For those of you who have been wanting an 80s flashback to the king of cool, big hair, fast cars, and good memories, check out:http://www.hulu.com/knight-rider-classic
Monday, March 30, 2009
Finally!
For those of you who have been wanting an 80s flashback to the king of cool, big hair, fast cars, and good memories, check out:http://www.hulu.com/knight-rider-classic
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Esther's Birthday
This year, I was looking forward to Esther's birthday more than my own! Daron's parents were coming into town for another family event and decided to come in a little earlier so that they could be here to help celebrate Esther's third birthday as well.
We started with a trip to the Dallas Zoo. (Not as good as the Fort Worth Zoo in my opinion, but it was still a very nice one.) Esther refused to ride in the stroller with Nathan and just ran from one place to another, absolutely enchanted with each new animal, and excitedly telling me that she wanted to take it home with us. Nathan just munched on his socks and the stroller and was happy as a clam to have Grandpa push him around.
Esther moving right along.
What a cutie!
Here's my sweet girl!
That evening we had a dinner of Esther's choosing - homemade mac and cheese, and broccoli, grapes, and tomatoes on the side. Cousins came over for cupcakes and ice cream and presents after that. Everyone wore party hats - even the Dads and a teenage boy cousin. What good sports, considering they were My Little Pony!
All ready for the party!
Nathan will not be happy about this in years to come!
Trying my hand at homemade cupcakes and frosting. It turned out pretty good - not perfect - but not bad for a first try.
What a delight Esther is to have in our family. She is a very strong willed, yet sweet girl who loves to read, play games, and dance. I can't believe it was only three years ago that she joined Daron and myself. I feel like I've always known her. She truly lights up my life. I love you Esther! Happy Birthday yet again!
We started with a trip to the Dallas Zoo. (Not as good as the Fort Worth Zoo in my opinion, but it was still a very nice one.) Esther refused to ride in the stroller with Nathan and just ran from one place to another, absolutely enchanted with each new animal, and excitedly telling me that she wanted to take it home with us. Nathan just munched on his socks and the stroller and was happy as a clam to have Grandpa push him around.
Esther moving right along.
What a cutie!
Here's my sweet girl!
That evening we had a dinner of Esther's choosing - homemade mac and cheese, and broccoli, grapes, and tomatoes on the side. Cousins came over for cupcakes and ice cream and presents after that. Everyone wore party hats - even the Dads and a teenage boy cousin. What good sports, considering they were My Little Pony!
All ready for the party!
Nathan will not be happy about this in years to come!
Trying my hand at homemade cupcakes and frosting. It turned out pretty good - not perfect - but not bad for a first try.
What a delight Esther is to have in our family. She is a very strong willed, yet sweet girl who loves to read, play games, and dance. I can't believe it was only three years ago that she joined Daron and myself. I feel like I've always known her. She truly lights up my life. I love you Esther! Happy Birthday yet again!
Birthdays
Last Monday was my birthday. I turned 31. This is about that age that you dread when you're really young; at least I always thought it seemed old. Now that I'm here it's not that bad.
But I am discovering that birthdays are somewhat harder to enjoy when you're a mom. You don't get off the hook from everyday chores and responsibilities despite your best efforts, your children are not always angels to bless you with true birthday bliss. How about three potty accidents, including a poopy one!? And they both had colds, and so did the hubby. We ended the day with a picnic dinner at the park and they sang Happy Birthday to me over cinnamon buns from Costco.
The special part of my birthday happened on Saturday. Which Daron thinks is very funny because he likes to pretend that my birthday is on the 14th of March. Anyway, he took me on a surprise date. It wasn't until we walked into the Meyerson Symphony Center and I saw the stage that I realized what the concert was. It was the Glenn Miller Orchestra! And we were sitting in the second row!
The band was awesome. The woodwind players all played at least four different instruments throughout the concert. The leader of the band, a trombonist himself, used to play for Tommy Dorsey's band. Since college, my love of Big Band music has done nothing but grow.
The second half of the show Debby Boone sang while the GMO played. She is the daughter of famous singer Pat Boone and the daughter-in-law of Rosemary Clooney (She is one of my favorite jazz singers. You'd remember her as the older sister in White Christmas). She sang Rosemary Clooney songs and told stories about her. She even wore a dress that had been designed for Rosemary by Edith Head. She ended the concert with her Grammy hit, You Light Up my Life, from 1977.
What a marvelous evening! Thank you Daron for such a wonderful gift!
But I am discovering that birthdays are somewhat harder to enjoy when you're a mom. You don't get off the hook from everyday chores and responsibilities despite your best efforts, your children are not always angels to bless you with true birthday bliss. How about three potty accidents, including a poopy one!? And they both had colds, and so did the hubby. We ended the day with a picnic dinner at the park and they sang Happy Birthday to me over cinnamon buns from Costco.
The special part of my birthday happened on Saturday. Which Daron thinks is very funny because he likes to pretend that my birthday is on the 14th of March. Anyway, he took me on a surprise date. It wasn't until we walked into the Meyerson Symphony Center and I saw the stage that I realized what the concert was. It was the Glenn Miller Orchestra! And we were sitting in the second row!
The band was awesome. The woodwind players all played at least four different instruments throughout the concert. The leader of the band, a trombonist himself, used to play for Tommy Dorsey's band. Since college, my love of Big Band music has done nothing but grow.
The second half of the show Debby Boone sang while the GMO played. She is the daughter of famous singer Pat Boone and the daughter-in-law of Rosemary Clooney (She is one of my favorite jazz singers. You'd remember her as the older sister in White Christmas). She sang Rosemary Clooney songs and told stories about her. She even wore a dress that had been designed for Rosemary by Edith Head. She ended the concert with her Grammy hit, You Light Up my Life, from 1977.
What a marvelous evening! Thank you Daron for such a wonderful gift!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Sacred Temples
A few days ago I heard that HBO's series Big Love is going to be airing an episode in which my church's temple ceremonies will be depicted.
The ceremonies performed in the temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are sacred. Why do the producers and writers of this show seek to display something (and most likely in a very misrepresented way) that is so holy to us? Because we live in a "tell all" society. The trend is to expose, flaunt, exploit, and uncover anything and everything. Think reality shows, talk shows, tabloids, fashion, the internet... We have all come to expect to be able to know and see everything about anyone and anything. We feel we have the right to reveal things that others would wish to be kept away from the prying eyes of the world.
People often complain that we won't let the public into our temples. Would you just let anyone into your home? Do you tell everyone about the beautiful relationships that you and your spouse share behind closed doors? What anymore is kept sacred? Perhaps the definition of sacred is not understood.
From Dictionary.com:
Sacred
1. devoted or dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose; consecrated.
2. entitled to veneration or religious respect by association with divinity or divine things; holy.
3. pertaining to or connected with religion (opposed to secular or profane ): sacred music; sacred books.
4. reverently dedicated to some person, purpose, or object: a morning hour sacred to study.
5. regarded with reverence: the sacred memory of a dead hero.
6. secured against violation, infringement, etc., as by reverence or sense of right: sacred oaths; sacred rights.
7. properly immune from violence, interference, etc., as a person or office.
Though there are many who would see my religion as strange and would try to deliberately misrepresent it, I do not fear their attempts. I know that what I believe is true, that it is good, and that it is of God. I love the temple and the sacred covenants which I have made there. It was in the Boston Temple just over six years ago that I was married to my husband, even sealed together that we and our children may live together throughout this life and beyond into the next. I am so grateful for many friends who, over the years, though we differ in our religions and beliefs, have always stood by me and respected me.
May we as a society learn what things to broadcast and debunk and what to leave sacred. If you would like to know more about our temples, you may find this short video helpful.
The ceremonies performed in the temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are sacred. Why do the producers and writers of this show seek to display something (and most likely in a very misrepresented way) that is so holy to us? Because we live in a "tell all" society. The trend is to expose, flaunt, exploit, and uncover anything and everything. Think reality shows, talk shows, tabloids, fashion, the internet... We have all come to expect to be able to know and see everything about anyone and anything. We feel we have the right to reveal things that others would wish to be kept away from the prying eyes of the world.
People often complain that we won't let the public into our temples. Would you just let anyone into your home? Do you tell everyone about the beautiful relationships that you and your spouse share behind closed doors? What anymore is kept sacred? Perhaps the definition of sacred is not understood.
From Dictionary.com:
Sacred
1. devoted or dedicated to a deity or to some religious purpose; consecrated.
2. entitled to veneration or religious respect by association with divinity or divine things; holy.
3. pertaining to or connected with religion (opposed to secular or profane ): sacred music; sacred books.
4. reverently dedicated to some person, purpose, or object: a morning hour sacred to study.
5. regarded with reverence: the sacred memory of a dead hero.
6. secured against violation, infringement, etc., as by reverence or sense of right: sacred oaths; sacred rights.
7. properly immune from violence, interference, etc., as a person or office.
Though there are many who would see my religion as strange and would try to deliberately misrepresent it, I do not fear their attempts. I know that what I believe is true, that it is good, and that it is of God. I love the temple and the sacred covenants which I have made there. It was in the Boston Temple just over six years ago that I was married to my husband, even sealed together that we and our children may live together throughout this life and beyond into the next. I am so grateful for many friends who, over the years, though we differ in our religions and beliefs, have always stood by me and respected me.
May we as a society learn what things to broadcast and debunk and what to leave sacred. If you would like to know more about our temples, you may find this short video helpful.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Easter Ideas
Easter is fast approaching and I'm trying to keep ahead on all the holidays this year. Life is great when you make celebrations simple, fun, and frequent!
I had heard of Easter Story Cookies before but kept forgetting to find the instructions. Today I found them at ideadoor.com. We are really trying to refocus Christmas and Easter for our families and teach our children the importance of the Savior in our lives. I thought this would be a fun and memorable way to teach them about Christ's death and resurrection. I wanted to post it in case anyone else wanted to try it. Let me know how it goes!
Easter Story Cookies
To be made the evening before Easter
1c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1c. sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible
Preheat oven to 300 F.
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested the Roman soldiers beat him.
Read John 19:1-3.
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30.
Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11.
Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27.
So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.
Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read Matt. 27:57-60.
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
Read Matt. 7:65-66
GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20 and 22.
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
Read Matt. 28:1-9
I had heard of Easter Story Cookies before but kept forgetting to find the instructions. Today I found them at ideadoor.com. We are really trying to refocus Christmas and Easter for our families and teach our children the importance of the Savior in our lives. I thought this would be a fun and memorable way to teach them about Christ's death and resurrection. I wanted to post it in case anyone else wanted to try it. Let me know how it goes!
Easter Story Cookies
To be made the evening before Easter
1c. whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1c. sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible
Preheat oven to 300 F.
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested the Roman soldiers beat him.
Read John 19:1-3.
Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30.
Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11.
Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.
Read Luke 23:27.
So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.
Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.
Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus. Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3.
Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read Matt. 27:57-60.
Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
Read Matt. 7:65-66
GO TO BED! Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20 and 22.
On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
Read Matt. 28:1-9
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Easter Hat!
Maybe it's a little early, but I was in the mood to decorate for spring. So I pulled out the spring/Easter stuff yesterday. Esther immediately attached herself to her Easter basket (care of Aunt Alissa a couple years ago). This morning it became a hat. I just love Esther's wild morning hair and Nathan's "I have a funny feeling you're laughing at me" look.
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