Mason Jars

Perhaps this is a bit of my yearning for a country life, but I found out just a few days ago that few things bring as much joy to me as flowers in Mason Jars. 

They have such a sturdy-ness about the jar and the dainty-ness of the flowers - a perfect combination! 

So need for vases - just use the cleaned out homemade applesauce jars!

Life is full of simple pleasures. Take time to notice and thank Heavenly Father for them.

Broken ice maker

Our ice breaker broke. Just flat out, stop making ice. So luckily, we can call and someone from the maintenance staff will come fix it. As soon as my head hit the pillow for my afternoon nap on Wednesday, I heard a knock at the door. I then remember that we had scheduled someone to come fix the ice maker. I led him into the kitchen and explained the situation and he began tinkering away. Then he got to talking (as he was waiting to see if the machine would make ice) and told me a little bit about himself. 

He is from Haiti and owned his own convenience store there. He opened the doors in December 2009. Only to have the building tumble to the ground in January 2010 from the earthquake. From a man who currently wakes up at 3 AM to be at work by 3:30 and then works until 7 PM, with one uniform on top of another, he had quite remarkable perspective. He told me that his friend was working that night and had the building come down around him then said, 

"I can rebuild the building but I could never restore a life, I know God blesses us and I am grateful that my friend is ok."

Who would have thought that the ice maker magician would open up and tell me his life story? Who would have thought that I would by chance come in contact with someone that survived the Haitian earthquake?

It just goes to show that we don't know people's lives. We don't know their backgrounds or their life story. Who am I to judge another? I could have stuck my nose up to someone like that - the maintenance guy, the cleaning lady, the lunchroom staff, the cashier - but they are people too. Everyone has a story, it just takes someone to be willing to listen.

FYI, our ice maker is fixed.

"Recommendation has been submitted"

I can't believe its finally here! After 20 years, I have completed 2 of 3 steps to getting my mission papers in. I am so excited and will keep everyone updated. Hopefully I'll know by Christmas or at least New Year's where I'm going :)

Smile when you feel like frowning and give thanks in the gift of the Atonement. It is only through and because of Jesus Christ that we can be forgiven for all of our mistakes, healed from all the hurt we experience, and cleansed of our imperfections.

Sweet Spirits

I had possibly one of the best experiences of my life today at work...


The day started like any other Monday - after all Monday is my second favorite day of the week. I spilled a couple of things, sang "Farmer's Daughter" for the first hour of my shift, and thanked my Heavenly Father for the many blessings He bestows upon me each and every day.


Before I knew it, it was lunch time and I was trying to ignore my sore throat as the first lunch customers came through the door. Most of them I know and have their orders memorized due to repetition.


Then my heart changed as a group I have not seen since high school came through the doors. Each one was unique and special but they all fit together somehow. From all shapes and sizes, brown hair, blonde hair, glasses, braces, I'm not sure their circumstances or exactly their conditions, but I recognized them and saw them as real people today. They took a little longer than the typical fast-paced customer to tell me their orders but we made it through.


I helped one girl open her milk. I helped another carry her tray to her table. One gave me a handshake and thanked me by name. They all were so kind and it was as if my spirit was speaking directly to theirs. I could see past their physical disabilities. They have such sweet spirits, such an innocence about them. Seeing them puts everything into perspective. The fast-paced world of cell phones, computers, games, etc can all be erased in a minute, but the time we take to learn about and love those around us is the little piece of Heaven that I think most of us forget. It takes a special Child of God to help us remember Him and the real importance of life. 


Did I mention that Monday is my favorite day?


May we step back a little more today. Slow down. Take time to look someone in the eye and ask about their day. Meaningfully smile at a stranger. These might seem like small and simple things but they will bring us the greatest joy and most likely brighten someone else's day too.

Family Night Phantom

Sunday is my favorite day. It has been for as long as I can remember and no matter how crazy my 12 lovely Nursery kids are, Sunday is still my favorite day.


By the way, yes, they were quite a handful today but I still love them dearly. I'm just re-thinking the whole Michelle Duggar - 19 kids thing...


Anyway, before all of that, I heard one of the sweetest talks from a young man in my ward. He turned 12 not too long ago and could barely see over the podium. He taught the spirit of service with such innocence and humility that it inspired me to once again be a better servant of the Lord.


He told a story from the Friend in the 2004 edition. Here is that story now, I hope that it will touch you as deeply as its touched me:

Let … thine alms [service] … be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly (Matt. 6:3–4).

As I came into the kitchen, my big brother Matt was saying to Mom, “I think just you, Dad, me, and Abby should be in on it. I don’t think he can keep a secret.” He was talking about me! “I can too keep a secret!” I said.

Mom smiled. “On Monday nights, the Family Night Phantom secretly leaves treats on people’s doorsteps. How would you like us to become the Phantom?”

“What a great idea!” I wanted to go right then, but Mom said that we had to wait until Monday.

Week One

Tonight we decided to deliver cookies and notes from the “Phantom” to two new families in our ward, the Kennedys and the Jensens. With Mom at the wheel to make a quick getaway, Dad and Abby did the ringing and running at the Kennedys’. Then it was my turn. Matt and I walked quietly up to the Jensens’ porch, laid the cookies down, rang the doorbell, and ran. The Phantom was a success!

Week Two

For this week’s adventure, Mom said, “Why don’t you each choose a family?” I wanted to phantom my best friend, Kyle Stephens.

During the family home evening lesson, Abby talked about how Jesus helps lonely people. That made me think.

“Mom, do you think Sister Hart would like chocolate cupcakes?” She was an older lady in the ward who lived alone.

“I’m sure that she would, Jeremy. Why?”

“I changed my mind. Let’s leave the treat at her house instead.”

We had a great time phantoming. Sister Hart almost caught me! I was at the edge of her driveway when I heard the door open, so I dove behind the hedge. I heard her say, “How nice! What a wonderful treat.”

Later that week, Matt said that his friends thought that the Phantom was the Bennetts.

“Well,” Dad said, “I think that puts the Bennetts on the top of our list to phantom next week!”

Week Three

I came home from school on Monday to the wonderful smell of homemade bread, our Phantom treat for the week. “Who should we phantom tonight, besides the Bennetts?” Mom asked me.

I had been thinking about it all day. “The Barneses are moving and are probably busy packing. And Sister Bradley has been sick, so her family could use a treat.”

Mom gave me a kiss and said, “You’re really something. Tonight it’ll be bread for the three Bs!”

A few days later, Dad came home from a meeting at church. He had seen a note on the ward bulletin board marked FAMILY NIGHT PHANTOM. It read: “Thanks for the bread. We didn’t have a family home evening dessert planned, so it came in handy. Keep up the good work. From the Barneses.” Mom said that we had to secretly remove the note and put it in our family scrapbook.

Week Four

During dinner on Sunday, Mom told us that after church Sister Simpson and Sister Bennett had discussed the Phantom. They wanted to get “revenge,” but on whom?

On Monday, I had news of my own. “Tyler Bennett asked me who I thought the Phantom was. It was hard not to smile! Then he said his family is going out tonight armed with 10 loaves of banana bread.”

“We can’t match that, but I do think it’s time to phantom ourselves,” Mom said.

“Great idea,” Matt agreed. “If the Phantom visits us, no one will suspect us!”

That night I delivered popcorn balls to my own door. We were sitting in the kitchen munching away when the doorbell rang. Matt opened the door to find a plate of cookies on the porch and not a person in sight! “Are you sure Tyler said that his family was delivering banana bread?” Mom asked.

We decided to hurry and finish phantoming before we ran into other Phantoms. We chose Bishop Stephens’s family (including Kyle!) and the Garcias.

Back at home, we began our family home evening lesson. Mom asked us to name activities that draw a family closer. Dad said, “Family prayer.” Abby thought of scripture reading. Matt mentioned camping together during the summer. “Don’t forget the Family Night Phantom,” I said. “That has brought us closer.”

“I think you’re right, Jeremy,” Dad agreed.

“So serving together brings a family closer,” Mom concluded.

Our night wasn’t over. When we were almost settled into bed, the doorbell rang—for the third time! We all ran for the door. On the porch was a loaf of banana bread. What a night!

Week Five

No one has accused us of being the Phantom, so I think our secret is still safe. Tonight we have brownies, ready for delivery to three more unsuspecting ward families. The Family Night Phantom rides again!

[Loving Service]

“Loving service anonymously given may be unknown to man—but the gift and the giver are known to God.”
President Thomas S. Monson, First Counselor in the First Presidency, “ ‘Anonymous,’ ” Ensign, May 1983, 57.

Service can change our hearts and lives forever. It is one of the few things that truly bring fulfillment and reassurance in God and His Love for us and for all of His children.

So I challenge you and myself to ask, "Have I done any good in the world today? Have I helped anyone in need? Have I cheered up the sad or made someone feel glad?...Has anyone's burden been lighter today because I was willing to share?"

There are opportunities all around to serve, may we be willing to open our eyes to notice them and decide today to live a more Christlike life.

New Found Dreams

I have had many career dreams from my childhood till now, from architect to business owner to teacher to journalist all based on people in my life, books I've read, or my own inner desire to be the best me.

Recently, I have found a new dream that puts all my deepest desires together and is beginning to shape who I am. With quite a large milestone ahead, who knows if my life will actually head in that direction, but a girl can dream can't she?

I want to be the next Pioneer Woman. 

Yes, I am quite serious. The ranch, the husband, the kids, the home cooked meals, the homeschooling, the photography, and the gardens.

Maybe my dream began before I was born, with strong pioneer heritage. Maybe my dream began when I was 10 and all of my friends listened to Backstreet Boys and N'Sync while my parents had me listening to Shania Twain and Alan Jackson. (My first concert was Toby Keith and Rascal Flatts). Maybe it was the love of animals that my mother instilled in me. Maybe its because old pick up trucks make me smile and the smell of a barn doesn't make me cringe. Maybe its because I go to the State Fair, not for the rides and the food, but for the animals and the canned goods. Maybe its the self-reliance I've been taught all my life. Maybe its the wonder of planting a seed and watching it grow into a glorious plant or the wonder pulling a fresh loaf of homemade bread out of the oven. Maybe its because the Fourth of July is my favorite holiday and I want to believe in the American Dream.

Whatever the reason, I have finally figured out that all of my domestic desires to be a good wife and mother can finally and possibly be put into a lifestyle and a career.

I would love to own my property and live in a country style home full of kids and animals and a husband whom I adore. I would love to open our pantry to find rows and rows of hand-canned fruits, vegetables, and soups. I would love to have the love of my life walk through the door from a hard day in the fields to the smell of homemade bread. I am planning on homeschooling my children so they can learn and grow the way that young minds should be. I look forward to my hands being dirty from working in the garden and my heart growing larger after each new animal or child is brought into my life.

Perhaps, these are just dreams and may never all become reality but I have learned to make bread (well, learning) and I am working to educate myself so I can properly teach the rising generation. Some things will have to wait, the husband, the house and the property, but many things I can learn now (my library card is sure worn! - thanks Benjamin Franklin for innovating public libraries in America).

As someone who has been good at almost anything she tries for most of her life, but never excellent at one specific thing this realization is quite comforting. I challenge you to find your dream. To realize that dreams can and will change, but as long as you are following and trusting the Lord in all that you do then you will be happy.

I hope and pray that I will stand as a witness of God at all times, in all things, and in all places (Mosiah 18:9) because in and through Him is where the true happiness and fulfillment of dreams comes from.