Hello All,
Sorry it has been a while since the last post! Life has been crazy. I feel like I have finally recovered from Christmas! I hope everyone enjoyed spending Christmas together. (Ruth- we missed your family). It was fun to go back to the old house and visit some of the members of the 11th ward. It was a very memorable Christmas for us. I hope it was for everyone.
Since January is almost over, we will for go the topic for this month. For February, please share a story of when you were touched by someone you love. This could be by your spouse, your children, your siblings, your parents, your friends, pretty much anyone who you care about.
March's theme will be "Working with my family" Share a story about how working together as a family helped bring you closer together.
April's Theme will be "Easter Traditions and Memories" Share some of your favorite Easter traditions and/or memories.
Thanks for everyone who has shared stories so far. If you haven't received your binder with last year's stories in, I will be getting it to you soon. (My printer ran out of ink:)
Love you!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Ginger Cookies
Anyone who knows our family knows that Christmas just isn't Christmas without Mom's gingerbread cookies.
Ginger Bread Cookie Recipe
1 c shortening (must use shortening) 1 tsp baking soda
1 c sugar 1 tsp baking powder
1 c molasses 1 tsp ginger
1 c hot water 1 tsp salt
1 egg well beaten 1 tsp cinnamon
6-7 c flour (Add gradually!)
Cream shortening and sugar. add egg. then stir in molasses and water. Add dry ingredients. roll dough to about 1/4 inch thick or so and cut with cookie cutter. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes. Let cool then frost.
Frosting recipe for cookies
1/2 c shortening
3 c powder sugar
3-5 tbsp milk (add 3 then add a little more if you need it.)
1 tsp vanilla
Mix ingredients together. Add food coloring of your choice.
Ginger Bread Cookie Recipe
1 c shortening (must use shortening) 1 tsp baking soda
1 c sugar 1 tsp baking powder
1 c molasses 1 tsp ginger
1 c hot water 1 tsp salt
1 egg well beaten 1 tsp cinnamon
6-7 c flour (Add gradually!)
Cream shortening and sugar. add egg. then stir in molasses and water. Add dry ingredients. roll dough to about 1/4 inch thick or so and cut with cookie cutter. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes. Let cool then frost.
Frosting recipe for cookies
1/2 c shortening
3 c powder sugar
3-5 tbsp milk (add 3 then add a little more if you need it.)
1 tsp vanilla
Mix ingredients together. Add food coloring of your choice.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Memories of Christmas by Lucinda
Christmastime is my favorite time of year. I love the sounds, smells, and activities of the season, but most of all I love the memories that I have of years gone by.
The first Christmas that I remember is when Grandpa Dunn gave me my blue teddy bear (Blue Bear). I'm not sure how old I was, but I remember the family standing at his door and caroling. Then he let us come in. He sat me on his lap in his chair and pulled out a plastic bag from next to the chair. In the bag was my teddy bear.
Another early memory of Christmas is when all of the kids slept in the basement on a big bed. I'm not sure if Paul was there or not, but I remember Dan, Stephen, Ruth, and I all playing on the bed on Christmas Eve. Stephen got sick (upset stomach) because he was so excited. I think he ended going up stairs for a little while. I don't remember what I got that year for Christmas, I just remember how much fun it was to all sleep in the same room together.
On Christmas morning, after everyone used the bathroom, Dad would go into the front room and turn on a lamp and the Christmas tree lights. There was a magical feeling as we walked into the front room (lined up youngest to oldest). It was always exciting to see what Santa brought us.
One Christmas Eve, after Dan's mission, we put our bed's into a square (Stephen, Ruth, and I) and Dan slept on the floor in the middle. I remember hearing the bells on Santa's sleigh close by. I was sure that if I peeked outside, I would see him in our backyard. Of course, I didn't dare look outside because I didn't want him to see me!
Another favorite Christmas was Krista's first Christmas. For some reason, Krista ended up sleeping upstairs in the attic with Stephen and me. Dan told us that we better be quiet and not wake up Krista or he would be made. We tried to be quiet, but she woke up around 2:00 in the morning. We took her down stairs to Dan and Pam. She was wide awake and wasn't going to go back to sleep anytime soon. Stephen and I decided to capitalize on this opportunity. We went into Mom & Dad's bedroom and made our case as to why we should just get up now. We won! We all lined up and had Christmas at 2:00 in the morning! (Good thing Santa had made it by then:)
I remember one of Grandma Thomas' last Christmases. Stephen was on his mission and Grandma came to stay with us for a few days. It was a quiet Christmas morning without any of the grandchildren there. The thing I remember from that Christmas is listening to Grandma say her prayers in bed. I'm sure she didn't know that I was listening. I was most impressed with how she talked to God like a dear friend. It helped me to realize how close the Savior can be when we pray sincerely.
When I was at UVSC, I always helped with the Tute for Tots program. The students at the institute would raise money for the whole month of November. Then on the first Saturday on December we would meet at the K-Mart in Provo and go shopping. One year we provided Christmas for over 70 needy families.
The best year of Tute for Tots for me was in 1997. Bro. Christianson asked me to meet with the families that his classes would be buying for. The one family had just moved, the mom was on bed rest (she was having a difficult pregnancy), and they were struggling with finances. They decided the night before I called that they would tell their children that Santa didn’t know where they lived now and would not be coming that Christmas. When I talked to the mom, she just cried because she was so overwhelmed. It was such a neat experience to meet with this family. The mom gave me a list of things that they needed. She didn’t ask for anything for herself and asked for a pair of work boots for her husband.
When it came time to go shopping for their family, it meant so much more to me than ever before because I felt like I knew the family. That year I took Krista (and Jana I think) with me shopping. They loved being Santa’s elves. When we delivered two or three garbage bags full of wrapped presents, the delight in the children’s eyes was overflowing. The parents were so very grateful for an answer to their prayers. I was grateful for the opportunity to be an instrument in answering those prayers.
I was lucky enough to have two Christmases as a missionary. My second one was very special to me. I had talked to my family the night before, so I was able to focus on the Savior the whole day. I got up early and read some articles in the Ensign and New Era about the birth and life of Jesus Christ. Then we went to the church for a Christmas service. It was a wonderful day.
Another special Christmas was when I was pregnant with Landon. I sang in the choir that year. The spirit was very strong, especially during a song that we sang about Mary. For the first time in my life, I thought about what she must have felt and gone through.
My favorite thing about Christmas is the opportunity to help others. It is so fun to help people because they are more open to the help,. I always feel that I receive much more then I ever give. I’m thankful for all of the times that we did the 12 days of Christmas growing up. That helped me to realize that Christmas isn’t about getting, but about giving. We have continued to try to focus on this in our family.
I feel very grateful for the spirit that comes into my life at Christmas time. I am grateful for the opportunity that Dan & Pam have given us to participate in the Festival of Trees. It is something that we look forward to all year long. As a family, we have started some of our own traditions that help to bring to spirit of Christmas into our home. From making neighbor gifts to helping those in need, from planning out our special Christmas Eve dinner to seeing the light in others eyes on Christmas morning when they see the surprise they have received, that is what makes every year a special Christmas for me.
The first Christmas that I remember is when Grandpa Dunn gave me my blue teddy bear (Blue Bear). I'm not sure how old I was, but I remember the family standing at his door and caroling. Then he let us come in. He sat me on his lap in his chair and pulled out a plastic bag from next to the chair. In the bag was my teddy bear.
Another early memory of Christmas is when all of the kids slept in the basement on a big bed. I'm not sure if Paul was there or not, but I remember Dan, Stephen, Ruth, and I all playing on the bed on Christmas Eve. Stephen got sick (upset stomach) because he was so excited. I think he ended going up stairs for a little while. I don't remember what I got that year for Christmas, I just remember how much fun it was to all sleep in the same room together.
On Christmas morning, after everyone used the bathroom, Dad would go into the front room and turn on a lamp and the Christmas tree lights. There was a magical feeling as we walked into the front room (lined up youngest to oldest). It was always exciting to see what Santa brought us.
One Christmas Eve, after Dan's mission, we put our bed's into a square (Stephen, Ruth, and I) and Dan slept on the floor in the middle. I remember hearing the bells on Santa's sleigh close by. I was sure that if I peeked outside, I would see him in our backyard. Of course, I didn't dare look outside because I didn't want him to see me!
Another favorite Christmas was Krista's first Christmas. For some reason, Krista ended up sleeping upstairs in the attic with Stephen and me. Dan told us that we better be quiet and not wake up Krista or he would be made. We tried to be quiet, but she woke up around 2:00 in the morning. We took her down stairs to Dan and Pam. She was wide awake and wasn't going to go back to sleep anytime soon. Stephen and I decided to capitalize on this opportunity. We went into Mom & Dad's bedroom and made our case as to why we should just get up now. We won! We all lined up and had Christmas at 2:00 in the morning! (Good thing Santa had made it by then:)
I remember one of Grandma Thomas' last Christmases. Stephen was on his mission and Grandma came to stay with us for a few days. It was a quiet Christmas morning without any of the grandchildren there. The thing I remember from that Christmas is listening to Grandma say her prayers in bed. I'm sure she didn't know that I was listening. I was most impressed with how she talked to God like a dear friend. It helped me to realize how close the Savior can be when we pray sincerely.
When I was at UVSC, I always helped with the Tute for Tots program. The students at the institute would raise money for the whole month of November. Then on the first Saturday on December we would meet at the K-Mart in Provo and go shopping. One year we provided Christmas for over 70 needy families.
The best year of Tute for Tots for me was in 1997. Bro. Christianson asked me to meet with the families that his classes would be buying for. The one family had just moved, the mom was on bed rest (she was having a difficult pregnancy), and they were struggling with finances. They decided the night before I called that they would tell their children that Santa didn’t know where they lived now and would not be coming that Christmas. When I talked to the mom, she just cried because she was so overwhelmed. It was such a neat experience to meet with this family. The mom gave me a list of things that they needed. She didn’t ask for anything for herself and asked for a pair of work boots for her husband.
When it came time to go shopping for their family, it meant so much more to me than ever before because I felt like I knew the family. That year I took Krista (and Jana I think) with me shopping. They loved being Santa’s elves. When we delivered two or three garbage bags full of wrapped presents, the delight in the children’s eyes was overflowing. The parents were so very grateful for an answer to their prayers. I was grateful for the opportunity to be an instrument in answering those prayers.
I was lucky enough to have two Christmases as a missionary. My second one was very special to me. I had talked to my family the night before, so I was able to focus on the Savior the whole day. I got up early and read some articles in the Ensign and New Era about the birth and life of Jesus Christ. Then we went to the church for a Christmas service. It was a wonderful day.
Another special Christmas was when I was pregnant with Landon. I sang in the choir that year. The spirit was very strong, especially during a song that we sang about Mary. For the first time in my life, I thought about what she must have felt and gone through.
My favorite thing about Christmas is the opportunity to help others. It is so fun to help people because they are more open to the help,. I always feel that I receive much more then I ever give. I’m thankful for all of the times that we did the 12 days of Christmas growing up. That helped me to realize that Christmas isn’t about getting, but about giving. We have continued to try to focus on this in our family.
I feel very grateful for the spirit that comes into my life at Christmas time. I am grateful for the opportunity that Dan & Pam have given us to participate in the Festival of Trees. It is something that we look forward to all year long. As a family, we have started some of our own traditions that help to bring to spirit of Christmas into our home. From making neighbor gifts to helping those in need, from planning out our special Christmas Eve dinner to seeing the light in others eyes on Christmas morning when they see the surprise they have received, that is what makes every year a special Christmas for me.
Christmas Memories by Pam
CHRISTMAS MEMORIES
My favorite memories of Christmas growing up are on Christmas Eve. We would bake Christmas goodies all day and then take plates to all the neighbors, mom’s visiting teachers, and the sisters she visit taught, to our home teachers, and the families Dad home taught, church teachers, school teachers, and friends, pretty much everyone in Duchesne. Mom loved to do this and she didn’t want others to feel obligated to give her a gift because that would take away the Christmas spirit, that’s why she did it on Christmas Eve. The high light for the kids of delivering the goodies was that we got to look at all the Christmas lights as we made the deliveries, we loved the Christmas lights.
After the goodies were delivered we would come home and sing around the piano. Some of our favorite songs were “Santa’s Using Zebras Now” and “The Marvelous Little Toy.”
On Christmas morning Randall would have us up at 2:00 a.m. looking to see what Santa had brought. We were able to play with the gifts from Santa because they were unwrapped, but we could not open our wrapped gifts until everyone was up. The teenagers, Brent, Paula, and Phyllis, were not early risers, we could usually have every one up by 6:00 a.m.
I was a snooper! I was taught by the best, Randall. At first it was easy they would hide things in their closet but I guess they could tell we were going through the sacks, so they moved things down stairs. Eventually, they hiding place was up in the attic and I was too sacred of heights (so was Randall) to climb up so our snooping ended. Now I love surprises and don’t want to even know what the kids are getting each other.
Another favorite tradition we had growing up was going up in the mountains and cutting down our own Christmas tree. After we found the perfect one, and it took some time with five girls each with a different eye, we could see bare spots and holes in the trees that the others could not see. Mom would have hot chocolate and homemade spudnts. (It’s fast Sunday and my mouth is watering)
After Dan and I were married and living in Springville, I think I had my most spiritual, relaxing, stress free Christmas ever. Dan and I had all of our shopping done early, Thanksgiving weekend, so we would spend the December evenings reading Christmas stories as a family around the Christmas tree, baking Christmas goodies, taking the kids to do their Christmas shopping without trying to hide things, and making Christmas gifts for neighbors and friends without the stress and hurriedness. I’ve tried and tried to recreate that year, by having our shopping done early but have never made it. It does seem however, that each year I feel the true meaning of Christmas in my heart deeper and deeper and somehow all the things I use to rush to get done don’t seem important anymore.
Of course Christmas 2000 holds great memories for me because we were expecting our own baby Jesus. She, Alicia, just came a few hours too late. But what a great Christmas, I reflected on the birth of my Savior and of Mary, the mother of Jesus while I was preparing to give birth myself.
Christmas 2002 was also a memorable Christmas. Jarom and Jared were born the weekend before Thanksgiving of that year. I felt the Saviors love for me almost continually during that holiday season. Our family was blessed with many miracles. The very same miracles that Christ himself performed while upon the earth were performed in Jarom and Jared’s behalf through the power of His priesthood. As a family we attended the Festival of Trees for the first time that year and felt the love, and goodness and hope for the boys.
Since that year the festival of trees has become a tradition for our family. Way back in August, or even before, we start thinking of our Christmas tree. I get out my “Keeping Christ in Christmas” c.d and that puts me in the right mood to start my early Christmas season. Our first tree (2004) was called I Love Snow! My parents and brother and sisters helped by sanding and painting snowmen, mittens, and snowflake, and also donating money that we would normally buy gifts for each other with.
Our second tree was (2006) was a testimony tree of the miracles that we received during that awesome experience with the boys. It was called Do you see what I see. We had four different trees to represent each verse of that song. By all statistics the boys should have been blind, deaf, dumb, (just as the three verses talk about) and a host of other problems. The 4th verse talks about listening to our King and praying or peace and we certainly felt that peace during that time and also at the festival. That tree was bought by Monte J. Borough of the Seventy.
In 2007 Krista and JanaLyn did the tree for a value project. Their tree was Because you Loved Me. It was a friendship tree and their testimony of how Christ loves us and is there for us and how we in turn love our friends. Their tree had angels and hearts on it.
This year (2008) our tree is called “Miracles Stories.” The tree has angels and books, and ornaments that represent Christmas miracle stories; like “The Christmas Orange (orange slices) and “Christmas Shoes” (shoes). The angles represent all of the angels in our life. We also have the boys miracle story that Dan and I finished writing this year.
Another fun tradition we started recently is our Christmas vacations. A few years ago we decided it was more important to create memories than to by stuff, so we scaled back our Christmas’s so we could go on a little vacation. The first year, in 2002, we went to SLC. We got to see the sights and sounds of Christmas on Temple Square. This was the year Jarom and Jared were born. We’ve gone to sunny Mesquite Nevada and stayed with Tricia a couple times, and last year 2007, we went back to SLC.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Blessings in my Life by Pam
Blessings in my Life
Where do I start to record the blessings of my life? All that I have is a blessing from my Heavenly Father. Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, have the gospel in my life, my pioneer ancestors and parents who made that possible for me. My testimony, my husband, my family, living in America, having the right to vote (which I did today), all of these are blessings.
Lately, there have been two blessings that I keeping thanking Heavenly Father for; one is His beautiful creations. I was looking out my bedroom window the day on the first snow this year. The backyards between the two rows of homes were just beautiful. We had an early snow so the trees were still vibrant with different shades of red, yellow, orange, and greens. There was a light dusting of snow on the pine trees and snow lightly falling and I just sat their watching for a long time, pondering on Heavenly Father’s love for me, and that he created this beautiful world for me to live in and enjoy. I was over come with His tender mercies.
The other thing I’ve been thinking about is how grateful I was to be able to stay home for 18 years to raise my family. Some days it seemed like a long 18 years and I’d find myself wanting to get out of the house and let someone else raise my children. It always seemed I’d feel like that just before general conference, then Heavenly Father would tell someone to speak on the importance of family and staying home and raising your children. Heavenly Father would always send whatever help I need to try and help me succeed.
I thank Heavenly Father everyday Dan and his support and help in whatever I have going on and his loooooong hours of work so that I could stay home. It doesn’t matter how tired he is when he gets home he makes all of us think we are the most important thing to him.
I thank Heavenly Father everyday for my children, for their goodness and desire to want to do what is right and their obedience to the commandments of God and to their local church leaders. Thanks goodness for Krista, our guiney pig, and now JanaLyn who set great examples for their siblings to follow.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
A Thankful Heart by Lucinda
As I have pondered on my blessings, my heart is filled with thanksgiving. I feel like the Lord has provided for me and my family in so many ways.
I am grateful for my good health. What a blessing it has been for our family to have my knees healthy and strong. It is the first time since I was 5 or 6 that I don't worry about my knee dislocating. I feel so grateful for that miracle in my life. It has brought a feeling of peace and gratitude into my life each day.
I am also grateful for a wonderful family. Not just Brad and the boys, but our extended family as well. I'm grateful that we can ask for help from our family and there is never a moment's hesitation, they are always there when we need them.
I feel so blessed to be married to a wonderful man who loves the gospel and our children. He is patient, kind, and loving. He is my best friend and I honestly don't know what I would do with out him in my life.
I have also been blessed with two wonderful little boys. They are a delight to have in our home. They make us laugh at all of the funny things that they do. It is hard to be upset or grumpy when they are so happy all of the time. I am grateful for the opportunity to be home with them and to watch them grow.
I am also grateful for the gospel in my life. It is because of my belief in God and my Savior, Jesus Christ, that I have so many of the blessings that I have.
I am grateful for my good health. What a blessing it has been for our family to have my knees healthy and strong. It is the first time since I was 5 or 6 that I don't worry about my knee dislocating. I feel so grateful for that miracle in my life. It has brought a feeling of peace and gratitude into my life each day.
I am also grateful for a wonderful family. Not just Brad and the boys, but our extended family as well. I'm grateful that we can ask for help from our family and there is never a moment's hesitation, they are always there when we need them.
I feel so blessed to be married to a wonderful man who loves the gospel and our children. He is patient, kind, and loving. He is my best friend and I honestly don't know what I would do with out him in my life.
I have also been blessed with two wonderful little boys. They are a delight to have in our home. They make us laugh at all of the funny things that they do. It is hard to be upset or grumpy when they are so happy all of the time. I am grateful for the opportunity to be home with them and to watch them grow.
I am also grateful for the gospel in my life. It is because of my belief in God and my Savior, Jesus Christ, that I have so many of the blessings that I have.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Fun Halloween Party
One of my favorite Halloween's was when I was in college at U.S.U. (2003). We had a party at my house with a bunch of friends. We had a donut eating contest and played some games. It had snowed that day a couple of inches. Stephen and Brad ended up dragging our friend Halee out into the snow. Then we watched my favorite scary movie "Wait until Dark". It was a lot of fun.
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