I've Been Boo'd by Krista!

So here is how the Blogging Boo will go. Go to as many friends as you want and tell them they've been "B00-ED". Have them link back to your blog to pick up their Halloween Treat (picture) and tell them to Boo their friends. (Then put the pic in your side bar so everyone knows that you've already been "boo-ed and to send the pic to someone else.)So be watching your comments to see if you get booed!

"Doubt not, Fear not"

I've been trying to read something spiritually uplifting each morning. Maybe the scriptures, a article in a church magazine or other publication. Kind of a morning devotional of sorts! It has been inspiring and uplifting. I thought I would post something today that helped me! It is taken from an Ensign article by Elder Anthony D. Perkins, "The Great and Wonderful Love" November 2006.

"place your burdens on Jesus Christ. When you feel overwhelmed by expectations and challenges, do not fight the battle alone. Follow the example of small children, and drop to your knees in prayer.

Jesus Christ has commanded us, “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” Doubt, fear, and worry indicate we have taken all of life’s burdens and anxieties on ourselves. When plagued by thoughts that you are inadequate, confidently say, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Then as you “cheerfully do all things that lie in [your] power,” you can rest assured that the Lord will do the remainder and things will work out all right.

The Savior promised, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” As you “cast [your] burden upon the Lord,” you will feel the peace of the Spirit."

Make it a GREAT day! I love you, Diane

DEAD FRED

So my cute Laurels wanted to have a Halloween Party. We decided to have a costume party and eat dinner. Two of the girls have a family tradition Halloween Party where they eat "dead Fred". Sounds morbid I know, but it was pretty cute! Fred's head was a pumpkin and we put spaghetti in a bowl placed inside the pumpkin. Inside his shirt is a basket full of breadsticks (his rib cage!), then on top of a pair of jeans (his torso and legs) was a bowl of salad (not sure what this was suppose to be, but I'm sure it's gross!), a bowl of green jello w/ grapes (eye balls and toe jam) and I made pumpkin bars just because! We had green lemonade (scary brew!) to drink! I put dry ice in it and it looked pretty cool if I do say so myself! It turned out to be a very fun evening. We played a game called Encore after we ate!

Pressure Canning Drama

So I have been wanting to learn how to pressure can chicken for quite a while! Well, my sister finally was able to help me learn! Let's just say every mistake I could make I did! It was the most stressful day ever! It started out with me trying to use my Mom's canner. I got ALL the chicken put in jars. Loaded the canner. I used the burner on our gas grill outside because we weren't sure my glass top would be able to handle the heavy canner. Well, I couldn't find the *How To* book and we couldn't get the darn thing to work. Apparently, it is the "old" style and my sister's canner is the "new" style. So after an hour of trying that we decided I should follow her home and borrow hers. (why didn't we do that in the beginning???) So I get the hefty thing home. Go outside. Unload the *other* canner and load the *new* canner and start all over. I called my sister so she could make sure I'd done EVERYTHING I was suppose to. I crank up the heat and sit down to watch the spout for a steady stream of steam! Of course by now it is 8:30 at night. It's dark outside. But I was determined that I was going to CAN CHICKEN! After about 20-30 minutes and no steam, I'm commenting on how long it is taking and I realize "Oh my gosh! I forgot to add the water to the canner." How dumb can I be? Apparently, pretty dumb~! So, in a panic I turn off the heat and start asking my sister "What should I do?" Of course she doesn't know, 'cause she's not as dumb as I am and has never had this experience. No pressure had built up (of course!) so I undo the lid and again unload the canner, add the water, and reload the canner. Seal the canner, turn on the heat and again sit down to watch for the stream of steam! Of course, telling myself how dumb I am the whole time! Can you say "Rubber Chicken"? Well, miracles of miracles the steam finally makes a showing. This took a LONG time. Then I got to watch for the pressure to build up. Again, this took a LONG time. Then I got to watch that the pressure stayed at the right number for 90 LONG minutes! FINALLY, at 1:00 am I was taking the jars out of the canner and letting them cool until morning. I'm happy to say they all sealed. (How could they not?) My sister tells me that I will never make these same mistakes again and that I "sure learned a lot!" Hey, guess what! Chicken is on sale again this week! Anyone want to come pressure can with me? What? No? Ahhhhh, ya Chicken! LOL (I would of posted a picture of the jars of chicken for proof, but to be honest they look kind of gross to me. Like a science experiment in a jar! ewwww!)

It's a Piggy Party

Shaelyn eating her *Pig in a Blanket*

So we decided for Fall Break we would have a Piggy Party! What is a Piggy Party you ask! Well, you invite all the cute girl cousins over for a sleep over. You eat piggy foods like - pigs in a blanket and pink cupcakes! You make cute pig noses and watch "Penelope" of course! We had so much girly fun!

Holli Piggy

Four Little Pigs

Sleeping Pigs

How Cute Is This?

Oh to be young again!
Ok - maybe not this young! tee hee!

I LOVE Fall!

I really do! This weekend it finally felt like fall is in the air! I'll take it any way I can get it! Today I am putting up my Halloween/Fall decorations. I think I have too many. I am feeling overwhelmed by it all. But every time I try to cut anything out I get weeping and wailing from one daughter or the other! "No, not that ghost!" "You can't get rid of that witch, she's cute!" Arghhhh! Heaven forbid! Oh well, I'm just going to "deck the halls!" with it all and be glad I have someone in the house that actually appreciates all the work that goes into celebrating the season! It's starting to look cute already! :)

Sad Sign of the Times!

Halloween could really stink this year!
(I hope this isn't in poor taste. I apologize if this a little "close to home" so to speak!)

I Am Glad For Many Things...

GRATITUDE - I have thought alot about gratitude lately. I've thought about the blessings I have. I have SO many!

In my life I have not always had a positive attitude. I think I did when I was young, because in my Patriarchal blessing it tells me to "keep my optimistic attitude because it will help me in a world that is filled with sadness and trouble that is causing men's hearts to fail them because of the trouble they feel unable to handle." (my words & translation of course!) As I've had life experiences I have learned what a blessing a positive attitude is! Recently, I learned just how much a positive attitude helps as I experienced an especially difficult time in my life. Sometimes, you just have to "fake it - until you make it"! I have a picture of the Savior by my computer that says "I never said it would be easy. I only said it would be worth it." In another part of my Patriarchal blessing it says something like this too.

I think about this often. I have learned that when we have an attitude of gratitude life just doesn't seem so bad. On especially difficult days I love to kneel in prayer and tell my Heavenly Father thank you for everything I can think of. This has helped me through some of those dark days that happen occasionally. I'm not perfect, I still get down and unhappy - but I find that listing my blessings helps lift me out of those sad feelings.

I've used this same principle when I'm having trouble thinking positive thoughts about people. Like children who are frustrating me, a husband that isn't perfect :) or just someone that I'm having trouble seeing their "good" side! It has helped me in my quest to develop Christ like love. I have so far to go, but I'm so grateful to have a loving Heavenly Father who is so patient with me.

There is so much unrest around us right now. It would be so easy to succumb to negative thought. But I won't! There is hope! There is so much good! So much to look forward to.

I titled my post "I am glad for many things" after a primary song. It goes "I am glad for many things, that are mine today! Thank you Thank you, My heart sings. Thank you for the many things That are mine today!" That is how I feel! My heart is so full of gratitude: for a loving family, the best husband in the world, children who are good (not perfect... but trying to be), a beautiful home where I feel peace and love, parents - who taught me to work and faith in the Lord, Brothers and Sisters, food to eat, a car that runs, employment, adversity to make me stronger, a church calling to help me grow, friends - who love me for who I am (with all my faults), a prophet to lead and guide us, knowledge that my Savior lives and loves me - enough to forgive me when I fail and pick me up again and again, a loving Father in Heaven - who listens to me pour my heart out to Him and loves me unconditionally. And so much more that I won't bore you with!

I truly am GLAD FOR MANY THINGS!

All Is Well!

I woke up Wednesday morning and realized "My Mom & Dad are home!" and then I knew - ALL IS WELL WITH THE WORLD! Everything just feels right again!

I know they loved their mission and really miss it, but I'm so glad to have my parents home! I just want to hang out at their house and not do what I "should" be doing! As a matter of fact, that is what I've been doing!

It's so fun to sit and visit with my Dad and work along side my Mom as we try to get them unpacked and organized again!

I'm so proud of them and all they've done in their lives! They are the best example of working hard and serving the Lord! I hope to be just like them when I grow up! I still have so much to learn from them!

The world is so crazy right now! It's hard to know what is going to happen next. But as far as my world goes -
ALL IS WELL!

Grandpa & Grandma Moore seeing Baby Ava for the first time!