I Love You . . .

I entered a small contest, where the winner was chosen randomly, you could enter as many times as you liked, but I only chose to enter once.  You had to use 3 words to say "I love you" without saying that exact phrase.  There were a lot of silly phrases (at least to me) like; "Shave your legs."  "Go play golf." "Put on lipstick."  However, I submitted just the one entry. "Please, be safe." 

 My husband is an OTR Driver and is gone far more than he is home. We always part the same way: my oral checklist of everything he needs to take with him, hug and a kiss and an "I love you." But a few years ago, I started calling out to him as he walked away, "Please, be safe!" The thought of the accidents, the other careless drivers, blizzards, tornadoes, etc. always flashes through my mind. Then, one day, he stopped dead in his tracks, whirled around, scooped me up and gave me the biggest bear hug, with tears streaming down his face he told me that he knew that one phrase incorporated far more than "I love you", it incorporated, "I love you, I need you, please don't ever leave me, you are more precious to me than anything in this world." Thus: Please, be safe is my greatest way of saying "I love you" to my dearest husband.

Life IS Too Short!

Gluten Free Gingersnaps!

I love the flavor of molasses. Molasses candies, ginger snaps, gingerbread, etc. I baked up a batch of GF Ginger Snaps and I couldn't be more pleased! It's my own recipe, I might change the white sugar to brown sugar next time, but hmmmm, my mouth and tummy are happy!

 Gluten Free Ginger Snaps

Dry Ingredients

• 1 C. my GF flour mix (this is a mixture inspired by:  http://gluten-free-reality.blogspot.com/2011/01/healthier-featherlight-mix.html I use more buckwheat and potato, less brown rice and millet.)
• 1/2 C. sweet rice flour
• 1/2 C. sorghum flour
• (Or you may use 2 C. of any gluten free flour)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 Tbs. baking powder
• 3/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 rounded tsp. ground cloves
• 1-1/4 tsp. ground ginger
• 1-1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 stick of room temperature butter

Blend all dry ingredients and stir until well mixed.  


Wet Ingredients
1 egg 
1/3 C. + 1 Tbs. molasses

About 1/4 cup sugar to roll cookie dough in
 
Directions
Lightly grease two cookie sheets and preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixer, thoroughly combine dry ingredient list.  Mix in egg and molasses. Mixture should be thoroughly moist and an even brown color.
Shape into 1 inch balls (about 24) and then roll in the 1/4 C. sugar.  Place 2"s apart on the cookie sheet, and then take the bottom of a small glass and flatten them to about 1/4" thickness. Bake the cookies for 12-15 minutes. 11-12 minutes makes a chewy cookie; 14-15 minutes makes a crisp gingersnap!

A Reminder

Today has been very trying, the details are unimportant, but I will simply state that my spirit started to break until I came upon these two quotes:


The first is from Carolyn Marie Brown a Facebook friend.  "When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.  (Proverbs 16:7)  So don't always try and win every battle.  Sometimes we have to let go and let God do it His way. Do your best then let God do the rest!  Know that the battle is not yours, it is God's!  Just stay in the faith, stay calm, stay in peace . . . and trust God to fight your battles for you." I was about to go to battle with a member of my family of origins and what a great reminder that my role was to stay calm and peaceful and have faith that the Lord will fight this battle for me.    

The second is from Gordon B. Hinckley:  "Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around and shouting that he has been robbed. The fact of the matter is that most putts don't drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail journey...delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride."  


As mundane or even difficult this life has been, I am truly grateful for every moment of adversity, challenges and joy that have help mold me into the the woman I have become.  I love my Heavenly Father and I love my life!

A Second Chance . . .

The other day I was about to enjoy a very casual lunch with my daughter Megan at Carl's Jr. with my youngest grandson Zack, we did our usual, setting up a table in the play area, so we can sit and chat while Zack runs around.  Then we noticed her . . . an obviously mentally ill, black, homeless woman.  She was sitting at our usual table and was talking nonstop to herself.  I guess Mommy-radar kicked in or maybe I was just too paranoid, but I hustled Megan and Zack out of there quickly and we ate out in the normal dining area.   I had talked to the Asst. Mgr. and she told me that the woman came in quite often and they just let her sit out there.  I was struck by their kindness and realized that maybe I had over-reacted.  I felt compelled to go out and speak to this woman and see if she needed something to eat.  I quietly approached her and spoke -- she looked up at me with the most innocent, angelic eyes I've ever seen in an adult.  She completely melted my heart and I felt true humility for having pre-judged this special, sweet spirit.  Of course I bought her lunch, she really didn't want much more than French Fries, (she was trying to be very unselfish) but she got an entire combo meal.  I am so grateful for this 2nd chance, for this lesson of humility, for the few minutes of being in the presence of someone I know has to be destined for exaltation.  

So Long Old Friend

Today, I sadly bid farewell to an old friend.  They have weathered the funeral of my grandparents, cousin, favorite uncle, nephew, dear friends and my beloved son-in-law.  They've traveled to foreign countries, danced aboard a ship, tapped out rhythms at concerts, musicals and ballets.  They've walked long lonely steps when I felt utterly alone and jumped up and down with me in joy.  They've watched every one of my grandchildren be blessed, Megan be baptized, Ben be ordained as a deacon, Duane be ordained an elder and Pete be ordained a High Priest.  They've walked inside of countless temples, walked me inside of the Dallas Temple when Becky and Duane were sealed, walked me into the OKC Temple when Megan and Ben were married, and rested on my feet as I knelt in prayer.  I've worn them to weddings, practically every Sunday and dress occasion for the last 23 years.  Yes, 23 years.  The heels were chewed up by Becky's puppy she bought when she was 14 years old -- and yes, I still wore them.  I bid you farewell, you now rest comfortably in the trash (the girls threatened to bury you with me.) you've been replaced but will never, ever be forgotten.  I truly loved you.

One Long Month

Recently, we lost our courageous, kind, honorable, loving SiL. Duane, was truly gracious until the end of his journey. He greeted each person with a poised face, a smile, if he could manage it, and ended every conversation with a handshake, hug or even kiss and a tenderly uttered; "'Til we meet again." I am so proud of this great man, he has paved the way and set the example for all of us to follow. The key is to be able to combine life's great challenges with graciousness, courage, humor and love. Thank you Duane, for all that you taught our family, for being such an extraordinary example to all men on how to love and care for their family and for being NOT my SiL, but my son.

It's difficult to believe that this is the one month anniversary of Duane's passing. As difficult as these "pangs of the heart" have been, I've observed that we have knitted together even stronger as a family, developed strength, and gratefully allowed the Holy Ghost bestow peace in our hearts.