Taking Action

Have you ever been inspired to action in a church meeting before? I mean really inspired to action. Not just the kind of inspiration where you sit there and feel like you should do something about what the speaker is saying - but never really end up following through. {I have PLENTY of those moments!} But the kind of inspiration where you RACE home to get your food storage started, or your scriptures read, or to hug your kids and promise to be a more inspiring, loving, patient, sane mom?

Well, I had one of those moments last week. We had a great Enrichment on Thursday. Seriously fabulous. They displayed a gallery of art that bore testimony of the Savior, with donations varying from amateur originals (like mine) to huge Greg Olsen prints. It was beautiful, and inspring, like Angie said, a visual testimony meeting. There were also presentations highlighting the lives and works of a few inspired artists, including Carl Bloch, Eliza R. Snow, and Minerva Teichert. I had the GREAT privilege of presenting the section on Minerva. She was wild, and humble; a great mom to five kids, and a ranch hand, all while painting nearly a thousand INCREDIBLE pieces and murals (from her teeny Wyoming living room) that testify of Christ, the Book of Mormon, and the inspiration of the Pioneers.

She left her mark. She was a busy, working mom, who still made time to use her God-given talents to do the work that He meant for her.
I left that night wondering what my mark will be. What legacy will I leave my children, my ward, the world?

I'm not sure that I have discovered yet exactly what arena I should focus on, but I am determined to try and DO more with what I've been given.

So, my first adventure...I submitted a demo this morning to the great Sally DeFord, LDS songwriter extraodinaire, in hopes that she will use me to sing for her website.

My voice is not quite as sweet and churchy as most that she uses...but what the heck? You never know unless you try, right?

If this doesn't work out - no worries - I'll try the next thing on my list. But, I'm taking action, and I think that counts for something with the Lord.

If I knew how to upload a digital voice file to my blog, I would share it with you all. If anyone knows...fill me in! Thanks! And happy legacy making!

Comfort Food

There is a lengthy list of meals that I LOVE to make and eat that my sweet husband is just not a fan of.
It includes, but is not limited to:

Hawaiian Haystacks
Grilled Pork with Fruit Salsa
Chicken Pot Pie (especially if it has peas.)
Breakfast for Dinner
Any Casserole (Yes, ANY casserole, but he's particularly un-fond of the Tuna variety)
Spaghetti
Most Pasta Dishes - unless it's from Macaroni Grill
Soup (He says it's not a meal - ok as a side, but not a main dish)
Pretty much anything made in the crockpot
Steak Cosmopolitan (I've never actually made this, but he's still not a fan.)

And as of last night, there's a new one to add to the list:

Chicken with Gravy over Mashed Potatoes
I lovingly, tenderly, with all my sweet motherly soul, and a wink and a smile, put this meal on the table last night for Sunday dinner complete with homemade breadsticks, corn, and Celestial Cake for dessert.
D: What is this? Shepherd's Pie or something?
Me: No...it's chicken and gravy with mashed potatoes.
D: Hmm.
Me: You're telling me you've never had this before?
D: No, not as a main dish. What, did you just make it up? Or did you use a recipe?
Me: I used to get this as a little girl for hot lunch (which I only ever got once a month so it was a BIG deal) and I really, really liked it. I thought the kids might like it too.
D: Hmm.

Well, the kids did like it. They scarfed it down. As for Dan, well, it gets added to THE LIST.

If you're husband is not as picky as mine, and you like EASY TO MAKE comfort food, try it!

Four Small (or three large) Frozen Boneless Chicken Breasts
1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 Cup Strong Chicken Broth (I used two buillion cubes to 1 cup water)
1 Packet Golden Onion Soup mix

Put the chicken in the bottom of the crockpot, put other ingredients over top. Cook on low 6-8 hours. Shred the chicken. Mix it up with the soups. Serve over creamy mashed potatoes. (I use Yukon Gold potatoes). Enjoy!

Be Mine

I don't know if I'm starting to grow up, or just getting older, but Valentine's Day was good, and quiet, and without grand expectations - and it was wonderful that way! Usually, I get Dan something fabulous, and expect that he gets me something equally as fabulous, and generally end up disappointed for days (sorry honey!) But this year was different. I honestly didn't expect anything. And it was liberating. I didn't get Dan anything except a card, and it was awesome. We agreed that our gift would be to just spend time together - which we did - and it was so nice. We got a babysitter, went out for dinner, saw a movie, came home, and well, this is a family blog...so I'll stop at that. Suffice it to say, it was a great day.
And then on Sunday, my sweet little Valentines helped make lovey cookies to give to our cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.
We spent the evening with all of the above said family at Grammy's house where she fixed us a sweet dinner, with lots of decorations, heart shaped ice cubes, individual heart cakes for dessert, Valentine glow sticks and balloons, of course! It couldn't have been better. All in all - one of the best Valentine's weekends ever.

On a side note, this is Azure's cute class at school on their way to deliver Valentines to the principal. Love her school. Love her teacher. Love her principal. Love that she has such great friends in her class!

One step at a time

Today,
Bella taught Emmett how to sit

and stand.

Tomorrow, she says she will teach him how to crawl and walk.
Got to love her determination!

Cal's #3

PIRATE ISLAND!
We celebrated Cal's birthday early in Utah with my family at Pirate Island. The kids had a blast! It's a pizza & play place in Provo that's decked out in pirate gear - complete with skeletons, treasure boxes, caves, pirate hat menus, a balloon guy that makes swords & parrots, waiter Jack Sparrow, a wrecked pirate ship for kids to play on, and lots of arcarde games. It was the perfect place to spend Calvin's third birthday. He ate it up!

Bella & Az and Cal & Dad

in the waiting area

That's the smile Cal's famous for!

riding the carousel

crusing on the motorcylce

Back to

Nana & Bapa's house

to open gifts.

Cal is super excited about

his new microwave!

Bella modeling Cal's new robot towel

Back in Colorado - we celebrated with cake & ice cream

with Grammy, Meg & Carter, and the Carlson family at our house.

Cal loves his new blender from Grammy!

Happy Birthday Cutie Pie Cal!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Lia's Wedding

I was so fortunate to be with Lia on her wedding day. I always tell my little girls that a sister is a best friend you get to keep forever. I want them to be as close as Lia and I are.

Dan did a lot of kid watching so I could help with the dinner Friday night, go with the girls to get our hair and nails done, and so I could be with Lia early to help her finish up getting all ready for her big day.

So thankful for him, and so thankful I could be with Lia to help her. It was a whirlwind weekend! I wish her all the best!!!

Uncle Sam danced the afternoon away with Azure.

Lia & I before the wedding.

Dan & Bella enjoying a little Aretha Franklin.My sis-in-law Pegah with Henry (who is two months older than my little man) and Me with Emmett

I hope they grow up to be good little buddies!

Calvin just wanted to be one of the bridesmaids. He snuck up to the front and stood by me for half of the ceremony. Luckily Dan was able to snatch him before he became too much of a distraction.
We couldn't get any of the kids to be looking at the same place at the same time. A little wild - but lots of fun!!!

Congratulations Nate & Lia!!!

Lia's Wedding - Rehearsal Dinner

There was a last minute change of plans, which involved moving the rehearsal dinner from a restaurant to the Stake Center. Lia called me with the news Wednesday night - and we were supposed to leave Thursday morning at 6am (of course we didn't leave until later, but that was the plan.) So, I ran out Wednesday night (thanks Meg and Carter for watching my kids!) and raided Hobby Lobby of every black and white decoration they had, stopped by Sis. Talbot's house and rented the b&w cloths and chair bows, threw it all in a suitcase, and headed out the next day. Maybe not what I would have come up with if I had months to plan - but not too shabby for two hours worth of work!!!

The cute couple...


















Calvin cracked up every time cousin Henry gave him sloppy kisses on the cheek. So cute!

It really made it nice to eat at the church - the kids got to run around and play together - and we didn't have to worry about keeping them calm and quiet at a restaurant. It was great!

Dan & I with Lia & Nate.

We wish them a happy future!