So Long, Farewell and Happy Birthday Jacob D.!

We're glad it's your birthday, dear JACOB!

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to YOU!

We'll sing you a song for your birthday--

"Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to YOU"

Hey, Jacob D.! # 9 birthday for you! We hope you had an amazing day full of fun, love, and happiness. What kind of cake did you have? We love you! Uncle Don, Aunt Cindy, Mike, Adrianne, Josh, Meredith, Natalie, Robert, Shaun, Christine, and Darla

Tonight Mark and Julia K. opened up their home and hosted a 'going away' FHE for the Summers family who is moving to Kaysville. Gosh, we will miss them. Tom worked for Duff for many years at Onyx and Ronalee and I worked in the Primary together for a long time. She is just the 'best'. Good 'salt of the earth' people.

We love you and wish you all the best in your new adventure!

I'm Enchanted!

Christine got this movie for Easter, but I haven't had a chance to sit down and watch it until last night. WOW, I loved it! It incorporates a part of just about every fairy tale/princess story in it and it has a wonderful feel good ending.

The music and dancing is amazing. I woke up this morning with some of the tunes going through my head. What a nice happy way to wake up on a Monday morning!

I tried poking my head out of my window and calling for the little animals to come and help me pick up the house. So far no takers, but some birds are chirping and playing tag in the yard, so I will enjoy watching them while I work!

The Start of A New Week

I am so loving this 11-2pm Sunday church schedule. I get to sleep in a little, get dinner in the oven, and the bed made. Then enjoy our meetings, and come home with a good portion of the day still to regroup!

We had a young married couple speak in Sacrament Meeting today. They have one child, a 2 year old. They were asked to speak on eternal marriage and parenting. Interesting topics for such a young couple. I was very impressed. They humbly and undauntingly stood and taught doctrine. Straightforward and loving. The spirit was very strong. They did not speak from a vantage point of years of experience and wisdom--that will come for them as it does for us all--but from an ideal that is grounded in the scriptures, temple, and living prophets.

Sunday School class was good. We are studying the book of Jacob right now. I guess I never realized that Jacob was probably around 45-50 years old at the time. But of course he would be! I read those chapters with a new perspective this time.

The RS lesson was by the presidency. They chose the subject of Pride from President Benson's talk in the late 1980's. I remember when he gave it. It caused quite the discussions among people. For good reason: it really makes you think about where you might be on that cycle. I am going to pull up the talk and print it out. We had some really good comments and exchanges going on.

I am enjoying being able to attend all 3 meetings now. I still miss the children, but not the weekly responsibility.

Our friends stopped by this evening. They had been in Las Vegas for the weekend as Brett's dad is still in the hospital with failing health. It is hard. They are very close. His devotion to his dad is amazing. He goes every weekend to connect with him so his father will know he is loved and supported. We have good friends.

Shaun had a primary board meeting tonight. He is liking his new calling and doing well with it. Christine had a bishop's fireside tonight also.

OH! Duff had meetings this morning. They weren't the normal meetings. The President told them in Pres. mtg. that he is getting released on April 27th as he has accepted a call to go back to Brazil (where he was a mission president) and be the chief legal counsel for Brazil for the church for 3 years. SO, changes will be coming there! We will miss them so much. And Duff will truly miss serving with him. The bishop's made the announcement in sacrament meetings today.

I have been very touched lately by the spirit. It seems my thoughts and feelings drift to the gospel and Christ more often. I have been learning a lot. I am grateful for God's great goodness to me. For His love and blessings.

Steadfast and Immovable

Tonight, Christine and I went to the YW Satellite Broadcast at the stake center. It was amazing. The YW general presidency spoke to us with a YW choir and we ended with President Eyring. The theme for the broadcast was Steadfast and Immovable, which is the 2008 theme for the youth for the year. Sister Tanner:

• Stand as a Witness among your peers, even some who may be members of the church.
• Keep the commandments.
• Strengthen home and family NOW. It is not just for the future. Strengthen your own family of origin and your friends families too.
• Rejoice in the Savior. He WILL bless you!

Sister Dalton:

• I am part of God's plan
• Christ was true at ALL times, ALL things, and in All places
• Notice that practically all thempataions revolve around the body: immorality, drugs, dress standards, tattoos, piercings, appearance, music, word of wisom, etc. This is because he does not have a body and will do ANYTHING to get you to misuse yours!!! (I'd never thought of that connection before. Great insight)

Video Presentation:

There have been a lot of letters, phone calls, emails, etc. to the church headquarters asking for specifics on swimsuit wear! Instead of sending out an official bulletin, they gave a video presentation on how to find answers in the scriptures and how to get a confirmation from the Holy Ghost. They addressed wardrobe, music, entertainment, etc. It was VERY good.

Sister Cook:

• Your testimony is your anchor
• Follow this pattern: pray, study scriptures, obedience = increased faith
• Always study and follow latter day/living prophets
• Plan ahead: Drive down decision stakes: This I will NOT do, This I WILL do.
• Respect your body
• Be An Example
• Good entertainment
• Observe the Sabbath
• She showed a picture of a water lily and told us how it's stalk actually grows in adversity

One of the choir numbers was How Firm A Foundation. It brought back memories of when I was a girl and would go to my grandparents house in Westchester, CA. They had a baby grand piano in their living room bay window and I loved to go there and play the hymns. This was one of my favorite hymns to play. I would pretend that I was an accompianist and play the introduction and all the verses. The end of the hymn has a good message: I'll Never Forsake! No Never!

Elder Eyring:

• You are privileged to be a member of the church.
• What do you set your heart on?
• Are your friends edging you to or away from the 'light'?
• When you walk in the light you feel the warmth of heaven from whence you came and where you want to go again.

After, we went to dinner at Chili's with Sister Klein and Addy. The Chicken Enchilada Soup was not to disappoint! Always a winner! Christine and I stopped at Albertson's and got the grocery shopping done for the week on the way home.

Beforehand, I got the kitchen refrigerator cleaned out really well and wiped down, and then Duff and I got the big garage cleaned out and everything put back in order from the wedding flowers. Boy is that nice to have done! I can park the car in it again! It's so nice to not have to go outside to get in the car, especially if it's raining.

Mistaken Identity

I have been really touched by this story today. I remember 2 years ago when it happened. I was making Christine's lunch this morning and had the Today show on where they were interviewing the two families and Whitney Cerak. Matt Lauer let everyone know about the Dateline piece on it tonight, so I hurried and tivoed it so I wouldn't miss it. I was not disappointed.

I am going to go and buy the book tomorrow. Their hope and faith and religious strength is remarkable. I guess none of us know what we are truly made of until we go through something that tests us to the core. There could be so much bitterness, anger, finger-pointing, law suits, and yet they all are compassionate, loving, kind. Many 'miracles' to learn from!

Food For The Soul

One of the things I have learned is that no matter how good things are going /looking in your life, we all have trials/adversities/thorns in the flesh. "In the quiet heart is hidden, sorrows that the eye can't see". I am no different than anyone else in this truth. This is how we STRETCH and GROW!

I was feeling particularly burdened this morning with things weighing on my mind when I left for my walk. I had read some scriptures and was 'pondering' when I set out. I walked up to the top of my street with my ipod on some inspirational music hoping to shake the 'mood'.

I decided to stop and sit for a while on the bench at the top of the hill. A couple of years ago our community poured a pad of cement and installed it. There are beautiful rose bushes around it and sweet stepping stones leading to and away from it. One of our dear neighbors is retired and the head of the landscape committee. He lost one of his sons in a way no parent should ever have to experience and needed a place to go and think and come to terms with his death. Thus the bench came to be.

I noticed this time that at the top of the cement pad is now a placque with the Serenity Prayer on it to help people with their thinking when they sit for a while there. It is a lovely place--it takes in ALL of our community and it is absolutely a breathtaking view. It is a calming, inspiring place.

As I sat there and pondered and prayed for strength and guidance, I found myself thinking about what I had read earlier and now what was on the placque. They actually supported each other. " ALL flesh is in my hands. Be still. And know that I am God." And to give me the ability to accept what I cannot change, COURAGE to change what I can, and the WISDOM to know the difference between the two (so I can use my 'energy' wisely and not waste it on things that will not be of benefit).

It was a good experience and I finished my walk and came home with a much better perspective!

Slow Cooker Recipes

That is the last of the recipes I included in the handouts for the mini-class last week! Remember, all of these can be prepared in the oven and/or stovetop, but work well adapted to the slow cooker. Next time you make a favorite family dish, pause and think through if it can be converted to a slow cooker meal! You just might be able to!

Crock Pot Stuffed Flank Steak

STUFFED FLANK STEAK

By Cindy Duffy


Flank steak
Stove Top Cornbread Stuffing Mix prepared to pkg. instructions
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery soup
1 can golden mushroom soup
3 cans water


Cover flank steak with plastic wrap or place in a gallon size Ziploc bag, unsealed, and pound with a meat mallet or rolling pin, etc. turning over several times until desired thickness.

Take prepared stuffing and layer on top of the steak leaving a 1/2 inch margin all around the edges. Starting with long edge side (grain of meat should be running left to right) roll up and secure with metal turkey tines or toothpicks or tie with thread several places to hold in place.

Transfer to slow cooker. Season with your favorite seasonings. Mix soups and water with a whisk and pour over meat. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-6 hours.

Serve with potatoes or noodles and vegetable and salad of choice.

Crock Pot Pepper Steak/Chicken

PEPPER STEAK OR PEPPER CHICKEN

By Cindy Duffy

Tri tip or round steak sliced or diced OR whole chicken pieces or sliced or diced chicken breasts
1 Tbsp. oil
Seasonings of your choice
1 onion, peeled, cut in half and sliced
Fresh or canned mushrooms
1 green bell pepper sliced or diced
2 14 oz. cans diced tomatoes
1 small can tomato sauce
Water to desired consistency

Quickly brown meat of choice and season with what you like. My favorites are garlic salt, seasoned salt and fresh ground pepper. But you can really experiment and use what you like to make it your own. Transfer to slow cooker.

Prepare vegetables and cover meat. Add tomatoes. Mix tomato sauce with water to desired consistency and pour over. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 6-8 hours.

Serve with rice and green salad. (Veges already included!)

HaPpY bIrThDaY TIM!

Happy Birthday To You
Happy Birthday To You
Happy Birthday Dear Tim
Happy Birthday To You!

Well Tim, we have thought of you today and hope your birthday has been a nice one. It's been a long time and may be a long time even still. But hopefully someday in the future we can celebrate together!

We love you--

72 Hour Kits

Yesterday my cousin, Roberta, was doing some very smart brainstorming about sharing our ideas, motivations, and progress about preparedness with each other. This way we could feel like we have a support system and have a good way to share information. So she asked if I would post some pictures of how we did our 72 hour kits. I have a friend who is VERY proactive and knowledgeable about emergency preparedness. She gathered all the information and supplies. This is roughly around $50-$60 and very thorough.
From lessons learned with Hurricane Katrina, it is a good idea to have your kit in a crush proof, waterproof container that can be carried out by hand in a 'flight' situation.

Double click to enlarge. This is a list of everything in the kit. The food is MRE's. Not the best in my opinion, but will keep you alive! The water is from AquaBlox/AquaLiterz. It has a 5YEAR (!) shelf life.

In the top compartments, you put prescription meds, extra set of car keys, etc. The list is on the above picture.

First aid supplies with a first aid book. My experience is that if situations haven't presented themselves on a regular basis for you to 'practice' first aid, it is easy to forget or freeze in an emergency situation--hence the reference book. A scouting handbook is also good.

2nd level, under the first aid tray. The turquoise boxes are the water blox.

This was the best view I could get of the whole thing. We keep them in the cardboard box to keep them clean. You should have one for each person.

Kids: get some water bottles and a small first aid kit (like one from CVS, Target), and maybe some ravioli in a cup, tuna and crackers packages, etc. to keep in your study carrels at school and/or in your office desk. That would be a GREAT start!

Any other ideas/suggestions/comments? Good Luck everybody!

Crock Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches

SOUTHERN PULLED PORK

By Sandra Lee

2 Tbsp. oil
1 pork shoulder roast (3 1/2 lbs.)
1 bottle (12 oz.) chili sauce
3 packets Sloppy Joe Mix
1/2 cup beef broth
Garlic salt
Lemon Pepper
Hamburger Buns

Season pork roast with garlic salt and lemon pepper and brown on all sides in hot oil in skillet. Place in crock pot. Combine chili sauce, Sloppy Joe mix, and broth. Pour over roast.

Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4 hours.

Shred pork and place on hamburger buns. Shredded cabbage or cole slaw mix is great paired with the pork.