ABOUT ME...Did you know?

Three things that I have never met one of that I didn't like.

1. Bread - you name it...pumpernickle, rye, sourdough, french, rustic, ciabata, banana, zuccini, pumpkin....I could go on and on. I LOVE BREAD!

2. Cheese - Although I have been told there are cheeses out there that I most assuredly wouldn't like...I have never met one yet. Muenster, Provolone, Brie, Gouda, Fontina, Feta, Rocqefort, Chevre, Havarti, Cheddar, Swiss, Jarlsburg, Monz, Parmesean (not that stuff that comes in the clear shaker container with the green lid), Romano, Asiago, goat cheese and again on and on. PS. What is referred to as "squeeky cheese" is NOT cheese it is the leftovers from the process of making cheese. So the fact that I don't like it doesn't count. By the way Velveeta and kraft single slices aren't cheese either. I LOVE CHEESE!

3. Vinegar - I know! I know! this is a weird one but I love vinegars...Balsalmic, white balsalmic, red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar...I even heard about plum vinegar the other day and can't wait to try it...and this is one of my favorite ways to have balsamic. Have you ever tried it with avacado? YUMMY!

I LOVE VINEGAR!

due to the amount of vinegar used in the following items...I am listing them under my love of vinegar.

Mustard...dijon, brown, yellow and on and on.

Pickles...sweet, ghirkens, bread and butter, dill, just about anything pickled.

ALL THINGS

This morning I decided to read the Friend...I love the Friend and always look forward to reading it from cover to cover just as I do the Ensign. So, I came to this story called "Forgetting the Notes" which looked interesting and started to read. The story opens with a scripture..."Let your hearts be comforted, for all things shall work together for good to them that walk uprightly..." (D&C 100:15) I had one of those "AHA" moments...a moment of clarity and understanding. All things...meaning the good. the bad. the ugly. ALL THINGS. As I have endured the trial of being falsely accused and being taken advantage of I have always clung to the scriptures..."The truth shall set you free" and "Pray for them that despitefully use you and persecute you" as a means of reacting in these situations and enduring them. However, that is as far as I got...just accepting that the Lord new the truth and that is what matters most. But, when I read this line this morning I gained a new understanding...EVEN THESE are working together for good in my life...something good is resulting in my life because I am enduring them. I guess those of you who read this will think..."of course" but it has been very difficut and painful for me to find any good coming from losing friendships and being falsely accused...until now. As I read this scripture it brought instant peace and comfort to my mind...in some way, some where GOOD will be restored to me through these trials, as I endure them well, of course :)

Little Girls and Tender Mercies

I was incredibley blessed Sunday to have not one, not two, but all three of my beautiful nieces and my mother attend church services with me. Thanks to Mom thinking church began at 9am instead of the acutal time of 11am I had three wonderful helpers assisting me with the last minute touches to my CTR 7 lesson. They were all eager to help and were lifesavers. I would never have completed my "touches" without them. While we were working they asked if they could attend our class instead of going each to their own. They offered to help with the lesson and be good girls...of that I never doubted. We said of course and they were the perfect addition to our lesson. Mom watched Zeke and the girls, passed things out, helped the children find the scripture references we were reading during class, read stories for us, and held up pictures...wow wish I had this kind of help every lesson :) We finished by attending sharing time for Sr. Primary where they were properly welcomed with "Here we are in our Primary". I think Miss Livvy is the only one that really enjoyed it. I sat thinking this is probably one of those moments that reinforces Chancey's belief that she is too old for Primary. The girls participated and sang each song with enthusiasm...even Chancey...she can't help herself because she loves to sing.

The highlight of the remainder of the day was a visit with the family of a missionary that served in Florida just after my Mom, Caprece, and I were baptized...Lloyd Stanton. There is something so peaceful and comforting about being with people you have a history with. People who know you from your beginnings. Lloyd use to tuck my sister and I in at night with stories from his own youth. We always felt very loved by him and still do. Yesterday was no exception. He married the most wonderful woman...someone I aspire to be like, Tamara. She has raised 6 of the most amazing children of course with Lloyd's help :) When we arrived Joaquin, who has never done this to someone he is unfamiliar with in his little 3 yr old life, ran to Tamara gave her a big hug and said "HI!" All I could say is WOW and well, that is exactly what I felt like doing too, Joaquin. I know the girls received comfort from our visit as well as they listened to stories from their birth forward of baby blessings, birthdays, and just fun times with the Stantons. While we were cleaning up getting ready to leave Lilah says to me, "I really like this family, they are so sweet." I told her I agreed and that we are very blessed to know them. She replied, "Yes, I would be very sad if we didn't know them" I wholeheartedly agreed. I brought some chocolate covered strawberries which Tamara declared were a tender mercy of the Lord. She hadn't had the time to make her traditional chocolate dipped strawberries and had felt dissappointed wishing she had...and there I was with a plate full. He does care about the tiniest details of our lives. The friendship of this family, my nieces and our visit with them yesterday was a tender mercy of the Lord...just the thing I longed for and needed right now.

Ezekiel, Zeke, My Zekey

February 14th, 2009 HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY













Ezekiel - God will Strengthen.
Tomorrow Zeke will be a year old and I started thinking about his birth. It was peaceful and easy much like him. The best way to describe him is content. He is a happy person eager to experience life. My mom has always said that she use to laugh herself to tears at the faces and expressions Caprece would make as a baby. I never quite understood what she meant until Zeke. We would hang out on the bed after I nursed him and I would get so tickled at the expressions he would make...what was even funnier was when he got a little older hearing me laugh would make him laugh which in turn of course made me laugh even harder. My Mom and Rodrigo would come to find out what in the world was going on. My boys were both blessed with beautiful smiles. When either of them smiles their whole being lights up.

I thought on the anniversay of his birth I would record the story of how we chose his name. It is a very special name one I hope he is always proud of and honors. I have told him the story several times since his birth but I would like to record it for him and his posterity now.

While I was pregnant with Ezekiel I attended the funeral of a friend. This was the first funeral that I had attended since the death of my Sister, Caprece. It was difficult but also healing at the same time. I think that had to do with the talk our Bishop gave...He told a story about a prophet name Ezekiel. He said that the Lord showed Ezekiel a valley full of bones and the Lord asked him "Can these bones live?" and Ezekiel told him thou knowest Lord. The Lord responded and said... that these bones would live...at that moment the reality of the resurrection came upon me with such sweetness, comfort and peace... I knew this was to be the name of the little one growing inside of me. I went straight home and read for myself from the book of Ezekiel the story the Bishop told and received the same witness of the resurrection. I have read it quite a few more times since and each and every time I feel the same spirit whisper to me soul of reality of this glorious gift.

EZEKIEL 37:1-10
1 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
5 Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet...

I love that each time I speak his name I think of the gift of the resurrection and seeing my loved ones again.

Happy Birthday Ezekiel

By one of my favorite memory catchers...Christina

Christina took these the day before we left South Carolina. We were rushed due to the super chili weather but she did a wonderful job as usual. Sure do miss you Christina!!!

Zeke being seriously cold and Joaquin a little goofy


Joaquin Kissing Zeke


Grandmommie Jacqi and Joaquin