I've had a hard time coming up with what song I wanted to write about. I decided on Sara Groves's "Love Is Still a Worthy Cause." What do I know about love? Love is a choice. It makes the hard things in life worth it. Knowing of God's love for us brings us profound peace and joy and faith, even in the midst of our greatest heartaches. Having people to love in our lives is a gift; the people that come into our lives to love us (sometimes when we least expect it) are the greatest surprises, and are evidences of God's care of us. Learning to love with a purer heart and without selfishness, while still maintaining love and care for ourselves as well, is the pursuit of this life, I believe. Loving those who hurt us is hard work but brings healing. Above all, if we strive to love like the Savior does, we will have more happiness in our lives and also bring happiness to the people around us. That's why I believe it's a worthy cause. Loving is worth the risk and worth the work.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Laurel's sister's wedding
(how's that for a title?)
My sister Amanda was a bit slow getting out her invites, and then she ran out, and then....
anyway, I'm posting this here so you all know about it. Yes, it's this Saturday. I know...
(yeah, I know, you can see that, right? whatever. don't even ask what the scanner did to the picture. sorry you don't get to see that - the pictures are totally cute.)
so here's the info you probably can't even read on the above:
Amanda and Spencer will be married on Saturday January 9th in the Provo Temple. Reception is 6-9pm, The White Church, 31 W Maple Street, Mapleton UT
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Did I Drop the Ball Again?!
Book Club. It's like coming up?!
What book are we reading?
It says on the side bar that Margie is in charge this month, but after last month's locale fiasco, I volunteered to host it this month. I would love to do that this month--- just want to know what to host.
So the second Tuesday is in a week. Does anyone have the list of books we made to read? Should we postpone it a week?
Or maybe everyone else know's what's up and I'm in la la land.
Whatcha think?!
My deepest apologies,
Michelle
What book are we reading?
It says on the side bar that Margie is in charge this month, but after last month's locale fiasco, I volunteered to host it this month. I would love to do that this month--- just want to know what to host.
So the second Tuesday is in a week. Does anyone have the list of books we made to read? Should we postpone it a week?
Or maybe everyone else know's what's up and I'm in la la land.
Whatcha think?!
My deepest apologies,
Michelle
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Melissa's Favorite Song of 2009
My favorite song this year is Single Ladies by Beyonce. I know that my choice is super cheesy, but after a hard day my family loves to put on the Single Ladies and dance. It is great!
Liz's Favorite Songs For 2009
Favorite #1: Pearl Jam-Just Breathe
My all time favorite song for the year 2009. I've been a huge Pearl Jam fan for over 15 years and love that they are actually still producing music that's great to listen to.
My all time favorite song for the year 2009. I've been a huge Pearl Jam fan for over 15 years and love that they are actually still producing music that's great to listen to.
Favorite #2: Coldplay-Life In Technicolor
My kids were way into this one, which made it one of our favorites for 2009. On Coldplay's Viva La Vida album, the original song doesn't have any lyrics, so it was a treat to hear it with words a little later on and with a great video too. :)
Laurel's favorite songs 2009
Okay, somebody has to be first on this, I guess. Just didn't think it would be me.
Anyway, had some time to ponder this, and here's what I came up with (links are to the artist's website, not to the song, because I'm limited here at my office, but you can find a link for the song from there):
I listen to either KUER or KOHS radio, both of which are commercial free, to the point that I don't like to listen to the other stations, because I am now so used to no commercials, I get impatient about them. KUER is an NPR station, so I listen mostly for the news, and a few choice programs like Car Talk, Wait Wait, and Prairie Home Companion. I sometimes catch an interview with some new artist, though, and I have bought a bit of music over the years based on those interviews, like Gabriella Cilmi and Lady Antebellum. But mostly, I discover my favorite new (or sometimes just new-to-me) artists listening to KOHS, the Orem High School radio station. They play whatever the DJ or their instructor happens to have in their personal collection, so it's a wide range of stuff. It can also be repetitious, especially when they change shifts, but that's usually not too annoying. What is annoying, however, is how the DJ's don't always mention who or what they just played, which has me tracking them down on the Internet by guessing at the songs name. Which is how I had to track down my hands-down favorite new artist for this year, Scouting for Girls.
I first heard "She's So Lovely", then later "Heartbeat" - both of which make me happy every time I hear them. In fact, the entire album is well worth listening to. Very peppy, very upbeat, even when the lyrics aren't exactly happy. It's a fun sound, and never fails to cheer me up if I'm feeling a bit low.
It's a tough call, choosing which is my favorite, but I have to go with "Heartbeat". I hear the song, and I know I'm that girl, the sort of girl he's talking about. Or at least, I was, when I was younger. You can find a link to their You Tube channel from their home page if you want to give it a listen. (I assume it will be on their You Tube, but as I can't check from here, I can't make any promises.)
A close second, from another artist I first heard on KOHS, would have to be Mika's "Grace Kelly", which you can catch me singing, very loudly, every time it comes on the radio when I'm in my car. Usually I'm alone for that, but sometimes I'm embarrassing my kids and trying to get them to join in. No, I can't hit all the notes right, but I don't care, because it's just a fun song. Personally, I don't think he's talking to a girl here, I think he's talking to his mom. Think about it, it'll make sense.
Anyway, had some time to ponder this, and here's what I came up with (links are to the artist's website, not to the song, because I'm limited here at my office, but you can find a link for the song from there):
I listen to either KUER or KOHS radio, both of which are commercial free, to the point that I don't like to listen to the other stations, because I am now so used to no commercials, I get impatient about them. KUER is an NPR station, so I listen mostly for the news, and a few choice programs like Car Talk, Wait Wait, and Prairie Home Companion. I sometimes catch an interview with some new artist, though, and I have bought a bit of music over the years based on those interviews, like Gabriella Cilmi and Lady Antebellum. But mostly, I discover my favorite new (or sometimes just new-to-me) artists listening to KOHS, the Orem High School radio station. They play whatever the DJ or their instructor happens to have in their personal collection, so it's a wide range of stuff. It can also be repetitious, especially when they change shifts, but that's usually not too annoying. What is annoying, however, is how the DJ's don't always mention who or what they just played, which has me tracking them down on the Internet by guessing at the songs name. Which is how I had to track down my hands-down favorite new artist for this year, Scouting for Girls.
I first heard "She's So Lovely", then later "Heartbeat" - both of which make me happy every time I hear them. In fact, the entire album is well worth listening to. Very peppy, very upbeat, even when the lyrics aren't exactly happy. It's a fun sound, and never fails to cheer me up if I'm feeling a bit low.
It's a tough call, choosing which is my favorite, but I have to go with "Heartbeat". I hear the song, and I know I'm that girl, the sort of girl he's talking about. Or at least, I was, when I was younger. You can find a link to their You Tube channel from their home page if you want to give it a listen. (I assume it will be on their You Tube, but as I can't check from here, I can't make any promises.)
A close second, from another artist I first heard on KOHS, would have to be Mika's "Grace Kelly", which you can catch me singing, very loudly, every time it comes on the radio when I'm in my car. Usually I'm alone for that, but sometimes I'm embarrassing my kids and trying to get them to join in. No, I can't hit all the notes right, but I don't care, because it's just a fun song. Personally, I don't think he's talking to a girl here, I think he's talking to his mom. Think about it, it'll make sense.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Gingerbread Pigs
By request, here is my recipe for the gingerbread cookies I brought to this year's Christmas party. I got this from the old Betty Crocker's Cooky Book. They've reprinted this book recently, but the recipes were "updated", so I had to hunt down a vintage copy for my own. I grew up with this "cooky book", and there are many family favorites in here. Very many. Mom's copy is in tatters, no longer in it's cover, pages stuffed in a large envelope to keep them from getting lost. We like cookies. If you should ever run across one of these in a used bookstore or antique shop, I will gladly pay you for it. Some of my siblings are still trying to hunt one down for themselves.
Sorry about the smudges. This is a well-used page in the book. Even though I like butter instead of shortening for most cookies, I use shortening, just like it says. I did make one little change to this when I made them last. I didn't have any allspice, and I remembered a friend of mine puts anise in hers, so I crushed about a teaspoon of anise with my mortar and pestle, and put that in instead. I usually under-bake them a bit. I think they're softer that way. When I check mine at 10 minutes, there is a little imprint left, and I take them out anyway. I baked one pan a bit longer, but those were somewhat harder (they were at the bottom of the jar, so you probably didn't get one of those). I like them soft. Mine may be a bit more than 1/4 inch thick when I roll them out as well - I'm just guessing, though. Oh, and, because we're in Utah, at high altitude, I don't bother with dipping (carefully scooping the flour into your measuring cup and leveling off) or sifting my flour when I make any baked goods. We need to add more flour here, and I finally realized a few years back why I don't think I do add more. I scoop my flour and shake or tap the cup until it's level, which packs a little more flour in each cup. You'll know if yours is the right amount more if the dough isn't sticky to touch. You will need a little more flour on the counter when you roll it out, but you shouldn't need a lot more. If you seem to need a lot on the counter, knead some more flour into the dough, and then try rolling out again.
(Side note for flour: I use Gold Medal, always, for cookies. Western Family has a blend of other grains in with their flour, which I think gives it an odd flavor, and also makes it react differently in your baked goods. I use Lehi Roller Mills for breads. Used to use Gold Medal, and it was good bread, but then I tried the Lehi (Costco has the 25 lb bag for about $7), and I've never gone back. It does seem a little heavy for cookies, though, so that's why I have both.)
I use the pig shape because that's a traditional Scandinavian shape for Christmas, and I happen to like pigs, so it makes me happy to eat a gingerbread pig.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)