Before Our Eyes

I love Amaryllis flowers. This year I asked for a set of bulbs for my birthday, and Costco had a very nice set on sale at the right time. It is amazing to watch it change overnight and grow so much in 24 hours. It seems to change before our eyes!
Here's a photo record:

taken Dec 5taken Dec 7

Dec 19

December 25th!!

Before our eyes!

Christmas Eve thoughts: hearts and newborns

A couple of years ago I was asked to speak in Sacrament meeting on Christmas Eve. I just re-read my thoughts and they are even more tender to me now that I am getting acquainted with THREE miraculous newborns/grandchildren! I needed to ponder these thoughts once again.

The talk:
Today in this meeting, and tonight with our families, we commemorate and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on the earth. Many songs we sing, stories we read, and the scriptures all paint a picture of a long and dreary trip to a bustling and busy Bethlehem, and discouraging reports that all the inns were full and there was no room.
We have sung and thought of the moments when Joseph and Mary are allowed to spend the night in the stable, with the animals. In spite of the humble surroundings, we also know that a glorious event occurred with the birth of a new baby, the Christ Child.

I think of the awe that I feel when I see a newborn baby. I am filled with amazement at the miracle of new life, I am filled with love for this new person, and I am filled with desires to nurture, to protect, and especially to become acquainted with this new person and every moment of its beginning life. In other words, my heart becomes quickly attached to a newborn the more I become acquainted with the child.
Remembering that tender scene in the stable so many years ago, and placing myself there as a witness to the birth of Christ, I receive a personal gift every year – feelings of tenderness, love, hope, and acceptance of His gift of life and atonement for me.

At Christmas time, our hearts feel close to Heaven. It is a time when the sharing of love fills our lives with comfort and joy.
This is the time of year when our hearts are most tender, we feel grateful for warm relationships, and we feel forgiving. We wish to express our love and thanks and gratitude to those who are in our circle of relationships and also to those less fortunate. All this movement of feeling in our heart and souls, works to make us teachable and fills our hearts with righteous longings and desires. Desire is actually a yearning or craving and is of critical importance because desire and action are inseparably connected. They have a cause and effect relationship. In time, our desires will make us who and what we are.
Because our desires play such a significant role in our eternal destiny, we can choose to exercise our agency in countless small ways that will help our desires to become more worthy and eventually even holy. Quote by Neal a Maxwell,“Each assertion of a righteous desire, each act of service, and each act of worship, however small and incremental, adds to our spiritual momentum.”
At this season, it is not hard and I think it is especially important to take time in all of our business to assess the worthiness of our desires
As an example, I want to use Alma’s words as he was recounting his transcendent gaze into heaven, he stated, “My soul did long to be there.”
This scripture teaches me about the power of desire (My soul did LONG) and the critical importance of the object of our desire (to be there).

Let me share something that illustrates desires of the heart.

My friend taught me a great principle she has learned about the first and second commandments. The first commandment is “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart” If we acknowledge, feel, and speak our love to the Lord, we can use the power of that love to ask for help in living the second great commandment – Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. She tells me that sometimes she thinks she is really ok in her behavior, and her husband thinks he is really ok, but they both are thinking their spouse is not ok – they might feel annoyed, or a bit of anger, or resentment or frustration or whatever it is that builds walls between any of us in close relationships. This is what my friend has taught me about desires. She has literally learned to ask for help in the following way: She says a silent prayer to father in Heaven and tells him she loves Him, the lord, first in her life. She then asks the Lord to help her fulfill and live the second commandment and humble her heart so that she can overcome those feelings of resentment, anger, frustration etc. Many times The Lord has literally helped her heart to quickly soften and those negative feelings to become feelings of love, acceptance, forgiveness and humility. IN that silent prayer and in the moments after, she has just invited the Lord into her heart and in her humility the Lord can help govern her thoughts, actions, and allow the Holy Ghost to help her open her heart to her spouse. She feels an increase of love for her spouse and also from the Lord for herself. The power of her heart’s desire (to draw upon her love of the Lord) and the object of her desire – (to have help in loving others) are very real and powerful in how she is changing in her heart and behavior, and thus becoming a more worthy and holy person.

In this Christmas season, the phrases “Let him In” or “Is there room?” are often seen on cards, found in songs, or written on wall plaques. What do these words mean to me? I do not picture making a room ready for the Savior, but I am always reminded to check my inner thoughts and see if I have made room in my mind and heart for thinking about and pondering the gifts of the savior. I want to follow the example of my friend in drawing upon my love of the Lord to help my heart make room.
There is a phrase in one of my favorite Christmas Carols, The Bleak Midwinter, with words by Christina Rossetti. I was touched by her words when I read them first as a freshman in college, and each time I hear or read these words, I am touched again.
This portion of the song refers to the gifts given to the Christ child.

What can I give him
Poor as I am
If I were a shepherd
I would give a lamb
If I were a wise man
I would do my part
But what I can I give him
Give him my heart.

I can give my heart.
What does it take for my heart to allow Him to “enter in”?
I need to have the Desire to want him to be there, I need to be present of mind, be focused, and not be swayed in distractions of this world, To allow Christ to enter my heart, I need a desire to become acquainted with Him and his voice– in D&C 84:52 we are reminded, “And whoso receiveth not my voice is not acquainted with my voice, and is not of me.” I want to be acquainted with Christ. I want to let Him in to my heart. I have had the experience of becoming acquainted with new born babies, and thus I can use my experience and also learn how to be attuned to His voice – I listen, I notice, I ask, and I desire.

As we seek Christ, as we find Him, as we follow him, we can have the Christmas spirit, not for one fleeting day or few weeks each year, but as a companion always. We can turn our thoughts and desires to become acquainted with his voice. As the verse in the song tells us:

How silently how silently
The wondrous gift is given
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven
No ear may hear his coming
But in this world of sin
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.

I pray that this day and season our hearts may be filled with desire to be more acquainted with the Christ Child, His gifts, His love, His hope, and that we may Let Him In to our hearts, in every way possible.
Amen

Thoughts on Mary

I often read a blog called "Segullah" by a collection of women. Today I read a thoughtful post on Mary. Enjoy it here.

I especially liked this thought: "I think about how sometimes we don’t really want our blessings to be hard. We want our trials to be confined to one part (the lesser part) and our blessings to be easy. But when has this ever been the case? Aren’t blessings and hardships one and the same?"

Grand America buffet found in Provo?

Well, maybe.
It was just our ward brunch, but the goal was to make it look nice! My goal was to not have to haul food out of the kitchen during the whole party - just put it all out and have two people inside the tables keep the drink pitchers filled, keeping the extra milks and juice in coolers under the tables. I used vases and urns from Nicole's and Michelle's receptions!







The Menu:
egg, potato, bacon, cheese strata
ketchup and salsa
mini quiche
turkey sausage links (pre-cooked from Costco)
variety or breads, muffins, sweet rolls from ward members
yogurt
granola
mandarin orange or peach fruit cups
black grapes
bananas
pineapple
sliced oranges
boiled eggs
Cinnamon toast crunch cereal
milk, choc milk, OJ








set up
four tables in a square.
plates at two corners
drinks at other two corners
people could go either way, so there were four directions of food, all basically the same on each table.

The aprons were made by the Activities chair - so fun!

The Best Gift

My birthday was Nov 22. We had planned a family outing to the Garden restaurant at the Joseph Smith Memorial building in Salt Lake on Saturday. Nicole called and told me Casey did not go to Seattle after all, and they would drive up themselves and meet us there. When I called her to tell her where we were on the freeway, she said she was just a bit behind us. When we arrived at the JSMB, there was Nicole at the top floor to greet us. She said Casey was in the bathroom and she wanted me to look out the window at all the new construction. She seemed so excited to see the buildings and I kind of had to plow through a group of people blocking the windows. After gazing out at the construction (not so amazing, really) I asked Nicole how she got there before us. By this time Nicole and Michelle were laughing and I said, "What is so funny? Your drive up here is not that funny!" I turned to see what might be making them laugh behind me and to my great SURPRISE -- it was CAMILLE!!! Apparently I had looked right past her twice on my way to the window and she was making funny faces to make her sisters laugh.

I was so surprised! I really thought Camille was not going to come for Thanksgiving and all along she had planned to surprise me for my birthday! Everyone kept a great secret - even Clyde. I had NO clue.
It was a great treat to have Camille home all week! As Emerson said, "The best gift is a portion of thyself." Thanks Camille! You brought your whole self - ha!

And the girls created a delicious dinner on Sunday with broiled pears for dessert - delicious and low fat!

7 week progress

I visited the wrist surgeon last week. He was thrilled with the x-ray of my wrist. He was very happy to see my range of motion turning my palm to face the ceiling. I still have nagging swelling, nerve numbness and minor tingling, and much stiffness when I bend my hand down. It's 20 -30% only and I hope to get to 50% +. That takes lots of heat, icing it, pushing and stretching it till it hurts. And I am supposed to massage the scar a TON! That is supposed to get rid of the scar tissue.
My scar so far:I visited with an older sister in my ward and she has the same scar, same fracture, same plate in her wrist. She showed me how much movement she has and she still plays the piano in Primary. She gives me hope!

great thoughts

These words were sent to me in an email from the Tabernacle Choir broadcast last week.
I love the message.

'A Christmas to Remember'

As we look forward to Christmas this year, let’s look back to Christmases past and appreciate what makes a holiday memorable. Some memories may involve less-than-perfect circumstances—and that’s all right. Few real-life celebrations resemble the slick ads and scenes in holiday movies. In fact, sometimes the most cherished Christmases take place in conditions that are not quite ideal.

Of course, it’s easy to feel discouraged when things don’t go according to our plans. But in time, families often look back and laugh about the mishaps: the year the tree fell over, the time they forgot to turn on the oven, the school program when everyone forgot their lines.

Other times, families weep when they remember more serious hardships: the year when someone was in the hospital, the year there were no presents because times were tight, the first Christmas after a loved one passed away.

As such memories fill our hearts, we would do well to recall that original Christmas night. It was not without difficulty. Mary and Joseph were far from home. No room could be found in the inn. Few comforts were available. And yet, love was born. Heavenly choirs sang. A new star lit the sky, and shepherds came to worship.

Unrealistic expectations for a picture-perfect Christmas may be misleading and actually keep us from appreciating the holiday’s more subtle yet more satisfying blessings. Everything does not have to be just right for wonderful things to happen.

No matter the circumstances for Christmas this year, cherished moments are within reach. Hold a child in your arms. Pause to look at the night sky. Welcome friends and family into your home, and listen to heavenly choirs. Give the love that only you can give, and you will have a memorable Christmas: a Christmas that recalls that first holy night when, in the lowliest of circumstances, a King was born.

This is a photo of KC and Emily a few years ago as they dramatized the nativity at the DC temple.
KC and Nicole were born in January and I still have a tender spot in my heart as I recall those long ago December months, with a large pregnant belly, and singing carols that remind me of Christ's birth and Mary's challenges.

sweet

The Bean Museum displays all the baby animals at Christ's birth. All nature celebrates the babe.
Sweet.

hand minus wrist

It's been 1 month since I fractured my wrist in Maryland. My surgery was three and a half weeks ago. I have progressed a long ways since those first days, when I could not use my right hand for anything and had to depend on my left hand or Clyde. I can now do quite a lot with my right hand:
-hold the round brush to style my hair - although stiffly
-open the car door, slowly
-pull up my pants - tenderly
- type and use a mouse - not too hard
- put on eyeliner and mascara - have to hold them funny sine I can't turn the wrist

You see, the bone is healing, but the stiffness remains. I cannot eat soup with my right hand because I cannot turn the wrist to point the spoon to my mouth. I still feel like a toddler if I eat with my right hand - clumsy and the spoon points to the wall, not my mouth. Do you realize how much wrist action you need to dry yourself off with a towel? A LOT.
I have a lot of work to do on my range of motion and strength. I still can't open a can, a bottle of prescription pills, hold a gallon of milk etc. And I'd be very excited if the remaining swelling would go down!
Today I began moving my wrist up and down according to DR's orders. Little movements, like baby steps. Every day. I hope to be whole soon.

Why I love my office

Today was a quiet, cool, gray and cloudy day. From my office desk I could look out and see the constant falling leaves, like snow flakes. It was not windy, just breezy enough to cause the leaves to fall off the branches and float to the ground. Peaceful.
At 12:30 pm I went to the kitchen to slice my pear and eat lunch, after a very busy and sometmes frustrating morning. I looked out the window as I stood over the sink and to my delight I saw a few deer. I went to the kitchen nook window and ate my pear and counted six (6!) deer just having a nice lunch in the back yard of the Former President's home. There are three young deer and three who look a year older. I know the one mother deer we watched last year had three babies this summer, but it seems a few more deer have joined the herd. Watching those deer and especially the young fawns leap and dart across the yard just calmed me and made me peaceful.
At 4:30 pm in my second story office I decided it was time to shut down and I stood at the window to gaze out. This time the deer were back and some were in the yard and some were just standing in the bushes on the edge of the hill. I think I counted 7! Nibbling, nuzzling, and posing.
When I went out the front door to meet Clyde, there were three deer on the lawn just by the door where I was exiting. They startled, but I said to them, "It's OK, just keep eating your dinner." They calmed right down and only stuck their heads into the bushes. As soon as I was in the car they turned back to the grass they had been eating.

My little spot and magic of nature, right here on the BYU campus. I'm glad deer get hungry everyday. I'll be watching.

Back in the Groove...almost

Two meals in less than 24 hours - that's what I have made with just a little help.

Taco soup for Halloween. Michelle helped finish chopping the onion, and opened a few cans for me. (then she left for SLC)
It made so much we invited Tom and Linda over to share.
Clyde chopped olives, Linda sliced the avocado. I did most of it myself!

Today, fast Sunday, Clyde was feeling a bit sick. Flu maybe? I made dinner by myself, mostly.
-herbed turkey breast (courtesy Costco) Clyde cut the plastic off.
-roasted mini carrots (kinda crunchy, oops)
-boiled new red potatoes with butter and rosemary
-reheated green beans (cooked for an earlier meal)
-apple, pomegranate, and vanilla yogurt salad (I cut the pomegranate ,myself, very slowly, and got the seeds out under water very carefully)
-croissants (from a pop open can)

Dessert was chocolate chips cooked in four of the remaining croissants - kind of similar to the European pastries we often had for a treat or breakfast.

I am typing this with both hands, just not full function of the right hand.
Lots of exercises are to be done in two weeks to get me stronger.

I'm healing.

Being able to cook makes me feel a bit more balanced. Isn't it great that small successes bring much happiness?

Clyde folded all the laundry last night - what a guy.

Happy Anniversary

I love fall for it reminds me of our wedding and anticipation of a life together. Clyde and I celebrate 34 years today. We did a little shopping for house stuff - new glasses, cutting board, timer, and various other improvements. We went to the grocery store for a few items - Clyde had to push the cart due to my wrapped and restricted hand. We stopped for lunch at Pizzeria 712. Clyde cut the salad into fork size bites and he even cut my pizza that was too floppy to pick up. He never made fun of me nor complained. I have been a bit tender with my off balanced life of trying to cope with only one hand. Clyde asked me what were the highlights of the past year or years. I told him one of my favorite memories was the random times he came home from work in the past year and just told me, "I'm so glad I am married to you." These were not on a special holiday or anniversary, just an ordinary day. His words were totally unexpected, spoken in truth, and cherished dearly on my part.

Daily kisses and hugs in the kitchen weave the fabric of comfortable appreciation, tying our hearts together.
One of the best parts of 34 years together is knowing that in the moments that he annoys me (like forgetting to tell me where he parked car) - I will be annoyed only temporarily. It all melts away so quickly and I don't have any desire to be mad. Forgiveness amazes me and nourishes us.

Oh, and another highlight was when Clyde plucked my chin hairs yesterday -- just matter fact, no squeamishness, and with a kiss. That's happily married.

Time heals all

Surgery went really well - says Clyde per the doctor. (I was there but fast asleep). My arm had a nerve block that lasted 12 - 15 hours. Imagine the same feeling you have when numbed for a tooth filling. Multiply that to the entire arm. Weird. I had this big appendage I could not feel, and I had to remember to carry it if i moved or walked. When I got dressed in the hospital it just flopped like a dead fish and I did not feel a thing! That really surprised me. The docs promised I'd be glad for the block once it wore off and the pain began. I was prepared with plenty of percocet. By the next morning I was woozy after feeling 'out of body' all night pain relief. Clyde brought me the 'throw up bucket' and I used it. ugh.
Same story 4 hours later, but after the docs called in the anti nausea meds I was sleeping for hours and feeling more normal.
Please excuse the left handed photography.

Wed was better, still lots of sleepiness though. 9.5 hours between pain meds.

Black eye: 10 days later.
Time does heal all hurts.
This is the view that inspires me on my quiet days of healing:
And today I looked up a photo of KC as a six week old baby. Kind of looks like Alex and Bennett.

What's a klutz?

Me!!
Apparently fast walking for exercise on old uneven sidewalks is not good for some.

I tripped, caught myself with my hands, and barely hit the sidewalk with my head.
result?

Big shiner
and fractured wrist!

surgery tomorrow.
left handed temporarily.
ps: ever tried to close side zip pants or dress in female apparel with one hand only? That feels klutzy.

a grandparent's happy moment

Last weekend Clyde and I flew to Maryland to see the 4 week old triplets born to Emily and KC. I was so happy to see and hold these special little miracles. They are so perfect! Every moment with them was a new thrill. Each night I try to memorize and recall each sweet face: Alex, Bennett, and Ruby. I could not contain my tears of gratitude for this long prayed for miracle.

Bushed!

This week was a marathon work event. My responsibility was to oversee the implementation of a new product for communicating with graduate prospects and applicants, and newly admitted students. One person came out from Cincinnati and I spent 9 - 5 with her every day, intensely building content for web pages, 7 emails for 55 departments, filters for sending all the emails on a schedule, figuring out data issues and more.
Imagine trying to manage it all - 55 departments, 7 emails each, 7 areas of content for each program web page, 4 communication plans, 97 users. I can't even do the math. I am bushed!!!

And, I don't know how to find photos on the internet without the stock photo logo. oh well. On to my NAP.

Tender Mercy

Last night I had looked at my Google reader list (for the umpteenth time), just in case there was a new post about the triplets. There were no new posts but I saw a recommended link to a blog that I sometimes read - Light Refreshments Served. It is a group of different ladies who are all Mormon, but I'm not sure how they got connected.
I started reading the blog listed called How great shall be your joy The name in the story, the description of the person in the temple sounded all too familiar. By the end of the story I was sure she had written about my father in the Denver temple. I could visualize him exactly as she described him, and I knew about these few new names he had recently found that needed temple work.

It was a dear sweet tender experience to read the words of someone who was deeply touched by my father's pure intentions and desire to serve. It was a tender mercy for me, a reminder of my heritage and great example of my father. It made me thankful for many things - that my brother takes my dad to the temple, that my dad still wants to go to the temple, that he loves the temple, that he has no fear when in the service of the Lord, that I am his child and witness to his example.

I found her email address somewhere on the blog and I wrote to her.
Here is what she wrote back to me:

Dear Janice: THIS IS WHY I LOVE THE INTERNET!!! I am certain that you are right - another member of the group mentioned that he was 93, that he had been a sealer in the early days of the Denver Temple, and I believe they even said he served as the Temple President (?) at one time? Or maybe a member of the presidency? Anyway, it was a really neat experience for me, and I meant what I said about feeling like I was witnessing something special. I almost felt irreverent even being in the room. It was really good for me to witness, because attending the temple is sometimes hard for me. But watching him that day really strengthened my testimony of temple work. Sounds like you were a very lucky girl to have such a wonderful dad!

Thanks for sharing,

Kristy

Amen.

Blessings

Today we became grandparents. See this great post. I kind of wander around trying to do my Saturday stuff, but I keep coming back to the computer to gaze at the photos of KC and Emily's TRIPLETS! What a miracle we have witnessed. I can't stop the tears of happiness.

Janice and the very good very long day

I've been very busy these last few weeks getting ready for the New Graduate Student Info Fair and Dinner. Preparing emails to be sent, inviting 27 booth participants, gathering donated prizes (we had 120 this year!), shopping for stuff, setting up the RSVP, etc. We had an overwhelming number of people tell us they wanted to come - 1240 this year! That is a lot of folks to feed...tables to set... name tags to print...name tags to be picked up. With 11 years experience under my belt and fantastic students and staff in Graduate studies we managed to have two great events. We learn something every year and try to improve in little ways. This year we added the Museum of People and Cultures - did you know they sponsor a date night in the Museum twice a month? And host FHE? cool. The favorite giveaway was the holographic drink cup by Dining Services! We ran out of small T-shirts by 2 pm. I had to wake the person hosting the Statistics consultation booth - he was sound asleep and 2 students came back to us and said they could not get his stamp because he was asleep! I had to nudge his feet under the table to wake him. Ha Ha.
We had 400+ students come to the fair and we talked to every one of them! They get so excited that they are getting more chances at the three tuition prizes by visiting the booths.
There are lot of details to remember and I always blank out on something. This time I got my evening outfit from the car, and changed in the restroom around 5 pm. I handed my bag of clothing and make up to a student and told her where to find my car - just to get one thing out of the way that I would not have to haul out later. 5 minutes later she called to say she could not find the car, so I explained where it was once again. OK she said, I see it. Another call 10 minutes later and she Still could not find the car. OH. My. gosh - I NOW recalled that Clyde was picking up the car at 5:15 to go home and change! OOPS! I felt pretty silly. Thank goodness my student worker was not mad...
We started on time, had plenty of seats, even for those who did not RSVP and had a delicious meal with a new dessert: chocolate molten lava cake. Dining Services out did themselves this year. We were done by 7:55 pm, cleaned up by 8:30 and I was home and in my pjs by 8:55. Clyde gave me a sort of foot massage (can anyone teach him to a do a real massage?) After the very long day my feet hurt! This year Dustin and Alicia got to come and I found out they are in the ward of the VP over Graduate Studies.
I wish I could take a long break, but there are two more huge projects that are overdue and ready to take my time. Onward. My goal is to have these done before Emily and KC have the triplets!!! Hang on Emily and grow those babies.
Photos maybe later - or not.

Still as a statue

Hello all!
My 93 year old father and my brother are visiting for the 4th. They wanted to see the place where I work so we stopped by at noon on Saturday. I was startled when I saw what looked like an ugly owl stuffed figure on the wood furniture under the Calf picture. It did not belong and I thought someone was playing a JOKE! My brother always has his camera with him and he looked at it with a zoom and said, "IT'S ALIVE..." We were sure it was alive when I noticed a few spots on the wall paper that looked like it had hit the wall. I finally gathered my senses and called security and they promised to send someone over. We continued our tour and the owl did not move from it's spot and we walked very carefully through to the dining room and upstairs.
The officer arrived about 12:15 and noted that we were upstairs. He made noise and the frightened OWL flew around the living room a bit, until the officer was able to scoop it up in his hands and send him out the door. He said it was just a baby and did not seem to be injured.

There are 15 spots on the walls and ceiling that the owl hit and left marks as he tried to get out. He also left bird POOP ( gross!) on four pieces of furniture. I placed pink sticky notes where we saw the poop, but I'm not sure we saw it all. there are a few owl feathers around too.

How did the owl arrive inside the house? I am pretty sure he came in through the chimney flue. There is a knob there and the directions on the fireplace state to turn clockwise to open. The knob seems to be turned to the open position!!
I don't know how to upload this to link to picasa, so try this.
for more..
http://picasaweb.google.com/jkrobinson2/OwlVisitsFormerPresidentsHome?authkey=Gv1sRgCKry96329sPVpQE#

Hilarious

Quite a few years ago Clyde purchased a used car for KC to use while going to school. It was a good car, a good buy, and it was purchased from a young couple in Salt Lake City. Clyde mentioned that he was a BYU professor and when he showed up to pick up the car, the man's mother had included a long red umbrella from her workplace - the University of Utah. Clyde accepted graciously and that long tall umbrella has been in our coat closet ever since. It looked like it was a huge umbrella with a U of U logo - something we'd feel uncomfortable taking to BYU campus on a rainy day, but it's always good to have extra umbrellas around the house. You never know when Michelle and her buddies might have wanted to wanted to play out in the rain and puddles. Fast forward to Saturday, June 20, 2009. Clyde had just purchased a new BBQ grill and it was RAINING a lot! So Michelle and Cisco offered to put the new cover on the grill, but first they had to dry it off a bit. Michelle looked for a large umbrella and could only find this red one.

Take a look at what we found when we opened the umbrella! We had this hilarious thing at our house for so long and never knew!HA! A helmet umbrella! Hilarious.

Cozy and Growing

It's been 1 week and a day since I discovered the birds nest with three growing babies just off our deck. We check every day to see if the mother robin is there and several times we have seen the baby birds with mouths wide open as she is feeding them. How quickly they are growing! If you click on the picture and let it fill your screen, you can see just how much they have grown in 8 days. Amazing. I think of Emily and KC's little darlings growing cozily too.

In the Leafy Treetops

Today I worked with Clyde on testing all the sprinklers, which meant I had to turn on a station, come to the back yard and deck to see if all the heads worked, several times. Look what I spotted in the tree next to our deck! Not like last year when all I saw was the left overs. Baby birds! If you click on the picture and let it fill your screen you can see one little eye peeking out. I think there are three! Stay tuned.

I'm thinking about three babies all the time - growing strong, nurtured by Emily and KC loved by all. Read their story here. Fills me with gratitude, hope, love, and excitement.

New York

We had a great time in New York two weeks ago. Some photos for you.
Our hotel was right on Times Square and it was quite the happening place, with tons of tourists, lots of lights, and traffic.If you look closely, you can see the ball that drops and 2009 on top of the building. That building is empty and makes all it's money by having all those lighted billboards on it. Every building in Times Square must have 35% of their building covered in billboards!KC and Emily came up for a short visit and we saw some great sights. The view from the Top of the Rock ( Rockefeller Center) was spectacular. Here is one with KC and Emily and the Empire State building in the background.
We spent some time admiring the Statue of Liberty up close - she is very impressive!
Here's some details on her specs.
Clyde and I took a night time 2 hour bus tour all around the lower Manhattan and Brooklyn sites. We learned a lot!

A thankful heart

Tonight Clyde and I went to a concert by all the BYU choirs and the Philharmonic orchestra. It was filmed for later public television dates. The theme was, "A Pilgrim's Journey Home" to signify we are all pilgrims on the same journey through life and to our heavenly home. It was wonderful and moving. I loved it when the choirs filled up the sides of the DeJong concert hall and sang to us in surround sound - there was not room on the stage for everyone with the philharmonic too. One exciting moment came when we realized that Mack Wilberg of Tabernacle Choir fame was sitting two rows in front of us, just a few seats too far away to talk to him. I have wanted to tell him many times how much his music has touched me and enriched my life. He has a gift for arranging and on many many Sundays and other days I feel so uplifted and full of the spirit when I listen to the Tab choir. Even tonight I kind of wished I could go thank him, but we went out different doors on each side of the hall and I am sure he went to congratulate the BYU conductors. So a while later, after we had waited for Linda D. to figure out if Mikey needed a ride, we left the HFAC. Just as we approached the sidewalk by the ASB, there was Mack Wilberg! I didn't hesitate a second before I greeted him like an old friend and shook his hand and told him how MUCH I love his music and how it has enriched my life. We talked about how we were sad when he left BYU, but that now we get to hear much more of his music now that he is with the Choir. He was very gracious and humble and thankful for my thoughts. We waved goodbye as if we might see each other again as we went to our cars. It was a sweet moment in a very wonderful night.

70's Cousin's Dinner

I recently made a dish that we all used to make when we were in college. It was a big hit with the students at my office, so I decided to make the whole meal for cousin's dinner using recipes that were popular when I was in college. (the 70's)
Menu:
Tater Tot Casserole
Jello salad with a twist
green salad with croutons and Ranch dressing (Ranch was very new and 'in')
frozen peas and carrots
Rhodes rolls (also new and so convenient in the 70's)
chocolate cake and caramel swirled ice cream (Casey's request for his b/day cake)

The recipe:
Tater Tot Casserole
1 lb ground beef
1/2 onion, diced
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 can evaporated milk
1/2 bag tater tots, frozen
cook beef and onion (you can even add celery). Stir in soup and milk. Mix in tater tots and pour into 8x8 or 9x9 pan. Bake at 350 for 40 -55 minutes till bubbly

I made this a lot in college - it still tastes good!

Jello Salad with a twist
1 carton cottage cheese
1 carton cool whip
1 -2 can mandarin oranges, drained
1 small can pineapple tidbits, drained
1 small box orange jello
mix all together, place in fridge for 30 minutes.
Tasty and so easy. We all made this a lot also in the 70's cause it was fancy and fast.

Ready for spring

More snow today. I am not sure this all will melt by March 21, the first day of spring. It snowed all day AGAIN, today. We can barely see or reach our mailbox. Can you see it?
I am SO SO looking forward to warmer days and flowers.

UPDATE: There may be hope that the snow can melt after all! Casey, Cisco, and Ryan Nielson made a human size 'snow cave/tunnel' from the mail box to the sidewalk last night on Valentines Eve. When it does warm up there's already a bunch of snow that is gone!

The mighty tunnel diggers. And proud of it.

Mugs multiplied

I just wanted to document what I pulled out of my cupboard when I was cleaning up Christmas stuff. After 33 years of marriage, and the last 19 in Utah in one house, it seems that mugs multiply! Beware. I took at least half of these to DI, put the Christmas ones away for next year and only have 16 on my shelf - that is plenty!! There are more shelves that need a clutter diet.

Pizza party

We had a great time visiting with Emily and all the cousins last Wed. We made three kinds of pizza and now we must post the recipes. Sorry, no photos - we were too hungry and it disappeared before we even thought about the camera! I think I am going to make pizza again on Sunday!

CPK honey wheat pizza dough

1 t yeast

1 cup + 1 T warm water

1 cup bread flour

1 ½ cups whole wheat flour

1 T + 2 t honey

1 t kosher salt

1 T + 1 t EVolive oil

Dissolve yeast in water, add honey

In mixer, place 1 cup flour, salt, & 1T oil, add yeast

Mix 2 -3 minutes

Add remaining flour, mix till smooth

Oil a bowl, and place dough. Let rise 2 hours, then punch down and place in fridge over night or for 7 hours

2 hours before dinner, take out and cut in the size for pizza: 1 makes a 13” pizza, or 2 balls make 2 6” pizzas

Cover let rise till double, then roll out and dress the pizza. Can place dough on pizza stone that is hot, then toppings. Bake 400 for 10 – 20 minutes depending on toppings and if you precooked the crust.

CPK pizza sauce

1 15 oz tomato sauce

1 6 oz of paste

1 T oregano

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 t paprika

2 t basil

½ t sugar

½ t onion powder

Mix and heat over very low heat for 30 minutes

Goat Cheese and caramelized onion pizza

(Janice’s version of something she had at CPK)

1 CPK wheat crust/ dough

Red sauce

Caramelized onions

Red pepper, sautéed

Goat cheese

Chicken, cooked

Small amount mozzarella cheese

Caramelized onions

Cut two onions in thin slices.

Heat up 2 T olive oil or 3 T butter

Cook onions over low for 20 – 30 minutes, with a lid at first, then leave the lid off and watch and stir them often so they turn a bit brown, but do not burn. Low heat and patience are key here.

Layer in the order above, and bake at 400 for 15 – 20 minutes.

BBQ chicken pizza

This was basically Alicia's recipe off her food blog, except I used the CPK wheat crust.

precook chicken and chop, spread some Sweet Baby Ray's bbq sauce on the chicken.

spread more sauce on the crust, add diced chicken, caramelized onions, cooked red pepper, red onion slices, and mozzarella cheese. top with a sprinkle of fresh chopped cilantro.

Bake 400 for 15 minutes, depending on if you pre cooked the crust.

The third pizza was regular pizza with a deep pan crust . red sauce, pepperoni, green peppers, olives, mushrooms, and lots of mozzarella cheese. BE sure to pre-bake the crust for this one as it is thick.

Cousins Dinner recipes

Here's the recipe for January Cousins dinner! no photos, sorry. It was fun to see all of you, even Chuck who came later!

Meatloaf
2 eggs, beaten
11 oz V-8 juice
1/2 large onion, chopped fine
1 celery stalk, diced fine
1 1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs or Pepperidge farms stuffing
1 envelop Lipton onion soup mix
1/4 t pepper
2 lbs ground beef, 12 % fat

meatloaf topping
1/4 c ketchup
1 1/2 T brown sugar
1 slight T mustard

combine eggs juice, onion, celery, bread crumbs soup mix and pepper. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into a loaf and place on a cookie sheet or a 9 x 13 pan. bake uncovered for 45 - 50 minutes, then spread topping over and bake 15 minutes more. serves 8 large slices.

Baked potato topping
2 cups sour cream
3/4 cup margarine or butter, softened
1/3 - 1/2 cup green onions chopped
2 oz bacon bits
1 lb shredded cheese
mix together and serve with baked potatoes.
stores well for a week and is the slick way to serve baked potatoes.

Snow!

We have snow. A lot.

Some days it is just beautiful. Enunciates all the individual branches. But look at what is on our deck!
View from laundry room door - that's about 20 inches or more!

And Nicole, Chuck, and Erin are just now going sledding!!
Snow makes us crazy sometimes.

**update** snowed ALL DAY today. Saw a front loader clearing our street. Bring on the troops!