Jenny shared some other links that she and her family love from the Friend.
Check out Stories of Jesus, Christmas Advent Wreath, and A Week for the Christmas Story.
My faith
Monday, November 30, 2009
Christmas Countdown
We are SO excited! Tonight begins our Christmas Countdown! We will be decorating, having a yummy salmon dinner, eating brownies and ice cream, singing songs, and enjoying the beginning of our CELEBRATION of CHRIST!
I found this activity that we will be doing every day to help us remember Christ this season! I love simple things that other people think of!
I found this activity that we will be doing every day to help us remember Christ this season! I love simple things that other people think of!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Unexpected
Things never really happen the way you expect them to.
My sweet younger sister and her husband were expecting their first baby. He could have come any time. Then on Monday I got this email from my husband (I had left my phone at church the day before so I couldn't get calls.)
"Your dad just called me, he said that Whitney's baby just died. He tried to call you, but the phone wasn't on or something. Give me a call when you can.
Loveyou,
I was shocked. I was sure it wasn't true, like it must have been a joke or something. Just a few days earlier I was laughing and joking with my sister, talking about labor and looking at all the cute little things they had acquired for the baby. How does this happen?
Early the next morning I received this text from my sister Julie:
"Sweet little Scotlin was six pounds twenty and a half inches long. The cord was wrapped around his neck. I've never seen anything more beautiful than Whit & Evan's faith and love or more heart breaking than their loss."
At the time I was nursing my own sweet baby. I cried.
I thought holding Scotlin's little body would be too difficult, but as I sat there rocking him, I looked at him expecting to see his chest rise and fall. It didn't. Seeing my sister's pain and the grief of her dear husband was difficult. But it was also beautiful, as Julie said, to see them comfort each other. They would occassionally smile at something. Evan would sob and Whit would just hold him and comfort him. Then she would take a turn grieving and he would do the same for her. Whit pointed out to me that she finally got some stretch marks, I had teased her last week about not having any. I told her they were her battle wounds. At least the ones that are visible. The gaping hole in their hearts will be healed eventually too, leaving only a scar.
This is a very sad event, but nobody is despondent. Everybody is looking forward with a perfect brightness of hope for the day when Scotlin's body and spirit are reunited and they will get to raise him, hold him, tickle him, watch him play and learn. Until then, there are some rough days ahead, but we know they will be comforted by the peace the Gospel brings.
One last thought. I just thought of a quote I love by Hugh B Brown. "At the judgement bar, the Lord will not look us over for medals, degrees, or honors, but for scars."
My sweet younger sister and her husband were expecting their first baby. He could have come any time. Then on Monday I got this email from my husband (I had left my phone at church the day before so I couldn't get calls.)
"Your dad just called me, he said that Whitney's baby just died. He tried to call you, but the phone wasn't on or something. Give me a call when you can.
Loveyou,
I was shocked. I was sure it wasn't true, like it must have been a joke or something. Just a few days earlier I was laughing and joking with my sister, talking about labor and looking at all the cute little things they had acquired for the baby. How does this happen?
Early the next morning I received this text from my sister Julie:
"Sweet little Scotlin was six pounds twenty and a half inches long. The cord was wrapped around his neck. I've never seen anything more beautiful than Whit & Evan's faith and love or more heart breaking than their loss."
At the time I was nursing my own sweet baby. I cried.
I thought holding Scotlin's little body would be too difficult, but as I sat there rocking him, I looked at him expecting to see his chest rise and fall. It didn't. Seeing my sister's pain and the grief of her dear husband was difficult. But it was also beautiful, as Julie said, to see them comfort each other. They would occassionally smile at something. Evan would sob and Whit would just hold him and comfort him. Then she would take a turn grieving and he would do the same for her. Whit pointed out to me that she finally got some stretch marks, I had teased her last week about not having any. I told her they were her battle wounds. At least the ones that are visible. The gaping hole in their hearts will be healed eventually too, leaving only a scar.
This is a very sad event, but nobody is despondent. Everybody is looking forward with a perfect brightness of hope for the day when Scotlin's body and spirit are reunited and they will get to raise him, hold him, tickle him, watch him play and learn. Until then, there are some rough days ahead, but we know they will be comforted by the peace the Gospel brings.
One last thought. I just thought of a quote I love by Hugh B Brown. "At the judgement bar, the Lord will not look us over for medals, degrees, or honors, but for scars."
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Our Heaven is Our Home
While searching for music for our church choir to sing for Christmas, I came across this song by Marilyn McMeen Miller Brown and Dennis L. Crockett, “Our Heaven Is Our Home,” in the Ensign, July 1977, (pp. 36)
1. Our heaven is our home,
Our place on earth to kneel,
Where nearest to our Father’s throne
We live and love and feel.
2. The gentle dew of grace
Rests on our morning prayer.
The soft light from our mother’s face
Reflects her constant care.
3. Like rainbows crowned with light
That promise glory soon,
The children fill the darkest night
With all the hope of noon.
4. The sunset’s golden rays
Glow in our father’s eyes:
His strengthened hands with prayer and praise
Hold firm our family ties.
5. Our heaven is our home,
Where miracles increase.
And where we hope our Christ may come
To bless us with his peace.
1. Our heaven is our home,
Our place on earth to kneel,
Where nearest to our Father’s throne
We live and love and feel.
2. The gentle dew of grace
Rests on our morning prayer.
The soft light from our mother’s face
Reflects her constant care.
3. Like rainbows crowned with light
That promise glory soon,
The children fill the darkest night
With all the hope of noon.
4. The sunset’s golden rays
Glow in our father’s eyes:
His strengthened hands with prayer and praise
Hold firm our family ties.
5. Our heaven is our home,
Where miracles increase.
And where we hope our Christ may come
To bless us with his peace.
I like this song. :)
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies
Here is my favorite twist on traditional brownies!
What you need:
1 box brownie mix (or prepared brownie if you do it from scratch)
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup white sugar
1 egg
Prepare brownie mix and put in greased 9x13 inch pan
mix together cream cheese, sugar, and egg. Mix WELL. Drop dollops of cream cheese over brownie batter. Use a butter knife to swirl.
Cook about 15 minutes longer than the brownie package instructions, or until toothpick comes out clean (it WILL take longer than the instructions.)
Cool and enjoy. These are SO divine!
What you need:
1 box brownie mix (or prepared brownie if you do it from scratch)
1 pkg cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup white sugar
1 egg
Prepare brownie mix and put in greased 9x13 inch pan
mix together cream cheese, sugar, and egg. Mix WELL. Drop dollops of cream cheese over brownie batter. Use a butter knife to swirl.
Cook about 15 minutes longer than the brownie package instructions, or until toothpick comes out clean (it WILL take longer than the instructions.)
Cool and enjoy. These are SO divine!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
"...A Heaven on earth: a History"
To me, the origins and evolution of this blog are fascinating. It began one night while I was chatting with a friend over the perplexities of being a successful wife/mother/woman/homemaker. How in the world are we supposed to get everything done and still spend time with our families? But I didn't want this blog to focus solely on the "mommy life," as many women still face the challenge of creating a Heavenly Home, yet don't have children. I really wanted to focus on the divinity of womanhood, and the importance of helping and supporting each other in our roles. At the time of this blog's creation, DH & I were still in school and didn't have children. So this blog has evolved since then. I wanted it to be a place where people could find support, ideas, or where they could share ideas and give support.
I wanted to focus this blog on several different aspects of happy home making:
*"If mamma ain't happy..." As the wife and mother, I believe that I am the center of my home. It's important to me to take time to do the things I enjoy, such as digital design, crochet, baking, jogging, pilates, reading. I can't draw water from an empty well!
*Marriage: I know that marriage is ordained of God and that the family is central to His plan for the eternal destiny of His children. Because of this, marriage and the family are attacked on every side. Strengthening marriage and family is one of the central goals of this blog!
*Parenting/motherhood. My main goal as a child was to be a mom. I love my dear little ones, although sometimes I feel like I'm going crazy. I enjoy sharing anecdotes and tips that will either make you feel better on a bad day of parenting, or give you ideas for things you might want to try. I know I have learned SO much from others, and I am constantly learning how to be a better mother!
*Frugality has become sort of an obsession of mine. It's somewhat thrilling to see how long I can go without buying anything. I know, it sounds absurd, but you should try it, it's fun. It's also fun to re-purpose things. I have seen many great ideas from other bloggers, and would love to share what I've done as well.
*Meal planning and finding simple, tasty, inexpensive, and healthy recipes has also got me hooked. I know, you're probably thinking "yawn! SO boring!" Feel free to use my meal plans!! :) I also love sharing yummy recipes.
I wanted to focus this blog on several different aspects of happy home making:
*"If mamma ain't happy..." As the wife and mother, I believe that I am the center of my home. It's important to me to take time to do the things I enjoy, such as digital design, crochet, baking, jogging, pilates, reading. I can't draw water from an empty well!
*Marriage: I know that marriage is ordained of God and that the family is central to His plan for the eternal destiny of His children. Because of this, marriage and the family are attacked on every side. Strengthening marriage and family is one of the central goals of this blog!
*Parenting/motherhood. My main goal as a child was to be a mom. I love my dear little ones, although sometimes I feel like I'm going crazy. I enjoy sharing anecdotes and tips that will either make you feel better on a bad day of parenting, or give you ideas for things you might want to try. I know I have learned SO much from others, and I am constantly learning how to be a better mother!
*Frugality has become sort of an obsession of mine. It's somewhat thrilling to see how long I can go without buying anything. I know, it sounds absurd, but you should try it, it's fun. It's also fun to re-purpose things. I have seen many great ideas from other bloggers, and would love to share what I've done as well.
*Meal planning and finding simple, tasty, inexpensive, and healthy recipes has also got me hooked. I know, you're probably thinking "yawn! SO boring!" Feel free to use my meal plans!! :) I also love sharing yummy recipes.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Construction under way
Pardon the construction, and my being absent. I've had lots of ideas for this blog, and I will be changing the web address and name. Plus I'm figuring out how to make my own template! Whew! Stay tuned for great things to come!! :)
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
GIVEAWAY!
My sweet sister and her cute husband were approved today for adoption! They are so excited and will be excellent parents, but the approval only means that now they can be chosen by a birth mom! So they need your help! Go to their adoption blog: lanceandjulieadopt.blogspot.com to learn more about them. Then visit HERE to read more about their daily lives and to enter to win Julie's awesome giveaway. She made two adorable rag quilts and is giving them away to help spread the word that they're adopting! Adoption is a miracle and we are so excited for Lance and Julie to begin their journey toward completing their family!
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