Sweet Potators

*From December 7th.... (this got put in the draft file) I learned something this last Sunday in RS from a sister I greatly adore.  It's something I've thought to myself many times, but never said out loud or really even put into words. I asked her to write it down for me because she put it into words so well (thanks Rachael).... "It was actually something my dad said once. He said that you should never answer a thank you with a 'no problem' or 'it was nothing' because it probably is something to that person and by saying 'no problem' you are kind of diminishing their thanks and what you did for them. So always answer a thank you with a 'you're welcome'." I always catch myself replying with "no biggie, easy peasy", when in reality some times it really is a bigger deal..... something I put time and effort into..... and I did it because I love and care about the recipient.  And what's wrong with them knowing that?...

Listening to the MoTab sing it for the closing of the First Presidency Christmas Devotional..... And it's changed my whole attitude toward Christmas. So did our RS lesson today. All I want to do now is...

I was lucky enough to meet her while volunteering and running projects at the Lowell Bennion Center when I was going to school at the University of Utah. She passed away yesterday. She was one of my heroes..... she lived a remarkable life filled with service. From the Deseret News in Utah.... Thayne's family says her life was marked by helping everyone who she came in contact with feel important, whether it was her hair dresser, the president of a college, or somebody at a gas station. "Her whole essence was people, and just living life to the fullest every second of every day," Thayne's daughter, Shelley Rich, said. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865617187/Poet-author-Emma-Lou-Thayne-dies-at-90.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

..... my life changed forever. A baby girl came into my life and made me grow in ways I never thought possible. I knew from the moment I found out I was pregnant with her that I already loved her more than I had ever loved anyone and that from that moment on I would be a different person. For the first time in my life every decision I made became about this tiny little flicker of a heartbeat inside of me. I was crazy protective. Nutso.

...... at this very time... A beautiful, silver-haired, rosy red lipped, baby girl was born...... to me. And since that moment she has brought me nothing but joy and love and a wonder at the goodness of her heart and purity of her spirit.

1. We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing; He chastens, and hastens his will to make known; The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing. Sing praises to his name; He forgets not his own. 2. Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining, Ordaining, maintaining his kingdom divine; So from the beginning the fight we were winning; Thou, Lord, wast at our side; All glory be thine! 3. We all do extol thee, thou leader triumphant, And pray that thou still our defender wilt be. Let thy congregation escape tribulation; Thy name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free! Text: Anon., The Netherlands, ca. 1626; trans. by Theodore Baker, 1851-1934 Music: Anon., The Netherlands, ca. 1625; arr. by Edward Kremser, 1838-1914

A new word I learned today. Google it.

*We heard this story at stake conference last week, I sent it to Ally and she sent it out in her weekly letter and had some amazing things to say about it.... which I'll include at the end of this post. The Summer of the Lambs Jayne B. Malan The day school was out at the beginning of each summer, our family went to our ranch in Wyoming. It was there with my parents and brothers and sisters, and a few cousins mixed in, that I learned about family loyalty; love and concern; birth and death; that one must finish a job once it is started; and, to quote my father, “There are only two things important—the family and the Church.” One year my father was waiting for us as we arrived. He said he had a big job for my brother Clay and me to do that summer. I was about twelve at the time, and my brother was two years older. Pointing to the field by the side of the house, my father said, “Do you see all of these lambs in that field? I’ll share the money we get for the ones you raise when ...

{humankind•beboth}

..... advent calendars, opposing teams, lambs without mamas, thank you notes....

Happy people surround themselves with other happy people. Joy is contagious. People are four times more likely to be happy in the future with happy people around them. Happy people try to be happy. When happy people don’t feel happy, they cultivate a happy thought and smile about it. Happy people spend money more on others than they spend on themselves. Givers experience what scientists call the “helper’s high.” Happy people have deep in-person conversations. Sitting down to talk about what makes a person tick is a good practice for feeling good about life. Happy people use laughter as a medicine. A good old-fashioned chuckle releases lots of good neurotransmitters. A study showed that children on average laugh 300 times a day versus adults who laugh 15 times a day. Happy people use the power of music. Researchers found that music can match the anxiety reducing effects of massage therapy. Happy people exercise and eat a healthful diet. Eating a poor diet can contribute to d...

Today I told Ally in my email about how I asked her father if I had an unhealthy attachment to her. Her answer...... I have three minutes left... ahhh!!! I love you. I have an unhealthy attatchment to you as well... I'm probably going to duck tape you to my hip once I'om home...

Do you ever feel like you're thinking things, but the understanding, the comprehension of them is over a brick wall...... and you'll never have the wherewithal to climb over it?

When will I learn? That I either need to keep both hands and a tight grip on the iPad or quit holding it above my head while laying in bed or on the couch. Blasted headache..... AND a goose-egg on my temple. :-|||||

“There is something in the human spirit that will survive and prevail, there is a tiny and brilliant light burning in the heart of man that will not go out no matter how dark the world becomes.” ~Leo Tolstoy~ I've been thinking lots about the human spirit lately..... mostly in terms of the will to survive, to keep fighting for life.... not giving up.... especially when all hope seems lost.  What is it about that will to keep going?  And let me just say right here, this hasn't been because I've been thinking of throwing in the towel.... nothing could be further from the truth.  In fact, my only fear of dying is that I can't imagine being any happier than I am right now and (though I believe quite differently) what if..... what if???.....the next life isn't as good as this one?  Deep down I really know it will be more amazing than I can imagine, but I love my life!!  There's nothing I would change about it..... except maybe that  yucky 'L' word..... ya ...

.....the many other hi-ho's of my everyday life lately. Because I love the hi-ho's of my life!! The "unhealthy attachment".... to Ally, of course.  Since I want to keep her all to myself for eternity.... not share her with anyone.... I asked Rob if he thought that might be unhealthy, and his resounding answer without hesitation was "yes!" Flood cookies Rob's business trip to SE Idaho with a side excursion to Salt Lake to make a purchase at Tiffany's with Sarah..... it's a silver October.... http://www.millennialmormons.com The Red Dress Boutique, Cath Kidston and Rifle Paper Co. Beauty and the Geek AU 'Gone Girl', 'Scotland; An Autobiography', 'Adulting', 'Grace' by Max Lucado and  'Eleanor and Park' Gray paint Paper Mate Flair Pens 'Meet the Mormons'..... in particular 'the Candy Bombers' and 'missionary mom' Herringbone Toms and brightly-colored scarves Al...

Listening to Elder Holland.....  and if I could live by anything, set a standard to seek to live by, it would be what he just taught. http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865612421/Elder-Jeffrey-R-Holland-Seek-opportunities-to-care-for-the-poor.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F And then from Sister Esplin this morning.... “I wish I had understood the sacrament in the way that Elder Jeffrey R. Holland described,” Sister Esplin said during the Saturday morning session of general conference. “He said, ‘One of the invitations inherent in the sacramental ordinance is that it be a truly spiritual experience, a holy communion, a renewal for the soul.’” Renewal.  I love that word. Abide with me; 'tis eventide. The day is past and gone; The shadows of the evening fall; The night is coming on. Within my heart a welcome guest, Within my home abide. O Savior, stay this night with me; Behold, 'tis eventide. O Savior, stay this night with me; Behold, 'tis event...

ec·u·me·nism noun The principle or aim of promoting unity among the world's Christian churches. I wonder if there's a word or a movement to promote and further peace and unity amongst all churches/religions? Investigating......

...... go in the oven.

Life's good....... verra verra good. And I'm off to buy a teensy tiny wedding cake.  Hehehe!!

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free 'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be, And when we find ourselves in the place just right,    'Twill be in the valley of love and delight. When true simplicity is gain'd,    To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd, To turn, turn will be our delight,    Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.

And my heart is so happy, so filled with joy..... that I'm teary and have had a little frog in my throat the whole livelong day. This morning on fb, the Pioneer Woman was having a contest (LOL!!  I entered a contest... :-|||) to win a gorgeous new KitchenAid mixmaster.  Now, I have a brand spankin new fire engine red one I got for my birthday this year, but the one that's up for the prize is the epitome of lovely!  I never enter contests.... ever.  But I couldn't pass this up.  To enter you had to leave a comment of what your favorite holiday was and why.  This is what I said: Thanksgiving!!  Not all the craziness of December.  Love the simplicity of everyone living (or visiting) under my roof writing something they're grateful on a leaf for everyday during November, spending time with loved ones, French dip sandwiches on Thanksgiving Eve.  And on the actual holiday itself.... a family work/service project in the morning, chatting and lau...

That time where I REALLY miss Ally. All throughout the week I think of little things I want to tell her, ask her. And Sunday evening rolls around and there's nothing I want to say except how much I love her and how much ultimate joy she brings me. That's all. And it's everything. Sweet girl.  S weet sweet sweet girl.

I don't know anyone as disciplined and hard working as she is... This weekend she ran the Jackson Hole half marathon. It was on her bucket list. She's one of my greatest inspirations.  My child.  My hero. She gives me confidence and hope. She teaches me so much about myself.... so much about life. I love her dearly!!

And let me say, I KNOW I'm 20 days behind.... I SHOULD   be on day 55 (or there about) of my 100 happy days.  But a wise woman once told me I should never say "should".  And so I try and avoid saying it to myself and others.... but I end up saying it to myself A LOT. As a side note, when I was a sassy-mouthed teen, I once said to my dad "I told you so". Ohh... never again. And this is one phrase I've been good at NOT repeating. It's so condescending and rewd.... I'd even go as far to say a bit narcissistic. And the hardest time I've ever had not saying it is to my children. ^^Random^^ Moving on.... For like 7 or 8 years now I've been wanting to create a little fairy garden. When Ally was younger I bought these books: And more than anything I wanted the two of us to find some secluded spot and build our own little garden.... But alas, it only ended up ever being a goods intention.  I have a whole garage full of go...

Cuz there's nothing like having a dear friend leave all her favorite and carefully thought-out books she thinks you'd like on your doorstep. Thanks sweet Katie..... I love ya to infinity and beyond!

"Grody!" you might say.... To me, it's like a badge of honor. It says something about my life. That I enjoy what I do. I've always loved the sinks in the  art classes I've taken and art studios I've been to.  To me they said..... Anyway, this is my sink scrubbed  spic and span clean. It's been bleached more times than you can imagine. It's prolly 99% germ-free. And I'm keepin' it. Makes me mega happy. 

Crazy, huh?

Bucket list additions: Mt. Rushmore Somewhere in Time hotel....

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haystack_(food) Mormon haystacks In the Latter-Day Saints community, these are better known as Hawaiian haystacks, so named for their frequent use of pineapple chunks as a topping. In contrast to the Mexican notes characteristic of the Adventist haystack, Mormon or Hawaiian haystacks are characterized by Asian notes, perhaps a function of the long-time presence of the Latter-Day Saints church in Hawaii. Hawaiian haystacks use a white rice base, covered by small pieces of chicken in a sauce or gravy. They are topped by a variety of items, often including the eponymous pineapple chunks, cheddar cheese, celery, and chow mein noodles for crunch. Hawaiian haystacks are particularly popular in Utah and other western states where there is a high percentage of Latter-Day Saints. Commonly served at Mormon ward potlucks, Hawaiian haystacks are part of what is sometimes referred to as "Mormon Cooking", which also includes such dishes as pretzel jello...

 28 And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.  29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.  30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some. ...

Watching the fireworks at Ann Morrison Park with Sar and TJ..... That smile makes my heart sooo happy.

Cute thing!  Making an apple pie 'baked in a brown paper bag' for the 4th of July.... And mmm was it good!!

Ally*

Once again, this was meant to be posted yesterday..... but I keep dozing off at night and forgetting. A lovely friend posted this on fb yesterday (and gave me permission to repost it here). Such a beautiful little story...... and such a great lesson. This is Twitter the bird. He flew into our window this morning, and we spent the next 30 minutes naming him, talking to him, admiring him, hoping for the best as he gathered himself. In my heart, I was hoping he was not suffering and in my mind trying to figure out how to talk my ten year old through the process of death which he was witnessing. I turned my thoughts and words into something mor e positive as we talked to him--and just when his blinks became slower and eyes stayed closed-he stood up on my hand and soared away into the beautiful blue sky! Wow. We both learned a great lesson today--we hit walls, windows, roadblocks, we gather, we soar. I am not going to consider the negative possibilities anymore--life is short and ...

..... not because I did, but because someone forgave me. And when someone forgives you, for the umpteenth time.... it frees you in a way that restores your ability to let things go..... and give others the "benefit of the doubt".... to love unconditionally. Thank you..... you know who you are. **This was meant to be posted yesterday.

Sarah's been doing a bit of nannying for my brother and his wife..... and she often sends me little videos of their sweet baby boy eating or playing, being curious...... baby stuff that melts your heart. These make my day...... happy happy happy!

Today has been kinda weird.... all over the place. I was up most of the night waiting for and chatting back and forth by email with Sister Ally.... she's had a rough couple of days.  And when she sends you a gargantuan email about it, then follows it up with a personal note that says:  “I love you mom!!   Please read my email!!   I thought about you the entire time!!!    “What would mom do…?”” So, you sort of spend the next several hours pondering on what you could best say to her.  In the end you say very little, hope it was meaningful.  And that more than anything she feels the love of her momma from halfway around the world. And you go to sleep for a bit.... wake up and realize that the only way you're going to get out of bed is with as many pain pills at max as you are possibly allowed. And your cat decides she wants to sit on your lap, jumps, doesn't make it and ends up clawing you in three places (that are all bleeding...

My screen name of the last 5-6 years.... on several websites and all the games I play. It makes me happy whenever I see it. My family loves it!  Especially my parents.  For a while that's all they called me whenever they addressed me in a text... and my dad would even greet me using it. And I get a boat load of comments about it online from people I don't know. Like earlier today on a game.... Like I said above, I happened to be goofing around online several years ago and decided to enter my name 'Sweet Potator Queen' and see what came up....  Lo and behold... **I've also had a lot of people ask over the years about my spelling of 'tator'/'potator'... why it's 'or' instead of 'er'?  I know it's prolly bad grammar on my part, but I like how it looks and that's the only reason why.

“We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today.  Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever.  Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming.”  ~Joseph B. Wirthlin~

I've been so cooped up the last month and a half.... tonight I got in the car and just drove west.  I LOVE the fields of green and gold, that sort of roll in places.... the clouds in the evening sky.  And I'm so grateful.

The freedom. Permission. Contentment. Newness. . . . . . *As usual, there's an explanation to come.

Quincy.  Oh goodness.

Why?  Because when I was growing up my grandma always kept it in the guest room shower and I loved the smell!  Now, it's because it reminds me of my grandma...

http://100happydays.com/

Every Saturday/Sunday night I sit down at the computer to write to Ally and realize that I haven't written bits and pieces to her everyday like I told myself I would the weekend before.... I miss her terribly.  Can I say that enough?  I'm sorry, I can't. I never thought I could miss anyone the way I do her.  Ever.  Period. It's been a melancholy sort of night. I had to go to the store to get some last minute things for tomorrow and when I came out the moon was just rising in the eastern sky.  Ohhh, wow!  Last night (or maybe it was the night before) there was a 'super moon' that apparently won't happen again for another 35 years.  Sadly though, the last few nights in Boise have been cloudy. But tonight it's clear and the moon is still so magnificent and beautiful! Coming out of the parking lot I decided to turn east instead of west... and thought "I'll just drive down State a little ways till I can get the perfect photo of it.......

Lucky me!!  I got pics of both my girls today..... One by text and the other via a fb message.

A missionary momma posted this link on fb today...... it's just right for downloading onto some CDs and sending to Ally....  so excited! https://www.lds.org/youth/music?lang=eng

It's no longer on the Becky Higgins blog, so the link I have for it here doesn't work.... Anyway, I switched it up a bit.... so I'll edit those changes in also. Chicken Curry **  though, I call it 'Basil Chicken Curry' Via Real Simple Magazine Ingredients 1 cup white rice (I make 1 1/2) 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts  (I use 4 breasts) 2 tablespoons (or more - I use at least 3) yellow curry powder 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (do NOT overdue the cinnamon.... repeat, do NOT) 2 tablespoons olive oil (or more) 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced (I use a large) 2 medium zucchini, thinly sliced (I use 4 cups vegetables.... broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, yellow squash) 1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth 1 1/2 cups heavy cream (I use 2 cans of coconut milk) 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt (you can flavor to taste after you add it) 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (you can flavor to taste after you add it) 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn (and I ad...

"Relief doesn't have to be postponed until a trial is over, but can come with a change of mindset. A mindset of hope, one that seeks and notices the small but significant blessings from God saying He's there. A mindset and realization that you're still here. You're still standing, and you are not broken. A mindset that allows yourself to have open eyes that see past our narrow & mortal desires and see that even our loneliest and hardest days are, in fact, rich with direction & guidance to move you forward- not backwards- on the path God has for us to the best and most fulfilling journey." Al Fox ~ The Tattooed Mormon

Scrubbing bubbles! Amazon.com.UK Dirty diet cokes Mentos gum Black petunias Growing squash on a trellis Wire vine Raspberry Rhapsody lipgloss

I've had several friend requests on fb from people who know Ally in England... and a couple of them have become dear friends already. These ladies are so sweet and kind to Ally and her companion! Two of them send me updates if they've just seen them and one of them will send me pics she's taken of her/them. Until you've had a child gone for any amount of time that you also can't speak to, except twice a year.... just write to and email with once a week... it's hard to imagine what it's like to receive updates from someone who's close to them wherever they are.... I am SOOO beyond grateful! xx I woke up to 3 new photos today and seriously this girl of mine brings me joy beyond joy from halfway around the world.... it's as if that through that smile of hers her spirit jumps out and warms my heart and communes with my spirit in a way that no other earthly being can. What an amazing Sunday morning gift!! I feel so utterly blessed....

Road signs. I'm a mega visual person. I often attach pics with my posts. With this entry I thought a road sign would be rather appropriate. But then I got thinking about all the different signs there were and I couldn't pick just one... several seem to fit. There's: Wrong Way Do Not Enter Rough Road Ahead (my fave... LOL!!) Detour STOP No Trespassing Caution Dead End Slow Road Ahead I've been thinking about this post for a while now. And I usually like to keep these things to myself. But I can't this time.  I think by putting it here I might be able to make sense of some of it. So, you might want to take a 'Detour' before I delve in.... this is for me... though if it's encouraging or helpful for someone else in any way, that can't hurt much either, right? After I had Ally, I got the postpartum blues pretty badly.  And for months I had no clue what was going on.  TBH, I'd really never had a depressing day in my whole...

I miss Ally. Soo much.

I am REALLY starting to loathe social media. Of course, there's always the positives.... BUT the negatives... It's like going back to junior high for some, though. You know, when some people get like dozens of "likes" for a photo, and others, very few. Typing this out even feels a bit childish. It's like this past Mother's Day. I decided to go down my newsfeed and click like on every Mother's Day post/photo I saw.  I bet I clicked like or commented AT LEAST 50 times. But I know I have friends that say "fb is just another way to feel those same insecurities I had during the teen years, when some people are showered with attention and some get very little"..... And let's face it, even in adulthood we all want to be loved, accepted, given validation... And of course now we not only have ourselves we watch out for, but our children as well. I guess I didn't realize just how deeply this went for some people.... until re...

Took an amazing country drive with a cute friend today...

I'm silly.  It's just a fact. And after years of planning, though not for want of trying, I FINALLY saw the Broadway production of 'Wicked' today. I've read the story over and over again (I really detest the book, but am so glad something amazing came out of it... the musical!!), watched the entire thing on YouTube a gazillion times, listened to the CD until it wore out, have had tickets before, and even looked into going to Chicago or Portland to see it.... but it's just never come together. The last time Rob got me tickets, Sarah ended up having her bridal shoot that weekend in Utah.... and there was NO way under heaven and earth I'd have missed being with her for that (one of the funnest nights of my life!).  But what can you do when you buy tickets six months in advance? So, Rob took Ally.... and of course, Ally, being Ally, was totally enthralled by it. Rob, not so much. But, because he's a good man and the epitome of selflessness, h...