This past week was so delightful. I loved having Jan and Clark here to play with. There were several highlights including the trip to Ikea with many of the female members of the family and eating so many meatballs. Then we watched Em's team win their softball game. Ben found a great deal on the softballs they were clearing out. Jethro has now offered to draw pictures on them and adopt them into the family...There was the cake making event, the sewing events, girl's night out and scrapbooking event combined with the cake eating event. We crammed a lot of fun into a week. We are getting better at Puerto Rico, the game. We will have to practice some more though because Jan buried us all that last go round.
Thanks for adding a colorful thread to the fabric of my life the past week. You are all so interesting and fun to be around.

I have loved reading your blogs this past week. You are all insightful and fun people. I love getting a glimpse into your lives and what you are involved in or thinking about. Thanks so much for sharing these things with the world.
This afternoon at work we were less busy and I happened upon this article that kept me fascinated in spite of its length. The link is http://pewforum.org/events/?EventID=148
Richard Bushman was interviewed and questioned by reporters from many of the nation's biggest media outlets about Mormonism. He is a master communicator. Mitt Romney's campaign has been a major impetus for people in the nation to find out about the church. This was good PR for our side. I encourage you to peruse this when you have a minute. I think he deserves our clown collar award this week.

We have a new clown collar award to announce. Drum roll please...
Matt has finally finished his Eagle Scout Award! He just has some paperwork to finish up but everything else is done. Yeah Matt.

Another clown collar award. This time it is the Gaines family.
Last night was a highlight. There we were sitting in the Timpview commons on our smoky camp chairs with the sunlight beaming through the windows. Dr. Fullmer announces that the next performer would be none other than Billy Joel. Out comes Ben with his harmonica holder and tells the audience they should sing along with him as he plays but that he will pretend they aren't there.
He proceeds to play the exact piano notes that Billy Joel plays on his song and then the harmonica. It really sounds authentic. The audience cheers and claps. He sings his heart out the rest of the song then comes the finale. For the last chorus he points with both hands over the piano giving the audience the chance to shine. They pull through for him a capella and then everyone erupts in cheering and clapping as the song becomes the audience's song as well. It was so much fun. He was a fantastic Piano Man. Grandma was there. She was so glad she was.
The other part of the award goes to Toni. She is taking classes this term and is the lone woman in a poli-sci class with 6 men. They recently had a test. Two people got A's. Toni was one of them. You go Toni!

So I thought I would put in a quote from one of the big guys on connectivity...


"One of the main problems in society today is that we spend less and
less time together. Some, even when they are together, spend an
extraordinary amount of time in front of the television, which robs them of
personal time for reinforcing feelings of self-worth. Family home
evenings give individuals and families important time to talk and listen as
parents and children, brothers and sisters, spouses, and friends. Time
together is precious--time needed to encourage and to show how to
do things. Less time together can result in loneliness, which may produce
feelings of being unsupported, untreasured, and
inadequate."

Topics: Family

(James E. Faust, "Enriching Our Lives through Family Home Evening," Liahona, June 2003, 5)

Something special happened yesterday thatI want to share . Jethro was in a bind with a work project that ended up being more than he anticipated. His partner was unable to help finish so Jethro called on his siblings to help him out Em and Matt went to Orem to help him finish the weeding and rototilling and smoothing of a lady's yard, preparing it for sod. It was hard, dirty work. They didn't whine about missing dinner, complain about how hard the work was or why was he making them work after they had already put in a full day at work and school. Their concern was how can we help out Jethro in his bad situation.
After dinner Jethro pulled out a wad of money to generously pay them. He was fully aware and grateful for their sacrifice and hard work. They gave him back a significant amount claiming that they didn't need as much as he offered. After he left they both remarked that it wasn't about the money. It was about wanting to help a brother. Clown collars all around.

Being a blogger brings a new kind of pressure to my life. I don't want to blog my personal life too much because, well, it's personal. I want to be a part of the family communication link but feel that I don't have terribly interesting or funny things to say. The longer I go without blogging the more pressure there is to come up with something interesting. If too much time passes the heaviness almost incapacitates. That is all I have to say about that.
On a lighter note, I really enjoyed Mother's Day this year. It was so nice to see everyone and eat more than was necessary. The weather was perfect. The trip to the cemetery helped me feel Dad's comforting spirit around us. I really was spoiled with great gifts. Thanks so much to my children and husband. You make being a mother very rewarding. Thanks for all the good you do.

Brownies with a Difference

Many parents are hard pressed to explain to their youth why some music, movies, books, and magazines are not acceptable material for them to bring into the home or to listen to or see.

One parent came up with an original idea that is hard to refute. The father listened to all the reasons his children gave for wanting to see a particular PG-13 movie. It had their favorite actors. Everyone else was seeing it. Even church members said it was great. It was only rated PG-13 because of the suggestion of sex--they never really showed it. The language was pretty good--the Lord's name was only used in vain three times in the whole movie.

The teens did admit there was a scene where a building and a bunch of people were blown up, but the violence was just the normal stuff. It wasn't too bad. And, even if there were a few minor things, the special effects were fabulous and the plot was action packed.

However, even with all the justifications the teens made for the ‘13' rating, the father still wouldn't give in. He didn't even give his children a satisfactory explanation for saying, "No." He just said, "No!"

A little later on that evening the father asked his teens if they would like some brownies he had baked. He explained that he'd taken the family's favorite recipe and added a little something new. The children asked what it was.

The father calmly replied that he had added dog poop. However, he quickly assured them, it was only a little bit. All other ingredients were gourmet quality and he had taken great care to bake the brownies at the precise temperature for the exact time. He was sure the brownies would be superb.

Even with their father's promise that the brownies were of almost perfect quality, the teens would not take any. The father acted surprised. After all, it was only one small part that was causing them to be so stubborn. He was certain they would hardly notice it. Still the teens held firm and would not try the brownies.

The father then told his children how the movie they wanted to see was just like the brownies. Our minds are leading us into believing that just a little bit of evil won't matter. But, the truth is even a little bit of poop makes the difference between a great treat and something disgusting and totally unacceptable.

The father went on to explain that even though the movie industry would have us believe that most of today's movies are acceptable fare for adults and youth, they are not.

Now, when this father's children want to see something that is of questionable material, the father merely asks them if they would like some of his special dog poop brownies. That closes the subject.

I have just received the new schedule for the summer at the Health Center. I will only be working Mondays. Wow! I love the new feeling of freedom that has come over me. The past two summers I have worked 3-6 every afternoon. Not bad but not as good as working all day one day and having the rest of the week off.
In celebration I am going to share with you my hot fudge sauce recipe.

1 can evaporated milk
1 cube margarine or butter
1 c. chocolate chips (semi-sweet is my fave)
Mix these together in a large sauce pan over medium heat and stir until everything is melted.
Then add 2 cups powdered sugar and 2 tbl karo syrup and stir often if not constantly for 8-10 minutes. The longer you cook it the thicker it gets. It also gets thicker as it cools. After cooking it to your desired thickness take off heat and add 1 tbl vanilla. Stores in the fridge for a month.

Did you know that we are among the 10% wealthiest people in the world? Most all Americans fall into this category. We also use 86% of the world's resources which makes us seem more than slightly piggish. I especially hated to hear that 28,000 children die each day (ten million a year) due to starvation or preventable disease. As I hear these statistics I feel some resentment for the guilt complex that comes with it. On the other hand, I feel compelled to help however I can. I realize that that statistic may be suspect. How can you really know that this is so? Who counts dead babies in the 3rd world? There are so many remote villages. Statisticians probably can defend this from some sampling they have done somewhere. . . But I think we all know that there is a problem with starvation and preventable disease.
John Hatch started the Village Banking model of microfinance in 1984 while on a flight to Bolivia. He said it was the double bourbon that gave him the insight for this new idea in dealing with the poverty situation in the world. FINCA is the result of his idea and with other NGO's (non-governmental organizations) who do a similar service have reached 100 million of the world's poorest families. There are only 160 million left needing assistance. One of the interesting things he told us during the workshop last week is that the poorest of the poor who FINCA would like to serve will not come to them for help. They are scared of starting a business and having that responsibility. I feel their pain. I have the same fear. But that is for another blog. The point I would like to make here is that we have made excellent headway in solving the world's poverty problem and there is a goal by some to end all poverty by the year 2025.
The plan hatched to reach this goal by some former BYU student interns with FINCA calls for us to cut back on our consumption 1% and give $1 per day to their organization called ASAP. ASAP is an acronym for Alliance of Students Against Poverty. This would amount to one less soda or other treat a day. If only 2 million people would do this for 10 years they could reach their goal of raising 7 billion dollars to stamp out poverty. ASAP, which is just starting up, will research all of the current NGOs out there who are doing microfinance and support the most efficient ones with the money they raise. I like the idea. What do you think?

You are all invited to come and sit on our new couch. Dad and Matt surprised me today when they went to the store and brought back a couch that matches our newly remodeled TV room. Buying a couch at the store has actually never happened in our family before so that is why it is blogworthy news. We have looked at many stores for said couch. We finally found the one that we thought was right. Dad told me as we were leaving the store empty handed that we would wait until payday to actually pick it up. So I was prepared to wait a week. I think he likes me.

So far this grandma business is pretty nice. The baby is doing so much better lately. We are encouraged and ready to tackle him on our own almost. As you can see from the pictures, Clark really likes his mom. We're all happy about that...

Wow! Today has been the respite I have needed from the winter weather. It has been so beautiful and warm outside the urgent care door. I have hope for spring. The past couple of weeks winter has given us frozen, icy roads; the car caked with salty dirt. I'm tired of the cold. So today's sunshine lifted my spirits. Many people I know have been in Hawaii the past few weeks. Their tales of 80 degree weather and naps on the beach haven't helped my disposition. But after today I can see a glimmer of hope, a glimpse of future warmth. Its something to keep me going.

I remember now why I don't want to work full time. By the time work is over at 6:00 all I want to do is go home and sit on the couch and watch TV or play Matt in a little Tetris Attack. It is amazing to me what working 10 hours more per week does to my ambition to accomplish other things. I have a quilt I could set up, I have laundry I could do, I have shopping that needs to be done (we are out of cold cereal, Matt may starve), I haven't exercised for a couple of weeks. Basically my life is a shambles just because I worked 10 more hours per week than I usually do.
I'm pretty sure the extra money isn't worth the coma-state that is produced by the extra hours. What a relief it will be to get back to the old routine.

Soup to Nuts
So we had a very Merry Christmas and are anticipating a great New Year. To go along with the title of the blog and the spirit of the season in gifts I will put on some recipes for your perusal.

The first one is the perennial favorite Sunday Chicken Casserole

1 package stove top stuffing
1 can chicken chunks
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 pt cooked carrots or other vegetables as desired (optional)
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 T. dried onion (optional)

Mix the stove top stuffing according to package directions. Drain liquid from chicken chunks and save in a medium bowl. Add soup, eggs, onion and sour cream to this liquid. Mix together. Layer stuffing, chicken and vegetables in a greased 8 X 12 pan or 9 X 13 pan. Add creamy mixture and fold gently with stuffing and chicken and vegetables. Cook in oven at 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until firm throughout.

Soup to Nuts

This has been a different Christmas season for me. I asked Bus to do the Christmas gifting this year. He readily agreed; this is the dawning of a new and brighter future. I must say he has done an admirable job so far. He is even shopping before the 24th! For myself, I haven't given the same thought to buying as I have in the past. I think this is helping me focus more on the true reason for Christmas. KBYU rebroadcast Elder Bednar's talk about the tender mercies of the Lord today and that has helped my focus as well. Bus has outdone himself helping me at home as well so I feel very blessed. We are trying to prepare our home for the annual bishop's openhouse in a little over a week. So far the tree and two wreaths are hung, various decorations have been placed around the home and I discovered Smith's had their ice cream on sale for $1 for half gallon. So good progress has been made. I only have to do sharing time, finish the quilt for the wall, make some cookies and candy, help Toni and Ben move, welcome Jethro and Robyn home (YEAH!!), and finish up some stocking stuff. Not too bad really. I am grateful for the tender mercies of the Lord.

Soup to Nuts
Another gem from Elder Hales

"While our individual salvation is based on our individual obedience,
it is equally important that we understand that we are each an important
and integral part of a family and the highest blessings can be received
only within an eternal family. When families are functioning as designed by
God, the relationships found therein are the most valued of mortality. The
plan of the Father is that family love and companionship will continue into
the eternities. Being one in a family carries a great responsibility of
caring, loving, lifting, and strengthening each member of the family so
that all can righteously endure to the end in mortality and dwell together
throughout eternity. It is not enough just to save ourselves. It is equally
important that parents, brothers, and sisters are saved in our families. If
we return home alone to our Heavenly Father, we will be asked, 'Where
is the rest of the family?' This is why we teach that families are
forever. The eternal nature of an individual becomes the eternal nature of
the family."

(Elder Robert D. Hales, "The Eternal Family," Ensign, Nov. 1996, 65)

Soup to Nuts

As I have contemplated my birthday dinner at Buca de
Beppo's this past week, I have wondered why there is such a great feeling of joy whenever I am with my family. Some people don't like their children I guess. I hear about that occasionally. I can't think of anyone else I would rather spend time with. The Gillespie children I am so fond of are witty, intelligent, kind, thoughtful, interesting, spiritually based, nice looking, well-groomed, and talented in a diverse manner. Not only that, they have brought into the family those same kinds of people when they marry. Imagine the wonderful grandchildren these people will produce. It's no wonder there is joy in my heart. I think the spirit of love that exists when we are together is the reason for my joy and rejoicing. I hope we can expand our circle without diluting the love. That will mean that we resist criticism and fault-finding, encourage service and remember always that these relationships are eternal. We aren't perfect yet and mistakes will be made, probably mostly by me, but as we learn to love unconditionally and forgive we will develop the eternal attributes that we seek.

Soup to Nuts
Today's blog is from Elder Ballard. This is the essence of the gospel and our basic reason for being, why we are here.
"Every human being is a spirit child of God and lived with Heavenly
Father before coming to earth. He entrusts his spirit children to earthly
parents who provide a mortal body for them through the miracle of physical
birth and gives to parents the sacred opportunity and responsibility to
love, protect, teach, and to bring them up in light and truth so they may
one day, through the atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ, return to
our Father's presence.

"These precious souls come to us in
purity and innocence. As parents, we assume an immense responsibility for
their care and well-being. Parents share this sacred trust with
brothers and sisters, grandparents, teachers, neighbors, and all who touch
the lives and impress or influence the souls of these precious children.
King Benjamin admonished parents many years ago, 'But ye will teach
them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love
one another, and to serve one another.' (Mosiah
4:15.)"

I don't really know what I'm doing here. I just wanted to add a comment to JanandBen's blog and this is where I ended up. I hope you don't all die of boredom. Maybe I will improve my communication skills through this medium who knows? Feel free to add comments here anytime.