I am a Nosy Nerd

Okay, I admit it. I am nosy. Or maybe I am just interested in other people's lives. I have saved every Christmas newsletter I've ever gotten. And scrapbooked them.
During the first years of my marriage, when I used to write letters to my best friend from junior high and high school, I saved ALL the letters she wrote to me and kept them in this binder.

Obviously, I still have them.

I also love reading books about real people and their lives.


So I think that is why I love the world of blogging so much. I absolutely hate it that as I get older, my circle of family and friends has gotten so big that it is pretty much impossible to keep up with everyone. These are all people I love so much, that I wish I could talk to each of them every day and see what is going on in their lives. Impossible though. BUT! Pretty much every day I check my children's blogs (not that I don't talk to THEM every day...) and I check the blogs of friends, nieces, nephews (and yes, I admit it-acquaintances!, sometimes even strangers!) about once a week.

Through blogs I can know that my-husband's-brother's-daughter's- daughter Jessica got three stitches in her forehead this week. I can know that my husband's-sister's- son's-daughter Rachel is already lobbying to go to Disneyland at one year old! I can know that my husband's-sister's-daughter's-daughter knows her Gramma Joy WOULD give her cake for breakfast when her mother WON'T (mean Mommy!) I can know the funny things Amy hears in passing people on campus at BYU - things she would probably not think to tell me when we talk on the phone.

I can learn how to cook yummy food like Pioneer Woman. I can see a really funny video of little Charlie biting his brother. I can learn to make a really cool cat from a cast-off sock and glove. Heck, I can even learn what some stitcher in Finland made for her Christmas ornament exchange...(Okay, I know that's a bit extreme. Sometimes I need to set a limit for myself on how long I can follow tangents on blogs.)

I do love the photos, thoughts, and insights I get from blogging. I love that I get to know people better this way.

I know some people think blogging is dumb and self-centered. But. I am a nosy nerd. I love it!

Big Girls

Julie and Madison on their way to Catalina Island Marine Institute for three days - "alone!"

Maddie, Julie, and Ally were "the little girls" for so long; it's still hard to think of them as BIG! However, I must resign myself to the idea that Maddie will be a (gulp) TEENager this year! Julie will turn TWELVE in May and "Little" Ally will be TEN in June. They truly are growing up into sweet, lovely young ladies.

Sending them off "alone" to Sea Camp was still difficult...although they were both so excited they could hardly stand it. I can't wait to hear about their adventures when they get back.

President Hinckley's Funeral

When I heard last Sunday evening that President Hinckley had passed away at home with his family, I hardly even felt a little sad. I was so happy he had gone peacefully, surrounded by those he loved, without pain and with his dignity. I knew he was so anxious to see Marjorie, his sweet wife of 66+ years. I knew he was being welcomed home, to a place where he was loved and cherished. I knew he had fought a good fight on the earth and that it was his time to go. I knew I would miss him, but I honestly didn't feel sad.

Today, as I watched his funeral on TV and listened to the many wonderful things said about him I couldn't have agreed more. President Hinckley was a great man. He was a great prophet. He led the Church in new directions - smaller temples in greater numbers, increased emphasis on missionary work, a greater public awareness through media campaigns, to mention a few. I knew I would miss his leadership, but I didn't feel sad.

He loved people and let them know it. He was sensitive to the needs of others. He exemplified the love of Christ for those around him. His unshakable testimony in a loving God and our savior, Jesus Christ was an example to all of us. I am so thankful for him. I knew I would miss him, but I didn't feel sad.

But, during the closing song of the funeral, as they showed video clips of President Hinckley smiling, going about his business, shaking hands with all ages, shoveling dirt, watching programs, wearing a Hawaiian shirt, showing his love for others...I finally realized that I was sad. I am sad that he won't be here any more for me to enjoy. Sad that I'll never hear him tell another joke in General Conference. Sad that I won't see his smiling face anymore. Sad that I won't see him "waving his cane" instead of using it to walk. Sad that I won't have his love and guidance for ME in MY life. Sad that he is gone and I am still here. Not sad for him. Sad for me. I will miss you, President Hinckley. Thank you for your love and example. Thank you for your service.

Valley of Fire

We spent a fun day off from school and work yesterday. Dad drove Maddie, Julie, Ally, Jimmy, Allyson, Sydney, and me to Valley of Fire in the motorhome for the day. The weather was cold and clear, the scenery was beautiful, the company was great, the picnic was yummy, the exercise was good and not TOO strenuous, and a good time was had by all!
Nobody thought to bring the baby backpack (!) so we had to take turns carrying Sydney on our short jaunts into the red rocks. Good thing she's little and there were so many willing participants. Thanks, Julie!

Ally feels victorious after scrambling up some large rocks!

Walking and exploring...

You've heard of cliff-diving into the lake? These guys are "rock jumping" into the sand. Allyson FLIES!
Little Ally takes her turn...

...and Sydney scoots off too!

Maddie jumps! (I'll probably be in trouble for posting this one. This part of the trip was quite warm and Maddie had just shed her two sweatshirts and sweater. She won't appreciated being posted in her undershirt!! Sorry, Maddie.)

We loved all the fun cubby holes in the rocks.

Julie and Ally climbed to these high ones.

Dad took us up a short but very difficult climb, through an arch, and around a bend to this really cool "stairway to heaven." This picture doesn't do it justice, but it was a steep and scary climb.

Good thing we had Dad to hold the staircase open for us!

We remembered this natural stage at the Seven Sisters formation as about three times this big, but it was still roomy enough for this lovely rendition of the can-can. Even Jimmy joined in. Later he said, "I don't why I did that..." The girls enjoyed it!

By the end of the day the girls (Maddie especially) were exhausted.


They did manage to summon up enough energy for one last show with Allyson.

I'm so grateful and glad that we live in a place where we can get out and enjoy the beauties of God's creations in the middle of winter! It makes those hot, hot summers worthwhile!

Jeff Won

Okay, it may be January 20, but I still had one Christmas post I needed to make that I never got to. Jeff and I had decided that since we have everything we could possibly ever need, we wouldn't get each other any presents for Christmas. Then we relented and decided instead that we would have a contest and see which of us could get the best present for the other for under $20.

Jeff went to Hallmark and enlisted the help of Caitlin, Amy's friend from high school. They wandered around until he found the Willow Tree figurines. Since he knew how much I LOVE my Willow Tree nativity set, he figured that might be a good present. But how could he decide which one? Caitlin suggested the new ox and goat to supplement the nativity, but Dad wasn't sure...They seemed so...mundane. Amy was shopping in Henderson with a friend (we're talking Christmas Eve day here, of course!) Dad called Amy and told her his dilemma. She was on her way home, so he told her to stop by and help him decide. In the meantime he studied them all seriously. By the time Amy and Mandy arrived (and finished hugging Caitlin-all three were home from college!) Dad had already made his choice.

He showed them the above figurine. It is called "Love" and Jeff picked it out because "she will think it is sweet." He's right. I do. I love it and have given it a special place in the dining room. I think he is sweet too, and I appreciate all his effort to find something I would love. Thanks, hon.


PS-My contest gift was a weather forecasting clock for the Mt. Pleasant home. It was cool, but not even one bit "sweet." (And really, it was disqualified - because it was $29.99...)

MMMM. It smells GOOD in here!

I am baking bread this morning (along with doing laundry, cleaning house, working in the office, and visiting a friend with a broken foot at some point...) and it reminded me that several people wanted this recipe.

My friend who gave me the recipe is a Woodbury now, originally a Stewart, so if you recognize this recipe from somewhere else, it may have a different name!

I use a Bosch kitchen mixer to mix and knead the bread. I'm sure a KitchenAid or any other large or stand mixer would work. It is a LOT of dough!

WOODBURY BOSCH WHEAT BREAD

For the very best whole wheat bread:
(In Linda’s opinion)

Grind fresh wheat flour-about 1/2 of a #10 can
from LDS Cannery. (5-6 C. of wheat kernals.)

To: 4 7/8 C. water, quite warm, in Bosch mixer bowl, add

3 3/4 T. yeast
3/4 cup honey and
3/4 C. molasses. Mix and let sit until yeast proofs.

Add:
3/4 C. oil
2 ½ T. salt ( I usually use less than this.)
2-4 T. Dough Enhancer (available at beprepared.com or kitchen stores)
2 T. Vital Wheat Gluten (available as above)
12 C. freshly ground whole wheat flour,
four cups at a time, mixing well after each
addition. Add up to a cup more if dough is too
sticky. (I never add the extra.)

Knead ten minutes in Bosch. Transfer to large bowl and
let rise till double in size. Punch down. Transfer to four medium-
size bread pans and let rise again. Bake 10 minutes at 400 degrees,
watching carefully that bread doesn’t burn on top. Turn heat down to
350 degrees and bake 10-15 more minutes. (In my oven I have to lay a piece of foil over the tops of the loaves after the first ten minutes or they get ALMOST burned.)

We love this bread because you don't have to put anything on it to make it taste good. It is sweet and satisfying just by itself.

Also, I don't always put the dough conditioner and/or wheat gluten in it. It is a smaller, denser loaf without them, or lighter and higher (larger slices) if I use them - just depends on what we're in the mood for!

At the moment, I can't think of anything that smells better than baking bread if you are hungry!

Books I Read Last Year

Well, I've had this list posted on my blog for quite a while. Let's see how I did.

Books I Plan to Read This Year (2007)

1. The Book of Mormon (every year...)
I did read this one. I take my inspiration from my mother-in-law, Grandma S., who reads the Book of Mormon TWICE every year. My goal this year is to STUDY it too. Since it is the Gospel Doctrine course of study for 2008, that shouldn't be too hard. Our instructor has also challenged us to give a copy to a friend or neighbor this year too.

2. New Testament - Joseph Smith and King James translations
King James? Yes. Joseph Smith translation? Only parts. That's got to be a study goal too, I guess. What can I say about this one? It doesn't get much better than this.

3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J. K. Rowling
I've already posted my ode to this favorite earlier in the year. Wow, what a ride!

4. Eclipse - Stephenie Meyer
Thanks to my good friend, Kimberly, for turning me on to VAMPIRE books! Who would think a middle-aged grandma would wait anxiously for a book about high school vampires and werewolves?I did enjoy the trilogy though and will read the next one...

5. All Over But the Shoutin' - Rick Bragg
Haven't gotten to this one yet. Kimberly read it while laid up with her broken leg and said she enjoyed it. I'll keep it on this year's list.

6. Left to Tell - Immaculee Ilibagiza
This book touched me deeply and I read passages of it to Jeff. He used it in one of his priest quorum lessons on forgiveness. What an amazing story.

7. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith
Enjoyed this one (for the second time) as a book club selection.

8. The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexander Dumas
I didn't actually make it through this book club pick. There's only so much revenge a nice girl like me can take. I do love the movie and will probably finish this one this year too.

9. Tumbling Blocks - Earlene Fowler
My mother-in-law didn't care for this latest Benni Harper book, but I quite enjoyed it. Benni is one of my favorite fictional characters.

10. Home to Holly Springs - Jan Karon
The Mitford books are my all time favorite series. I've read them twice, so I was anxiously awaiting this new Father Tim book about his return to the town where he grew up after a 40 year absence. I enjoyed his character as much as always, but didn't always like the things I learned about him!

I probably read at least thirty other books this year. I think I will keep a list of all of them this year. I just remembered I have a book journal I started last spring.

Watch for my 2008 sidebar list coming soon...