Something I'm thankful for...

Every Thanksgiving it's my job to make the dinner rolls. It's a long process involving multiple risings and a big mess, and I love every second of it. I love the smell of milk and honey, of yeast and flour. I love the sticky mess on my fingers and the melted butter in the bottom of the pan. I love watching the dough rise as if by magic and the beautiful brown color and smell of the rolls as you take them from the oven. Most of all I love the memories it brings back.

My paternal grandma taught me to make these rolls when I was a very little girl. I was so little that she'd put the giant ceramic bowl on a stool and bend if half while she mixed the dough so that I could help stir. She taught me the "feel" of good dough and just how to push it through the circle of your thumb and index finger so that your rolls will rise high and smooth and uniform.







She also taught me how to make her cinnamon rolls with their complicated twists containing cinnamon and sugar and caramel coated crispy bottoms.






But most importantly, by teaching me her secrets, she was telling me how much she loved me.

And, although she's been gone a long time, when I make these rolls, I feel like I'm telling her the same thing.

Bedazzled Wisdom

I'm going to admit something that will potentially cause you to lose any and all of the respect you may have for me: I like to watch QVC.

I've never actually purchased anything from QVC, although it's been close a time or two, so you may ask, "Why do you watch it?" Two words: JEANNE BICE.



For those of you who don't know the genius that is Jeanne Bice, she is the founder and creator of Quacker Factory. What is Quacker Factory, you may ask?

According to the Quacker Factory website,

"The Quacker Factory is a mythical little cottage, nestled beside the beach in a quaint Floridian seaside town. As you approach "The Factory", down a cobblestone walk, you are greeted by a charming picket fence. The sun is shining. The birds are chirping. The ocean breezes and clean salt air causes a rustle in the coconut palms. From the pond out back, you hear the occasional quacking of ducks... that are our inspiration.

Enter "The Factory" and you find open airy spaces, with billowing curtains, wide windows shaded by tropical shutters and the calming sounds of waves breaking on the beach. The floors are bleached-out pine boards and the furnishings are made of whicker with over-stuffed cushions of bright colored gingham. The walls are hung with angels galore - fresh cut flowers in vases and pails are everywhere. A huge wraparound porch affords a view of both beach and pond. Comfy patio furniture beckons you to grab a fresh ice cold lemonade and settle in. This is where we make dreams come true."
(This goes on for at least five more paragraphs, if you've got the time I highly recommend visiting the link above. Additionally, the English teacher in me would like to point out that I cut and pasted from the site. Any mistakes in spelling/grammar/punctuation are not mine.)

This is also where "we" make fashions like this:



Or this one if you're feeling particularly patriotic:



Or this one for a romantic date:


And this one lights up (no I'm not kidding), which could come in handy if when at the movies with your fella you go ahead and pick out seats while he buys the popcorn. That way when he comes into the dark movie theater you can just turn it on and he'll find you with no problems.

Anyway, Jeanne is as colorful and sparkly as her creations, and I love every minute of her headband wearing, cliched platitude spouting performances on QVC. She started as a widow with two sons to feed, a bedazzler, and a dream. Now she's like Buddha to the "Quackers" who pretty much worship the ground she walks on. They go on Quacker cruises, buy Quacker jewelry, and literally quack at her and each other. Again, I'm not kidding. I couldn't make this stuff up.

Jeanne is delightfully ditzy, sincere, and decidedly un PC. Here's my favorite Jeanne Bice moment of all time:



So, in Quacker land the score is now Christians: 1 Jews: 0.

Anyway, my sister knows my love of all things Bice and a couple of years ago bought me Jeanne's book:



What you can't see is that the cover has GLITTER!!! It's full of "sparkly flair. . .folksy charm" and! exclamation! points! To make things even better, when Jeanne writes something she finds particularly insightful, it's printed in pink. I've decided as a regular feature I'm going to share these "gems" (Get it?) with you. I can't keep them to myself any longer.

Here's the first, are you ready for it?

Dreams really do come true. So ruffle your little pink feathers and get dreaming!"

You're welcome.

It's a Wonderful Life. . . if you're not an OLD MAID.

*** Editor's note: I would like everyone reading this to note that my blog is a place wherein I relay things that pop into my head. I often exaggerate for effect. This post is an example of this. I would like to note that I am not miserable in my single state and this post is not a cry for help. So, although you may be tempted, there's really no need to leave me helpful hints for living a happy life. I'm good. Thank you, that is all.


When I was in high school I saw the classic film It's a Wonderful Life for the first time. If you know me, and I think most of you do, you know that I love all things Christmas. I'm not usually one for the super cheesy, but at Christmas time I say bring on the cheesiest, sappiest, most sugar coated sentimentality possible.

But....I must admit that I pretty much hated It's a Wonderful Life. Maybe it was the length or the glowing talking stars at the beginning. I don't know what it was back then, but I just didn't like it.

Last year my mom bought me the two dvd set of White Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life. I've watched and rewatched White Christmas, but have ignored the other until Sunday afternoon.

So, did I like it? I must say that I was absolutely charmed. Jimmy Stewart was adorable dancing the charleston and positively kissable in his old school football sweater and pants while flirting with a nearly flawless Donna Reed. I spent the majority of the film downright ashamed of high school me for hating this film until they got to the pinnacle of the "what the world would be like without George" part when he asks Clarence what happened to his wife Mary, and they lost me.

For those of you who haven't seen the film, George and Mary fall in love when Mary is just 18 and then marry a couple of years later while she's being actively pursued by a guy who goes on to make millions. So, you might expect that what George discovered is that if he were never born she went on to marry this guy and become a cold and materialistic woman, unhappy with her life. But no.

Instead, Clarence, nearly in tears, tells George, "I'm not supposed to tell you what happened to Mary George." When Jimmy Stewart demands to know the truth, a terrified and horrified Clarence practically shouts, "Mary became AN OLD MAID!"

Then, to add insult to injury (for those of us who share this awful fate), George runs down the street to find Mary, with dark circles under her eyes, a dowdy grey dress and frumpy hat, round wire rimmed glasses, leaving her job as a librarian. Even worse, when George runs up to her she shrieks in fear and FAINTS!

I'm sure all of you know this already, but I must say from the spinster perspective that it removed most of the warm tingly feelings I had for the film up until that point.

I'm not saying that having a family and a husband that loves you isn't rewarding. I'm not saying that I don't want those very things for myself. What I'm saying is, "Is my life really the worst thing you could imagine?" I would hope not.

After it finished, I found myself giggling uncontrollably whenever I thought about Clarence's big reveal, happy I'm a spinster now rather than then.

Oh well, I've got to wrap this up and go and eke out the remainder of my miserable existence. Because, if the film is to be believed, it's possible that I could be living in an alternate reality wherein my George (who is the answer to all of my problems, naturally) has become discouraged and suicidal and wishes that he'd never been born. When his Clarence makes it so he apparently decides that not existing is better than being married to me. (Coincidentally this is similar to the response of every boy/man I've ever dated, so it's entirely possible)

At least I'm not bitter.

Come What May and Love It

We had a wonderful lesson in Relief Society today, and my heart is so full that I needed to share some of what we discussed here on my blog.

Her text was Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin's October 2008 General Conference talk "Come What May and Love It". It deals with adversity and I just felt like the message was just for me.





"There may be some who think that General Authorities rarely experience pain, suffering, or distress. If only that were true. While every man and woman on this stand today has experienced an abundant measure of joy, each also has drunk deeply from the cup of disappointment, sorrow, and loss. The Lord in his wisdom does not shield anyone from grief or sadness."

"But whenever my steps led through seasons of sadness and sorrow, my mother's words often came back to me: "Come what may, and love it." How can we love days that are filled with sorrow? We can't-at least not in the moment. I don't think my mother was suggesting that we suppress discouragement or deny the reality of pain. I don't think she was suggesting that we smother unpleasant truths beneath a cloak of pretended happiness. But I do believe that the way we react to adversity can be a major factor in how happy and successful we can be in life."

Elder Wirthlin gave four things we can do to better deal with adversity:

1. Learn to laugh
2. Seek for the eternal
3. Understand the principle of compensation
"That which is taken away from those who love the Lord will be added unto them
in His own way. While it may not come at the time we desire, the faithful
know that every tear today will eventually be returned a hundredfold with tears
of rejoicing and gratitude."
4. Put your trust in our Heavenly Father and His Son.

"The Lord Jesus Christ is our partner, helper, and advocate. He wants us to be happy. He wants us to be successful. If we do our part, He will step in. He who descended below all things will come to our aid. He will comfort and uphold us. He will strengthen us in our weakness and fortify us in our distress. He will make weak things become strong."

"I know why there must be opposition in all things. Adeversity, if handled correctly, can be a blessing in our lives. We can learn to love it. As we look for humor, seek for the eternal perspective, understand the principle of compensation, and draw near to our Heavenly Father, we can endure hardship and trial. We can say, as did my mother, 'Come what may, and love it.'"

4 Things, Maybe 5

1. Quantum of Solace was only ok. But Daniel Craig did things for polo shirts that I thought impossible.



2. Bronx Mowgli Wentz? Really?! Did they lose a bet or something?

3. This week was American Education Week, and a teacher at my school always gives the kids an assignment to choose a teacher to write a thank you card for. I got about 6 this year, and they were really sweet. One in particular said that I was the most inspirational teacher she'd ever had. It made me cry and feel all warm and tingly inside. It's nice to know you make an impact.

4. I'm through fighting it. I'll go and see Twilight. I'm sure it will benefit from abridgement. I think I can handle two hours of on screen teenage angst. I deal with the three dimensional version every day.



(Robert Pattison and his handsome hair don't hurt the cause. Of course, in my heart he'll always be Cedric Diggory.)


5. I realized that I haven't mentioned my boyfriend Toby for awhile. Hey everyone, I love Toby Stephens!

Evidence...

In my defense, here's part of the interview I witnessed between Ellen and Miley Cyrus:




See. She's maybe more than kinda dumb.

Here's what I wanted to see:



Yummmmmmmmmmmy. (But no Disney tickets.)

So what did YOU do this weekend?

This weekend was my brother David's 30th birthday, and he's kinda taking the loss of his youth this way:



So, in honor of St. David's Day (November 17) we took a little road trip



in order to dance with this lady:



On our way to see her we went to the best donut shop in the world The


(In Yucca Valley, California if you want to make a pilgrimage)

Then we went to watch our nephew Curtis'



game. I must say that he's improved since the last time I watched him play (2 years ago). He scored a goal and stopped a couple as goalie.

That night we ate at the best restaurant in the world



Then, on Sunday after church we (now including Christy) drove to Mission Viejo to stay with Jena's Aunt Lynda and Uncle Steve. They made us feel instantly welcome, had a lovely guest bed, and Aunt Lynda introduced Christy and I to Michael Ball in concert on dvd. I learned a lot.



For instance, did you know that he's had no formal voice training? Also, his dimples may actually go on for miles. Oh, and his version of "Hot Stuff"? Not actually very hot, but very very very amusing.

On Monday (yes, I took a personal day. I love my brother that much) we drove to Burbank and went on a WB Back lot tour where we saw this:




and this:



And the place where this:



is filmed.

Then, after a lunch we went to the Ellen taping, where we hoped to see these guys:



But instead, saw this girl:



We were understandably disappointed until she told us that we'd each be getting two tickets to



and then we became huge fans. Just kidding. She's annoying (in that, "Oh my gosh I am just the most darling thing in the universe!" way), and kinda dumb.

Then, on the way home we stopped at



and our happiness was complete.

Love you David! Thanks for inviting me along. I now can say that I have danced with Ellen.

Au Revoir House Princess...

Tonight the world is a little darker for me and my family. My sister's wonderful dog Alyx died today, and I'm so sad I can hardly see to write. Alyx was, like all beloved dogs, absolutely worthy of every single bit of love and affection that was showered upon her, and I know that I am not alone in saying that she will be missed.

Alyx wasn't flashy or in your face, and if you didn't take the time to get to know her you might have considered her boring or aloof. But, this first impression could not have been more incorrect. Alyx was a quiet little dog, always waiting for you to notice her, never forcing the issue. When you did notice her, she cuddled as close as she could and looked up into your eyes with an almost palpable expression of love.

But, what made Alyx more than just a sweet dog was that she had a hidden dark side. One of the reasons she'd cuddle up to you when you pet her was so that she could wipe her almost constant eye boogers on your leg. We called her the House Princess because she KNEW that she was in charge of her house and everything and everyone in it. She didn't like to play with toys and would go so far as to bite the other dogs if they dared to play. She liked to tell on her brother Gunner if he did anything wrong (or even if he didn't), and bloodied my little Scout's eye twice when she displeased Alyx (which she accomplished by merely existing. She was NOT a big fan of Scout's). She killed birds in the back yard (a feat Christy still can't explain considering her two inch long legs and chubby body), and a baby bunny, and her fearless nature caused Christy a lot of worry over the years.

Alyx loved her mom and would wait patiently by the front door for her to return home, even if that meant sitting my the door for several days at a time. That kind of loyalty doesn't come along every day or even with every dog. I know that my Scout loved me, but she didn't wait by the door for me.

Alyx,our house princess, you are loved, and you will be missed.

Promises, promises.

I promised you pictures, but so far this is all I got. Christy and I decided to only take one camera to Disneyland and it was hers (it's smaller and newer). Thank goodness there is ONE ride at the happiest place on earth that doesn't charge you $100 for the horrible picture they take of you. On the Buzz Lightyear ride they email it to you for free!

Notice the look of concentration on our faces. Yes, it's a ride for kids, but when you put a member of my family in any sort of competitive situation, no matter how silly, we're going to go for broke (Ask Jill about the night of Dance Dance Revolution and Bop-It). Also, we were keeping the galaxy safe from Zurg for heaven's sake! Who wouldn't have been intent on accomplishing that??? Also notice that I beat Christy. HA! Finally, notice the hats that should only be worn by small children.

More to follow. I'm not through with you people yet.

I've accepted failure. . .

Hey everyone,

I'm going to try to post an actual real live post later this evening, but right now I don't have the brain capacity. I know that I promised a blog post a day during November and I haven't posted in a couple of days. I'm sorry.

In my defense I was really busy going to Disneyland and playing in California with Christy.

We went shopping, played with the dogs, saw The Secret Life of Bees (which was pretty good considering it's one of my favorite books ever and I can be a little judgy of adaptations.), wore hats that only small children should wear, and had a seriously horrible and utterly painful ulcer flare up
(That last one was only me. Wouldn't it have been super wierd if both Christy and I had one at the same time? As it is, I don't think my nephew Curtis will ever recover from seeing me like that, and I think Christy still has questions about my sanity. Oh well, you can't please everyone.).

Pictures and bragging to follow.

I know it's late... HALLOWEEN POST!

I went to Southern Utah for Halloween. My brother and his girls called me the night before I came to tell me what they were going dress up as. Cate (3 years old) asked me "What are you going to be?" I told her that I was going as myself. She told me, "No, that's what you are. You have to be something else."

We compromised. Instead of her beautiful cool Auntie, I went as Fat Sick Auntie.


My parents' wonder dog Charlie went as Derek Lowe, Dodger pitcher. She was fine with the whole gender bender thing. I for one was shocked as I always got into trouble for dressing my brothers up like princesses when we were little. I guess my dad has been worn down. . . First you accept, and then you embrace....



My niece Cate went as a very thoughtful Cinderella. What she wanted to be was a scary ghost whose eyes bleed. (I'm soooooooooooooo not kidding. Ask my sister-in-law.)



Here's my brother and his family. Don't hate them because they're beautiful. They can't help it. It's just who they are. (Plus they're really fun and cool and you just can't hate them. Dang it.)



Who are these masked women? My exceedingly adorable nieces. Gwen is a dental hygenist, 'cause who didn't want to dress up like a dental hygenist when they were five? I know it was my dream. Of course, my mom just bought me a Batgirl mask and made me wear my blue Sunday dress instead. 'Cause, 1. my Mom doesn't love Halloween, and 2. Superheroes sometimes probably need to class it up a little.

Bethany was the cutest cowgirl in the world. I fell in love with her pink cowgirl shirt.



This is Bethany and the stick horse SHE MADE. I mean it, she made it herself. This kid is truly brilliant. Have I mentioned that she played a violin solo in church? No? Well, she did. She's 7. She's my hero.



Austen was a fan of English World Cup Soccer (Thanks MaryAnna). His costume came all the way from England for reals. As you can see, Austen looooooooooooooves being dressed up. If you could read his mind I think it would sound something like this:

"Mum! Whydja go 'n do this t'me? Wot di' I do to ya?" (remember, he's got a tough British accent)



To which I would reply: It could be worse, Austen, it could be worse:



Suck it up. It's a long way from your heart.

This is me getting ready in the morning.

Two things I love about this video:

1. That cat has determination. I've never seen so much pointless determination in all of my life.

2. I love the irony of this ahem voluptuous feline attempting to wedge his/herself through a DIET soda box. LOVE IT

Y'all, I need to get on the diet train for reals.

Take me to my followers...

Hey everyone, in my never ending quest to assuage my middle-child neediness I've added a new feature to my blog (thanks again Meredith!). Now, you can sign up to be my follower!! Doesn't the mere though of it just make a thrill run up and down your spine?

No?

Well, it would make me weally weally happy if you'd sign up. To do so, scroll down until you see the title "You like me, you really, really like me" and then click to become my follower.


Thanks!!

And now for something completely different...

Puppy Power

Austen and my brother David have a relationship that is deep, abiding, and based on the fact that David thinks almost everything Austen does is cute. Additionally, David is willing to play with Austen for a lot longer and a lot rougher than I am.

Hence this:



That little red blur is Austen.

In the end I'd have to say that the current tally is

Austen: 1 David: 0

An Anchor to the Souls of Men

I must admit, I've felt a lot of anxiety and fear about the future over the past couple of weeks. Living in Las Vegas right now it feels like you can't go a day without hearing about someone who's lost or is losing their home or job. We had meetings last week about how we will cut millions from my school district's budget, and of course the cuts made will impact the kids more than anything. It's easy to be worried and depressed all of the time.

All of this made me think of a fireside I attended at BYU where President Howard W. Hunter, at the time the President of the Twelve Apostles was the speaker. At this fireside, a mentally ill young man decided he would hold President Hunter and the thousands in attendance hostage until President Hunter read the man's declaration. President Hunter was very old and so frail that he'd needed help to get to the podium, and yet as the man yelled at him he simply held on and repeatedly shook his head, "No." When the man had been subdued President Hunter collapsed to the floor and the Stake President in charge of the meeting told us, "We're going to sing a hymn and then we'll all go home." President Hunter tugged on his pant leg to tell him that, no, we would continue. After singing a hymn he was once again helped to the podium where he gave one of the most incredible talks I've ever heard.

Whenever I start to despair I remember the words that prophet shared with us that day. I thought I'd share a few with you today.





An Anchor to the Souls of Men
-President Howard W. Hunter
Given at BYU, February 7, 1993

"I am here tonight to tell you that Despair, Doom, and Discouragement are not an acceptable view of life for a Latter-day Saint. However high on the charts they are on the hit parade of contemporary news, we must not walk on our lower lip every time a few difficult moments happen to confront us.

I am just a couple of years older than most of you, and in those few extra months I have seen a bit more of life than you have. I want you to know that there have always been some difficulties in mortal life and there always will be. But knowing what we know, and living as we are supposed to live, there really is no place, no excuse, for pessimism and despair.

In my lifetime I have seen two world wars plus Korea plus Vietnam and all that you are currently witnessing. I have worked my way through the depression and managed to go to law school while starting a young family at the same time. I have seen stock markets and world economics go crazy and have seen a few despots and tyrants go crazy, all of which causes quite a bit of trouble around the world in the process.

So I am frank to say tonight that I hope you won't believe all the world's difficulties have been wedged into your decade, or that things have never been worse than they are for you personally, or that they will never get better. I reassure you that things have been worse and they will always get better. They always do--especially when we live and love the gospel of Jesus Christ and give it a chance to flourish in our lives."

"I want to say to all within the sound of my voice tonight that you have every reason in this world to be happy and to be optimistic and to be confident. Every generation since time began has had some things to overcome and some problems to work out. Furthermore, every individual person has a particular set of challenges that sometimes seem to be earmarked for us individually. We understood that in our premortal existence.

Prophets and apostles of the Church have faced some of those personal difficulties. I acknowledge that I have faced a few, and you will undoubtedly face some of your own now and later in your life. When these experiences humble us and refine us and teach us and bless us, they can be powerful instruments in the hands of God to make us better people, to make us more grateful and more loving, to make us more considerate of other people in their own times of difficulty."

"This faith and hope of which I speak is not a Pollyanna-like approach to significant personal and public problems. I don't believe we can wake up in the morning and simply by drawing a big "happy face" on the chalkboard believe that is going to take care of the world's difficulties. But if our faith and hope is anchored in Christ, and in his teachings, commandments, and promises, then we are able to count on something truly remarkable, genuinely miraculous, that can part the Red Sea and lead modern Israel to a place "where none shall come to hurt or make afraid" ("Come, Come, Ye Saints," Hymns, 1985, no. 30). Fear, which can come upon people in difficult days, is a principal weapon in the arsenal that Satan uses to make mankind unhappy. He who fears loses strength for the combat of life in the fight against evil. Therefore, the power of the evil one always tries to generate fear in human hearts. In every age and in every era fear has faced mankind.

As children of God and descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, we must seek to dispel fear from among people. A timid, fearing people cannot do their work well, and they cannot do God's work at all. Latter-day Saints have a divinely assigned mission to fulfill that simply must not be dissipated in fear and anxiety."

A blog posting a day...

Hey Everyone,

I was just checking my friend Meredith's blog and she's taking part in National Blog Posting Month. I looked it up and think it will be a fun challenge to post every day this month. Those of you with blogs, consider joining me, won't you?