It has been a difficult day. Can’t think of a better way to take my mind off of things than to work on some photoshop skills! Finished my last layout from the shabby and ornate section of my class. This one is more my style—still have to tone it down a bit.
It helped a lot too. Now I am going to go pick up Heaven and we are going to play some guitar!
This is for Kelsey. She had a Moroni moment today. It is so easy to do the Lord’s will when you get the answer that you wanted. But the true test is when we do His will, when it is not what we want.
Kelsey proved that the Lord can trust her today. And He will give you the comfort you need.
“Perhaps the greatest of Christian acts are those we never hear about,” said Elder Rex D. Pinegar of the Presidency of the Seventy in speaking at the October 1991 general conference. “The are deeds done quietly, spontaneously, anonymously,without expectation of recognition or compensation. Christian acts begin with Christlike thought in our hearts, for the ‘the Lord looketh on the heart."’ (1 Sam. 16:7) Then, Christ’s teaching and His characteristics will be reflected naturally in our action.”
Elder Pinegar noted: “We all have many difficult choices to make each day. There are many enticements that, if followed, will lead us away from Christ. The movies and videos we choose to watch, the entertainment we seek, the music we listen to, the styles we wear, and the language we speak are all influenced by the strength of our desire to follow Christ. In making these decisions, we may feel it is too hard to be left out or to miss out on what the world thinks is okay. Yes, ‘it is difficult to be a Christian and follow Christ in word and deed.’ When we do follow Him, however, we will feel the peace and assurance that comes from making right choices. He will provide the courage necessary for those times when we have to stand alone.
“In the Book of Mormon Alma records the powerful account of Moroni, chief commander of all the armies of the Nephites. It is the account of one who stood alone and of the force for good he became. With his armor girded about him, his head plate, breastplate and his shields fastened upon him, his banner of liberty raised on a pole above him, he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land—”’For thus were all the true believers of Christ., who belonged to the church of God called by those who did not belong to the church.’
“Alma continues: ‘And those who did belong to the church were faithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come.
“’An therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of Christians…might be favored.’ (Alma 46:13-16)
“I pray that we, who have taken upon us His name and his marvelous priesthood authority and power, may also gladly take upon us the commitment to rank Jesus Christ first in our thoughts and also in our deeds. That we will find ‘the Spirit of the Lord has wrought a might change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.’ (Mosiah 5:2) This will enable us to rank ourselves as true followers of Jesus—as true Christians.”
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.
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.
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.
I love Sundays.
But, look at what I will wake up to tomorrow.
It was clean this morning!
