Gratitude and Blessings in September

Tue 30 *I am thankful to have shelves full of food storage and bottles I filled myself. I am also thankful for my ability to be self reliant.
Mon 29 *I am thankful I was able to get so much packed into my day that I literally wore myself out.
Sun 28 *I am thankful to have my son and my husband back home. I am also thankful for a fun night playing soccer with my nieces and nephews and having dinner with my family.
Sat 27 *I am thankful to have found yummy well priced peaches for bottling. YUM!
Fri 26 *I am thankful that I was able to get Kent and Braxton off to Meadow in good time and to have a little bit of time to myself this evening.
Thur 25 *I am thankful to know that the floor under my fridge and my oven is clean. My back may ache a little, but at least it's clean.
Wed 24 *I am thankful to have been able to clean two of my five blinds. I am also thankful to be able to have family night tonight because I had to work Monday night.
Tue 23 *I am thankful to have found a strength training I can do again. I am also thankful that I can laugh at my son singing at the top of his lungs while he is supposed to be napping. He even does it while we walk and it's sometimes better than an IPOD.
Mon 22 *I am thankful to have had a good day at work. One where I felt productive as well as had a good time working with the people there.
Sun 21 *I am thankful my sharing time went well today. I am also thankful for wonderful visiting teachers who brought me peaches. I am also thankful Kent suggested we play the train game today so I could beat him.
Sat 20 *I am thankful for a wonderful and delicious dinner with Kent at Joe's Crab Shack. I am also thankful to have met such nice people today. Kent is doing a concrete side job for them and as he went to give them a bid they (not knowing us) invited us to stay for hamburgers. Although we had already eaten it was very nice to have strangers be so generous.
Fri 19 *I am thankful for a fun morning walking with my friend to Wheeler Farm and letting the kids see the animals.
Thur 18 *I am thankful for a good work out today as well as being invited for dinner with my neighbor.
Wed 17 *I am thankful to have been able to take Braxton and meet Kent for lunch today. I am also thankful I was capable of repairing my flat myself!
Tue 16 *I am thankful for Biggest Loser coming back and also for getting my own workout in despite the late hour
Mon 15 *I am thankful I was able to get in some walking despite the flat tire in my jogger which shortened the walk.
Sun 14 *I am thankful to be married to a social man. When he met two new couples at church he decided to have a game night at our house so they could get to know others. I am also thankful for a great turn out from our friends and ward members. Finally I am thankful for my desire to keep my house straightened because I didn't have to come home after church and clean the house for company.
Sat 13 *I am thankful for some down time to giggle and play with my son. I am also thankful I was able to get in my exercise even though I didn't feel like doing it today.
Fri 12 *I am thankful that Braxton was able to be comfortable around the horses tonight as we went and rode around the pasture. He's such a cute little blessing.
Thur 11 *I am thankful to have been able to put together my sharing time and had a wonderful experience feeling the spirit.
Wed 10 *I am thankful for the strength in my body and the coolness of the outside air that allowed me to walk/jog 5 miles today.
Tue 9 *I am thankful to have finally had our Primary meeting to get things in order a little. I am also thankful for a fun evening outside with the neighbors and a bunch of energized children.
Mon 8 *I am thankful to have cleaned most the floors, get the dishes done, washed the car, baked banana bread, as well as make dinner in time to eat before work.
Sun 7 *I am thankful to have been able to make it to Jace's baby blessing and enjoy some time spend with Gordon and Holly and their family.
Sat 6 *I am thankful for a yummy dinner with Kent's cousin Colby and his family. It was delicious.
Fri 5 *I am thankful to be able to pay bills even when we have made mistakes with our finances.
Thur 4 *I am thankful to get the apricot juice finished up as well as being able to get in babysitting. I am also thankful to have a presidential candidate who I believe I can vote for and feel good about.
Wed 3 *I am thankful to get laundry and cleaning accomplished.
Tue 2 *I am thankful for hard work which today turned into jars of apricot juice. I am also thankful for my mom and grandma who taught us how to do it and Cheryl who helped me and offered the apricots.
Mon 1 *I am thankful for a fun day shopping with my family

Provident Living and Self Reliance

Last weekend Kent and Braxton went down to help Grandpa Robison put in a fence while I took my neighbor and went to the farmers market. What a great place. Murray's farmer's market that is. So we went around sampling all the peaches and found the best peach at the best price. Yesterday and today I have been very busy with getting this full bushel (I only got a picture of a half my bushel) into bottles. We ended up with 22 quart jars and I decided to do a few sliced peaches in pint jars for Braxton (and to see how well they worked that way). I only ended up with 5 pint jars. If you'd like you can enjoy the process with me. I just think these fruits are so beautiful when you do all that work and get it all done.

We actually have done quite a bit of food this year due to the wonderful pressure cooker my mother-in-law gave me for Christmas last year. It's like Christmas all over again. I didn't do the tomato stuff though. That was from Pam's (mother-in-law) pantry.

I did do some Raspberry jam that is DELICIOUS!!! It spits a lot as you cook it, but it is so yummy when it is done.



Apricot jam...good but not Raspberry jam, that's for sure!

My sister and I did apricot juice together. It is SO delicious and I am SO excited to have it.

Thanks Chez!


My apricots look so pretty on the shelf! These apricots were so big I actually had to cut them in fourths to get them in the jars.



This is Christmas (early) from Kent's parents. I am SO excited to have my food storage full this year since I used a lot of it last year. I may be a crazy LDS, but I love knowing there is food to eat if something should happen.

In addition to the food storage from the in-laws we also received some more wheat from Kent's Uncle Trav. Considering we live in an apartment I feel really good about our stock up.

I had a couple of these size buckets of wheat already. It's so nice to have a wheat grinder in addition to your food supply.

Finally I have my previous supply of oats and wheat and sugar. They don't look like much stacked up to all the rest. In addition to all the food storage with conference coming I intend to do what I can to make sure all the 72 hour kits are up to date.

Just a few pictures

Cute cousins playing piano together

I asked Braxton if our house was a mess. He turned around and casually answered...
...No! Then he turned back to look out the window.
Making cookies.
Enjoying the cookie dough.
No mommy you can't have any!

Quirks!

I've seen a few people do this and thought it was a great idea. I also wanted to include both Kent and my own quirks (both sides written by me obviously). Enjoy!

Marlies

1. I can't stand wet hairs touching my skin. This is a quirk I have had my entire life.

2. I can remember peoples faces and names from years back. We are talking people I went to elementary school with who I haven't seen in like 15 years or more. In fact last year I recognized people my parents age who we lived by when I was about 5 years old.

3. I like teaching gospel principles. That includes, giving talks, teaching Relief Society, Young Women's, etc.

4. I can stand a dirty bathroom. Any other room may be cluttered and dirty and it won't bother me terribly, but a dirty bathroom grosses me out.

5. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people use their car horns to be ornery drivers. I typically use my horn to warn of danger or say hello to someone I know.

6. I tend to be lazy a lot of times. I would rather not bother with hair and make-up or dressing fancy, but I can't be a slob all the time. I'm not even in to clothes shopping all that much. Sometimes I wish I cared more about my vanity.

7. It BUGS me when others tell me I am short. Yes, I come from a tall family and I am the shortest, but as to the average height of a woman I am not really short at all.

Kent

1. Kent hates it when I am talking on the phone (especially with my family) and I sit right next to him while he's watching TV.

2. Kent doesn't have much tolerance for people who are flaky or untrue to their word. If you tell him you'll be somewhere at a certain time he expects you to be there at that time.

3. Kent is very talented when backing up a truck to a trailer. He can put the truck just where it needs to be without anyone directing him.

4. If Kent likes you, or if he doesn't you will definitely know it.

5. Kent won't tell you directly what you have done to bother him. You will know there is something, but he won't tell you until he's pushed to the point of eruption and then he'll tell you all of it. Luckily I have learned how to get it out of him right away so that he doesn't really erupt with me.

6. Kent can sit in a messy room and never have it occur to him to pick it up unless he's been asked to or he knows someone is coming over.

7. There aren't many quirks I can come up with for him because there aren't many things I do that he tells me bother him. So either he's too scared of me to tell me or else he's so easy going that I can't do much to bug him.

(thought of one more)
8. Kent sleeps hot. Meaning unless the room is quite cool Kent will get very hot at night and sweat. He says he's always been that way even when he was young and skinny.

The Physical Attraction

Life changes you in many ways. Last night I got thinking about one of the ways married life has changed me. I gained weight after marriage and gained even more weight after carrying Braxton. I wondered (assuming I knew the answer) what part of my body Kent liked the most these days. I was very surprised when he said to me that it was my hands he liked the most because they are soft. After being surprised by his answer I realized how easy it is after five and a half years to forget about the initial reasons that attracted me to Kent. Not that I am not attracted to him in those ways still, but rather I have moved beyond those reasons and found deeper emotional and spiritual ways I am attracted to him. It's still nice to recognize those physical attractions and remember just how handsome my husband really is.

I asked myself what my favorite part about Kent is. As I thought about what it was at first I realized it hasn't changed. I love Kent's hands also. Kent has some of the biggest hands I have ever known. Not only are they big and very masculine, but they are so very strong. Those who have worked with Kent always laugh about his "brute strength." When he pounds posts to build fence for the horses it takes just a few pounds with the post pounder and the post is in the ground. When I need those hands to be soft and gentle as he cradles my child they are the softest most gentle hands they can be. They can be just as soft and still just as strong when they embrace me.

I must be the luckiest woman in the world to have such an amazing and wonderful man love me the way he does. There are so many parts to Kent that I love so very much. Perhaps some other time I will let you know what they are and what I love about each of them. For now those wonderful hands will do. As I finish off this post I leave the question to you. What is it that you love physically about your spouse. I'd love to read your feelings either on your blog or in my comments. If I don't have a feed for your blog please leave me a message to read your blog. It's nice to celebrate the love we all have for our spouses.

Braxton and Kent

I realized the other day that I haven't really done much on updating the current stats on Kent and Braxton. For those of you who don't know Kent was called to be the Young Men's President about two months ago. He was practically running it along side Bob (former YM president now turned 2nd counselor in the bishopric), but now it's all his court. He hasn't seemed too upset or overwhelmed by the call, but it is something new and it means that he can't just focus on the scouting aspect anymore. So far he's done well and I think it will be a great opportunity for growth.

On to Braxton. Braxton has been practicing for a while now opening the car doors with the keys. He knows how to put the key in the door, turn it, unlock it, and away he goes. The other morning after a walk he took the keys up to the house door and tried to use the same key to unlock it. I took the keys explaining that the house has it's own key and showed it to him while teaching him which way to turn the key and helped him unlock it. Both times since that day when I have let him unlock the front door he has not only chosen the correct key, but he also places it in the lock the correct way. If it weren't for the fact that the key sticks a little I am certain that he would be able to unlock the door and enter all on his own. He is growing up and becoming so smart. He's even trying to learn to count with me. Right now he can repeat the numbers two, six, eight, nine, and ten. The others he tries, but he is still not clear on. He is such a joy to have in our family!

Blaspheme and the Lesser of Two Evils

So after posting my thoughts on a certain candidates lack of patriotic respect I have tried to refrain from posting anything political for fear of speaking of something I do not know about. Afer much consideration I decided that I want to post this one because I want my children (who this blog will ultimately be for) to know where I stand in my beliefs in government and politics. That way they know a little more about where they came from and can use that knowledge to make their own choices. I respect you all and the opinions you are entitled to hold and ask you do the same for me.

Having said that I am very concerned about a few things I have heard recently. I have heard that there is a book entitled, "King and King" (just read it at the library today and in my opinion in addition to distasteful content this book is poorly written and illustrated) that discusses two princes who end up getting married. This book was read in a classroom in Massachusetts and put many parents were in an uproar. The reason I bring it up is that "the three front-runners in the Democratic presidential race suggested Wednesday night at their debate in New Hampshire that they'd support reading the controversial book to children as part of a school curriculum." In addition to that Senator Obama says that not only does he support a bill to require sex education in kindergarten but from his mouth he says, "it's the right thing to do."

In addition to those issues we also have the Democrats saying, "Jesus was a community organizer and Pontius Pilate was a governor." This is in response to Governor Sarah Palin stating that she is the Governor of Alaska with "responsibilities" while Senator Obama was mearly a community organizer.

I have found myself questioning a lot with this upcoming election. It started out with Mitt Romney running for President. I didn't want to vote for him mearly because he was LDS (or mormon) and so am I. I wanted to vote for the man who was right for the job. I don't know much about McCain and his politics I admit that. I know that as I spoke to my brother he said that he wasn't too impressed with an Arizona senator who wasn't concerned with illegal immigration until the rest of the nation became concerned.

I know that despite all the qualifications, training, knowledge, etc. any man who becomes president will have his own agenda, his own issues he'll want to address, and his own imperfections and possibly even his own corruptions. What I want to say is that while I do find wisdom in both sides of the parties on different issues it is my faith in God and those who are willing to respect not only my faith, but their own that makes me want to vote for a candidate. I know that if I ask God who will be the best President and I do all that I can to gain knowledge about the candidates and their ideals I will be able to make a decision that I can feel good about contributing to. I also feel that whatever that conclusion may be we have the God given right and obligation to make that choice and take the time to make that vote.

To those of you who are not my posterity and still read this I would urge you to take this election very seriously. Do you really want to be represented by a man who wants to make it mandatory to teach your children things that should be left to you to teach? Do you really feel ok about the comparisom of comparing this man to Jesus Christ? Even the prophets would not touch that ideas with a ten-foot pole. Regardless of which way you choose to vote please make sure that you can live with that vote and make sure that it is indeed "the lesser of two evils." This nation is quickly heading further in a direction that I am not ok with and I want to be sure the change that is being offered is a change that my family and I can live with.

Hop Scotch, Four-Square, Night Games, etc.

Lately I have been letting Braxton go outside in the evenings after dinner to run with all the kids. The other night I saw some of the girls playing hop scotch with the squares and I taught them the version I knew. I also had conversations with my neighbors about the joy of four square, night games, kick the can and many other games. We were discussing that it seems that this generation growing up today don't get out and play like we did when we were kids. My question to you is this, do the kids in your neighborhoods play games and spend the day outside like you did as a kid? Also tell me what your favorite games were when you were a child.

Braxton's First Camping Trip

In place of youth conference this year our wards youth came up with this cluster of activities. They spent the day at Deer Creek Reservoir boating, waterskiing, tubing, etc. After the water fun there was camping and then tubing down the Provo River. Since Kent worked a bunch of hours that week Braxton and I were invited by him to go and spend time with him. It was Braxton's first camping trip and I think he did pretty well. Saddly this trip happened the 15th and 16th of August and I am just now getting around to blogging about it. Hence the reason it is brief.

Braxton hanging with the boys in the back seat.
Those who went camping...including our camping neighbors.

Justin floating down the river. Comfy tube?

Casual Nourishment

I have had it in my mind to write this blog for a while now. While in high school I learned about this idea called labs (many of you may remember it came from the Bird's). It's where you take anything in life and see how it can relate to the gospel, or you take something from the gospel and find relationships to it in life. It's called labs because in science class you read the book in class and apply the knowledge you learned in the lab. So here is my lab.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I LOVE flowers. When I was working at a nursery a few years ago I learned a little about planting flower pots. Ever since then I have asked for flowers to pot for Mother's Day. This year I stumbled across this lovely arrangement of French Marigold's. While they are stinky little plants they were so colorful I just had to have them. As you can see they were a happy and beautiful little arrangement of flowers. When I first received these flowers (along with many others) I took very good care of them and made sure to get them watered daily. It wasn't too hot so if it didn't happen right away they didn't struggle too much. As time went on the summer got busy and these flowers were forgotten more and more often and my watering became casual. When the heat got to be too much I could tell and would quickly run in to get them some water. Too many times I was too late and the stress of the hot western sun scalded these poor plants. By the middle of August this is what that plant looked like.
There are still green parts to the flower and while it did look to be totally wasted there were a few flowers that were able to come back and survive, but the potential of the planted pot was never fully realized.


Many times in our lives we become too casual in our relationship with God. We hurry through our prayers. We read scriptures (or don't) in a hurry to get it done. We toss the things of God aside because we have so many other important things to do. When the hot sun beats down upon us our roots will not be sufficient to sustain us and we will spiritually wither and perhaps even die (spiritually). For this reason we need to be strong and immersed in the spirit of the Lord through diligent scripture study and meaningful prayer. Being rooted in the gospel of Jesus Christ will not only save us, but it will help us to reach our full and beautiful potential. Reaching our full potential will allow us to be far more beautiful than we could ever hope to be alone. We must not be casual in the nourishment of our souls, but rather we should feast upon the scriptures. Then we will be able to survive the struggles and challenges of life.