Rejoicing...

First Monday counting... 
                                    when I share entries from my Gratitude Journal

"This is the day which the Lord hath made:

we will rejoice and be glad in it."

Psalm 118:24

431- sustaining a new Stake Primary President

432- sitting with Kenzie at church

433- the sound of rain on a quiet Sunday afternoon

434- peanut butter cookies and milk

435- new job opportunities for Travis and Becca

436- warm sweater on a chilly day

437- dried hydrangeas

438- running 2 miles

439- apple butter simmering in the crockpot

440- morning light

441- a productive day

442- clean clothes

443- a meeting with the new primary president

444- dark chocolate sea salt truffles

445- the way my dogs look when they come home from the groomers

446-stopping on the side of the road to chat with a young gardener

 about his raised beds and row covers- and leaving with a bag of fresh kale

447- training my body to be stronger

448- brussels sprouts stalk

449- sharing recipes with friends

450- beeswax candles

451- receiving a hand crafted Thanksgiving card

452- collard greens from my garden

453- deer running through our woods

454- waking up to the sound of rain pattering on the roof

455- water, at the turn of a handle

456- making grandma's apple dumplings

457- a work holiday for Mark

458- a full refrigerator

459- Susana

460-hot cocoa with lots of whipped cream

461- a pretty poinsettia hostess gift

462- a long walk

463- snow flurries on Thanksgiving

464- plates piled high with Thanksgiving goodness

465- new running shoes

466- lunch with Jan and Linda

467- turkey sandwiches

468- unpacking the Advent wreath

469- my treadmill (on extra cold mornings)

470-binge watching Gilmore Girls

471- riding down the interstate singing along with the Eagles

472- visiting with high school friends

473- warming up by the wood stove

474- Advent

475- going to church with Dad and Yvonne

476- laughing with my kids as they look through my 

high school yearbook

477- sleeping in my own comfy bed

478- hugs from friends

479- safe travels

480- my red coat

BINGO

Back in June, I decided to jump on board with the Books On the Nightstand crowd and play their summer reading Bingo game.  I liked the challenge of reading through different genres and wanted to see if I could read enough books to get Bingo by Labor Day.  I made it, barely.  This is what my summer reading looked like.

10 Short Stories

I don't usually read short stories, but a few years ago, a story by Alice Monroe was assigned as part of a Great Books Discussion group that I was attending.  I liked it and bought this book so I could read more of her work.  It has been perched in a "to be read" pile for some time.  This summer was the right time to dig it out.  The author is Canadian and most of these stories take place in the small towns around Lake Huron.  Not always happy and upbeat, but thoughtful nonetheless, the characters in these short stories find their lives altered forever by a random encounter with someone who crosses their path.  I didn't love this book in it's entirety, but I like Alice Monroe's writing style and will probably read more of her work in the future.  

With a Child on the Cover

This book was recommended by Leila on her blog.  I love her Library Project, where she reviews and recommends some of what she considers to be the best books for families.  I enjoy children's literature and like to slide a selection into my reading rotation on a regular basis.  The Railway Children was first published in 1906, so it's been around a long time, but I had never heard of it before.  I really enjoyed the story and think it would make a great read aloud (in an English accent) for a family.  Or maybe there's an audio version.  I need to start checking into more audiobooks.  Some stories are better when you can listen to someone else read them.

Biography or Memoir

I loved this one.  My copy is underlined and flagged from beginning to end.  I'm a sucker for a good homesteading tale, and this one was amazing.  It's hard for me to imagine growing up as this little girl did, miles from any town, living off the land.  Some of the things I read left me shaking my head in amazement.  They strived to follow the formula of what they considered to be the "good life" by dividing their time into three four hour segments a day, between hands, head and heart.  Four hours of bread labor would be used for things such as, chopping wood, making food, woodworking, sewing.  Four hours were devoted to intellectual pursuits, such as reading or learning to play the dulcimer.  The last four hour segment was for social time, talking and laughing together.  The pursuit of the purer, simpler lifestyle they were seeking came at a price.  One thing I really liked about this book, was all the practical tips and ideas for organic gardening.  I'll be using this as a reference guide.

Translation

 Here's a classic that I've been wanting to read for years, because  I've heard it referenced so many times in other books.  It was written in 1678 by John Bunyan and has been translated into many languages.  It's been said, there was a time when there was hardly an English speaking Christian household without a copy in their home. This religious allegory is about a man named Pilgrim and his journey through life.  He faced many difficulties and hardships along the way, but he learned to find joy in the journey.   You  might be asking, "Who was John Bunyan?"  I know I was.  I learned that he lived in Bedford, England and that his faith led him to leave the Church of England, and join a group of Puritans, where he eventually became a lay preacher.  In 1660, under the reign of Charles ll, freedom of worship was threatened and any religious services, other than those of the official Church were outlawed.  John refused to stop preaching his beliefs and was arrested.  He remained in prison for twelve years, holding firm to his beliefs.  He wrote Pilgrims Progress while imprisoned.  His life story was as interesting to me as the book he wrote.  It was a reminder of the blessing I enjoy, and often take for granted, to worship as my heart desires.

Set in Another Country

This was my adventure story.  It was about relationships and doing hard things, like climbing Mount Everest.  In this book, a fourteen year old boy, named Peak, recounts his climb to the top of the world.  I enjoyed every thing about this young adult book.

Ok.  So, those were the books I read to get BINGO.  I read a few others as I went along, before I decided for sure which direction I was headed on the Bingo board.  They were:

Recommended by a Family Member

This was recommended by my sister Cindy.  We are both Jodi Picoult fans.  I found this book hard to get into, but then all at once, it had me.  It was hard reading at times.  Books with holocaust themes always are.  And even though I wasn't really in the mood for a heavy book, there were a lot of other themes going on here too.  Not my favorite Picoult, but I would recommend it.

With a Number In the Title

I've been on a Janice Holt Giles kick this summer.  This author was beloved by my Nana, and although I had read The Enduring Hills and Miss Willie a long time ago, and loved them both, I wanted to read some of her other publications.  This author was from Kentucky and her books take place in that rugged hill country.  40 Acres and No Mule was written in 1950 and is her account of leaving the city (Louisville) and making a home with her husband on the ridge.  Her description of settling into life in a little corner of Appalachia is delightful reading.

Found In A Used Bookstore

More Janice Holt Giles.  Hannah Fowler is a pioneer woman, who along with her husband helps tame the Kentucky wilderness.  This woman is one tough cookie.  If you like novels about this period in American history, you'll like this one.

Nonfiction

Have you ever taken the time to look through the footnotes at the end of the General Conference talks?  I've found some great books to read by doing this.  I mean, if the prophets are reading them, it's probably a pretty good recommendation, don't you think? President Uchtdorf quoted selections from this book in his wonderful talk  in April's conference. I loved this talk!  It's been my tradition to read a book about the Mormon pioneers in the month of July, seeing as how we celebrate Pioneer Day on July 24th.  It helps me to remember the sacrifices that were made by those valiant  saints.  I've read plenty about the Willie and Martin handcart pioneers before, but this book was different.  It's always heartbreaking to read of the suffering that these church members went through, but it really affected me this time around, so much so that I could only read for short segments at a time and then had to close the book.  Such hardship!  What I especially liked about the way this book was laid out, was that the author introduced you to individual families from each company and followed them from their conversion to the restored gospel in England, across the ocean, to Iowa City, where they were outfitted with their handcarts and supplies, on to the 1000  mile trek across the plains.  Using information from the diaries and personal accounts of the pioneers really made the story come to life for me.  A number of summers ago, I had the privilege of pulling a handcart (with Jantzen and Kenzie's help) across Rocky Ridge, a part of the Mormon Trail in Wyoming.  It was hard work, and we didn't even have our cart loaded with supplies.  I'm so glad I had that experience, because as I read the book and came across that part of the trek, where so many died, I was back there again.  I knew what that ridge looked like in my mind.  This book humbled me to the core.  I won't even think about complaining when I have to go to "another" meeting.  I promise.

"Was I sorry that I chose to come by handcart?  No.  Neither then nor any minute of my life since.  The price we paid to become acquainted with God was a privilege to pay, and I am thankful that I was privileged to come in the Martin handcart company."

Francis Webster

I had a great time reading these books this summer and enjoyed playing the BINGO game.  Did I get a prize for winning?  Yes, I rewarded myself with a new book, or two.  I think I'll play again next year.   So how about you?  Did you read any great books this summer?  I would love to hear about them. 

Gratitude for Time Away and For Coming Home

First Monday counting... 
                                    when I share entries from my Gratitude Journal.

Why do you go away? So that you can come back. 

So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. 

And the people there see you differently, too.

 Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” 
― Terry Pratchett, A Hat Full of Sky

381- peaches in bottles

382- helping to bear a friend's burden

383- moving through the day at a pace of grace

384- packing a suitcase

385- the way my house smells after my husband walks

through it on his way to work in the morning

386- a hug from a friend

387- Kouing Aman

388- listening to a concert on the capitol grounds

389- the gardens on temple square

390- a beautiful wedding in the Salt Lake temple

391- spending time with Sarah and family

392- wedding cake and punch

393- a lovely garden reception

394- rejoicing with friends

395- Music and the Spoken Word

396- walking for my breakfast

397- observing the blue sky while floating on my 

back in a lovely pool

398- a dentist who answers my calls when I'm 

halfway across the country

399- pain medication

400- a wonderfully squishy pillow

401- rocky mountains

402- visiting with Lynette

403- making a "too close for comfort" connecting flight

404- really good mexican food

405- a refreshing swim on a hot day

406- the smell of sagebrush

407- morning walks with beautiful views

408- Come, Come Ye Saints from the belltower

409- fried egg sandwich on homemade bread

410- yummy sack lunches made by a friend

411- listening to an apostle speak

412- the sights, sounds and smells of a thunderstorm

viewed from j'nae's deck

413- sitting in class

414- chocolate mint brownie

415- hymns in the morning

416- sitting between mom and dad Sager at Education Week

417- playing cards and Bananagrams

418- pizza party

419- gracious hostesses

420- singing along to the oldies station in LR's car

421- lunch on Mt. Baldy

422- finally finding the right outfit

423- riding the carousel and ferris wheel with Sherri

424- digging into the word with Brother Millet

425- learning how to make hamburger buns

426- welcomed home with red roses from my sweetie

427- a happy reunion with my doggies

428- wonderful water from my faucet

429- medical treatment for a friend, 

yielding better than hoped for results

430- four raised beds ready for fall planting 

My Utah Vacation

I have a few pictures, ( ok, maybe more than a few), of my recent trip to Utah.  This was summer vacation for me and even though it was hard to leave my husband and garden behind,  I had a wonderful time with friends and family and at BYU Education Week.  I'll cover the friends and family part with this post and then I'll share some of the things at I learned at Education Week with the next one.

 

The first weekend I was there, I had the great privilege of attending the wedding of one the loveliest and sweetest young ladies I know.  She's been like a daughter to me and I served as her Young Women's leader for years.  Whitney and Matt were married and sealed for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake temple and I loved being there to witness that event.  I've been in the Salt Lake temple before, but this is the first time I've been in a sealing room and it was beautiful and sacred.  Unfortunately, my phone was acting up on that day, so I didn't get any pictures of the bride and groom outside the temple, but did get some shots at the ring ceremony and reception afterwards.  Here's Matt, Whitney and Amberley.  That little flower girl loved hanging out with the bride.  

Here's another one of my young women.  I had a great time visiting with April and getting to know her husband, PJ.  I haven't seen her in years, as they've been out west completing their educations.  Now, they've settled down in Idaho and are waiting for... a new baby!  Seeing these girls grow up and have families of their own makes me so happy, and, makes me feel old.  

And here's another one.  Sarah, sister to the bride, and her husband Anthony travelled from England.  She has four children, including little Oliver that she's holding here, and that adorable flower girl belongs to her too.  Sarah and a few of her friends (you know who you are :), kept me on my toes as their Laurel advisor, with all their questions and concerns about the gospel, and it's relevance to their teenage lives.  I'm sure I learned more from them than they did from me.  Sitting in the temple with them now, as adults, was pure pleasure.

While in Salt Lake, I had the opportunity to meet up with my friend Lynette, who has been living in Layton, but who will soon be moving to Augusta, Georgia.  Yippee!  I should get to see her more often now that she will be on my side of the U.S.  We enjoyed a wonderful dinner at The Copper Onion and had lots of time to catch up on family news. (Forgive the quality of some of these photos.  I shouldn't have relied on my cell phone as much as I did.)

When I travel, I'm all into trying as much of the local food as possible.  I'm sure this doesn't surprise anyone.  This patisserie in Salt Lake was recommended by a friend and I was told to try the Kouing Amann.  This is a recent food discovery and all I can say is, oh, my, yum.  Flaky, layers of buttery pastry (think croissant) with cinnamon and sugar.  I'm glad I tried this here, because I will probably have a hard time finding anything to compare it with around my home town, which is a good thing.  This will be a traveling delicacy that I will enjoy on rare occasions.  Oh, but look what I just found...   

Sunday morning found me at the Conference Center, listening to Music and the Spoken Word with the Tabernacle Choir. This is always a huge treat.  As a bonus, President Monson was there too.  He waved at me, and everyone else!

I loved coming out of the broadcast and seeing these beautiful sister missionaries, ready to give tours on Temple Square in their own languages.

I spent plenty of time walking around the gardens and in the visitor's centers, "people watching" as families came in the rotunda to view this eleven foot tall statue of Christ.  The children especially, were in awe.  A gentle reminder to me that we are instructed to become as little children.

After that exciting weekend, I went to spend a week with my sister, Sherri.  We had a wonderful time, hiking, eating and shopping. Ok, so maybe the shopping part wasn't so fun, but I did find an outfit for my son's wedding, so it was worth it!   In the mornings, we walked in some beautiful areas.  Our goal was to get in 10,000 steps each day, which we accomplished!  

These signs were a warning to watch where you stepped, and were posted throughout the park.  For good reason...

Thanks to Ken and Sherri, I also enjoyed a fun day at the zoo.  

On Saturday, we had a big hiking day planned, with the most beautiful weather anyone could ask for.  First we hiked Cecret Lake in Albion Basin.

After only minutes on the trail, we spotted three moose.

Check out that blue sky.

After that trail, we went to Snowbird and took the tram to the top.  Then we hiked to Mount Baldy at 11,088 feet, where we enjoyed our lunch with a view! 

I mean, really, is this not spectacular?

After all that hiking ( we logged 18,000 steps this day!), we were ready for some good eating.  Sherri and Ken took me to one of their favorite pizza parlors.  And yes, it was delicious!

The last week I spent at J'nae and LaRon's home.  These are my dear friends that I met on my trip to the Holy Land.  I wrote all about them here.  They were kind enough to house and feed me while I was attending Education Week.  They do both very well!

One evening, J'nae taught me how to make hamburger and hotdog buns.  I've already made these once since I've been home.  They are sooooo good.  Watch for an upcoming post with recipe and instructions on how to make them.

The last night of my stay, we had a pizza party with Ken and Sherri.

Ken cooked eight pizzas on the grill, with all kinds of sauces and toppings. They were awesome!  I'm getting hungry just looking at this picture.

He also provided a little entertainment for us after we stuffed our bellies.  That Ken's one talented guy.  I'm so grateful for the hospitality that was shown to me by Sherri and Ken and J'Nae and LaRon.  You guys are the best!

Okay, that's it for now; wedding pictures, hiking, friends, family and food.  Next post will be all about Education Week.  I learned so much.  Can't wait to share it with you.