So Creative

Just a few weeks ago our ward made a few changes. The girls got a new young women leader. They dearly loved the old ones, but they are also excited about their new leader as well. Change is cool that way, we are blessed with so good women in our area that are qualified to serve.

Anyway, feeling a need to show appreciation, our Laurel class president came to me a few days later with a list of things she needed to carry out her plan. As luck would have it, I was actually going to town the next day and was able to purchase the necessary supplies.

She made a half a dozen roses for each of her leaders. They are super simple to make. They are made with two chocolate kisses, clear cellophane, wire, floral tape and a rose leaf.

 To make them you simply wrap two kisses with their bases together in a small square of cellophane, attach a wire and wrap up the ends in floral tape. Add a silk rose leaf and your first rosebud is done!

What a fun way to say 'thank you for everything you did as a great young women leader'.

Gratitude is the spice of life... it is what draws happiness to us even amidst difficult times. I love the example my children are to me as they do thoughtful little things to show their thanks and appreciation for others. I am so wonderfully blessed to have such good children who are not only joyful, but quick to share their JOY with all those around them.

Rock Solid Wisdom

A few months ago I was looking for activities to do with the Cubs and I came across some painted rocks that I loved. 

There are so many inspirational sayings that I would love to put up and decorate my house with that I just can't possibly put that much stuff on my walls, so when I saw the painted rocks... I decided that rocks present the perfect medium for displaying my favorite sayings. Besides, I love painting on rocks!

It is interesting because only just the other day I was reading how the Savior is our ROCK of salvation. After reading that, it seems so appropriate to record uplifting insights on rocks. Things that the Savior would teach in person if He were here to do it.

About a year ago we were visiting an uncle's house and he had on his coffee table a dish of rocks. It was pretty cool to sit and look at all the many varieties of rocks on display. It was a great conversation piece as well as beautiful and interesting. With that memory in my head, I decided that if I painted on rocks, I could display them in a similar way.

Now the next step was finding a basket I liked to put them in. I found a white wicker basket with a white lining that will work perfectly. So I began working on rocks of wisdom to fill it - here are my first rocks...

My favorite word!

This one has the authors name on the back.

Well, 5 rocks don't fill my basket very full, but I loved painting them and I love reading them. We use them each week in family home evening or when we need a spiritual thought at scripture time. I love the wisdom of our leaders! It fills me with a great desire to do more, be better and have hope in a bright future! 

Insights into Stress

This came through on Facebook and I love the image it creates. I've never thought about stress this way before.... I think it is worth remembering....

Can you Let Go?

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: “How heavy is this glass of water?”

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.” She continued, “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything.”

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down!

So what do you do to let go of your stresses? I'm wondering how to be sure I am doing this every day.

Chocolate Fudge Peanut Butter Cheesecake

OK, I just have to say something about the culinary skills of one of my daughters. A few weeks ago she made her first ever baked cheesecake. This was the original inspiration...

This is the no-bake version, but we decided we wanted a brownie crust so she found this...

So here is the recipe she used.

Brownie Base 

12 tablespoons (6 ounces) unsalted butter  

1/2 cup (1 1/2 ounces) unsweetened cocoa powder

3 large eggs

1 1/2 cups (10 1/2 ounces) sugar

3/4 cup (3 ounces) Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 1/2 ounces) unsweetened cocoa powder

3 large eggs

1 1/2 cups (10 1/2 ounces) sugar

3/4 cup (3 ounces) Unbleached All-Purpose Flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour (or spray with baking spray) a 9 x 9 square or 10" round springform pan.

Melt the butter and stir in the cocoa powder. Cover, and set aside to cool.

Using an electric mixer, beat the eggs for 3 minutes (longer if you're using a hand mixer), then gradually add the sugar, beating 2 to 3 minutes more. Stir in the butter/chocolate mixture. Gently fold in the flour and salt, just until combined.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean or with just a few crumbs. Cool completely.

 

Peanut Butter Cheesecake 

2 pounds (32 ounces) cream cheese

1 cup peanut butter (not the natural kind that you have to stir)

1 1/3 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla

4 eggs

1/3 cup sour cream

1 cup heavy cream 

Be sure to have all ingredients at room temperature, especially the eggs and cream cheese. This will help keep cracks from forming in the top of the cheesecake.

Preheat the oven to 325°F (if you're doing the cheesecake the next day; otherwise just reduce the oven temperature). Put a kettle of water on to boil for the water bath. Wrap springform pan in 3-4 layers of aluminum foil to prevent (or lessen at least!) leakage.

In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese at medium speed for about 4 minutes, until soft and creamy. Add the peanut butter and beat for another 2-3 minutes.  Add the sugar and beat for another 4 minutes. Beat in the salt and vanilla.  Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well (about 1 minute) and scraping sides of bowl after each addition. Beating at low speed, add the sour cream and heavy cream.  The batter will be thin.

(Note: If you're using a hand mixer, you will want to increase the mixing times).

Pour the remaining batter on top of the cooled brownie base. You'll want to leave a little room (half-inch or so) at the very top of the pan, but it should be nearly full (depending on your pan size and your base, you may have a little extra batter which can be cooked in small cake pans or muffin tins). 

Place the cheesecake in the pan for the waterbath, and place in the oven.  Pour the boiling water in for the water bath, it should come about halfway up the side of the springform.  Bake the cheesecake for about 55-65 minutes: it should hold together and appear set at the edges, but there will still be a lot of jiggle in the center. Turn the oven off, and leave the cheesecake in the oven for another hour. After one hour, remove the cake from the water bath, and let it finish cooling on the counter top. Remove the foil, and refrigerate overnight.

Rather than putting the pictured topping on she sprinkled chocolate chips and got this:

It was simply delightful! What a joy it is to have such a clever daughter.

Time Flies on Wings of Lightning

As I look over the month, already 1/4 past, I am reminded of the phrase "Time flies on wings of lightning". TIME is my most precious commodity. I love saving TIME because that means more TIME spent with my family. I love how they spend their TIME helping and serving each other. I love to see my children invest their TIME into the future as they study for exams and assignments. I find great joy in spending TIME with my best friend and lifelong companion. That TIME is made all the more wonderful when it includes our children, laughing, playing, learning, teaching and working. TIME is a wonderful gift.

TIME is a valuable resource. As I think about it, TIME is even more valuable than money. It is how we spend our TIME more than how we spend our money that will bring joy into our lives.

I have been so richly blessed to be able to spend my TIME in my home with my children. I love being a stay-at-home mom even though with a house filled with busy teenagers, staying at home doesn't seem to happen quite so frequently as it once did. I love that I am here to shuttle them around, visit with them when they need some time, and to discuss with them their problems and concerns. Aside from my husband, I consider my children some of my best friends.

I think that the most valuable investment of TIME that I observe in my children is their desire to read the scriptures. Now truly IS the time to prepare to meet God. Since nobody knows how long we may live, TIME is  so much more precious than even gold!  Every day I feel a degree of JOY and most of that JOY is reaped from the availability of my TIME to those closest to me. Thank you, each of you, for allowing me to spend my TIME with you. You light up my life!