Spring Break at Home - Will I Survive?

Today was our first day of spring break!  The kids all kept busy.  Corbin helped out for a few hours with a tennis camp at his high school, while the rest of us ran to Best Buy for a new Kinect game (Kinectimals, which they love) and a shopping adventure at Costco that ended with a greasy sausage and lemonade!  The kids then played with some new ward friends, while I got almost nothing done, other than prepare dinner and FHE dessert!  I need to manage my time better - no more talking on the phone for me.

I am hoping that the weather warms up so it will feel like spring.  Other things we have on our agenda include:

• movie at the theater (Tangled)
• playing at an indoor game/arcade place
• picnic and fun at the park
• hike
• lunch at Costa Vida
• trip to the library -I can't wait to pick up my book on hold, Left to tell : discovering God amidst the Rwandan holocaust (I just recently watched the movie, Hotel Rawanda, a must see)
• yard work
• paint the laundry room and boys bathroom
• clean up stamp/craft room
• visit with Tara, Niels, and Gage (they are coming up to play)!
• swimming at Y (if someone invites us, hint...hint)
• craft time
• friend time
• family time - cousins

Chickens?

For Sale $2.99 per chick

Yesterday I attended a backyard chicken class at a local store.  One reason I was excited to live out in the country is that we can have our own egg laying chickens.  But I realized that they are more work than I thought.  The teacher spoke about worming, dusting, caring for baby chicks (need specific temperature, etc), building coops, various breeds, molting, etc.  What am I getting myself into?  The children are excited for this new adventure but we need to get things ready here before they arrive.

We were told at class about a website, Back Yard Chickens, that is a great resource.  On that site I found how someone transformed part of their play set into a coop.  It looks totally cute.  We have a similar playset that could use a makeover, too!  Here is the link to their play set transformation.

I am seeing some potential here!

Strawberry Freezer Jam

 Strawberries were on sale for $1.50 a pound so I bought a few packages.  I decided to make some easy strawberry freezer jam.  I was hoping to get back to the store to make more but it never happened.  I hope they go on sale again so I can stock up the freezer.  Let me know if you find them for a good price.

Guys Have Fun & Girls Play

Craig is a master with the chainsaw.  Paul is learning from him!

Getting the tree ready for a fall.

The guys had a great time outside yesterday chain sawing done trees.  They took down a tall, dead tree in the front yard and a big bushy one in the back.

We have our work cut out for us here, this is just the beginning.

The pasture in front of the house was mowed down by a nice man in our new ward.  Before it had pasture grass up to my waist, but now I love driving down our driveway.  It looks so good - we even got a little honk of approval from our neighbor!

The girls love each other like sisters!

Corbin Shares

I snapped this picture of Corbin (without permission) this morning as we were reading scriptures this morning.  Corbin has been a marvelous example of missionary work.  Yesterday he he gave a Book of Mormon to a friend at school after having many gospel related conversations.  He did this all on his own!  I have seen his testimony grow as he studies the Book of Mormon faithfully each night.  I know know that he is learning because of the deep doctrinal questions he asks.

Corbin also studies out of the Preach my Gospel manual (great overview to our doctrines and principles).  Awesome Corbin!

Disturbing Audio of "Economic Terrorism"

I know this is a longer video - but you must watch it.  And then here is link to a copy of the full audio, here.  We are definitely fighting evil all around us.  I think it is important to be aware and prepare yourself spiritually, financially, mentally, and physically for the days that lay before us.  Share this information with everyone so it thwarts their plan.

SILENCE IN THE FACE OF EVIL IS ITSELF EVIL,

GOD WILL NOT HOLD US GUILTLESS,

NOT TO SPEAK IS TO SPEAK,

NOT TO ACT IS TO ACT.

DIETRICH BONHOEFFER

Anyone interested in ordering vital wheat gluten?

Mary Ann, a food storage specialist, is putting together an order for vital wheat gluten.  I love using gluten in my 100% whole wheat bread, it definitely gives it a big boost.   A few months ago I  took a gluten class from her and the gluten hamburger substitute tastes wonderful - there is no way my kids would know the difference. Here is some information from her:

I am putting together an order for vital gluten flour for those of you who are interested in ordering some for use as a bread enhancer or as a meat substitute.  Here are the particulars:

1)  Add 1 T vital gluten flour for each cup of whole wheat flour called for in your favorite bread recipe.  The extra gluten improves the texture and elasticity of the bread.

2)  Use 1 c vital gluten flour to make 2 pounds of ground gluten (hamburger substitute) or for gluten crunch.  See how to make all you meat products (chicken, sausage, hamburger, chipped beef, pulled pork,clams etc.) from vital gluten flour in the Making Meat from Wheat book or schedule a class to see how easy it is to use this great product.

3)  1 pound of vital gluten flour = 3.2 cups = 3.75 pounds per #10 can = 7.81 #10 cans per 25 pound bag =160 pounds of ground gluten (hamburger substitute).

Winco bulk price:  $2.43 / pound + sales tax .15 = $2.58/ pound purchased in 25 pound bags = $64.45 / bag

Order price:    $1.87/ pound + sales tax .11 =  $1.98/ pound + .09 shipping = $2.07 / pound = $51.75 /bag

In order to get the reduced shipping price, I have to order a full pallet (80 bags).  Again--we have to order quickly before the gas surcharges and product prices go up. 

If you want to order I need your order form back by Tuesday, March 29.  I will notify you at that time to send me a check if I have enough orders.

If you would like to order, please leave a comment or email me so that I can forward her phone number to you!

New Church Calling

Sunday I was called to be the new 2nd counselor in the Relief Society (third time in this calling...otherwise I am usually the Enrichment leader).  I love serving in the Relief Society with the women of the ward.  Since I am usually involved with the monthly RS meetings (also known as Enrichment nights), this will be right up my alley.  Yesterday was our first presidency meeting.  So we are figuring out our responsibilities and getting things in order.  This will definitely keep me busy and involved with our new ward.

Church Ties & Gold Tie Guys

After arriving at church, Porter realized that he had forgotten his neck tie which means that he is not able to pass the sacrament.  They are required to wear a white dress and neck tie to pass the sacrament.  Porter was really upset because he made it sound like our problem that he forgot his tie--hummm.  Fortunately he had a nice brother that was willing to temporarily loan his tie so that Porter could fulfill his priesthood duty.  It was a really cute Kodak moment watching Corbin adjust and fit the tie on Porter.  He wanted to make sure that his brother looked respectable. It was a really cute moment to watch from a distance.

Also speaking of ties, the boys are both working on some goals to earn a gold tie (not sure what the ladies earn)!  The stake has set some goals for the youth with the theme being "Guardians of Virtue".  They are invited to become a guardian of virtue by completing the following tasks by May 22, 2011:

• Read the Book of Mormon (which is about 5 pages per day)
• Bear their Testimony
• Live Standards in For the Strength of the Youth
• Attend the Temple (baptisms)

"Now is the time to prepare.  We must engage in strict training by exercising more self-discipline.  Now is the time to become more fit for the Kingdom.  Now is the time to set our course and focus on the finish.  You are the guardians of virtue!  You must never underestimate the power of your righteous influence!"--Elaine S. Dalton

Tortillas from Scratch

Last night I attended another class by Mary Ann called Mixing it Up With Grains.  It was a great class with lots of information and food samples.  From that class I learned how to substitute different types of flours, how to make crackers, and various dry mixes to save time in the kitchen.  I also learned how to make tortillas, which is something I have been wanting to master.  I have tried making corn tortillas but end up more frustrated because I can't get them to flatten out in the press.  Flour tortillas are the answer for me because they are easy to use plus I can use items from my food storage  to make them.  Look at my success!

Click here for the flour tortilla recipe.  Learn more about the class here.

St. Patrick's Day Came and Went

We usually celebrate St. Patrick's Day but with the girls being sick I didn't do much.  Usually we have a pancake breakfast with green syrup and then corned beef and cabbage for dinner - skipped both.  I have the corned beef in the freezer so we will have to celebrate another day.

Since the girls were home from school I put together a little treasure hunt in which they read clues that led them to the bear.  It was a little bright spot in their day.

This was Tisha's first experience at Build-a-Bear!

What Can Happen When You Don't Get the Flu Shot

I usually have all of us get the flu shot by Thanksgiving, but this year I forgot!  Porter was lucky enough to get the shot a few weeks ago.  However, the girls came down with the flu the past few days.  Friday after school, Vivian was complaining that she was tired.  Then Saturday she was still dragging, but I thought with a little more sleep she would be better.  I was wrong.  She worsened Sunday (Porter stayed home with her from church since Paul, Corbin, and I all spoke in sacrament meeting) and then Olivia was feeling it later that evening.

After visiting the doctor on Monday and being told that they had the flu, I kicked myself for not getting the vaccine!  This could have all been prevented.  Sunday night was a sleepless night for Vivian and myself.  I was then reminded of the difficult nights with new nursing babies (April, I felt your pain).  But fortunately they both showed big signs of improvement last night and today.  Olivia is back to feeling good.  Vivian still needs to catch up on her sleep, so she will stay home with me one more day.

Saturday night I gave the girls a bath.  Vivian didn't want to take a bath because she didn't want the oil washed from her head.  She had received a blessing from Paul and didn't want the blessings washed away.  I thought it was cute of her.  I'm glad that the girls asked Paul for blessings (without any encouragement).

Today I was unable to go visiting teaching like we had planned because of the girls being sick.  So I was just bumming around the house in my pj's.  I had got a little 30 minute exercise in walking outside on the "track" (black asphalt driveway around the entire house) while listening to Glenn.  I figured I needed some fresh air after being cooped up the past few days.  Then I decided to continue my day working in the kitchen (still not dressed or showered) grinding tons of wheat, making a huge batch of whole wheat bread, putting together two- triple batches of my favorite rolls in ziplock bags for later, tidying the pantry, listening to the radio, helping the girls, etc.  Then someone came to the door!  Oh, no what should I do?  I still looked yucky plus I had bed head and un-brushed teeth.

I let the bread rise by the wood stove.  I am feeling more and more like a country girl.

 

To my surprise the person at the door was a friend from church (heard that the girls had the flu- because I was actually supposed to be visiting teaching her this morning) stopping by with popsicles, game books, movies, and a chocolate candy bar (for me)!  I was so amazed at her thoughtfulness, especially with me being new in the ward.  She was a lifesaver.  The girls watched the both movies, enjoyed a popsicle and used their Mega Fun books.

 P.S. Olivia's fever came back in the night, so they will both be home.  This is a hard one to kick!

Living Providently Today

Tammy has started a new blog that is totally dedicated to providing her stake information about provident living skills.  She has started with sharing posts about different breakfast foods that can be added to your long-term food storage.  Check out her new blog here at Living Providently Today.

She will continue to write on her original blog, All Things Provident.   Check out both!  I am excited for her food storage book to be published; it should be here later this week.

We Celebrated 17 Years!

Seventeen years ago our family began here in the Salt Lake Temple.

 Yesterday we celebrated 17 years of being a family.  This tradition of celebrating with the children began last year, check this post.  This year was a little more simplified than last year, but we still enjoyed a nice evening. 

Why is Paul leaning away from me?  It's now or never!  When I think of family, I am reminded of the Family Proclamation.  It is prophetic counsel regarding the sanctity of marriage and the importance of family; it also outlines our duties as parents.  Check it out here.

From Dough to Maple Bars and Hamburger Buns

Monday I made this roll dough recipe and made it into these maple bars and into hamburger buns (thanks to Tammy Price for teaching me)!  The kids gobbled up the warm maple bars after school and for dinner we had BBQ chicken sandwiches with these buns - oh, so yummy!

To make the buns, use a wide mouth mason jar lid to get the appropriate diameter and thickness.  They were easy to make, very inexpensive, and healthier since they are 50% whole wheat.

4 Days & Lovin' the Oven

In this new-to-me home, we started with an all gas range.  Which means it had both a gas cook-top and a gas oven.  This was a totally new experience for me.  Have you ever baked in a gas oven?  There are actually flames (duh, Tiffani) that come up from the two vents on the bottom of the oven on the bake mode and flames at the top for the broiler.  I couldn't get the oven to bake correctly for me.  Things always took longer and wouldn't brown very well on the bottom.  

This is the oven I started with - it was brand new when we moved in.  So after using it two months I sold it on Craigslist and bought something more functional for me.

I bought a duel fuel Kitchen Aid range with double ovens, yippee!  I love it because it has the gas cook-top which I must have and two electric ovens on the bottom!  The top one is smaller but works great for cookies, pizza, and anything in a 9x13 casserole dish (just not tall enough for bread).  

I have used this for a total of 4 days and I love it! Thank you, Paul.

Temple Celebration in Kyiv Ukraine

Announcement:  20 July 1998
Groundbreaking and Site Dedication:  23 June 2007 by Paul B. Pieper
Public Open House:  7–21 August 2010
Dedication:  29 August 2010 by Thomas S. Monson

Temple Facts

The Kyiv Ukraine Temple was the first temple built in the former Soviet Union and the eleventh built in Europe.

Temple History

The announcement of the Kyiv Ukraine Temple came just weeks following the dedication of Ukraine's first meetinghouse in Donetsk on June 28, 1998.¹

During a trip to Europe in 2002 that included the rededication of the Freiberg Germany Temple and dedication of The Hague Netherlands Temple, President Gordon B. Hinckley visited with the Ukrainian Saints. Many hoped that the site would be pinpointed for the temple in Kyiv, which had been announced four years earlier; but no announcement was made. During the trip, President Hinckley did meet with Viktor Bondarenko, chairman of the state committee on religious affairs in Ukraine, who assisted the Church to acquire property. In an interview during a September 2002 trip to Utah, Bondarenko indicated that as far as he was aware, the process of securing land for the temple was then being finalized, noting that the major obstacle had been the large amount of land, about 3 or 4 hectares, requested by the Church.²

Introduced in 1991, the Church grew steadily in the eastern European nation of Ukraine, reaching a milestone on May 30, 2004, when Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles organized the first stake of seven wards in Kyiv. Elder Nelson blessed members to love their neighbors as Christ that many more stakes might be organized. He also encouraged them in their family history work in preparation for the temple.³

Ground was broken for the Kyiv Ukraine Temple on Saturday, June 23, 2007—nearly nine years since its announcement (that is a long time to wait) —coinciding with the 97th birthday of President Gordon B. Hinckley. The event was indeed a fitting tribute to this inspired leader, whose program for accelerated temple construction worldwide paved the way for this temple.⁴

On Saturday, September 19, 2009, about 680 members of the Kyiv Ukraine Stake, outlying mission branches, and their friends gathered to witness the raising of Moroni atop the spire of the Kyiv Ukraine Temple. The event marked a major milestone in the construction of the temple.

From me:  I just love this video because I can see and feel how excited the youth are to have a temple in their country.  How do we feel about the temples that are so near to our homes?  Do we take advantage of our opportunity to attend the temple frequently to learn more about the gospel plan, to feel the spirit, and to renew our sacred covenants with Heavenly Father?

Here is a wonderful video showing the construction of this temple, narrated by Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley. 

Here is a short video of the inside of the Kyiv Ukraine Temple filmed by LDS Church News.  It is beautiful!

Family & Chicken

 Tisha and David play a game of checkers.  You can see that we still haven't hung very many pictures; there is still work to be done!

Dad and Luanne came to town for business and then had some extra time to visit us.  So we had a big family gathering at our house after Braden's basketball game.  The kids played our new Kinect games downstairs (it was great with noise control) and us adults visited upstairs.  Then I got started on my chicken.  I bought 120 lbs at the Zaycon sale today (at the great price of $1.59/lb)!  Tisha was a huge help with the chicken.  Thank you!

 I had to catch Chad loading up his plate again.  We had a lunch feast of taco salad, pasta with chicken, fried chicken, cornbread, and more.  We had food galore!  The kids were in heaven with all the choices.

Here are the kids enjoying their choice of many flavors of pudding or jello with the grandparents, Dad and Luanne. 

I stuffed these two crockpots with chicken and others ingredients to help with a chicken broth.  I also had another big pan on the stove.

I was going to BBQ lots of chicken but the gas tank ran out (both need refilled!).  Instead I broiled my chicken in the oven; six minutes on the first side and three on the second.  Turns out perfect for freezing for later.

I froze a few gallon ziplock bags of fresh chicken breasts.

I shredded the chicken that was cooked in the crock pots.

Tomorrow I need to finish the chicken by packaging it into food saver bags.  I got tired last night and just put the cooked chicken in the fridge to cool down.  My freezer will be well stocked for a few months with all this chicken (120 lbs minus 10 lbs that were given to someone else).

Awesome Food Storage Book

I have recently told you about this new food storage book written by Tammy Price.  Since then some of you have asked me how to order this book so I decided to share this information with you again.  Tami has an awesome blog, All Things Provident, that she has been updating daily with new tips and recipes.  You really need to check it out and learn how easy cooking with your food storage items can be.  To check out the book and to take advantage of a great pre-order price, check out this new link here.

Tammy said that it may be available as soon as next week! I wish you all knew Tammy.  I was lucky to work with her in my last stake, she is awesome and passionate about sharing her testimony of food storage with everyone, plus she wants to help you succeed.

Pre-orders are being taken through March 5th.  The cost for pre-ordering is $15, plus $0.90 tax, for a total of $15.90.  Regular list price is $17.99.

All Things Provident will be available on Amazon.com very soon!

About the Book

Written with the LDS reader in mind, but helpful to anyone who wants to be more prepared as a family, All Things Provident provides inspiring tips and ideas in the areas of food storage, finances, and emergency preparedness. With over 300 recipes and fun, hand-drawn illustrations every reader is sure to find a suggestion that will help them do it all just a little better. Author and mother of five children, Tamara Price, provides a life-time of knowledge and experience in the areas of provident living. She shares tried-and-true ways to simplify the daunting task of storing food for your family. She also shares insights into how to be in control of your finances and what steps to take so your family can be prepared for any emergency. All the recipes are family favorites that can be made with storable ingredients. Many of them are egg-free, gluten-free, or dairy-free to accommodate special diets. Her insights and tips make living providently become an easy task instead of an overwhelming one. You'll want a copy for yourself and a few extras to share with family and friends.

Parenting and Food Storage Classes

I am taking three of Mary Ann's classes this month, one parenting class and two food storage classes.  The parenting class is titled "Teaching Children to Work".  I hope my children are learning to work.  Our family night lesson this week came straight out of the Gospel Principles handbook, chapter 27: Work and Personal Responsibility.  After our mini-lesson we had the opportunity to work in the yard.  We worked at burning the piles of weeds that Paul and the boys gathered.  Our new property is definitely going to teach us all how to work.  There is much more work to be done!  Next is learning to love work. The lesson mentioned that "one way to enjoy life's fullest benefits is to learn to love work."

Here are some great quotes on work:
"Work is to be reenthroned as the ruling principle of the lives of our Church membership." -- Heber J. Grant

And David O. McKay said, "Let us realize that the privilege to work is a gift, that the power to work is a blessing, that the love of work is success."

I just need some kind of system so that I am not nagging or reminding them all the time of what to do.  I want them to act for themselves and not to continually be acted upon. At least that is the goal! 

Then I am taking two food storage classes, including:  1) Mix it Up with Grains and 2) Cooking with Beans.  I love her food storage classes because she really knows what she is talking about.  Each class is $5, with the option of buying a small book for $10.  If you are interested in joining me, check out her website, Mary Ann's Cupboards, here for more information.