March

In review photo style…

Hey good-lookin’

Whatcha been cookin’…

This one is great because you make it with stuff that you would already have….but the name doesn’t do it justice. It should really be called something like “Almost Lasagna’ or something like that. I added some italian seasaonings when I made it, just to add to the flavor. http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/03/sour-cream-noodle-bake/ 

And then this delicious idea…why didn’t I think of that? Oh, right. I know why, because I am not a recipe “inventor”! But thank goodness we aren’t all inventors, because than who would try out the recipes and pass them on? It takes all kinds to make the world go around.

This one I tried because of the favorite men in my life. Dad-- Kelly LOVED this…and so did I! This is yummy!http://rachelleunderwood.blogspot.com/2011/02/upside-down-german-chocolate-cake.html

This french dip recipe I have made over and over—it is sooo good and so easy. Best au jus mmm..mmm…mmm. Making me hungry for them just thinking about it! http://www.beckyhiggins.com/recipes/?p=88

And another one we have been enjoying…a lot…is one I got from my friend Teresa. I am giving you the recipe as I received it, but I have simplified it. I just buy my favorite breaded chicken strips and cook those up instead of starting from scratch with that. And if bagged salad is on sale, I go that route as well. It is the dressing that makes all the difference.

Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad Recipe

Oriental Dressing
3 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Grey Poupon Dijon mustard
1/8 teaspoon sesame oil
Salad
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup corn flake crumbs
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast half
2-4 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
3 cups chopped romaine lettuce
1 cup red cabbage
1 cup Napa cabbage
1/2 carrot, julienned or shredded
1 green onion, chopped
1 tablespoon sliced almonds
1/3 cup chow mein noodles
1. Preheat oil in deep fryer or deep pan over medium heat. You want the temperature of the oil to be around 350°F.
2. Blend together all ingredients for dressing in a small bowl with an electric mixer. Put dressing in refrigerator to chill while you prepare the salad.
3. In a small, shallow bowl beat egg, add milk, and mix well.
4. In another bowl, combine flour with corn flake crumbs, salt and pepper.
5. Cut chicken breast into 4 or 5 long strips. Dip each strip of chicken first into egg mixture then into the flour mixture, coating each piece completely.
6. Fry each chicken finger for 5 minutes or until coating has darkened to brown.
7. Prepare salad by tossing the chopped romaine with the chopped red cabbage, Napa cabbage, and carrots.
8. Sprinkle sliced green onion on top of the lettuce.
9. Sprinkle almonds over the salad, then the chow mein noodles.
10. Cut the chicken into small bite-size chunks. Place the chicken onto the salad forming a pile in the middle. Serve with salad dressing on the side. (http://www.topsecretrecipes.com) Makes 1 dinner-size salad.

Easter Subway Art

I have been really into the subway art you can find all over the web. I haven’t seen anything popping up yet that I could just use, probably because it is a bit early. But I also figured that any I found would be mostly about bunnies and eggs. I wanted one that focused on the meaning that is most important to me at Easter.

So…my very own subway art!

If you want one, just right click and tell your printer to print!

And if you want a different color combo. I can do that! Or here is a multi colored one.

Embrace It

Our weekend was sort of dictated to us—I always have a hard time with those kind of weekends. But I tried to use one of my new theories: “Don’t Fight it-Embrace It”. It worked! Almost perfectly!

My problem with the weekend was that Kelly was all booked up. First he left Friday night with the young men on a campout and then on a hike to Romero Pools on Saturday morning. I knew it was a good thing for him. I am just selfish and knew I would miss him, especially since it was Stake conference weekend and he had the afternoon meetings.

He did have a good time. He has always loved to hike and rarely gets the chance these days. He had a little bit of a hard time keeping up with the boys. They said they worried about him going up, but he was like a rocket coming down. They got in the water too. He said the water was cold but it was fun. And his knees held out! Looks like those miracle pills really are miracle pills.

Good thing about Saturday was Kelsey made it home for spring break—YEAH!! And the Saturday night session of conference. I was looking forward to that.

What a great conference--I had prayers answered, my testimony was strengthened. What is not to embrace right? For me it started off with the special musical number. As she sang the words to that familiar primary song my heart swelled with gratitude as I saw the scenes in my minds eye. Heavenly Father spoke, witnessing the importance of each of those events in the history of the world…and I felt the importance of those events in my own life. I have developed a love affair with baptisms. And although I don’t remember my own, I am so grateful that I made those covenants and entered the gate. I know that baptism is our first step back to our Father in Heaven. The story of Jesus visiting the Nephites has long been a favorite of mine. It testifies of His love for all of God’s children. When I read the account of the healings, the children and that each person was given their own special moment to touch the wounds, to feel and know, I feel His love for me. I would be lost without His love and the gift of the resurrection. The voice in the grove, testifying of His Son and delivering the greatest message in this dispensation brings such feeling of gratitude. I felt the warmth of the Spirit reminding me of when I knew that God and His Son had appeared to Joseph. My greatest blessings come from that event. And then another tender mercy this morning as I read of an additional time when the voice of our Father in Heaven testified of His Son. On the mount of transfiguration. Elder Haight said it was one of the most significant events in the New Testament. Christ was given the heavenly help He would need to fulfill His mission-administered to by angels. The priesthood keys were given to the apostles, who would in turn give them to Joseph. Amazing! It was perfect to read that today and be reminded of those tender feelings on Saturday. And to remember: Where would I be without the atonement?

I felt the spirit whisper to me that the Father’s command to Hear Him, is an invitation. Hear Him. Follow Him. Believe Him.

Monday, Monday

I love Sundays.

But, look at what I will wake up to tomorrow.

It was clean this morning!

Work: A Thing of Beauty

I wish I could get to Japan. I would love to work and help them clean up.

One thing I know how to do it work. I love to work. Even when it is hard.

And I love the results you can see from hard work.

Last week we spent several hours helping out at an eagle project. The main goal was to clear and create a safe walkway for the children being dropped off and picked up. Ironwood Elementary was the setting where a “transformation” took place. Many, many hands came together and created something beautiful, where before there was overgrown desert and trash.

Here are before and after shots

And some of the fun along the way

Thinking about Japan today brought these images to mind. Many people working together for a good cause is a thing of beauty.

I am amazed at the Japanese people, their example of how to act in crisis. And I imagine watching them work together--many, many hands cleaning up and working hard—will be another example of just what can be accomplished.

I just wish my hands could be a part of it.

Christ Watches over Us

(Taken from DES fireside by Elder Holland  http://lds.org/ensign/1998/04/come-unto-me?lang=eng )

One last piece of counsel regarding coming to Christ; it comes from an unusual incident in the life of the Savior that holds a lesson for us all. It was after Jesus had performed the miracle of feeding the 5,000 from five loaves of bread and two fishes. (By the way, let me pause here to say, Don’t worry about Christ running out of ability to help you. His grace is sufficient. That is the spiritual, eternal lesson of the feeding of the 5,000.) After Jesus had fed the multitude, he sent them away and put his disciples into a fishing boat to cross over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. He then “went up into a mountain apart to pray” (Matt. 14:23).

We aren’t told all of the circumstances of the disciples as they set out in their boat, but it was toward evening, and certainly it was a stormy night. The winds must have been ferocious from the start. Because of the winds, these men probably never even raised the sails but labored only with the oars—and labor it would have been. We know this because by the time of “the fourth watch of the night” (Matt. 14:25)—that is somewhere between three and six in the morning—they had gone only a few miles. By then the ship was caught up in a truly violent storm, a storm like those that can still sweep down on the Sea of Galilee to this day.

But, as always, Christ was watching over them. He always does, remember? Seeing their difficulty, the Savior simply took the most direct approach to their boat, striding out across the waves to help them, walking on the water as surely as he had walked upon the land. In their moment of great extremity, the disciples looked and saw in the darkness this wonder in a fluttering robe coming toward them on the ridges of the sea. They cried out in terror at the sight, thinking that it was a phantom upon the waves. Then, through the storm and darkness—when the ocean seems so great and little boats seem so small—there came the ultimate and reassuring voice of peace from their Master. “It is I,” he said; “be not afraid” (Matt. 14:27).

This scriptural account reminds us that the first step in coming to Christ, or in his coming to us, may fill us with something very much like sheer terror. It shouldn’t, but it sometimes does. One of the grand ironies of the gospel is that the very source of help and safety being offered us is the thing from which we may, in our mortal shortsightedness, flee. For whatever the reason, I have seen investigators run from baptism, I have seen elders run from a mission call, I have seen sweethearts run from marriage, and I have seen members run from challenging callings. Too often too many of us run from the very things that will bless us and save us and soothe us. Too often we see gospel commitments and commandments as something to be feared and forsaken.

Let me quote the marvelous Elder James E. Talmage of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on this matter: “Into every adult human life come experiences like unto the battling of the storm-tossed voyagers with contrary winds and threatening seas; ofttimes the night of struggle and danger is far advanced before succor appears; and then, too frequently the saving aid is mistaken for a greater terror. [But,] as came unto [these disciples] in the midst of the turbulent waters, so comes to all who toil in faith, the voice of the Deliverer—’It is I; be not afraid’” (Jesus the Christ [1916], 337).

Elder Talmage used the word succor. Do you know its meaning? It is used often in the scriptures to describe Christ’s care for and attention to us. It means literally “to run to.” What a magnificent way to describe the Savior’s urgent effort in our behalf! Even as he calls us to come to him and follow him, he is unfailingly running to help us.

Finally recognizing the Master that night, Peter exclaimed, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water” (Matt. 14:28).

And Christ’s answer to him was as it always is to all of us: “Come,” he said.

Instantly, as was his nature, Peter sprang over the vessel’s side and into the troubled waves. While his eyes were fixed upon the Lord, the wind could toss his hair and the spray could drench his robes, but all was well—he was coming to Christ. Only when his faith and his focus wavered, only when he removed his glance from the Master to see the furious waves and the black gulf beneath him, only then did he begin to sink. In fear he cried out, “Lord, save me” (Matt. 14:28–30).

In some disappointment the “Master of ocean and earth and skies” (“Master, the Tempest Is Raging,” Hymns, no. 105) stretched out his hand and grasped the drowning disciple with the gentle rebuke “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” (Matt. 14:31; see also Frederic W. Farrar, The Life of Christ [1994], 310–13).

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. This is his true and living Church. He wishes us to come unto him, to follow him, to be comforted by him. Then he wishes us to give comfort to others. However halting our steps are toward him—though they shouldn’t be halting at all—his steps are never halting toward us. May we have enough faith to accept the goodness of God and the mercy of his Only Begotten Son. May we come unto him and his gospel and be healed. And may we do more to heal others in the process. When the storms of life make this difficult, may we still follow his bidding to “come,” keeping our eye fixed on him forever and single to his glory. In doing so we too will walk triumphantly over the swelling waves of life’s difficulties and remain unterrified amid any rising winds of despair.

Spring Cleaning

What is it about this time of year, that gets you all motivated to buy new tennis shoes, get on your bike, remove weeds, fight back menacing (and by that I mean huge, thorny bushes that scratch you up and leave welts) trees, and clean. I am using the term “cleaning” very loosely—because, although there is some of that going on too, it really would fit more under the category of purging.

“Spring Purging” is just not as catchy, somehow.

I have determined that we have too much stuff and have committed to touch everything in this house and decide if it stays or goes. My bedroom was first on the list. It has really become more like a black hole in there—especially the closet. This is turning out to be a long-time project because I am finding it is a slow process to touch everything. Not only that, I have not been relieved of my other duties, while I work on this pet project! To be honest, I am still making my way around my bedroom. But to be fair, it did have the computer and filing cabinets and a whole closets’ worth of stuff that we moved in to make room for my parents.

Right now I am purging the filing cabinets. I have collected vast amounts of papers on a myriad of subjects. BUT! We only need one. It must all fit into one—and the rest is garbage…or passed on to the girls. Staying true to my commitment I am touching every paper and determining its worth. I have found some interesting things, but mostly it is only of interest to me because it is a part of our history.  And although the memories are priceless, the papers are worthless.

Yesterday, I found some old chore charts and contracts and even goal sheets that we did throughout the years with the girls growing up. Some of them I didn’t remember doing, but there was the proof right there in black in white, with my handwriting. I read and studied a lot and we tried many different things-all in an effort to be the best parents we could be. The things that worked became a part of us and the things that didn’t became forgotten papers in the filing cabinet.

On the surface, it is just a cleaning project. But more than that, I could see a pattern and a life lesson. What we kept and became a part of us is what ever made a difference, motivated a change in their hearts or actions. We didn’t want the girls to just know how to clean the bathroom, we wanted a clean bathroom, for example. And more importantly, we wanted them to not just know the Sunday school answers, but to live them. I hope and pray that I accomplish that goal.

I felt that same lesson being taught by Jesus as I read His answer to those that persecuted him for healing on the Sabbath and then hated him more when he claimed to be the Son of God: “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.” It isn’t enough to know what the scriptures say. We aren’t saved by being able to recite the laws and the verses. We are saved by living them and making them a part of us. We are saved by finding Christ and His atonement. The only real way to change your heart.

Freestyle Week

I just finished my last layout for the freestyle week in my Digi in Deeper class.

Freestyle is not my style! It is much too much for me. And you can tell with these layouts, I had to tone it down a bit as I went along. But I learned some fun tricks, so it was worth it.

This class was in February, but as always, I am w-aa-y behind. That is one thing I love about the classes with Jessica Sprague-you have access to your class forever!

Now, it is on to "shabby and ornate”.

Inchworm

Before

After

I keep trying to get my camera to do things it can’t-so I gave up and learned how to do it in photoshop!

Modern technology but “Vintage” Look

I learned some new tricks

This is a picture we took of an old church we found in Maui

Before

After-I was able to straighten it, remove the shadow on the wall, remove the light pole and make it look more like a vintage photo

And I just liked the door—so I did that too.

Another attempt on a picture that Melanie took

Before

After

To be continued…

( scroll down and read "hubris" post first!)

I really fall somewhere in between Percy and Annabeth. I totally agree that pride is fatal.  There is plenty of proof of that in the scriptures. Like Percy, I think if I controlled the world, it would be a mess. Actually, that is being to humble. It would be a disaster. Thankfully it is out of the question. But like Annabeth, there are things in my own world I want “done differently”. And if I am not mistaken, that is the definition of pride—my will not Thine be done. That is NOT who I want to be, yet I say and have said many times in my life. “I don’t want to do it this way!” “Why can’t it be this way?” And I argue about it, and hurt about it and cry about it for too long. Most of the time, like a typical two year old, after my temper tantrum, I realize what I really need to do. I ask for Heaven’s help and the strength to endure and to overcome. But the time that has been wasted can’t be replaced. I have to take down walls that should have never been built. The first thing I should do is run to Him, but not to “change His mind”. But to find peace and assurance that the gospel is the answer.

But that was like reading the last chapter of the book! This isn’t a mystery novel, so I am sure that you have figured out that I have been in the temper tantrum phase. I see a road ahead that might be bad and I have been refusing to budge. Afraid to move, because I don’t want to go down that road. Yet, it isn’t even my choice. So dumb. Anyway, I am trying to manage that and still function with the spirit…ahem…and trick question…how do you think that is working out for me? I feel like I am treading with all my might to stay afloat, and I am getting worn out. Sound about right?

Yesterday, it was all I could do to not pound my fists on the floor, in another attempt to change my world. I felt so heavy laden. By the time night came around I was brought to tears for all the pain and suffering I see around me.  And there is so little I can do—offer a listening ear, a hug or a prayer. It felt like so little. I decided that it must be the sign of the times, the end has got to be near, because Satan is working overtime. And not just on me. There are so many good people enduring really hard trials. And just really weird things happening too. It just seems like there is more to it than just “normal life”

And I felt sorry for me too.

Anyway, I go to the scriptures this morning and the plan is to study some more of the references I have for pride. I turn to 1Peter 5:5 and it is okay, but I read on. Verse 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 casting all your care upon him for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (no kidding) 9, 10 But the god of all grace who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Ahh. Yes. I think about the meaning of perfect, stablish, strengthen and settle. I want those things, I need to focus on those things. I go online to see if there are any talks that reference 1Peter 5. I found some great things said by John Taylor.

“I know that as other men we have our trials, afflictions, sorrows, and privations. We meet with difficulties; we have to contend with the world, with the powers of darkness, with the corruptions of men, and a variety of evils; yet at the same time through these things we have to be made perfect.”

And this one I especially love. “It is necessary that we should know our own weaknesses, and the weaknesses of our fellow men; our own strength as well as the strength of others; and comprehend our true position before God, angels, and men; that we may be inclined to treat all with due respect, and not to over value our own wisdom or strength, nor depreciate it, nor that of others; but put our trust in the living God, and follow after him, and realise that we are his children, and that he is our Father, and that our dependence is upon him, and that every blessing we receive flows from his beneficent hand. ^“

Good, huh? Yep, the gospel has all the answers. Everything is found in the Plan of Salvation.

I go back to view more references and I laughed out loud. Elder Uchtdorf “Pride and the Priesthood”

I think I felt the door hit me in the behind on that one.

Hubris--not to be confused with hummus

I am really not a big fan of either of these! Although my husband loves hummus. Just saying.

These paragraphs from Percy Jackson and the Olympians (book 2) “The Sea Monsters” really come from somewhere after the beginning of this story, so let me catch you up.

A funny thing has been happening to me and just this morning, it came full circle. I know the journey is not over and I will many more circles in my future. But today there was something special about how it all came together and I want to get it out of my head and on paper. So I can remember it and continue to learn from it and so can my posterity—hopefully!

A few days ago, actually more like a few weeks ago I read Elder Uchtdorf’s talk in general conference “Pride in the Priesthood”. It was answer to prayer. I read it and just felt my need for it. It reminded me so much of President Benson’s talk on pride—and how much I knew I needed that one too. An interesting side note, well I think it is interesting, is that I had a conversation with a friend and what she remembered about that talk was that he said it was ok to put “proud” back in our vocabulary. And when she said that I thought, well, she obviously didn’t NEED to hear about pride like I did. It just confirmed to me that it truly was an answer for me.

So back to me…just kidding. You know, I am writing about pride so if I make a joke…never mind.

I decided right then and there that I would stop trying to be in denial about my pride issues. Hello. My name is Danette and I am prideful. I hate thinking it, but it is true.

My first decision was that I would make studying about pride a part of my scripture study. AND I asked the Lord for help in recognizing  when I was being prideful, which really came to mean “reacting in pride”, for me.

Whoa!

I wasn’t prepared for the things that came to mind. For the MANY opportunities the Lord gave me to clearly see all the work that needed to be done! (ha!)Sometimes I saw it ahead of time like coming to door and I was able to just not go in. I had time to say to myself “don’t react in pride” and I would make a better choice. Other times I saw it after I walked right through and the door shut behind me and I had to ask for forgiveness.

And all that is still a work in progress. I am trying to just be more…careful. And using Elder Scott’s words: “we become what we want to be by being what we want to become each day”.

So what does Percy Jackson have to do with all this? Well, several days after Elder Uchtdorf’s words, I read those above paragraphs and thought. Uh oh.

Wheat and Tares

I think it is a whole lot harder to watch your children grow up in this wheat and tares world than it was to grow up in this wheat and tares world.

At least when it is about me, I have some control. I am in charge of the choices. Now, the only thing I can do is watch, and pray. And where did all those tares come from? There hasn’t always been this many has there? I certainly see more now than I did when they were little.

I toggle between the hope I feel that this is the Lord’s plan, and He is all knowing, all powerful. If He designed it than all is well. And the doubt I feel when I wonder, did I do enough, give them enough, to grow strong and straight.

So, it is obvious right? I try to stay away from thinking about “I” and just keep praying to HIM!

**photo taken by http://www.flickr.com/photos/skettie/

March Art

I combined two printables that I thought were cute…you can find them here http://rebeccacooper.blogspot.com/2011/03/rainbow-printable.html and here http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/2011/02/button-rainbow-printable.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BeDifferentactNormal+%28Be+Different...Act+Normal%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Taking Soil Samples

My thoughts are full of my youngest girl and my heart  has a constant prayer…

And I have been pondering on my reading today. I can see the wisdom in the Lord focusing on the soil in the parable of the sower. Sometimes we have to follow Alma’s advice and test the seed, but the variable of the soil makes all the difference in how true that test is. They compliment each other really. In this case we know the seed is good, so we get  a chance to evaluate the soil. I know from personal experience that good soil takes some effort. It is hard work to sift out the rocks and takes constant vigilance to  keep the thorns, or weeds, away.  And there is timing.  You can’t wait till the last minute to prepare the soil. What if the time comes to plant but there is no time, or no way, to prepare the soil because a storm is raging?

It brings to mind pictures of my garden-one week looked like this…

and the next week-it looked like this!

It was helpful for me to read and evaluate the status of my soil. I am probably most guilty of letting those cares of the world, those nasty thorns, start to choke out things like hope.

Digi Fun

First up, an adoption announcement I made recently

Then some layouts from an online class

Conversations

Have you heard of this? I hadn’t until just recently. If there is anyone else like me who didn’t know, I am spreading the word. This is a great resource, and so uplifting! There are so many programs on this site I can’t wait to check out but “Conversations” is the only one I have listened to so far.

http://radio.lds.org/eng/programs/conversations

February Photo Review

Here is our month in review—in no particular order or importance!

1. Tucson winter storm; sweet valentine treats from my hubby; ice sculptures; start on a new, next step in backyard project; lemons from the tree

2. Clearing pipes; turquoise side of the tent at the gem show; craft with our young women; calling out the big guns; fossil coral-beads side of the gem show tent…that I worked at…full-time…for 2 weeks…and 3 weekends…that left me completely behind in all areas of my life! I am so spoiled and I like it—I know when I got a good thing going! AND I appreciate it so much, I tell my hubby thanks all the time.

3. Flag retiring at eagle court of honor; our garden…in snow!; more pre-cancer removal; and a new eagle scout

It was a busy month and I have to do some catching up to keep my history complete. There are some blog worthy events, that we didn’t have pictures for…like a baptism, Marana rodeo, regional music concert in Sahaurita, Kelsey’s visit, and and even some new lessons learned and recipes to share. But now it is time to get some dinner on the table!

Ooh, I almost forgot my favorite day—spent with my sweetheart at the golf tourney!