Living my Religion

Whole grains

I forced myself to have Grape Nuts for breakfast a while back.

I added plenty of sugar like the non Weight Watcher girl that I am right now.

As I was chowing down, I read a post that looked like this.

“That looks like such a better form of whole grains”, I thought to myself.

“If I just had that darn Bosch!”

I hope that Marilyn won’t mind that I smuggled her post topic and snagged her picture.
(I’m sure she won’t. She’s good like that. And, heck, I just gave her some link love – Oh, I hate it when people take my topic or idea without a link. It’s just blogging decency people.)

The whole reason for this post is to send you over to Marilyn for a great wheat bread recipe. But, of course, I have to add my take on it.

I have stored her blog post for another day. (Like the day that I want to start eating healthy again and I have my brand new Bosch mixer waiting to be used.)

For now, I am just being tortured with the thought of eating the rest of this Whole Grain cereal.

Thanks for a great tease Marilyn.

My little Grape granules just aren’t good enough now.
Golly, you use enough energy just eating this stuff that it should cancel out the calories.

Where did this cereal get it’s name?

Are these really Grape seeds or something?

Or did they just give it a name with the word grape in it to try and deter you from thinking about the tough and crunchy wheat plant?

O.k…who knew that there was a website called nograpesnonuts?

There’s an actual explanation to the name.

I try to be a good Mormon lady, and follow the prophet by keeping a food storage.

I recently stored wheat. (And, I have to thank my mother in law for the wheat loan here.)

Above is a photo of the wheat that we got about six months back.

Yes, it sat in my living room for quite a while.

We told our self righteous friends that we didn’t want to store the wheat away until we had a chance to talk to all of our friends about the importance of being prepared.

Mormons will let a lot of weaknesses slide if it means your are doing your missionary work.

(But, really, you all just know that I was blogging instead of worrying about the wheat)

If the amount of time it takes a woman to get her wheat into her buckets is a measure of what kingdom of heaven she will earn, I am going to be in big trouble.

Can you say 3 months?

That means that I am going to be in the third kingdom down.

Well, it’s good to know, that I will be in the right place.

You do remember that some of my left over wheat buckets gave me away a while back?

Wow, I guess that God did think of everything.

He made a kingdom just for the white trash of the world.

An Official Declaration

Thanks to Candace Salima. I loved this video.

It needs to be shared.

One of the hardest things for me about moving to the South was experiencing prejudice for the first time in my life.

I am so happy to know that I have been a part of stomping out that prejudice.

I love God’s people, no matter what color.

And I especially love the members, like Phyllis, who give our church some soul.

P.S. If you are a Mormon who is keen on Mormon culture, and you would like something else from Candace, on the lighter side, click here. I laughed.

A Tennessee Spring Picnic

As a lot of you know, I am the Activities Chair at church. It is quite the interesting calling. It is a whole lot more work than I ever could have imagined.

We recently had a great Spring Picnic. When you only get 100 out to church and 140 show up to your picnic, you know you threw a great party.

I was down a water cooler and so for the majority of the party I was busy taking care of the need for hydration. Those guys were getting into that game of soccer, and NOBODY is going to faint for lack of water on my watch.

So, you can imagine that when Sheila recently sent me this picture and caption,
I really got a kick out of it. I hope you will too.

In the last Ward I lived in, we had a spring picnic.

The Bishop decided that, due to budget limitations,

we could provide only one drink per person.

I was released from the Activities Committee for ordering the cups.

Sorry, I never got a chance to pull out my camera until the end of the picnic. (that’s how it is when you are in charge) If you want to see a picture of the cool view from our pavilion during the night, go and check out Jennifer’s post.

Here is our last activity of the night: the pie eating contest in the dark. (It wasn’t supposed to be in the dark, but hey, any party is better with some last minute fun in the dark)

I think that everyone felt like dirty little winners.

But here is Jennifer, the true winner.

Those skinny girls just have it so easy.

They can eat whatever they want.

And who knew they could do it faster than all the men?

Look, Elder Dilley was ecsatic to participate.

But we all know the real reason he is so happy. He is going home next week.

Two years is a very long time to be away from your family.

"God is in the wind"

I loved this faith promoting post about roses are red’s visit to the Columbine High School memorial.

I found this scripture to add to the post: Mark 4: 39 & 41

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And
the wind ceased, and there was a great calm …. And they feared exceedingly,
and said one to another, “What manner of man is this,

that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

I tried to capture the wind in photograph. Here is the best I could do for now.

Love Thy Cell Phone

Like me, do you hate it when a cell phone rings during church?

Do you love my church sign posts?

If you answered “yes” to the above questions, then go here. And, um, thank Sheila for the link.

Happy Kids

We went to a birthday party on Saturday night.
It was so much fun.

Here is one of my favorite snapshots of the night.

Look at the happiness of all of these children.
I LOVE happy children.

Here is a quote that Shannon shared on her blog today. I love it.

Thank you to Natalie.

Thanks to Sheila because today with her linking she gave me a reason to love my family longer, stronger, fuller, and forever.

The reason: a mother named Natalie. I would love to post a photo of her, but you will have to go over to her blog to see her.

A post about Mormons and Polygamy

It is so worth reading…you all need to do it. Read it for me, PLEASE! Oh and thanks to pedaling fast for the heads up.

A Southern Sky

Here was my view on the way home last Saturday evening.

This pic was taken through my windshield, so sorry for the quality.

I tried to stick my head out the window, but because we were going down the

interstate it didn’t quite work. (Don’t worry Faye, for once, I wasn’t driving.)

When I see the sun descending through the clouds like this,
I can’t help but feel the love of my Father in Heaven.
It is as if the clouds parted just so that I would take notice.

I love the lyrics from the song “Anyone Up There Who Love Me?” by an LDS artist named Michael McClean. Listen if you must.

A mother declares, while climbing the stairs, “Anyone up there who loves me?”
Her kids are outside, so no one replies, unexpectedly tears well up inside.

The last time he called, he said to them all, “Anyone up there who loves me?”
“I hate it down here, this time of the year, but I promise I’ll be home soon.”

That was a lovers promise, Heaven could not allow,
but he’s found a way to be with her somehow.

She sits on the stair, and whispers a prayer, “Anyone up there who loves me?”

Then soft like the wind, His love rushes in, gently answering I love you.

General Conference

It was a weekend of instruction at our house. For those of you that aren’t Mormon, General Conference happens twice a year (April and October). The modern-day Prophet, Apostles, all speak to the general membership of the church. Also, talks given by other church leaders are disbursed throughout the four two-hour sessions. (two on Saturday and two on Sunday)

Of course, the Conference doesn’t hail from TN, but it’s broadcasted throughout the world from Church Headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT. This is what our computer looks like while we are watching and listening online directly from the comfort of our own home.