Two Peas and Their Pod

This is a shout out to a former BYU student Maria. She works for the DOH worksite wellness program (my real passion and employment in in public health before going to the university). Anyway, she and her husband have this great blog about cooking.
My criteria for buying a recipe book is if there are pictures for every recipe. Well, Maria's blog fits the bill for an on-line recipe book. The pictures look amazing. I am sure the food is delicious. I am definitely going to try some!

Life Is Good!

It's Such and Exciting Night

"It's such an exciting night" is what my niece Ms. K says on Christmas eve. Well, that is how I felt last night, though it is January!

In earlier posts Where's Lester and I Found Lester I shared my experience with finding the Langeland family. I finished nearly all of the research in December. However, in one document there is mention of a sister named "Lena." In two obituaries there is mention of "preceded in death by four sisters." Yet I could never find any record of this sister. I felt like if I could find this sister, then I would be content that I had completed this family. A short email to the cemetery sexton revealed that there was indeed a "Lena Langeland" born 1891 died 1892. YEAH!!!! I was so excited to hear this news. Now I can rest and feel that the family is complete.

I also had a neat experience finding Lester's death certificate at the Family History Library in Salt Lake. That will be a post for another day. I really do feel the spirit of Elijah as mentioned in Bible in the fourth chapter of Malachi.

Life is Good!

Thin Mint Cookies Anyone???

It's time for the annual Girl Scout Cookie sales. This is the one time of year you can stock up on Thin Mints (or your favorite GS cookie) to last the whole year (well, theoretically).

If you are in need of a GS Cookie source, I know just the place. My niece is a genuine Girl Scout. One year her sister won the prize for the most cookies sold.

If you want to place an order let me know.

Life Is Good!

Favorite Aunt Day

Yesterday my niece and I spent the afternoon together. It is so fun trying to be a favorite aunt. I do things that I probably wouldn't do if I were the "mom."
First we went to see "Bride Wars" (it is a chick flick). Do you know how hard it is to find a clean movie these days?????? Not too many options.

Then we went shopping and my niece convinced me to buy a red and black 3/4 sleeve jacket. I told her that if I was shopping by myself I would have talked myself out of it. I wore it to church today (I had to speak at the senior care center church service) and it did look pretty cute. The hour of shopping went faster than an hour of the movie. :)

We finished the night by eating at Z'Tejas, a southwest chain restaurant in Gateway. For dessert we went to "Ben's Cookies." A perfect ending to a perfect afternoon.

Life is Good!

A Legacy of Faith

I have been working on a history of my grandmother. She wrote the following about her mother (my great-grandmother) who was widowed after just 21 years of marriage and left to raise a large family alone.

My grandmother writes:

“I can never remember sitting down for breakfast but what we knelt down and had a family prayer. It was a must at our home. You all know the slogan today, "the family that prays together stays together.” Mother knew she needed lots of help to keep her family close to her and our Heavenly Father was her best source of strength.”

In my living room hangs a large oval frame with a picture of this woman named Sarah Jane. When I think that my life gets hard, I think of her. I think of her challenges

I have concluded that Sarah Jane was a strong woman and filled with faith. I like to think that I have inherited some of her strength and I can do hard things too. She gives me courage. I am grateful for the legacy of faith that Sarah Jane left. However, I also wish I knew more about Sarah Jane’s faith. How did she endure those long hard days? How did she raise a family alone?

No matter our circumstances, we each have an opportunity to leave a legacy of faith for those who come after us. I am reminded of Pres. Eyring’s counsel in the Oct 2007 General Conference:

“Tonight, and tomorrow night, you might pray and ponder, asking the questions: Did God send a message that was just for me? Did I see His hand in my life or the lives of my children? I will do that. And then I will find a way to preserve that memory for the day that I, and those that I love, will need to remember how much God loves us and how much we need Him. I testify that He loves us and blesses us, more than most of us have yet recognized. I know that is true, and it brings me joy to remember Him.”

I hope that I can leave a legacy of faith for six nieces and nephews that I love with all my heart. I hope that perhaps one day they will gain strength and courage from my example of faith in God, faith in His plan for my life, and faith in the timing of that plan.

Endurance and Faith

All of us experience challenges and difficulties that we hope will either resolve themselves or at least improve in a timely manner. We exercise faith, pray, and look for a answers to prayers. However, our timeline for receiving answers and the Lord’s timeline for giving answers are not always the same. In Acts chapter 23, we read of Paul being imprisoned. In verse 11 it states, “And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.” Paul had to be of good cheer for a long time. It was more than two years, probably closer to three, before Paul made it to Rome to testify of Christ. In the Doctrine and Covenants section 121, Joseph Smith is told, “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment, And then if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high…” For Joseph, his “small moment” was five years.

As I think about a new year and resolutions (which I typically don’t make) it seems that perhaps an increase in faith in my Savior Jesus Christ would be good thing. In Deuteronomy, chapter 4 it reads: “But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee,…if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee….

Life Is Good!

Family Party 2009

This post is primarily for my sister-in-law and niece who missed the party today...We had fun and too much food (as usual). There are actually photos of me, thanks to Katie.

Do we look like twins?? Tired twins, perhaps?


Ms. K is wearing mascara today. She thinks I am a pretty cool aunt for letting her do this. Imagine what she will look like in another 10 years, when she can really wear make-up!


Ms. E was upstairs eating a chocolate bar while everyone else was downstairs. I ran to get my camera and snapped this photo.

Next, Ms. E is heading down stairs with her hands behind her back. Notice the fingers.
Thack actually smiling at the family party. This hasn't happened in years... the holidays are much happier minus UPS

The annual BINGO game.
The boys think uncle Thack is pretty cool.
Happy New Year!
Life is Good!