Monday Musings: Wuv..Tuwu Wuv (Love...True Love)

I know a lot of people do not like Valentine's Day.  Some call it Single Awareness Day.  Perhaps I shouldn't chime in my opinion as I have a "Valentine".  I have a great husband who I love very much and the cool part is he loves me back!

However, I think Valentine's Day can be a celebration of love.  We all love somebody, right?  Hopefully we all love a lot of some bodies with or without having a sweetheart.  

I think that is one of the many reasons I love Frozen so much, (have I told we are obsessed with the movie?:). It is a celebration of the power of love between two sisters.

Overall, isn't love what we are all arriving for.  I believe when we are judged after this life, it won't be a checklist of our good deeds versus our bad deeds,  it will be simply did we learn to love.   Did we love as the  Savior demonstrated by his life and also his death.

I came across this beautiful video last night and it truly touched me.  This is true love.  This is Christ's love.

C.R.E.A.T.E in February

Update on my C.R.E.A.T.E Goals:

My Calling..Being a wife and mom.  Helping the kids exercize and reading is my focus this month as well as Mom and Kid dates.  For Fhe tonight I'm teaching "Brenda's principle of 5".  I do everything in 5.  I have divided my life into 5 categories.   I  have 5 children..etc.  Also when I have a task to do that is overwhelming I do it in 5's.  Weird, I know.  So tonight I'm teaching my kids to take 5 minutes twice a day and clean their room.  I believe if they do their rooms will always be clean.  Also, I'm asking them to pick up 5 things a day from the Family Room to keep it clean.  We shall see how it works.

Also, along with my calling, I feel there is something more I should be doing...a job, volunteer work...not sure..still trying to figure it out.

Radiate:   Not sure if I'm radiating Love and Joy yet, but I'm working on it.

Edify:    I love my scripture schedule and for FHE tonight we will discuss a Conference talk.  Along with our family scripture of the Book of Mormon, I would like to add the Old Testament and Conference Talks.

Active and Adventurous:  Doing okay.  Last week I was sooo tired from recovering from the flu I didn't do anything.  However,  I plan to keep up my exercise routine and hopefully get some more snowshoeing in this month.

Thankfulness:  Well for FHE tonight we will also be writing thank you notes.  It will be a monthly session we do as family.  

Enjoy:  I am enjoying the journey.  I'm still not out of the black hole I was in in 2013, but there are times...more and more... that I feel whole and happy.  And I'm counting on more of those days as I CREATE my beautiful life.

Tuesday Treats: Scripture Cookies

Jaycie was in charge of Family Home Evening last night and we did this activity.  It is found the January Friend.

To find the ingredients, look up the scripture references and fill in the blanks. (Before you make the cookies, check your answers in the list of ingredients below.) Be sure to get an adult’s help with this recipe.

3/4 cup “The words of his mouth were smoother than ____” (Psalm 55:21)

1/3 cup “Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy ____ and honey” (2 Nephi 26:25)

1 1/2 cups “To what purpose cometh there to me … the ____ ____ from a far country?” (Jeremiah 6:20)

2 “As one gathereth ____ that are left, have I gathered all the earth” (Isaiah 10:14)

2 cups “And Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine ____” (1 Kings 4:22)

1 teaspoon “Take thou also unto thee principal spices, … and of sweet ____ half so much” (Exodus 30:23)

1 teaspoon “Ye are the ____ of the earth” (Matthew 5:13)

1/2 teaspoon “The kingdom of heaven is like unto ____” (Matthew 13:33)

3 cups “Nevertheless, … ____ for the horse” (Doctrine and Covenants 89:17)

1 cup “And they gave him … two clusters of ____” (1 Samuel 30:12)

1. 1. 
   Beat the first four ingredients together.
2. 2. 
   Mix in the rest of the ingredients.
3. 3. 
   Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet.
4. 4. 
   Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 15 minutes.

3/4 cup butter, 1/3 cup milk, 1 1/2 cups sugar (sweet cane), 2 eggs, 2 cups flour, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda (leaven), 3 cups oats, 1 cup raisins.

Just make sure when you grab the Ground Cinnamon from the Spice Cupboard you don't grab the Ground Cumin instead....just saying.  Sorry Jaycie.:(

Monday Musings: Answered Prayers

There have been times in my life where I have wondered if my prayers were being heard.  I have honestly wondered if there was a pavilion blocking my communication to my Heavenly Father.  (See Doctrine and Covenants 121:1)

The other day, I had had a "Tender Mercy Day".    Our good friends Kent and DeeAnn brought the kids necklaces from Hawaii.  Jaycie lost her necklace at school and was obviously sad.  We looked for it with no luck.  Later, I said a very informal prayer asking that if possible, we could find the necklace.  I did not have a lot of faith that it would be found, but I offered it nonetheless.

A few days later, I felt to check the Lost and Found  at the school, again not thinking it would be there, especially since it had been several days.  To my surprise the necklace was there.

As I was driving later that day, I was thinking about that experience and remembered my prayer.  Tears came to my eyes as I realized that my prayer had been answered.  Through the spirit, I realized that the necklace was found so that Jaycie could have her necklace, but it was also answered as a witness to me that God hears and answers my prayers.  He loves me and is involved in the details of my life.

Five For Friday: Winter Fun

Sledding Fun!

Marc and I discovered snowshoeing a couple of years  ago.
 Here is a spot we love to go up Provo Canyon

One reason why I love snowshoeing:  It is so enchantingly beautiful!

Our "Frozen" Party Dinner: Sandwiches (because we finish
each other's sandwiches), carrots and frozen hot chocolate.

The Cake from Chelsie

The Frozen trivia game, again brought to us by Chelsie.  It was so fun and creative!


We played the game for Family Night and the Opening Song was "Once  There was an Olaf"

It went like this:  Once there was an Olaf, Olaf, Olaf.  Once there was an Olaf tall tall tall.  In the sun...He became a happy snowman!

Tuesday Treats: Frozen Hot Chocolate

Last night we had a "Frozen" party.   So our family is a little obsessed with the movie....Okay  a lot obsessed.  Pictures to follow:)   One of the things we had for dinner was "Frozen" Hot Chocolate.  So easy!


All you do is take 2 hot chocolate packets, 2 cups of milk, a handful of ice and blend it in the blender. Wa-La!  You have Frozen Hot Chocolate.  It was yummy but I still I think I prefer my hot chocolate...Hot.

C.R.E.A.T.E

Long time, no blog I know, but here goes.  Our computer is dying a slow and noisy death so it's hard to do anything on it.  Santa did bring me a tablet so I am using it to blog.

I am in the process of making my New Years goals and in doing so, I came up with this acronymn:  CREATE.

C  stands for Calling.  I will do my best to fulfill my calling as a wife and mom.  I will also be open to other things the Lord may have in store for me.

R is for Radiant.   I want radiate love, and joy this year.

E is for Edify.  I will edify myself through worship.

A is for Active and Adventure.  I want to fill my life with lots of activity.

T is for Thankful.  I will focus on being more Thankful this year.

E is for Enjoy.  I will enjoy the journey.

And I will Create a beautiful life in 2014!