Bringing Things Back Into Control

Just wanted to share a little conversation I had with B this morning.  I think it may have been inspired, and I might be onto something.  I'm reading Alma 42 this morning, and it fits right in with what happened between B, A and me before they left for school.

Here's what happened...
B, while the boys were trying to get out the door, did something mean to A.  Not an unusual occurence in our home (it actually happens a lot more frequently than I'd like to admit--it makes me crazy!)....A came to me to tell me what B did. 

I called B to me, and instead of the usual lecture, asked him some questions.  First, I said, "B, did it make your heart feel all good and happy inside for doing that to your brother?" 

Response, head bowed, "No." 

Me, "Then why did you do it?  I'm sure you know from past experience that it's not going to make you feel good.  Do you like that feeling?" 

Response, "No." 

So, I guess it did get a little lecture-y, but I followed up with, "B, that feeling is Heavenly Father's way of teaching you that your spirit is now dirty.  It's His way of reminding you that He wants you to come home to him someday, and as long as you have that on your spirit, you can't come back.  So, how are you going to get rid of that?  What can you do?  You need to train yourself to be sensitive to those feelings and do whatever you can to get rid of those bad feelings quickly." 

B then, very sincerely, apologized to A, but still looked sheepish.  I said, "Maybe that wasn't enough....Looks like you're still feeling it a bit."  B walked over to A, put his arms around him and hugged him for a good while.

It was a sweet moment between these brothers.  It made me happy to be their mom.  Yay for little whisperings.  Tender mercy.

Tacos in the Crockpot

I've never done this before, but the kids are dying for tacos, so I'm going to appease them tonight.  I'm still determined to use the crockpot as much as possible because it's making my life soooo much easier, and I feel a bit more "together" just knowing that the food is ready to eat when Z (who is only Z for a little bit longer) gets home from work and the kids are done with soccer.

Brown a couple pounds of  ground beef and some chopped onions in a skillet.  I usually drain my meat in a colander and run hot water over it to get most of the fat gone then I put it back in the pan and add the onions and cook them until they're soft.  Put it in the crockpot.  Add a couple tablespoons of chili powder, a teaspoon of paprika, a teaspoon or so of salt, about a half a cup of salsa or taco sauce, a tablespoon of worcestershire sauce, and a can of refried beans. Mix well. Cover cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours.

When it's all done, spoon into shells or tortillas and top with your faves--lettuce, grated cheese, salsa, sour cream, guacamole, olives, etc., etc., etc.


There you have it.  I'd love to know if you've tried any of these recipes.  Let me know what worked and what didn't as well as any changes you made and if they were a success.   Have a great day!

Z Wants a Name

We had guests for Conference.  I believe I mentioned that in my last post, but I have to tell you some funny things I learned about our guests.  We had a couple (Makay and Cali) come over who are currently attending Pacific University in Forest Grove.  They are newly expecting their first baby.  Exciting times!  Funny thing is, that Makay's parents took us under their wings when Z and I were a young couple, going to college, and expecting our first baby.  His mother helped me sew baby clothes and a quilt (which we still have and use).  Makay was seven (A's age).  Z and I were 24, the same age Makay is now.  Funny.

As we talked about this fact, many things became clear to me.  First of all, I have to tell you that Makay's mom is one of my heroes.  I love her to pieces.  She's sweet and obedient and kind and just plain "together."  She's the whole package.  I want to be just like her (when I grow up).  Over the years, and especially back in that day, I would sit and ponder about why she'd want to be friends with me.  I really have never figured it out.  But, having Makay and Cali over yesterday, I think I'm finally starting to understand.

We really loved having them over.  They made us feel young and happy.  They are venturing into a new world with all the changes that are happening in their lives.  Oh how I remember those days.  How different it would have been had we not had friends like Kitti and Kjel--Makay's parents.

Now, since their parents are far away, I'm hopeful that Z and I can step in and help in whatever way we can.  So nice to be able to give back to the family that gave so much to us!  Tender mercies.

Okay, so now to the title of this post...

Between conference sessions, Mormon Messages were played.  This one came up, thus part of the reason for me reading NieNie yesterday:



I introduced Cali to NieNie yesterday, and we talked a bit about blogging.  Z got into the conversation, as did Makay.  While we talked, Z interjected, "Mr. Nielsen(the name NieNie has given her husband in her blog)?  I want a name.  I'm just Z.  Why can't I be (I can't remember what title he gave himself, but something truly obnoxious, I promise you), or something other than Z?" 

So, now, the quest begins.  If I'm going to give him a name, you'd better believe the rest of the gang is going to hop on that bandwagon until we have an entire orchestra begging for cool, hip, and slightly obnoxious (probably more than slightly) monikers.  So, ideas?  I'm totally open.  Here's the line up for now, see what you can do with this....

Z (dad)
Q (nearly 17-year-old daughter)
G (15-year-old TODAY!!!! son)
DJ (13-year-old daughter)
B (10-year-old son)
A (7-year-old son)
T (almost 4-year-old son)
L (15 month old daughter)

Maybe I'll have them describe themselves and use what they come up with, but for now, see what you can do with what you know.  I'd love to hear it!

This Weekend

Sometimes, a lot of the time lately, I don't feel like blogging.  Today, I remembered NieNie.  I remembered how she inspires me to write.  If I ever feel like I have nothing to write about, I read her words and look at her pictures, and somehow, it brings out this desire to write--even if it's really about nothing of importance.

General Conference was wonderful this weekend.

L was sick on Friday.  I had just changed her diaper before going into Target to go birthday shopping for G, who turns 15 tomorrow.  When we finished shopping and I pulled her out of the car, my hand was very wet.  I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out where the moisture came from, but she was soaking all up her back.  It was then that I realized that she had created the moisture with no apparent effort.  EWWWW!  I now had it on my left hand as well as on the pocket of the vest I had borrowed from DJ earlier that morning.

I also noticed, as I pulled her from the cart and kissed her head that both her belly, under my fingers, and head, under my lips, were very warm.  The shopping trip came to an abrupt halt, and I will have to shop for T's birthday another day next week.

I measured her temperature when I got home and found that she was at least 103.5.

We had invited friends to come join us for Sunday's Conference broadcast, but I thought I had better inform them as to the ill baby, so they could decide if they really wanted to come.  We still ended up with friends here.  It was a great time!

We had the usual Sunday morning Conference feast--donuts, hot cocoa with peppermint ice cream, fruit salad (I did something a little different with it this year, and it was yummy....I'll share later).  For lunch we had two kinds of soup--taco and potato (the kind out of the packets you get at the store) with ham and cheese added.  Oh, we also had rolls.  G talked me into making cinnamon rolls (I have gotten permission from my friend Mandy to share the recipe here too, so I will here in a couple days), so we each had two of those also.

There were so many good talks.  I took notes Saturday morning.  Although I had a sick baby to tend on Saturday, which I thought was going to be a total bummer, it ended up being a great blessing.  I got to watch conference alone.  Everyone else was at soccer games.  It was delightful!  I loved President Uchtdorf's talk.  Here it is, just in case you missed it:




I love the part about how we should be spending our time.  I'm going to work on this!

Don'cha Just Love It?

I thought I'd better write while things are fresh in my mind.  General Conference's Saturday morning session just finished, and I have so many thoughts in my mind that I want to get down before they leave me.

Because of a sick baby last night, I was the one who got to skip out on this morning's soccer games and stay home to take care of her.  The house is quiet, and now that she's asleep, it's just me.  Wow!  What an opportunity!  I've never gotten to watch Conference alone that I can recall.

The sound wasn't working online, so I missed the very beginning including a few of the words of the prophet.  I don't know which temples were announced, but I figured out that if I went to the audio feed, I could get that going also.  Isn't modern technology amazing and wonderful?

I felt inspired to continue to encourage my children toward serving missions.   I cried as Elder Holland talked to me.  I really felt that.  I've never felt so sustained and supported as I did as I listened to him talk.  I hadn't realized that they think about and appreciate what I do.  As he spoke and shared a number of ways in which members of the Church serve, I noticed that I have done many of those things.  They were small things, most of them, and I somehow felt that my Heavenly Father was aware.

The talk by the General Primary President was sweet.  I felt humbled to be in the position in which I currently serve and felt happy that I've been blessed with the vision of what my calling's all about--that I am to take each child by the hand and walk with him/her, encouraging each one to continue on the path that I find such joy in.

Brother McConkie made me want to radiate the love I have for the Gospel with the children while I do sharing time in Primary this month.  Although I'm not a trained teacher, I have all that I need just with my enthusiasm for what I'm teaching and whom I teach.  I truly love the children I get to serve.  What a blessing that is!  I also feel their love for me, which I a great gift that makes it all so much more do-able.

Elder Christopherson urged me to work hard all day and teach my children to do the same.  He reminded that there are many "mind-numbing" things we can use for entertainment.  I felt cautioned.  I know that facebook is one of those things.  I learned a number of months back, as I listened to blogger Stephanie Nielsen share some of her feelings, that all things can be used for good.  That's what I want to do with these potentially dangerous things.  First of all, I want to watch more carefully how I use my time and secondly, when I do use them, that I use them for only positive, building purposes.

Now President Uchtdorf....Wow!  How I love that man!  What a wonderful message.  I have often felt apologetic when people enter my home, that things are so undecorated and plain.  As I listened to President Uchtdorf, I found that there's a reason for that.  I have always been drawn to simplicity.  I don't know why, but I have never been a frilly person.  After hearing him, I want to simplify further.  I want to have the ability to spend time building the relationships that President Uchtdorf shared were most important--with God, with family, with fellowmen, and with self.  I want to spend my time in secret, personal prayer; in quality time shared with my husband and each individual child in my family; in being sensitive to the needs of those individuals I come in contact with; in cherishing the relationship with myself.

What a wonderful session!  I feel so uplifted and desirous to change and focus my life on the important things in my life.  Truly wonderful!