Food Glorious Food

I am thankful for tastebuds. Without them there would be no point to eating other than to keep yourself from starving to death. My dearest Danielle shared with me a yumilicious recipie for sweet pork that our ward also made for an activity. I didn't get to have any then as I was not able to attend. We made it for ourselves a couple of days ago. It was so much more yummy than I imagined it would be so I just had to share.

Sweet Pork

3.5 lb pork roast
1 bottle taco sauce (8 oz) ( I used enchilada sauce because it was what I had)
1 T Cumin
1 cup brown sugar
1 can coke (regular, not diet)

Cook pork all by itself in pot on low for 6 hours (She starts out with the pot on high and then turns to low. I used my crock pot on high for 7 hours) approximatly half of the roast should be covered with water. NOTE: About 3 hours before it is finished take out half of the water. Then add in all the above spices/liquids to finish cooking the meat. At the end of cook time shred the pork roast. It will be saucy but wonderful!


Roll the roast in tortillas with rice and black beans. We added sour cream and cheese - DELICIOUS!!!


I used canned black beans with onion and garlic added and plain white rice because I was in a hurry. These are the recipies Danielle suggested:

Lime Rice

In a saucepan saute`:
2 T butter
1 yellow onion
4 cloves garlic, minced

In a large pot bring to a boil the following:
6 2/3 cup water
8 t chicken buillion
1/2 bunch cilantro chopped 2 t cumin
2 small ccans diced green chilies
1 T lime juice
1/2 t pepper
3 cups rice (approx)

After liquid starts to boil turn heat to low and cook about 25 min

Black beans

4 cups black beans
1 chopped onion
4 cloves garlic
8 cups water

Cook in crock pot on low 10 hours. Add salt and salsa when done.

Tomatio dressing
1 pkg Hidden Valley bettermilk ranch dressing mix
1 C buttermilk
1 C mayo
1-2 tomatillos
1/2 to 1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 to 1/3 bunch ciliantro, chopped
1/2 t lime juice
1/2 to 1 small jalapeno, seed removed
(blend in food processor and add to buttermilk dressing)


ENJOY!!

My Battle Cry

Sometimes I just want to shout to the world, " This is what I believe and there's nothing wrong with it!!"

At our stake conference the second counselor put it in a way that I just love:

"True followers diligently seek to know His will not because of forced obedience or a check list of rights and wrongs but because they have found the truth, the peace and joy of living and applying gospel principles each day of their life. They have the knowledge that comes from prayer, fasting and temple attendance."

That's the truth, and there's nothing wrong with it. It's not me against you and I am not a brainwashed idiot. I have proven these things for myself and I stand by them not only because I know them but because my Father in Heaven knows I know them.

That being said I want to tell my friends how thankful I am for their willingness to take me as I am and be my friend dispite our differences. I am glad they know there is enough good in all of us to focus on, whether we have the same beliefs or not. I love sharing thoughts and ideas with you.

To my family I hope you know I'd beat the poop out of anyone I thought was trying to hurt you in any way. I'd sell my kidney for you. Eternity with all of you looks pretty great, even though I may need to get away from you every once in awhile! =P

I love you all. Thanks for making my life the joy that it is.

Once there was a way to get back homeward. . .

So there's this beautiful place in Idaho called Shoshone Falls.

It is nicknamed the Niagra Falls of the West.

It stands 50 feet taller than Niagra Falls.

This is what it looks like close to the time of year it has the most

water flow. Usually there is slightly more than this.

This is more like what it looked like when we got there.

Actually the picture makes it look like there is more water than there

was when we were there. But it was still beautiful.

Water is diverted for irrigation in the area so most of the

water was keeping fields of crops growing.

We hope to go back in April and see it in it's full glory.

Photos of the Girls

Before we left for school Laura took some photos of just the girls.

The theme was The Roaring 20's.

The girl's are the 20's I'm the 40's.

Thanks to Laura's magic camara, we all came out looking pretty good.

And we had fun doing it too.

For some reason I always think of Julia Child when I see this photo of me.

The hands REALLY give away the age. My father in law calls his wrinkles

'Grin Lines'. He always thanks my kids for giving them to him.

He says without them he wouldn't have smiled so much and wouldn't

be wrinkled so each wrinkle is a blessing.

I love that.

Mischievious Megan

When I see this picture of Danielle I sometimes wonder what maniacal plan

she has up her sleeve. She's too cute to do any thing wrong though, so

I guess it's all in the way you look at it!

Thanks Laura!!

You can find more of her work at Sugar Grenade Photography.

She's mahvelous!!

Road Trip!!!!

On the road again,

I just can't wait to get on the road again.

The life I love is making music with my friends

I just can't wait to get on the road again.

It's that time of year again. The start of another school year.

Off we go (or went) across the state of Washington and Idaho

to our children's semi permanant home at BYU-I.

Not for long though!! They both graduate in April. WOO HOO!!

It gets cold in the winter and the wind always seems to blow

but the skies are clear and the spirit on campus

is strong. Looking at the beauty around you

makes you appreciate what you have.

(Especially if it's green and growing like in Washington state!)

Even if it is soggy every once in awhile.

In some ways this is a year to celebrate. In other ways it's a little sad.

Stuart and Laura won't be there in person for guidance and to hang

out with. They have their own life to live. (on to Chiropractic College!)

Joshua, even though he was accepted at both BYU and BYU-I has decided to

finish up his Associate's Degree here at home. Not a bad idea.

We are grateful he is here with us but sad that this year marks the

end of several years of travel and schooling. It is a time of

change and exploration along with the celebration.

Just when you think you have it all figured out, it all changes again!

Life is never boring!

I'm grateful for our family!

To the Zoo!!!!

I LOVE THE ZOO!


It's a great way to spend the day with your family enjoying the sun, the laughter and most especially the companionship and love. It's fun to watch all the animals. You never know what they'll do next. We see something funny almost every time.

Although these are not all from the same visit, and one is actually a poster, they are all shots that make me smile. We have seen animals at several different zoos over the past year and I have begun to realize that some animals remind me a lot of humans.

For instance this giraffe could actually be a youth letting his or her parents know exactly what they think of that curfew time. Or maybe what they think of their homework. Or maybe it's that little trouble maker in Primay. It could even be Grandpa Jack playing around with the kids. (Check out the moustache.) And look at those eye lashes!!! Girls always seem to be jealous of boys because of their great lashes. I think giraffe's have them beat!!!



I have always loved this picture. It is so sweet and gentle. The little giraffe at our zoo is now big enough to notice people comeing by when they are in the feeding pen. It is fun to watch the playful antics of this little baby as he or she prances around, scampering back and forth.

It is the same with humans and that sweet tenderness between parents and children. As they learn to grow and walk and are so proud of their accomplishments mom and dad aren't too far away just in case they are needed.

I'm glad God created such beautiful creatures to gladden our hearts and bring us joy.

Woo Hoo! Play time!!! The two boys wrestling or dad rolling around with them. Or how about all the times the kids pull moms hair as babies because it's right there and it make a great handle. I can also envision all the moms and dads chasing their kids down the hall at church or in the chapel because the little ones think it's a great game. Or maybe they just want a little attention and we've been sitting still too long.

Patience. . . the word of the day.



THE END OF THE DAY!!

After a three hour block on Sunday, chasing the kids, who wouldn't be worn out? Or maybe this is part of the high priest group? (Tee Hee! Just kidding.) More than likely it is one of the young men in the back of the Sunday School class!!!

In reality I love my ward, my calling, my family, and I think it's fun to see how animal families can be a lot like ours.

Strange Habits

So I am trying to figure out why I like night better than day. Not really. I love wonderfully sunny days. Days like when I was a kid and you could lay out in the grass and look at the blue sky and smell the blackberries ripe on the vine. DAys where you didn't get much done, but that was ok because there were no deadlines and no one pushing you. But I liked staying up then too. (Actually, come to think of it I think my favorite days where when I could cuddle my babies and no one cared how long it took. Those days are long gone!)

It's past midnight. I have cuddled with my husband, come back to the living room and read my scriptures, hugged my youngest daughter, shared some conversation with my youngest son, and waited until my first daughter got back home from institute. Then I spent some time thinking about friends and their influence. Read some blogs and wrote this one.

As I sit here I can hear my son watching a movie as he goes to sleep and the ticking of the clock as time keeps moving on. I'm still not ready to go to bed. Maybe a little more searching on lds.org. So much information, so little time!!!