Smell

Yesterday a lady walked by me and I was hit with the scent of her perfume. It took me back. Back to junior high. Back to getting ready for dances. Back to my sisters bedroom. I got lost in the memories for a while. Today I found an old bottle of tanning lotion. I bought this tanning lotion when I was 19. My friend and I went tanning just because we were 19 and both working and had the extra money to do it. I could of become addicted. It was lovely. The smell of coconut and the warm lights. So relaxing (although I'm not sure what I needed to "relax" from???). There are an assortment of smells from my past, all reminding me of moments and events or just that time period in my life. As I sat smelling the bottle of tanning lotion I wondered what smell I would remember from this part in my life. I don't wear perfume anymore, my lotion has no scent in it, my husband doesn't wear cologne anymore, I have no smell. I find myself looking back less or losing some of my memories and that familiar smell just lets me remember. I don't want to forget this part of my life. It's a good part BUT I'm afraid the smells that will bring me back are smelly laundry, diapers, bathroom cleaner, dog, and the vast array of other common household aromas.....

I am on a mission to find a smell. A good smell. A smell that I can sniff in 15 years that will remind me of hugs and adventures and dinner and cuddles and fun.

And on the 7th day....

It's Sunday.

I really enjoy starting at the obvious... seriously. It kinda makes it feel like the world has sense and order.

It is Sunday.

A day of rest...

Sort of.

I took two children and a pregnant body to church by myself.

It happens frequently, since Dusty works 4 on and 4 off.

It's not usually a big deal UNLESS

it snows OR

is icy OR

I'm really exhausted OR

I don't feel so great OR

I am having an ugly day and it takes me double the time to get ready OR

well.... this could keep going... but I'll stop BECAUSE

today it wan't that big of a deal.

It was pretty nice out, the kids were good, I was okay, and well somehow we all woke up when the alarm went off. We were all fed and happy. So a great start I'd say.

Church was church.

The talks were talks.

Nothing too out of the ordianary.

All is well in the world (well except for Hati) (oh and I'm sure other places but you get my point... my world was sane)

WAS is the key word in that.

I went to teach the valiant 8 and 9 year olds (girls).

WOWZERS.

I think they may have all had sugar through sacrament meeting. It was insane.

Good thing this lesson speads over 3 weeks!

I got into the truck after church was out and Ellie and Lucy and I just sat there.

Silence.

Oh the peace.

and then we ate the bag of cookies I brought.

It was delicious.

I got home, unloaded children, let the dog out, and made lunch.

We ate then all went to bed.

Oh Sundays.

The week just wouldn't be the same without them.

Lucky

It was five o'clock so I got up and walked downstairs. I opened up my freezer pulled out some hamburger (btw thanks mom and dad for all the beef) and some beans (thanks to my MIL) and took them upstairs. I put my hamburger in the microwave to defrost. I got all my other ingredients outa the fridge and started to prepare dinner. After the ground beef was thawed I mixed it all up and turned on my oven. I got the tinfoil out of the drawer and put it on the pan. I rolled my meatballs, put them on the pan, and then washed my hands. I am now here. It dawned on me while sitting here in my chair all the things I just took for granted. Oh like 150 years ago the simple process of making supper would of been much more elaborate. Something as simple as ground beef would of been much more complicated. With freezers and microwaves and ovens and running HOT water and fridges our lives are so so easy. I am grateful for all the time these gadgets give me with my kids and husband.

Sigh

These are muffins from Pioneer Woman's cookbook. They are worth the price of the cookbook. I put the kids to bed and then would pop one of these bad boys into the microwave for 10 seconds and then I would find my spot (you know that spot that's just yours) and eat it slowly, savoring every single calorie.

Welcome

Dusty was giving me a hard time about my "craft area" the other day. Granted I totally understand why, considering it has consumed the entire basement! Oops. Who knew I'd get so much stuff?!? It's time to get rid of it. I am no longer allowed to buy anything else until some of it gets used.

This project really really made me want a cricut.... so much for not adding to the all-consuming craft "room".

Tonight

I would like to freeze time...

Lucy's feet came plunking down the stairs, she peeked around the door, smiled, and crawled up into the crook of my legs. She wiggled down, snuggling with her blankey and sheep. In just a few moments I could feel her soft rythmic breathing, the breathing of a child deep in slumber. I looked at her, at her eyelashes resting softly on her cheeks, her lips pursed out, and her flushed cheeks.

I don't want to lose these moments.

I don't want to wake up one day, only to realize that this time has passed, and that I will no longer see those big eyes peeking at me. Watching me. Wanting to be with me.

I want to freeze time.

Would you Rather?

For 5 years we have been in the midst of renos. Not all at the same house but it seems continual and never ending. The masterbath is next on the "list". It's a small bath and currently it has a large vanity and a toilet. There is room to put in a shower but it will require some (a lot) of plumbing. I don't know if it's sheer laziness but a walk-in closet is sounding much more appealing.... I've been debating this for months.
Walk-in closet OR private bath, walk-in or bath.... the debate could go on forever.

 It's crunch time.

I have to make a decision.

So since I am confused I am asking for your opinion....

Private master bath OR walk-in closet??

beauty and the bite

Have you ever had a bite of perfect cake?

I have.

I was 13.

I was in Salt Lake City.

It was chocolate and dense and moist.

It was the most amazing thing I had ever eaten

(that may have been because that's all I had eaten through 4 flight delays).

(but that's besides the point)

This is the BEST chocolate cake recipe I have.

It is a beauty.

Chocolate cake

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup shortening

1/2 cup butter

2 eggs

1 cup buttermilk

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup cocoa

2-1/2 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 cup hot water

 pinch of salt

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, beat well. Then, add buttermilk. vanilla, and the cocoa. Beat well. Dissolve baking soda and salt in water. Add flour alternately with the hot water to the batter.

Bake at 350 degrees in 10" angel food cake pan. Takes about 50 - 60 minutes.

Or

You can bake in 3 round pans. It takes about 25 minutes.

BUT

I strongly recommend the angel food pan.

It almost brings a tear to my eye.

Dusty's favorite cake is black forest.

Me? Not so Much.

So instead we get chocolate cake, cream, and cherry sauce.

Homemade cherry sauce is pretty dang delicious.

Especially with fresh cherries.

BUT we didn't have any.

I just used sour pitted cherries.

Cherry Filling

1/2 cup light corn syrup

2 1/2 tablespoons corn starch

1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 (16 ounce) pitted red Cherries, undrained

1 teaspoon almond extract

Directions

Drain cherries, saving liquid.(You want about 1 cup if you have more than it'll be more of a sauce than a filling... if you have less just add some water) Set aside. Combine corn syrup, sugar, and cornstarch in a small sauce pan. Stir well. Add reserved cherry liquid. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and thickened. Stir in drained cherries and almond extract.

The Annual List

About a year ago I posted 25 things I wanted to improve or make better in my life. I attempted all of them some I continued and some, I concluded, were over-rated. Overall, I think I was successful in doing what I had ultimately wanted to do. Anywho, this year I WON'T be writting "26" things. (it's just too many). I will, however, say that this year I hope to accomplish sanity. It's lofty, I know, but I may as well reach for the stars...

just so you know

My favorite part of a newspaper is the Obits. Yep it's true. I have been reading the obits everyday for the last 8 years. Odd fact I knew you wouldn't be able to live without!

Lucy's New Doo

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins

These muffins were good. They have a very crunchy top and are moist on the inside. I think that next time I'll leave out the almonds and sugar on top AND I'll try to remember vanilla next time, even though the almond flavor was nice with the chocolate.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Nut Muffins

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups milk
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil (I was out so I used olive oil)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract  (I was also out so I used 1/2 tsp of almond extract)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup whole almonds
4 tablespoons white sugar


Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Grease muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
In medium bowl, Sift together flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In large bowl stir in milk, egg, oil and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients to large bowl; beat well. Add chocolate chips and walnuts, stir well.
Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Poke almonds into tops of unbaked muffins. Sprinkle muffins with sugar.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Faith, Friendship, and Enduring to the End

"Faith builds on the past but never longs to stay there. Faith trusts that God has great things in store for each of us."

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Yesterday I came home from a play date at a friends house. We were having a conversation about past relationships (friendships). I had previously made the comment to one of the girls that I "test" friendships. I don't think of ways to do it I just always seem to find myself in a situation where I have either said or done something hurtful (most times not intentional). The ladies made the comment that those situations don't always have to happen. I dismissed this. At that moment I dismissed it because I felt like I didn't know why it happened but it does and I don't know it's done until it is too late.
The conclusion in my head is that I am not a great friend. I came home, dwelling on this thought.
I had a little bit of time before I had to start supper so I opened my January 2010 Ensign. I was flipping through it and read, "The Best is yet to be". Another New Year's article....

So I get to this article and I read the title and I am about to flip, when I notice the picture of Lot and his family leaving Jerusalem, intrigued I stayed. I am glad I did. It is one of the BEST articles I've read in the Ensign. I hope you find the time to read it.

Now because I was dwelling on this thought that I was a terrible friend and that one could even go so far as to say I am a terrible person (that was a wee bit on the dramatic side but you know what I'm getting at..) the focus of the article the first time I read it was directed at that train of thought.

I am not going to go through the entire article because you should read it yourself  BUT I just kept thinking...

I am looking back, not forward.

I didn't "remember Lot's wife" Luke 17:32

There is a part in this article where Elder Holland talks about "forgive and forget". Mistakes we make in the past consume our thoughts. He says, "It stands in terrible opposition to the grandeur and majesty of the Atonement of Christ."

I forgot that I am not the same person I was 10, 5, 2 or 1 years ago. I am not the same person I was yesterday. And reflecting on those same circumstances I wasn't a terrible friend. I believe that most of us do the best we can with what we know. I have been in lots of situations where I've put my foot in mouth, said something out of good intent to have it back fire, or done the "right" thing to have a friendship's trust tested. I think that happens in any one's relationships. Some of the best relationships I have are with people that have stood through the "test of time" and with time comes trials, it's an inevitable fact of life (like taxes and death).  "The past is to be learned from but not lived in. We look back to claim them embers from glowing experiences but not the ashes. And when we have learned what we need to learn and have brought with us the best we have experienced, then we look ahead and remember that faith is always pointed toward the future."

I guess for me the moral of this entire (long) story is that I will "remember Lot's wife" and I have faith. I have faith in myself and the relationships I have with people. I have faith in a Father in Heaven who understands me.

Brianna's Quilt

I didn't take any pictures of the Christmas stuff Dusty and I made. Ridiculous I know. I was just so happy to wrap it and be done with it. My sister, Bri, sent me a picture of her quilt. I loved it so much. I wanted to keep it. It had this really vintage nostalgic feel to it, like it belonged to my granny. It was pink and orange and yellow and burgundy. I backed it in a bright green fleece. It was cozy. Anyways, here is the pic....

Missing

Patience.
Must have back.
Children miss it very much.
Reward if found.

First Sundays

I taught Valiant 8, 9, 10, and 11 year olds today. It was amazing. I loved Sunbeams and I learned so much being in there. More than I thought I would. It was a good jumping off point in primary. I had no idea what to expect of the Valiant class. I just went with it. I knew that the lesson I prepared I was going to need them to pay attention. I would of taught this lesson to a Gospel Principals class or even to the Relief Society.

They did so awesome.

I think they were a little overwhelmed at first, especially with how many scriptures I had.

They toughed it out.

We didn't have time for my little game/test at the end so I gave them the option of coming back at the end of church to finish. Most of them came back. They know the plan of salvation. I feel like I accomplished something. I felt so inspired from how excited they are to have learned that. They even seemed super excited to do their "homework"!

 I gave them a couple of  assignments so they could find some answers for themselves using their scriptures.

I hope that they will.

There is chocolate bar on the line.

 I had a really great time.

Ellie also had a really great time.

She has a new teacher and they also learned about being a "child of god" and learning to Choose The Right.

She was telling one of the Primary presidency what she learned and they gave her a ring.

She hasn't taken it off.

I asked her what it said. She said it was to help her learn to pick the right and not the left.

Close.

Very close.

This is Lucy's new hair cut. Just bangs. The rest is in a pony.

She likes it.

and it's out of her eyes.

Thank Goodness.

It was a good day.

I'm looking forward to next sunday and this one isn't even over yet.

Out of the Rough and into the Clear

My day started out kinda rough.

Lucy and Ellie both in my bed.

Me super tired.

A day of house cleaning in front of me.

I had to do something.

I called my local Primary President

(also my friend but I called mostly because she was the Primary President).

I KNEW she'd be busy.

Up to her eyeballs in last minute preparation of the new year.

I was right.

It was awesome.

It made me feel SOOOO much better to know that I could be THAT busy

(but I'm not).

I had a chuckle (at her expense) and had a lovely conversation.

 I did by the end of the conversation volunteer myself to her aid.

She gave me a task and I got to say it completely changed the course of my day.

I now have a primary lesson complete.

My house isn't any cleaner

but you know what

I DON'T CARE!

I am in a much better mood

 and

I know what I'm making (or taking out of the freezer) for supper.

What started out as a rough day is turning into something fairly pleasent.

Oh and here are some more pictures of Christmas.

Christmas at Home

Santa left Mulan with the Horse

That Santa is one SMRT cookie.

Lucy pretty excited about MnM's

small things.

Christmas Morning at My folks

More princesses

Both trying to get the present open.

At Dusty's parents.

Making Auntie Bobbie Geo even more lovely.

The first present of Christmas

A Good Start in 2010

Today I managed to:

do 3 loads of dishes

put away my sewing machine (a much needed break)

clean out all my knitting

transfer all my other posts from my other blog to this one

write a to-do list (for Dusty.... mwahahaha... the best kind of list)

talk to my mom for 130 minutes

read 1 trillion books to Lucy and Ellie

procrastinate washing the floors

shower (also much needed)

and finally and the most significant

Do my hair.

(which by the way

 may or may not be my new years resolution

which I don't set anyways

BUT

 if I were to set a new Years resolution that may be it

It'll most likely make it on my birthday goal list.)

p.s. where did the spell checker go? I like the new option in the post maker thing but I seriously need spell check.