I finally tackled the Craft Room

Last night Paul and I were chatting before bed and watching on-line video clips from the Glenn Beck's Fox News show. We were talking about all the latest news developments, which I think was overwhelming Paul. Then the conversation went like this (I abridged it):

Paul: How much time did you spend listening and watching Glenn Beck today?

Tiff: Well, I listened to him this morning while I was working out. And I watched a few minutes of videos (you see I don't really answer the question directly).

Paul: Once you are informed, then what?

Tiff: (Hummmm....well I don't think there will be an end to gathering information and learning) I will educate my children and then others about history and what is happening in the world. I believe people need to be aware and stand up and fight for truth and righteousness.

Paul: You spend all this time learning, reading and watching the news....when are you going to get the stamp room clean?

Tiff: What? What does cleaning the stamp room have to do with anything, especially current events?

...and the conversation continued until I crawled in bed a little upset (Paul was too tired to talk anymore). Then during the night we both didn't sleep very well -that's what you get when we have a little "tiff" before bed (don't worry it wasn't that big). But I did end up punching Paul in the back when I was asleep (oops)!

In the morning he questioned the punch and asked if I was sorry. I said "that's what you get when you get me upset before bed, plus during the night I am not accountable for my actions." He didn't like that answer, but I thought I was pretty clever.

Then this morning I made a little list of things to do. When I came back from the gym, I noticed that he had added an item to my list "clean stamp room" (with a smiley face by it). Oh, hasn't he already bugged me enough about it - I got the message! He has been patient long enough about the messy stamp room.

I told him I wasn't going to clean it for two years just to show him (yes, I was being bratty)! But then by morning, my heart softened and I woke up at 5:30 am and started cleaning the awful room. This room was a total disgrace and it has been seen by everyone that has visited our house in the last 6 months. So tonight I decided to tackle it again and complete the task.

The girls must have noticed the clean stamp room because they migrated to the craft room and started stamping cute little cards! Olivia has a card ready for the mail tomorrow and Vivian made multiple cards - I'm not sure who the lucky recipients will be!

Thank you Paul for the nudge - I am surprised that it didn't take as long as I thought it would. It feels good. Now I am ready for the next project- the garage (maybe)!

Vivian is busy stamping - and look you can see the floor!

She is wearing a funny little mouse hat that I found in the mess!

Oh, I might just come and sit in this room to admire my work! We had a lesson in Relief Society this week about the blessings that come from work (it came from a conference talk by Elder Uchtdorf, "Two Principles for any Economy"). I guess with that lesson and Paul's persistence I finally got the job done.

Meet My New Kitchen Appliance

I bought a Cuisinart electric pressure cooker (from Costco - great price) a couple weeks ago and I am now experimenting with it!

The first thing I did was make a batch of black beans and then I froze them in individual bags, those have come in handy! Since then I have made a couple roasts (the last one with whole potatoes), hummus from dried garbanzo beans, and tonight a pasta dish. The pasta dish had a high pressure cook time of 5 minutes, which means after it reaches the appropriate pressure/heat it starts the timer.

I love this new appliance because it has so many features. Here's what Cuisinart's website says, "Cuisinart updates a classic! Our brushed stainless pressure cooker is safe, easy to use, cooks up to 70% faster than conventional methods and cooks healthier, too. Steam trapped in the pot builds up pressure that creates hotter temperatures, and the pot is so tightly sealed that vitamins and minerals can't boil away. Foods stay moist and flavors stay true. Features variable pressure and temperature settings, plus Browning, Simmering and Sauté functions for perfect roasts, stews, vegetables, cheesecake or custard. The Cuisinart™ Pressure Cooker is absolutely safe, with a lid that has to be locked in place before pressure builds, and stays locked until pressure is released. Cook faster, eat healthier, with Cuisinart!

With the pasta dish, I added the hamburger (browned it) with onion and spices, dumped the dry noodles on top with extra water and the sauce ingredients and sealed the lid- that was it!


There are some great tutorials at the blog, Every Day Food Storage. They have made some great videos from the very basics (Introduction to Pressure Cooking Part 1 & 2) to pressure cooking rice, wheat berries, porcupine meatballs, and chicken. They have great tips, I highly recommend you learn from these great ladies. They also have made a great handout with tips. click here.

I was also introduced to this great pressure cooking cookbook, Pressure Perfect, by Lorna Sass (thank you, Andrea) that I have found at the library. I think I may need to purchase my own copy.

I am excited to try more recipes and to use my new gadget for summertime cooking. I can still have great meals without heating up my home.

Optimism for the Future

Today in church our Stake Patriarch gave a great talk about having optimism even through our challenges of today. It was a great talk, at times I have to be reminded to be positive and optimistic because the news and trials of out day weigh heavy on my mind and heart. I love the following counsel that was shared in Brother Montgomery's talk.

President Hinckley gave us this advice: "I have learned that when good men and women face challenges with optimism, things will always work out! Truly things always work out! Despite how difficult circumstances might look at the moment, those who have faith and move forward with a happy spirit will find that things always work out." (Hinckley, Way to Be, 84.)

I also loved this statement from Harold B. Lee regarding America.

“Men may fail in this country, earthquakes may come, seas may heave
beyond their bounds, there may be great drought, disaster, and hardship, but this nation, founded on principles laid down by men whom God raised up, will never fail.

This is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden
of Eden. This is the place of the new Jerusalem. This is the place that the
Lord said is favored above all other nations in all the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple. This is the favored land in all the
world.

Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won’t fail. I have faith
in America; you and I must have faith in America, if we understand the
teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are living in a day when we must
pay heed to these challenges.

I plead with you not to preach pessimism. Preach that this is the greatest country in all the world. This is the favored land. This is the land of our forefathers. It is the nation that will stand despite whatever trials or crises it may yet have to pass through. (Harold B. Lee, "Ye Are the Light of the World", 350-51)

Those statements lift me up and give me great courage to continue moving forward in faith - I know that great things await us and that we are surrounded by increasing goodness even in a world that is becoming more wicked.

Food Storage Baby Steps

I know that many people struggle with food storage because they don't know where to start or how to do it. So to help answer your questions, I found a blog called "Food Storage Made Easy" that helps break food storage down into baby steps. First you get an overall breakdown and then you tackle it piece by piece - click here for the baby steps.

Here is a quick overview of this blog, the video is less than 5 minutes and it shows you the many useful tools on their blog! I love their tools and baby steps tabs - check it out for yourself.

I would love to know where are you with your food storage and your next step!

Missionaries For Dinner

I love having the missionaries in our home for dinner. When the sign-up dinner calendar gets passed around at church I love finding open spots. Last time I found two spots, so we were fortunate to have the missionaries over in May (before Corbin left) and this past week.

Last time they told us a cute story about Mr. Rabbit and Mr. Chicken and the importance of obedience to commandments and listening to your parents. They had a great prop for the story that kept the kids interested and re-telling the story all week!

Last time when Paul asked what he could do for them, one of the Elders said that they needed toilet paper. That was a funny request, but I tried not to let my facial expression give any funny looks. I just asked Corbin to go get a pack. He came back with a few rolls in hand, but I send him back out for a giant pack of toilet paper - the 12 jumbo rolls. The Elders must have known that we have a year+ storage of that in our garage, plenty to share. It was funny watching them leave on their bikes with a huge package of TP.

This week we had one original Elder from our last visit and a new one that just got transferred in that morning. He brought up the toilet paper request and said that he was embarrassed last month when he asked but that really was their need. We had a good laugh, but told him we appreciated their honesty. How many times does someone ask us what we need, when we reply that we are doing fine, but really have a need that we are too embarrassed to share?

One of the Elders guessed that we like Mexican food, I guess we had that last time, too! Last time was enchiladas, this time the all time favorite, tacos and fajitas. We look forward to signing up again and told them next time we will have Ice Cream Potatoes for dessert (click here for recipe) when they come!

Water Park Fun

Today we spent the afternoon at the water park. The kids loved the endless river along with the wave pool. By the time we left, we were all cold and hungry!

It seems like today was the first hot day of summer! I don't care for the heat - I would rather the temperature be in the 70-80's. Yes, I'm a wimp.

The Soul's Captain

I found this interesting after having watched the movie, Invictus. The second poem is a reply or answer from Orson F. Whitney to the poem, Invictus, written by William E. Henley.

INVICTUS by William E. Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance,
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

THE SOUL'S CAPTAIN [The Answer] by Elder Orson F. Whitney of the Quorum of the Twelve

Art thou in truth? Then what of him
Who bought thee with his blood?
Who plunged into devouring seas
And snatched thee from the flood?
Who bore for all our fallen race
What none but him could bear. –
The God who died that man might live,
And endless glory share?
Of what avail thy vaunted strength,
Apart from his vast might?
Pray that his Light may pierce the gloom,
That thou mayest see aright.
Men are as bubbles on the wave,
As leaves upon the tree.
Thou, captain of thy soul, forsooth
Who gave that place to thee?
Free will is thine -- free agency
To wield for right or wrong;
But thou must answer unto him
To whom all souls belong.
Bend to the dust that head "unbowed,"
Small part of Life's great whole!
And see in him, and him alone,
The Captain of thy soul.

Viv's Last Celebration

Vivian really wanted a friend birthday party, but I did that for each of the children on their last birthday (I do a friend party every other year). However, she was so insistent so I decided that we could do a simple gathering of friends with their families in the park, just a few houses down from where we live.

Vivian, Olivia and the Richael girls decorated the cupcakes earlier in the day and I made a whole bunch of chocolate chip peanut butter cookies (recipe here for those who requested it). In addition, we had Popsicles and water. We topped it off with balloons and called it good!

The kids had a blast in the park, the moms had fun visiting and the dad's played wiffle ball and kickball! I wish I would have got a picture of them - they took their games seriously and were sweaty. It is one of the few warmer days that we have had so far this summer.

At the end the girls were playing "Red Rover" - oh, that brings back fun childhood memories. Thank you everyone for coming!

The story of the balloon:
As we were leaving Paul offered a balloon to Kenzie. Oh, Vivian was devasted that he gave away the purple balloon because it was her favorite. Earlier I had taken Vivian to the party store where she picked out each balloon. She cried and cried and we could tell that she was heart broken, so Paul called Kenzie's parents and explained that he was in the dog house for giving away her special purple balloon and that he could trade it with a green one. So Paul made the exchange and Vivian was very grateful. Oops, sometimes Dad's don't understand how important the tiniest littlest things are to a child.

Invictus

I watched this movie Saturday. I was greatly moved by this movie and had tears in my eyes the whole way through it. I feel in some ways that our country is at a similar place (of course without the violence that they experienced) and that we are looking for that same unity and strength that can pull us together. It seems like Satan is doing everything in his power to pull apart families, to discredit the role of mothers and fathers, and to help us forget who we are and why we are here.

Fact tidbits:

• With the enactment of apartheid laws in 1948, racial discrimination was institutionalized, which lasted until 1990- 42 years.
• Strategists in the National Party invented apartheid as a means to cement their control over the economic and social system.
• Computer technology enabled the government to organize and enforce such an atrocious system of segregation and control. More than any other single technological advancement, the computer fostered the concentration of administrative power in the hands of Africa's white elite. (info taken from here).

Our Deepest Fear

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light , not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you NOT to be?

You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make and manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
----Nelson Mandela

Happy Father's Day

We have had a wonderful day celebrating Father's Day. The girls made Paul cards that they delivered to him in bed this morning. Then we started the day with coconut pancakes (recipe here), fried eggs, and juice. Then off to church we went.

After church we enjoyed a delicious meal of pasta with clam sauce, salad, and rosemary bread (from Costco - we all love it dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar sprinkled with salt and pepper). Then we enjoyed a long wonderful nap!

After a great rest we enjoyed a simple dinner of bbq beef sandwiches, watermelon, kipper snacks on crackers, celery with peanut butter, and juice. It was a meal that the kids could help prepare! It's fun to see them all working in the kitchen together.


Then we had our traditional chocolate taste test. The Dove candy bar won again! The kids look forward to this every year - we all love chocolate. It sounds like all we have done is eat!

Oh, did you see the hat? Paul bought that for us to give him for Father's Day. It is a bowler hat - I'm not fond of the hat and hope that he wears it to work only.

Paul is a great father. He takes his role seriously. I love him for honoring his priesthood, for providing for our family, for his sense of humor, for his integrity, for his compassion towards me, for his love for the children, and for so much more. He is my perfect match for time and all eternity. We have grown so much over the past 16 years and continue to grow more and more in love each day. Paul, I love you - thank you for being the father of our family. I know that together we can make it home to our Heavenly Father and brother, Jesus Christ.

Slimy the Snail

Paul found this snail when he mowed the grass. The poor little snail has become a temporary pet and has been named Slimy. The kids have so much fun watching him move around. First they had him on a plate on the table and then after being left unattended he disappeared. We found him under the table, napping in his shell. I'm hoping the he is released soon so he can enjoy life.

Free Picnic in the Park

The kids have been wanting to attend the free lunch in the park that they do here locally. So today was the big day. My own small town does this along with the bigger neighboring town. Kids are free and adults can purchase a lunch for only $2 - sounds like a bargain!

We attended a lunch at an apartment location and come to find out it is probably a popular area for refugees. I'm not sure what country they came from because I didn't understand their language, and I didn't get brave enough to ask. They were all darling children. I explained in the car that these families were probably refugees. Olivia understood a little of what that meant, because yesterday she attended a stake activity in which they did various service projects for local refugees.

If you want a link to these locations, just email me at tiffwinward@hotmail.com.

This was the menu of the location we went to:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Beef Sticks Boxed Lunch Milk	Chicken Salad Boxed Lunch Milk	Turkey Sticks and Cheese Sauce Box Lunch Milk	Peanut Butter Box Lunch Milk	Pepperoni Sticks Box Lunch Milk

The menu changes according to the location. Here is another example:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Hot Dog	Corn/bean Chili Con Carne	Chicken Casserole	Bean & Cheese Burrito	Chicken Caesar Wrap

+

Chocolate milk, juice box, cheese, graham cracker fish, soybean crunch, carrots, pepperoni sticks, treat

We were all stuffed there was more than enough food, plus they have a sharing box that you can choose additional food items if someone else didn't want it (everything is wrapped - don't freak).

5 New Recipes on my List

HAWAIIAN BARBECUE BURGERS: I love trying new burgers on the grill. I've never tried a burger with these tasty ingredients (pineapple, garlic, and homemade BBQ sauce)!

SHREDDED CHICKEN BLACK BEAN BURRITOS: Doesn't the picture say it all? Oh, I love Mexican food.

ROASTED VEGGIE RANCH CHICKEN PIZZA: This pizza looks extra delicious with it's creamy ranch sauce with basil, chicken, mushrooms, zucchini, and squash!

SHREDDED BBQ BEEF: This recipe has balsamic vinegar - which I love! I just shared a great BBQ Beef recipe and I'm going to try another!

CAESAR CHICKEN SALAD WRAPS: Now doesn't this look refreshing and tasty!


These recipe are on my list of soon-to-make meals! They were all found on the blog, Mindika Moments - check it out she has many other great recipes!

Vivian Celebrates

Olivia made that little house out of a cereal box for Vivian's new pet, how sweet!


Vivian birthday morning...opening a couple gifts and saving the rest for later. Of course, she has to start the day with a new shirt in her favorite color (orange) and a Zhu Zhu pet!

Vivian is happy that her birthday finally arrived. She has been counting down the months and recently the days until today. Lately she has told nearly every store clerk that we have seen that her birthday is in "so-and-so # of days", they were all very gracious as they wished her an early birthday wish.

Vivian knew exactly what birthday cake she wanted. She gave me clear instructions that she wanted a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting (recipe here) topped with strawberries and candles. I made a delicious chocolate frosting and spiced it up with some hazelnut creamer (yummy!) and topped the cake with chocolate dipped strawberries. The cake is loaded!

We also went to Costa Vida for bday lunch (yesterday - just the two of us)!

Yesterday Vivian and I went birthday shopping at her favorite store, Build-a-Bear. She picked out a cute flamingo, which she named Pinkie! And then her siblings bought her a Zhu-Zhu pet (Nugget) that she can plan with online at BuildaBearville. It was a fun trip, plus picked out some candy at ToysRUs with her $3 gift card that the store sent. Nothing could be better in her eyes!

Pinkie - is awaiting her birth certificate!

Vivian is a special little girl. She has totally come out of her shell this past year during Kindergarten. She is no longer shy or reserved. She is very smart, witty, and darn cute. She is a delight in our home. I will miss her when she begins first grade.

She has been checking the mail box everyday for letters. She has found a few and she took many pictures of them - this is just one picture! If you ever want to send her mail, she will LOVE it!

Corbin even sent Vivian a nice handmade card with $$ inside! You made her day.

This video is from Sunday, it is Vivian reading at scripture time. She is such a great reader!


Before dinner we had some family fun at a local place - playing arcade games, riding bumper cars and the carousel, and earning tickets to redeem for little prizes. We had 1 1/2 hours of fun with $10 and 7 bottles of BBQ sauce (each item earned us a ride pass). Plus on Wednesday it's double ticket redemption...so if you earned 100 tickets, you counted it as 200!


After all the fun, we went home and enjoyed homemade pizza, cake and some more gifts. Plus the girls and I had fun in the park, while Porter and Paul attended scouts.

Happy Birthday sweet Vivs! WE LOVE YOU!

Bunnysitting Nibbles

Nibbles Richael is visiting us this week. The kids love studying every move she makes, feeding her carrots and celery, and watching her explore the living room. Nibbles has a strong personality -watch out she may bite, charge, or stomp her feet! So far no one has been bitten.

Get Out of the Rat Race

This is Porter's new favorite game. Paul has finally pulled this out of the closet (he has had it for years) and has taught both Corbin and Porter how to play this game sold by Robert Kiyosaki, who is known by his products of Rich Dad Poor Dad.

This game teaches you how to utilize your resources wisely to get out of the rat race of life and to pursue your bigger dreams. It's a great lesson on investing wisely, of not wasting money on unnecessary items (known as doo-dads), and of creating a residual income for the future.

Porter is now teaching the game to Olivia! Hopefully they will grow up and use the knowledge they are learning in this game. This is also Paul's favorite game - wanna play?

I just learned that this game is offered as a free e-game here! It is also sold as a board game here (don't croak - Paul considered this game an investment).

Congressman Assaults College Kid

Congressman Bob Etheridge was coming from a fundraiser headlined by Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. When he was asked a simple question on the street by two college guys, that Etheridge didn't handle very well. I can't believe his behavior - talk about a bully. This guy should be charged with assault.


Here is the latest from Etheridge:

Washington, DC, Jun 14 - U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington) released the following statement about this video which appeared on the internet today:

“I have seen the video posted on several blogs. I deeply and profoundly regret my reaction and I apologize to all involved. Throughout my many years of service to the people of North Carolina, I have always tried to treat people from all viewpoints with respect. No matter how intrusive and partisan our politics can become, this does not justify a poor response. I have and I will always work to promote a civil public discourse.”

Rep. Bob Etheridge (NC-02)

More Faith is Needed from the Women of God

This is the talk that I have been waiting for - it was the first address given at BYU Women's Conference. When I heard this talk, I immediately texted Paul and said that I had been filled with the Spirit and that I could come home - it was all I needed (but, of course, I stayed for more talks, good food, visiting with my sisters and mom, and shopping).

I encourage all of you to read and study this talk - both members and people not of my faith. I would love to hear your feelings.

This talk put everything back in perspective for me - especially when she gave guidelines for prioritizing of the essential things, the necessary things, and the nice-to-do things. I realized that much of my time and energy was spent in doing the nice-to-do things when some of the other two more important categories were failing.

I love how she talks about the mother being the lioness at the gate - that gave me a new perspective on motherhood and my regular household responsibilities.

I appreciate her sharing her feelings about Rebekah from the Old Testament. I continually ask myself, "What is my mission?" I love Julie Beck's words that give me assurance of who I am and my role here on earth.

She says, "I feel a great urgency for the daughters of God to do all they need to do to strengthen and lift not only themselves, their families, sisters who are in their wards, but also the world. I feel that the sisters in this Church who know and understand their covenants will be a significant force in helping this world, which seems to have lost its moral moorings.

This is a time when we need an increase of faith and personal righteousness. Never at any time in the world have we needed more faith from the women of God."

I hope you take the time to read her talk and ask yourself, "What is my mission?"

Does it Come From a Chicken?

Yesterday we bought our "first watermelon of the summer" from Costco. Just minutes ago I was cutting it up for everyone - it was our dessert after dinner. Vivian asks me a cute question. She asks, "Does a watermelon come from a chicken?" I just looked at her in disbelief and said, "No Vivi". Then she asked "Does it come from someone's big tummy?" She said it must come from something fat because it's so big! After answering no again, I explained that watermelons grow in the garden from a watermelon seed! Oh, yeah...then she remembered!

Okay, am I teaching her anything? That was the funniest thing I have heard all day!

Delicious Southwest Chipotle Burgers

This burger is to die for! I made them for dinner - wow, they have great flavor with the chipotle peppers and adobo sauce. Click here for the recipe to impress your husband!

#10 Can Emergency Candles

Yesterday we (Sioks and me) made emergency candles in #10 cans. Fay told me she was doing this and graciously invited me to join their project. These candles can be used for heating a 12x12 sized room in an emergency setting or even used for cooking food. I have always worried about how we would heat our home if we had no electricity for an extended amount of time, especially in the winter.


I would love to have a wood burning stove (and a huge stack of wood) for that very purpose of heating and cooking. Instead we have two gas fireplaces, that I don't think would be very useful. I have a heater buddy (for indoor or outdoor use) that would come in handy and now a dozen of these candles!

Paraffin wax cut down into 2 1/2 lb blocks from a 10 lb block.

Melt the wax on a very low setting.

That was Brandon's job!

Add 1 1/2 lbs sawdust to 2 1/2 lbs melted wax. Mix together and add a wick.

Here is a picture of the three of us at 11:30 pm! We were troopers - we worked for hours in their garage and we had a great time.

I found a blog with a posting with her instructions and pictures of making these candles, click here if you are interested.