Spiritual Sundays

"This week is one that always makes me pause and reflect and take stock of my life. This year even more than usual as, ten years ago Kelly had her accident. So, ten years ago we spent the week wondering if we were going to be able to keep her or if we’d have to let her go. TEN YEARS AGO!

My thoughts have been about “What have I accomplished in the last ten years to bring me closer to being worthy to be able to be reunited with Kelly some time in the future?” Am I more the person God wants me to be? I’ve thought about what has happened during that time—the ups, the downs, the trials, the blessings and my response to them. Have I shown faith and trust in God? Have I been teachable? Have I repented quickly when I’ve made mistakes? Have I LISTENED to the Spirit and been directed by Him? Have I loved and served my family and those around me? Have I been forgiving of others? Have I followed the counsel of the prophet? Have I lived up to my baptismal and temple covenants? If called Home today, how would I feel about facing God and reporting to Him on how I lived my life?

It’s a very sobering experience to spend significant time and effort answering those questions. Doing this has once again made me SO grateful for a loving and patient Heavenly Father who is mindful of each of us, willing and anxious to accept our sincere efforts to day by day become better people. I’m SO grateful that He’s so willing to forgive us when we make mistakes. I’m SO grateful that our Savior made this forgiveness possible.

I’m SO grateful for the support system that Heavenly Father created in our families and in the organization of the church. He knew that we couldn’t get through all the tests, trials and temptations of this life without a good strong support system. That’s why we have each other to lean on. We were never intended to get through the challenges of this life alone. It’s just TOO DARN HARD!!

We are SO blessed to have each other. We’re SO blessed to be members of the church and have access to all the blessings that come with it. We’re SO blessed to have a prophet to guide us. We are SO blessed to live in this beautiful free country with so many advantages. We are SO blessed! Please take a few moments to remember……. "
- My mom

Perhaps you haven't lost someone you love, but these are still good questions to ask.

We are off

enjoying the summer for a few family vacations.

Will be back next week!

Eli and his daddy

Lately this little boy LOVES his dad. He wakes up and the first thing he calls out is DAD over and over again. He wants dad to put him to bed and dad to play with him and dad to give him his bath. It's funny all my kids have gone through a stage like this when they want their dad the most while they are still small.

And to be totally honest with every kid, I always feel a bit sad. I think wait, what about mom. I am supposed to be the favorite. I know they will get bigger and find out that Reg is way more fun than me. But when they are small and no one in the world makes it better like the momma. I like that. It can be tiring but I love the love in it. Does that make sense? But really, he has a great dad. So I totally understand. I love him too :)

If you haven't lately, go check out my photo site here and look at the sessions from lately. I've got LOTS more the I am editing too!

Nature lover

Since I started taking pictures I've only considered myself a people photographer. I like taking pictures of people. I like to see their interactions. I like it when I can chat with them. I like their varied expressions. I like seeing the love. I'll always love taking pictures of people. Of course I seriously delight in taking a picture like this.

But lately I've really found a love for nature photography.


And one of the reasons I think this is meaning a lot to me lately is because of my little sister Kelly. Before she died she was really into gardening. Actually some of these pictures were taken in her garden.


She had one just like this hanging on the bulletin board in her room. I remember the first time I went into her room after she had died. And I saw it there. In a photo collage of pictures of her nieces.


And finding the beauty in the nature around me, it reminds me of her. I feel satisfied that she would have liked this shot or that shot. Or that she would have rejoiced in me taking an interest in something that was a big deal to her.

I think one of the ways we can cope with the loss of someone we love is that we find ways to have them be apart of things for us still. In a simple way like this.


ooh it makes me want to get a macro lens. Maybe one day :)



Yes, this is a lot of nature/ flower pictures. But think of it as a tribute to my sister Kelly.



And a testimony of an all powerful creator that did a really good job.

Spiritual Sundays

“[Your testimony] will increase as you make decisions to keep the commandments. As you lift and strengthen others, you will see your testimony continue to develop.” As you establish personal habits of prayer, scripture study, obedience to the commandments, and service to others, “you will be blessed with moments of inspiration that will [strengthen] your testimony” (see True to the Faith, 179–80).

I love

that this little girl will pretty much ALWAYS pose for a picture for me.
Always the willing subject! We were driving out to G & G and spotted this beautiful field. Lucy was the only kid willing to let me take her picture (well Eli might of but he'd probably just keep running away too!)

And even smile doing it.

And want to try and shoot me too.

Family Saturday

So this past Saturday we were all home together. No work for Regan (in between rotations) no weddings for me. No soccer or sleep overs or anything. We were just home together. It was marvelous.

We lazed around for a bit in the morning then got our acts together and decided to do some fun family stuff. Went to the farmer's market first. Picked up some fresh veggies, mini donuts (which the kids LOVED) and some of these.

Gooseberries. (it's been one of those recipes from the Martha Stewart Handbook I've been putting off cause seriously where do you FIND gooseberries. Thank goodness for Hutterites and their fresh produce ;) If you want to know, I made them into this. It was pretty good. I'd adjust the recipe a bit in the future. But not bad.

Then we went out to the Bird's of Prey center in Coaldale where we saw lots of neat birds.





And the kids got to hold a couple too....



While we were there Regan told Alden that he could take pictures with his iPhone - which Alden was VERY excited about. He loves taking pictures of things. A collection of some of his shots. Notice all the strangers? He was walking up to people that were there and telling them to say cheese and taking their pictures. hahahaha When I asked him about it he said I took pictures of people all the time. Looks like he is getting the hang of this thing early :) I'd sure love to buy him a real digital camera. Maybe one day!

When we came home we went to the spray park for a little bit too. Eli was too afraid of all the sprinklers to actually go into the spray park. He likes the idea but just can't take the uncertainty of when you are going to get sprayed. So he just watched instead.

Then came home to a late supper and bath and bedtime. It was a good day full of family time.

In the kitchen: Butterscotch Blondies with Chocolate Ganache

A post about the kids? need to edit some pictures.....
A post about crafting? haven't done much of that lately.... been on an editing streak lately.....
A post about photography? lots of new sessions going up over at rhondasteed.com
A post about scrapbooking? haven't scanned any pages lately.....

So instead.... FOOD :)



9 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1 2/3 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup butterscotch chips

Preheat oven to 350. Line a buttered 8 inch square with foil or parchment paper, allowing 2 inches to hang over sides. Butter lining (not overhang) and set aside.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl and set aside.

Put butter and sugar in the bowl of a mixer, cream on medium speed til pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until combined. Add flour mixture, and beat on low speed, scraping down sides of the bowl, until well mixed. Mix in butterscotch chips.

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until golden brown and a cake tester comes out with a few crumbs but is not wet, 42 to 45 minutes.

Let cool slightly in pan, about 15 minutes,. Lift out and let cool completely.

While cooling, make chocolate ganache.

9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup heavy cream
Place the chocolate into a medium bowl. Add cream over top and cook in microwave until cream gets close to boiling and whisk until smooth.

Allow the ganache to cool slightly before pouring over blondies. Start at the center and work outward. Enjoy!

Spiritual Sundays

Guest Post: Getting Organized

When we lived in Nova Scotia my next door neighbor and good friend was Kathleen. She is a professional organizer. Cool hey? Well today, we've got a post coming to you from her where she lives way up in Northern Alberta now.

Take it away Kathleen!!

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I like to talk as I work. OK...I talk a lot. I tend to think that talking is therapeutic and a great way to vent and figure stuff out that lingers in the head. As a mom I don't always get the chance to talk at home unless I am speaking about Lego, play dough or what DVD all three children can watch without arguing. That is until my husband gets home. It's no wonder that Mike is so quiet because he gets overload from me as soon as he gets in the door.

I encourage my clients to talk as we work. I learn about the person behind the clutter, history and I hear pain. People who are Chronically Disorganized don't want to be the way they are and are so happy to have someone help them. They are also ashamed at first and I talk about how their home or space is a work in progress and that I am here to support and help them. People talk to me and sometimes they cry. Talking can release pent up frustrations and emotions. It's very healthy to cry so I always have tissue everywhere I go.

Talking is good! I have three children (5, 9 and 11) and I have been talking to them about being organized since they could hear my voice. I use age appropriate words that they will understand. I give age appropriate tasks to stay tidy and then give a short explanation about why we are doing what we are doing. I don't have to give the explanations much anymore. They have heard it all by now. Usually I just have to give a task and it gets done. Not to say that I don't have the normal whining and moaning at times but it's not half as bad as when we first give out the new chores in the Fall. As each child reaches a new birthday they also get more responsibility around the house. I use the expression "I'm not the maid!' often.

If you haven't been talking to your children about being tidy and organized, you can start with a conversation at the dining table. Talk about your own day and about the work that you did around the house. Talk about how doing all this work can be tiring and how each member of the family could help you. Ask them what kinds of tasks they could do to help their house and their family. You can give out chore charts and choose a treat or allowance for the end of the week. Please don't give out more than five chores at a time. Be very specific in what you are asking a child to do. You can't ask a five year old to "clean your room" but you can ask them to 1. Pull up your blankets on your bed, 2. Put your toys in their bins until the floor is cleared, 3. Put all your dirty clothes in the laundry basket ...and so on.

The younger you start the better. Younger children want to be helpful for the most part. Make it fun. Make it the same time every day. Put music on. Above all....let them see you getting organized. They want to emulate Mommy and Daddy. Then one day when you are feeling frustrated and the bedrooms look like a cyclone hit you will get a comment from another parent about how tidy your child is when they were visiting for a sleepover at a friend’s house. Smile and know that your job is done.


I want to share a great little book that gives you the words, strategies and advice to get anyone started on the road to an organized life. Sign up to Follow Me and leave a comment for your name to be put in the draw for "31 Words to Create and Organized Life".



And because Rhonda always leaves a photo I will show you the kitchen that I worked on yesterday. The kitchen is a regular drop zone for people and can easily get out of hand.



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Thanks Kathleen!!

Babies

None for us. But lots of our friends and families have had babies lately. And Eli is L.O.V.I.N.G. it though! Seriously he is a little baby obsessed. When he sees a baby he has to say really loud "BABY" and point. Church. Driving. In books. Really anywhere. He'll hold a doll and point to it and say baby.

He looooves Jen's baby Maggie. A lot.


Here he is with his cousin Gavin (check out his hand on Gavin's head even though Alden is holding Gavin.


With another friend Marina's baby Reggie.


And I couldn't find a picture but he likes to hold Susie's little Hannah too. (Sus - I know you took one before on your camera)

Sometimes still he likes to be my baby and have me hold him like a baby and sing to him. I can't believe how big he is getting! Of all my kids I wouldn't have expected Eli to love babies so much. Before I got out the camera he'd probably been sitting her holding Maggie for like 5 minutes.

It is ridiculously cute of him.

In the kitchen: Chocolate Mousse Cake

I've seen this a few places online and wanted to give it a try and then made it twice in two weeks. It's that yummy. The best thing about it is that it's not too heavy. Not as heavy as you'd think being so chocolate and all.

Essentially you just make two round cakes. You can make them from scratch or you can use a mix. Did it once each way. Both taste great.

Bake them then let them cool (this picture I was in a hurry to get the cake done and the stuff was dripping off it :) )

Level off the bottom cake - there are fancy tools to do that but I've never had one and always just used a knife. Which totally works.

Then add a layer of chocolate mousse. Like this one or this one or this one. Any chocolate mousse recipe will work.

So you layer that on top of your bottom cake. Then add skor bits. Top with your other round cake. And cover that with a chocolate ganache. Which you can find here. Then add more skor bits. And enjoy.

It's tasty!

Spiritual Sundays

Just a little something to share

rhondasteed.com

Still working out some kinks here and there. But my new photo home. :)
Let me know what you think!

I just needed to say

Regan is just the best dad there is because
• he takes the kids on bike rides so I can have some more time to edit pictures
• he makes up stories with characters the kids suggest
• he uses voices in his readings sometimes

• he gets the kids all excited about whatever it is
• he has the MOST patience EVER. I've seen him "lose his temper" (which compared to the rest of human family would not be losing a temper AT ALL) like twice
• he gets up at 530 am with Eli and takes him for runs on some mornings
• he is a completely involved father, changing diapers, giving baths, wiping snot, etc
• he explains things and talks to kids about his work and his day (which often amazes and impresses Alden immensely)
• he wrestles and plays with them over and over and over

• he helps me be more patient with them by giving me the "calm down" look or with a hand on my shoulder
• he teaches them to love me and respect me with his actions and his words

• he bears his testimony of God to them often and teaches them the words of the scriptures
• he is a great example of serving others and fulfilling his duty to God in his actions
• he brings a sense of fun and laughter to our home
• he encourages them to be their very best
• he reads with Alden and works with him on his school work
All this and for so very much more I am so grateful for this man.