Anthony's 48th Birthday

 

Anthony would be 48 today. That is odd to say knowing he has had 29 birthdays since he passed away at 19. He didn't get to live the life we dreamed of together. There was no wife. There was no son named Marc Anthony. We never bought a small newspaper together. The kids in this picture who still have all of their baby teeth didn't know what the future would bring. They just knew they were forever siblings. Thankfully, we will always be siblings and will be together in the afterlife. We are a forever family. 

Happy birthday, Anthony! I hope you are celebrating with Mom. 

Christmas Day 18

 

 It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. -Dr. Seuss

Christmas Day 17

 

Keep Christmas with you
All through the year
When Christmas is over
You can keep it near
Think of this Christmas day
When Christmas is far away
Keep Christmas with you
All through the year
When Christmas is over
Save some Christmas cheer
These precious moments
Hold them very dear
And keep Christmas with you
All through the year
Christmas means the spirit of giving
Peace and joy to you
The goodness of loving
The gladness of living;
These are Christmas too
So, keep Christmas with you
All through the year.

-Sesame Street 1978

Christmas Day 16

 

“This knowledge—that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He was crucified for the sins of the world—is a spiritual gift. This gift is not tied to a particular priesthood office nor to a particular gender; rather, it is available to all who qualify for it. We are not asked to bring the Savior gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to qualify for this beautiful spiritual gift. We are asked to give ourselves.” Elder Dale G. Renlund

Christmas Day 15

 

“When we see shepherds, may we remember to be humble. When we see wise men, may we remember to be generous. When we see the star, may we remember the Light of Christ, which gives life and light to all things. When we see a tiny baby, may we remember to love unconditionally, with tenderness and compassion.” Bonnie L. Oscarson

Christmas Day 14

 

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. -John 8:12

Brr Basket

 

Earlier this week, I was surprised with a Brr Basket that my husband and daughter carefully schemed and plotted to put together for me. It made me feel so special and appreciated after a week of taking care of sick people. In this cute basket, they gave me an adorable unicorn that has clear, sparkly hearts all over (they didn't show up in the picture), reindeer slippers that light up as I walk, a mermaid Starbucks cup that was later taken to Starbucks for a peppermint hot chocolate, lip scrub, scrunchies, a beautiful candle, sugar scrub, Dr. Pepper, Doritos, and candy. I am so thankful that they took the time to carefully pick out each item, trying to find exactly what I would enjoy. I can't remember the last time someone put this much effort into making me feel special. 

Christmas Day 13

 

"It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” Dr. Seuss

Christmas Day 12

 

“Even as we sing “Silent Night,” we know the life of that Babe of Bethlehem did not begin there, nor did it end on Calvary. In a premortal realm, Jesus was anointed by His Father to be the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior and Redeemer of all humankind. He was foreordained to atone for us. ‘He was wounded for our transgressions [and] bruised for our iniquities’.He came to make immortality a reality and eternal life a possibility for all who would ever live.”  Russell M. Nelson

Christmas Day 11

 

“The shepherds were invited to come and see. They saw. They trembled. They testified. They rejoiced. They saw Him wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger, the Prince of Peace...” Marvin J. Ashton

Christmas Day 10

 

"There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter. The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary, and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection.” Gordon B. Hinckley

Christmas Day 9

 

“And it came to pass that there was no darkness in all that night, but it was as light as though it was mid-day. And it came to pass that the sun did rise in the morning again, according to its proper order; and they knew that it was the day that the Lord should be born, because of the sign which had been given.” 3 Nephi 1:19

Christmas Day 8

 

“I think it is appropriate this time of year to just think about that baby in the manger. Don’t be too over- whelmed or occupied with what is to come; just think about that little baby. Take a quiet, peaceful moment to ponder the beginning of His life — the culmination of heavenly prophecy but the earthly beginning for Him” (“Be at Peace,” “Ensign,” Dec. 2015).

Not Conference Cinnamon Rolls

 

For many years, I have been making cinnamon rolls each General Conference weekend. It all started when someone at church said they did it, and Chad loved the idea. Sometimes the rolls are Pilsbury, but most of the time they are from scratch. I just use the same recipe I use for bread. 

Yesterday, I was making bread for the week. The recipe makes 4 loaves, but we only have 3 bread pans. Most of the time I make rolls or buns with the dough that won't fit on those loaves. Yesterday, I decided to make only 2 loaves and some cinnamon rolls. Then, I had Sean go to the store for frosting. We will eat them today, and I'm excited! I can't say I will do this every time I make bread, but it is kind of a fun treat every once in a while. 

Christmas Day 7

 

“Let us never forget that we are disciples and followers of Jesus Christ, the living Son of the living God. To truly honor His coming into the world, we must do as He did and reach out in compassion and mercy to our fellowmen. This we can do daily, by word and deed. Let this become our Christmas tradition, no matter where we are — to be a little kinder, more forgiving, less judging, more grateful and more generous in sharing our abundance with those in need” (First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional, Dec. 3, 2017).

December Bullet Journal Spreads

I have made a plan for December and put it in writing. I know we are a week into December, but I'm ok with that. There are still plenty of days to work on and accomplish goals this month. 

When making my plan, first I decided on what goals I wanted to focus on and used those goals to make a December cover page. 

Then, I went down the list and made bullet journal spreads for each goal in the order I listed them. My favorite is the one for tracking miles (the first goal).

My next spread is for the Miracle Morning. I'm not as happy with this one because I tried to use colors from the washi tape, and I'm just not a fan of brown. It works with my theme, though.

Then, I made one for a book that I really want to finish to help me towards my weight loss goals. I love the colors I used for this one! I wanted to make sure to include the appendix, so I made circles for each.

Finally, in conjunction with my affirmations, I will be tracking the amount of time that I clean. This is the only page I made without washi tape, but I think it turned out fairly well.

In had a lot of fun making these. I found most of my supplies at Hobby Lobby. Some of the stickers and the markers were things I already had around the house. Sometimes I still can't believe I have become a person who enjoys this kind of thing.

Christmas Day 6

 

“Christmas is a time to remember that we are all children of a Father in Heaven who gave His Only Be- gotten Son that all would be redeemed from death and who has offered the blessings of salvation and exaltation to all mankind on the same conditions” (First Presidency’s Christmas Devotional, Dec. 4, 2022)

Christmas Day 5

 

“The angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.

“He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

“And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end” Luke 1:30–33

Christmas Day 4

 

“Christmas is based on an exchange of gifts, the gift of God to man – His unspeakable gift of His Son, and the gift of man to God – when we present our bodies a living sacrifice.” Maya Angelou

Christmas Day 3

 

“Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth?” Mosiah 13:33–34

Wicked Nails

After Noel and I saw Wicked for her birthday, we stopped at the Claire's next to the theater and got a few "souvenirs." One of mine was a nail polish set. I have been excited to use the nail polish and have the perfect excuse today (I'm going to the movie with the hubby tonight), so I painted my nails this morning. I am a bit disappointed because the colors weren't as vivid as I had expected, but I am happy to have pretty nails. 

Christmas Day 2

 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. ~ Isaiah 9:6

Christmas Day 1

 

"When we keep the spirit of Christmas, we keep the Spirit of Christ, for the Christmas spirit is the Christ Spirit. It will block out all the distractions around us which can diminish Christmas and swallow up its true meaning." Thomas S. Monson

Her Birthday

 

Noel turned 19, yesterday! (I didn't forget to post about it. I wanted to make sure to get pictures of the day first.) She started the day finishing the outfit she was making for the evening, and she did a WONDERFUL job! I am is awe of her sewing talent. 

Then, we had Panda Express for lunch and headed to see Wicked Part 1. We loved it. Neither of us have seen the stage production, so this was our chance to see it. We already have plans to see the other half when it comes out next year. 

Later, we went to dinner at the place of her choosing with the family and her boyfriend followed by going home for presents, dessert, and a game that she chose. 

My hope is that she knows how much she is loved and felt special on her special day. 

Miracle Morning Prep

 

When I wake up in the morning, I have a routine I follow instinctually before I start my Miracle Morning. First, I go to the kitchen to take my meds and fill my water. Then, I go back into my room, smooth out my blankets, and pull everything out that I need (my bullet journal, journal, scriptures, and colored pencils). Now that it is cooler, I often pull the blankets over my legs as I sit crisscrossing on the bed. Sometimes, Sophie curls up to me. Sometimes, she makes a "nest" on Chad's side and sleeps. Either way, she is always there. Once everything is set up, I start with a prayer, open my bullet journal, and perform my little miracle. My mornings have been going so much better since I started this, and I tell everyone about it.  It is the perfect way to start the day. 

My Best So Far

 

I spent a god portion of the spring trying to make good sourdough bread. I made many good loaves, but was never quite happy. A lot of them had semi-burnt bottoms. One tasted great and was great on the inside but didn't brown up the way I expected. They were all eatable, but not what I had imagined. 

Yesterday, I made my best loaf to date. It plumped up beautifully and had a soft crust which I have never had. What was the difference? First of all, I put rice on the bottom of my Dutch oven under the parchment paper (a trick I learned on Facebook). Also, I used a recipe from a book and times everything exactly as written. I think part of my problem was the source of my recipes. I had one from TikTok and a few I found from a Google search. I don't know if the recipes were bad. It's possible this is just the recipe that clicks the best for me. 

I am loving the process of learning to make sourdough. There are so many things I can do with the starter. I'm excited to see what I make next. 

Life Changing Book

 

The book The Law of Love is such a wonderful book about how to love without the expectation of getting anything in return. He talks about how to implement it in all aspects of life using personal stories and inspirational quotes. Each time I opened this book, I felt edified. I love this book so much that I am planning to buy it for several people for Christmas. 

My Favorite Pen

 

I used to have a slight obsession with pens and pencils. (I blame my mom. When she passed away she had a scripture bag full of pens she had collected through the years, mostly the free ones from businesses.) When Chad worked at Office Max, he would bring home some nice pens because he knew it made me happy. I have gotten a bit more picky through the years and have a favorite pen: Pentel EnerGel. It writes smooth and doesn't smear. It is perfect for writing in my journal. I'm sure my favorite will eventually change, but for now, this is my go to pen. 

Cranberry Sauce

 

I made cranberry jelly today for my Thanksgiving prep. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. It was a lot like making applesauce with a lot of sugar. I doubled my recipe because I wanted to use the entire bag of cranberries, and it made a little over 4 pint size jars. 

If you want to try the same recipe, it is in this book:

Snow - Finally!

 

It has been snowing off and on for a few days. Today, it started coming down a lot. When Noel got off work, she was scared to drive home. Luckily, I work from home and was able to take Chad's car to pick her up. Later, Sean did his weekly trip to the corner store for snacks and said that his foot prints were almost gone when he was walking home (he chose to walk). About 30 minutes ago the dogs went out quickly, and Sophie had snow stuck to the belly of her sweater when they came in. They say we will continue to get snow through the night. Thankfully, we live north of the metro area and will not be getting as much snow as the south side. Tomorrow morning, Chad will take Noel to work before he goes, and I'll either take her a car in the middle of the day if the roads are clear or pick her up when she's off. The snow could be worse, but Sean and Noel don't have much experience driving in it. 

I Have This Bag

I have this bag of books under my desk waiting for me. It's full of nonfiction books that I want to read. Each time I finish a book, I lay these books out on my bed to decide which book I want to read next. These are all books that will help me become the person I want to be and heal from my past. The only problem that I have is that I keep adding to it.

The last book that I pulled out of my bag was The Law of Love by Steve Young. I started this book a few weeks ago and read it for about 10 minutes each morning before my bath. I am loving this book so far. It talks about the importance of loving God and other people fully without expectation of reward. As we learn to love as God loves, we naturally become the type of person I aspire to be. In this book, he quotes scripture, church authorities, and religious leaders from other churches. The chapter I finished this morning talked about the lessons in love that he learned through football. I have enjoyed this book from the beginning and am thinking of giving to the ladies I minister to for Christmas. I am fairly certain that the next book I will pull out of my bag will be the companion book The Law of Love in Action.

What other books do I have in this bag? 

• A Return to Love by Marianne Williamson 
• Habits of a Peace Maker by Steven T. Collis
• Standing for Something by Gordon B. Hinckley
• The Rock of Our Redeemer: Facing the Future with Faith, Hope, and Power by David A. Bednar
• Old-Fashioned on Purpose: Cultivating a Slower, More Joyful Life by Jill Winger
• The Doctrine and Covenants / The Pearl of Great Price Journal Edition (for next year's scripture study)

I am excited to read all of these books, but I won't rush myself because I want to savor them. I will keep reading at the same pace and soak in every concept. I will probably continue to add to the bag, too. 

Halloween 2024

This year, Noel and I made our costumes again. I was pizza made by hot gluing felt "toppings" on a t shirt. Noel was Remy the rat from Ratatouille (her boyfriend is the chef). She bought two shirts, made one into a skirt, and made some ears and a tail. We spent Wednesday evening last week putting them together. Then, we wore them to a trunk or treat at the church on Saturday. She is wearing hers again tonight while hanging out with her boyfriend. 

Another tradition that somehow came to be is having a jack-o-lantern pizza. We used to get them from Papa Murphy's, but last time we tried, it was a disaster. This year, I made it, and I think it was better than take out. 

Noel and I seem to be the only people in our home that still enjoy Halloween, so I think I did fairly well.

Sweater Progress

 

This sweater has been one of the hardest knitting projects I have worked on. It has also been fun to see come to shape. I have finished the yoke and already split for the arms. I am currently working on the body and need to do about an inch and a half of stockenette more before I start the shaping. I'm hoping that I can to the rest of the shaping right the first time because I really don't want to have to pull out more mistakes. I can already tell that I am going to love this sweater and can't wait to be able to wear it. 

Fruit Leather

I hate wasting food. My compost is looking great, but I wanted to find a way to use the produce before it went bad instead of putting it in the compost every time. 

Yesterday, I decided to make fruit leather with the apples that were starting to get a bit soft. Once again, I  found a very easy recipe online. First, I pealed, cored, and diced the apples. Then, I added 1/2 cup water to the four cups of apples in a sauce pan and simmered it for about 10 minutes with the lid on. Next, I used my potato masher on the apples as I added sugar and cinnamon until it tasted right. Then, I poured it into the food processor and puréed it. Finally, I poured it onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper, and put it in the oven at 170 (the lowest my oven will go) for about 8 hours. It tastes really good, and it is a much healthier snack than the cookies and such I normally have. 

So Much Destruction

This morning, I read Mormon 6. In this chapter Mormon sent an epistle to the Lamanites requesting they all gather at Cumorah thinking this would give them an advantage in battle. Instead, all but 24 Nephites (including Mormon and his son, Moroni) were killed. Mormon was left crying over the destruction of his people. 

I have never been really into the battles in the Book of Mormon, but this one hit me a bit different. First of all, verse 7 says, "And it came to pass that my people, with their wives and children, did behold the armies of the Lamanites marching towards them; and with that awful fear of death...did they wait to receive them." As I read this I could feel their fear. My heart ached for those mothers watching as this large army came to destroy them. Then, when most of the people had been killed, Mormon did just say they were all gone but him and 24 others, he started in verse 11 saying. "And when they had gone through and hewn down all of my people save it were twenty and four of us..." followed by 4 verses describing the vast number of people killed. Then, verse 16 says, "And my soul was rent with anguish because of my slain people..." How could I not read this and feel deeply for what he witnessed? He did just lose one or two people in battle. (I know the pain of losing two loved ones at the same time.) He lost almost everyone. I could not even imagine what that kind of pain would feel like. 

We often talk about how he was left after the destruction of his people and the loneliness he must of felt. However, I'm not sure we take the time to think about the anguish he felt at this particular time. We gloss over it. Today, it hit me. Mormon lost so much all at once. He was in pain and expressed that pain as he finished off this chapter. Today, I mourn with him. 

Making Butter

 

Chad made pumpkin pancakes with a carmel sauce for dinner which used some whipping cream, but about half of the bottle was left over with no plans for it. I decided it was the perfect excuse to make butter. 

I cleaned out a jar and washed a lid. Then, I poured the cream in in the jar and shook it until it became a solid. Now, I have butter and saved money by not throwing out the unused cream. 

Northern Lights

 

Last night, I was able to see the Northern Lights from my house! It was really cool! 

With the naked eye, I was only able to see some pink streaks in the sky. With my camera I was able to get a clearer view. I took one picture from my front porch (neighbor's house included) and one from the back porch (fence and street lights included). 

I love that I live somewhere that I can experience such amazing things!