Getting Ready for the 72 Hour Trip and other stuff

So, Monday we went down to Financial Aid at Fanshawe for Shane's OSAP. What a waste of time and parking fees that was. They didn't bother to check to see if the loan paper information matched what they had on the system so that meant re-scheduling till Sep 3...I made a suggestion abt Quality Control...

The rest of the day, we went shopping. Got a lot of great stuff for the freezer. I froze up a pail of blueberries and yesterday I froze up some more brocolli and cauliflower. We had Jason and Cynthia Powell for supper with their little girls Liberty and Haley. They had a good time with Heidi and Angel. We had hotdogs, Thai Salad, Caribbean Rice, Potatoes, BBQ chicken, cob on the corn, watermelon, tomatoe&cucumber salad, raw baby carrots and icecream cones for dessert. After dinner, I put on some scripture story vids for the girls while we all chatted and got to know each other better. Jason joined the church while attending university and went on a mission. He was an auto-worker but now is going back to school to finish his nursing. Cynthia joined the church at the age of 4 with her mom. And she filled in for me a couple times in Relief Society to teach. A very nice family.

For FHE (Family Home Evening) we went over our list for our 72 hour emergency kit trial trip. It's exhilarating! (Shane is a little nervous - me too) Today, we are pulling out the rest of the seats and completing the packing. Tomorrow, we will shop for more freezer stuff and freeze it up as the sales end and that's when we get paid. Even though we will be at home for this first bit we will only use what is in our kits. We made up a grocery doc that adds up our spending so we can keep track of it. It's pretty cool.

This morning, I spent working on Primary stuff but my document is doing some funny things. Thinking it's a glitch in MS Word somewhere? Or something in the file that keeps changing my margins. No virus as I have scanned and re-scanned. But I will put it aside for now and deal with it later.

Oh! Rochelle called last night and her appeal to EI (employment insurance) for maternity leave was approved! Yah!! Jocelyn called me from Rochelle's as she was babysitting Annika and I got to sing her to sleep over the phone.

I'm off for lunch so we'll chat later.

Our weekend in Guelph

Friday, Shane did his last exam and has finished his summer courses. He did fabulous! After that, we loaded up the dogs and the van and headed to Guelph for the weekend. We stayed with Mike and Rochelle and our darling Annika.

At first she made a little strange with us. And then she had her feeding tube in her nose replaced and it was pretty horrible. After she finally calmed down, she was happy the entire weekend. We had so much fun with her.
Saturday, we did a few stops to pick up stuff from Freecycle and Kijiji. Pheonix had found me a steel cane in case I should need one in the future. We picked up some magazines for her too. She came with us to get what was suppose to be a hamster cage but turned out to be a homemade rusty cage made out of chain-link fence. I don't know what size of hamster this person had in mind. LOL
Afterwards, we headed to Walmart to pick up a few things for Austin for school as Pheonix still is waiting for Child Tax Credit. We had fun doing it. We headed off to Riverside Park for Annika's feeding and sat in the Enabling Garden. She enjoyed all the flowers and greenery. She was happy the whole time!







We packed up around 11am on Sunday and dropped off Austin's stuff at Pheonix's. We spent a bit of time downstairs with Pheonix and the kids while they kicked Sage's big yellow happy face ball around. (camera was already packed :( so I forgot to take pics.)

We have found a way home and it takes the same time or quicker as the 401 with better scenery. Take Hwy 7 thru Kitchener all the way to a little town called Shakespeare. Turn left at those lights and drive for about 1-3 minutes. Turn right onto Perth Road 33 to Stratford. It turns into Hwy 7 in Stratford. Take it west all the way to Highbury Rd. Turn right at Fanshawe Park Road. Turn left onto Adelaide and then left onto Kipps and we're home!

When we got home, we unpacked and relaxed. I slept for about 3.5 hours! Rochelle has a lot of energy! After we spent the evening just chilling. It was a great time!

Exams to the Temple to the Mandarin

Wednesday, was busy with Shane's exam. And he got over 84% giving him a 91% for his final mark for that course! Yah! I also made a really nice vegan supper. A tomatoe, spinach & cucumber salad and a Caribbean Island rice. Yumm.



Thursday was our temple and dinner date for Shane's birthday present. We took off to Guelph to see Pheonix and her family for a little before we headed out to Brampton. My eyes were so itchy and have been off and on since our beach trip. I almost thought that I wasn't going to be able to drive. I stopped at Shoppers for some LifeBrand eyedrops and boy - it sure helped. I had broke down and took an allergy pill earlier but all it does is make me shaky which did happen at the restaurant.

We went to the Temple clothing store to pick up a few items and went to the 3:00 session. It was so nice. It was quite awhile since we had went with this year being so busy. And the temple grounds were beautiful. Afterwards, while we were at the Mandarin Buffet, it started to downpour and we got a spectacular light show. The food was good and the service awesome as always.
I forgot to take some pictures at Pheonix's and while we were on the temple grounds :( But I did get some of our adventures for the day.

The Mandarin Buffet in Brampton.

A full and happy hubby.

The ride home

Home at last!

Birthday Wishes to my Shane

Today was a great day. The weather was a little cooler. And I got quite a bit of the Primary documents done that I was working on. Shane and I went to the grocery store and picked up some fresh beets to go with his birthday supper, a very small icecream container for dessert (450g but it's the good stuff and was only 99cents) and a bag of milk.
Hmmmmmmm....that's the BBQ chicken
and here's the meal -fresh corn and beets, potatoes with sour creme and the chicken.
Corn.. yumyumyum
Satisfied.

The Weekend and Yay!! It's Shane's Birthday

Whew! It's been hot, hot, hot. And steamy. Summer sure decided to give us a burst of southern Ontario heat that we usually expect. But still, nothing to complain about. It won't last forever. But it sure zaps the energy out of me that doing the basics around here are not easy. Especially when it doesn't cool down much at night. Needless to say, we have been just hanging out.

The missionaries have been dropping by. (lately - it's always when the house is a mess...and with Heidi in heat - ughh) They took Shane to Sister Cole's for dinner the other night which was nice. I wasn't sure if she actually needed a chaperone because of her age but they said that it now includes all ages of sisters. Shane enjoyed a nice roast beef dinner and I did some studying on German Shepherds at home which I always enjoy.

I also worked on some Primary stuff. I can't remember if I said but I am the Primary Secretary. I really enjoy it. I love making the documents and all that stuff. It's nice because I can do it at my own leisure. I had two callings for awhile with the other being a Relief Society teacher too. It was a lot with having Sage here and having to run back and forth to Guelph all this past year. I must say that I certainly never thought that I would be doing so much travelling. And certainly never expected this past year to unfold as it has. Quite unexpected. Quite...

Well, with all of that, we have a beautiful new baby in the family, our darling, most precious little Annika. And our deepest prayers that she stays with us and the Lord comforts her in her trials. We all love her so dearly.

This past year brought a new chapter for Shane as he excelled in his studies in the Business Human Resources program here at Fanshawe College. And we have met wonderful, wonderful friends in our new ward. I even love where I live inspite of it's warts. ;) Our apartment size is great. The nice parks and trails...The trees. Grandfather tree and the others that have helped shield us from the elements and provided beauty to the eye.

Oh, we also put a listing on mormonstay.com It's a site that helps you rent out your spare room to church member travellers. Kinda cool actually. Might bring in a few extra dollars here and there. And Shane and I always enjoy entertaining. (well - almost always)

Sunday we once again filled up our van with the new converts - the Tamang and Gurung families. They are all so happy and kind. (We had the youngsters with us on the way home and I did a small 'elephant on the ride' that made them all smile.) It was warm at church but not as hot as it was outside. I enjoyed the talks and my fast. I try to fast most Sundays if I can. There is just so much to fast for..... And our apartment was warm when we got home but still much cooler than outdoors.

Yesterday, we slept in as we had stayed up rather late on Sunday night. Or was it Saturday? I can't remember. Anyways, one of those nights we were up late as we were waiting for the FOL site for Fanshawe to open for OSAP appointments for Shane's funding. I started clicking as soon as it hit 12AM. Boy, the appointments were going quick. But we managed to secure one for the morning of the 24th. Bravo!! (That is going to be busy as we also have the Powells with their two little girls, Liberty and Haley coming up for dinner.

Also, Shane and I have to re-book our 72 hours trek. Hmmm when to do that?....

And today is a very Happy Birthday to my honey! Happy Birthday Shane! I love you so much. You have proven over these years together and to our friends and family to be true, kind, reliable and soooo funny. MUuuuuuuaaahhhh! xoxoxoxoxoxo Happy Birthday ol' grandpa man ;P

Prayer - For You and Your Children

Here is a great article on Prayer

by President Henry B. Eyring

That He May Write upon Our Hearts

Parents should teach their children to pray. The child learns both from what the parents do and what they say. The child who sees a mother or a father pass through the trials of life with fervent prayer to God and then hears a sincere testimony that God answered in kindness will remember what he or she saw and heard. When trials come, that individual will be prepared.

In time, when the children are away from home and family, prayer can provide the shield of protection the parent will want so much for them to have. Parting can be hard, particularly when the parent and the child know that they may not see each other for a long time.

I had that experience with my father. We parted on a street corner in New York City. He had come there for his work. I was there on my way to another place. We both knew that I probably would never return to live with my parents under the same roof again.

It was a sunny day, around noontime, the streets crowded with cars and pedestrians. On that particular corner there was a traffic light which stopped the cars in all directions for a few minutes. The light changed to red; the cars stopped. The crowd of pedestrians hurried off the curbs, moving every way, including diagonally, across the intersection.

The time had come for parting, and I started across the street. I stopped almost in the center, with people rushing by me. I turned to look back. Instead of moving off in the crowd, my father was still standing on the corner looking at me. To me he seemed lonely and perhaps a little sad. I wanted to go back to him, but I realized the light would change and so I turned and hurried on.

Years later I talked to him about that moment. He told me that I had misread his face. He said he was not sad; he was concerned. He had seen me look back, as if I were a little boy, uncertain and looking for assurance. He told me in those later years that the thought in his mind had been: “Will he be all right? Have I taught him enough? Is he prepared for whatever may lie ahead?”

There were more than thoughts in his mind. I knew from having watched him that he had feelings in his heart. He yearned for me to be protected, to be safe. I had heard and felt that yearning in his prayers—and even more in the prayers of my mother—for all the years I had lived with them. I had learned from that, and I remembered.

A Matter of the Heart

Prayer is a matter of the heart. I had been taught far more than the rules of prayer. I had learned from my parents and from the Savior’s teachings that we must address our Heavenly Father in the reverent language of prayer. “Our Father … in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9). I knew that we never profane His sacred name—never. Can you imagine how the prayers of a child are harmed by hearing a parent profane the name of God? There will be terrible consequences for such an offense to the little ones.

I had learned that it was important to give thanks for blessings and to ask for forgiveness. “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). I had been taught that we ask for what we need and pray for others to be blessed. “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). I knew that we must surrender our will. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). I had been taught and found it true that we can be warned of danger and shown early what we have done which displeased God. “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13).

I had learned that we must always pray in the name of Jesus Christ. But something I had seen and heard had taught me that those words were more than a formality. There was a picture of the Savior on the bedroom wall where my mother was bedridden in the years before she died. She had put it there because of something her cousin, Elder Samuel O. Bennion of the Seventy (1874–1945), had told her. He had traveled with an Apostle who described seeing the Savior in a vision. Elder Bennion gave her that print, saying that it was the best portrayal he had ever seen of the Master’s strength of character. So she framed it and placed it on the wall where she could see it from her bed.

She knew the Savior, and she loved Him. I had learned from her that we do not close in the name of a stranger when we approach our Father in prayer. I knew from what I had seen of her life that her heart was drawn to the Savior from years of determined and consistent effort to serve Him and to please Him. I knew the scripture was true which warns, “For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?” (Mosiah 5:13).

No Casual Invocation

Now years after my mother and father are gone, the words “in the name of Jesus Christ” are not casual for me, either when I say them or when I hear others say them. We must serve Him to know the Master’s heart. But we also must pray that Heavenly Father will answer our prayers in our hearts as well as in our minds (see Jeremiah 31:33; 2 Corinthians 3:3; Hebrews 8:10; 10:16).

President George Q. Cannon (1827–1901), a former counselor in the First Presidency, described the blessing of people coming together having prayed for such answers. He was speaking of going to a priesthood meeting, yet many of you have prepared your hearts in the way he described in these words:

“I should enter that assembly with my mind entirely free from all influence that would prevent the operation of the Spirit of God upon me. I should go in a prayerful spirit, asking God to write upon my heart His will; not with my own will already prepared, and determined to carry out my will … , regardless of everyone else’s views. If I were to go, and all the rest were to go, with this spirit, then the Spirit of God would be felt in our midst, and that which we would decide upon would be the mind and will of God, because God would reveal it to us. We would see light in the direction where we should go, and we would behold darkness in the direction we should not go.”1

Our goal when we teach our children to pray is for them to want God to write upon their hearts and be willing then to go and do what God asks of them. It is possible for our children to have faith enough, from what they see us do and what we teach, that they can feel at least part of what the Savior felt as He prayed to have the strength to make His infinite sacrifice for us: “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39).

I have had prayers answered. Those answers were most clear when what I wanted was silenced by an overpowering need to know what God wanted. It is then that the answer from a loving Heavenly Father can be spoken to the mind by the still, small voice and can be written on the heart.

Learning to Seek His Will

Some parents will ask: “But how can I soften the heart of my child now grown older and convinced he or she doesn’t need God? How can I soften a heart enough to allow God to write His will upon it?” Sometimes tragedy will soften a heart. But for some, even tragedy is not enough.

But there is one need even hardened and proud people cannot believe they can meet for themselves. They cannot lift the weight of sin from their own shoulders. And even the most hardened may at times feel the prick of conscience and thus the need for forgiveness from God. A loving father, Alma, taught that need to his son Corianton this way: “And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also” (Alma 42:15).

And then, after bearing testimony of the Savior and His Atonement, the father made this plea for a softened heart: “O my son, I desire that ye should deny the justice of God no more. Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do you let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust in humility” (Alma 42:30).

Alma knew what we can know: that testifying of Jesus Christ and Him crucified had the greatest possibility of helping his son sense the need for the help only God could give. And prayers are answered to those whose hearts are softened by that overwhelming feeling of the need for cleansing.

Opening the Door of Prayer

When we teach those we love that we are spirit children temporarily away from a loving Heavenly Father, we open the door of prayer to them.

We lived in His presence before we came here to be tested. We knew His face, and He knew ours. Just as my earthly father watched me go away from him, our Father in Heaven watched us go into mortality.

His Beloved Son, Jehovah, left those glorious courts to come down into the world to suffer what we would suffer and to pay the price of all the sins we would commit. Our Savior provided for us the only way to go home again to our Heavenly Father and to Him. If the Holy Ghost can tell us just that much about who we are, we and our children might feel what Enos felt. He prayed this way:

“And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.

“And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed” (Enos 1:4–5).

I can promise you that no joy will exceed what you will feel if a child of yours prays in the hour of need and receives such an answer. You will someday be separated from him or her, with a longing in your heart to be reunited. A loving Heavenly Father knows that this longing would last forever unless we are reunited as families with Him and His Beloved Son. He put in place all that His children will need to have this blessing. To find it, they must ask of God for themselves, nothing doubting, as the boy Joseph Smith did.

My dad was concerned that day in New York because he knew, as my mother knew, that the only real tragedy would be if we were apart forever. That is why they taught me to pray. They knew we could be together forever only with God’s help and with His assurances. As you will do, they taught prayer best by example.

The afternoon my mother died, we went from the hospital to the family home. We sat quietly in the darkened living room for a while. Dad excused himself and went to his bedroom. He was gone for a few minutes. When he walked back into the living room, there was a smile on his face. He said that he’d been concerned for Mother. During the time he had gathered her things from her hospital room and thanked the staff for being so kind to her, he thought of her going into the spirit world just minutes after her death. He was afraid she would be lonely if there was no one to meet her. He had gone to his bedroom to ask his Heavenly Father to have someone greet Mildred, his wife and my mother. He said that he had been told in answer to his prayer that his mother had met his sweetheart. I smiled at that too. Grandma Eyring was not very tall. I had a clear picture of her rushing through the crowd, her short legs moving rapidly on her mission to meet my mother.

Dad surely didn’t intend at that moment to teach me about prayer, but he did. I can’t remember a sermon from my mother or my father about prayer. They prayed when times were hard and when they were good. And they reported in matter-of-fact ways how kind God was, how powerful, and how close. The prayers I heard most were about what it would take for us to be together forever. And the answers which will remain written on my heart seem to be the assurances that we were on the path.

When I saw in my mind my grandmother rushing to my mother, I felt joy for them and a longing to bring my sweetheart and our children to such a reunion. That longing is why we must teach our children to pray.

I testify that our Heavenly Father answers the pleadings of faithful parents to know how to teach their children to pray. I testify as a servant of Jesus Christ that because of His Atonement, we can have eternal life in families if we honor the covenants offered in this, His true Church.

(to read from the original source, click the link below)

That He May Write upon Our Hearts

President Henry B. Eyring, Liahona and Ensign, Aug. 2009, 2–7

One Voice Does Make A Difference

Yesterday, I wrote that I had sent an email to Mairlyn Smith (I had her name spelled wrong the first time). I received an email back from her and she said appreciated my feedback and would ask her webmaster to remove the content. One person can make a difference :)

Up again even with the downs, recipes and "I'm gonna write a letter"

The last couple days has been busy. Meaning that with the heat and humidity subsiding and getting use to our little grandson not being here, we're slowing settling back into routine. Boy did our kitchen need a mopping and the rest of the house a good vacuum. And back into walks.

Late afternoon on Monday, I had taken Angel for a nice walk by the river and even let her swim around while I was doing some much needed meditation and prayer from my family concerns. It was very picturesque under the bridge out of the hot sun. And the sounds of the overpassing traffic which at first seemed so out of place in this lovely retreat soon recessed to an almost unnoticed background lull. There was a very large tree that had fallen up against the bridge and I leaned up against it as Angel splashed and paddled around in this unassuming and comforting atmosphere. I was feeling calm, serene and focused by the time I started heading home.

Tuesday, Shane and I repeated the trek, omitting the dogs in the river part. Heidi had a lovely time as she is a little more stable at this point in her heat and was enjoying her much needed outing. I have also been slowly introducing the new exercise regime too. Even though we indulged in a high calorie stroganoff for dinner. (Recipe at the end)

Wednesday was a high gear cleaning day. And we made some more laundry soap too. I just love doing that! The homemade laundry soap smells so good. And it costs just pennies to make. It costs about 50 cents or so to make 3 gallons. Yes - isn't that amazing?? (Recipe at the end) Last night was great climbing into bed with the smell of clean and fresh sheets without an overpowering extra fragance smell.

We also went over to help the family that just got Occa I earlier wrote about as they were having some problems. As Shane and I surmised before we got there, the real issue is with the other dog. They also not long ago got an old shitzu. When we got there Occa was quiet and well-behaved but he came out growling, barking and snarling which went unnoticed by both the wife and the husband. We told them that this was there problem right there. We went on to explain the issues with small dog fear aggression and a few points on how to deal with it. Why it must be dealt with and especially how it will strongly impact their new dog.

After instead of going home, we decided to head to a few parks in the direction of the Stake Centre as we had an eight o'clock meeting there. First we went to Victoria Park and enjoyed ourselves there. We were greeted by over 30 squirrels and some with unusual colouring - dark red or dark red blotching. An obvious disturbance has been happening in the genes somehow to induce this very recent change. It was kind of freaky with them all crawling slowly up towards you. Ha Ha...

But the sun was out and shining. We had experienced a huge downpour earlier in the day (I put a bucket out trying to catch some of the rain but didn't get much). We walked around for quite awhile and watched some skate boarders. A couple girls had full body makeup that was silver, green orange and blue. It actually was probably professionally done by the looks of it and we speculated that they might have been in some recent production of sorts. Too bad we forgot the camera! We then started to see a young fella proceed to spray paint the decorative lampposts and benches. I went to call on my cell phone but the battery was dead. I would have liked to have chatted with him about it but Shane wanted to get going.

We stopped next at the park at Riverside and Wonderland. What a mistake. We should have known by the strong smell of poop and all the geese. When we got out - we didn't notice at first, there was goose poop everywhere. And of course it was stuck on our shoes. Yuck!! So we headed over to the church and hung around outside as the church grounds are lovely (and clean!) while we waited for our meeting. At home we made up some nachos. I made fresh salsa with some cherry tomatoes on sale that I picked up for 99 cents for a pk of 2. I also made up some pureed seasoned black beans. Mmmm.

This morning I was reading the Yahoo news after checking email and I came across an article that had a link for some blueberry recipes so I followed it. I was disappointed when I found some profanity so I wrote an email. Here is a copy below:

Hi Marilyn,

I just wanted to say that I went to your blog after reading your article on miracle berries as I am an avid (too many a's?) blueberry lover and I'm always in the search of a new great recipe.

I was happily sifting through when to my dismay, I found some profanity. In particular, your Sweet Potatoe Soup with a Twist recipe. A little disheartened, I clicked on what I thought was the link to your Home Page to see if there was somewhere to post comments. However, I accidentally, clicked the WTHFD link...and with more surprise found that it led to your 'dinner' page.

Call me a prude, an old stick in the mud (old? I'm don't think I'm that old) or whatever - but for me, that type of language just doesn't to it for me. How can I recommend a site to the young girls in my family that are just learning to be interested in making recipes that you offer? Or my grandmother? Or the wonderful old lady in my neighbourhood? Or my friends? (Yes, most of my friends don't swear - unbelievable isn't it? Or in the very least, not around their children)

Maybe your reasoning is,
"Well, I'm sure those girls have heard those words before.".
Or, "My recipes are so great that a few old cluck clucks will overlook the language that sounds a little like a construction site or factory floor.".

And maybe that's your target audience anyways. And maybe you think that this is your blog and I can say whatever I want. And well, there you have it. It is your blog and yes, you can say whatever and however you want to say things. And yes, I'm sure there are some that don't care. And some that care and will close their eyes and not say anything or rationalize it away.

But I can say, "No - I won't. I will not condone a site even though it has some really yummy sounding recipes or perhaps great articles that includes language that is offensive to me and those that I care about. Because, yes, yes, it matters to me"

Thanks for listening,

Shelley K"

One voice can make a difference.

And here is the recipe for strogranoff and laundry soap.

Stroganoff
A package of Stroganoff hamburger helper (What?? yes, but it's quick and easy and the store brand is just as good)
2 lbs of hamburger
3-4 c noodles/pasta
1/2-1 c wheat (optional)
1/2-1 c sour creme (can use lowfat)
1/2-1 c balkan yogurt (can use lowfat)
1-2 cups fresh mushrooms (or canned or broccolli or peas or other veggie combinations - use what you have)
1 can of corn (if you have it - or I used 2 cobs of fresh corn this time)
1/4-1/2 finely chopped onion
1 finely chopped clove of garlic
chives if you have it
1-3 c milk and/or water (can use skim milk powder too)

Start frying up the hamburger on high and tossing in the garlic, onion and veggies and add the liquid a cup at a time. Reduce to med heat. When the noodles are almost close to soft, add the seasoning packet from the hamburger helper mix, and the yogurt and sour creme (1/2 c each at a time). This quick hardy recipe is exceptionally flavourful and with leave you feeling very full and satisfied.

Laundry Soap

Grate a 1-2 bars of soap such as Ivory or homemade soap into a large stock pot of boiling water. Add 1 c borax, 1 c washing soda. Each can be purchased at Walmart - sometimes the grocery store.

Pour into a large 3 gallon bucket. Fill the remainder of the bucket with hot water and stir. When it cools, it will be like gelatin. 1 c for top loading machines and 1/2 c for front loading machines.

Options: add fragrance of your favourite essence oil though it honestly does not need it.

It's great and it is compatible when you add bleach. This laundry soap is non-sudsing and leaves your laundry fresh smelling and soft. No need to use fabric softeners.

A No Cost Workout - YOU2 Workout

Below is a workout regime that I am definitely going to start. Especially since I can do it in 20 minutes. They look like a combination of basic calisthenics, yoga and ballet exercises. All proven in the past. I got this from realage.com

YOU2 Workout
The best gym in the world? You’re living in it. By using your own body weight to complete a strength-and-stretch workout, you’ll have the ability to transform your body -- no excuses. This 18-move workout from the YOU Docs and celebrity trainer Joel Harper is one that you can do in fewer than 20 minutes -- and there’s no need for equipment. It will strengthen your muscles (to make you stronger, leaner, and more equipped to handle the rigors of aging) and stretch them (to make you more flexible and dynamic, for the same reason).

In addition to walking 30 minutes a day, which serves as the foundation of any physical activity plan, you should do this workout two to three times a week. Consider it part of your armor against aging. The stronger your body, the longer and better your life. Remember to maintain proper form throughout the exercises and to breathe freely. Keep a strong but relaxed pose as you perform the exercises.

1. Yo-Yo (Warm-up)
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. Interweave your fingers and bring your hands and elbows up to shoulder height. Turn your palms out, so now you can see all your knuckles. Keeping your torso upright, slowly twist to the right and left, 10 times each side, to where it feels comfortable. Inhale going to one side, exhale back to the other.

2. Punching Bag (Strengthens arms and shoulders)
Lift your hands and elbows to shoulder height, make your hands into fists, and turn your knuckles facing away from you. Spin your hands around in a circle as far away from your chest as you can. Keep your shoulders relaxed, away from your ears. Do it 20 times clockwise, then 20 counterclockwise.

Advanced: Do an additional set in double time, balancing on your toes.

3. Praying Mantis (Strengthens arms, shoulders, chest, and back)
Bring your forearms flush together in front of you, with your hands together in prayer and elbows shoulder height. Your middle fingers should be in line with your elbows. Pulse 1 inch up and 1 inch down for 30 seconds.

Advanced: With your elbows glued together, clap 20 times while balancing on one leg; switch legs and clap 20 more times.

4. Titanic (Stretches chest, shoulders, and arms)
Bring your arms out to your sides, palms facing forward, 2 inches below your shoulders. Keeping your torso upright, stretch your hands out to the sides and back. Hold for 20 seconds. Breathe into your chest, as if it were one big balloon. For a deeper stretch, bend your wrists back and reach your fingers toward one another.

5. Flapper (Strengthens upper and lower back)
With knees slightly bent and feet together, bend at the waist and lean forward until your back is flat and as parallel to the floor as possible. (If you have a bad back, stay up higher.) Keeping your arms straight and your elbows unlocked, bring your arms out to the side, parallel to the ground. Pause, then lower them down. Do 40 times.

6. Hula Hoop (Opens hips and balances back)
Stand with your feet together and your hands on your waist. Relax your shoulders and circle your hips clockwise five times and counterclockwise five times, making the biggest circle you can.

7. Dream of Jeannie (Strengthens quads, abs, and shoulders)
While on your knees, cross your arms and elbows up like a genie. Keep a straight line from the top of your head to your knees. Lean back slightly and hold for 30 seconds. While pulling your navel in and squeezing your butt, take deep breaths.

Advanced: Lean back farther during this exercise.

8. All Ears (Stretches neck and trapezius)
Sit on your heels and place your palms under your butt (this prevents you from raising your shoulders during the stretch). Slightly drop your ear down to one shoulder, keeping your chin forward. Hold for 10 seconds and then switch sides. Do twice, lifting your chest up and taking deep breaths into the tightest area.

9. The Fire Hydrant (Strengthens butt and obliques)
Move onto all fours, with your back flat. Lift your right knee out to the side at hip height and lower it back down to the other knee. Lead with your knee and not your ankle. Do two sets of 20 lifts for each leg. If it feels more comfortable, you can do this exercise with your forearms on the ground and hands clasped.

Advanced: Add a kick out to the side at hip height, once you’ve raised your knee.

Remember to maintain proper form throughout the exercises and to breathe freely. Keep a strong but relaxed pose as you perform the exercises.

10. Wag Your Tail (Loosens back, hips, and shoulders)
While on all fours, back flat and elbows slightly bent, twist your right shoulder toward your right hip, then your left shoulder toward your left hip; switch back and forth 10 times. Look 2 inches above your fingers the whole time.

11. Snail Push-Ups (Strengthens chest)
Get in the appropriate (for you) "up" push-up position by either pushing up on your toes or keeping your knees on the ground. Lower yourself until your chest nearly touches the ground, and then push back up. Lower down on a count of 10, stop 1 inch off the ground, pause, and come all the way back up on a count of 10. Count out loud to help normalize breathing. Build up to 10 push-ups in a row. As you straighten your elbows, push your spine toward the ceiling (to help engage your back muscles as well). When doing advanced push-ups, pull your heels away from your shoulders, keeping a long, solid body. Don’t let your stomach hang down toward the ground, because that will cause unnecessary tension in your lower back. Instead, keep your stomach tight to strengthen your belly muscles. If your lower back starts to hurt, raise your butt slightly.

12. Superman Toe Taps (Strengthens chest)
Lie on your stomach with your head turned to the side, resting on your hands. Lift your straight legs off the ground as high as you can, and tap your toes together 40 times. If you’re more advanced, simultaneously scissor your hands and feet. Resist both arching your head up and looking down. Breathe normally.

13. Hammock Stretch (Opens hips and hamstrings)
Sitting on the floor with your hands behind you -- palms down, fingers pointing backward, and elbows slightly bent -- bring your feet up 2 feet from your tailbone. Cross your right leg up on top of your left leg, placing the soles of your feet flat on the ground, and sit up straight. Focus on pressing your lower back toward your calf. If you want to go deeper, gently press your right knee away from you. Hold for 15 seconds. Switch sides.

14. Abdominal Butterfly (Stretches groin and strengthens abs)Lying on your back, bring your legs into a butterfly position, with the soles of your feet touching. Relax your legs. Lace your fingers behind your head, leaving your thumbs on your neck as sensors to keep your neck relaxed. Using your abs only, lift your upper body up 2 inches and then lower back down; do 25 times. Next, hold your upper body up and lift your legs 2 inches from the ground, tapping the sides of your feet back on the ground 25 times.

Advanced: Lift your butterfly legs off the ground and crunch up in sync with your upper body, tapping the sides of your feet on the ground each time.

15. Scissor Legs (Strengthens abs and inner thighs)
Lying on your back, head resting on your interwoven palms, lift your legs into the air and point your toes like a ballerina. Pulling your navel in and pressing your lower back into the mat, scissor your legs in the air 20 times, each time bringing your knees 2 feet apart.

Advanced: Straighten your legs and use your arm and ab strength to lift your relaxed head off the ground and separate your knees as far as you can each time.

16. Elastic Man (Elongates entire body)
While lying on your back, interweave your fingers and turn your palms so they’re facing out. Stretch your arms above your head while taking deep breaths. Try to get the longest distance between your hands and your pointed toes.

17. Butt Lift (Strengthens butt and hamstrings)
While lying on your back, and with your crossed arms relaxed on your chest, bring your feet shoulder-width apart underneath your knees. Lift your butt off the ground as high as you can, then drop 1 inch. This is the highest point you should lift. Tap your butt back on the ground and back up. Curl your tailbone and squeeze your butt 20 times. Then, hold your butt up and pulse 20 times.

Advanced: Hold one leg straight off the ground, knees in line with each other, and do one set. Then switch legs for another set. Breathe normally.

18. Crisscross (Stretches back, abs, and hips)
Sit with your legs crossed in front of you. Keeping your torso upright and the top of your head in line with your tailbone, take your right hand to your left knee, place your left hand on the ground behind you, and slowly twist. Take two deep breaths and switch sides four times.

Advanced: Sit in lotus position (legs crossed with ankles on top of your crossed legs) for this stretch.

Is it Tuesday? Where has the last week gone?

Is it Tuesday already?? The last week has been filled with just hanging out and doing much of nothing. Well, not completely nothing.. Let me take a look at the calendar so I can remember :)

Shane went out to his Elder's Quorum Presidency Meeting on Wednesday evening. I relaxed at home.

Well, I have been back to researching for german shepherds. I also helped a couple from church - the Gauderets find a possible GSD for their family. I had a feeling to contact Alpenhof Kennels and Occa is available to them. (V Occa vom Kirschental HGH KKL1 Lebenszeit "a" normal ZW 81)
She's a beautiful, fantastic girl and should make a great addition to their home. With her title in herding, she'll probably focus on rounding up the children.

Of course, Heidi is still in heat for another week and a half. Messy, messy. But she is a patience girl, hanging out in the kitchen. I'll be contacting Bill and Joanne Randall - our co-oweners, afterwards to see where we are at in terms of getting her championship or if we will purchase her outright this fall. I get our passports too as I'd like to take a trip down to Leader Dogs for the Blind in Michigan that we will be working with for our future puppies this early fall.(Did I say Fall? Is it coming already?)

I also spent time freezing up some broccoli, cauliflower and peaches. yummmm.

Sunday was church. We have been bringing some families that are newly here from Nepal and Bhutan. It was sooooooo hot that day. And steamy. Shane did some home-teaching later on with his new companion Br. Staniforth. In the evening, we had quite the lightning and thunder storm. It was so humid that our bathroom floor refused to stay dry and we had to take out the battery in our fire alarm because the humidity kept making it go off. So we finally had a real dose of southern Ontario summer. The humidex made it feel like in the 40's. (Celsius). Yesterday was a little cooler and this morning is nice.

We were upset yesterday with some news but hopefully it's settled. I used some prayer and meditation, walking, talking to help relieve some of the stress. Below are some good techniques I use when I am really stressed (these copied articles are from realage.com but I knew about them before):

Meditation Tool
Meditation may help control your vagus nerve, and controlling that sucker can help improve everything from your memory to your immune system.

So carve out a little time each day to meditate. Before bed is a good time, or when you feel stress is starting to get the better of you.

How to Meditate
The goal here is to clear your mind of all thoughts. Yep, all of ‘em.

The first step: Silence. Find a quiet place where you can sit comfortably without being disturbed.

Step two: Close your eyes. You don’t have to do this to meditate -- some people like to focus on an object -- but closing your eyes may help you stay focused, especially when you’re just beginning.

To help clear your mind, pick a simple word…and repeat it to yourself over and over. Slowly -- there’s no rush. Savor the word until it fills your mind. Why? Focusing on one word helps keep distracting thoughts -- like your to-do list -- from seeping into your gray matter and stressing you out.

Over time, you’ll develop your own personal focus and style of meditating, so try to figure out what works best for you. Remember the objective is to search for a path that gives you comfort and offers an opening that allows you to find deeper meaning in life. So whether you focus on breathing, a prayer, or the inside of your eyelids, try to squirrel away at least 5 minutes of silence every day. (What works for me is prayer, a line or two from a favourite uplifting hymn or song, focusing on the nature around me, imagining myself in some nature spot I’d like to be right at that moment from my past or one I would like in the future or a made up one)

Take 10 . . . and Breathe
Aim for 10 deep breaths in the morning, 10 at night, and as many as you need in between to help relieve stress. Here’s how to do them:

Lie on your back, flat on the floor, with one hand on your belly and one hand on your chest. Lying on the floor at first when you practice is important, because if you stand up, you’re more likely to fake a deep breath by doing an exaggerated chest extension, rather than letting your lungs fill up naturally.

Take a deep breath in -- slowly.

Imagine your lungs filling up with air; it should take about 5 seconds to inhale. As your diaphragm pulls down your chest cavity, your belly button should move away from your spine as your lungs fill with air. Your chest may also widen and rise ever so slightly as you inhale.

When your lungs feel full, exhale slowly -- taking about 7 seconds to let all the air out. (I personally have done this standing or anywhere if I have been really stressed and it really, really works!)

Focus on your muscles. By tensing and relaxing your muscles, you can help relieve some of the physical stress that’s stored in your body. Start at the bottom: Tense the muscles of your feet and then relax them. Tense and relax the different muscle groups of your body one at a time -- your legs, stomach, back, neck, arms, face, and head. And breathe.

Just Us and the dogs

After we headed out of town on Tuesday, Shane and I had the very strange feeling. It was just us and the dogs now. For the last year, we haven't had much of 'Just Us'. It feels different. No one in the spare room where it has seen more guests and been home to more than we really thought was going to happen. Shane was certainly inspired and when we choose this two bedroom instead of one. I feel so happy that it has been well used.

Yesterday, we spent a couple hours at Fanshawe College. Shane got his new student card and text books. We spent time in the OSAP office. And in the disability office so that Shane's textbooks can be put into pdf so he can use them on his computer. We were pleasantly surprised to see that all of his books were actually at the bookstore so early.

Afterwards, we stopped by the grocers and loaded up on the fresh fruit and veggies this time of year offers. We got a few junkfood stuff too. But all in all, the food was wonderfully fresh. The rest of the day we were absolutely lazy. Shane was very uncomfortable as his sunburn was beginning to itch terribly. We stopped at Shopper's Drugmart on our way back from the school to pick up some antihistamine. The rest of the day, we just were as lazy as could be. It was nice. I did some reading. Watched Star Trek Voyageur on ProjectFreeTv.

We realized too that we have to post-pone our 72 hours kit trial trip. Heidi went into heat last Friday so we'll plan for it in a couple weeks. That gives me some time to get caught up on a few things around here too. Dusting, filing, cleaning the stove - yuck, reorganizing and stuff.

I just realized it's 10:51 am so I am off. Ta Ta all. Love ya.

Austin, the Beach and some other stuff

We had a great time at Port Stanley. Austin was in amoured with the beach town. The girls, the boats and marina, the shops, restaurants, inns, the beach of course. And the girls - did we mention the girls. Just teasing ya Austin ;)

The waves were fantastic. We swam and jumped over the ways so much. We had so much fun. We arrived around 2:30pm on Monday and stayed till abt 7:30. We munch on chips, popcorn and grapes and strawberries. I especially enjoyed the fruit as they are very quenching. After the swim, we went up to the pavillion and had bbq. Steak - potatoes, mixed greens salad, potatoe salad, mushrooms and onions.

Time with Austin

As I mentioned earlier, Austin is visiting for a couple days. It has been really nice just hanging out with him; visiting and chatting. Yesterday, we tried to figure out why this game Conquer wouldn't work but I think it's a software bug. Oh well.. But we had fun anyways. We watched an English comedy called Run Fat Boy, Run. It had some pretty funny parts. We laughed!

Today, we are taking off to Port Stanely after we get some running around done - particularly at Fanshawe for Shane. Then we're off. We got some discounted small steaks that we'll throw on the BBQ. It'll be great! And we know now where to park this time.

Also, great to see you on here Jocelyn!

Have a great day everyone!

Fast Sunday Messages with the Bat

Yesterday, you heard about the bat in the house. Wasn't that amazing?? I reposted the one video of the bat as I didn't get it all the first time.

Yesterday was also Fast Sunday. For those who aren't members, that is where we fast from food and water for a day and give the money that we would have used for food to our church for the poor and needy. We also fast with a specific purpose or petition to the Lord. I can certainly testify of the power of fasting for answered prayers. Yesterday, my fast was a fast of thanksgiving for the many blessings that my family has received.

On fast Sunday, for those who feel inspired, can share their testimony in front of the congregation during the Sacrament portion of our Sunday meetings. When Shane went up, he shared the story of our bat. He also said that sometimes, we are like that bat and lose our way. We flutter around blindly looking for a way out. There may be those trying to help us. Sometimes, the helpers may run around trying to force the bat out or may be even scared of the bat thinking the bat will get stuck on them because of false reports.

In order for the bat to be free, both the bat and the helpers need to understand how to apply their role. Our attempts at just leaving the door open or trying to throw sheets over it or holding up a towel - hoping it will land on it did not work. What we needed to do was to gently guide it back to the bathroom. Once it was in the bathroom, we shut the door. This way the bat flew around until it tired itself out.

Once the bat was tired out, it laid quietly - though still very frightened on the bottom of the bathtub. This way, the helper could gently come in to cover it with a towel (even though it was still struggling a little and squeaking) so it could be brought it outside and gently released.

When we are helping others - being gentle, calm, understanding and compassionate are essential. When we are in need of help, we need to calm ourselves, be willing to be helped, find that quiet place - even if we are afraid, if we are to receive help and hear what we need to help free ourselves in the process. Great insight Shane!

Hope: The Misunderstood Sister

I posted this article on Facebook awhile back. It was and still is very inspiring:

Larry Hiller, “Hope: The Misunderstood Sister,” Ensign, Jun 2009, 8–9

Hope is anything but wishful. It is expectation based on experience.

I think of them as three famous sisters whose names are frequently linked, always in the same order: Faith, Hope, and Charity. They are mentioned several times in the New Testament and with remarkable frequency in the Book of Mormon.

Of the three, Faith may be the most well known and popular, the one whose companionship is sought most often. She’s active and energetic, definitely the can-do type. Faith can move mountains, if necessary.

I picture Charity as being modest and refined, beautiful and gracious. In her presence you feel genuinely loved and accepted. She’s unfailingly kind and generous, patient, empathetic, aware of every need, and responsive without being asked. How could you not want the companionship of someone like Charity?

Then there’s Hope, who seems to have a problem with the way people perceive her. It may be her name and the way it’s commonly used: “I hope the car passes inspection.” Or, “I hope the weather will be nice for the wedding.” Used this way, the word hope is the verbal equivalent of keeping your fingers crossed. Consequently, many seem to think Hope is unsure, even fickle—she may or may not grace you with her companionship. But surely that’s not the kind of hope our Father in Heaven commands us to have. Nor would it be the kind of hope our Savior offers.

My desire to know Hope better was sparked when a high councilor speaking in our sacrament meeting quoted Romans 5:3–5:

“We glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

“And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

As I read and reread those verses and pondered and prayed about them, the one concept I could not seem to wrap my mind around was how experience fits in the equation. I could understand that tribulation “worketh” (or brings about) patience. Often that’s all we can do in tribulation—have faith and wait patiently upon the Lord. But what is the experience that patience brings about? And how does it result in hope? This seemed to be what I call a puzzle piece.

For me, things I don’t understand about the gospel are like pieces of a larger puzzle I’m working on. If I don’t see where they fit, I put them aside and work on other parts of the picture. From time to time I pick them up and look at them. If I still don’t see how they fit, I put them aside again. I have already received a witness that the whole picture—the restored gospel—is true and complete, so I don’t worry about the pieces that haven’t come together for me yet. They will.

And so one day, as I reexamined this particular puzzle piece, I saw a possible connection I hadn’t seen before. When we endure tribulation with faith and patience, what we experience is the Savior’s awareness of us and His love for us. We experience them through the ministrations of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. We receive this witness after the trial of our faith (see Ether 12:6).

In my own life, when I patiently endure trials, the Savior, who took upon Himself all of our ills and sorrows (see Alma 7:11–12), ministers to me through the Spirit. I experience the Savior’s tender mercies. My trials may continue, but having taken upon me the yoke of Christ, I find Him sharing my yoke, making my burdens bearable, and giving me hope. I then have strength to endure. I have assurance that all will be made right, not just in eternity but also for eternity. Hope is anything but wishful. It is expectation based on experience.

I see Hope more clearly now. She is serene. Her eyes have the deep, knowing look of someone well acquainted with sorrow, the luminosity of recently being wet with tears. Hope has the confidence of one who clearly sees a bright future even when the next hours seem fog shrouded. Hope is steady and strong, a friend I am glad to have beside me during my own trials.

A Bat!!

Early this morning – around 5:40, maybe a little later, as I was sitting on the toilet, I saw the shadow of fluttering above me. My first thought was a moth but I realized the shadow was too big. Sure enough, there was a little bat!!! It must of came in last night when Austin was sitting outside and didn’t shut the screen door all the way. Here’s a photo and video. I finally got it in the bathroom where it tired itself out. I gently put a towel over it and then took it outside where I released it. Poor little thing! Hellooooo August!

The Last of July

These last few months swept by in a whirlwind. I praise God the Almighty for many miracles. Though they may appear small and insignificant to world events, they will impact our family for generations. I am grateful for the love of a family however imperfect we are.

Sage went home yesterday. Happiness and tears. Pheonix’s new place is really nice. Nice new tiled floors and bathroom. Pheonix’s beau John was busy putting up the kids favourite items on the wall. Everyone was very happy and we all helped to set up the kids’ room. I can’t believe how big their bedroom is. Jade and Rayne were over the moon too. I was sad I forgot to take pictures L. Austin came back with us for a couple days visit. We’re taking him to Port Stanley on Monday. I’m sure he’ll enjoy the girl-watching ;) Va Va Va Voom!

July 30: Port Stanley - the Train and Beach

Our last big outing with Sage before he went home yesterday. We had so much fun! We went on Thursday, July 30th. We went on the train that was an hour long. He was ecstatic! So were we :) Afterward, we hung out on the beach till till about 6:30pm. We packed up trying to look for picnic tables to do our little BBQ. If we had drove down the parking lot just a little more, there was a Pavillon. So finally, we found it and it was nice. On our way home, we saw a couple deer. Good times :)