It is so good to be home but . . .

I am so glad we went to Utah for Thanksgiving!! The weather was beautiful and I loved being with my two daughters who are attending school there! Michelle was particularly happy to be reunited with some of her sisters, as life at home alone with the parentals (what my kids call us) can be pretty boring at times.



Thanks giving dinner was devoured at my sister Melissa’s house in Cedar Hills, Utah. About half of my family was there, the others were either out of town or having dinner with their kids—the total being too numerous for us all to be together.

We arrived in time to help set up.

My poor nephew Brady thought he would die before getting to taste the turkey.

After everyone arrived we had a chance to go around and tell one thing we were thankful for. My dad started off and immediately got us all crying by saying he was thankful my mother was with us. After coming so close to losing her this past year, all of our feelings are rather tender on that topic.

I thought it was a bit funny that although Kathryn was invited to sit at the "adult" table (something she has wanted to do for many years) she chose to sit with the young kids. I am not sure how to take that. :-)

Dinner was oh, so yummy!! And being together with family was oh so very fun!

On Friday morning Wes took the girls to the Timpanogos Temple to do baptisms for the dead. The only time available was at 6 a.m. and we were happy to take it.

Later we faced the mall crowds, did some cool Christmas shopping and took in New Moon at the theater there. Okay, I know I am going to disappoint you New Moon fans, but I did not like it. It was okay, but I am just not a fan. Perhaps I would like it more if Bella would smile once in awhile.

On Friday night all the adults gathered at my oldest sister’s home in Lehi for more food and games. Who knew we could still eat after Thursday!! We played “What if” and “Mafia”. Both were fun and it was great to be with everyone.

We then hurried back to my parents so we could get in our four hours of sleep before having to get up at 3 a.m. to return to AZ. Michelle had a basketball game in Flagstaff at noon so we needed to get here. Other than our battery dying and needing a jump in Kanab, all went well, they won the game and we are now back at home, safe and sound.

And I am once again missing my girls.

But . . . just 21 days and they will ALL be here for Christmas—including my daughter from Colorado and her little family.

So let the countdown begin!!!

Ahh, just the thought brings so much . . . joy to my journey!!

Second Graders Write What They Are Thankful For--a chuckle for your day

My daughter is doing student teaching in the Payson, Utah area and working with second graders. When asked what they are thankful for, here are a few of their responses.

"I'm thankful for food, because when I'm sick I can eat healthy food like apples, bananas, oranges, and pears, and I will not die painfully."

"The thing I'm most thankful for is the earth because it makes us not die in outer space and that would not be fun at all. It gives us gravity so we do not float away. And it lets me breathe and that's cool."

"The thing I am most thankful for is bones because if we didn't have bones in our body we would be a giant body blob. And we would look like a mud puddle."

And I am thankful for little kids who say what they think, and make me laugh when they do. Oh yeah, and hot running water!! I love that!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Monday Munchies . . . Feasting Without the Calories!!

I found these questions on Jodi's blog Beacon of Hope. She does a weekly "Food 4 Thought Friday". Be sure to check it out to join in the fun!

And since I am a little late for Friday. . . I am going to call it . . .

"Monday Munchies"

A little feast without the calories!!!


~ This week's questions:

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Breakfast

What is your favorite menu item you will eat at your Thanksgiving feast?
Definitely the candied yams. My husband doesn't like them so we never eat them any other time than on Thanksgiving. But for me, yams are Thanksgiving!!



Lunch

What are you most grateful for at THIS moment?
That we are all alive. We almost lost my mother this past year so I am feeling very grateful that she is still with us. Also--something I am equally grateful for --In two days I get to see my two daughters who have been up at BYU. I am so excited about that. Every time I think about it I start to cry.



Dinner

What will be different about this year's Thanksgiving?We are spending it with my family instead of my husbands, which is what we usually do.


Midnight Snack

Where are you spending Thanksgiving this year and what part of the menu are preparing?

We are having Thanksgiving at my sister's house in Cedar Hills, Utah and my daughter told me she signed me up to bring rolls.



Recipe of the Week (instead of your recipe for life, what is it just for this week?)
Kind words are short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

NEVER say NEVER, because you just NEVER know . . .

I had the wonderful pleasure this past week of going to the airport to welcome BT home from his mission. BT is not my son, but I would gladly claim him! He is a young man I worked with in seminary several years ago. And from him I learned a very valuable lesson. NEVER give up on anyone.

When he was fourteen his name showed up on our seminary rolls, but he was not attending. Not knowing anything about him or his family, I did some investigating and was told his family was not active in the church and that he would NEVER come to seminary.

Fortunately, his friend Nick, didn’t know that. And so Nick invited BT to spend the night on a school night and the next morning got him up for seminary. BT came that day and the next, and every day for the rest of the year. Two years later he served as our seminary council vice-president and did an excellent job. After graduation he attended BYU Provo before leaving to serve his mission.

During this same time his mother went through a divorce and moved out of state. A couple years later she moved back and into our stake, and in fact into my ward. She is now not only active in the church, but she is also one of my very good friends.

So . . . NEVER say NEVER because you just NEVER know . . .

After all, here is another NEVER story for you.

Although I grew up with pets, we have NEVER had them in my married home until this past summer when my son dropped off a stray puppy he found in the desert. Personally I thought Lacy was a pain, and I NEVER thought I would miss her. But this past week she spent a few days at my son’s house and surprisingly, I felt so sad!! My house seemed so quiet and lonely during the day without her constantly under my feet. Literally.


And lastly . . .

I have always said I will NEVER put up my Christmas tree in November. I think each holiday deserves its own attention and yet here I am with my tree up and decorated a week before Thanksgiving.

The reason is that my life right now is a bit crazy and pretty much out of control so I am not going to have anytime this coming weekend to put up decorations. Normally that wouldn’t be a problem but this year I am hosting a Christmas party at my house on December 1 and thought I should probably have some evidence of the holiday in my house by then. So. . . this is why my tree is up. It is also why it is gold. I have NEVER done that before either, but that is the color I wanted to use to decorate the tables for the party so . . .

NEVER say NEVER, because you just NEVER know . . . :-)

Now a couple side stories . . . After my husband put together the tree, I saw him walking downstairs carrying a tree branch. I said, "Oh, I see you have a left over part." He replied, "I have lots of them!" Hmmm. He assured me the front of the tree looked good, however. I guess he was done with that job!

Second . . . last night I was doing a google image search and ended up on a woman's blog who had posted a picture taken while eating at Carabas following Women's Conference last spring. The funny thing is that my friends and I were in the background of the picture!! It is such a small blog world!!

But the best part is all of this brings so much . . . joy to my journey!!

Very, Very Yummy Sweet Potato Casserole--Even if you don't like sweet potatoes

Not the actual picture since I haven't made it yet, but as close as I could find on google.

This one has walnuts and my recipe calls for pecans.

A year ago we had dinner at the mission president's home here in Phoenix and they served a very delicious sweet potato casserole. I wanted to get that recipe all year, and last Friday I once again had dinner at their house and was finally able to get it. And proof of how good it is--there was another woman at the dinner who had been there last year who was asking for it as well!

So --here is the long awaited recipe, just in time for your Thanksgiving feast. Even those who don't like sweet potatoes will like this--as long as they do like coconut and pecans. :-)

Debra Beck's Sweet Potato Casserole

6 cups cooked and diced sweet potatoes
l Cup sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 eggs (lightly beaten)
1/2 cup butter (s0ftened)
1 cup grated coconut
1 TBS. vanilla

Topping:
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup melted butter
Combine sweet potatoes, sugar, milk, eggs, butter, coconut and vanilla
mix well and pour into baking dish. Combine topping ingredients &
sprinkle on top of sweet potato mixture.

Bake 350 - 30 minutes
10-12 servings

Enjoy!!!

Why I Love the Book of Mormon . . . or How Long Can You Carry A Grudge?

While reading the Book of Mormon a couple weeks ago, I was struck by the length of time the Lamanites could carry a grudge. Four hundred and thirty years after Lehi brought his family to the Promised Land, they were still angry over perceived injustices that occurred during their travels.

In Mosiah 10 we learn the Lamanites believed they were forced to leave Jerusalem due to the evil doings of Lehi, wronged in the wilderness, and wronged again while crossing the sea --all because of the iniquity of Nephi, who also unjustly stole the record of their people when he fled into the wilderness (to preserve his life). From generation to generation they taught their children to hate the Nephites. And so hate was spread from parent to child year after year, decade after decade, resulting in death and sorrow for many people.

My first thought was, "Wow! I am pretty sure I have no idea who offended any of my ancestors over 400 years ago. " I was amazed a legacy of hate could have been preserved for so many generations. But then of course, I was reminded of the problems in the middle east today as well as in other parts of the world and realized I was being a bit naive.

But what I also realized was the impact our teachings can have on our children for generations. We can teach them to hate and distrust, or we can teach love, faith and compassion. We can teach selfishness or we can teach service and charity.

My parents are great examples of teaching good qualities. My father is the most obedient and hard working person I know, and he has diligently tried to instill those qualities in his children. I remember well one Saturday morning when I was twelve and it was our stake's turn to pick cherries at the stake welfare farm. Sleeping late sounded so much better to me than getting up at 5:30 to work in an orchard. So when my father came to get me, I told him I couldn't find my shoes and therefore could not go. He suggested I wear another pair. So I told him directly, I did not want to go.

I will always remember his very unsympathetic response. He said, "Sometimes in life we have to do things we don't want to do, but we do them anyway because it is the right thing to do." That seems like such a simple and basic comment, but it and his example, have stayed with me and been the impetus behind my completing some very unsavory tasks.

I also appreciate the example of selfless service set by my mother. She has a very tender and kind heart and often reaches out to the poor and needy. While visiting my parents in Guatemala a few years ago, we were leaving to go on a sight seeing journey when I noticed my mother filling her purse with food and coins. And then as we traveled across town, she would give the food and money to the little beggar children holding out their hands at the stop lights.

So my thought these past few weeks is this, "What kind of legacy am I leaving my children?" Is it one of anger, hostility and selfishness? Or is it love, kindness and service? Am I teaching them to hold a grudge against those who might offend them, or does my example teach forgiveness?

I am sorry to say, I realized I need to do a lot better. But, that is one reason why I love the Book of Mormon . . . it helps me to see where I need to improve and improvement always brings . . . joy to my journey.

Guess Who Is Having A Birthday????!!!!

Happy Birthday to My Wonderful, Handsome, Strong, Brave, Adventurous, Smart, and Romantic, Husband!!

I love you!!

When I think of Wes I think . . .

1. Chocolate

2. Peanut M&M's

3. Someone who can visit a place once, not go back for ten years and still remember every road, building, tree etc. Amazing!

4. Die hard exerciser. Every morning at 5:20 you can see him out running his four miles.

5. Can remember where every scripture is.

6. Can't remember any one's phone number or what we are doing on Friday.

7. Amazing teacher

8. Adventurous!! If there is a mountain to climb, a river to raft, a cliff to rappel . . .

9. Romantic. Writes poetry, brings flowers . . .

10. Great foot massager.

11. Is never late, but never likes to go anywhere early either.

12. Rarely leaves an event until every chair and table have been put away and every dish washed.

13. Competitive.

14. Very competitive.

15. Smart.

16. Generous--with both his time and his resources.

17. Someone who always makes time for his kids.

18. Sports enthusiast. Can still out run, out swim, out play all of his kids in any sport. And the world was a much better place for him when the Yankees won the world series.

19. Patient. For proof you can go here and read about a time last year when I borrowed his car. The man is a saint!!

20. A wonderful husband, who is good and kind and perpetually young at heart!!

Happy Birthday

May you have many, many more!!