homeland Security has just released a study to identify those people who are a threat to America because they:

Are unimpressed by America's first "African-American" president.

Objecting to tax hikes.

Disliking big government.

Talking concernedly about the state of the economy and job loss, especially in the manufacturing and construction sectors.

Opposition to abortion, gay marriage and gun control.

NO I am NOT making this up!!! Read it for yourself -

In a report sent to sheriff and law enforcement offices across the country called "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment" the report is nine pages long and recounts all the ways conservatives might be drawn into committing terrorist attacks against the United States. If you can't stomach the full report maybe a news article about it will do? How ever you prefer to get your information I don't care, just please read about this! We need to wake up collectively and become aware of what is going on around us.

A quote I found from George Q. Cannon seems appropriate:

"We cannot as a people close our eyes or our ears to that which is going on around us. No people on this continent are more interested in public movement than the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So many predictions have been made concerning the future of our nation that we would be a very stupid people if we were not deeply interested in the fulfillment of those predictions and in watching the signs which will precede or accompany them."

George Q. Cannon, Sept. 1, 1896

What is he referring to? What predictions?

This prophecy was first credited to Joseph Smith and then repeated multiple times in every generation by almost every prophet since that it surely is embedded in the heart every Latter-day Saint?

"Even this nation will be on the very verge of crumbling to pieces and tumbling to the ground, and when the Constitution is upon the brink of ruin, this people will be the staff upon which the nation shall lean, and they shall bear the Constitution away from the very verge of destruction."

The Prophet Joseph Smith (M8d 155Bx4, Joseph Smith, Church Historian's Library)

I fear that maybe we are too familiar with this prophecy that it no longer has any effect on us anymore. Or heaven forbid, we haven't ever heard of it at all? Maybe we have become too complacent? Maybe we just assume that this will happen with no effort or preparation on our part? Are we so smug and so stupid that we think the Lord will bless us with so great a task when we have taken no effort to prepare? How bad does it have to get for us to wake up and do something now?

President J. Reuben Clark said:
"I say unto you with all the soberness I can, that we stand in danger of losing our liberties, and once lost, only blood will bring them back; and once lost, we of the church will, in order to keep the church going forward, have more sacrifices to make and more persecutions to endure than we have yet known, heavy as our sacrifices and grievous as our sacrifices of the past have been."

Yikes! This was said in 1944. And if we were in danger then we are under direct attack today. If you don't believe it then just look at what happened this week. Every American should be outraged, but outrage should have been arrived at long before this. Again I ask, "How stupid are we?"

The prophet Nephi had this to say about our day in 2 Nephi 28:20-25
20 For behold, at that day shall he ^arage in the ^bhearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good.

21 And others will he ^apacify, and lull them away into carnal ^bsecurity, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the ^cdevil ^dcheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.

22 And behold, others he ^aflattereth away, and telleth them there is no ^bhell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful ^cchains, from whence there is no deliverance.

23 Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of God, and be ^ajudged according to their works, from whence they must go into the place prepared for them, even a ^blake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment.

24 Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ^aease in Zion!

25 Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!

Where is the Outrage???

2009-04-13T09:39:00.000-07:00

This letter was sent to the Wall Street Journal on August 8, 2008 by Alisa Wilson, Ph.D. of Beverly Hills , CA . in response to the Wall Street Journal article titled "Where's The Outrage?" that appeared July 31,2008.

Really. I can tell you where the outrage is. The outrage is here, in this middle-aged, well-educated, upper-middle class woman. The outrage is here, but I have no representation, no voice. The outrage is here, but no one is listening for who am I?

I am not a billionaire like George Soros that can fund an entire political movement. I am not a celebrity like Barbra Streisand that can garner the attention of the press to promote political candidates. I am not a film maker like Michael Moore or Al Gore that can deliver misleading movies to the public.

The outrage is here, but unlike those with money or power, I don't know how to reach those who feel similarly in order to effect change. Why am I outraged? I am outraged that my country, the United States of America , is in a state of moral and ethical decline. There is no right or wrong anymore, just what's fair.

Is it fair that millions of Americans who overreached and borrowed more than they could afford are now being bailed out by the government and lending institutions to stave off foreclosure? Why shouldn't these people be made to pay the consequences for their poor judgment?

When my husband and I purchased our home, we were careful to purchase only what we could afford. Believe me, there are much larger, much nicer homes that I would have loved to have purchased. But, taking responsibility for my behavior and my life, I went with the house that we could afford, not the house that we could not afford. The notion of personal responsibility has all but died in our country.

I am outraged, that the country that welcomed my mother as an immigrant from Hitler's Nazi Germany and required that she and her family learn English now allows itself to be overrun with illegal immigrants and worse, caters to those illegal immigrants.

I am outraged that my hard-earned taxes help support those here illegally. That the Los Angeles Public School District is in such disarray that I felt it incumbent to send my child to private school, that every time I go to the ATM, I see "do you want to continue in English or Spanish?", that every time I call the bank, the phone company, or similar business, I hear "press 1 for English or press 2 for Spanish". WHY? This is America, our common language is English and attempts to promote a bi- or multi-lingual society are sure to fail and to marginalize those who cannot communicate in English.

I am outraged at our country's weakness in the face of new threats on American traditions from Muslims. Just this week, Tyson's Food negotiated with its union to permit Muslims to have Eid-al-Fitr as a holiday instead of Labor Day. What am I missing? Yes, there is a large Somali Muslim population working at the Tyson's plant in Tennessee. Tennessee , last I checked, is still part of the United States . If Muslims want to live and work here they should be required to live and work by our American Laws and not impose their will on our long history.

In the same week, Random House announced that they had indefinitely delayed the publication of The Jewel of Medina, by Sherry Jones, a book about the life of Mohammed's wife, Aisha due to fear of retribution and violence by Muslims. When did we become a nation ruled by fear of what other immigrant groups want? It makes me so sad to see large corporations cave rather than stand proudly on the principles that built this country.

I am outraged because appeasement has never worked as a political policy, yet appeasing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is exactly what we are trying to do. An excellent article, also published recently in the Wall Street Journal, went through over 20 years of history and why talking with Iran has been and will continue to be ineffective. Yet talk, with a madman no less, we continue to do. Have we so lost our moral compass and its ability to detect evil that we will not go in and destroy Iran's nuclear program? Would we rather wait for another Holocaust for the Jews - one which they would be unlikely to survive? When does it end?

As if the battle for good and evil isn't enough, now come the Environmentalists who are so afraid of global warming that they want to put a Bag tax on grocery bags in California; to eliminate Mylar balloons; to establish something as insidious as the recycle police in San Francisco. I do my share for the environment: I recycle, I use water wisely, I installed an energy efficient air conditioning unit. But when and where does the lunacy stop?Ahmadinejad wants to wipe Israel off the map, the California economy is being overrun by illegal immigrants, and the United States of America no longer knows right from wrong, good from evil.. So what does California do? Tax grocery bags.

So, America , although I can tell you where the outrage is, this one middle-aged, well-educated, upper middle class woman is powerless to do anything about it. I don't even feel like my vote counts because I am so outnumbered by those who disagree with me.

Alisa Wilson, Ph.D. Beverly Hills , California

The Proper Role of Government

2009-04-13T08:22:00.000-07:00

This is perhaps the best short summary of the proper role of government – and the development of our own nation – that I have ever seen. It is a YouTube video that takes less than 10 minutes to watch. Please take the time to view it. As we've often been told, "Those who know nothing of history are doomed to repeat it." We should be thoroughly informed and clearly understand where our freedoms come from, and how they are best preserved. Please take the time to watch this short piece, and share it with others.

The Time is Now...

2009-04-11T08:10:00.001-07:00

To Raise the Standard of Liberty...

For Our God
For Our Liberty
For Our Peace
Four Our Families

What is the Standard of Liberty?

It is the Constitution!

We must return our government to the standard our Founding Fathers intended it to be! There is a ground swell of change happening. People are finally beginning to "awaken to their awful state." And what we are waking up to is a nightmare. But YOU can do something about it. But you must get involved!!! You cannot afford to sit idly by and do nothing anymore, the stakes are too high, the consequences of apathy are too great.

What if I told you that there is a movement going on right now to return government back to the people, restore power to the states and lift the Standard of Liberty back to it's rightful place?

If I told you there is a way to hold politicians completely accountable would you be interested?

If I told you that we can revolutionize the way politics are done in this county would it be enough to get you off your couch to join in the fight to take back our great country? Would you do it?

Well we can! And it is happening!!! You have the chance to be part of something huge if you are willing! At this very moment the pieces are falling into place and the time is coming that this plan can and will be revealed. BUT you can still act now, today if you trust me and trust that I am telling you the absolute truth. I would stake my life and reputation on it!

The Time is Now for you to become involved! What can you do? How do you get started?

Send a link to this post to everyone in your email list
Join the Utah County Republican Women even if you are NOT a Republican or a Woman or even live in Utah, if you hold the constitution dear, join anyway! The cost is $20 a year. It will be the best $20 dollars you EVER spent!
Start talking to your friends and neighbors to find others who are like minded in their love for the Constitution.
Stay tuned for more information! It will be come fast and furious!!!

"Grassroots" means: "People or society at a local level rather than at the center of major political activity." ONE person can make a difference, but many people united in just one cause makes up true grassroots cause for positive change. And that effort can spread like wildfire if properly done. Join the UCRW today! Begin to unite your voice with ours! You have the opportunity to be a part of something amazing! Come and join me!

Feel free to contact me for more information on how you can make a difference! Call me at (801) 492-4080 or email me at debbie.hunnybee@gmail.com

How Did I Get So Old???

2009-04-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

Ashley just had her senior prom this past week. It was a truly bittersweet time. My baby, my last born has past this right of passage. As it turns out she didn't have a date (stupid, stupid boys!). But as it turns out at her school it is no big deal to go without a date. So she pressed forward and went anyway...I am sooo proud of her for taking the higher road and choosing not to pass up this once-of-a-lifetime opportunity. I means a lot that she was there and didn't stay home and hide. Way to go Ashley! As you will see it is some young mans loss...not hers that he didn't ask her to be his date. So with great swells of love I give you my beautiful Ashley -

One of the things I love about Liahona Academy is the tradition they have to make everyone in the senior class the kings and queens of prom. So here is Queen Ashley -

I am especially amazed as we face this new phase of Ashley's life. In her life she have overcome much to get to this place. Ashley was diagnosed with ADHD when she was 5 years old and then if that was not enough she was diagnosed with OCD 3 years later. I can remember sitting in the doctor's office crying as she told me the prognosis for this combined diagnosis. ADHD alone is enough to scare parents to death. The expectation for them is that 75% will end up in some sort of serious trouble - drugs, alcohol, teen pregnancy, school drop outs, just to name a few. I listened intently and with horror as Dr. Echert explained to me that out of all children diagnosed with OCD only 5% of them will ever graduate from high school. Out of that group only 1% will go on to college. This dim view of my daughters future left me feeling helpless and all alone in my grief. I was so overwhelmed by the task ahead that I had to take medication myself just to be able to face it.

I told Ashley what the doctor had said. Then I said, "This is what they say will happen to you, but I want to know what do you think will happen to you?" There is great power in what we think and believe about ourselves! Ashley sensed this power and replied, "I am going to graduate from high school and I am going to college!"

Since that day I have been dedicated to helping her achieve her goals. Sometimes it has taken creativity and ingenuity. I have home schooled her, taken online classes, worked with her for hours on homework and sent her to a private school. All of these things have brought us to this place, a crossroads if you will in Ashley's life. She is going to graduate. She has been accepted to attend UVU and is going to college!!! Wow! Anyone who does not believe in miracle should spend time with Ashley!

It hasn't been easy. In fact, it has been harder than it needed to be. Ashley has needed lots of love, support and understanding to make it. She has had that support from the adults in her life but the reactions of her peers has been anything but loving and supportive. Ashley has spent much of her life lonely and alone. It has been so heartbreaking for me as a parent to see her shunned and left out of school and even church circles of friends. They say that "that which does not kill you, makes you stronger." Ashley is indeed stronger for her experiences but there were times I was sure it would kill her. NO WONDER that kids with disabilities end up on drugs, in prison or pregnant as they search for acceptance and love in their relationships.

it will be interesting to see what she does now. Where she goes. What she does. She is quite remarkable!!! One of the good things about OCD is she has the ability to hyperfocus on a goal and achieve it will gusto! This is what she did when she set her mind to earn her Young Woman's Medallion as quickly as possible. Without my knowledge she set out to chip away at a goal that takes most young women 6 years to acheive. Ashley earned her medallion in 13 months! No one can tell me, or her, that she cannot do anything she sets her mind to doing! Way to go Ashley!

Ashley's Senior Pictures -

Come Listen to A Prophet's Voice...

2009-02-16T07:24:00.000-08:00

I watched these videos on a friend's blog (thank you Aprilyn for finding these) and I wanted to pass them along to you. Please pass them along to your friends. The time has come and is long past for you and me no longer be complacent about these matters. Listen to the words of the prophets and see for yourselves that they saw our day....

And then Glen Beck played a clip of Ezra Taft Benson from the 1960's and had this to say about our coming socialist country...

Socialism by Degrees

Is Khrushchev right? Are we Americans all mindless dolts? It is not too late, we can do something about it!!! But we can no longer afford to be complacent. Our prophets have warned us and forewarned us sufficiently, but are we listening? Even the Book of Mormon, which was written for our day has something to say about being poisoned by degrees:

In this story, Amalickiah uses treachery, murder, and intrigue to become King of the Lamanites. Lehonti at first refuses to even meet with Amalickiah. But by degrees Amalickiah gains the trust of Lehonti so that he not only comes down from his stronghold or place of power, but he eventually surrenders his power and is poisoned by degrees.

Alma 47:4-18

8 Now it was not Amalickiah’s intention to give them battle according to the commandments of the king; but behold, it was his intention to gain favor with the armies of the Lamanites, that he might place himself at their head and dethrone the king and take possession of the kingdom.
9 And behold, it came to pass that he caused his army to pitch their tents in the valley which was near the mount Antipas.
10 And it came to pass that when it was night he sent a secret embassy into the mount Antipas, desiring that the leader of those who were upon the mount, whose name was Lehonti, that he should come down to the foot of the mount, for he desired to speak with him.
11 And it came to pass that when Lehonti received the message he durst not go down to the foot of the mount. And it came to pass that Amalickiah sent again the second time, desiring him to come down. And it came to pass that Lehonti would not; and he sent again the third time.
12 And it came to pass that when Amalickiah found that he could not get Lehonti to come down off from the mount, he went up into the mount, nearly to Lehonti’s camp; and he sent again the fourth time his message unto Lehonti, desiring that he would come down, and that he would bring his guards with him.
13 And it came to pass that when Lehonti had come down with his guards to Amalickiah, that Amalickiah desired him to come down with his army in the night-time, and surround those men in their camps over whom the king had given him command, and that he would deliver them up into Lehonti’s hands, if he would make him (Amalickiah) a second leader over the whole army.
14 And it came to pass that Lehonti came down with his men and surrounded the men of Amalickiah, so that before they awoke at the dawn of day they were surrounded by the armies of Lehonti.
15 And it came to pass that when they saw that they were surrounded, they plead with Amalickiah that he would suffer them to fall in with their brethren, that they might not be destroyed. Now this was the very thing which Amalickiah desired.
16 And it came to pass that he delivered his men, contrary to the commands of the king. Now this was the thing that Amalickiah desired, that he might accomplish his designs in dethroning the king.
17 Now it was the custom among the Lamanites, if their chief leader was killed, to appoint the second leader to be their chief leader.
18 And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died.

My friends I am afraid that we have left our stronghold and our position of power and if we are not careful we will be poisoned by degrees. Come Listen to a Prophet's Voice and learn the word of God...Follow the Prophet, he knows the way!

Orange Soda: More Flat than Fizz

2009-02-13T19:38:00.000-08:00

I am not one to really go off on a company that annoys me. I tend to think more like this: "You're a dork, we all know you are a dork so I won't waste my awesome, superior brain power on dorks like you." But in this case I'll make an exception...

Last year I signed on with Orange Soda Online Advertising to help me promote my online business. We started out small with a plan to work our way up. I signed on to have them post my company in as many directories as possible for $35 a month. In a few months they were supposed to contact me (according to the sales person) to see how else they could help me. A few months went by and nothing. Not the best impression, but oh well. After about 6 months I began to be intrigued with the idea of how long would it take them to actually call me for the next step.

As I suspected it took them to the end of my contract...exactly one year later I got a call, which I ignored. The next week I called them on my renewal date to cancel my revolving contract. (This call took place yesterday, on Thursday)The conversation was pleasant enough until they asked me why I was canceling. So I told him. Apparently he didn't like my answer so much.

Oh, the he I am talking about is Dan, my personal account manager. The last time I heard my Account Manager was Jason. Who's Dan?

So I told Dan that I am pretty much done with Orange Soda and to stop my account and not charge me for the month. He tells me that my account has already been charged, yesterday(Wednesday) and cannot be refunded. I am indignant about it but, ok, that just proves that my decisions to fire these doughheads was the correct one...but just to be sure I get off the phone with Dan and go check my Bank Statement (you gotta love the internet) no charge from Orange Soda which would have been there had he charge me yesterday. Could it possibly be true I was lied to? Ummm....

Fast forward to today (Friday)...I check my online bank statement again today and there it is... oh but wait! There are not one but, count 'em folks, TWO of the exact same charges to my bank account from Orange Soda...WOW! I guess Dan showed me who's boss! He charged my account probably the second he got off the phone with me...NICE! Thank goodness for being able to dispute charges, which I promptly did for BOTH of them. We'll see how it turns out! In the meantime I intend to tell anyone who will listen to me how nice and customer friendly Orange Soda and my account manager Dan are. I want everyone who is capable of clear reason to know that Orange Soda cares about small businesses and dealing fairly with everyone. And then I have some beachfront property in Mesa to sell ya!

Did I mention the name of this awesome company is Orange Soda?

Chocolate Club Anyone?

2009-02-07T12:49:00.000-08:00

If you have a LOVE for chocolate this is the place for you!

The Chocolate Club has been officially announced! We will have our first meeting on March 11^th at 7:00 p.m. at Debbie Besselievre’s home, 10742 Shinnecock. The first meeting will be to pick an awesome name, vote on VP, Treasure and Secretary, an overview of the purpose of the club and to eat chocolate of course! There are dues associated with this club because we have to fund the purchase of chocolate, field trips and other expenses. The dues are $5 a month. If anyone has any questions call or email Debbie Besselievre - 492-4080 or debbie.hunnybee@gmail.com

Why a Chocolate Club?

Do we even need to ask this question???Because all chocolate enthusiasts know that Chocolate is for sharing! Coming together in a group of like-minded people is always a rich experience. When you join a club like this one you will learn more about chocolate than you ever thought possible, who is making what, why it is deemed special, where you can find it and most of all taste it! You will get the opportunity to share your view with others on each chocolate and expand your own personal database of chocolate. Imagine finding a diverse group of people discussing chocolate in a way usually reserved for European art, wine, films or literature and you will begin to understand what a chocolate club is – it can be a life changing experience!

One of the first priorities of this Chocolate Club is to draw attention to the difference between the complex delicacy the world greatest cooks and gourmets recognize as chocolate, and the confection which Americans consume by the ton every week. The principle ingredient of commercial chocolate bars and bon bons is not cocoa but sugar, saturated vegetable fat and powdered milk. These dietary villains are responsible for chocolate’s undeserved reputation as a fattening, tooth rotting, addictive indulgence.

If this is how you have always looked at chocolate or if you always knew there was more to it...this is the place for you!

Twilight Party

2009-02-03T18:49:00.000-08:00

I was told by Ashley that I am not "allowed" to post pictures of "her" party on facebook, but she can't stop me from blogging about it. :-) I worked pretty hard on this party! I deserve to brag about it... It was an awesome party!

When we started planning it we didn't want to duplicate anything that had been done before or have it be cliche'. What we wanted was to have this be the kind of party that Alice would have thrown if she were here and I think we can safely say mission accomplished! So here is my Alice -

For the party decoration we had hundreds of twinkle lights, candles, balloons and flowers - here is the final result...

Even Edward showed up!

And last but not least the birthday cake -

It was a cherry vanilla cake with chocolate ganache filling with cherry vanilla frosting covered with Cherry Vanilla Fondant. Yummy! For the food buffet we had an assortment of Italian food in honor of where Edward took Bella out to eat. We had homemade bread sticks with marinara and alfredo dipping sauces, artichoke spinach dip and chips, mozzarella sticks and pizza.

Wordless Wednesday - Ashley's Turns 18!

2009-02-03T18:43:00.000-08:00

My Own Worst Enemy

2009-01-12T19:53:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I have been reading the suggested reading from the Fibromyalgia Clinic I am going to Wednesday night. (See list below*) And it looks to me like I am my own worst enemy. I don't want to give out the wrong impression here. I didn't CAUSE this illness, per se, but I didn't help it either. It seems we don't pass on FS (fibromyalgia syndrome) genetically but certain gene pools are more prone to it with the right environmental factors.

According to Dr. Elrod, I am typical of a personality type that develops FS: perfectionist, organized, type A, obsessive etc. You get the idea. I always thought those were GOOD things but I guess in heavy doses, not so much...So if you are like me at all now might be a good time to learn to relax....just a little...trust me...it would be a good idea to AVOID this if at all possible.

Lots of other factors contribute to the development of FS...it seems I have ALL of them - SURPRISE!

lack of exercise
not the healthiest of diets
trauma, emotional and/or physical
genetic predisposition
consistent, long term stress
hormone imbalance
uptight personality
negative outlook and attitude
putting everyone else first
can't say no
depression

This is not an easy thing to admit but the above list describes most, if not all, of my life. Little did I know that all my life "stars" would align just so and result in this insidious illness. The good news is that it is NOT TOO LATE and it is possible to reverse this, if I work at it very diligently. All I can say is I have a lot of work to do. YIKES!! But at the same time, after 50 years, it is about time I started taking care of myself.

*Knowledge is power! Your body is your number one asset. There are lots of great books out there (and a lot of misleading ones too!). Here’s a few the clinic recommends:

Reversing Fibromyalgia (Natural Fibromyalgia Healing) - Joe Elrod,
The Sugar Control Bible (Nutrition) - Jacqueline Paltis,
The Schwarzbein Principle (Nutrition) - Diana Schwarzbein,
Your Body’s Many Cries for Water (Nutrition) - F. Batmanghelidj,
8 Minutes in the Morning (Exercise) - Jorge Cruise,
Feelings Buried Alive Never Die (Emotional Healing) - Karol Truman.

Fibro...what?

2009-01-04T18:31:00.000-08:00

I have been putting this off for a while. I really hate talking about my trials especially ones that will make other people feel sorry for me. I am afraid that this post will illicit that kind of response. But before you all ring out in a chorus of poor Debbie I want you to know that I don't feel sorry for myself at all. In fact I wouldn't even be talking about this except for one reason and one reason only - I hope what I am going through will somehow help someone else. We cannot help others unless we are willing to talk about things that happen to us and this is just plain to important to keep to myself so I am going public...

I would not describe myself as physically active in an athletic way; however, I have always been very active in other ways and in very good health most of my life, if not all of it. I have been able to do pretty much whatever I set my mind to doing and pretty much took that for granted. Today my mind writes checks my body can't cash and I find myself unable to do many things I use to enjoy.

I have lots of talents and abilities that allow me to give service and work in unique ways. I have sewn draperies and shades professionally, worked as a personal chef, I have been a political activist for Charter Schools and now I own my own business making clothes for premature babies while they are in the hospital. Some of my other talents and interests include: heirloom sewing, tatting (lace making) sewing, scrapbooking, reading, tai chi, yoga, painting, taking long walks, holding and playing with my grandchildren, gourmet cooking, entertaining and interior decorating. Up until two years ago I could enjoy all of these things and more. Little did I know how drastically my life would change?

I need to point out that I am not a baby when it comes to pain. I have dealt with pain in my life before but nothing like this! About two years ago I started to lose range of motion in both my shoulders with pain so severe that I couldn't even lift my arms over my head. I got very concerned and went to the doctor. And this started a game called "toss the Debbie" from one doctor to another. I'll spare you to details - but basically they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me...exactly. We have now narrowed it down to two things and I could have either one or both. Fibromyalgia or non-degenerative Rheumatoid Arthritis. I sort of feel like I am on "Let's Make a Deal" and I have just seen what is behind door number 1 & 2 and I am thinking I'll take door number 3!

I love how the doctors put this; "the good news is that what you have will not kill you but the bad news is you will have to deal with this the rest of your life!" What?!?!? You're kidding me right?

Let it suffice to say that the pain is now widespread. It started in my right shoulder and within days spread to my left shoulder. From there it went to my hips (both) hips. It has traveled down my arms to include my wrists, hands and fingers. My knees hurt and so do my ankles and feet. Even my heels hurt! It is difficult to describe the type of pain this is: sometimes it is a dull ache, sometimes it is stabbing, and sometimes it feels like burning. My joints seem to be effected but the real problem feels more like it is in my muscles. My joints feel like they are on fire and my muscles ache and I get stabs of pain with specific movements. My whole body feels sluggish, weak and heavy. Simple movements used to happen automatically and now I cannot do anything without thinking about it either just to execute it or because doing so causes pain. And the pain is more intense in rainy,stormy or cold weather.

Here is a list of some of the ways this pain has changed my life:

I can’t sleep. Any time I move or roll over the pain is excruciating. It wakes me up and I do not sleep soundly all night.
I cannot hold my grandchildren without worrying that I will drop them, especially the 3 year old who wiggles.
I cannot put my hands on my hips without severe pain and willpower. I used to stand like this naturally.
I cannot even dress myself without sitting down to put on my pants; my legs won’t lift high enough. I can’t do my hair and make-up without considerable pain in my shoulders, arms and hands.
Yoga is out of the question any more. luckily I can still do Tai Chi
I cannot open jars by myself.
If I sit on the floor to play with my grandson, I can’t get off the floor without help or kneeling on all fours and using a table to get off the floor.
I cannot sit for very long without become extremely stiff. Sometimes I cannot stand up without help.
For some reason I cannot concentrate as well as I used to; I become distracted easily, forget what I was doing. My mind feels cloudy, like I am in a fog.
I am exhausted all the time. I have no energy. I wake up having no energy. It takes me several hours in the morning to get things moving. I can still do Tai chi and that helps but it is very difficult and painful.
We have two sets of stairs in my home. I would often run up and down them multiple times a day. I considered this part of my exercise. Now I don’t run anywhere especially on the stairs. I have to use the rail to hang on to so I don’t fall.
I start to feel better about 1 in the afternoon and then it is short lived and I am exhausted again by dinner time.
My grip is weak. It makes it hard to drive a car, pick things up, hold the hand of a toddler etc.
Cooking is hard and difficult because of lifting pots and pans, opening jars, cutting, stirring, kneading etc. I can’t carry in the groceries from the car.
I can’t put my arms behind me to zip, tie or button anything.
I can’t even read for any length of time. Holding a book hurts my hands and arms.
Sewing is very hard from several standpoints; sitting, movement of hands, arms and shoulders. Standing at the ironing board.
My children have to be careful how they touch me. Sometimes just grabbing my arm to get my attention sends a stab of pain down my arm. Poking me on the arm hurts so bad it makes me cry. And sometimes even hugs hurt.

So I can just look forward to the above list for the rest of my life! NOT!!!

The most insidious part about this illness is that it is what you are diagnosed with once they can't find anything else. So it is diagnosis by default. And to add insult to injury only a few years ago most doctors thought it was an illness in the mind...oh please give me a break! I don't know about ALL the women out there but I have better things to do with my time than run to the doctor every week and willingly submit to all sorts of tests that involve needles just for the fun of it. Geez!

Now I need to stop before I go too far down the pitty road. I think you get the idea that this chronic illness stinks, is no fun and nobody in their right mind would make up such a thing...ever!

Now the question begs to be asked, What can you do about it? My answer is plenty!

Last year I had a blessing where the Lord promised me that I would be healed. I am going to go with that. It has been a year since then and the improvements have been minimal but I am not giving up. This illness is by all accounts incurable but I am unwilling to accept that especially in light of my blessing. Apparently, others are unwilling to accept it as well. Last week I think I found my solution. I am not sure but I think so. And this brings me to the point of this blog post - I thought it would be good if we find out all about it together.

As luck would have it there just so happens to be a Fibromyalgia Clinic in Salt Lake! What are the chances??? But it is true! And they have a holistic approach to treatment, which I like and they think that people can be cured or live without pain, which I also like and believe. So I have a reservation to attend a free seminar for more information on January 14th. I know...I know what you are saying...What if they are a bunch of quacks?? I have it covered. This is why I want to check it out and report it back to you. If I have to tell you then I will know in a few sentences of typing if I can tell it with a straight face. So wish me luck!

Ten Simple Rules for Dating my Daughter

2009-01-01T11:46:00.000-08:00

When Brooke was born Scott used to say that she wouldn't be allowed to date until she was 35. I thought that was a little extreme, but whatever. Today she is 26 and married with two children so I guess that rule never stood the test of time. Ashley turns 18 in a few weeks. She hasn't dated all that much, but I am sure that will change as she heads toward college soon. So, in honor of her, a friend sent these to me and they reminded me of poor Scott. How hard it must be for Dads to let their little girls out the door with who knows what! I removed rule number 4 because it was a little too extreme. You can find it by following the link below from the author of these rule - he could of been but he wasn't. Hopefully these will make you laugh !

Rule One:If you pull into my driveway and honk you'd better be delivering a package, because you're sure not picking anything up.

Rule Two:You do not touch my daughter in front of me. You may glance at her, so long as you do not peer at anything below her neck. If you cannot keep your eyes or hands off of my daughter's body, I will remove them.

Rule Three: I am aware that it is considered fashionable for boys of your age to wear their trousers so loosely that they appear to be falling off their hips. Please don't take this as an insult, but you and all of your friends are complete idiots. Still, I want to be fair and open minded about this issue, so I propose this compromise: You may come to the door with your underwear showing and your pants ten sizes too big, and I will not object. However, in order to ensure that your clothes do not, in fact, come off during the course of your date with my daughter, I will take my electric nail gun and fasten your trousers securely in place to your waist.

Rule Five:It is usually understood that in order for us to get to know each other, we should talk about sports, politics, and other issues of the day. Please do not do this. The only information I require from you is an indication of when you expect to have my daughter safely back at my house, and the only word I need from you on this subject is "early."

Rule Six: I have no doubt you are a popular fellow, with many opportunities to date other girls. This is fine with me as long as it is okay with my daughter. Otherwise, once you have gone out with my little girl, you will continue to date no one but her until she is finished with you. If you make her cry, I will make you cry.

Rule Seven: As you stand in my front hallway, waiting for my daughter to appear, and more than an hour goes by, do not sigh and fidget. If you want to be on time for the movie, you should not be dating. My daughter is putting on her makeup, a process that can take longer than painting the Golden Gate Bridge. Instead of just standing there, why don't you do something useful, like changing the oil in my car?

Rule Eight: The following places are not appropriate for a date with my daughter: Places where there are beds, sofas, or anything softer than a wooden stool. Places where there are no parents, policemen, or nuns within eyesight. Places where there is darkness. Places where there is dancing, holding hands, or happiness. Places where the ambient temperature is warm enough to induce my daughter to wear shorts, tank tops, midriff T-shirts, or anything other than overalls, a sweater, and a goose down parka - zipped up to her throat. Movies with a strong romantic or sexual theme are to be avoided; movies which features chain saws are okay. Hockey games are okay. Old folks homes are better.

Rule Nine: Do not lie to me. I may appear to be a potbellied, balding, middle-aged, dimwitted has-been. But on issues relating to my daughter, I am the all-knowing, merciless god of your universe. If I ask you where you are going and with whom, you have one chance to tell me the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I have a shotgun, a shovel, and five acres behind the house. Do not trifle with me.

Rule Ten: Be afraid. Be very afraid. It takes very little for me to mistake the sound of your car in the driveway for a chopper coming in over a rice paddy near Hanoi. When my Agent Orange starts acting up, the voices in my head frequently tell me to clean the guns as I wait for you to bring my daughter home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you should exit your car with both hands in plain sight. Speak the perimeter password, announce in a clear voice that you have brought my daughter home safely and early, then return to your car - there is no need for you to come inside. The camouflaged face at the window is mine.

"Copyright 1998 W. Bruce Cameron http://www.wbrucecameron.com/"

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 25th

2008-12-27T07:40:00.000-08:00

Only Begotten

Jesus was born in the meridian of time, thus giving an ideal vantage point from which to look both backward and forward.

For the last 24 days you have stood, as it were, in Bethlehem, gazing in both directions.

You have heard the Master's voice in premortal councils. You have seen him suffer, die and rise again. You have watched him return triumphant in the clouds of heaven.

Now you are ready to focus with greater joy on that moment when heaven came down to earth.

"And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel come down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou? "And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins... "And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.

"And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!

And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.

"And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father!" (1 Ne. 11:14-15, 18-21)

"And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

"And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

"He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest:...

"Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

"And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. ...

"And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to the work" (Luke 1:30-32. 34-35, 38).

"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. ...

"And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

"To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

"And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

"And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for , behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

"And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

"And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hat made known unto us.

"And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger" (Luke 2:1, 3-16).

* Consider what gift you could give the Savior and determine to give it all year long.

* "Joy to the World," Hymns, no. 201.

The Light

We hope you've enjoyed this Christmas pilgrimage through the life of the Savior. If you have, there is still one last gift to open. Open your scriptures to the Topical Guide and look under "Jesus Christ" You will find 18 1/2 pages of references!

Christmas may be past, but you can go right on reading about the Savior's mission.

In fact, what you received here was only a small taste of the scriptural feast available.

The suggested activity for this day and the rest of your life is to read and enjoy the word of God as found in the holy scriptures. Give yourself a gift that fills every day of your life with the real spirit of Christmas.

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 24th

2008-12-23T17:56:00.001-08:00

Jesus came to Bethlehem a humble babe, born in poverty. But he has promised to return to earth in majesty.

Then heaven and earth will be reconciled, and the King of Kings will reign.

"For as the lightning cometh our of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. ..."And then shall also the coming of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ..."But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. ..."Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come" (Matt. 24:27, 29-30, 36, 42).

* Try to live this day as if it were the day of Christ's second coming.

* "When He Comes Again," Children's Songbook, p. 82.

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 23rd

2008-12-23T17:54:00.000-08:00

Jesus is no mere figure from the past, captive in the pages of scripture. He lives today! He holds the universe to its course, and guides the work of his servants on the earth.

"And now. after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! "For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father - "That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God" (D&C 76:19 - 20, 22 - 24).

* Go out with friends singing Christmas carols, but add some hymns about other aspects of Christ's ministry.

* "I Know That My Redeemer Lives," Hymns, no. 136.

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 22nd

2008-12-22T07:51:00.000-08:00

As the holidays get busier and busier, we become involved in so may things - running errands, attending parties, buying presents, choosing wrapping paper and ribbons. It's easy to become focused on material things. Instead, let's remember where our lives ought to be centered.

"I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger: and he that believeth on me shall never thirst" (John 6:35). "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine" (John 10 - 14). I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, through he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness" (John 8:12).

* Go look at Christmas lights and think about where all light really comes from.

* "The Lord is My Shepherd," Hymns, no. 108

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 21st

2008-12-21T18:23:00.000-08:00

The morning of Christ's resurrection was the brightest morning in all history - a time of transcendent joy following the gloom of the crucifixion. The words of the angel still echo down the centuries undiminished. He is risen! Those words signaled more than the triumph of a god. They proclaimed the supremacy of life over death. As we celebrate Christmas, we also celebrate the free gift of immortality for all mankind.

"In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. "And, behold, there was a great earthquake; for the angel of the lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. "His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow; "And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. "And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. "He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay" (Matt 28:1-6). "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces" (Isa. 25:8).

* Read the accounts of the Resurrection in the four Gospels and 3 Nephi, and them record your feelings in your journal (see Matt. 28; Matk 16; Luke 24; John 20; 3 Nephi 11).

* "He is Risen!" Hymns, no. 199.

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 20th

2008-12-20T11:36:00.001-08:00

Some things are almost too painful to think about. To see our Savior mocked and murdered is one such thing. And yet, throughout the scriptures, we should visit Calvary from time to time. We must never forget Jesus died so that we might live, and live more abundantly. "They stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. "And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and the bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!" And they spit upon him, and took the reed and smote him on the head" (Matt. 27:28-30).

"And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him. ..."Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment and cast lots" (Luke 23:33-34) "And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads and saying, ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, "save thyself and come down from the cross. "Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he can not save. "Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe" (Mark 15:29-32).

* Read the accounts of the crucifixion in the four Gospels, and then write your feelings in your journal.

* "There is a Green Hill Far Away," Hymns, no. 194.

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 19

2008-12-19T10:30:00.000-08:00

The greatest victory of all time was not won on a battlefield but in a quiet hillside garden.

We cannot fully understand the cost of that triumph, but as Christmas draws near we should at least try.

"O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matt. 26:39). "For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent, "But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; "Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit - and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink - "Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men" (D & C 19: 16 - 19).

* Accept the gift of forgiveness. Pray to Heavenly Father about some weakness and ask for help in repenting of it.

* "How Great Thou Art," Hymns, no. 86

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 18th

2008-12-18T13:18:00.000-08:00

We all have storms in our lives - storms of fear and anger and regret - storms at home, work and school. The Master's hand can calm all our tempests.

"And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him, "And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. " And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. "And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm" (Matt. 8:23-26).

* Be a calming influence today. Try extra hard to control your temper.

* "Master, the Tempest Is Raging," Hymns, no. 105.

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 17th

2008-12-16T20:51:00.000-08:00

Have you ever wished you could be baptized again and start over fresh? When we repent of our sins and partake of the sacrament worthily, we renew our covenants and are clean.

"Jesus commanded his disciples that they should bring forth some bread and wine,..."And ...he took of the bread and brake and blessed it..."And when the multitude had eaten and were filled, he said..."This shall ye do in remembrance of my body, which I have shown unto you. And it shall be a testimony unto the Father that ye do always remember me, And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you...(3 Ne. 18:1,3,5,7,9-11).

* As you partake of the sacrament, make a special effort to think about the Savior.

* "While of These Emblems We Partake," Hymns, no. 173.

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 16th

2008-12-16T20:50:00.000-08:00

Jesus came to lift our burdens. One of the heaviest burdens we carry is that of hate. In teaching us to forgive, the Lord set us free.

"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? "Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven" (Matt. 18:21-22). "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matt. 6:14-15). "Behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who dispitefully use you" (3 Ne. 12:44)

* Try to forgive someone who has wronged you. If appropriate, go to him today and be reconciled.

* "Did You Think to Pray?" Hymns, no.140

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 15th

2008-12-15T08:33:00.000-08:00

Turmoil and strife, combat and competition - our world is full of the consequences of man dealing with man. But the Savior told us how to truly succeed, through peace on earth and good will toward men.

"If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them" (Matt. 7:12) "Whosoever will be great among you...shall be servant of all" (Mark 10:43-44). "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:34-35).

* Today tell someone that you love them. Express love for the Lord in your prayers.

* Love One Another," Hymns, no. 308.

Holiday Eating Tips

2008-12-15T08:18:00.000-08:00

My dear friend sent this to me in an email today. I laughed until I cried it was so funny! So now I lovingly send it along to you, my faithful readers...Merry Christmas!

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare. You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do.This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies - Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Remember this motto to live by:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

The Ultimate Question...

2008-12-14T19:40:00.000-08:00

My husband sent me this in an email and I thought it was hilarious and sooooo true!

The question is to get a dog...

or... to have children...

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 14th

2008-12-14T19:34:00.000-08:00

Christmas would hardly be Christmas without children. They are so much of the magic in the season. The Savior also loved children. In both the New World and the old, he called the little ones to him.

"They brought their little children and set them down upon the ground round about him,..."...and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them..."And...they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, ...and the angels did minister unto them (3 Ne. 17:12,21,24).

* Do Something fun with a little brother, sister, son, daughter or other child.

*"I Think When I Read That Sweet Story," Children's Songbook, p. 56.

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 13th

2008-12-13T10:07:00.000-08:00

We don't like to think of illness or death at Christmastime, but these shadows can fall on any season. Jesus taught us an unforgettable lesson in empathy when he shared the grief of his friends aFter the death of Lazarus.

"Jesus wept. "Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!..."Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus...cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. "And he that was dead came forth" (John 11:35,36,41,43,44)

* Do something to bring cheer to someone who has a reason to feel sad.

* "Abide with Me!" Hymns, no 166

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 12 (sorry it's late)

2008-12-13T09:57:00.000-08:00

The Master taught that it isn't what you have that counts; it's what you give. Giving of yourself can fill your world with joy, not only at Christmas, but all year long.

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal; "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal" (3 Ne, 13:19-20).

* You'll treasure the time you spend helping others. Do volunteer work for some worthy cause.

* "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day", Hymns, no. 214.

Christmas Survey

2008-12-11T13:20:00.000-08:00

I got tagged in the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends.

Okay, here's what you're supposed to do. Just copy and paste into a new e-mail that you can send. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you......Tis the Season to be jolly!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Definitely wrapping paper and lots of ribbons and bows
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial. I put my tree up the day after Thanksgiving and a real tree doesn’t last that long.
3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving
4. When do you take the tree down? 1st day of the New Year
5. Do you like eggnog? YES! Absolutely!!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Madame Alexander Bride doll
7. Hardest person to buy for? Scott, he buys what he wants all year so when Christmas gets here there is nothing left to get him.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Elliot and Evie, they like everything
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes – several of them
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I totally prefer mail it is much more personal but I would take an email one, print it and put it on my door with the others.
11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don’t think that is possible
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Christmas Vacation, Elf and the Santa Clause Movies
13. When do you start shopping? The last minute
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Do I have to answer this?
16. Lights on the tree? White and lots of them…the more the better.
17. Favorite Christmas song? The Messiah
18.Travel at Christmas or stay home? At home is the best with my own little family
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Of course! Who can’t…is that possible?
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We open new jammies on Christmas Eve and the rest in the morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? It is too short!
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? My Christmas village, The North Pole from Department 56
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Ham from Honeybaked Hams
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Food storage and 72 hour kits
26. What do you do for Christmas Eve? Open new jammies, load everyone up in the car with blankets and pillows and go look at Christmas light and sing Christmas carols. This year I am making prime rib for dinner.
27. Best Christmas tradition? Making hand dipped chocolates.

What Do the LDS Leaders Really Teach?

2008-12-11T08:27:00.000-08:00

The world is adrift in ignorance about what Mormon leaders really teach, but this YouTube video gets right to the heart of it.Comment on and rate this video on YouTube by clicking here. Be sure to vote and rate the video because viewings are only counted if the viewers give them a rating.

I am interested in getting this video out to as many people as possible: send it to your friends and family, post it on your blog, facebook and message boards. Help spread the word about the church...why?

Because recently Gary Lawrence of Lawrence Research, a well respected research firm did a poll of what people in America think of the LDS Church. Here is what he found:

The results were pretty much what he expected.

"We're not as popular as we think we are," he says.

He found that 84 percent of Americans have been exposed to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in one form or another -- via missionaries, members, the media or all three. That translates to a very healthy awareness penetration.

But of that 84 percent, just 14 percent could correctly answer the main claim of Mormonism: that it is Christ's original gospel re-arranged on the Earth.

Even when those polled were prodded with facts they may have forgotten -- a polling technique known as aided recall -- just 29 percent could accurately state the church's position.

The result is poll data that report 49 percent of Americans have an unfavorable impression of Mormons, compared with 39 percent who have a favorable impression. The remaining 12 percent are uninformed or undecided.

"As Mormons, we think we're effectively communicating our message, but we're not," says Lawrence. "Our image is lousy largely because of so many falsehoods and distortions out there about who we are."

We are never going to be "popular" by the world's standards. But we CAN do a better job of getting the message out there. If you are interested in reading the whole article go here. We can and should be better about getting the message out. This video is a good start!

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 11th

2008-12-11T08:03:00.000-08:00

We could labor every day of our lives and still not repay the kindness of our Lord. But he has shown us that there is a way to serve him.

"Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? "When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? "Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? "And the King shall answer... inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matt. 25:37-40).

* Visit someone who is sick or lonely.

* "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief," Hymns, no. 29.

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 10th

2008-12-10T08:14:00.000-08:00

We take the agency of man for granted, but it was seriously challenged before our mortal lives even began. This Christmas let's give thanks for the one who defended our freedom.

"Satan... came before me saying - Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor. "But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me - Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever. "Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him...; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down" (Moses 4:1-3)

* Use your agency to set some goals for yourself. Seal a copy in an envelope to be opened in a year.

* "How Great the Wisdom and the Love," Hymns, no. 195

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 9th

2008-12-09T14:13:00.000-08:00

In a world divided by national, religious, political, and racial hatreds, it's time everyone reviewed Jesus' answer to the question, "Who is my neighbor?"

"A certain man went down form Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell amonng thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead." And by chance there came down a certain priest that way and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side," And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. "But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. "And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him..."Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among thieves?" (Luke 10:30-34,36).

* Do a good deed anonymously.

* "Because I Have Been Given Much," Hymns, no. 219

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 8th

2008-12-07T20:28:00.000-08:00

The greatest blessings aren't those of getting but those of becoming. Jesus taught:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit who come unto me, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." And again, blessed are all they that mourn, for they shall be comforted. " And blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. " And blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled with the Holy Ghost." And blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." And blessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God." And blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of god" (3 Ne. 12:3-9).

* Foster peace on earth by not quarreling with your brothers, sisters and other family members.

* "More Holiness Give Me," Hymns, no. 131

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 7th

2008-12-07T07:42:00.000-08:00

The Savior knows the weight of our suffering and the depth of our pain. He has suffered for us, and he loves us without reservation. There is no problem so hard or despair so dark that he can't help us if we let him.

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we eseemed him not. "Surely he hath borne out griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. "But he was wouneded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (Isa. 53:3-5). "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28).

* Go out of your way to befriend someone who nees a friend. Follow through in the days and weeks to come.

* "Come unto Jusus," Hymns, no. 117.

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 6th

2008-12-06T10:26:00.000-08:00

Jesus was a healer. He touched away blindness and filled withered limbs with new life. He restored the mind and soul. Surrounded by much hurt and sorrow we can, in our own way, be healers also. Sometimes a kind word and a helping hand are all that is needed.

"And...Jesus...cast his eyes...on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them. "And he said until them: Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you...."And ...all the multitude...did go forth with their sick and their afflicted, and their lame, and with their blind, and with their dumb, and with all them that were afflicted in any manner; and he did heal them every one "(3 Ne. 17:5, 6, 9).

* Try to be as kind as possible to others today.

* "I Need Thee Every Hour," Hymns, no. 98.

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 5th

2008-12-04T22:03:00.000-08:00

Christmas shines with lights - on trees and houses and city streets. As we recall the bright star over Bethlehem, do we remember the source of all light?

"He...ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth; "Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As Also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by wich it was made. "As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made; " as also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made; "And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand. " And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings; " Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space - " The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed" (D & C 88: 6 - 13)

* Look up at the heavens and think about who made the sun, moon, and stars. Record your feelings in your journal.

* "The Lord Is My Light," Hymns, no. 89.

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 4th

2008-12-04T07:38:00.000-08:00

Many people are hungry - not just for food but for love, for acceptance, for support. Some are starving spiritually. Jesus knew how to feed every kind of hunger, In our small way we can do the same.

"(Jesus') disiples came to him, saying...send the multitude away, that they may...buy themselves victuals. "But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. "And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. "He said, Bring them hither to me. "...and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples, to the multitude" (Matt. 14:15-19).

* Feed someone spiritually. Write your testimony in a Book of Mormon and give it away.

* "Tell Me the Stories of Jesus," Children's Songbook, 1989, p. 57.

Christmas Advent Calendar - December 1-3

2008-12-02T19:34:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine has been sending me the most wonderful emails about a special advent calendar to help us remember the reason we celebrate Christmas. I don't know where she got it but I thought it would be great to post it here. This is perfect to do during family scripture study and prayers each night...Enjoy!

Christmas Advent Calendar

This is no ordinary advent calendar with little windows to open or snowmen to paste on. You are the only moving part. This calendar reviews the Savior's entire mission from pre-mortal councils on through his future return as Lord of Lord and King of Kings.

December 1st
Each day between now and Christmas you'll read one or more passages of scripture, moving from epoch to epoch across the vast span of the Redeemer's work. Each day there will be a suggestion* of something you can do to grow closer to the Savior. There will also be a hymn or carol** to sing. Here are today's suggestions:

* Invite your family to join you in each day's reading and singing.

Remember the Savior's promise. "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20)

** "Oh, Come All Ye Faithful" Hymns, 1985, no. 202

December 2nd
At Christmas we celebrate much more than the birth of a baby - we celebrate who that child already was, and what he would yet become. Christmas is a time of looking - to the past, with its glimpses of pre-mortal glory, and to the future, with its promise of eternity.

"For behold, the time....is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles,,," And lo, he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary, "And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men even through faith on his name, and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall scourge him, and shall crucify him." And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world" (Mosiah 3:5, 8-10)

* As you decorate for Christmas, choose or make a decoration that will remind you of the Savior and his mission.

*"I Believe in Christ," Hymns, no. 134

December 3rd
All that we have - the air we breathe, the light by which we see - are gifts from a loving Father and his Son. In this season of giving, let us give one of the greatest gifts we can offer - a grateful, humble heart.

"As (Jesus) entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers..."And ...he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. "And one of them turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God," And Jesus answereing said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?" (Luke 17:12,14,15,17).

* In one of your prayers today, give thanks for every blessing you can name, without asking anything.

** Count Your Blessings," Hymns, no 241

Recipe of the Week

2008-11-28T14:07:00.000-08:00

Dark Chocolate & Pumpkin Cheesecake

This is the time of year for lots of parties and sometimes it is hard to come up with something new or special. So if you are looking for something impressive and yummy to take to your next get-together? This recipe is a bit of work, but it is guaranteed to be the hit of any party! Be sure to read through the whole recipe before starting so you know what your game plan is before you start, i.e. you will need two springform pans for this one!

Ingredients

CHOCOLATE PECAN COOKIE CRUST
1 c pecan pieces
6 deep dark chocolate fudge cookies (Peppperidge Farms or other type)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
8 oz semisweet chocolate, broken into 2-oz pieces
1/4 Chocolate syrup
3/4 lb cream cheese, softened
3/4 c granulated sugar
1/2 ts salt
3 eggs
1 ts pure vanilla extract

PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE
2 ts unsalted butter, melted
1 lb cream cheese, softened
3/4 c granulated sugar
2 tb all-purpose flower
1/2 ts salt
3 eggs
1 ts pure vanilla extract
1 c pumpkin puree
1/4 ts ground cinnamon

Instructions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Toast the pecan pieces on a baking sheet in the preheated oven for 6-8 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Lower the oven temperature to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. In a food processor fitted with a metal blade, chop the cookies and the pecans until they are in crumbs (to yield 2 cups) about 20-30 seconds. Add in 2 tbls melted butter and blend well. Set aside until needed.

Coat the bottom of a 9-by 3-inch springform pan with melted butter. Use your hands to press l cup of crumbs to a uniform and level thickness on the buttered bottom of the pan. Set aside.
To prepare the chocolate cheesecake, heat l inch of water in the bottom half of a double boiler over medium-high heat. Place the semi-sweet chocolate in the top half of the double boiler.

Tightly cover the top with film wrap and allow to heat for 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir until smooth. Place 3/4 pound softened cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar, and 1/2 tsp salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle. Beat on low for l minute and on medium for 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then beat on medium for 2 more minutes and on high for 2 minutes. Scrape down the bowl. Add 3 eggs , one at a time, beating on high for 20 seconds and scraping down the bowl after each addition. Then beat the mixture for 1 minute more on high. Add l teaspoon vanilla extract and beat on medium for l5 seconds. Add the melted chocolate mixture, chocolate syrup and then beat on medium for 30 seconds.

Pour the cheese cake mixture into the prepared springform pan, spreading evenly. Keep at room temperature while preparing the pumpkin cheesecake batter.

To prepare the pumpkin cheesecake, coat the inside of a springform pan with l tsp butter. Line the pan with parchment paper. Coat the parchment paper with the remaining tsp butter. Set aside until needed.

Place l pound softened cream cheese, 3/4 cup sugar, the flour, and 1/2 tsp salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle . Beat on low for l minute and on medium for 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then beat on medium for 2 more minutes and on high for 3 minutes. Scrape down the bowl. Add 3 eggs one at a time, beating on high for 20 seconds and scraping down the bowl after each addition. Add l tsp vanilla extract and beat on medium for l5 seconds, then beat for 2 more minutes on high. Add the pumpkin puree, cinnamon, allspice and cloves, then beat on medium for 30 seconds. Remove the bowl for the mixer. Use a rubber spatula to finish mixing the batter until it is smooth and thoroughly combined. Pour the pumpkin cheesecake mixture into the prepared springform pan, spreading evenly.

Place a 9 by 1 1/2 inch cake pan partially filled with 4 cups of hot water on the bottom rack of the 300 degree oven (the bottom rack should be at least 3 inches below the center rack). Place both cheesecakes on the center rack of the oven and bake for l hour and l0 minutes, until the internal temperature of the cheesecake fillings reaches l70 degrees. Turn off the oven and allow the cheesecakes to remain in the oven for an additional 20 minutes. (Do not open the door - it will let out all the moisture and cause your cheesecakes to crack.)

Remove from the oven and cool at room temperature for 20 minutes. Refrigerate the chocolate cheescake for l hour, but keep the pumpkin cheesecake at room temperature (do not remove either cake from the pan).

Pour l cup of Semisweet Chocolate Ganache over the top of the chilled chocolate cheesecake. Spread the ganache evenly over the top of the chocolate cheesecake. Remove the pumpkin cheesecake from the springform pan, leaving the bottom on - invert the pumpkin cheesecake onto the layer of ganache. Gently press down on the cake to set in place. Wrap the entire cheesecake with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours to set.

The cheesecake can now be released from the springform pan. Remove the plastic wrap and insert a knife vertically around the outside edge of the cheesecake. Carefully release and remove the springform pan. Place the cheesecake on a wire rack and pour remaining ganache over the top and smooth it over the sides. Press the remaining cookie/pecan crumbs into the sides of the cake, coating evenly. Remove the bottom of the springform pan and place on serving dish. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before cutting and serving.

To cut and serve heat the blade of the serrated knife under hot water before cutting, and run it under hot water after making each slice. Place a piece of cheesecake in the center of each plate and serve. Yield: 12 Servings

Thankful Thursday

2008-11-27T19:45:00.000-08:00

Since today is Thanksgiving and there are SO MANY things to be thankful for so I won't make a big long list but I want to just name a few:

I am thankful for Scott; for his constant love and support, for his sense of humor, for his help around the house - doing dishes, laundry and helping out with whatever he can. I am thankful he has a job during this time of economic uncertainty.
I am thankful for my wonderful, beautiful children: For Brooke's unfailing loyalty and help. She works hard everyday, many times without pay. She is a joy to be around, she is my best friend, a good little mother and hard worker. Brent is so awesome! I am so glad to have him home with us so we can love him and help him heal. He is such a gentle soul and so easy to please. I am thankful he is filling our home with his music again. Ashley is a joy and is sweet in every way (most of the time). She has a good heart and lots of love. It makes me sad that they are so grown up. But I am thankful that they have grown up better than I could have ever imagined.
I am thankful for my sweet little grandchildren who love unconditionally. These little sweeties bring love, laughter and true joy into my life. It is so fun to watch them grow up and love everything they do (good or bad) and be able to laugh at their antics and spoil them rotten.
I am thankful that our family is so close. Moving a lot has made us closer than most families. For many years all we had was each other. And because we are so close I always know who I can count on...who will be there...and who keeps their promises. Where other fail, we are ALWAYS there for each other.
I am thankful for Craig and Cyndy and our long standing holiday tradition with them. It has been truely relaxing, fun and enjoyable!
I am thankful for Elliot's Preemie Tees and the opportunity we have to touch and bless so many lives.

Thankful Thursday

2008-11-20T08:38:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for the March of Dimes...

Because this month is Prematurity Awareness Month I have been thinking a lot about the March of Dimes and all the ways they were helpful and instrumental in helping to save Elliot's life. I know that they sometimes get a bad wrap because of their research on birth defects and the results being used by abortion groups to terminate pregnancies. But that was not the intent of the research. Their mission has always been about saving babies. So now I want to tell you that EVERYONE who has EVER had a baby in America should thank the March of Dimes for their work! If you have had a baby then look over the list of what they have done for you too! I highlighted all the ones that affected Elliot...tell me how they have helped you?

March of Dimes Milestones and Timeline

January 1938
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt establishes the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis - a unique partnership of scientists and volunteers - to conquer polio.

Eddie Cantor creates the first grassroots fund-raiser for the National Foundation, asking the public to send dimes to President Roosevelt at the White House. The effort was called the March of Dimes, which later became part of the official name of the foundation.

March of Dimes first research grant goes to Yale University.

1939
March of Dimes first chapter is established in Coshocton, Ohio.

1941
March of Dimes provides first iron lung to assist polio victims.

1949
March of Dimes selects Dr. Jonas Salk to lead research on classifying polio viruses.

1950
First Mothers March launched in Phoenix, Arizona., to raise emergency funding during a serious polio outbreak.

1952
Virginia Apgar, M.D., develops the Apgar Score, a clinical system for evaluating an infant's physical condition at birth. By the end of the decade, it becomes the standard practice in obstetrical care throughout the world, and remains so today. Her scoring system was the crucial first step in the evolution of medical subspecialties focused on newborns. Dr. Apgar worked from 1959 until her death in 1974 for the March of Dimes.

1953
Dr. Salk confirms the feasibility of a killed-virus vaccine for polio.

1954
March of Dimes runs field trials of Salk vaccine with 1,830,000 schoolchildren participating. The test is the largest peacetime mobilization of volunteers in history.

April 12, 1955
Salk vaccine is declared "safe, effective and potent."

1958
March of Dimes initiates the first concerted efforts to save babies from birth defects.

1960
March of Dimes establishes The Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif.

1961
Earlier March of Dimes work pays off in the development of the PKU test. This allows some forms of mental retardation to be prevented.

1962
Oral polio vaccine, developed by Dr. Albert Sabin with funding from the March of Dimes is licensed.

1968
March of Dimes funds the first successful bone marrow transplant to correct a birth defect.

1970
First WalkAmerica events take place in San Antonio, Texas, and Columbus, Ohio.

1973
March of Dimes researchers discover that alcohol consumption during pregnancy causes birth defects.

March of Dimes funds first in utero treatment for a birth defect.

April Murphy is first baby to be successfully treated in the womb for birth defects

1976
March of Dimes calls for creation of a regional system of newborn intensive care units to save sick babies.

1978
March of Dimes funds first prenatal diagnosis of sickle cell anemia.

1981
March of Dimes funds first successful surgery to correct a urinary blockage in an unborn baby.

1982
March of Dimes launches "Babies & You" program to bring prenatal education to the workplace.

1984
March of Dimes funds development of a newborn screening test for biotinidase deficiency, which can cause mental retardation and death unless treated promptly.

1985
March of Dimes funds research leading to the use of surfactant to treat respiratory distress syndrome(RDS). Danielle Cofey is one of first infants to be treated with life-saving surfactant therapy.

1989
March of Dimes grantee performs the first in utero surgery to repair a diaphragmatic hernia in an unborn baby.

Blake Schultz is first baby to undergo lifesaving fetal surgery to correct a diaphragmatic hernia.

1991
March of Dimes funds research showing that delivering babies with spina bifida by cesarean section may save them from paralysis.

March of Dimes grantees identify genes responsible for Marfan syndrome -- an inherited disorder of connective tissue, and fragile X syndrome -- the most common known familial cause of mental retardation.

1992
March of Dimes grantee locates a gene connected with 70 to 80 percent of cases of acute leukemia in infants.

1993
March of Dimes grantees clone gene responsible for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy — a rare and often fatal hereditary disease characterized by adrenal failure and paralysis.

Ashanthi DeSilva and Cynthia Cutshall become first Americans to undergo gene therapy.

1994
March of Dimes launches nationwide campaign urging women to take the B vitamin folic acid to help prevent neural tube birth defects.

1995
March of Dimes grantees share Nobel Prize for research on fruit flies that identified master genes that control the early structural development of the body.

March of Dimes funds research showing that treating certain infections with antibiotics reduces the risk of preterm delivery.

1996
March of Dimes-supported research on nitric oxide leads to a new treatment to save premature babies from persistent pulmonary hypertension, a deadly lung disorder.

March of Dimes volunteers help secure passage of the Mothers' and Newborns' Health Protection Act, guaranteeing a minimum hospital stay of 48 hours following delivery.

With March of Dimes support, the FDA approves fortification of grain products with folic acid.

1997
March of Dimes grantee successfully uses deactivated HIV viruses as delivery systems for healthy genes in gene therapy.

March of Dimes grantee finds that gene abnormalities in the development of certain enzymes involved in folic acid metabolism may contribute to susceptibility to neural tube defects.

March of Dimes grantee identifies a gene for Alagille syndrome, a rare inherited disorder that causes abnormalities in different parts of the body.

March of Dimes volunteers help secure passage of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP), to provide health care coverage for up to 5 million children.

1998
March of Dimes volunteers help secure passage of the Birth Defects Prevention Act, establishing a nationwide network of birth defects monitoring and research programs.

March of Dimes research leads to one of the first successful surgeries to treat spina bifida before birth. Noah Kipfmiller is one of the first babies to undergo this pioneering open-womb surgical procedure.

1999
March of Dimes grantees successfully use gene therapy to treat hemophilia and retinitis pigmentosa in the lab.

2000
March of Dimes volunteers developed key provisions and worked to enact The Children's Health Act of 2000. The law creates a National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and helps states to expand newborn screening.

2001
March of Dimes launches a partnership with the Dutch-based de Waal Foundation to provide prenatal care and birth defects prevention information to women in Ecuador, Honduras and Nicaragua.

2002
March of Dimes grantees win the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology for their discoveries on genetic regulation of organ development and programmed cell death (apoptosis).

The March of Dimes promotion of folic acid fortification and awareness contributed to a 21 percent decline in the occurrence of neural tube birth defects between 1995 - 2000.

2003
March of Dimes launches a multimillion dollar, multiyear campaign to prevent premature birth and raise awareness of its serious consequences.

2005
The North Building at The Salk Institute for Biological Studies is dedicated to March of Dimes volunteers, as part of the 50th anniversary of the polio vaccine.

2006
Nobel Prizes are awarded to March of Dimes grantees Drs. Roger D. Kornberg and Craig Mello for groundbreaking discoveries on RNA and its role in human development.

March of Dimes advocacy leads to passage of the PREEMIE Act to bring together experts from the private and public sectors to speed development of prevention strategies for preterm labor and delivery.

2007
March of Dimes volunteer efforts lead to increase in newborn screening. Nearly 90 percent of all babies born in the U.S. – more than double the percentage in 2005 – live in states that require screening for at least 21 of 29 life-threatening but treatable disorders.

During November, Prematurity Awareness Month, the Every Baby Has a Story campaign and bus tour enable families everywhere to tell their baby's special story and become part of the March of Dimes online story community.

Three recipients of the March of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology are awarded Nobel Prizes: Mario R. Capecchi, PhD; Sir Martin I. Evans, PhD, DSc, FRS; and Oliver Smithies, D.Phil. FRS

Recipe of the Week

2008-11-19T18:12:00.000-08:00

ALL THINGS HOT CHOCOLATE

It is no secret that I love Chocolate! So I decided that sharing my passion with you is the best gift I can give to you this Christmas. Chocolate is a very diverse and multifaceted epicurean delight. It would be impossible to share all there is to know about chocolate here…I would have to write a book!

So during the season of snow and cold what better way to warm the body and soul than a wonderful cup of hot chocolate or hot cocoa…Yes! There is a difference between the two! Hot cocoa is made of dry ingredients like dry milk and cocoa powder. Hot Chocolate is the real deal…milk and real chocolate. Most people prefer one of the other and it just depends on your taste as to which one you think is better.

I have included here some of my favorite recipes. The first one is my own concoction… the others I have found over the years. I consider them the “best of the best.” All of them are wonderful and worth the effort to try them. I say worth the effort because fine chocolate, like fine wine, is sometimes hard to find and takes a little bit of effort to find really GOOD chocolate. When you find it – it makes all the difference! Today with the use of the internet it is not as hard as it once was. Also, fine chocolate has recently become fashionable; most grocery stores are starting to carry quite an array of them. Every chocolate is different. How it tastes depends on where it is grown. Valrhona (from France) is considered one “the best” chocolates in the world. It is grown exclusively on one cocoa plantation and picked and prepared by hand. If you get your hands on some you will know you have died and gone to chocolate heaven. But if you can’t find this one near you then you might opt for some of the more easily available variety. Scharffen Berger is excellent and available at William-Sonoma. Some others are Amedei, Domori, Pralus and Valrhona to name a few. Try some of them out or find others not mentioned here and you will see what I mean. And for heaven sakes, DO NOT use Hershey’s chocolate unless you just really like it! Be adventurous and try something new! Break out of your comfort zone and you might be amazed at what you find! Enjoy!

Debbie’s Spicy Hot Cocoa Mix
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup high quality cocoa powder*
2 cups powdered milk
1 cup non-dairy creamer
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Allspice
1 Teaspoon Nutmeg
Hot water
Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl and incorporate evenly. In a small pot, heat 4 to 6 cups of water.
Fill your mug half full with the mixture and pour in hot water. Stir to combine. Seal the rest in an airtight container, keeps indefinitely in the pantry. This also works great with warm milk for a richer treat.
* Use Ghirardelli at the least (trust me it makes a difference!) and for an extra treat William-Sonoma carries Valrhona cocoa.

Serendipity Frozen Hot Chocolate
It's famous, it's infamous, it's notorious. It has destroyed diets and led to love affairs. Marriages have been proposed over it, couples have been wed in it, princes have been made from it. People have traveled from all corners of the world for just one sip of our creamy, dreamy, icy blend of chocolaty goodness. It'll make you want to blow bubbles through your straw. It makes everyone a child again.

For years, fans begged and plead and offered firstborn sons for the recipe, but we three princes guarded the formula with our lives. It was such a closely kept secret that not even the White House could gain access to it. Jackie Kennedy once requested the recipe so that it could be served at a gala evening at the While House. I offered to travel to Washington to make it myself, but when my security clearance didn't come through in time, I refused to hand over the secret formula — not even to the First Lady herself!

When customers asked how it was made, we would respond that we had a Rube Goldberg machine churning it out in the back — a hodgepodge of arms, wheels, gears, handles, paddles, and even canaries in cages working in concert to concoct the magic elixir. We would never let on that it was as simple as a blender and some magnificent chocolate.

And now, to thank our customers for fifty great years, we've finally decided to share the secret recipe with the world. For truly authentic Serendipity taste, throw a sprinkle of magic in the mix. For this and all the frozen drinks that follow, the recipe yields one gigantic Serendipity-sized serving, which is perfect for sharing. Enjoy.

6 half-ounce pieces of a variety of your favorite chocolates
2 teaspoons store bought hot chocolate mix
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 cups milk
3 cups ice
Whipped cream
Chocolate shavings

Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place it in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring occasionally until melted. Add the cocoa and sugar, stirring constantly until thoroughly blended. Remove from heat and slowly add 1/2 cup of the milk and stir until smooth. Cool to room temperature.

In a blender place the remaining cup of milk, the room temperature chocolate mixture, and the ice. Blend on high speed until smooth and the consistency of a frozen daiquiri. Pour into a giant goblet and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Enjoy with a spoon or a straw. . . .or both!

White House Hot Cocoa
This was gleaned from whitehouse.gov, "from Mrs. Bush's kitchen"

Ingredients:
6 T. Unsweetened cocoa
6 T. Sugar
Pinch of Salt
2 1/2 cup Milk
2 1/2 cup Light Cream
1/2 t. Vanilla (or more)
Pinch of Cinnamon Powder (optional)
Whipped Cream
Orange Zest

Mix cocoa, salt, and sugar.
Add milk. Heat to dissolve.
Add light cream, cinnamon, vanilla. Heat to just under boiling.
Mix very well and pour into warm mug.
Top with whipped cream, cocoa powder, and fine orange zest.

Chocolat Chaud
(From It Must've Been Something I Ate by Jeffrey Steingarten — adapted from Pierre Hermé)

Ingredients:
• 2-1/4 cups whole milk
• 1/4 cup bottled still water
• 1/4 cup (generous) superfine granulated sugar
• 1 100-gm bar (3-1/2 ounces) dark bittersweet chocolate, Scharffen Berger, Valrhona, or Lindt (see note, below), finely sliced with a serrated bread knife
• 1/4 cup (1 ounce or 28 gm) cocoa powder, loosely packed, preferably Valrhona
Instructions:

In a 2-quart saucepan, stir together the milk, water, and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Add the chopped chocolate and the cocoa and bring to a boil again, whisking until the chocolate and cocoa are dissolved and the mixture has thickened. Reduce the heat to very low.
Blend for 5 minutes with an immersion mixer or whirl the hot chocolate in a standard blender for half a minute, until thick and foamy.
Yield: Four 6-ounce cups of hot chocolate.

Note: I [Steingarten] use a dark chocolate containing close to 70 percent cocoa, though Lindt bittersweet also works just fine. The Mayans and the Aztecs considered the froth the best part. Today, five minutes with an immersion mixer or a blender accomplishes what a half hour of beating did long ago.

White Hot Chocolate
Recipe created by Martha Stewart for Oprah Winfrey

Ingredients:
2 cups of heavy cream
6 cups whole milk
12 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 block of dark chocolate

Using a vegetable peeler, shave chocolate into curls; set aside.

Place white chocolate in a medium heat-proof bowl; set aside. Place milk and cream in a medium saucepan set over medium heat until bubbles begin to form around edges of pan (about 4 minutes). Do not boil.

Remove mixture from the flame. Immediately pour over white chocolate. When chocolate begins to melt, gently stir to combine.

Whisk in vanilla. Continue whisking until light foam forms.

Serve immediately. Garnish with chocolate shavings or Homemade Marshmallows. Serves 8

Homemade Peppermint Marshmallows
For an extra wonderful treat make your own marshmallows! Yes!...I am serious...just try it!

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
• 4 packages (1/4 ounce each) unflavored gelatin
• 3/4 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 2 large egg whites
• 2 teaspoons red food coloring
• Vegetable-oil cooking spray
1. Coat an 8-inch square pan with cooking spray; line bottom with parchment paper. Coat the parchment with cooking spray, and set pan aside. Put sugar, corn syrup, and 3/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Stop stirring; let mixture come to a boil. Raise heat to medium-high; cook until mixture registers 260 degrees on a candy thermometer.
2. Meanwhile, sprinkle gelatin over 3/4 cup water in a heatproof bowl; let stand 5 minutes to soften. Set the bowl with the gelatin mixture over a pan of simmering water; whisk constantly until gelatin is dissolved. Remove from heat, and stir in extract; set aside.
3. Beat egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until stiff (but not dry) peaks form. Whisk gelatin mixture into sugar mixture; with mixer running, gradually add to egg whites. Mix on high speed until very thick, 12 to 15 minutes.
4. Pour mixture into lined pan. Working quickly, drop dots of red food coloring across surface of marshmallow. Using a toothpick, swirl food coloring into marshmallow to create a marbleized effect. Let marshmallow stand, uncovered, at room temperature until firm, at least 3 hours or overnight. Cut into squares.

Little Harper Grace - A New Book for Preemies

2008-11-17T14:21:00.000-08:00

Little Harper Grace is a shy, pint-sized girl who meets an unlikely friend in her backyard. It takes a little birdie to show her that being different is okay and that each of us has our own unique talents--we just have to believe in ourselves.

Explore the story of Little Harper Grace and make sure to share this site with friends, download free screen savers and don't forget to buy the book! Five percent of the purchase price of each book sold will be donated to the March of Dimes.

Little Harper Grace

written by Jessie Preza
illustrations by Meghan Daly

I Can't Stand it Any More!!!

2008-11-17T11:47:00.000-08:00

I just have to decorate for Christmas!! I don't know what is wrong with me, but I need a little Christmas...right this very minute! Scott always makes me wait until after Thanksgiving, but it is driving me crazy to wait...so I guess I will just have to decorate my blog for Christmas...

So here we gooooo!!!!

Recipe of the Week

2008-11-13T13:02:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Turkey Brine

This is just about the BEST turkey you will ever make! It comes out so moist and flavorful. The gravy is fabulous (it can be on the salty side). Directions for brining is at the bottom of the recipe. Be sure to read the entire recipe days before you plan to cook the turkey so you understand all the steps involved, have all the ingredients and have enough time! This takes some work...but it is sooooo worth it!!!

1 (14 to 16 pound) frozen young turkey
For the brine:
1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 gallon vegetable stock
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1/2 tablespoon allspice berries

1/2 tablespoon juniper berries
1/2 tablespoon candied ginger
1 gallon iced water
1 red apple, sliced
1/2 onion, sliced
1 cinnamon stick
For roasting:

3-4 cloves garlic cut in half

1 onion cut in half
4 sprigs rosemary

8-10 sprigs of thyme
6 leaves sage

Whole lemon, cut in half

Salt

Pepper
Olive oil

Combine all brine ingredients, except ice water, in a stockpot, and bring to a boil. Stir to dissolve solids, then remove from heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.

Early on the day of cooking, (or late the night before) combine the brine and ice water in a clean 5-gallon bucket. Place thawed turkey breast side down in brine, cover, and refrigerate or set in cool area (like a basement) for 6 -10 hours. Turn turkey over once, half way through brining.

A few minutes before roasting, heat oven to 500 degrees. Remove bird from brine and rinse inside and out with cold water. Discard brine.

Place bird on roasting rack inside wide, low pan and pat dry with paper towels. Rub bird skin with garlic cloves and onion, toss inside the cavity. Rub skin with lemon juice and toss the rind into cavity. Chop ½ of the remaining herbs. Loosen skin around the breasts and spread chopped herbs over the breast pieces under the skin. Stuff remaining herbs into bird cavity. Tuck back wings and tie legs together, coat whole bird liberally with olive (or other neutral) oil. Salt and pepper to taste.

Roast on lowest level of the oven at 500 degrees F. for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and cover breast with double layer of aluminum foil, insert probe thermometer into thickest part of the breast and return to oven, reducing temperature to 350 degrees F. Set thermometer alarm (if available) to 161 degrees. A 14 to 16 pound bird should require a total of 2 to 2 1/2 hours of roasting. (Roast 15 minutes per pound) Let turkey rest, loosely covered for 15 minutes before carving.

Make gravy from drippings. Carve turkey just before serving.

Poultry Brining 101

The best way to get flavorful poultry, regardless of how it is prepared, is to start with a brine. Brining adds moisture and flavor to poultry and helps to keep it from drying out. A turkey can be a serious investment in time so you want to make sure it is perfect, especially if you're entertaining. Whether you grill, smoke, fry, or roast your turkey, you should use a brined bird.

To properly brine a turkey you need to start the night before you plan to cook. You will need 10 to 12 hours (or more), a container large enough to hold your turkey and enough brine to cover it. You'll also need salt, water, sugar, seasonings, and enough room to refrigerate it. A large stainless steel stock pot or even a 5 gallon clean plastic bucket Whatever container you choose the turkey needs to have enough room to be turned so it should be big. Both Reynolds (Oven Roasting Bag for Turkeys) and Ziploc (XL Storage Bag) make very large food safe sealable bags that are great for brining.

Now let's get to the turkey. The turkey should be cleaned out, completely thawed, and should not be a self-basting or Kosher turkey. Self-basting and Kosher turkeys have a salty stock added that will make your brined turkey too salty. A fresh turkey works best, but a completely thawed, frozen turkey will work just as well.

To make the brine, mix 1 cup of salt in 1 gallon of water. You will need more than 1 gallon of water but that’s the ratio to aim for. One way of telling if you have enough salt in your brine is that a raw egg will float in it. Make sure that the salt is completely dissolved before adding the seasonings you like, making sure not to add anything that contains salt.

Sugar is optional to any brine, but works to counteract the flavor of the salt. While you may choose a brine without sugar, I do recommend that you add sugar (any kind of "sweet" will do) to maintain the flavor of the turkey. Add up to 1 cup of sugar per gallon of brine. Like the salt you need to make sure that the sugar is completely dissolved.

Place the turkey in a container and pour in enough brine to completely cover the turkey with an inch or two to spare. You do not want any part of the turkey above the surface of the brine. Now you put the whole thing in the refrigerator. If you are like me, making enough room in the fridge is the hardest part of this project. The turkey should sit in the brine for at least 1 hour per pound of turkey. You can leave the bird in the brine for as much as 24 hours but the amount of moisture the turkey will absorb decreases over time. 10 hours should be the minimum for brining a large turkey. Brining for too long can ruin the flavor and make the turkey too salty. 24 hours should be the maximum amount of time you brine. If you are using a smaller turkey use the hour per pound rule.

Don't have room in the refrigerator? Try a cooler. A cooler big enough to hold your turkey makes a good container for your turkey and brine. The cooler will help keep it cool and allow you to brine your turkey without taking up precious refrigerator space. If the weather is cool, but not freezing you can put the whole thing outside until you need the turkey. If the weather is warm fill a half gallon milk carton with water and freeze it. Place this in the cooler with the turkey and brine and it will hold down the temperature during the brining process.

When you are ready to start cooking your turkey, remove it from the brine and rinse it off thoroughly in the sink with cold water until all traces of salt are off the surface inside and out. Safely discard the brine and cook your turkey as normal. You will notice the second you start to carve your turkey that the brining has helped it retain moisture. The first bite will sell you on brining turkeys forever, and after you've tried this you will want to brine all your poultry.

Thankful Thursday

2008-11-13T08:04:00.000-08:00

I am Thankful for Eternal Marriage

Scott and I were married on January 23, 1979. I know, we are really old! Our next Anniversary will be our 3oth. I am so thankful to have him in my life. Like most husbands, he drives me crazy some of the time, but I love him anyway!

We were married in the Arizona Temple. Back then the Arizona Temple was in our temple district even though we lived over 1,000 miles away in Dallas, Texas. We had to make great sacrifices to marry in the temple. I remember packing up our whole wedding and transporting it to Arizona. We had to give up some things to get married in the temple. Most of our friends couldn't be there because it would cost too much for them to come. And for that reason our reception was held a week later in Dallas. But we were surrounded by our family and it was a wonderful day...everything I'd hoped it would be. I think many of us now don't realize what a blessing it is to have so many temples all over. President Hinckley was amazing, wasn't he?

When we drove to Arizona, I got to ride with Scott in his little red VW Bug. We enjoyed spending that time together. Our parents followed us in a caravan. My dad had a CB radio at the time and he told every trucker on the road that we were going to Arizona to get married. Every 18 wheeler that passed us honked and we didn't understand until later why they were honking!

A lot has happened in the past 30 years... three beautiful children, two amazing grand children, lots of moving, lots of love and lots of life! I think the thing that keeps us going through the good and the bad is knowing we have an eternal marriage...one that will last forever! Knowing the eternal truth behind eternal marriage is more important now than ever...

In April General Conference 2006, Elder David A. Bednar gave a wonderful talk called "Marriage is Essential to His Plan" in that talk he says:

"Two compelling doctrinal reasons help us to understand why eternal marriage is essential to the Father’s plan.

Reason 1: The natures of male and female spirits complete and perfect each other, and therefore men and women are intended to progress together toward exaltation.

The eternal nature and importance of marriage can be fully understood only within the overarching context of the Father’s plan for His children. “All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and … has a divine nature and destiny.” 3 The great plan of happiness enables the spirit sons and daughters of Heavenly Father to obtain physical bodies, to gain earthly experience, and to progress toward perfection.

“Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose” 4 and in large measure defines who we are, why we are here upon the earth, and what we are to do and become. For divine purposes, male and female spirits are different, distinctive, and complementary.

After the earth was created, Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden. Importantly, however, God said it was “not good that the man should be alone” (Gen. 2:18; Moses 3:18), and Eve became Adam’s companion and helpmeet. The unique combination of spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional capacities of both males and females were needed to implement the plan of happiness. Alone, neither the man nor the woman could fulfill the purposes of his or her creation.

By divine design, men and women are intended to progress together toward perfection and a fulness of glory. Because of their distinctive temperaments and capacities, males and females each bring to a marriage relationship unique perspectives and experiences. The man and the woman contribute differently but equally to a oneness and a unity that can be achieved in no other way. The man completes and perfects the woman and the woman completes and perfects the man as they learn from and mutually strengthen and bless each other. “Neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord” (1 Cor. 11:11; italics added).

Reason 2: By divine design, both a man and a woman are needed to bring children into mortality and to provide the best setting for the rearing and nurturing of children.

The commandment given anciently to Adam and Eve to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force today. “God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife. … The means by which mortal life is created [are] divinely appointed.” 5 Thus, marriage between a man and a woman is the authorized channel through which premortal spirits enter mortality. Complete sexual abstinence before marriage and total fidelity within marriage protect the sanctity of this sacred channel.

A home with a loving and loyal husband and wife is the supreme setting in which children can be reared in love and righteousness and in which the spiritual and physical needs of children can be met. Just as the unique characteristics of both males and females contribute to the completeness of a marriage relationship, so those same characteristics are vital to the rearing, nurturing, and teaching of children. “Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity.”

I am grateful for the great Plan of Happiness, for Eternal Marriages and for my wonderful husband and his commitment to me and these principles! I am grateful my children are committed to gaining these blessings in their lives too!

Prematurity Awareness Day!

2008-11-12T19:39:00.001-08:00

Today is National Prematurity Awareness Day
I must admit that 4 years ago I didn't know what it was either. Now, thanks to Elliot, I am very much aware of prematurity and it's impact on the children of our nation. Over 500,000 children are born premature every year in the United States of the 500,000 approximately 150,000 of the don't make it. It is just a matter of time before everyone is impacted by a premature birth.

Today the March of Dimes released the National Report Card on Prematurity. This report card shows how each state is doing on the goal to reduce the risks of prematurity to 7.6% Overall America gets a "D." Check out how YOUR state is doing and then sign the Petition for Preemies. Help to raise the awareness for preemies and their families! This is a problem that we all can help with if we just take a few minutes to become aware.

There are many reasons babies are born too soon. If you are pregnant or are thinking about becoming pregnant or know someone who is pregnant learn the facts about prematurity. For example: Did you know that a low grade infections such as periodontal disease can trigger early labor? If you didn't know that then you owe it to yourself and your baby to become educated! Knowledge is Power! The more you know the better!

Elliot was born weighing 1 pound 12 ounces. He had single umbilical artery: one artery in the umbilical cord instead of two. Eventually that artery gave out completely. Because of great medical care and early intervention Elliot was saved. Babies like him are usually still born. Because Brooke saw her doctor and kept her regular appointments the problems were caught in time to save Elliot.

Thank you ...Aprilyn!

2008-11-08T10:58:00.000-08:00

The better part of yesterday I spent reading the comments on the news articles published online regarding the fallout of the passage of Prop 8 in California. It was then that I learned the protesters were coming to Utah... to march on Temple Square.

I read with horror the hateful comment by those who wished to "kill Mormons." I read one chilling remark from a man who said, "I can't wait until Mormon Missionaries come to my door again, they will wish they had never met me!" Having had two of my children serve full time missions it sent shivers down my spine.

I read comments from valiant Saints who tried to calmly and rationally explain the beliefs of the Church,it's members and it's leaders. And some not-so-great comments from the well meaning but misinformed types.

But then came the dissenters - those who said they were good upstanding members of the Church who cannot follow the Prophet any longer and because of the results of this election and the position of the church they have no choice but to leave. There was even a website set up to denounce your membership in solidarity with the gay and lesbian community. What!!!?? You are kidding me, right?

As I sat there stunned and amazed I kept hearing the words of a Prophet of God foretelling this event in my head. I could hear the words and the voice but I was totally unable to place the talk. Then this morning, in answer to prayer, a friend of mine posted it to her blog. She had a different, but similar, take on the same event that caused her to post the talk.

What is the most stunning to me is the talk was given in 1978 while I was still in college! Somehow the words stayed with me down through the ages to be brought to the forefront of my mind by the power of the Spirit just when I needed them most. Reading all that garbage was simply horrible but I just couldn't stop myself in the disbelief of it all!

As I read, the words of the talk rested like dew distilling peace to my soul - I am so thankful for Prophets of God, and in this case, Apostle Neal A. Maxwell. I miss him, but I am so glad his words were recorded for all to hear and remember. So before anyone goes crazy-off-the-deep-end and wants to denounce their membership they should read this -

"Discipleship includes good citizenship. In this connection, if you are a careful student of the statements of the modern prophets, you will have noticed that with rare exceptions—especially when the First Presidency has spoken out—the concerns expressed have been over moral issues, not issues between political parties. The declarations are about principles, not people; and causes, not candidates. On occasions, at other levels in the Church, a few have not been so discreet, so wise, or so inspired.

Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. (See 1 Kgs. 18:21.)

President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had “never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1941, p. 123). This is a hard doctrine, but it is a particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ!

“What the secularists are increasingly demanding, in their disingenuous way, is that religious people, when they act politically, act only on secularist grounds. They are trying to equate acting on religion with establishing religion. And—I repeat—the consequence of such logic is really to establish secularism. It is in fact, to force the religious to internalize the major premise of secularism: that religion has no proper bearing on public affairs.” (Human Life Review, Summer 1978, pp. 51–52, 60–61.)

Brothers and sisters, irreligion as the state religion would be the worst of all combinations. Its orthodoxy would be insistent and its inquisitors inevitable. Its paid ministry would be numerous beyond belief. Its Caesars would be insufferably condescending. Its majorities—when faced with clear alternatives—will make the Barabbas choice, as did a mob centuries ago when Pilate confronted them with the need to decide.

Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. M. J. Sobran also said, “A religious conviction is now a second-class conviction, expected to step deferentially to the back of the secular bus, and not to get uppity about it” (Human Life Review, Summer 1978, pp. 58–59).

This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions. Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened.

It may well be that as our time comes to “suffer shame for his name” (Acts 5:41), some of that special stress will grow out of that portion of discipleship which involves citizenship. Remember, as Nephi and Jacob said, we must learn to endure “the crosses of the world” and yet to despise “the shame of it” (2 Ne. 9: 18; Jacob 1:8). To go on clinging to the iron rod in spite of the mockery and scorn that flow at us from the multitudes in that great and spacious building seen by Father Lehi, which is the “pride of the world” (1 Ne. 11:36)—is to disregard the shame of the world. Parenthetically, why, really why, do the disbelievers who line that spacious building watch so intently what the believers are doing? (See 1 Ne. 8:33.) Surely there must be other things for the scorners to do. Unless deep within their seeming disinterest. … Unless. …

If the challenge of the secular church becomes very real, let us, as in all other relationships, be principled but pleasant. Let us be perceptive without being pompous. Let us have integrity and not write checks with our tongues which our conduct cannot cash.

Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel.

There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself.

Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, “summer is nigh” (Matt. 24:32). Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat!"

Read the entire talk here.

Recipe of the Week

2008-11-08T10:37:00.000-08:00

Pumpkin Dessert
This is a great recipe for those who are not so fond of pumpkin pie. Everyone loves this dessert so give it a try even if you don’t like pumpkin pie!

Crust:
1 box yellow cake mix
1 egg
1 cube butter (softened)

Empty the contents of the cake mix in a bowl, reserve 1 cup for topping. Cream the egg and butter with the remaining cake mix. Spread mixture evenly across the bottom of a greased 9x13’’ baking dish.

Filling:
1 16 oz. can pumpkin
2 eggs
1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. ginger
¼ tsp. cloves
Mix all ingredients together and pour over the crust.

Topping:
1 cup reserved cake mix
¼ cup butter (softened)
2 T Sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon

Cut ingredients with a pastry knife until crumbly and pea sized. Sprinkle on top of filling. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Serve warm or chilled with a dollop of whipped cream.

Pumpkin Bread
1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
5 eggs
1 16 oz. can pumpkin
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 3 oz. packages vanilla pudding mix (regular or instant)
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Mix oil, eggs, and pumpkin. Sift together dry ingredients. Add pumpkin mixture to dry mixture and mix until blended. Pour into greased large loaf pans. Bake for one hour at 350 degrees.

Optional Cream Cheese filling:
1 8 oz. package cream cheese
½ cup sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Thankful Thursday

2008-11-06T14:05:00.000-08:00

This week I am so grateful for those amazing, courageous and heroic Saints in California, Arizona and Florida who worked so hard to keep that sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman. You have my highest respect and gratitude! Thank you!

This has been a hard fought battle and it is not over! But it is important that we continue to protect the family and marriage. California is especially in need of our prayers and support. Many lawsuits have been filed there and I am sure the battle will go on for a long time. What is more disturbing is there have been riots in the streets and attacks against the church. Now that those who opposed Prop 8 know the involvement of the Saints and the Church we are starting to see more and more attacks against the Church. Let the persecution begin!

This disgusting photo was posted on Fox News today -

And here is a news story on a commercial that ran the last few days before the election. It portrays two Mormon missionaries ransacking a lesbian couple's home and tearing up their marriage license and taking their wedding rings -

I am also thankful for the knowledge we have been given by inspired prophets on these issues so that we know what the Lord would have us do. I pray that we will ALL have the courage to uphold these principles when we are called on to do so!

The Family: A Proclamation to the World
We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Voting: Our Duty and Our Right

2008-11-02T16:01:00.000-08:00

Every election year we get a letter sent by the First Presidency of the Church telling us that we should exercise our right to vote. I have listened to this letter read many times over the course of my voting years. But I never really understood what they were trying to tell us until now.

It has been said that every answer to life's questions can be answered in the scriptures. I believe this to be true! So can we find anything about voting in the scriptures? The answer is a resounding YES!

In the Book of Mormon King Mosiah was faced with the challenge of finding a ruler to take his place. None of the Sons of Mosiah wanted the job. So the people, under the direction of King Mosiah, began a process of finding a Chief Judge to rule over the people:

"Therefore, choose you by the voice of the people, judges, that ye may be judged according to the laws...Therefore, it came to pass that they assembled themselves together in bodies throughout the land, to cast their voices concerning who should be their judge." Mosiah 29:25-39

King Mosiah recognized that even self-government is not flawless and even though the laws were established by just men on the principles of the Law of Moses, they were still subjected to corruption by men. Mosiah warned: " Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything that is contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law - to do your business by the voice of the people." (Mosiah 29:26)

When sensible laws are upheld and sustained by the will of the majority of the righteous people, society functions smoothly. It is true that it may be difficult to find unanimity of opinions on any one issue. Righteous people may disagree or have differing opinions on a number of issues. So how do we overcome this difference of opinion?

The best course of action was in the counsel given by this wise Nephite King - to make and sustain laws by the voice of the people - the majority. When most of the people are righteous, sustain equitable laws, and elect officials who conscientiously sustain existing laws while the judiciary interprets the laws without regard money or power - chances are good for harmony in the populace.

There is also a weakness in self-government; "And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity; then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land." (Mosiah 29:27)

Here in is the key component! If the majority upholds, honors and sustains the law then society keeps moving along. BUT if the majority becomes fuzzy about what is right and what is wrong OR if they relinquish their rights to the minority through pacification then a democracy can become as corrupt as a wicked kingship! Our ONLY assurance against this happening is for us to vote; not just a few people, but everyone!

We, the righteous majority, cannot afford to become passive in these times of decaying morality and loss of our liberties - We MUST exercise our vote - it is our duty and our right. It is the only way that we can preserve our values and our nation! We must stand up and be counted so that the voices of the decent, moral and righteous majority are heard. We cannot subjugate our rights to a vocal minority. It is my duty and your duty to - VOTE!

For more information on this subject I recommend this book to you "America's Hope" by Douglas E. Brinley

Pro Life

2008-11-01T19:39:00.000-07:00

This election some serious issues will be decided. One of them is abortion. This is a powerful video that will shed some light on this important issue. Please watch it and then vote your conscience.

Elliot was born at 29 weeks and 6 days - The law allows for live birth abortions to take place up to 30 weeks and these babies are allowed to die with no medical intervention, there was no protection because these babies were meant to die. If they are born alive they could and should be saved! Hundreds of couples are waiting to adopt!

Elliot survived his planned premature delivery because it would be the ONLY way to save his life! (I find this so ironic!)He survived because he had the best medical care available. Today he is a happy and healthy 3 year-old with NO long term effects of prematurity. We hope that ALL babies are given the same chance at life.

Thankful Thursday

2008-10-30T21:17:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-30T18:10:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-29T07:50:00.000-07:00

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...

2008-10-28T08:21:00.000-07:00

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!!!

2008-10-24T13:43:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

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

2008-10-23T08:23:00.000-07:00

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???

2008-10-22T21:16:00.000-07:00

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!