I have a new blog, Saving Today, Preparing for Tomorrow. The blog address is savingtoday.net.
It is still under construction, but I will eventually have lots of tools and tips for building your family home storage and saving money at the grocery store. I will post deals and great buys, whether local or for everyone. I also want to add some fun items like recipes, family ideas, parenting stories and helps, household hints and things like that.
So check it out.
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label religion. Show all posts
January 15, 2010
January 14, 2010
Too Smart?
I was overly ambitious the other day and made cinnamon rolls. My three-year old didn't eat his dinner (again) and I told him he couldn't have one (I'm so mean). He responded "Daddy said 'Yes'". Scott had just left to play raquetball. I am pretty sure that Cameron knew that Daddy was not home. Already trying to work the system!
My other son, who is very bright but sometimes just not so smart, decided he wanted to lick the frosting off of the cinnamon rolls that I was icing. But they were still in the pan and the pan was still hot. Hmmm. He burned his lip on the pan. Silly kid! It wasn't a bad burn or anything--no blister or red spot--just enough to realize that it wasn't a good idea.
My other son, who is very bright but sometimes just not so smart, decided he wanted to lick the frosting off of the cinnamon rolls that I was icing. But they were still in the pan and the pan was still hot. Hmmm. He burned his lip on the pan. Silly kid! It wasn't a bad burn or anything--no blister or red spot--just enough to realize that it wasn't a good idea.
January 4, 2010
Food Storage Plan
As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints, we are told to have a year's supply of food storage. Years ago, the ward I was in gave out a simple food storage plan.
THE PLAN:
1. Each week you purchase the suggested item(s) for that week.
2. Buy the largest amount you can sensibly afford and will be able to use before the expiration date.
3. Replace the items as you use them.
4. Grocery stores don't always have the best buys. Shop around.
5. If you miss a week, skip to the next week. Don't get behind.
6. Have fun and remember this easy plan of food storage really works!
I have been doing this the last few months as well as my usual practice of stocking up on other sale items. It has been kind of fun and makes me feel 'accomplished' when I can check off each week. I thought I would share with all of you. I will post the weekly items in my side bar so look for them there every week.
Here is your first item:
January Week 1
Nuts. They are a good source of protein. Stores have after Christmas sales. Dry roasted ones keep best. Freeze bagged ones.
THE PLAN:
1. Each week you purchase the suggested item(s) for that week.
2. Buy the largest amount you can sensibly afford and will be able to use before the expiration date.
3. Replace the items as you use them.
4. Grocery stores don't always have the best buys. Shop around.
5. If you miss a week, skip to the next week. Don't get behind.
6. Have fun and remember this easy plan of food storage really works!
I have been doing this the last few months as well as my usual practice of stocking up on other sale items. It has been kind of fun and makes me feel 'accomplished' when I can check off each week. I thought I would share with all of you. I will post the weekly items in my side bar so look for them there every week.
Here is your first item:
January Week 1
Nuts. They are a good source of protein. Stores have after Christmas sales. Dry roasted ones keep best. Freeze bagged ones.
September 24, 2009
A New Ward
The ward boundaries in our stake were changed. We are now in a different ward and go to a different building. One third to one half of our former ward, 7th, was taken and distributed into 3 different wards--1st, 2nd, or 3rd--but gained members from 2nd ward, including my parents and sister's family. We are now in 1st Ward.
1st ward was very excited for the change, especially that they received 4 young men between us and our next door neighbors. Apparently they were the smallest ward in the stake. Before school started I was a little concerned that Brennen was attending a middle school different than that of the other young men in our ward. Well the ward change put us with the deacons in his school. In fact the building we now go to is right across the street from his school.
I am okay with the change. I feel a little sad that I was only in the primary presidency as secretary for a short time, as I was barely getting to know the other ladies and the kids. But it will be only a short time I am sure before I get another calling.
1st ward was very excited for the change, especially that they received 4 young men between us and our next door neighbors. Apparently they were the smallest ward in the stake. Before school started I was a little concerned that Brennen was attending a middle school different than that of the other young men in our ward. Well the ward change put us with the deacons in his school. In fact the building we now go to is right across the street from his school.
I am okay with the change. I feel a little sad that I was only in the primary presidency as secretary for a short time, as I was barely getting to know the other ladies and the kids. But it will be only a short time I am sure before I get another calling.
July 15, 2009
At Least We Are Not Going Hungry
One thing the Mormons do well is food. We have been fed by the members of the ward for three nights in a row now. The first two nights at members' houses, and tonight three families brought dinner over to us. (Three families provided one dinner together--not three dinners). So even though we have not been to a Sunday meeting, we have met five families. We have had a great welcome.
And Cameron is doing great, by the way. Once there were people and things in the house, he was fine. He loves to show everyone his bedroom. And today we even found his box with his Little People toys, which are his favorites.
And Cameron is doing great, by the way. Once there were people and things in the house, he was fine. He loves to show everyone his bedroom. And today we even found his box with his Little People toys, which are his favorites.
July 5, 2009
Saying Goodbye...
Is just not easy.
I don't know what to say, or how to say it if I did know what to say. But I did it a lot tonight--at a 'hug party', as Andy called it--somehow. Trying to say goodbye to friends in the ward who have touched my life in so many different ways. Saying goodbye but not really expressing or exposing much of how I feel. Because it is hard. And I don't know what to say.
The past 8 years has brought a lot of change into my life. Mainly, I added three kids to my family. We became a 'big' family, and are no longer a "young family". We have moved into a "middle aged" family. When we first moved into the ward, there were very few junior primary kids and so our kids were welcomed heartily. When Andy came along he was the only baby at the time and the ward adopted him right along with us. The ward was here with me and was excited for each new addition, and there to support me during challenging times that come with motherhood. Basically this ward has seen my family grow up. Dustin was only 7 when we moved here and now he is taller than me and starting high school. My baby was 4 and a sunbeam. Now he is passing the sacrament, and has been replaced (as mentioned above) with other "babies." The ward has loved my kids and my kids loved them back.
I suppose I am babbling. Because I can. And I want to.
Yes, I am happy and looking so forward to sharing life with my family in New Mexico, but this ward family is so hard to leave. My next ward has big shoes to fill.
I don't know what to say, or how to say it if I did know what to say. But I did it a lot tonight--at a 'hug party', as Andy called it--somehow. Trying to say goodbye to friends in the ward who have touched my life in so many different ways. Saying goodbye but not really expressing or exposing much of how I feel. Because it is hard. And I don't know what to say.
The past 8 years has brought a lot of change into my life. Mainly, I added three kids to my family. We became a 'big' family, and are no longer a "young family". We have moved into a "middle aged" family. When we first moved into the ward, there were very few junior primary kids and so our kids were welcomed heartily. When Andy came along he was the only baby at the time and the ward adopted him right along with us. The ward was here with me and was excited for each new addition, and there to support me during challenging times that come with motherhood. Basically this ward has seen my family grow up. Dustin was only 7 when we moved here and now he is taller than me and starting high school. My baby was 4 and a sunbeam. Now he is passing the sacrament, and has been replaced (as mentioned above) with other "babies." The ward has loved my kids and my kids loved them back.
I suppose I am babbling. Because I can. And I want to.
Yes, I am happy and looking so forward to sharing life with my family in New Mexico, but this ward family is so hard to leave. My next ward has big shoes to fill.
June 8, 2009
April 17, 2009
Easter
We had a good Easter weekend here. The kids were out of school Thursday, Friday and Monday.
The three little ones and I colored eggs but the bigger boys were gone to friends' houses. I didn't get any pictures though because I was too busy helping and keeping the chaos done to a minimum. Cameron had a great time putting the eggs in a color and retrieving it with his hands a few seconds later. I tried to tell him to leave them in longer, but he didn't get it. He would dye some in one color, then I would give him another color and he would do a few more. Then he did them all over again. So each egg probably had every color on it and his hand were very colorful too. Andy's hand were pretty colorful too. Janessa took her time and did about half in the time the boys were done. She even took the time to draw a flower on one. The next day they had a great time hiding and finding them in the yard.
On Saturday was a fun Easter egg and candy hunt at Grandpa and Grandma Berkleys with all the cousins. And a wonderful lunch. The weather held out most of the day. It was fun to see and be with all of Scott's family.
The kids were so excited for the Easter bunny they wanted to go to bed at 7:30. And the Easter bunny did come and left some candy for everyone.
Sunday we set the table nicely for an Easter brunch and talked about the Easter story.
In primary Andy gave a talk that went like this:
"Easter is a special day. But not because of the Easter bunny. And not because we color eggs and have Easter picnics and parties. It is special because Jesus was resurrected. He came alive again and so can we. We can live with Jesus in heaven. We have a lot of fun on Easter but always remember that Easter is about Jesus."
The three little ones and I colored eggs but the bigger boys were gone to friends' houses. I didn't get any pictures though because I was too busy helping and keeping the chaos done to a minimum. Cameron had a great time putting the eggs in a color and retrieving it with his hands a few seconds later. I tried to tell him to leave them in longer, but he didn't get it. He would dye some in one color, then I would give him another color and he would do a few more. Then he did them all over again. So each egg probably had every color on it and his hand were very colorful too. Andy's hand were pretty colorful too. Janessa took her time and did about half in the time the boys were done. She even took the time to draw a flower on one. The next day they had a great time hiding and finding them in the yard.
On Saturday was a fun Easter egg and candy hunt at Grandpa and Grandma Berkleys with all the cousins. And a wonderful lunch. The weather held out most of the day. It was fun to see and be with all of Scott's family.
The kids were so excited for the Easter bunny they wanted to go to bed at 7:30. And the Easter bunny did come and left some candy for everyone.
Sunday we set the table nicely for an Easter brunch and talked about the Easter story.
In primary Andy gave a talk that went like this:
"Easter is a special day. But not because of the Easter bunny. And not because we color eggs and have Easter picnics and parties. It is special because Jesus was resurrected. He came alive again and so can we. We can live with Jesus in heaven. We have a lot of fun on Easter but always remember that Easter is about Jesus."
April 16, 2009
Sisterhood
I was able to get out and go to the temple today. It was a very welcome break to enter the calm of the temple and "slow down" for a moment. While there, I sat and watched for a bit as women entered and left the dressing room. I had a wonderful feeling come over me. As I watched these sisters of all ages and backgrounds whom I didn't know, the words of the Relief Society Declaration came to my mind: "We are women of faith, vision, virtue and charity ..." I felt a great sisterhood with them. I felt I belonged to something wonderful and there are great and wonderful women all over the world who believe and live as I do. I can't really describe it with words. It is such a comfort to know I am not alone living "in the world, but not of the world."
March 11, 2009
Ready and Willing to Serve
I received a calling in my ward to teach the 15/16 year old Sunday School class. Not a big deal, you might think, or even "oh dear!" However, this calling is significant for me. I have been playing the piano in Relief Society for about two and a half years, and will continue to do so. This 'Sunday only' calling has been perfect for me. Not much prep time and I don't really even have to think about it during the week. But it's also representative of my illness. It was the only calling I had been capable of, so to say, for a while.
It was in February two years ago when I met with the stake president. I had a stake calling at the time which was fairly demanding of my time, and required decision making and me being "in charge." With three kids age 4 and under and my husband's calling as the scout master, it would have been hard anyway, but add what I was dealing with fighting depression, I was struggling. So I met with the stake president to talk with him about what was going on in my life so he could be aware. We talked and had a prayer, and I left his office released. Not what I was expecting, but he felt that taking care of me and my family was most important. I had very mixed feelings. I was relieved, yet in a way felt like a failure, though I know I wasn't. Since then, other than being a visiting teacher, I have had an "easy calling" as the Relief Society pianist.
After a while though, I started feeling bad because I wasn't asked to serve in any other way. Did the Lord not think I could handle anything else? Could I handle it? The primary, young women, and Relief Society presidencies were all changed in time which mean callings have to shuffle, yet none came my way. Some of my friends in the ward had two callings.
Last fall I met with my Bishop and had a great talk. He explained that my name had come up for callings at times, but it just never seemed to be right. Of course last summer was so challenging for me and my family as we got the business going, that I felt he was right. But the bishop gave me great counsel: "You can serve in so many other ways. You don't have to have a title." So I have been trying to heed that advice.
In January I was called to be the young women basketball coach. Yay! Something right up my alley. And then just as basketball was ending I was called to teach Sunday School. It has only been three lessons, but I think it is going to be a good challenge. I am very excited, and maybe humbled, that I am finally ready for a challenge!
It was in February two years ago when I met with the stake president. I had a stake calling at the time which was fairly demanding of my time, and required decision making and me being "in charge." With three kids age 4 and under and my husband's calling as the scout master, it would have been hard anyway, but add what I was dealing with fighting depression, I was struggling. So I met with the stake president to talk with him about what was going on in my life so he could be aware. We talked and had a prayer, and I left his office released. Not what I was expecting, but he felt that taking care of me and my family was most important. I had very mixed feelings. I was relieved, yet in a way felt like a failure, though I know I wasn't. Since then, other than being a visiting teacher, I have had an "easy calling" as the Relief Society pianist.
After a while though, I started feeling bad because I wasn't asked to serve in any other way. Did the Lord not think I could handle anything else? Could I handle it? The primary, young women, and Relief Society presidencies were all changed in time which mean callings have to shuffle, yet none came my way. Some of my friends in the ward had two callings.
Last fall I met with my Bishop and had a great talk. He explained that my name had come up for callings at times, but it just never seemed to be right. Of course last summer was so challenging for me and my family as we got the business going, that I felt he was right. But the bishop gave me great counsel: "You can serve in so many other ways. You don't have to have a title." So I have been trying to heed that advice.
In January I was called to be the young women basketball coach. Yay! Something right up my alley. And then just as basketball was ending I was called to teach Sunday School. It has only been three lessons, but I think it is going to be a good challenge. I am very excited, and maybe humbled, that I am finally ready for a challenge!
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