Praying For...Claire, our 5-year-old birthday princess It's hard to beleive it's been five years since our great succession, 3 grandchildren in 4 months. Hopefully, they won't be the last ones. The boys have yet to become parents, so there is some hope. I pray that Claire will have more joy than sorrow in her life...that she will know Jesus as her Savior and Friend...that those in authority over her will be kind hearted...that her countrymen and world neighbors will turn to Christ and live His teachings to their fullest...yes, including brotherly kindness.
Bibliophilia...we sent Clair a beautiful picture book and fun chapter book. I read a couple children's books that were not note worthy.
General Conference Minute...This week I studied We Have Great Reason to Rejoice, a sermon given during the Relief Society General Woman's Meeting by Carole M. Stevens. Here are some quotes that meant a lot to me. "Sisters, as I have visited you around the world, I have observed...you quietly stand as witnesses of God, mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those who stand in need of comfort without realizing that you are keeping your covenants—the covenants you made in the waters of baptism and in the temple. When you love, watch over, and serve others in small and simple ways, you are actively participating in the work of salvation, God’s work “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man...Sister Eliza R. Snow...gratefully acknowledged sisters’ efforts to strengthen one another...She told them that although the Church did not keep a record of every donation they made to help those in need, the Lord kept a perfect record of their saving work." That's what Christian Women (and men and children) everywhere ought to be doing. We ought to be anxiously engaged in loving our Christian brothers and sisters as well as reaching out to those not of our faith. Doing good, we are the Savior's Hands.
Visitors...our daughter was in town on business. It was fun to squeeze in a bit of time with her and our son.
Cucina Fresca...I decided this year to never complain about the weather again. No matter how much I whined, it never changed the thermometer one degree or stopped the rain/snow/fog or melted any ice. This is true of summer heat as well. What is good about where you are? What is better about where you are than some other place? We can have spring indoors with modern heaters. We can sit by a sunny window. We are not hungry. We have enough warm things to put on to keep us cozy and toasty. But...I have a need for color during winter and almost daily make a beautiful sunny salad, Ensalada de Repollo, with purple cabbage, pink radishes, red tomatoes, orange carrot, yellow bell pepper, black pepper, and green cabbage, cilantro, scallions, parsley, and jalapenos. If I use jarred jalapenos, I also mix in some of the juice. If they are fresh, I squeeze on lime juice or splash on a bit of apple cider vinegar. Ensalada de Repollo is delicious alone or rolled into an oat tortilla or on top of a baked potato with some mashed pintos or replacing lettuce on tostadas or next to pupusas. Finally, it packs well for brown bags or picnics or pot lucks.
Nature Notes...I saw blossoms on flowering plums, daffodils, apples with their bridal veils on...I love spring! Today it's a foggy eery day. In our forest home, fog sneaks between the trees.
Duds...found this great skirt, which looks as good as the skirt I bought from White House Black Market for 7 times the price.
