hot chocolate

i got this great thought from my cute niece, abby, hope you don't mind my using it....

Enjoy Your Hot Chocolate

A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups - porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate. When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: 'Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups. Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. God makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the cups.

The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have.

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

And enjoy your hot chocolate in 2008!

Gordon B. Hinckley

as most of you know, our prophet, Gordon B Hinckley passed away last night...he lived a long and noble life...what a wonderful man he was....we were all lucky to have him leading our church...he led with wisdom, love and was full of humor...in the last few years it was so cute to see him waving his cane around...what a loveable man...you could just tell he loved everyone...he just showed that love, even if you were watching him on t.v....he loved his wife marjorie...if every husband could love their wives like that...there would be no marriage problems...what a happy day for them...to be greeting each other...i for one am so grateful for the church because of what we know...that we will be together with our loved ones after we die...it is such a comfort to me...

here are some quotes that i really like from him...

"There is no obstacle to great, no challenge too difficult, if we have faith."
Gordon B. Hinckley

Teach your children when they are young and small, and never quit. As long as they are in your home, let them be your primary interest."
Gordon B. Hinckley

we were blessed to have him lead this church...i just hope we all will remember what he taught us....

cute kids

yesterday it wasn't raining, so i drove down to visit kelly, jeff and the boys...it was sort of a short trip...but, fun...the babies are so fun to be around...i brought gavin his birthday presents, because on his birthday his family was sick so i didn't go that day...he was so funny opening those gifts...he was just ripping it open and throwing them on the ground...later on we went to dinner, it was about 5:30 and they didn't have naps..in the middle of chewing some of jeff's tri-tip...gavin fell asleep...between one bite and the next...it was very funny....little "o" wasn't feeling very good, so as long as he could sit with kelly he was fine...but, later at their house...he was running around, growling...then laughing so hard...it was a fun afternoon to see the babies....

order in the court

well, today i got to fulfill my civic duty by going to jury duty....not really how i wanted to spend the day....i've gone before and usually just sit in the room and read all day...so, it's not too bad...but today, lucky me...i was called up in the first group! so upstairs we went to the courtroom....they dismissed for hardship first...i tried to think of something, but since i'm home alone and don't work, i couldn't get off for that...so, then we sat while they called the first 18 jurists...my name wasn't called...they went through alot of questions...at the end, they dismissed quite a few...so, then they called about 10 more...went through the SAME questions...by then, i had all my answers perfected...after about 4 hours of this they picked the jury and lucky me!!! i wasn't on it! in fact, i never was called up to answer the questions...so, after a day of finding out that the real courtroom is NOT like boston legal(where was denny?) , i was able to go home again....my civic duty done for another year!!!yippee!!

my color is BLUE

i saw this test on this cute blogsite...it's amazingly pretty true, plus blue is always my favorite color because it has always soothed me...ask my kids or look at my house!

What's Your True Color?

My Result: Blue

You're blue — the most soothing shade of the spectrum. The color of a clear summer sky or a deep, reflective ocean, blue has traditionally symbolized trust, solitude, and loyalty. Most likely a thoughtful person who values spending some time on your own, you'd rather connect deeply with a few people than have a bunch of slight acquaintances. Luckily, making close friends isn't that hard, since people are naturally attracted to you — they're soothed by your calming presence. Cool and collected, you rarely overreact. Instead, you think things through before coming to a decision. That level-headed, thoughtful approach to life is patently blue — and patently you!

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/rd/50651/color/index.jsp?testname=colorogt&resultid=E

Happy Happy birthday to Gavin...

it's Gavin's 3rd birthday! he has grown up way toooooo fast...what a funny boy...today all he could talk about was the movie he was watching...tigger and pooh...he is such a sweet boy...so cute with owen...always watching out for him...he and kate had such a fun time at christmas...they thought up alot to keep themselves busy...time goes so fast...it's fun to watch him as he grows...so happy happy birthday dear gavin....i love you

change.....

Change your thoughts and you change your world.
Norman Vincent Peale (1898 - 1993)


change is good...that doesn't mean i always like it...things change daily...sometimes it's an easy change...like switching grocery stores....sometimes it's harder...like moving away...going to a new school...living alone...how do we adjust to change? how do you? this last fall i went through a big change when my baby went off to college...that was a hard change to be alone...and it's still an adjustment....but, i'm learning...and what i'm learning is that you can't sit and pout...which is what i'd like to do some of the time....but, that just makes you unhappy and then people don't want to be around you....so, i've tried to figure out things to do that will make me happy...keeping busy is the ticket...i just read an article in a magazine about this...the author changed jobs from a magazine editor to a writer....she said how scary it was, but after a while she realized it was very freeing....how many times have you done something that you didn't want to do AT all....and then in the end you were really happy you did it? well, that's what i'm trying to do....it's a scary thing to go out in the world and try new things....to meet new people, have new experiences...but, in the long run it will make you a much better person...it will make you sure of yourself...strong in yourself...we have to learn to be strong....just for ourselves...it's a great feeling...in this same article she said....if you don't do something at least once a year that makes your heart stop....you aren't living.....so what is making your heart stop? it could be skydiving, it could be going to the movies alone, it could be giving a speech in front of others, or flying off on a trip to a really foreign destination...so, i'm working on changing things in my life...becoming a strong, confident woman....what are you going to do?

Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.
Carol Burnett (1936 - )

favorite old stories

i was thinking of some favorite childhood stories the other day...and actually found them online...the all time favorite was this:

the story of a castle of fairys...i read it as a girl and loved it, polly and i would fight over our only copy...until a few years ago i found it again...then we didn't have to 'share' the copy...

another fav was this story book:

this is a book of fairy tales with the most beautiful pictures...i remember polly sitting with me and she would read the stories to me....our copy disappeared and i found it once at the library and was too honest and returned it! for years i looked until i found it again....

the stories i just found were these:

they are both stories of dolls....i have thought about these books for a few years off and on...then, i mentioned them to marty and of course she remembered them...and i was able to find them....

if i'm talking about favorite childhoold books, i have to mention the all time favorite from about 5th grade on....that would be this book or books:

i have always loved anne and her many stories....if you're ever looking for some great books...read the anne of green gables series....

it's fun to find old 'friends' and maybe read them to my grandchildren....they bring back fun memories...what are your favorite childhood books?

ummm good!

while i was in utah where it was cold, snowy and we were all sick (the whole week) i actually cooked! it's nice to know that i haven't totally forgotten how....living all by my lonesome...i don't cook very often...it's easier to get take out, not eat, make a peanut butter and jelly or whatever....but, being stuck in the house made me want to make something...well, today it's not as cold, but with the wind blowing it feels sort of chilly...so i made my grandma's homemade chicken noodle soup....i think everyone in our family has blogged about this....what i remember about this soup is that it was my dad's favorite meal...we always had it on his birthday which is actually this coming friday....we would go over to grandma's and she would have that and many other delicious foods...she was a fantastic cook....when i got married i made it quite a bit...although certain members of my family don't remember it(willie!)....but, it was always a favorite...the reason being is the big, fat egg noodles...they are the best...and you better make a double batch!

here is my grandma's original recipe:

boil a whole chicken in a large soup pot, covered with water....add to that: 1 whole carrot, 1 celery stalk, 1 onion....

boil for 1 hour

after chicken is cooked, remove the chicken and cool in refrigerator...remove the vegetables...

cool the chicken stock....

in the meantime make the egg noodles

1 cup flour, 1 egg, and whip creme to fill 1/2 egg shell....a dash of salt....mix together and roll out on a floured cutting board...roll dough thin....cut into strips...mine are usually about 1/4 inch wide...let dry a bit on board...

skim fat off of soup, add chicken and noodles and simmer for 1/2 hour....

OR you can do the speedy way which i did tonight......

2 large cans chicken stock

1 roasted chicken, break apart...i usually just like the white meat...can use precooked chicken breasts...

make the noodles...they are the most important part...

simmer together...

i added carrots....precut, and celery (which i actually sliced)

i made this in about 1/2 hour start to finish and it tastes amazingly like grandma's!

whichever way you make it....you can't lose.....it's the BEST!

BRRRRR!!

snow, snow, snow!!!! that's what we've got up here in cooooollllldddd utah...we've been here for almost a week and had snow alot....it's very pretty outside...as long as you don't have to go anywhere...which i haven't since i have bronchitis...we have the flu here, colds, coughs...it's great fun...i guess wer'e paying for all the partying we did during christmas...so it's a very restful time...hopefully everyone is on the mend and we can enjoy the last few days here....gavin's had fun, he and jeff built a "frosty" as he calls his snowman...the snowboarding is fantastic...and the kids are back in school....so, i guess this is a great place to recover, being all warm and cozy in the middle of a snow storm...