My parents are pretty AWESOME!!!

I don't know why but yesterday I felt the urge to find a Christmas gift my parents gave all the family back in 2008.  This was something that up until recently I KNEW exactly where it was and for some reason I couldn't find it yesterday.  To say I was getting upset was an understatement!  For years this gift was with my Family History, I could see it there, I've gotten it from this same spot over and over but this time it wasn't there.  During my frustration DJ happened to call and asked what was wrong and I told him and he said well my first thought is in the safe and my second thought was with the Family History...well it's not with the Family History and WELL SILLY ME...I then remembered it was so important to me and I didn't want it to be destroyed in a fire so I put in in the safe...and GUESS WHAT...it was there safe and sound!

And what is this silly little gift you ask...

well it's not so silly to me and my family...

in 2008 for Christmas that year my parents gave us (my brother, sister and me) one of the most precious gifts they ever could have given us, they gave us...

 the story of How the Gospel of Jesus Christ came into our Family...

as they put it, they wanted to share something of lasting and eternal value.  

They wanted us to recognize the treasure that is contained in their story and the lasting worth it is to our family and our posterity.  

Every so often I get out this story and I sit down and I read it.  Even though I know this story and I've heard it for years I seem to find new things in it, perhaps because I'm in different stages in my own life as I read it.  Its not that long of a story but the things that my dad went through during his journey into the gospel is truly a testimony.  You can't help but see how the Lord was preparing him for what his future was.  It just shows you that the Lord truly is there with you no matter who you are, member or non-,member, the Lord always has a hand in your life. 

As I sit here reading what was the start of the first chapter in my parents life in the gospel, I think about next month as the next chapter in my parents life comes to a close.  You see my dad will be released as the Stake President of the West Maricopa Stake.  Its kinda crazy to stop and think about this chapter coming to a close.  Dad has served as stake president for 10years and before that he served as 1st counselor to President Hinten for 9 years.  So basicly 19 years of my father's life as been serving as a member of the stake presidency in the West Maricopa Stake. My mom has been by his side supporting him all during this time. Lets put it a little differently...I have 3 children...Cayla, age 23 (married almost 5 years with 2 children and one on the way), Joshua, age 17 (senior in high School), and Seth age 13 (almost 14, 8th grade)...I only had one child when my dad was first put into the stake presidency.  My other two kids weren't even born.  Pretty much this is all my children have known of their grandpa.     

Watching my dad and mom live the gospel has been a true teaching experience in my life. Watching how they have handled the trial and tribulations that have come their way over the years and how they have come through those situations has been a true blessing in my life. I know that sometimes people look at my parents and think that they have this perfect life but really they are just like all of us except that they have learned to rely on Heavenly Father to help them when they are in need of help and guidance. Not to say that we haven't, I just think that they have fully put that trust in him.  I love the example they are to me.   

I'm so grateful for the true pioneers my parents have been. They accepted the missionaries invitation to join the church, to be baptised and to go forth and be examples to those around them.  

The seeds were planted before my dad was a member, he was sick and he received a blessing...from that blessing we now have a family growing in the gospel.  The examples they have been in teaching me and now I have taught my family and will eternally be grateful!   

EXTRA EXTRA...BIG NEWS...

SOOOOOOO...I'm sure some of you thought I had dropped of the face of the earth this last year...

Seriously, I hardly posted anything!  

Yep, I'm sure you thought I finally did it...

That I ran away and I changed my name...Well, as wishful thinking as it was, and how tempting it was at times, I didn't do it...

Life just was crazy...mostly in a good way this last year!  

To say its getting back to normal.....well that's hard to say!  

BUT I'm hoping to get back to blogging more because I know this is how a lot of my family and friends keep up to date on what's going on in my crazy families life!!  

But for now, I'm not really going to bring you up to date on much I just wanted to share some of the MOST EXCITING NEWS OUT THERE!!  

THIS IS TOTALLY AN 

EXTRA...EXTRA

TYPE ANNOUNCEMENT

This announcement is from Cayla and Craig...

Here we go.....

Drum Roll Please.....

Thats RIGHT!!! 

 Cayla and Craig are expecting baby number 3!!!!

We are so excited to add GRANDBABY NUMBER 3 

to our family in March!!!

Who's a "Meat and Potato" kind of person

I said it before...but its so true so I'm gonna say it again...

I LOVE COMFORT FOOD!!!  

Really I do!! 

I love eating the foods I grew up with, even the most basic dishes, you know like Meat Loaf!!  

So the other night when I was flipping through my old recipes, 

(the ones my mom gave me before I got married with all the family favorites), 

I saw this recipe and decided this was WHAT WAS GONNA BE FOR DINNER!!  

An old family favorite....Simple MEAT AND POTATO PIE

Meat and Potato Pie 

Ingredients

2 pie crust (store kind works great) 

1 pound ground beef or ground turkey (I use turkey) 

1/2 cup milk 

1/2 envelope dry onion soup mix 

Dash pepper

Dash allspice 

1- 12oz package lose-pack frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed

Prepare pie crust.  Line 9 in pie plate with pastry.  Combine meat, milk, soup mix, pepper and allspice, mix gently.  Lightly pat into pie plate.  Top with potatoes.  Adjust top crust, seal and flute edge.  Cut design in top pastry.  Bake at 350' about one hour or till browned.  Serve with warm with catsup.  Makes 6 to 8 servings. 

Prepare pie crust.  Line 9 in pie plate with pastry

Combine meat, soup mix, milk, pepper and allspice, mix gently

Lightly pat into pie plate 

Top with potatoes

Add a little pepper on top of potatoes 

Adjust top crust, seal and flute edge

Bake at 350' about an hour or till browned.  

Serve warm  

If choosing to freeze, allow to cool and then seal 

Cut and serve 

With or without catsup 

Growing up this was one of our family favorite!  There was NEVER leftovers when we had this!!  

Simple and GOOD...what more could you ask for!! 

Enjoy!!  

Washington and Overnight Pumpkin French Toast...

Yes I'm at it again...another PUMPKIN RECIPE...

Keep reading...its at the end of my blog! 

Also, I know the pictures that I'm posting today aren't too great from my trip...all of these pics were taken with my phone...my camera is upstairs and right now I'm sitting with my laptop typing away listening to the rain outside and I'll be honest...I'm just too too lazy to go upstairs and get the camera with all my pics.  I'll post better pictures, maybe later!  LOL 

 Its just one of those lazy kind of days out right bow.  

At the beginning of February I went to Gig Harbor, Washington to visit my brother, Dan and nephew, Caleb.  

I have to tell you I was really nervous about going...why you ask...

Cuz everyone had me believe I was going to FREEZE!!!  

Anyone who knows me knows I don't do COLD...ANY WAY...SHAPE...OR FORM!!!  

So I had to prepare...So because of this I OVER PACKED!!!  

2 coats, 3 sweaters (ok maybe 4 or more), 4 pairs of shoes (need different shoes for different activities in the cold), and of course lots and lots of long sleeve shirts and sweaters! 

 I DID NOT WANT TO BE COLD AT ALL!!!!

Well, was I in for a surprise...it wasn't too bad at all!!  Now it rained everyday I was there...lots and lots of rain, more than Washington normally gets and you know I was OK with that.  I really do LOVE the rain!!  It didn't get any colder than in Phoenix when it gets really cold!  It was in the 50's and 60's the whole time!  Kinda perfect weather if you ask me!!  

I had a GREAT TIME!!

Dan showed me Seattle...

I've never been to Washington before and it was beautiful!!

Dan lives in Gig Harbor which is about 30 minutes from Seattle.  It was like a combination of green mountains, lots of pine trees and grass and the ocean and the city all rolled into one place!!  

Our first stop was of course the Space Needle.  I don't think you can visit Seattle without making a trip to the Space Needle!  It was pretty neat but it was crazy windy and rainy at the top!  

Our next stop that day was to the EMP Museum, which was really cool.  Lots of music and movie memorabilia but what was really cool about the Museum was the special STAR WARS costume exhibit they had...I think Dan and I were totally geeking about about this!!! I'm pretty sure Caleb thought we had lost our minds!!  Now seeing the costumes from the PRINCESS BRIDE came in a close second on the coolness scale!!!  

 The next day we took a Ferry ride...My first ferry ride and it was pretty cool. Theres lots of islands all round the Seattle area and it was pretty nice going by each one.  

 I think by far the coolest place we went was to the Underground Seattle...the stories and history that was shared was so amazing!!!  What a crazy history Seattle has!!! I could do this trip again!!

While there we went to Pike Place Market...Oh the food and the shopping...its a good thing we didn't stay too long there, I could of done so much damage to my check book!!  As it was I had a hard time getting everything I bought home in my bags!!  

Dan also took me to my very first Cirque de Soleil show and can I just say...I AM A FAN!!!  The show, the music, the costumes...way way amazing!!!  

Over all I had a terrific trip to see my brother and I really can't wait to go back and see them and more of their town!!  

Thanks for a great time Dan and Caleb!!!  

Now I'm sure your wondering how my trip to Washington to see Dan has to do with PUMPKIN FRENCH TOAST...well now I'm gonna tell you!   Over the years my brother has become quite the cook!  In fact for Christmas my mom got him a subscription to a cooking magazine "Taste of Home."  Love this magazine a tone.  I've been getting it for years!!  

So of course while I was there we had to make some of the recipes and this one was so good I had to remake it when I got home for the family!!

 HELLO IT'S PUMPKIN!!!   

OVERNIGHT PUMPKIN FRENCH TOAST

from Taste of Home

~1 loaf (1 lb) cinnamon-raisn bread  (I've also used cinnamon swirl)

~1 pkg (8 oz) reduced fat cream cheese, cut into small cubes 

~8 eggs

1 can (12oz) evaporated milk 

~1 cup pumpkin  (I use fresh but you can use can) 

~2/3 cup packed brown sugar 

~1/2 cup milk 

~2 tsp ground cinnamon 

~1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 

~1/4 tsp ground ginger 

~1/8 tsp ground cloves 

~1/2 tsp salt 

~1/2 cup chopped pecans 

~Confectioners' sugar 

~Maple syrup 

 ~Cut each slice of bread into quarters.

 ~Arrange half of the bread in a greased 13x9 in backing dish. 

~Layer with cubed cream cheese

~Add remaining bread, press down slightly.  

~In a large bowl, whisk eggs, evaporated milk, pumpkin, brown sugar, milk, spices and salt.

~Pour over top and refrigerate, covered, overnight.  

~Preheat oven to 350'.  Remove casserole from refrigerator while oven heats.  Bake, covered, 40 minutes.  Uncover; sprinkle with pecans.  Bake, uncovered 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. 

~Let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.   

  ~Dust with confectioners' sugar.  Serve with maple syrup!!

I think the next time I make this I might melt the cream cheese a bit and pour it in so that the cream cheese will be evenly in it.  

This was super good and hit the spot just right!!  ENJOY!!!

When do you have the spirit....

Today in Sunday School our teacher, Jay Jankowski, taught a about the Sermon on the Mount as well as a few other things.  

He shared with the class a handout 

"How to Discern When You Do and Do Not Have the Spirit".

As always it got me thinking...(I know its a scary thought...me thinking again!)

As I went through this list it gave me a lot of food for thought.  

I've felt a lot of the things on this list over the years...I hate to say on both list.  In fact I'm sure I'm not alone...I think we all have our struggles at times when it comes to having the spirit in our lives and recognizing when we do.  

Heres the list...

WHEN YOU HAVE THE SPIRIT: 

~You feel happy and Calm. 

~You feel full of light.  Your mind is clear. 

~Your bosom burns.  You feel generous.  Nobody could offend you.  

~You feel confident in everything you do. 

~You wouldn't mind if everyone is seeing what you are doing. 

~You are outgoing, anxious to be with people. 

~You are glad when others succeed. 

~You want to make others happy.  You bring out the best and see the best in others. 

~You gladly and willingly perform church ordinances.  You'd like to be in the temple everyday. 

~You feel you can magnify your church calling. 

~You feel like praying. 

~You wish you could keep all the Lord's commandments. 

~You feel you have control of your appetites and emotions; food and sleep in moderation, diversion that is wholesome and moderate; calm and controlled speech; no anger, etc. 

~You're generally just glad to be alive. 

WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE THE SPIRIT:

~When Satin is prompting you, you feel unhappy, depressed, confused, frustrated. 

~You feel heavy, full of darkness, your mind is muddled. 

~You feel empty, hollow, cold inside.  You feel selfish, self centered, possessive. 

~Everything anyone does bothers you.  You are always on the defensive. 

~You easily become discouraged. 

~You become secretive, sneaky, evasive. 

~You want to be alone.  You avoid people, especially members of your family. 

~You are envious of what others do and of what they have. 

~You are critical of what others, especially of family members and of authority. 

~You feel hesitant, unworthy to perform church ordinances; you don't want to go to the temple. 

~You wish you had another church job, or no job at all.  You don't want to pray. 

~You find the commandments bothersome, restricting, or senseless. 

~You become a slave to your appetites:  your emotions become passionate; overindulgence in food, sleep, stimulating entertainment, strong anger, outspokenness, etc.  

~You wonder if life is really worth it.  

Now that we have a list to help us recognize when we DO or DON'T have the Spirit, lets start being aware of when feelings or things might be affecting you...I know I will be!! 

New Years Resolutions??? Naaaaa!

As I look back over this last year (you remember 2014-the year that flew by!), I just want to SCREAM!!!  Yep that's right...SCREAM!!!!  

It kills me when I look back at all the things I didn't take pictures of...

Have you ever had that where you know this happened BUT where are the pictures...ugh, ugh and double ugh again!!!  

Having the pictures helps me remember what I forgot happened cuz we all know that my memory is well...ummmmm wait I forgot!!  

Also, why didn't I BLOG more!!  Seriously why didn't I write things down to help me remember...ugh again!!! 

Well here it goes.... 

I'm not BIG on New Years Resolutions...WHY you ask...

Because usually they get broke and

REALLY I DON'T LIKE SETTING MYSELF UP FOR FAILURE!!  

So WHY DO IT!!  

Well what I do believe in is setting goals through out my life to help me better myself and my family!! 

 Everyone talks about setting New Years Resolutions and trying to make a new start but really shouldn't we be setting goals to make ourselves better always, not just at the start of each new year. 

Now if your one of those people who can set  new years resolutions and stick to your resolution all `year, well your a much better person than me!  

See if you need to lose weight, why wait to the new year to set a resolution to be more healthy...why not just start TODAY!!  

If you feel you need to spend more family time together, again WHY WAIT!! 

Its the same with everything...Clean house, becoming a kinder person, learning to cook..anything...WHY WAIT!!!  

For me and my family, we are trying to add more spirituality into our lives.  We've set some family goals...some might sound like new years resolutions, but again, it isn't.  

We've made a goal as a family to read the scriptures more together.  Also to spend more quality time together. As we look to the future it dawns on us that we really only have a year and half before Josh leaves on a mission and we want to do all that we can to help him be prepared.  Also only a short time before Cayla and Craig are moving to a new state and again Josh leaving so family time is becoming very important to us!  

We've set a few other goals but whats funny is some of these goals were set before the New Year (like August)...why because we want to better ourselves.  I'm not saying that I'll be able to keep all the goals that I've set!  But calling them New Years Resolutions just isn't right!  I'm working on being the best that I can all the time not just January 1st and setting goals is how I can keep working towards that. And setting goals doesn't just come once a year...its something you can do anytime!!

What Happened To This Year?

       Ok I remember thinking in January this year how strange it was to say “2014”!!  Wasn’t that just a few weeks ago!!   Seriously, “WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS YEAR!?!” 

     ~Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago I was taking down all the Holiday decorations, and now I’m putting them ALL back up again! What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just May and the boys were finishing school, Seth 6th grade and Joshua 10th?  And now they are already half way finished with 7th grade and 11th grade!  What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just May when Cayla and Craig graduated from ASU...it seems like yesterday and NOT months ago!  What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just yesterday– Not the beginning of this year when Eric told us that he was gonna be a BIG BROTHER!!  What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just last week that DJ retired from DPS after 21 1/2 years...wait that was in July!!  What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just yesterday that the newest member of our family, David Gavin, was born, making Cayla and Craig parents of two kids now...Seriously was that back in August!! What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just yesterday that DJ and Suzi were starting their own family with three kids and NOW they are grandparents and loving every minute of it, Spoiling grandkids is so much fun and now we have TWO! What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just last month when Joshua was my youngest and playing with his toy cars and NOW he’s blessing the  Sacrament, driving and dating!!  What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just the other day that Seth was acting silly, reciting movies and shows he liked and now he's acting and singing in school plays!  What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just the other day that DJ started his new job as a police officer with the Maricopa Community Colleges...Wait that was in July and now he in a new position as a detective with them!?!  What Happened To This Year!?!

     ~Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago that Seth and Josh were so small they would dance around the kitchen with mom and acting silly...And NOW they have danced in the Phoenix Temple Cultural Celebration for the Prophet of the LDS Church.  They started practicing yesterday...Oh wait that was back in September!!  What Happened To This Year!!

     This year has truly flown by!!  And during it we were blessed with so many blessings even with our personal trials and  tribulations. Through all of it we have grown closer to each other and to our Savior.  As the kids get older and prepare for  missions or start their own family we realize the importance of family and how blessed we are to have the opportunity to be together. We want to wish all our family and friends a very special Christmas and to remember WHY we celebrate this time of year! 

     Have a safe and Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year!