Stay inside!
If it’s gonna rain,
Make soup!
If it’s gonna rain,
Read a good book!
If it’s gonna rain,
Watch a movie!
If it’s gonna rain,
Pop popcorn and sit by a fire!
If it’s gonna rain,
Shop online!
If it’s gonna rain,
Take the dog for a walk!
On second thought she is happy to take herself!
It is hard to believe another November is almost gone. I know a repetitive statement but truth nonetheless. Even harder to believe is that we have been back at work almost a week after our gallivanting Thanksgiving adventure!
But all that said I must send a big thank you to my guest writer who helped me out in my absence. I loved reading about what was going on in her world. In fact it was such a great thing for me I should have my “guest” write for me more often. Just sayin’
Not exactly a wonderful word when first thought of. After all at my age I prefer to think I remember everything or at least everything that needs to be remembered. Yesterday I thought of a wonderful word to use for today. But I didn’t write down. So at this point all I remember is that the idea was wonderful just not what the wonderful word was. Pooh! But then I thought you know sometimes forgetfulness comes in pretty handy. When the children were younger and they insisted they told me something, I use to tell them I wasn’t ready to receive that information. Just like yesterday’s word; I just wasn’t ready to remember that wonderful word. Not all is lost, it will come to me sooner or later. But in the meantime I am going to be happy that forgetfulness can at times be beneficial. Because there are some things in life that need to be forgotten.
The end!!
I don’t remember having a fondness for this little gem, the (at least for me) dreaded spaghetti squash. But I have a friend at work who loves, loves, loves, it! So I gave it a try and guess what. I have moved over to the spaghetti squash lovin’ side.
And with this tasty little gem I made this:
It is kind of a spaghetti/chili sauce all in one. This is how I made the sauce:
1 lb. of ground turkey
1 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 – 2 oz. can of diced chilies
28 oz. can diced tomatoes
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste
Cook the turkey and onion until the onion is translucent and the meat is nearly done. Add the garlic, green chilies, tomatoes and spices. Let it simmer over medium to low heat until it reduces to your liking. I simmered it about 30 minutes and it was perfect.
Serve over the spaghetti squash and you will be hooked.
I am!
Over my many, many blah, blah years of living I have traveled the road between California and Utah close to one million times! Each trip unique. Each trip has a story. The trip from California and Utah back in the day was about a 13-15 hour adventure because we had to slowdown for each town; today the trip can be shorter because the freeway bypasses each town. The one I’m remembering today is from my childhood. We were making the trip at night time in my dad’s truck which had a camper shell. I’m not really sure where we all sat. This was in the day before seatbelts and there was no extended cab business. So my thinking now is that the parents were in the front and maybe one child in the cab and two children in the back of the truck safely under the roof of the camper shell. This particular trip took place before my youngest brother was born. (I can’t even imagine this mode of travel today!) As we travelled over the forever roads of Nevada my parents became tired and decided in Wendover to pull over and take a nap; it was in the wee dark hours of the morning. They locked the three of us in the back in hopes that we would continue to sleep and they in turn planned to sleep in the cab. This was NOT okay with me. I knew the only way out of this situation was to wake up my baby brother; who I’m guessing was under the age of 2. And it worked! My Dad moved to the back of the truck to sleep and I moved up front with my mom to help her stay awake while we continued on our journey over the never ending Salt Flats! And here is where the big part of the memory comes in. My mom was very tired. Driving and tired are not friends. I do clearly remember my mom’s struggle to stay awake and me shouting at her to do just that. I will never forget that trip and the lesson….don’t drive when you are tired!
I am most thankful for this day. My most favorite holiday ever! And this I might add is all that is left of it!
Wishing you blessings and goodness on this day!
You know when your kids are fast asleep and all you hear is the clock ticking? You know like this….
That’s a favorite time for me!!
I'm not so thankful when a curve ball is thrown. But I do know everything happens for a reason. And for that I'm thankful. For I know when one door closes so rapidly behind me another door is waiting with open arms. It is at that time that I will look back with fondness and not with regret. I will move forward with grace and remember again all things happen for a reason and tomorrow there will always be sunshine. It is just the way I march through life.
To my dear sweet friend “B” if you are reading this know that you will always be in my heart and that will never be taken away. No regrets, only fond yesterdays and happy tomorrows.
We are rapidly moving into the season of giving. Of course if you are a retailer that season started back in August or something. Ridiculous. I personally love to give. So with that in mind the word of the day is giving. Which reminded me of a story I’ve shared often but will share again. It goes like this:
A man is asked if he had two houses would he be willing to give one up. Of course he replied, a man only needs one house! He was then asked if he had two cars would he be willing to give one up. Of course he replied, a man can only drive one car! Okay, so far so good. He was then asked if you had two horses would he be willing to give one up. To which he replied, No! He was then asked, why he would not give up one horse?!? He replied because I have two! He was willing to give what he didn’t have but not what he had!
What are you willing to give??
A question I ask myself on a daily basis!
I hope you won’t be totally disappointed over the fact that this post isn’t a recipe for donuts or even a great picture of yummy donuts. Rather it is a post about standing firm for what you believe. Let me explain. In the September 1996 issue of the Ensign there was an experience shared that after all these years has stuck with me. I read a lot but this one single story has stayed with me like no other. It was written by Robert Layton, a member of the church in Alberta, Canada. The title is “What about Abstinence?” It is impressive. I share it here because it has had a profound effect on me; not just because of the obvious subject matter but because of the other things in life which we might need to avoid and simply don’t. I know it is long but it is worth the read.
“I was holding a notice from my 13-year-old son’s school announcing a special parents’ meeting to preview the new course in human sexuality. Parents could examine the curriculum and take part in an actual lesson presented exactly as it would be given to the students.
When I arrived at the school I was surprised to discover only about a dozen parents there. And I was the only Latter-day Saint father. As we waited for the presentation to begin, I thumbed through page after page of instructions in the prevention of pregnancy or disease. I searched for the word abstain and any related words but found the idea of abstinence mentioned only in passing.
When the teacher arrived with the school nurse in tow, she asked if there were any questions before she began. I asked why abstinence did not play a noticeable part in the lesson material.
What happened next was shocking. I was verbally assailed by the other parents. “How stupid are you?” one sneered. “Idiot!” someone else muttered. There was a great deal of laughter, and someone suggested if I thought abstinence had any merit, I should go back to burying my head in the sand.
Through it all, the teacher and the nurse said nothing as I drowned in a sea of embarrassment. My mind had gone blank in the unexpected attack, and I could think of nothing to say.
The teacher explained to me that the job of the school was to teach “facts,” and the home was responsible for moral training. I sat in silence for the next 20 minutes as the course was explained. The other parents seemed to give their unqualified support to the materials presented.
“Donuts at the back,” announced the teacher during the break. “And since we’re all getting along so well, I’d like you to put on the name tags we have prepared—they’re right by the donuts—and mingle with the other parents and get to know them.”
Everyone dutifully stood and moved to the back of the room. As I watched them affixing their name tags and shaking hands, I sat deep in thought. I was ashamed that I had not been able to come up with an argument that would convince them to include a serious discussion of abstinence in the lesson materials. I uttered a silent prayer for guidance.
My thoughts were interrupted by the teacher’s hand on my shoulder. “Won’t you join the others, Mr. Layton?” The nurse smiled sweetly at me. “The donuts are good.”
“Thank you, no,” I replied.
“Well, then, how about a name tag? I’m sure the others would like to meet you.”
“Somehow I doubt that,” I replied.
“Won’t you please join them?” she coaxed.
Then I heard a still, small voice whisper, “Don’t go.” The instruction was unmistakable. “Don’t go!”
“I think I’ll just wait here,” I said.
When the class was called back to order, the teacher looked around the long table and thanked everyone for putting on their name tags. She ignored me. Then she said, “Now we’re going to give you the same lesson we’ll be giving your children. Everyone please peel off your name tags.”
I watched in silence as the tags came off.
“Now, then, on the back of one of the tags I drew a tiny flower. Who has it, please?”
The gentleman across from me held it up. “Here it is!”
“All right,” she said. “The flower represents disease. Do you recall with whom you shook hands?”
He pointed to a couple of people. “Very good,” she replied. “The handshake in this case represents intimacy. So the two people you had contact with now have the disease.” There was laughter and joking among the parents. The teacher continued, “And who did the two of you shake hands with?”
The point was well taken, and she explained how this lesson would show students how quickly disease was spread.
“Since we all shook hands, we all have the disease, and there is no escaping that fact.”
It was then I heard the still, small voice again. “Speak now,” it said, “but be humble.” I noted wryly the latter admonition, then rose from my chair. I apologized for any upset I might have caused earlier, congratulated the teacher on an excellent lesson that would impress the youth, and concluded by saying I had only one small point I wished to make.
“Not all of us were infected,” I said simply. “One of us … abstained.”
There are two places in my world where I am always thinking about and in tune with my parents. Anything car related I am thinking of my dad. Car driving, car buying, car looking, car year knowing. Back in my youth when the next year car came out the style was always different; too costly in this day and age. But back then I knew which model was what year; he made sure of that!
This 1969 Chevelle SS 396 was my personal favorite! It was sweet! And every opportunity that was mine I got to drive it; not often but enough to remember!
The place where my mother is always there for me is the kitchen. She loved to cook and create great food. If she had a specialty (although she was good at everything) it might have been her candy making. She loved to make it, she loved to eat it and mostly she loved to share it. But there is another thing about her cooking I remember and that is at any church event she was in the kitchen. From dime-a-dip dinners to elaborate affairs. She was there. Her organizational skills were second to none. If it could be done beforehand she was on it. I love that. And I’m pleased to say I’m the same way; no last minute dash for me. Make the list, make it again, check it off and be done. It is peace of mind. And one more thing. She was never in a kitchen without this and either am I!
So in the recovery process of a flood one has to remove all areas affect by said flood. When that happens you have something that looks like this:
This is a corner of my office, it is actually cut out like that all around the floor!
This is a view of one of the harder hit offices!!
These two pictures are a view of the hall!!!
This picture is of our front office!!!!
They are making great progress but working while that progress is happening makes for interesting days!!!!!
It is amazing what a flood will do for you. It rushes in with no concern for what it touches. All things in its path are fair game; although divine intervention does play a major role. As much as the flood of water has no regard for what lies in its path divine intervention will step in and put His foot done. And thankfully in the events of this past week He did just that.
So now as the demo begins, carpets up and all cabinets out we will start to see a new beginning. It is a major do-over that wouldn’t have happened without such a flood. Is it inconvenient; yes. Is it loud; very. Was the timing right; not at all, but then it never is. But in the end we will have ten fresh new office spaces. We will have new carpet, new paint, new furniture. And this is the major plus, tons and tons and tons of stuff that has been collecting over time will no longer be! It is a beautiful thing!!!
I’m thankful it was clean water and not
dirty water or ocean water or muddy water!
I’m thankful it was on a weekday and not a weekend!
I’m thankful our server was spared; although our phone system was not!
All of the above courtesy of this little guy who decided he was tried of doing his job! Not so thankful for that!
Today I’m thankful for the greatness of this country and the freedoms that are ours. Today I’m thankful I have a voice. Today I’m thankful for the opportunity to vote and have my voice heard!
Remember to Vote!!
There was a time it seems that life was simpler or maybe just slower. Either way I have a hard time some times coming to terms with the speed of life. As a child I remember thinking Christmas couldn’t come fast enough. Now as we approach another holiday season it seems like I hear all too often, “seems like we just had Christmas or what happened to January?!?” I remember the great concern over the Y2K issue! Y2K, hello we are approaching 2013; where did the 13 years in between go? I sit hear thinking I have 14 grandchildren and before I know it one of them will be 14 and then the next one and the next one…..Life was simpler once, I just know it was.
This quote is a favorite.
“Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”
~~Benjamin Franklin
I have the early to rise part down. It’s the rest of it I need to work on!
What a great day to give thanks and to send a Happy Birthday Shout Out to Sil1!! We hope you have a great day! We love you so.
But we are left wondering…..
Makes us downright tearful!!
