Heart Attack 2013

"Love is energy of life."
 - Robert Browning

 For Family Home Evening (FHE) we went and "Heart Attacked" my parent's home (their side garage door). The boys (two older ones) had so much fun getting everything ready - cutting out hearts, putting stickers on the cards and hearts, and making bags filled with treats. The boys were so proud of their heart attacking, that they had to show my parents what they had done...even though it was supposed to be a secret/surprise. Memories: that's what I am trying to create more of and make more of this year. It takes a lot of energy (which I totally lack as of lately), but I know it is important/crucial. Go make some Valentine memories!

           

Angels

Jessie, Bessie, Gary, and Steve Holtom *Sorry the pic is so little.

"However much we believe in angels, we ought to believe in them more than we do, for they truly do 'encamp round about' us and they regularly protect and deliver us in many different ways." - Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

The picture above is of my Grandma Bessie holding my dad when he was a baby. The little boy is my Uncle Gary, and the man is my Grandpa Jessie Everett. I never met my Grandpa, he passed away a few years before I was born. I remember my Grandma Bessie VERY well! Often times I would spend Friday nights spending the night at her little, white, humble house in Iona, ID. On Friday nights I remember watching the show, "Dallas" while enjoying root beer floats and homemade cookies she made but stored in her deep freeze in the basement.  She made fantastic rolls when we had family dinners. I read in her journal that she had the goal of doing 365 temple sessions in one year. Grandma accomplished that and then some. Many times she would do three or four sessions in a row. She chopped and stacked wood in her 90's. She drove around a white Chrysler/Dodge Aries car when she could have had something nicer. She was a saver. She mowed her big yard with a push mower in her 90's. She loved to work in her yard and plant flowers. Grandma worked 30 + years in a potato plant sorting potatoes. Needless to say, Grandma Bessie was a HARD WORKER!! In fact, I remember her offering to help me correct papers my first year of teaching while she was in a nursing home. The reason she was in a nursing home was because she had fallen outside one May evening in her yard to turn off her outside hose. Her hip was broken and she stayed outside all night until a couple drove by and saw her lying on the ground. I rode in the ambulance with her and asked her what she did all night.?. She said she was a bit chilly, but that she slept some but mostly prayed and prayed. Grandma was a woman of faith! Her temple goal was a good example, and she was very diligent in the gospel! She insisted that her three sons (Uncle Dave wasn't born yet in the above picture) go to church and mutual - even if it meant when the front headlights to the car weren't working - she had her boys sit on the hood with flashlights so she could make sure they went to mutual. All three of her sons were bishops and when the last son got his call, she said, "It's about time." :) She had high expectations in the right areas!

I have no doubt that my grandma is one of my angels. In fact, I know she is around me a lot - especially when I am working in my yard. I dug up some of her bulbs and planted them in my yard. They are a gift! Curtis and I often smell my Grandpa too (my mom's dad). I have a friend, Darrell, who I know has been by my side in many instances. These angels are around...everyone has angels. I know it, and they do deliver and protect us!

PRAYERS Needed & A GREAT Read

Happy New Year!! Hope 2013 is what YOU make of it!! New Year's is a good time to reflect on our lives and decide what we need to change and fix and start anew. I wish you the best in what you are working on to become a better YOU!

I have a favor to ask of you.?. Curtis and I have a nephew, Preston (6) who was admitted to Primary Children's Hospital on Christmas Day due to E Coli. Preston was so, so sick - in fact, there was a time they didn't think he would make it. However, as the days go by, he is slowly improving. Thank goodness for that, but he is still in the hospital. Then yesterday, Jan. 1st, Emma (9), our niece, and Preston's older sister was admitted to Primary Children's also because of E Coli. Talk about a trying holiday season for their immediate family. This is the favor I am asking...could you include the Eric & Jana Browning family in your prayers? Prayers for the sick children, prayers for the other family members who are tired? Prayers to give them all strength? Thank you!! Their family blog:
www.ejbrowningfamily.blogspot.com

Just a few days ago, I started reading the book, "For Times of Trouble - Spiritual Solace from the Psalms" by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland - an apostle of the Lord. I have been dissecting this book, underlining what stands out to me. Basically, Elder Holland breaks down the Psalms. So far, this is what I have gained from the book:

-God always hears our prayers and He always answers them.
-Heavenly Father is on our side.
-Everyone goes through times of trouble. No one is immune. Even though you think that one family or one person has no trials...everyone does.
-Some of our tribulations come from breaking commandments, but not all do.
-If we feel discouraged or depressed, we need to go to the temple.
-Every great cause requires vision. We need to see where we are going.
-Meditate
-Our purpose in life is to grow more and try and gain more faith, hope, charity, patience, perseverance, and strength.
-All of us can listen and respect our children.
-Strive to live within your means.
-Choose to be on the good side.
-Happiness at home is the greatest joy of all.
-Hang in there.
-It will be all right in the end. All trials, struggles do eventually end.

Christmas 2012 Recap

Carter wanted nothing more than to get a train table from Santa. Santa was feeling generous and got him his wish. Christmas morning he sure was excited!!

I always outline the windows in our living room with the Christmas cards we receive. I am happy to report we ended up with more Christmas cards to totally outline the windows. There is just something  special about checking your mailbox at Christmas time!

It's a tradition for our little family to go to Salt Lake City in December and look at the temple square lights and stay at Little America. We love the food at Little America and the boys love to swim in the pool. When we were in line for the breakfast buffet, a man behind us had all of his adult children with him. He told us how it has always been his family's tradition too. He says they always look forward to it, and that we need to continue it. When the boys were swimming at the pool, Curtis ran into his old neighbors growing up and all of their adult children - The Hills. It was fun for him to chat with all of them. Here we are at City Creek watching the fountain/water show.

Cannon's preschool class had a little Christmas program. Curtis volunteered to be Santa for all of the kids. Luckily, Cannon didn't recognize his dad! Whew!

The boys on Christmas morning in their Christmas pajamas.

Me and Christian shopping at the mall doing a little Christmas shopping!:) We hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas spending time with loved ones and reflecting on the birth of our Savior!

J-O-Y

This is a picture I took of our paper plates...yes, Christmas paper plates. I saw some candy canes on the counter and made them into a heart...I have always loved how two candy canes can create a heart. Of all the words on the paper plate, JOY stood out to me. I put the heart representing LOVE over JOY. I LOVE JOY...who doesn't!?! When I hear or think of the word JOY, I think it means even more than happiness...it is better than happiness! Here is a list of things that bring me JOY in my life:

 My little family of five brings me JOY. Yes, the three boys are a handful, and I am guilty of having not very much patience (something I am constantly working on), but they sure do bring JOY into my life when they share or do a kind act or read a book out loud, or say a prayer, smile, listen/behave, or learn something new. Christian is a JOY ---who doesn't LOVE a baby, especially a good baby who is easy-going! Curtis is a JOY to be around! He is easy to talk with and easy to get along with...no one doesn't like Curtis! :) Just a side note: Christmas lights bring me JOY too! Just like the ones on the pine tree behind Cannon and Carter in the above picture.

The temple gives me peace and JOY. I have peace in knowing that my family is an eternal family! What more JOY can you have than that??? I LOVE the Idaho Falls temple! Probably because I am from Idaho Falls and got married/sealed in the Idaho Falls temple.

Jesus Christ, our Savior is the #1 reason why I have so much JOY in my life! I have so many blessings...too many to name, and it is because of HIM! He is the Savior of the world! If we remember to put the following in this particular order in our lives: J - Jesus O - others Y - yourself, we will never go without JOY! We named Christian - Christian because we feel as though people are forgetting Christ. We liked how Christ is in his name, and we hope and pray Christian can be a good example to others, a true Christian, to remind them of our Savior. We wish you JOY and LOVE this Christmas season and all year round!!!

P.S. Here are a few other things that give me JOY (okay, maybe happiness) in my life, but aren't nearly as important as what was mentioned above: my iPhone, instagram, words with friends, candy, restaurants, sleeping in, baths, Christmas cards in the mail, yard work, a newly cleaned - bathroom, fridge, car, etc., music, acts of kindness, good smells,  an organized planner, children's books...and the list goes on and on and on and on....

"Be certain you are creating a rich environment in which your family can look forward to special times of the year when traditions hold you together as a great eternal family unit." ~ Elder L. Tom Perry, The Tradition of Light and Testimony, Dec. Ensign 2012

Cutie Christian

Christian says, "Why, hello there! Hope you are having a great day!" Oh, he is such a joy to have in our family!!! He's our little "cutie patootie"!

Andes Mint Cookies with a Christmas Twist

Before I got married, I had four bridal showers. Yeah, I am one blessed lady!! The faculty and staff where I worked and taught at (Sunnyside Elementary) threw me one of those bridal showers. They all gave me gifts as well as submitted a favorite recipe. They compiled the recipes and put them in a recipe book all nice and neat and organized. I have used many of the recipes and have especially used - Andes Mint Chocolate Cookies because they are quick and easy. I decided to make them for my family (even though I am on a diet and trying to eat less - I couldn't resist). I  got the idea when I was at Walmart in the Christmas candy aisle and saw these:

I had never seen Peppermint Crunch before so I decided to try them and make the cookies a bit more Christmassy.

Here is the recipe:

1 package Devil's Food Cake mix
1/2 cup of melted butter
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
Andes Mints (you can use the original green ones or try the Christmas ones).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat 1/2 cake mix with butter, vanilla, and eggs. Stir in the rest of cake mix and mix until well blended. Drop by rounded teaspoons about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10 - 12 minutes ( I do 10 mins.) or until edges are set. Set Andes mint on the center of the cookie. Let cookie set on cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Remove to wire rack. When the mint is melted spread carefully on the cookie.

5 Years & 3 Boys Later

Five years ago today (Sat., 24 Nov. 2007), Curtis and I (Adriana or Adie) were married in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. I was more calm than I thought I would be on my wedding day. My nieces were instructed to call me that morning to make sure I was up and awake! Surprisingly, I slept well the night before. There is a reason I slept well and wasn't too worked up - I was at peace and felt confident/comfortable with who I was marrying because we were doing it at the right time in the right place. We were both 29 when we got married. Were we both "set in our own ways" you may ask? Yes, yes we were...and I still kindof am. ;) He is way more self-less!!! I remember Curtis's mom saying to me before we got married, that Curtis is a pretty easy guy to live with, probably the easiest. That is totally TRUE!!! He doesn't want contention and always picks up after himself! I hear of husband's who still throw their clothes on the floor...that, I just don't get. Curtis puts up with my OCD of certain things...he knows what they are. ;) He is great with the boys, and is ALWAYS so helpful!! In fact, I think he has changed more diapers than I have. Blessed and grateful??? Yes, yes I am!!! Happy 5th Anniversary, Curtis!!!

Short do

Welp, I did it! I did what most moms with new babies do (or some anyway...), I chopped my hair.  Eight inches to be exact. My hair is falling out like crazy, and it made sense to cut it. It looks thicker and healthier, and deep down I think Curtis likes it better than when it was longer (seriously). Weird, since most guys just LOVE long hair. However, if you were to ask him, he would say he likes it long or short (short to me, is still to my shoulders).  :) He's a smart guy...he knows how to answer when I ask loaded questions. Kinda like, "Do these jeans make me look fat?" ;)

Two EASY and DELICIOUS recipes

Oh my goodness...this Pumpkin Crunch Cake is to die for!!! I was introduced to it at Bunco. I had to make it the next day for my family...it didn't last long. It was devoured in no time. This tastes better than pumpkin pie and is WAY easier to make!!! Here's how:
Ingredients:
- 1 box yellow cake mix
-1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin puree
-1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk
-3 eggs
-1 1/2 cups sugar
-1 tsp. cinnamon
-1/2 tsp. salt
-1 1/2 cups chopped pecans (optional)
-1 cup butter melted

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom of 9X13" pan. Mix pumpkin, milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Pour mixture into greased pan. Sprinkle dry cake mix over pumpkin mixture and top with pecans (if desired). Drizzle melted butter over pecans. Bake 50-55 minutes. ENJOY!!!!!!

This was my first time making somewhat homemade bread. Yes, it is less work buying bread, but the smell and taste can't be beat when you make it yourself. Thanks to Stefanie Hunter for sharing this recipe with me.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

This is half a recipe so it can fit in a Kitchenaid. Mix a can of evaporated milk with hot/warm water to make 2 3/4 cups. Add a Tablespoon of yeast and let it work for 10 mins., until it bubbles. Pour into mixer bowl.
Add 1 tsp. salt, 1/2 cup of oil, and 1/2 cup honey and mix with paddle attachment.
Put the dough hook on. Then add 7 cups of flour (5 whole wheat bread flour and 2 white flour) until the dough is a good consistency, and let it mix with bread hook attachment for 1 1/2 minutes.
Then on setting 2 (which kneads the bread) let it run for 3 mins.
Then let the dough rise for an hour or more in the bowl covered.
Punch it down, divide into 2 sprayed pans, and let it rise for another hour or more.
Bake for 350 degrees in oven for 40-45 minutes.
YUM, YUM, & YUM!!!