Weekend Getaway

Whenever we're in need of good company, fun times, and a slow-paced weekend...we head on down to Holden. This weekend was filled with lots of activities and events in honor of Memorial Day. Last week was rough for me with Grant's "teething" nightmares and not a lot of sleep...I somehow ended up a little discouraged and knew a short trip would be just the thing I needed. Throughout the weekend...I tried to look for all the little things that make every day life "special." Here were my 5 favorites:

1. Stepping out the door in the mornings and being greeted with the smell of trees and land. It reminded me of the smells of summer camping.

2. Playing a good game of PayDay with my sweet husband and brother-in-law, Dan. I haven't sat down to a good board game in ages! I grew up playing games and need to take more time to enjoy them now.

3. Running into a wonderful couple on my way into church. I was late and Grant was fussy...everyone was already inside. There happened to be a truck parked outside the door with the nicest lady and man sitting inside. She gave me the sweetest smile and asked how we were. She told me that her husband was too ill to sit in sacrament, but they faithfully came every week and the deacons administered the sacrament outside to their awaiting car. They also had a portable radio there so they could hear the service. I was humbled by their faith and dedication. It was the reminder I needed to take my eyes off of my own problems and refocus.

4. Eating good ol' fashioned picnic food. Let's be honest...I paid for that on my run this morning, but it was 100% worth it.

5. Laughing. How good it was to stop and take time to have a good laugh! Laughter does amazing things for my attitude.

I have a saying in my kitchen that goes "Life doesn't get much better than this." Last time my Grandpa Porter was up from Arizona, he saw the saying and asked "Do you believe that?" I answered without hesitation that I did. This last weekend I remembered that in order for that saying to be true, I have to remind myself to stop and see the beauty that life holds. It's always there...I just need to take time to see it.

A Mama's Day

A mama’s day…
Is full of mischief and grins
Her work seems unnoticed at times

She can’t comprehend
The generations she’s touching
Motherhood gets sweeter with time

A mama’s day…
Doesn’t end when she’s fifty
There are still walks to be walked

Mama’s are there
In the most desperate of hours
Tending to their sweet little flock

A mama’s day…
Should be sunshine and flowers
Not full of hurt and pain

Little she knows
God’s hand is at work
Hoping she’ll dance in the rain

A mama’s day
Is quite delightful
Holding her little ones close

She knows a secret
Life is what you make it
Each second matters the most
-J.N.Stevens, May 2009

I'm so greatful for all the mama's who have enriched the lives of me and my family.
Happy Mother's Day everyone.

Baseball, Swimming & Strawberry Pie

Will & cousin Chace enjoying some nutritious ball park food!

Grant is baseball's newest fan...well at least of playing in the rocks at the ball park.

The boys enjoying a swim with Sherri & DeAnn.

After a loooooong winter trapped inside, a trip to sunny Arizona was just what the doctor ordered (especially for mama)!! The boys have gone crazy down here and had the time of their lives. We've seen baseball games, played with cousins, been covered head to toe with sand from the sand box, gone swimming, and visited relatives and friends. Besides Will getting carsick and Grant's teething, it's been a great spring vacation for the 4 of us. My Grandma Porter took an afternoon to teach me how to make her famous Strawberry Pie. I couldn't resist but share with the rest of you....

Strawberry Pie

Crust: 5 C. flour 2 1/2 C. shortening
2 tsp. salt 2 T. sugar
Cut together with pastry cutter or fork.
1 egg 1 T. vinegar
Beat together with fork first, than add enough ice-water to make 1 C. liquid. Beat well with a fork.
Stir liquid into flour mixture until well blended and roll out on floured surface. (Roll fairly thin). This crust will make enough for 2 pie's (both bottom and top crusts). If making the following pie, bake just the bottom crust at 350 until golden brown. Let cool.

2 baskets of fresh strawberries, rinsed and halved or quartered.
Combine the following in saucepan:
1 C. sugar 3 T. corn starch
3 T. light corn syrup 1 C. water
1/4 tsp. salt 5 strawberries, mashed
Cook, stirring until clear and thickened. Remove from heat.
Add 3 T. strawberry jello. Cool.

Arrange 1 bottom layer of clean dry berries in the cooled crust. Drizzle half of the syrup over. Arrange 1 more layer of berries and drizzle remaining syrup on top. Refrigerate for an hour or more and cover with whipped topping right before serving.
This recipe is AMAZING. You will not regret making it. If you'd like, buy a pie crust to make it a bit easier!

A little angry...

So the past little while I've heard of a lot of people going private. I didn't understand why, until my good friend Tonya clued me in. She said she had watched Oprah that day about child predators and decided it was time to go private. Well... I do record Oprah and watch it occassionally, so I turned it on while I cleaned this morning. Seriously, how sick is our world becoming?? The scary thing is that it doesn't happen just to kids in big inner cities, or kids in severly low-income neighborhoods...its happening everywhere. While I believe the internet can be such a great tool, I am saddened (and a little angry) at how its misused. Doesn't there come a time when enough children have been assaulted that the government steps in and regulates the filth that's passed along? Isn't there a button the techies at Microsoft can click to turn off pornography all together? :) I optimistically hope that one day the internet will be a clean place for society to use. Understanding agency though, I will educate my children from when they are young and in the mean time...I too will be going private. I'll get everyone on my list invitations emailed out. Send me your email if you would like one and you are not on my list already!

A-tisket, a tasket...A green & yellow basket.

I faintly recalled this nursery rhyme from many years past. I thought it would be fun this Spring to make my own "green & yellow" baskets. Hopefully the little guys can use them for many delightful Easter egg hunts. Happy Easter everyone!

Help Wanted

So, I have always had a passion for writing. For years, I have been wanting to write a novel and this year I became brave enough to put the story on paper. It's coming along quite nicely, but I am stuck! This is where you come in.... I need a name for my little town. The book takes place in early 1900's...in my mind the town is a combination of Anne of Green Gables, Meet me in St. Louis, Pollyanna, and Stars Hollow.
If you can come up with the perfect name for me, I will send you some beautiful hand picked stationary. (I'm starting to collect stationary and am quite smitten.)
Thank you for your help!!

Fresh & Fabulous!

I had to share...this is an amazing recipe. We loved it.

Carribean Chicken

Ingredients-
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried, crushed thyme
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon allspice
4 chicken breasts
2 1/2 small limes, juiced (you should have at least 2/3 cup juice)
1/2 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

For the salsa-
1 can corn kernels, drained
1 large mango, peeled and diced (see how to dice a mango)
2 thin slices of sweet onion (Vandalia or Walla Walla)
1/2 lime, juiced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
salt and pepper to taste


Directions-
1. Mix the salt, thyme, paprika, and allspice together. Rub the spices into the meat with your fingers. Set aside in a shallow dish.
2. Mix the lime juice, fresh ginger, and vegetable oil together. Pour it over the chicken. Cover and refrigerate for two hours to marinade.
3. Mix all the salsa ingredients together. Refrigerate.
4. Discard the marinade and cook the chicken on the grill or stove top. (A portable grill works nicely.) Serve hot with the salsa spooned over the meat.

Truly scrumptious.