Do you?

Do you...
Wait and wait and wait to make a dr. appointment for fear you will go and they won't be able to do anything for you, but you have to pay anyway?

DO you...
Ever make things and love them so much that its hard to give them away?

Do you..
Ever stay up late knowing that you will totally regret it the next day, but its the only time that nobody will be bugging you?

What to eat Wednesday-Prize Winning Choco-Zucchini Cupcakes

Ok everybody.. I am now back to regular blogging. (I think)
I am finished with Thanksgiving ... am almost over being sick ... Time to move on!
And what better way than with

What to Eat Wednesday!!
I found this from Stacy Julian's blog-

I wondered how yummy it would be- it has zucchini in it- I was not so sure about that- not a big fan of adding vegetables with my chocolate.

OH*MY*YUM*

These are delicious! I could not believe it! AND the peanut butter frosting, is the finishing touch. I had never had PB frosting, and I can say that it is delish!

Everyone loves them & can not believe that there is zucchini in it. As Jay was licking the bowl he said "I can't believe I am licking zucchini!"

Prize Winning Choco-Zucchini Cupcakes
2 C shredded zucchini
3 eggs
2 C sugar
3/4 C cooking oil
2 tsp vanilla
2 C flour
2/3 C unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 C milk chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees
Stir together zucchini, eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla.
Add flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, baking powder and chips, stirring until combined.
Spoon batter into cupcake pan lined with paper liners.
Bake about 25 minutes
Frost with Peanut Butter Frosting
Yields 24


Peanut Butter Frosting
Beat 1/2 C peanut butter, 1/2 C softened butter, 1 Tblsp milk, and 1/2 tsp vanilla with electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add 1 1/2 Cups powdered sugar until spreading consistency is reached.

Here is a little tip- I have made them several times, and it is much easier if you use the aluminum liners. They peel away so much easier.

November Blessings 19

Blessing

Today I am so thankful that Jay went to Walmart & Sams to get everything we needed for the rest of the week.

This blessing comes from the man who puts a trip to Walmart at the same enjoyment level as putting up Christmas lights.

Not only did he go, but he put everything away!

I feel so thankful, so so thankful from my achy body.

November Blessings 18

Blessing

I am thankful today for leftovers, that make dinner preparation so easy on a busy night!
(and so thankful that they were yummy pizza soup leftovers!)

November Blessings 17 & challenge

Blessing

Today I am thankful for a compliment that I received. It provided such encouragement as I went throughout my day. It was sincere, and very well timed. Not that the giver knew how timely it was.
It has given me much thought, about letting others know how I feel about the good things they do. How often I think things, but don't pass it on, thinking "oh, they know."
Even if they do know, would it hurt to give a little encouragement along the way?
So here is a challenge...
Think today, of who you have "thought good thoughts" about- and let them know. Be it in a note, a phone call, or face to face.
Are you up to the challenge?

November Blessings 15 & 16

Blessings

Today I am thankful that we made it through the Dale Chihuly exhibit at the OKC Museum of Art yesterday- and left with all glass still intact.

Which leads to todays blessing:
I am thankful for the beautiful things of the earth. The talents that God has given to those who create beauty, and for the God-given beauty of the earth. I am so thankful to enjoy art- in its different forms, and to be able to create "art"-

November Blessings 14

Blessing

I am thankful for good times with this one (I have to hold on to the good times, for the ones that are not so good)

November Blessings 13

Blessing

Today I am thankful for music. Wait- have I already said that? Maybe... I think I say it all the time. I listened to my favorite Christmas music all day. I absolutely love how I feel when I listen to it. I am thankful for how music can speak to my heart, and for the lessons learned through listening. I am thankful that my children all love music. I think most kids do, but mine really love it. Even if they do get a little territorial about it!

November Blessings 12

Blessing

I am so thankful for my kids teachers. For all of them. Those at school, at church-The ones they have now, and the ones that they have had in the past.
I am thankful for their preparation. I am thankful for the songs they teach. For the games they play. For making learning fun. For being dedicated. For sharing in such a big part of my kids lives.

November Blessings 11

Blessing

Today I am thankful for my Mom. I am thankful for the time that we get to spend together. There used to be a time, that I would think -"it would be so fun to do ____with mom"-

I lived away from home for so long, and I wondered what it would be like living close to her. Having my mom be around my children. Being able to run over to her house to show her something. Being able to meet at the store to check out the latest clearance items.

I am thankful for the fun that we have together.
I am thankful that she loves my husband.
I am thankful that he loves her!

I am thankful for the time that we get together. I am thankful for our mother-daughter relationship. I am thankful for her talents.
I am thankful that she is so giving of her time (and her talents!) with our family.

Thank you mom, I love you.

November Blessings 10

Blessing

Today I am thankful for perspective. I wrote about this after a road trip with our family, and sitting in a different place in the car.

I have been trying to remember to check in on myself. To see if I need a shift of my perspective.
And almost always, I benefit from it.

I am thankful for the here and now. I was reading an entry from Mitchell's mom Tracey- it gave me a shift of perspective that I needed with one of our children. This time is short. Even if its long...it is still short.

November Blessings 9

Blessing
I have been laughing at my thought of what to write about today. I kept trying to think up something else to be thankful for, health, that its the weekend, etc. etc.

But I keep coming back to this, and I kind of already said I was thankful for it- so I will say it again.

Digital photography.

And not just any photos.
No.
The photos I am grateful for today are the ones taken by my 4 year old.

Specifically the ones taken of me from behind!
There were countless photos -
If thats not a motivator to go light on the pie this next week, and get on the treadmill for a few extra minutes then I don't know what is!

So thank you dear boy ...

November Blessings 8

Blessing
Today I am thankful to live in the United States- and that right now our family lives in



OKLAHOMA
Today we celebrate the birthday of Oklahoma-100 years!
I don't know how long we will live in Oklahoma- and I never thought that I would come back to live here! But here we are, and we will love it while we are here!

Happy Blog Anniversary

Happy Anniversary-
Thanks to all that read this blog-
(and thank you for the kind words on my new photo, Savanna took it- the one I had up before, was from when I was pregnant!)

I am still writing the last two Question and Answers to Julie and Meghan- It was fun to see what you wanted me to write about! Any other questions...let me know!

SO on the to the festivities!

Today I want to give away Surprises!

Things I love!

Please come and join in the fun -everyone is a winner- just email me (alisaspear@gmail.com) or leave a comment:

Tell me a favorite post- a recipe you tried and liked-
a story that you thought was funny- etc ...

AND whoever tells me where I got the name for my blog will get an extra surprise with their "happy mail!" I love to give away things!
I will keep this open through Friday! (for those that already checked in for the day!)

November Blessings 7

Blessing
Today I am thankful for this





For most of our married life we have had 1 car and we have made it work. But oh how nice it has been to have 2 cars. This car has been such a blessing to our family the last 1 1/2 months that we have been able to use it.
We have been able to borrow it from my grandmother, and for as long as we are able to use it we will be grateful!
We are so thankful for:
The time that I am not spending in the car with all the kids taking Jay to work, and picking him up.
The time that Jay is able get to his meetings, and work, and anything else without it having to be a family affair.
Jay being able to run up to the school for the kids things, without me having to pick him up, and take him back.
THE FREEDOM THAT THIS CAR HAS BROUGHT TO US!

Question & Answer 3

Julie asked "How did you and J. meet? What was your courtship like?"

I will write my version...and I have asked Jay to add his version, without reading mine. Let's see how close these 2 end up at the end!

Jay and I met in Colorado. I was there, living and preparing to go on a mission. I had my papers ready and was not looking to date or get involved with anybody. Jay was home from Ricks College, and was getting ready to go to BYU- he had just come out of a relationship - He was not looking for a relationship. I think that is why things clicked so quick with us, we were not "trying" to make things work.

We met at church- actually we met a year earlier than that. My roommate worked with him-he was there for the summer, and brought him to our lunch. We sat outside of where I worked and ate subway sandwiches on the sidewalk. (I worked at a drycleaners)
Fast forward about a year later. March. He came to church late. Saw a space between me and a "friend" and squeezed his way in between us.

That night we were at a fireside at church and he was "dared" to ask me out. He called me that night and asked if I wanted to go out on Monday night, that way, if we had fun we could go out again that week.
We went out- we had fun-we went out again. We had fun. and so on and so on...He was funny. He was sincere. I could be myself around him.
I did not realize how fast things were going. I was still planing to go on a mission.
It was the night that I went to the temple for the first time- and I just knew. I had not even asked the question to myself, but I just knew that Jay was the one I was going to marry. I found him at the end of the evening and just said with a big smile "I know"- and he smiled back and said "I do too."
That was the end of April.
He officially asked me to marry him May 2- We were married July 2- We moved to Provo that August to attend BYU- and the rest......
We celebrated our 12th anniversary this summer.



Alisa asked me not to read what she wrote. She simply asked me to write about how we came to be together.

I had returned from serving as a missionary in California in 1994. I spent the summer that year working for a company called omni point. I was invited to lunch by a coworker. We grabbed Subway sandwiches ... she grabbed an extra sandwich for one of her good friends Alisa Hodge.

We took the sandwich to the dry cleaners where Alisa worked and the three of us sat on the front steps and shared a quick afternoon lunch together.

That was the first time I met Alisa. I think how unbearable it would have been to say goodbye to her after lunch that day if I had the knowledge of the life we were going to have together in the future.

But ... but, it wasn't to be ... not that day. I am sure we were polite to each other; shook hands or whatever.

I finished out my summer and drove my green Volkswagen bus back to Ricks College in Rexburg Idaho. I had a final semester to finish my associates in generic studies that I had began before my mission.

That was an interesting semester, to say the least. I fell for a girl that I had known in Idaho in my previous years at Ricks. She and I made plans to get married early the next year. You can guess that it didn't work out. And the reason why I bring this up within the context of this story is that this put me in the mindset that was just right for meeting up with Alisa the second time around.

I was back home winter / spring of 1995 ... working, preparing to go to BYU that fall. I went to church one of my first few weeks back from college. I think I was a little late and the meeting had already started.

I found a seat next to a friendly face, that girl Alisa I had met the summer before. I don't remember the talks in the meetings that day. I do remember easy, smiling, quiet conversation with Alisa.

I ran into her again that night at a church fireside. With a little coaxing from the guys standing around me I asked her to go on a date. I told her we should go out early in the week ... in case we had a fun time we could make the most of the rest of the week and go out some more.

I looked at this comment simply as me expressing my confidence that things would be fun and she would most certainly want to go out with me again. It's funny but she saw the other side of this and we laugh about it now and then.

Alisa heard me say, "[If] we have fun, we can go out again this week." Which made her think I was questioning whether we would have a good time or not.

So, we went out and had a great time. We had Italian for dinner and then spent an unusual amount of time slow driving through crowded mall parking lots looking at parked cars we thought we would want to own. Then we went and rented The Lion King on VHS at Blockbuster and watched it at my house.

That was the first in a whirlwind of great dates with Alisa. The next couple of months included but were not limited to ... our first kiss, slow dancing when ever and where ever we could ... usually in my kitchen while waiting on the waffles ...

We made and ate waffles quite often and at random times of the day.

I remember that growing connection with Alisa ... you know how that goes ... taking 43 minutes to say goodbye at the end of the date ... as if I was heading off to war. Four words - I fell in love.

And the really great part about this was that I was [not] going to fall for another girl any time soon, you see! Because I had just done that, only to have it end in a rather unpleasant way.

So, you see, my guard was down. Or, in other words, I was the true Jay Spear. I was not some nervous ball of twine psychoanalyzing every interaction between the two of us. I did not play mental chess in our relationship because I didn't think I needed to.

By the way, she fell in love with me too. I asked Alisa to marry me [in] the Denver Temple. Dinner and a date to the temple makes for a wonderful evening, and we managed to do this a number of times.

She agreed and after a brisk springtime courtship we were married July 2nd 1995.

There is more to tell, obviously! I reserve the right to edit this post with a few other tidbits when time permits.

Jay

November Blessings 6

Blessing
Today I am thankful for the gift of time. For the unexpected time.
When something gets canceled.
Or plans change, and instantly you are given "time."
To be able to have time to breathe, and slow down, and just be home. Not hurrying.
Ahhhhh.

what to eat wednesday- Chicken Soup with Rice

Chicken soup with Rice

2 quarts chicken broth
1 box original-Uncle Ben's long grain and wild rice (or 2/3 cup wild rice)
1/4 stick plus a little butter
1/2 cup finely diced onion
1/2 cup celery
1/2 cup carrots
1/4 cup green pepper
2 Tablespoons diced pimento
1 Quart white sauce-
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
1 quart milk
Chicken-cooked and chopped- optional
Saute vegetables in butter. Wash rice if it is not Uncle Bens, and add to vegetables as they are sauteing. If it is Uncle Ben's add rice and seasoning packet to vegetables as they are sauteing. Add chicken broth and simmer 1/2 hour or until rice is done. Make white sauce by melting butter then add the flour and stir well. Add milk stirring constantly until thick and boiling. Add the white sauce to soup.
Add chicken for a complete meal.
Makes about 12 servings.

Now don't think this soup is only for November!
(I think that based on the poem, May is my fav-mix it once mix it twice ...)

Question & Answer 2

Julie asked:

What is your typical daily schedule? I am a gleaner of ideas and love to see how others do it "all."

I think I will tell you the way we would like things to be.
We are a normal family like everybody else. What we want, and what we get is sometimes opposite!

6 AM wake up rested
(most days I get up sometime after 6 but before 6:30 Jay
wakes me up -I am not a morning person)

Wake everyone up, they do their morning routine-
some of the kids are better at this-
make bed, get dressed,
personal prayer and scriptures
practice musical instruments

7-Everyone sits down to a hot breakfast
(um, no- I have to work on this!-its more like... Finally get all to the table for our morning devotional while having bowls of cold cereal.)
We do have a song & prayer, and we read scriptures together-but sometimes we do not get
much farther than a couple of verses.
Sometimes there is a good discussion, but sometimes its short and sweet.

7:25 Everyone finishes getting ready, and since I did not make lunches the night before I am throwing lunches together-

7:30- Leave to take the kids to school -On a really good-on-time- day but its usually a little later

7:40ish Drop the kids off

------ -------
Daytime stuff, errands, exercise, personal study, laundry, house cleaning, email, blogging, playing with Tucker, putting Tucker down for nap, pick up Luke, lunch, etc. etc. etc.

3:00 Pick up kids

3:20 Home and start afternoon routine
Empty lunch box and put away
Put any papers for me, on the counter.
Homework, 20 minutes of reading, practice
any instruments that are left to practice.

Then they are free to do whatever they want- (except tv) until we have to go somewhere.
Now that we have 2 vehicles and we don't leave to get Jay, it has opened up our afternoons, and evenings. We have a little more playtime, and I have a little more time to get dinner ready.
Every night seems a little different, as far as activities go.

This year, we made a big change, and that was to not schedule any of the kids activities on Monday nights. We used to try and squeeze in Family Home Evening on Sunday, and try and squeeze a game together on Monday night in between everything that we had going on. But now there is no squeezing! It has made a big impression on our family- the time that we have uninterrupted on that night is a blessing!

Our evening routine goes pretty good, I think its mostly the morning that we struggle with.
I really like to have the night time not feel so rushed, and I feel its important to read to the kids, and have a little "alone time" with each one. I am able to really find out some interesting things about their lives!

7- Start evening routine
Baths, showers, teeth brushed, clothes picked
out for the next day, Family prayer, story's and
mom time with each child on their bed.

8- Lights out for a few
I go downstairs and clean up whats left-
(Jay helps with the cleanup and kids when he is home)
Make lunches for the next day- (this does not happen-its a habit I should get into!)
After that.....everything else that needs/has to get done that night gets prioritized-
And thats it!

Was that what you were looking for?

November Blessings 5

Blessing

"Friends are the Family that you make for yourself"

Today I am thankful for friends.
I am thankful for the friends that I have had throughout my life.
I am thankful for what each relationship is to me.
I have friends who live near, and friends who live very far away.

Some friends I don't speak to very often,
but when we do its like we have not missed a day's visit.
Then there are friends that I don't go a day without talking to.

Some friends have known me since I was very young.
Some friends only know the me that has children.

I have friends I can turn to for help, for a laugh, for a pep talk,
for a good gripe session, for advice.

I am thankful for the balance and perspective that my friends provide.
I am thankful for the sisterhood that I feel among my friends.
Today I feel especially blessed!

November Blessing 4

Blessing

Todays blessing is not what I planed to write.
My kids school went on lockdown for a good part of the day.
Today I am thankful that everyone was safe at my kids school.
I am thankful that the man across the street was not injured when shot at.
I am thankful that I had already picked up Luke.
I am thankful that the school has practiced lockdowns, in the past,
and that everyone knew what to do.
I am thankful that I could pick up my kids.
I am thankful that they both prayed today when they were scared.

November Blessings 3

Blessing
Today I am thankful for the Sabbath day. I am most grateful for the day of rest that it is. Maybe not sleep, but a change from the regular week.
I look forward to sundays. For the break that they are. Don't get me wrong...they are still work. Going to church is work, getting everyone ready for church is work, sitting through church is work, but it is all worth it.
I am thankful to be able to take the sacrament on the Sabbath.
I am grateful for the blessings that come from keeping the Sabbath Day Holy.

November Blessings 2

Blessing
I am thankful for digital technology.
I am thankful for all that it provides for my family. The ability to keep in touch, and "constant" contact with one another.
To have my music, and photos, all semi-organized-

I am finishing a talk for tomorrow, and I can sit, and listen to my music while I search lds.org to find a talk from conference 1 1/2 years ago. I can just type in what I am looking for and there it is!

It is amazing.

Here are the techie things I am considering a blessing right now.
computer
cell phone
internet-always on fast access
digital camera
wireless network
access to my music library at my fingertips
(and I am certainly grateful for the electricity to power up all these things!)

laundry is finished

All caught up, in time to start all over again tomorrow!

November Blessings

I was at Hobby Lobby, and I was looking at a turkey that I would really like to have. I was thinking that I had plenty of time to get it, you know, like weeks. Like many weeks. And then it hit me, its 2 weeks away! THANKSGIVING IS 2 WEEKS AWAY!

WAIT- I have not been doing my month of gratitude! We usually have something going on with our family to remind us of our blessings. We write them down in a journal, or put them on feathers for a turkey, or on leaves, or just on a piece of paper on the fridge. But this year, I have done nothing! I just started thinking about it yesterday and what I wanted to do for it, but I was thinking about it like it was still October, and I had weeks left to decide!

The weather has been so nice, like spring...not November. We have had 2 cold days. The rest are beautiful. I think it has tricked me.

So I am committing myself to blog a blessing a day for the rest of November. And quickly come up with something for the family!

BLESSING-
I am thankful today for my senses-
To SMELL yummy candles, and lotions, and my kids after their baths, clean laundry, dinner already cooking...
To SEE beauty, my childrens faces, the colors of each season, reading a good book,watching movies together,
To TASTE different meals (that they all dont taste the same), to taste mint anything!, sonic drink, chocolate,
To HEAR music, all kinds, made by my children, CD,s, orchestras & symphonies, choirs, hymns, laughter from my family, a cooing baby,
To TOUCH my blanket, my kids hands ( holding them), and especially to hold Jay's hand, a hug from my mom, the feel of Savanna's hair as I fix it,

Question & Answer 1

Julie asked ... " thought of another one, perhaps more festive. What are your favorite decorating ideas, tips, projects, websites, etc? How do you decorate and celebrate each season/event without your house feeling cluttery? Any decorating on a dime tips?
Julie "

Well, I love The Holidays! And I love themed decor. I inherited this from my mom.
When we lived with her for a year ... oh the decorating fun we had. Jay jokes about the Christmas season, and how we could not park in the garage, and how we were still decorating after Christmas, and how everyday when he came home there was another box of "stuff." Between her things and ours, we had more than enough to choose from!

I think the big thing when decorating for a holiday is to use what you love.
I think it would be better to buy, or make 1 thing that you loved, and could not wait to get out every year, than to have a bunch of so so things. Think of "building" your decor year after year. You do not have to have it done all this holiday. Add a little over time.
As you start defining your style, you will find that throughout the year you will discover things that will work for the different holidays. I found a turkey and a pumpkin that I LOVED, during the spring. I found some black beaded garland on an after Christmas sale, that I knew would be great for a Halloween display I wanted to do.

One of the best ways to define your style is to go on an "inspiration trip"- "a trend watch"
I love to go and just look- at the mall, at Target, at Walmart, at Hobby Lobby, Michaels and look at books and magazines at the bookstore or library) You name it. There is inspiration to be had anywhere. (I used to love to do this more, when our oldest 2 were little. They were such good shoppers. Enter #3 & #4 and its not so fun anymore) Schedule time to go by yourself if you need to! The internet can come in handy here, Martha Stewart, Better Homes and Gardens are 2 that are good. ( I am sure there are more! Anyone care to leave a comment of one they like?)

Look for what you can copy yourself, and what you think you really must buy. Then wait for a sale, or coupon to get it. Tell others what you like and love, you will be surprised how others find the deals for you!

Now for the clutter part..this is where deciding if you like it or love it really comes into play. If I have a lot of decor I want to put out, that I love, then I have to put some of the everyday stuff away. It is just too much to have it all out at the same time. 1 little item, not so big of a deal. But when you start pulling out boxes of things, you know its time to pair down the everyday items to make way for the seasonal stuff.

Another idea, is to have just one spot that you decorate. A mantel, an entryway table, a sofa table, a shelf in a bookcase, the top of the piano. That way its not so overwhelming having things everywhere, a little more controlled, and sometimes a little better put together.
My neighbor, does a great job with this. I love seeing her entryway table "dressed" for the seasons.

And here is one last idea, that came about from our kids.
Take photos of your favorite decorations during the holidays.
This came about after our kids were playing with the digital camera and were taking totally random shots of our home. They took a picture of each holiday decoration we had out.
Two things can happen with this.
1. You will see your decor with a different eye. You may decide, hey I really don't like that there, (or like the item at all)
2. If you love the display, you will remember how to do it next time.
Its easy to save photos, and easy to search back to "this time last year"-

so lets do a recap...
Use what you love, build over time.
Look throughout the year.
Go on a inspiration trip/trend watch.
Copy and make it yourself.
Store everyday stuff.
Maybe use just one spot to decorate.
Take photos.

Thanks Julie for the question, hope that helps!

What to eat-I'd-Swear-It-Was-Pizza Soup

I found this in a cookbook from the library. I copied it this summer, and thought that it sounded interesting, but really, would it taste like pizza?

IT DID!

I made it for the first time tonight, and it almost did not make it until dinner! Any time somebody came into the house they wanted to know, what smelled so good, and could they have a bite!
Something that is so great about this is that its made in a crock-pot.
I would have to double it the next time we make it, and we used a big loaf of bread that I made into croutons.

I'd-swear-it was-Pizza Soup

1 onion chopped
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 can italian style stewed tomatoes, with juice (28 oz)
1 cup beef stock
1 cup thinly sliced pepperoni
1 medium green pepper chopped
1/2 cup croutons
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

1. In a slow cooker, combing onion, mushrooms, tomatoes and stock; stir to mix well.
2. Cover and cook on Low for 5 -6 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours. Add pepperoni and green pepper during last 30 minutes of cooking.
3. Divide croutons equally between individual bowls. Spoon soup over croutons and top each with mozzarella cheese.

Her perception, is not my current reality

Today Meghan wrote the sweetest things about me. It felt so nice. I basked in its warmth.

And I laughed.

I showed Jay, and he laughed. He said "did you tell her that there are clothes I have not seen for about a month?"


Right now I have 7 separate piles of laundry- all clean (2 of those are in the washer & dryer)
It will get done at some point.....just not the time frame that I am used to!

Blog anniversary, and almost 100th post!

Ok- Next thursday I will have had this blog for 1 year. I did not write much for the first 6 months, and slowly increased over the last 6.
As I wrote before, there are things that would not make it into a normal journal, but make it to this blog.
And, there are people that I don't know, who I would not just walk up to on the street and say "Hey, do you want to know what I am thinking?", but get to know what I am thinking because of this blog.

Sooo ... I wanted to do something to "celebrate" the occasion.

Tell me what you want me to write about.
Leave me a comment, or email me alisaspear@gmail.com
What do you want to read about ... what do you want to know about me ... do you want to know how I feel about something?
And in return I will answer -
And I have a little give-away- planned. A little "birthday blog present" in reverse!

What to eat- Broccoli Stuffed Shells

Ok - this photo is almost as bad as the ones in the Daily Oklahoman's food section- (will I get Jay into trouble for saying that?)
But it will have to do. I do not know, or as Luke would say "I have no idea" where this recipe came from. But it is another one that our whole family will eat, and eat .


24 Jumbo Shells -- uncooked
1 10-ounce package frozen chopped broccoli -- thawed
1 cup part-skim Ricotta cheese
1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1 tablespoon onion, chopped fine
1 28 oz jar spaghetti sauce
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
Salt and freshly ground black pepper -- to taste


Prepare pasta according to package directions; drain. Combine
broccoli, Ricotta cheese, Swiss cheese, onion, oregano, basil, salt
and pepper. Stir together until well blended. Pour about 1 cup
spaghetti sauce over bottom of 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan. Spoon 1
round tablespoon of cheese mixture into each shell and place open-side
up in an even layer in the pan. Pour remaining spaghetti sauce over
and around shells. Cover pan with foil. Bake at 375 for about 25
minutes until heated through, and serve.
We also like to add Parmesan cheese when it is served.

Blessings

Today as I sat down in church I felt so thankful for the music that we were to be singing.
I stand all amazed.

I had been discussing with Jay the need I had to let things go. To not harbor resentment and pain. I did not want to keep feeding it.

As we sang, I was struck with the 3rd verse 2nd line.
Such mercy, such love and devotion, can I forget?

How often I look to other sources for help.. when Christ is right there. I felt grateful for the nudge of where to turn for peace. (another favorite song...I could go on and on of the blessings that song has brought to me at times.)

So after the gentle reminder as I attended my other meetings, I was struck with grief. The overwhelming chocking, I can't breathe kind. The kind where you need to leave the room. It hurt, I was frustrated that I was feeling this. The source of the grief is not relevant, just that I felt it.

After church I was sorting through some of my Grandfathers books that I had received. I was taking the dust jackets off and kind of thumbing through them all. I picked up one called
"To Him That Believeth"- and started flipping through the pages and came to a chapter with a book mark. And it had lots of markings from study.
The title of this chapter?

"Dissolving Resentments and Achieving Forgiveness"

I showed this to Jay and he said how interesting to think that Grandaddy may have struggled with the same feelings, and that he had studied this.
How timely for me. How sweet of a blessing from the Lord.

There was an example in this chapter about rattlesnakes. And how they can die from their own venom.
"... I heard of an experiment that was conducted ... one of the caretakers took one of his large rattlesnakes and put a forked stick behind its head so it could not coil to strike. Then he began to tantalize it with small chicks ... The snake kept trying to coil unsuccessfully, and venom dripped quite freely from its fangs. Within minutes the snake stiffened and died.
... Rattlesnakes can stand just about anything except its own venom. When it cannot discharge the venom as fast as it is produced, it dies of its own accumulated poison."
"When you have any resentment, hurt, bitterness, or hatred in your heart, regardless of the cause, if you do not get rid of it at once through the spirit of forgiveness, the hatred will continue to fester and grow and increase.......unless contained, these negative feelings will finally consume and destroy the person who harbors them."

WOW-

This is exactly what I was talking to Jay about this morning....the need to let stuff go.
And where do you turn?
The Savior-
He suffered in Gethsemane, He atoned for us all. Those that hurt, those that were the cause of pain for others. I was talking to a dear friend and she said "the atonement is for everyone."

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Perspective

On our drive home from Texas I sat in the very back with the kids. We were bringing home a treadmill, and had it wedged into the van along with 7 people and all of their belongings.
My mom went with us to attend a painting convention. I did not want her to have to "suffer"
all squished up because of my doing- so I took the back seat.

What an experience. Not just in the physical sense, but mentally. It was so interesting to see our family from the back seat. What a different perspective.

Watching the way Luke interacted with Tucker. Seeing how cute he was with him. Seeing how cute Tucker is. Witnessing why Tucker gets frustrated for seemingly no reason.
Feeling the way the back of the van travels. Hearing the teasing going on between brother and sister.
Feeling the lack of air flow in the back of the van. Experiencing what the kids do everyday. No wonder its so hard to communicate from the front to the back. You can't hear anything all the way back there.

So it got me thinking. Sometimes its good to change our perspective. Experience things from somebody else's point of view. See things through their eyes. And often we just need to change things a little to shift our thinking, or gain a different perspective. I was still in the van, just in a different seat. Not my "normal" seat.

What to eat wednesday- Pumpkin Muffins

Today's what to eat came from my favorite scrapbooking "celebrity" Becky Higgins.
I saw this recipe on her blog...and if Becky likes it, well I thought I would too! AND I did, along with the rest of the clan! Still a few good weeks left to enjoy some pumpkin goodness.



Pumpkin Muffins
1 c. flour
1 c. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 eggs, beaten
1 c. ground pumpkin (canned)
1/2 c. cooking oil
1/3 c. chocolate chips

Mix together. Fill muffin cups and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.

Its the weekend!

Ahhhh- so thankful to have had this weekend. Jay has been home. We have worked on projects outside, we got to go out on 2 (yes 2!) dates, the house got clean, laundry got washed. I took all 4 kids to Walmart and Sams. Kids had their cousins over to play. I visited my Nana, went with our kids to a baptism. Kids got to play outside and get dirty and work hard.
There were a few moments of frustration and plenty of funnies in between. (walmart and sams for both of those!) It was good to just be home and do our stuff! Ahhhhh the weekend.

When we were at Walmart, Tucker had the sugar rush of his life!
Jack really wanted a big cart with the extra seats in the front so he could sit and read. Well that leaves no real good place for Tucker, since the baby seat does not have leg holes on those big carts. I went ahead and put the cart cover on and strapped Tuck in sideways. It gave him a perfect opportunity to grab things out of the cart once I had it stacked nice and high. He seemed really quite, and since he was feet ahead of me, instead of just right in my line of sight I did not notice what he had grabbed. I walked around the cart and in his sweet little hands was a package of Almond bark. He had bitten through the wrapper and was gnawing away at the sweet goodness inside! Oh the wailing when I pried it from his messy self!
I grabbed my bag, pulled out the camera. The kids were cracking up!

ooops

The title below should read:
Scripture Tote
not
Scriptrue Tote

Yes, I know the scriptures are true, but I did not change the spelling of scriptures to profess it! Ha ha ha
I don't know why this seemed so funny to me tonight!
I guess it is good to laugh at your mistakes right?
Anybody enjoy watching The Office?
This reminded me of when Angela got upset about the sign reading
"Lanch Party" instead of "Launch Party"-

scriptrue tote

Just wanted to share this darling little bag I received while we were in Texas. It's made out of a placemat, and this is who made it, and this is where you can get one for yourself.

I am going to use it as a scripture tote.Here it is with a large set of scriptures.
Here it is with a medium set, and a manual.

Thanks April, I love the colors...and I finally have a tote of my own.

a few more of Halloween

Does this look like the face of Nanny Mcphee?

Tuckers turkey tail feathers-
This video is of Tuck chasing his tail feathers-think of a dog chasing his tail.