Gary is the

best little Christmas elf.

He does very helpful things like put Merry Christmas labels on the water bottles. 

He also steps right up when, during the mid-baking of 6 dozen breadsticks, my oven died.   Yes, died.  Fortunately I was able to send two pans home with my Visiting teachers to bake in their ovens. 

Dead breadsticks!

Then Gary searched for a repairman who gave us the news that it would be $500+ to fix.  Since the oven is at least 12 years old, we went out and searched for a new one.

Gary is also a good little elf because he recognized my very big need to have a "true convection" oven so I can bake 6 dozen cupcakes at one time. 

So there will be no more Christmas baking until the 22nd when we get the new oven. Fortunately the range still works, so I could cook the soup for our neighborhood party today.

Light the world day 2-- Honor your Parents

As you can tell, I'm not following the timetable strictly.  But thinking upon them each day has been thought provoking.

To be honest, I have been in somewhat of an attitude funk the last little while.   Or lets just say, everything (including deep thinking) requires more effort and energy than I want to give. I have been looking more at the negative and less at the positive.  So, as I've considered the suggestions for service given each day, I have been much more conscious of my thought processes.   

Remembering, first of all, that true service does not come until the heart is "soft."  What does a soft heart look like to me?  It is almost easier to explain with what it doesn't look like (is that being negative?)  

When you are being judgmental and critical, your heart is not soft.  When you perceive the people around you as obstacles or irritants, your heart is not soft.  When you don't want to put yourself out for others because it is inconvenient, uncomfortable, or takes too much time, your heart is not soft.   When you are so self absorbed (even if that self absorption is negative), that you can't see beyond yourself to see other's needs or problems, your heart is not soft.  Feeling envious or tearing others down because of their successes or accomplishments does not stem from a soft heart.   

Now back to "Honor Your Parents."

Mom and Dad have been gone for more than 20 years and Gary's mom for more than 15 years.  Yet, there are many ways to honor them.  I feel I am honoring them when I nurture relationships with the people that were important to them. When I document their lives and do all I can to pass on their legacy of love.  When I try to connect the generations before and after them. When I am being my "best self" I feel I am honoring them.   On the other hand, when I feel I am not being my best self, I can hear Mom telling me, "You're just like your Dad and too hard on yourself."  So, in that case, not being too hard on myself is also honoring my parents.

In my Patriarchal blessing, which I received when I was 16, my family is mentioned in a beautiful way.

"The Lord is pleased at this moment to inform you that you were born of goodly parents.  Always remember this and be eternally grateful for them; for they have provided for you a lovely home.  In the days ahead, be willing to learn from your parents and from your brothers and sister.  And contribute to them of your time and talents likewise, that you may help in your own way to preserve the family line."

That paragraph from my blessing has been an inspiration to me.   Mom and Dad demonstrated that principle well by their service, loyalty, and devotion to family.   As have my siblings and Gary's siblings.

During this last week I felt like I was honoring them as I worked with my brother, Gary, organizing pictures for his history.  As I visited with Dad's nieces and my cousins.  As I worked on a document updating the Hall family cousin information.  As we decorated the graves for Christmas.

 

(I made the wreaths were made from the boughs of the downed Blue Spruce, which made them more meaningful to me)

I am not particularly comfortable making a list of "good turns" as President James Faust once called small acts of service.  And they are very small things.  But, these are the small things that help me feel that I am honoring my parents.

   

  

New Resolve

for the Christmas Season.

Luke Chapter 10:
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Of all the people in the scriptures, Martha is the one I identify with more than any other.  I am definitely a Martha. No doubt about it.

That is not inherently bad, and I find joy in doing "Martha" things.   But I know I usually do them in excess and at the expense of the "more needful things."

So I have a new resolve.  I've been interested to check out the new initiative that the Church has put out for this Christmas season.    https://www.mormon.org/

LIGHTtheWORLD Since a new star first appeared above Bethlehem, Christmas has been a season of light, reminding us that Jesus Christ is the light of the world. Together, we can celebrate His birth by making the world a brighter place. All we have to do is follow Him—His life, His example, and His teachings. In doing so, we can help #LIGHTtheWORLD.

I'm excited about this, and a little hesitant, too.  I really haven't looked at what each day is, and I hope I can fulfill them.   Every day leading up to Christmas there will be daily inspiration and suggestions of how to Light up the World.

Here is tomorrows, or I guess it is actually today's since it is past midnight.

Dec 1:  Jesus lifted other's burdens, and so can you.

https://www.mormon.org/christmas/in-25-ways-over-25-days/jesus-lifted-others-burdens

And there she goes . . .

With only 1 fatality (or tree cutters with a sense of humor)

I am feeling

High anxiety and sadness and anticipation saying goodbye to me "little" friend.

What do you do

when one thing after another has problems with it? 

 (Scanner, credit card, election, etc)?

You de-stress by sorting candy and setting up the Candy Shoppe.  

Or at least that is what I did.

This is what our house looks

like at 6:45 on Monday evenings.

We host a different Family Home Evening group from our BYU ward each Monday night.  They prepare a spiritual thought or lesson and then we usually do "Table Topics" or other games so we can get to know each other better.

These 18 year-olds are absolutely amazing.  In contrast to the awful presidential election (with so many examples of poor character), these young men and young women give me hope for our country and humanity.  (The next 4 years of whoever wins the election cannot go too fast for me -- but I digress).

For refreshments each week, I've been making pumpkin doughnuts.  Today I also made some caramel dip and put some in little individual glasses.  I'll slice the apples just before it is time to eat and put 2 or three slices in in each glass.

Having these groups of 10 to 16 people each week has helped me justify some of my obsessions -- like going overboard on the little tasting glasses and milk bottles, etc.  I actually use them!   It has also been good because I have to mop my floor and vacuum at least once a week.

Here is our selfie of the group tonight, and the recipes for the refreshments.

Baked Pumpkin Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts

Ingredients:

• For doughnuts:
• 1 C + 1/4 C all-purpose flour
• 1/2 C light brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/4 C 100% pumpkin puree
• 2 1/2 Tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 C whole milk
• Cinnamon sugar coating:
• 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 C sugar
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons cinnamon

Method:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spritz a doughnut baking pan with a little cooking spray. Set aside.

2) In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients, set aside.

3) In a medium separate bowl, whisk together the pumpkin puree, melted butter, and milk. Gently fold in the wet mixture to the dry (be very careful to not overmix).

4) Place entire mixture into a large ziploc bag (then cut off a corner) or large piping bag without a tip, and pipe the doughnut dough into the doughnut rounds. There should be exactly enough dough for 6 doughnuts. 

Caramel Dip

1 pkg kraft caramels ( apparently it only works well with this brand)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 stick of butter

Heat in microwave for about 3 minutes and then stir well to combine.

14 dozen

rolls and honey butter later . . .

Our neighborhood Trunk or Treat.   

Jackson and his Girlfriend?

I tried a new hone butter recipe from Our Best Bites.  I like it a lot better than the one I've made for years.  This is a keeper.

Honey Butter

Ingredients:

2 sticks real butter, (close to room temp- works best when slightly chilled still.)

2/3 C honey

¾ C powdered sugar

(If your butter is too soft, you’ll end up with a gooey mess, so I just leave it out on the counter for about 20 minutes or so before beating and it turns out nice and fluffy)

Just place it all in a bowl and beat with an electric hand-mixer for 2-3 minutes on medium-high speed.  Serve at room temp with warm rolls, scones, breadsticks, corn bread, waffles, toast, ….need I go on?

Article printed from Our Best Bites: http://ourbestbites.com

URL to article: http://ourbestbites.com/2008/05/honey-butter//

Throwback Tues -- 1951

It's been awhile, but I want to post all of these.

Sick Week

If this week were to have a theme, it would be "Sick Week."   We hosted a YSA ward FHE here on Monday, and I felt fine for that.  Then Tuesday morning I woke up sick with congestion, a sore throat, and no energy.  I finally went to the Dr. on Thursday, and got some medication.

Thursday night a group of Jackson's friends were here to watch the BYU football game,   By the time it ended at about 12:30 am, Jackson had a fever of 104 and was struggling with breathing and was shuddering.  We took him to ER.  We thought he might be having a complcations of the strep he had a couple of weeks ago.  But after tests and a cat scan to make sure there was not an abscess, they determined that it must be a very strong viral infection. You can see how sick he was in this picture.

We got home about 5:30 armed with pain pills and cortisone.  He's been with us since, but is still not feeling great.   I can handle myself being sick, but it is hard to watch Jackson hurting, especially while he is so worried about keeping up with school and baseball.  Hopefully this can get better very soon.

One thing for sure, you really appreciate good health, especially when you don't have it.

Lydia turns 18!

Wow, I can't believe it has been 18 years since she was born.  I clearly remember the very happy day when our little red-headed granddaughter was born.

Here is the transcript from my interview with Lydia at Christmas last year. 

 (I must have caught her at a bad time, as she isn't very wordy)

 
What was an eventful thing for you this year?  At one point having 15 cats at one time.  (When we talked with her today, she said she only has 1 cat now.  She obviously loves cats.  In fact her birthday cake for her party tomorrow is going to be a cat)

Favorite Color?  Blue

What makes you happiest?  CATS

Why do you love them so much?  Can't really sum it up.

Where do you think you will be in 5 years?  At BYU

Where in 10 years?  Married

How many children would you like?  3 or 4

What do appreciate about your family?  Always there for me

What would be your perfect day?  Sleep most of the time, eat, watch TV, and read.

If you could talk to someone who is dead who would it be?  Jesus

Where do you feel most spiritual?   In the temple.
 
What is your favorite sport to play?   Volleyball

Wish we were there to give you a hug, 

but this will have to do!

and here is another one that includes a cat.

WE LOVE YOU LYDIA!

 

More fun with the Idiarts and Jackson

Yesterday after we picked up Tiffany and Justin.  They are here for a few days for a BYU alumni conference. 

Justin:  Tiff just couldn't leave Jackson's apartment without doing the dishes, and she had to rearrange the dishes that were already in there

Dan:  I'm sure the roomies appreciates it.

Natalie:  Ohhhhh boy

Justin: It's a new place with tiff here

Misty:  Thank you aunt tiff!

Dan: Wish I was doing dishes

Misty:  So jealous!

Goodbye Bees . . .

Hello Halloween . . .

St George

With my high school friends.  I feel so blessed by these friendships. I still have a way to go before my selfies are up to Gary's standards.

Luau

in the backyard.  In August I was asked if I would be willing to have a Relief Society Luau in our backyard on September 20.  I agreed, but worried that all the flowers would be dead and the yard a mess.  Fortunately, the weather cooperated, and it was such a fun evening.  The committee came in and strung lights and decorated the whole back yard.  The presidency even did the hula for us and then had us join in.