Warm Spell

Yesterday I made my way to Denver - it was between 60-70 degrees outside. On the home front, it has been very warm as well. So much that Tuesday I did a 4 mile hike. Unfortunately, it was warmer than I thought and I kept falling through the snow - up to my knees - but it was absolutely beautiful. It is starting to feel like spring. I'm just wondering if it will last and be an early season, or if we will get the usual large amounts of snow that generally come in March and April?

The girls have been intermittently riding their bikes to school again, and are enjoying splashing and rolling around in the mud. The lot next to our house is empty and the other day I caught one of my children in her bare feet sploshing around in the mud on their lot - just oozing it between her toes. While I'm sure it was cold - I could definitely understand her need to get her feet into the dirt. She must take after her mom.

I'm headed out today to snowshoe while we still have some snow before it all turns to mud!

Wild Country

If you read my blog last year, you may have noticed my incessant ranting about the weather. I freely admit that I ranted. That said, I was thinking yesterday about how well I've done NOT even mentioning the weather this year and am very proud of myself - apparently, I've found other things to ramble about.

I also recognize that my attitude has changed in regards to the weather (namely snow.) I live in the mountains, where it snows. Sometimes A LOT. This year (in my humble opinion) has been much milder than last year was, and this year I've been able to begin snowshoeing again. I'm thrilled to say that of the past 8 weeks, I've snowshoed 7 of them. And I love it. We've been lucky, most of the Thursdays have been sunny and not too bitter cold (there was one week that was just awful bitter cold, but we made it.)

So, last Thursday as my friend and I were out shoeing, we went our normal distance and turned around to come back. As we got about 1/3 of our way back, we heard a howl. We pricked our ears and began to scan the mountainside. The howl came again and we were able to distinguish where it was coming from. A coyote. I have had no experience whatsoever with wild animals and didn't know whether we should continue on, or go back. However, my friend had her dogs with us, and she had just recently researched coyotes. Apparently, they shouldn't be out during the day (this one was) and they are often in packs (that's when we should worry.)

Now, on a side note, for years I've carried around mace on my keys - you know, just in case. I've also been teased incessantly these many years for carrying it around with me, as it is sort of big and bulky and cumbersome. But I didn't cave.

I have to say that I pulled out my mace and stood at the ready as we passed the coyote - he was still part way up the mountain, but he wasn't THAT far away, and he sort of followed us. I knew that my trusty mace, and the dogs would protect us. If not, it was a race between my friend and I as to see who would be lunch.

Several years ago though, I read an article about living in the mountains and wild country and a thought stuck with me. It is important to realize that these animals are not living in our territories, rather, we have moved into their territories and built houses, shopping etc etc. We need to respect the plants and animals whose territories we have moved into.

New Blog with my Favorite recipes

After constantly forgetting to send people copies of requested recipes, I decided to dedicate an entire blog to my favorite recipes. While I still have lots more work to do, this at least gives me a standard place to find my recipes when I need them.

Feel free to peruse, try out, and comment on anything.
The address is: www.triedandtruefavoriterecipes.blogspot.com

Enjoy!

It is official - after a night with 104* temperatures, we hung out at the Dr. office and the final verdict became - probably the flu, and positively strep - yes at the same time - how's that for a double whammy?

Sick

We are officially sick at our house. We thought we'd kick it, but all evidence points to the contrary.
On Tuesday I volunteered at the school. I arrived home for my 20 minute break before my lessons started showing up and received a phone call that one of my children had a temperature of 102 - would I please come and get her?
We decided to hang out at the DR. office and her flu test came back positive.

The whole family (except the sick one) received prescriptions for tamiflu and immediately began taking the medicine.
I went to the library that night to stock up on videos and boy - we've seen a lot of Harry Potter in our house. The thing is - she acts totally fine when she's got motrin in her for the fever - she drives me bonkers she's so fine. Then it wears off, and she's not so fine.
Well, she was bummed to miss her Valentines day party at school, but it came and went. And her sister came home on Friday with the same cough, and the beginnings of a fever. Tonight she was hitting the upper ranges of 102 as well. We did the cool bath thing and I started to get a little worried as her eyes started to roll - but I think we're okay. She had a blessing and we are bracing for a rough night and for another week for me with a sick kid at home.

Praying that I and my husband don't get it. I've had the same cough and had a couple of days where I didn't feel so good, but can't decide if it has just been the power of suggestion...

And yes - I'm apparently losing it because I thought that I should maybe post about this twice - I must need some sympathy, or an excuse to get out of my house since I'm obviously beginning to wander around in slippers and repeat things.

Do re-gifted flowers count?

Aren't my flowers pretty?

Someone just re-gifted these Valentines Day flowers to me.
I think my husband might feel relieved cause he's off the hook. The card says - "Just Because,
From, Your husband."

I couldn't stop laughing.

FHE ideas from Preach My Gospel

I was asked to teach a class for Enrichment tonight on:
Family Home Evening Lesson Ideas from ‘Preach My Gospel’
Since I went to the work of reading through and pulling out bunches of ideas, I thought that I'd better post them somewhere so someone may benefit from them.

Family Home Evening Lesson Ideas from ‘Preach My Gospel’
Get Inspired and determine your purpose - what is your purpose of FHE?

Start right - Songs & treats, flexibility & fun – no one likes a lecture or book report

Lehi’s vision. Suggested songs: Nephi’s courage (CS), The iron rod (Hymnal)
Week 1: Using a poster board read through and illustrate Lehi’s dream as found in 1 Nephi 8. Work in teams, or have each family member draw their own element of the dream. Post in conspicuous place, and during the week talk about what each item might symbolize.
Week 2: Focus on 1 Nephi 11, and label your illustration of Lehi’s dream with the symbolic meanings. Set up a rope (inside or out) which leads to a tree/plant which has marshmallows or divinity etc. hanging from it, have each family member follow the rope (possibly blindfolded) to reach the end. Focus lesson on holding to the rod and enduring to the end.
Week 3: Family flag and song. Based on Lehi’s vision, discuss faith, gospel ordinances, enduring to the end, attitudes, and sharing the gospel as they relate to Lehi’s dream. Discuss the story of Captain Moroni (Alma 46) and the title of liberty. Determine what is most important to your family, and discuss and make long term family goals, and identify short term goals which are necessary for reaching long term goals. Make a family flag and a family song as a reminder of the family goals.

Principles and topics. Start on page 30 and break each subject down (30-88.)
Remember it isn’t a marathon – break it down into topics such as:
God is our Loving Heavenly Father (pages 30-34) etc.
The Savior’s Earthly ministry and Atonement
The Apostasy
The Restoration – the First Vision
The Book of Mormon
The Holy Ghost
Etc.
Make sure you prepare beforehand (D&C 11:21.) Study the scriptures, suggested questions, activities, and ideas to figure out what YOU want to teach. Prayerfully determine what will be most important for your family.
As you focus on each topic, use the internet, primary manuals, conference talks, the Friend, church magazines, videos, publications, FHE manuals etc. to search for lesson ideas, stories, songs, object lessons, and games for each topic.
Suggested sites:
http://www.lds.org/hf/display/0,16783,4225-1,00.html
http://ldslivingmagazine.com/categories/show/3
www.sugardoodle.net
http://www.ldssplash.com/fhe/fhe_lessons/family_home_evening_lessons.htm
http://theideadoor.com/FHE.html

Gospel principles video. Have family members be news reporters. Divide into teams and research gospel principles of faith, repentance, baptism, and the Holy Ghost using the Bible Dictionary and scripture references found in the topical guide. Have each member or team ‘report’ and make a video (or at least present their findings by way of a ‘news cast’.)

Journal Night. Have a Journal FHE. Read some important passages from your journal to your family or from an ancestor’s journal. Have each family member come up with a question, and have everyone respond to it in writing in their journal. Answer the questions in the Personal Study activity on page 18.

Ideas for Study and Application. Use ‘Preach My Gospel’ as a manual, using the activities and suggestions found at the end of each chapter under the Personal, Companion, District and Zone conferences and Mission president headings. Many different ideas, penetrating questions and related scriptures compiled in these sections. Simply modify for your family’s needs.

Blue Box discussions. Use the blue boxes in the text (page 8 for example) – they have a question and a theme. Read the related scriptures together and have a gospel discussion. A great way to start is to try and restate a verse in one’s own words, or use a dictionary to discover words that children aren’t familiar with. Make it fun by having a scripture chase to find each scripture or act it out.

Activity Boxes. Use the activity boxes – full of ideas and applications – make your lesson from these (i.e. p. 22.)

Get to know your scriptures. Learn how to use the Topical Guide, Bible Dictionary, Maps, Gazetteer, and Abbreviations

Scripture Marking. Lesson on learning to mark scriptures, page 24

A Picture is worth a Thousand Words. Organize family into groups and assign a chapter from the Book of Mormon. Have each group identify a story, scripture event or teaching that is meaningful from their chapter. Have each group sketch or describe how they visualize this, or their mental image they have formed regarding what they read and why it is meaningful to them. Identify the doctrines found and discuss them. Moroni 10:3.
For a twist, give them a piece of paper and have them make something (origami style) that was talked about in their chapter.

Kids teach. Get children involved in the discussion by preparing beforehand and having them teach the lesson or tell the story.

Missionary Night. Work with kids before the lessons, and have them be missionaries teaching parents and family members the principles.

Size and Time adaptations. Use suggestions found in text (pages 30-88) which break lessons up into small, medium or large lessons.

Word Match & Definitions game. Page 44

Questions of the Soul. Make a list of questions of the soul. See if your family member’s questions are similar to the ones found on page 107. Put the questions in a jar – have someone read out the question, as well as the chapter it is found, and have a scripture scanning race to find the answer within that chapter.

References of Christ. Personal study activity on page 112 (#1)

Sermon on the Mount, Contrast and comparison. Personal study activity on page 112 (#4)

References of Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon. Highlighting references of Jesus Christ in the Book of Mormon activity - page 114 (#6)

Sunday Talks. Practice preparing and giving talks – use page 124 ideas 1 & 2 and prepare talks to give to each other pretending it is sacrament meeting. Practice sacrament meeting behavior.

Personal attributes exam. Pretend that your family has just been resurrected and the personal inventory questions on page 126 are the questions you will be asked at the judgment bar. Have each family member complete the self evaluation and grade themselves, then identify focus areas and record personal insights and goals in their journals.

Cultural Night - Once a month have a ‘cultural night’ and study the ideas, beliefs, foods, and customs of a different culture. Take time to focus on different religious backgrounds

Different religions FHE - explore different religious ideologies and customs. Pages 45-46 give a very brief overview of a few.

Family ‘To be a friend’ action plan. Use ideas from page 167, 215-217. Figure out what you and your family can do to be part of this process. Make fellowshipping goals; put them into action and report back.

One minute messages. Divide the family into teams and put several principles or topics into a jar to be drawn out. Time each family member and give them two minutes. One minute to think and plan, and then one minute to teach the principle.
This could be adapted into a game show with a competition between both teams teaching, and being scored by the judges etc.

Elder Ives Likening the scriptures game. Two contestants face each other and an abstract word is given. The first contestant to figure out how to liken that word to a gospel principle wins a team point. Contestants then go back to their teams, and the teams are given a specific scripture (seminary scripture mastery – whatever, but the same one (Family Feud style)) and a time limit within which they must come up with as many personal applications as possible. Points are awarded for each valid personal application which does not duplicate the opposing team’s answers.

Service lesson by a five year old. 45 seconds talk about the importance of service - that it makes you strong, and helps others and helps Heavenly Father.
Thinking of musical chairs, hand out stuffed bears or animals, one less than participant number. Instead of musical chairs, play musical bears, and while singing a song, pass the bears to each other around the circle. When the music ends, whoever doesn’t have a bear gets to have an on the spot service done for them by the other participants (i.e. backrub, foot rub, glass of water, make their bed etc.) Continue until everyone has had a chance to serve and be served.

Tagged

I generally don't respond to tags but since I've been mentally away from blogging for a while, I thought I would - thanks Lauren
i am: content
i think: that generally I should keep quiet about what I really think.
i know: that someday my house will stay clean
i want: summer to be here
i dislike: lots of things
i miss: the beach
i fear: losing my husband and kids
i feel: like I have too much to do, and I don’t want to do any of it
i hear: wind chimes, a plane flying by and my child turning pages of her book
i smell: like Carolina, one of my favorite perfumes, and I’m congested
i crave: simplicity
i cry: mostly only during movies and books
i usually: mentally debate whether I really want to exercise or not each morning
i search: for peace – I’ve fallen in love with the Book of Mormon again, I get so grounded from it.
i wonder: what life will really be like once my husband is officially DONE with school.
i regret: speaking before contemplating the full effect of my words
i love: life
i care: about those around me
i always: seem to be humming something
i worry: about bad roads
i am not: high maintenance
i remember: details, but not as much as I thought I did
i believe: that I am a daughter of God and that He loves me
i dance: in the kitchen with my husband and with the kids around the house
i sing: or hum constantly
i don't always: make my bed, or clean my house, sometimes I just read
i argue: to explore ideas
i write: all over the place in my scriptures
i win: few battles with my children
i lose: almost any game I play against my husband
i wish: that I was independently wealthy and that I had a housekeeper to clean for me
i listen: mostly to 80’s and Spanish rock
i don’t understand: some people
i can usually be found: busy
i am afraid: of cranky people
i need: to laugh - OFTEN
i forget: to express my love towards my family
i am happy: pretty much overall, just trying to savor each moment

I tag anyone who wants to respond

Harry Potter fest

While our kids had the chance to go to 'learn to ski' two days last week with their school, one of them came home with a nasty cough. She fought it and finally lost the battle, the dr. said something about bronchitis, and her flu test came back positive.
Yuck! We picked up a puzzle she and I have been working on and since she's been reading Harry Potter, we checked out some videos from the library and have been having a Harry Potter fest. I don't think she's missing school very much!
The bummer is that she missed Valentine's Day at school last year as she was at grandmas while we were away celebrating our anniversary. This year, she'll miss is cause she's sick.
Poor thing!

Neglect

It is true - I've totally neglected blogging for a while - due to some other diversions which came up. After finishing my cell phone contract a year ago, I had been thinking about getting a new phone. I did lots of research and finally decided on an LG Incite. While this is a pretty cool phone, I found recognized something important about my self. Mainly, I'm a simple girl who doesn't have the time or energy for lots of distractions. There were some amazing aspects about the phone, but when it came down to it, there were so many bells and whistles to sort through, I could never find the application I wanted without taking a year. I just wanted simplicity, and I learned I really hated the touch screen and the time it sucked from my life.

As such, this morning I sent it back my bells and whistles phone and received my simple phone yesterday. My new phone is an adventure.

While it is a simple flip phone, it has some pretty cool features which include meeting U.S. Military Specifications 810F for: shock, vibration, solar radiation, high temperature storage, altitude, high and low temperature operation, and blowing dust. I'm pretty relieved that my phone will make it through solar radiation! Cheek aside, I'm excited to have a new phone that will do what I need it to without much fuss, and I'm happy to have my life back.

Yes, I said Skijoring

Yep, that IS a horse dragging a skier with a rope through the snow. Here in our little rural mountain paradise, it is one of the highlights of winter. Officially called skijoring, it is quite the trip to watch.

First you arrive about 30 minutes late. You find that all of the snow from part of a field has been scraped off to make some awesome jumps, and so you are mucking around in the mud (wait - I thought it was mud.) You find a great place in the middle so that you can see all of the action, and then you wait for about two hours while the officials realize that the wiring for the timer isn't working. You wander on down to the port a potties, and then later to the concessions stand for a pulled pork sandwich. Back to your observation point and about thirty minutes later, the action begins.

How to describe this sport? I like to think of waterskiing. Except the skier is on snow, going over big jumps, and catching rings on a stick - kind of like jousting...oh, and the skier is pulled by a horse. Snow, by the way, is much less forgiving than a lake - so there are always paramedics standing by to help with the dislocated shoulders and such.

To warm up, the skiers are whipped around, pulled by snowmobiles, and then after they ski, (or jor), they get dragged back to the starting place to do it again.

As a friend coined it - a cross between hardcore cowboys, and dead head ski junkies - the perfect mix!

I have to be honest - this is one of the funnest snow spectator sports I've ever seen - I love it! And our kids - well, they had fun sliding and jumping down the snowbank the entire time.

An oldie

I just found this clip and it is one of my all time favorite songs from a LONG time ago, cause yes I used to be quite the little punk rocker. (Note - to properly enjoy this you should probably pause my music player on the right of the screen.)

When ye are in the service...

Last night as we approached family home evening neither I nor my spouse had anything formally ready. I had asked our oldest to read some magazines and find a story she wanted to share earlier, but had sort of left it at that. As we sat down and got ready to begin, or youngest out of the blue said - I'm doing the lesson tonight! We were very surprised but thrilled at her initiative.
She stood up and talked for 45 seconds about the importance of service - that it makes you strong, and helps others and helps Heavenly Father. It was church talk worthy - I was amazed.

She then gave the three of us two stuffed animal bears, and went out of the room instructing us that we were playing 'musical bears' and we were to pass them back and forth. When she came back, whoever had the bears had to get up and do a service for the odd one out, while the odd one out drew a picture of a service that they could give or do for another person. We played a couple of rounds, and then we found another stuffed animal and ganged up on her. We decided to do a service for her and she got a back and foot rub and her hands lotioned up (back and foot rubs are bliss for this girl.)

What a sweet lesson - taught by such a small child. I forget how important it is to serve others, but what a great reminder!

New beginnings and funky dreams

Waiting for my heater to kick on this morning, watching the snow flutter down in giant white flakes outside my window.

It's been a busy week. My husband started his last semester this week - I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, but it looks like the next few months will really be a long haul.

On another note, remember when we finished the New Testament around Christmas? Yesterday I was thrilled to finish the Old Testament which I'd started about the same time as we began the NT. I'm excited this morning to break back into the Book of Mormon. I find so much peace from the scriptures, and it seems like the insight I receive is always tailor made to me and my specific situations - what a blessing it is in my life.

This week I had the chance to interpret some plea bargains at the court. Oh so quickly did I realized that getting state certified for this is going to take a LOT of work. I've been told that to pass the certification exam I need to study 20 hours a week and only 10% pass. For me, the greatest difficulty lies in learning the proper legal jargon - in itself a whole language, and I need to learn it in both english and spanish.

In regards to this week - it seems to have flown by with visiting teaching, private lessons, a career fair, snowshoeing, finalizing my business tax documents, and having the elders for dinner. I fell asleep studying last night and dreamed that Pres. Uchtdorf and his wife came to visit my husband - but I fell asleep on the couch while they talked, and because I was there, they could only chit chat. Before my husband appeared though I chatted with them and then he took my daughter's face in his hands and spoke with her - it was very sweet. It was so vivid, I was kind of tripped out when I woke up.

Today I'm planning on letting that snow fly outside while I clean my house, do laundry and hopefully make some time for some therapeutic sewing!

Three things I learned today

We learn new things everyday - here are three things I learned today.
1. No matter how old you are, or how dumb the prospect, some people will always take a dare.
2. Under NO circumstances should stew meat ever be used in fajitas if it hasn't been cooked for less than 8 hours.
3. It IS possible to beat Liz in Settlers

Fabulous French Bread

I know that I've told several people in the last month or so that I'd get this recipe to them, but I can't remember who they are. So I thought I'd share it with the world via my little blog. Thanks to my friend Luanne for sharing this recipe with me.

I love this recipe, and I have yet to see it disappoint. I live at high altitude, but never have to make any adjustments for it. If you are at a low altitude, you may need to slightly adjust your flour/liquid amounts.

Plan 2 hours start to finish for this bread.

2 1/2 c. very warm water
2 T. sugar
1 T. salt
2 T. cooking oil (I use olive)
6 c. flour
2 pkg active dry yeast or 2 T.

Pour warm water in large mixing bowl, then stir in sugar, salt, oil, half the flour, and yeast. Beat vigorously 2-3 minutes.

Stir in remaining flour until all dry ingred. are completely mixed in, leaving spoon/dough hook in heavy batter. (Now, you can do this by hand, but I cheat and do it with my mixer.) Allow dough to rest 10 minutes then stir down, allow dough to rest another 10 minutes and stir down again. Repeat this process until dough has been stirred down 5 times.

Turn dough onto floured board, knead only enough to coat with flour so it can be handled. Divide into 2 equal parts. Roll each part of dough into rectangle about 9x12 and roll up like a jelly roll, rolling from long side, Pinch edge of loaf to seal the dough. Arrange lengthwise on large cookie sheet that has been sprinkled with corn meal, allowing room for both loaves.

With sharp knife (I use a serrated) cut three gashes at an angle on top, then brush entire surface with slightly beaten whole egg. If desired, sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds. Cover lightly and let rise at room temperature 30 minutes (I don't cover mine, but I keep it in a warm area.) Bake immediately at 400* for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from baking sheet immediately and cool on racks.

Evening Snowshoeing adventure

 

 

 

 

We decided to do some evening snowshoeing with the kids tonight. We all bundled up, rode the lift to the top of the mountain and watched the sun go down and the stars come out as we hiked around on top of the mountain. Quite a singular experience - even though one of our children told us it wasn't exciting, she sure seemed to like it. Afterward, we rode the local transportation to the local village where we had the famous nachos and enjoyed hanging out together. We also checked out the new water fountain feature. This was really cool. It has fire and water coming out at the same time! Our daughter authoritatively informed us that this is 'waterproof fire.'

Not exactly shorts weather

So I thought my daughter was crazy yesterday when she came home and put shorts on - she said it was hot. Today as I was waiting for my kids to come home - (they were climbing a giant hill of snow and sliding down), I watched a man walk past my house. He was walking his dog and carrying a baby...He was also in shorts.

I'm just wondering where else in the country 40* in January is equivalent to shorts weather? Something just doesn't seem right.

Newly acquired world title!

I am officially the meanest mom in the world - if that was your title, I'm sorry, you've lost it and I am now currently the reigning champion. You'll have to try a little harder next time. Soon I will be publishing a how to book on the subject which you may read so that you can become as mean as me. Hmmm - maybe that will be the title...

I want to know - How the heck do you get your kids out the door in the morning on time?

This morning my kids had 3 jobs.
1. Get dressed (after I handed them some clothes from their drawers)
2. Eat breakfast
3. Out the door by 7:55 am

Somehow only one of my children made it. She even had 5 minutes to get her hair fixed.

The other didn't make it - she was still standing on the heat vent at 7:55. She made it to the front porch at 7:57 with all of her gear piled around her (cause you know, I'm mean and the rule is that they have to be out the door naked or not at that time.)

Last year this child had 26 tardies in one semester. I've begged, I've plead, I've deposited her onto the porch as she is.... I'm just wondering if there are any nice moms out there that have figured this out already. I'm thinking that bedtime will start coming 30 minutes earlier each night that we are late in the morning?

Please comment with your solutions. I can't say I wear my title proudly (meanest mom in the world,) I don't even want it - but I do want on time, good kids.

I can use your solutions for chapter 1, and I'll give you a byline as well.

Political Debut

I have to say that my girls are pretty darn impressive. Tonight we went to a town meeting regarding a controversial proposed development.

They have tried to present this project so many different ways, and everyone seems to keep saying - 'NO, we don't want this - it isn't right for our town.' However, they try to dress it up and present it again. Anyways, it was on the table again tonight. The meeting started at 6:00 and the first 1.50 minutes were REALLY dry - all about the financials and infrastructure - (okay, so it was pretty interesting but not for a kid.) Our girls were GREAT. We'd talked to them about the proposal before attending and shared a few of our thoughts about it, but asked the girls to make their own decision about it - that's why we were going to the town board meeting. They were very interested in attending.

Well - they were SO quiet during the meeting -I wish I could harness their behavior for church! One even fell asleep, and people commented on how well behaved they were.

After what seemed like an eternity, there was a short break and then they opened the floor for public input. I had signed up to speak, and discussed some of our reasons for choosing to live here - the quality of life factors as well as the smallness and intimacy of a small community.

My daughter had also signed herself up to speak and she addressed everyone - the room was packed - standing room only. She talked about how the animals are important to her and that this proposal negatively impacts the wildlife habitat of several deer and elk herds which feed there during the winter. She was nervous and passionate - she did such a great job. As she went to sit down, the room erupted into applause.

I love living in a small town where I have an opportunity to learn how local and civic government works (I've been doing my fair share this past year,) and to become involved and help shape the future of my community. I especially love that my kids are learning to speak out and stand up for what they believe in.

What an awesome blessing that we have the freedom of speech. It will be interesting to see how things turn out. Anyways - I thought it was worth a post. Pretty cool.