the Best Day EVER

at the creek

We were all longing for some peace and tranquility Saturday. It has been a LONG and HOT summer! We drove up the mountain to a small creek and enjoyed the quiet beauty that surrounded us.  Jeremy and I both enjoyed the sand between our toes and the cool creek water.  The kids enjoyed splashing and chasing tadpoles, collecting colorful rocks and building a dam with their daddy.  Graham tasted all the rocks within reach and loved to immerse his hands in the warm course sand time after time.   I love to watch his face as he is exploring his surroundings in each new place we visit.  Children truly enjoy the world around them.  I am so looking forward to the upcoming adventures we have planned with our children. 

I must share

Today has been a very productive day.  4 loaves of PERFECT bread made.  Sliced & in bags ready to enter the freezer.  Then I decided to pull out a favorite recipe I have had for years and make it for Family Home Evening tonight.  So I thought I would share.

Glazed Cheese Croissants

Prep Time 30 minutes

Total Time 3 hours

Yield Makes 8         

Ingredients

•   1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
•   3/4 cup small-curd cottage cheese
•   1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for rolling dough
•   1/4 teaspoon salt
•   Sugar Glaze (see below)

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, combine butter, cottage cheese, flour, and salt. Shape into a disk, and wrap in plastic; refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 375  degrees. On a well-floured surface, roll dough out to a 14-inch circle. Cut circle evenly into 8 triangles. Roll each triangle up, from wide end to tip, turning ends of roll in to form a crescent shape. Place croissants 3 inches apart on a rimmed baking sheet (to catch any drips); bake 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown.Transfer to wire rack. Cool 10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, make Sugar Glaze: In a glass measuring cup, add 2 teaspoons milk by 1/2 teaspoonfuls to 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, stirring until glaze is of a drizzling consistency. It should be thin enough to pour while still thick enough to coat croissants. Drizzle over croissants. Serve warm, or let cool to room temperature. Store at room temperature in an airtight container, up to 2 days.

Happy Family Home Evening!

Our Foundation

{Family Home Evening}



We had a fun and successful Family Home Evening using an article from the Friend about Building a Spiritual Foundation.  As we built our house from graham crackers and frosting we talked about each part of the house and what they represented.  The kids love to make things, so this was our lesson,activity,and treat in one!  I love using the Friend magazine.  There are so many fun things and ways to teach and learn the gospel with our children.  Family Home Evening has been a blessing in our home.  Not always perfect, or easy. But we have been richly blessed by consistently following the council to hold them.

"We cannot afford to neglect this heaven-inspired program. It can bring spiritual growth to each member of the family, helping him or her to withstand the temptations which are everywhere. The lessons learned in the home are those that last the longest.”              -President Thomas S. Monson

Back To School Family Home Evening 2010

Every year we have a Family Home Evening the Monday before school starts where we eat a favorite meal, recieve a Father's Blessing, and discuss our new Family Theme for the school year.



While studying my scriptures I came across the scripture in D&C 27:15-18. We try to pick a theme that will build them spiritually, strengthen our family, and help them during the year. When I came across this scripture I knew the power of the scriptures and what a difference it can make. So Jeremy and I talked about it and decided that would be our focus this year. We want them to LOVE the scriptures. We want to teach them the scripture stories so they can turn to the scriptures when problems arise in thier lives, and learn how the scriptures truly can give you the power you need daily. So we are going to work on helping them develope personal scripture study. I heard a talk on the BYU channel the other day that gave a specific way to recieve revelation and help from the scriptures. I've been doing this in my own life.

1) set a time to study the scriptures
2) pray before you start and ask Heavenly Father for the Spirit to be with you.
3) Thank Heavenly Father for the scriptures
4) Discuss with Him your problem or question and ask Him to help you find the answer in the scriptures.
5) After your study thank Him for the guidance.

It really does work. He wants us to know His will and help us with our trials and stuggles. We just need to ask and do our part.

I want to use the scripture D&C 27:15-18 as our main scripture to teach the principles.

15 Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to estand.
16 Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness, and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, which I have sent mine angels to commit unto you;
17 Taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked;
18 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of my Spirit, which I will pour out upon you, and my word which I reveal unto you, and be agreed as touching all things whatsoever ye ask of me, and be faithful until I come, and ye shall be caught up, that where I am ye shall be also. Amen



Thier are so many things you can do with kids and use this scriptures. They love it and understand it. I also love the song Scripture Power!

I love a new school year! I love schedules! This gives Jeremy and I the perfect oppurtunity to start new things with the kids and have a "House of Order". I will admit, I get lazy in the summer.

We have also decided to have a Family Declaration to repeat each morning before school. This will help the kids remember who they are and what we are doing here. I know we are sending our children out into a big world full of many scary things, but I know too if we will ARM them with the proper principles and covenants they will be ok. They need experinces to use the principles we are teaching them. They will learn to make good choices and find where real happeniess comes from. But I know I must do my part as a mother and teach them.

{Family Declaration}

We are devoted disciples of Christ; our family’s greatest goal is to gain peace in this life and eternal life in the world to come. To this end we will honor and obey God, love and serve family, friends, and neighbors, be honest in all things, work hard and do our best, be grateful and be of good cheer.