Be Still My Soul!

My husband and I have had such a difficult time in our lives from July 08 till current and this song has given us so much strength and hope. We love this song so much because of how our souls have been uplifted and comforted by the beautiful words it shares to one's soul. We hope that when you have trials that seem overwhelming and that seem to never end, that you will play this song and find the same comfort we have had from it.

Wanna Laugh?

I love to laugh and this will make you laugh!

"Mary did you know"-- by Donny Osmond

RECIPE TIME!

10 cups bread and croissants torn in pieces
6 cups milk
2 cups sugar
15 eggs
2 Tb. cinnamon
1 cup raisins

Cut bread and croissants in cubes
Mix milk, sugar, eggs, and cinnamon
Put bread and croissants in oven proof dish
Pour milk mixture over all so each piece is soaked
Sprinkle raisins on top
Cover with foil
Bake at 350 for 45 to 65 min. or till mixture is firm
Serve with hot maple syrup or table cream
Serves 20
YUM, YUM

Need Help with your Goal?---How about EFFORT!

Garry Bjorklund

Pres. Thomas S. Monson:
The Mark of Effort--It is not enough to want to make the effort and to say we'll make the effort. We must actually MAKE the effort. It's in the DOING, not just the THINKING, that we accomplish our goals. If we constantly put our goals off, we will never see them fulfilled. Someone put it this way: Live only for tomorrow, and you will have a lot of empty yesterdays today.

Garry Bjorkland's story as told by Pres. Monson:
In July of 1976, runner Garry Bjorklund was determined to qualify for the US Olympic team's 10,000 meter race which would be run at the Montreal Olympics. Halfway through the grinding qualifying race, however, he lost his lfet shoe. What would you and I do if that were our experience? I suppose he could have given up and stopped. He could have blamed his bad luck and lost the opportunity of participating in the greatest race of his life, but this champion athlete did not do that. He ran on without his shoe. He knew that he would have to run faster than he had ever run in his life. He knew that his competitors now had an advantage that they did not have at the beginning of the race. Over that cinder track he ran, with one shoe on and one shoe off, finishing third and qualifying for the opportunity to participate in the race for the gold medal. His own running time was the best he had ever recorded.

Another detailed part of this same story:
It was another Hayward Field moment, another example of the crowd embracing an athlete and willing him forward. The date was June 22, 1976. The event was the men's 10,000 meters, won by Frank Shorter, who bested Craig Virgin.

But it was the race for third, and the last spot on the U.S. Olympic team, that drew the crowd's attention, not because there was a Eugene runner in the race, or a Duck, but because halfway through, a 25-year-old Minnesota grad named Garry Bjorklund lost a shoe. Wrote Blaine Newnham in The Register-Guard:

As he started his drive to make the team, the East Grandstand echoed `BJ, BJ, BJ.' They were calling for their man - the guy with one shoe on and one shoe off - to overhaul Bill Rodgers. They probably remembered that he had his left foot operated on in 1972 and missed the Trials, the same foot which lost its shoe with three miles to go in the race, that he's given up six years of his life to make the Olympic team, that he's moved from Minnesota to Baton Rouge, La., to Boulder, Colo., to prepare himself for this one chance.

How would you like to run three miles with Shorter, Rodgers and Virgin on a 4:30 pace? Everything's going to plan in this, your big chance, and you lose your shoe. Garry slid his bare foot along the sand brown Urethane of Hayward Field. He tried not to think about it.

At the bell, Bjorklund was 25 yards behind Rodgers; he pulled even and passed Rodgers with 50 yards remaining, running 28 minutes, 3.74 seconds to claim third by less than a second. "To be honest with you, the thing that got me there, the thing that kept me going, was the people in those stands," Bjorklund said. "They were chanting `BJ, BJ,' and I could feel it pulsating through me. You don't even know you have feet at that point."

President Monson said: He put forth the effort necessary to achieve his goal.

My Thoughts:
First off I love stories about the lives of people. There is so much to be learned from them and each other's experiences we all have. Such was the case for me with Garry Bjorklund.

When I first heard and read this story I was simply amazed. Sometimes the biggest lessons in life are in these simple stories that come from the lives of regular people like you and I.

Since Garry exhibited effort to achieve his goal, exactly what is effort? The dictionary defines it this way:

Effort---What does that mean?
The dictionary says:
1. the active use of energy in producing a result
2. elbow grease
3. exertion
4. labor
5. work
6. force
7. energy
8. power
9. might

Garry had his eye on his target, 3rd place in the Montreal Olympics. Because that mattered to him, he put forth the effort necessary to obtain that goal.

Do our goals that we set for ourselves really matter to us? Are they THAT important? Do they MEAN everything to us to achieve? Maybe we should begin there and determine that, not just something we THINK we would like, but something that really and truly matters to us, enough that we WILL put forth the EFFORT.

Someone once said: Obstacles are those fearful looking things you see when you take your eye off the ball.

I hope through this story you will recognize that maybe putting forth the effort necessary to achieve your heartfelt goals, as I did for myself, require effort and determination, something that I often lack because I think about goals rather than trying to actually achieve or accomplish them.

The TOUCH of the MASTER'S Hand

My Thoughts:
There are times I feel whole and other times I feel weak and sick. Sometimes the trials of life can be so overwhelming you feel there is no way out. You feel that it will always be this way. Our upbringing, our belief system, the influences of society all play a huge role in our lives in how we accept ourselves, and how we deal with tragedy and other hardships that we all face from time to time.

This post is for those who feel there is no hope nor anyway out of our suffering, pain, or grief in one form or another. The MASTER, our Savior Jesus Christ, descended below all things and by doing so knows EXACTLY how to help us during such times. To help you understand what I mean here, it is like, if I have suffered the loss of a husband, or been through a divorce, or was in a serious accident of some sort, I know personally just how one would feel and therefore I am in a position to help, comfort and care for people who are going through such things. Well that is how the Savior's experiences in Gethsemane in suffering the pain, grief and agony of our sins, he knows exactly what we are going through, for He has gone through them Himself.

The message of the Touch of the Master's Hand is such a marvelous message. You can receive hope that there IS someone who cares and knows exactly how to help us. Yoke with the Savior, invite Him into your life and heart, have meaningful, heartfelt prayers and move your feet in a direction that you feel will help and as you move your feet forward to help yourself, you will then feel and know of your Savior's love and care for you and He will make up the difference in enabling your to handle the situation you are in.

I personally know this to be true, not just for now, but for my entire life. I have had so many experiences in life where His hand has touched my life, thus giving me new life and hope in the many trials I have had.

Go to: lds.org, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" home page. There is also a link there for Jesus Christ at: JesusChrist.lds.org.
These web sites can be a source of comfort and strength to you personally.

Here is a quote from Elder Wirthlin, an Apostle in our Church,
and he said:
"No grief is so great, no pain so profound,
no burden so unbearable
that it is beyond His healing touch."

Standing Strong and Immovable!

Be strong and immovable like this rock

My Thoughts:
I was reading today and I saw a similar picture to the one I have posted here. I had been reading on being strong and immovable. I looked at the picture and thought about how a rock in an ocean storm seems to be so strong and immovable and sometimes even after the worst of storms, when the seas have calmed, the rock still remains in its place.

I was so impressed with the picture and the thought that I pondered within myself and asked the question, "am I strong and immovable in my belief system? in my relationships? in keeping the commandments of God? and in a host of other things?"

Being grounded, rooted, and settled truly provides an anchor to my life and when we have a belief system that supports us, our trials and adversities in our lives are not so hard to handle when we are anchored to that belief system. We are not swayed quite so easily.

Sometimes the hard waves of life barely touch me, other times it goes in a bit deeper and I am affected and still at other times I feel overwhelmed and consumed by these waves of life. The anchor in my life to help sustain me is knowing there is a God and that He hears and answers my prayers. I have had too many experiences in life to ever deny that fact and truth. It supports me through everything no matter how big or small the storms may be.

May I suggest that you take the time to think and ponder upon what anchors your life. Maybe from that, you will determine why you can or cannot handle the storms that come in your life or why you may be swayed so easily and fall so quickly or just the opposite, not be swayed and are able to rise up to meet the challenge(s).

May I also suggest that for those of you who may not be anchored, to search and seek the beliefs of "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" and find God. The Church's web site is lds.org. That is where my belief system came from and sustains me to this day.

Additional New Blog for me!

I have created a new blog for my scrapbook pages that I have made digitally. If you want to view that blog, which is a slide show of what I have created please go to this blog address:

http://myscrapbookpagesshowcased.blogspot.com

Also here is the other one that I also have:
This one is about my beliefs as member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

http://rdcontented.blogspot.com

Happy New Year's! & Florence Chadwick

Florence Chadwick

My Thoughts:
Although this is an early Happy New Years, I want to wish everyone a happy and prosperous one. When we think of a Happy New Years it usually means we are happy to welcome in the new year, along with setting goals.

Setting goals has not been one of my favorite things to do. I never feel like I will accomplish them, so I would rather not do them at all. I do make daily small goals and that seems manageable to me and that is usually the best I can do.

Setting goals for some can be a very hard thing and often when the year is over, we find we didn't accomplish it after all. For others that probably is not the case and they possibly thrive with setting goals. I just don't happen to be one of them.

I will share with you a story about Florence Chadwick. When I first read this story, I realized that to accomplish any goal in life I need to keep my eye on the ball, so to speak. Her story sparked me forward with a renewed desire to actually set goals, even long term ones, and to actually accomplish them. Sometimes a story or some little phrase someone might say, may make all the difference in the world. Such was the case for me with Florence Chadwick. I love biography's of people's lives because I learn so much from them, and even though it is a small synopsis of her life, I have learned a great deal. Here is her story:

"Keep your goals in sight"
When she looked ahead, Florence Chadwick saw nothing but a solid wall of fog. Her body was numb. She had been swimming for nearly sixteen hours.
Already she was the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions. Now, at age 34, her goal was to become the first woman to swim from Catalina Island to the California coast.

On the 4th of July morning in 1952, the sea was like an ice bath and the fog was so dense she could hardly see her support boats. Sharks cruised toward her lone figure, only to be driven away by rifle shots. Against the frigid grip of the sea, she struggled on--hour after hour--while millions watched on national television.

Alongside Florence in one of the boats, her mother and her trainer offered encouragement. They told her it wasn't much farther. But all she could see was fog. They urged her not to quit. She never had--until then. With only a half mile to go, she asked to be pulled out.

Still thawing her chilled body several hours later, she told a reporter, "Look, I'm not excusing myself, but if I could have seen land I might have made it." It was not fatigue or even the cold water that defeated her. It was the fog.
She was unable to see her goal.

Two month later, she tried again. This time, despite the same dense fog, she swam with her faith intact and her goal clearly pictured in her mind. She knew that somewhere behind that fog was land and this time she made it! Florence Chadwick became the first woman to swim the Catalina Channel, eclipsing the men's record by two hours!
Author Unknown
A 2nd Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul

Christmas Snack Food Ideas

Here are a few tips to plan your own snack buffet. When you have time, take out a piece of paper and start writing down some possibilities. Write down any recipes that come to mind as you read the following:

• Trays of things to dip are always popular. I like to put out a veggie platter with ranch dip and an assortment of crackers with my popular recipe "clam dip."

• A tray of sandwich makings. I load a tray with deli meats and cheeses, and other sandwich makings such as onion, tomato, pickles, mayonnaise, and mustard. You might try a tray of club sandwich makings or Reuben sandwich makings. You can also experiment with different breads, such as party rye or sourdough.

• Cookies and Candies. Each year, I make two or three of our family's favorite recipes which are included below. What are your family's favorite cookie and candy recipes?

• Beverages. The Irish Cream recipe below served over ice is wonderful, special treat. We also buy pop and beer and this seems to make everyone happy. You might have a favorite punch, eggnog or hot buttered rum recipe you'd like to serve.

• Crunchy things. I always have the Chex mix out.

Don't forget that you can have family members or other guests contribute! This will give you more variety and less work! Just tell them to bring a snack type item.

NOTE: This post was taken from Dollar Stretcher. Web address is: stretcher.com

The Reason for the Season--Our Savior Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ, the Light and Life of the World. All good comes from Him who descended below all things. Because of Him, I can look to Him to help me in my own trials and adversities of my own life, for He suffered all things thus enabling Him to truly be able to help me. I love Him with all my heart and so love the Christmas Season which brings to mind for me, all that He has done for me and for mankind by coming to earth.

Neil Diamond Again!

You Don't Bring Me Flowers

with Barbara Streisand

Neil Diamond!

Oh So FUNNY!

CLICK on image to enlarge

I love clean and oh so funny cartoons!

Caramel Apple Cheesecake

CLICK Image to enlarge

I have made this a number of times and it is soooo yummy! I have even made my own apple pie filling for this recipe because my family loves it so much.

Stories with VALUES: A Big Fat Enormous Lie

Author: Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

A child's simple lie grows to enormous proportions.

My Thoughts:

I believe that no matter how simple things may seem, it is usually through the simple things that often make the biggest difference in our lives. So to teach our children the importance of integrity, no matter the simplicity is a good thing in my opinion.

MARRIAGE: Perform acts of Kindness

If every husband and every wife would constantly do whatever might be possible to ensure the comfort and happiness of his or her companion, there would be very little, if any, divorce. Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley


Practice Activity:
Each spouse makes a list of 10 or more things that they would like their spouse to do more often. The requests should be specific (Ask me how my day went) rather than general requests (Be more interested in me). The requests should be core issues in a major conflict. Requests should be simple and inexpensive.

Consider asking for acts of kindness such as compliments, love notes, telephone calls, and so forth.

Other requests could include doing the laundry or some other household task, holding hands, cuddling on the couch, listening, etc.

Do 3 of the things on your spouse's wish list each day, even if your spouse forgets to do likewise.

Even though this is a planned exercise, it can help enhance the marriage relationship, particularly as you do the activity as a genuine expression of love, appreciation and devotion.

My Thoughts:
My husband and I have done this and we were faithful about doing so. It was decided before we even began, that we would remind each other of doing 3 things on the list until we got into the habit of it. It was such a wonderful thing, to feel important and know that he loved me enough to do what I felt was needed by myself. It helped to draw us closer together, of that I do know.

Food for thought: What we do

CLICK to enlarge and read. I scrapbooked this page.

My Thoughts:
We cannot judge another for we only see what is on the outside of someone and there is no way that we can know what is in a person's heart. The Lord sees and knows what is IN the heart of a person and He can only be the true judge of someone. For me it is truly nice to realize that in end I will be judged by a perfect person and that is Jesus Christ. I really like this quote. I don't know who wrote it.

Irena Sendler vs Al Gore

My Thoughts:
This is truly an amazing story and effort put forth by a woman who cared about humanity. Love God and Love mankind, the 2 great Commandments, was truly shown and demonstrated by her in what she DID, NOT what she said. This touches the heart and is a good reminder of how we need to care more for each other in this life.

The SUNFLOWER!

CLICK on images to view larger

These pages that I scrapbooked explain the meaning of the Sunflower along with my thoughts about it and its potential significance in our lives.

Enjoy Some BEAUTIFUL music today!

Mormon Tabernacle Choir: Battle Hymn of the Republic

My Thoughts:
I love the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, I love piano music and Church hymns. I love music that stirs the soul and touches the heart which all of these do for me.

I love this rendition of the Battle Hymn of the Republic as sung by the Choir. It rekindles the patriotism that I have for my own Country. It stirs me to tears and reminds me of just how many lives have been lost to preserve what I so enjoy today in this great country of mine, THE USA!

Having music that is uplifting and good and that stirs the soul can help us to be better in so many ways. It certainly can start the day out right by putting into our hearts and minds things that uplift. A joy and a happiness can truly be felt and be with us throughout the day from such music. I believe an increase in kindness towards others can be an added bonus from such music.

Money Saving IDEAS!

Shake your printer cartridge for maximum value

As you probably know, Clark hates to waste things. He had been using the same pair of headphones in the studio since the '90s. Even though they were old and ratty, he used them until the end of their life. Now he has a new pair, so don't be surprised if he's able to hear you callers a little bit better! Likewise, he holds onto clothes long after they should be thrown away or given to charity. In fact, his wife has to periodically purge their closet and make the old threads "disappear."

Clark read a TechWorld.com report about how manufacturers of the cartridges we all use in our printers give you a notice that your cartridge in empty when nearly 60 percent of the ink is still left. If you throw it out at that point, more than half the ink you pay for goes unused! So when your computer tells you to replace the cartridge, instead just pull it out and shake it. You'll probably get several weeks more use out of it. After all, manufacturers have a clear financial incentive to shortchange you and make you buy more of their product. What you pay to print per page skyrockets if you throw that cartridge out or recycle it too early. Multi-ink cartridges are the worst because they have individual ink banks for up to three or four colors. Any one of them can run out before the others do. Another way to save money on ink cartridges is to get them refilled. Manufacturers hate it when you do this. Studies haven't yet shown decisively if the refilled ink is good quality or not. So just shake it up, baby! Samsung is one of the few companies that makes printers with a toner saver button that can reduce the amount of ink you use per page by 40 percent. Over time, that becomes a great savings.

Taken from: clarkhoward.com

My Thoughts:
I believe lots of money can be saved if we take the time to explore great web sites that give us the advantage of some one else's experience in free things and ideas that can help us to do so. Saving money on printer ink is one of those expenses we can reduce. Clark Howard has a radio talk show and we have often listened to him. Another suggestion that he gave was how to protect your Identity. Instead of paying for a service such a "Life Lock," which he says is good, he recommends that we put a "freeze" on our accounts. Go to his website to get the additional info for freezing your accounts for your particular state. I believe he said that to put a "freeze" on your account is free.

Stories with VALUES! great for kids

Edward the Emu
By: Sheena Knowles
Illustrated by: Rod Clement

Story Summary:
Edward is tired of being an emu, so he decides to try being something else for a change. First he spends some time swimming with the seals. Next, he lounges with the lions. He even slithers with the snakes. But Edward soon discovers that being an emu may not be so bad after all. So he heads back to his pen, only to find a big surprise awaiting him . . .

My Thoughts:
I believe we have a host of negativity and role modeling in our world. To have something that bolsters, edifies, renews and helps, such as books with VALUES, can make a huge difference in our children's lives along with our own. We all need good things to think about and to ponder upon. Our lives, in my opinion, will become much happier with GOODNESS and TRUTH in it!

Money Saving IDEAS!

Making your own cleaners

Making cleaners does not mean that you need to purchase a ton of items; in fact, most cleaners can be made from things you already have in your house. The main components that I like to work with are white vinegar, baking soda, liquid dish washing soap, and lemon juice. To get started, however, you may need to purchase a few spray bottles. I pick these spray bottles up from our local dollar store. These clear spray bottles will make it easy to measure and label your new cleaners in your house.

All-Purpose Cleaner - Mix together two tablespoons of mild dishwashing soap and two cups of water in a spray bottle and give it a shake. Use this anywhere that you would use a commercial all-purpose spray. This cleaner is particularly great for countertops, bathroom surfaces, and high chairs.

Glass Cleaner - Mix together one part white vinegar to one part water in a spray bottle. Spray this solution on your mirrors and windows and dry your windows with newspaper. The newspaper is great for lint-free drying.

Homemade Oven Cleaner/Deep Kitchen Cleaner - Mix a paste of three parts warm water to one part baking soda to clean away kitchen stains or to clean your oven.

Bathroom Cleaner - Mix dish washing liquid with baking soda until you have a thick paste and use this throughout your bathroom.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner - No measuring is required with this recipe. Sprinkle a little baking soda into your toilet bowl and then pour a little vinegar in and watch it fizz it up. Give it a swish with your toilet brush and then flush.

Floor Cleaner - Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to a gallon of water. The scent of the vinegar will fade in approximately an hour, but you can also add a couple of drops of essential oil to help with the scent.

Furniture Polish - Mix 1/4 cup olive oil with four tablespoons of vinegar and two teaspoons of lemon juice. Pour into a spray bottle and shake well before using. If you do not use all of it in one cleaning session, store the remainder in the fridge, as the lemon juice can go sour.

Silver Cleaner - Although I don't polish silver very frequently, this is a great to have in your bag of tricks. In a large bowl (or you can use your kitchen sink), place strips of aluminum foil and place the silver pieces on top. Cover the silver with boiling water and then add three tablespoons of baking soda and soak for ten minutes.

By making your own cleaners, you will save hundreds of dollars over the course of the year. What a difference that will make to your grocery budget and helping the environment is also a wonderful benefit of your fabulous frugalness.

Taken from: stretcher.com

My Thoughts:
I believe that we should be wise in how we spend our money. It is so easy to get caught up in the world and what it offers. What it offers may not really be what we need and or want. I have enjoyed this site and found some very handy and helpful things one can do to help S T R E T C H our dollars.

FOOD for THOUGHT: Understanding

CLICK on image to enlarge

Here is another food for thought page that I scrapbooked.

My Thoughts:
I like things that are short and sweet and say so much. I believe if we will ponder, reflect, and incorporate into our lives truthful thoughts, we can be so much happier overall.

Tooley Family Reunion

Well, on the 10-12 of July we had our 2nd family reunion at our home. We have ours every 2 years and it was decided this year that in 2010 we would have it again at our home. We had about 50 all total there. We had so much fun and made a lot of money for our next reunion due to our Aunt Peggy's sewing and the auction. She made 3 teepees for the little kids, alot of misc. items. She also made 1 very large teepee along with a girls Indian costume and a boys as well along with the headdress and drums. The kids so loved it. Above is the family picture that I just scrapbooked, but of course at picture time, not everyone was there. CLICK on photo to enlarge

Carrot Cake Recipe

This is the absolute best one I have ever eaten. I didn’t even put the cream cheese icing on it as it was so so good with just the glaze. This is a real keeper!!!

* Cake:
* 2 cups flour
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 3 large eggs
* 2 cups sugar
* 3/4 cups canola oil
* 3/4 cups buttermilk
* 2 teaspoons vanilla
* 2 cups grated carrots
* 1 8 oz can crushed pineapple, drained
* 3 1/2 oz flaked coconut
* 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

* Buttermilk Glaze:
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1/2 cup buttermilk
* 1/2 cup butter
* 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
* 1 teaspoon vanilla

* Cream Cheese Frosting:
* 3/4 cup butter, softened
* 1 8oz pkg cream cheese, softened
* 1 3oz pkg cream cheese, softened
* 3 cups sifted powdered sugar
* 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions
1. Line three 9 inch round cake pans with wax paper: lightly grease and flour wax paper; set pans aside.
2. Stir together first 4 ingredients.
3. Beat eggs and next 4 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth; Add flour mixture, beating at low speed until blended.
4. Fold in carrots and next 3 ingredients.
5. Pour batter into prepared cake pans.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until wooden pick comes out clean in middle of cakes.
7. Buttermilk Glaze:
8. Bring first 5 ingredients to a boil in saucepan over medium high heat.
9. Boil, stirring often, 4 minutes.
10. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla.
11. Drizzle buttermilk glaze evenly over layers; cool in pans on wire racks
12. 15 minutes.
13. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
14. Cream Cheese Frosting:
15. Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.
16. Add powdered sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth.
17. Spread frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake.
18. You can garnish cake top with chopped pecans or walnuts.

NOTE: I use 1 bundt cake pan and when the cake is finished baking, I use a wooden spoon and poke holes through the top and pour the glaze down through the holes. I let it set up and cool before I remove it from the pan.

Funny Pictures!

Every once in awhile I get something that is so funny. Often I scrapbook them. Here are a couple of those funny things that I enjoy.

CLICK on image to view & read in a larger format

MormonAds

I love MormonAds. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints publishes a "New Era" magazine in which most every month they publish a MormonAd. I treasure these pictures as they say so much in such a few words, but the picture itself says alot. Here are a couple of them for you to enjoy and think on if you wish.
The original Mormon ad is in the scrapbook page that I made of it.

CLICK on image to view & read in a larger format.