Hold 'em, Hug 'em and Kiss 'em!

I was browsing my pics from our beach trip in May and was reminded of what a gift it was to have all 4 of our precious little ones together. It was wonderful to watch them play together and see how they related to one another. They're definitely individuals, but also are clearly family and that's so important to me. I wish that we could see more of Ben and Daniel -- Dallas isn't that far but it's far enough to make get-togethers kind of infrequent.

In thinking about this, I was reminded of a poem I loved when my own kids were little:

Two and a Half

Hold him a little longer,

Rock him a little more.

Tell him another story

(You've only told him four!)

Let him sleep on your shoulder,

Rejoice in his happy smile.

He is only two and a half

For such a little while.

(Author Unknown)

You can substitute 'her' or 'them' for any of the 'hims' and really feel this about your own children and in my case, grandchildren. They are all so precious and they grow up so fast -- enjoy their childhood and their 'littleness' -- it won't last. (I guess the up-side of that is that then you get grandkids! What a payoff!)

More Gratitude for the Atonement

Natalie's post got me thinking about the Atonement. It reminded me of another C.S. Lewis quote that I really love : “God, who foresaw your tribulation, has specially armed you to go through it, not without pain but without stain”.

What a priceless gift we have been given. Yes, there will be pain, but we can return to Him without stain. Thanks to our Savior and His atonement, it's possible. And I"m grateful.

Gotta love Isaac!

We paid a fast visit to Target today and I came away with a prize -- this great Isaac Mizrahi skirt. I didn't try it on, knowing that we spend lots of Target time, so a return would be easy if I didn't like it. Wrong. I love it. I got it home and tried it on with a plain cream colored t-shirt that has some cute cut-outs around the neckline. It looked good and I have other things that will work well with it also. So for $24.99, I got something that I can wear with a variety of tops. Yay for Isaac and his affordable, cute stuff. Hey, I even have some very cute shoes that are perfect with it. A good morning shopping is better than almost anything!

Texas sheet cake

Natalie and I were talking about cake this morning. She hasn't been tempted in the least by having the remains of the ill-fated BD cake from Costco in her fridge. It was a white cake with strawberry mousse filling and I can tell you that would have done more than tempt me -- I would have succumbed!! I love that kind of cake. Not so with Natalie. It has to be chocolate to spur much interest from her. So we got talking about Texas sheet cake, which I made for Sunday dinner about a week ago. It is SO good and that is the one chocolate cake that I simply can't turn down. There are many recipes out there that are similar and probably really good but this is the recipe I use:

Texas Sheet Cake

1 c. butter

1 t. soda

3 heaping T. cocoa

1 c. water

2 eggs, beaten

2 c. flour

dash of salt

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. buttermilk*

Mix butter, cocoa and water in a pan. Bring to a boil, then set aside to cool. Mix sugar, flour, salt, soda, eggs and buttermilk * Stir in cocoa mix. DO NOT GREASE PAN. Pour into 11 x 15 jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Ice while hot.

Icing:

Melt 1 stick butter and 3 heaping T. cocoa. Add:

6 T. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 box powdered sugar (3 and 3/4 c.)

nuts if desired

Pour over hot cake.

* You can use real buttermilk but mostly I just use Saco Buttermilk blend, the powdered stuff that you add to water and it works the same.

People are Good

I ran across this quote the other day and it really made me think. "I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart. . . "
(Anne Frank)

Given what we know Anne Frank's life, I find this to be an amazing outlook. I need to cultivate the same attitude -- people really are good at heart, even if they steal my parking spot at Target, even if they cut me off on the freeway, even if they won't sub in the nursery on Sunday, and even if they take a whole cart load of stuff into the 10 items or less lane at the grocery store. People are generally good, want to do good and be good. Something for me to remember.

I think it went OK!

This is me after Primary today. It went very well -- in fact, I think we had a ball. For me, I just love being in there with the children and spending the time with them. But I want it to be good time for them too -- not boring, not lame, and not so fun that we get out of control because then I have to send the Jrs. off to class hysterical and that's so not fair to the teachers. I want them to feel the spirit and learn gospel principles. (that's asking a lot, isn't it? Maybe that's why I really sweat over doing Sharing Times. I want them to be great!) Anyhow -- we had a ball. My little make-do costumes worked out well, and I think the kids liked it. I liked it, that's for sure. I love seeing the kids all involved and engaged in gospel learning -- and having fun at the same time. That's the best way to sneak some learning past them. They think they're having fun, but we know they are learning and building testimonies. Love it!

Kindness Begins with Me

I'm still up but I'm starting to get sleepy. Good thing, 'cause I have to get up for good in about 4 1/2 hours! Yikes! As I sit here pondering, trying to get a good Sabbath frame of mind going, I remembered a favorite poem that I thought I'd pass on.

I Have Wept in the Night

I have wept in the night
For the shortness of sight
That to somebody’s need made me blind;
But I never have yet
Felt a tinge of regret
For being a little too kind.
(Author Unknown)

How important it is to be aware of each other. I love this little poem -- it's got a great message. I need to remember this one when I'm feeling cranky and hyper-critical of everyone and everything.

Again, I hope everyone has a great Sunday and we'll see if my Primary brainstorm is a brainstorm or a bomb! Time for bed!

This is ridiculous!

This has been a really busy Saturday with plenty going on and lots of things to get done. To top it all off, I had a cockeyed brainstorm for Sharing Time in Primary tomorrow (that will probably end up bombing and being really really stupid) and it took me forever to tie up the details and get prepped for that. So -- when I finally did feel I could go to bed, it was late (later than usual and usual is late anyhow as we like to wait up and visit with Math when he gets home after work) and I was pooped. So I figured my head would hit the pillow and that would be it for me. Not so. Got into bed and realized my back, neck and shoulders really hurt, and then I noticed that someone (turns out to be coming from across the back fence) has a back light on and it's shining directly into our bedroom windows. We do , of course, have blinds, but we have a row of windows above the normal windows that aren't covered (and it rarely matters -- but I can promise you that any house we have in the future will not have these windows -- or they will be covered!) and it seems as bright as day in our room right now. So I'm up. Sigh. Maybe I should call Jori and we could chat!

Wish me luck with Sharing Time tomorrow -- I think it's going to be dumb and the kids will hate it (not to mention the teachers!). Happy Sunday, everyone.

One more good thought

"If you learn from your suffering, and really come to understand the lessons you were taught, you might be able to help someone else who's now in the phase you may have just completed. Maybe that's what it's all about after all. . . ." (Anonymous)

I believe that is what it's all about. We are all here to help each other along, to do what the Savior would do if He were here in person, to be His hands. I need to re-commit to continue to strive to do the best I can every day.

An Eclectic Post

As I was browsing in my new Woman's Day magazine this morning, I found a great little article focused on quotes that change people's lives. I love that kind of stuff so was drawn to it -- one of my favorite was this one by Plato: "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle." It's true. We never know what people are dealing with and honestly, I think I'd really rather have my own battles to fight than anyone else's.

I also ran across another comment by C.S. Lewis that really struck a chord with me: "We long for heaven, and we will never feel fully at home until we get there." His writings seem to focus on this theme, that heaven is our true home and that we spend all our time here on earth trying to find our way back there. He also said this: ""If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."

Then, of course, there is the fun stuff I found. Check out these great kitchen towels -- they come from Patina Stores and made me realize how crummy my towels look. I think I need some new ones!

This was definitely a scattered post!! Lots of variety and nothing to hold it all together. Oh well, it kept my attention anyhow.