Sacrament Meeting First?

So every once in a while I'll be perusing Mormon blogs on the internet or checking facebook or something like that and I'll read something about Sacrament Meeting at church. I'll be reading along and all of a sudden I'm lost, something about this story doesn't make sense. Then it hits me: Oh they don't go home after Sacrament meeting, they go to their classes! Now the story makes sense! My ward is among the .00005% that has Sacrament Meeting last instead of first (don't quote me on these highly exaggerated statistics). Our whole stake has had Sacrament Meeting last since the dawn of time I guess, or at least the dawn of the Stake, and the Stake we split off of before it. So we've been going to Sacrament Meeting last for the last 8 1/2 years. Which was a DELIGHT when the kids were little of course and needing a nap after almost two hours at church already. Now that they are 7, 10 and 12 we could care less. We don't understand why most everyone else is complaining about it still.* The seat saving still bugs me on occasion but I can get a seat in the Chapel a couple of times a month these days so it's fine. There was a period of about three years when I could rarely get a seat in the chapel so it was hard chairs in the cultural hall for me every week. Not very fun for my never completely healed from that one trip to the bouncy house with the kids for Family Home Evening one night in 2001 tailbone injury. I don't know why I didn't just abandon all pride and get that doughnut already. Now when I hear people talking about Sacrament Meeting being first (once I figure out that is what they are talking about) I think, You have Sacrament Meeting first? Well that's weird...


*Kidding, I feel for you, young parents.

To Nobody At All

I'm glad the president and congress have finally stepped up and stopped listening to those who oppose them. Those who say, Who cares if this is what you campaigned on and got elected on (among other things). You can't do anything you set out to do! I'm glad they have finally stepped up and got to work. Nothing is perfect but health care will not bring on socialism. (Just ask a socialist and watch them laugh at you. By the way, I am not a socialist, I maybe lean toward democrat but never have made anything official.) If we can survive such atrocities as the public library, fire fighters and public education, we will survive this to. When I read things like this: “We’re coming to a Europeanization of America. And the American people feel it,” (Orrin) Hatch said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” I think, when did Europe become our enemy? Europe is not my enemy. It seems like a lovely place. Silly.

I'm not afraid  for freedom. You won't be able to convince me to be afraid. I live in a country where I am blessed enough to be able to return to school at 38 years old. AND take guitar lessons. Pretty nice if you ask me. Go ahead and be afraid if you want, you have the right to do that too. I have other worries to occupy my time. Like how to get a ten year old to go to school every morning without becoming overcome with anger because her capri pants don't fit right or the head band feels weird. That's where I get to direct my energy. Is it summer yet? I'm busy, I don't have time for fear that would be irrational to me. I used to spend too much time consumed by irrational fears. It was exhausting. I'm not saying it isn't rational to you, follow your own heart. I've got my own moral compass to follow. Fortunately it is based in a world that is not black and white but full of beautiful colors. I need to workout now. I'm tired. I think I need some protein. And I need to finish reading  A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Cooking Up A Storm

Isabella and Zoe cooked dinner for the family a couple of Sundays ago. Zoe wanted to reopen their restaurant, Loukieniez. They first did this restaurant a couple of years ago. Noah made up the name when he was about 4 or 5. Brent and I had a lovely meal in the art room all by ourselves, and the service was excellent! On the menu was peperoni pizza frittata, fruit, hash browns and strawberry lemonade. Delicious!

We also did another cooking class with Isabella and her friends (I've been rotating the monthly class with the other girl's moms, this was my last class). This time around they learned to make a tasty orange julius and homemade granola.

I thought I'd post the granola recipe since it was so good, especially with milk. I'd maybe double the cinnamon next time though.

Homemade Granola

Makes 6 1/2 cups

• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/4 cup toasted wheat germ
• 1 cup coarsely chopped almonds
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup honey
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 cup raisins
• ½ c chocolate chips

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment, and spread shredded coconut on top. Bake until toasted. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
2. Decrease oven temperature to 300 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment; set aside. In a large bowl, toss together oats, wheat germ, almonds, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Set aside.
3. In a small bowl, stir together honey and butter; pour over oat mixture. Stir well. Spread onto sheets. Bake until golden, about 25 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Break up granola; sprinkle with raisins, chocolate chips and toasted coconut. Store in airtight container.

Catching Up With Kids

Isabella and Noah each had birthdays. Isabella turned twelve. (Gasp!) Noah turned seven. Well, the birthdays were actually in January. I am just that behind. Isabella got the cool new purple mountain bike.

Zoe joined myself and Isabella in the land of the glasses wearers. Isn't she cute?