I'm listening to the new Sun Kil Moon album called April. It's delightful and I'm always such a huge fan of their cover art.I'm thinking about conference this past weekend. Several talks stood out to me, Elder Ballard's talk on motherhood (different post), Elder Wirthlin's talk, but the one that hit me the most was by Elder Bednar. I was touched by his call to us to think more about taking action and doing in particular when praying. Don't ask God what we need to know, but what we need to do. I'm ashamed to admit, though I have asked at times specifically how I can help and what I can do for someone or a situation, I've never really thought about praying with the expectation to act. What a great reminder to me of how I can make my prayers more meaningful and how I too have a responsibility to the things I ask.
I'm wanting to cook more. I use to love cooking and trying new things, but since I've had children I sort of lost the love for it. I think it was a combination of no time, or not wanting to find time to do it, and my kids being so picky they never wanted to eat what I made that I lost interest. Funny, nothing has changed, but I feel this urge to try new things and cook food that actually interest me. I guess you could say I'm bored with our meals and often don't want to eat them myself so I don't blame my family for not eating. Also a reason for my change is wanting us to eat more nutritiously. Not that we've eaten bad in the past, but I know we could do better. I'm starting my goal by making bread each week. I know it's going to be a commitment, but it's something I definitely want to be better at doing.
I'm smelling the campfire smell that hasn't left my house, basement, since Sunday. We made a fire Sunday while watching conference and for some reason it left my house with a nasty campfire smell and I've yet to get rid of it. It's now only in the basement, so I thought I could avoid it, but now its on my kids. I haven't a clue how to purge my house of the smell. Any thoughts?
I'm reading my first Jane Austen novel. I know it's shameful to think I've never read one of the greatest love stories ever told, Pride and Prejudice, but I must admit I have been a bit intimidated by the language barrier. I'm not sure if it was the movie I watched yesterday or the fact that I actually own it, but I picked it up and I don't want to put it down. It's as if I've never seen the movie, each character is coming to life for me in a whole new way and there are many scenes I'm unfamiliar with. Oh, how I wish I had all day to lay around and read.
15 comments:
Good pick with Pride and Prejudice it is one of my all time faves of Jane Austen. I love the movie (the one w/ Kiera Knightly) and the book. I recently watched "Becoming Jane" a movie that came out a little while ago about Jane Austen herself, it made cry and appreciate her writing even more, because her own life was so unlike her charachters. I just love the romance of Jane Austen. I too was moved by some of the same conference talks. I love conference because it feels like a chance to start anew. Good luck with the eating healthier I think it is a worthwhile goal and who doesn't like homemade bread right out of the toaster with melting butter and raspberry jam.
So sorry about the root canal...not fun.
I just have to say that your thoughts mirror mine so much today. I can't get the great conference talks off my mind.
I cooked a really great healthy meal last night that EVERYBODY loved...that's an accomplishment. I really NEED to get better at planning and preparing tasty healthy meals for my family. It's not something I'm necessarily "excited" about, but know I should do.
Jane Austen...I could sit and read it all day long. I wish I could express myself like that. ENJOY!
Sorry about the root canal... I haven't had one but I can only assume it isn't a good way to spend the day!
I loved the talk on motherhood and also Elder Bednar's. I hope they will be life changing for me.
I keep telling Jimmy that I don't want a wood burning stove because of the smell and dirtiness... he keeps telling me they don't do that anymore... apparently they do.
I am trying to get back to making a menu and a plan so that we will eat better. Mostly I am just making the usual stuff and throwing purees in to make me feel better about it.
PS - If you find a great bread recipe please share!
ooohhh.. root canal stinks. Had my first one this year. Made me feel old.
After 5 years of marriage I have FINALLY started meal planning. It has made a huge difference in my grocery shopping, meal prep time, and just stress in general over having to cook several times a day. I don't love cooking yet, but I can tolerate it now. Maybe someday I will love it... until then I swear by internet recipes and finishing dinner prep by noon.
I also loved Elder Ballard's talk. I could benefit from listening to it weekly. He had great insight into the real challenges we are facing.
Pride and Prejudice was a great read, but it only gets better as you get into the book. I took a Jane Austen literature class at the Univ of Utah and fell in love with all of her novels. Its about time to open them up again!
One more thing, I have a great whole wheat bread recipe of my Grandma Faust's if you are interested. My husband is always hinting that he needs more when we are out!
Amy I didn't even know you were having a root canal! I hope that you are doing ok and you feel alright. I guess as mothers we don't get much chance to recover from birth, illness, or surgery, do we? Just keep moving on and doing what we do.
If you need some more meal ideas check out my friend Lindy's blog http://ourveggietales.blogspot.com/ She has some great veggie/healthy meals. I check it all the time for ideas. She has 3 girls under the age of 5, so they are about as kid-friendly as you can get.
UGH! Root CANAL! I think it's the only thing I wouldn't do again. I would rather give birth than go through that pain. It was horrible!
Have you tried cooking with the kids? I know it's messy and counter productive for a better amount of their young lives, but mine seem to eat the food they make and include more fruits and veggies when I cut them up and just put them on the table with no words attached. It's almost as if they tink they were the ones to decide to have the veggies out there and they have the control over eating them.
Good Luck. Warm bread is soooo heavenly!
You are always on top of things. I wish I was more like that. I just couldn't get into that movie as much as I tried and tried. I'm happy to hear you liked it. Also, Elder Bednar's talk has not left my mind. It has deepened my desire to do more, to ask for courage and to act instead of leaving it up to someone else. Awesome and insired words I need to hear. Hope your mouth feels better, I dread the root canal!
amy i can't believe the root canal!
i had the same things strike me while listening over the weekend. i just loved every minute of it.
the fire thing happened to us when we first moved into our house. it was awful and i thought we'd never get rid of it. it happened over thanksgiving when it was cold. i'll have to ask dave to find out what we did because we got it smelling normal again and we still use the fireplace all the time.
hope you're feeling better...
Sorry about the root canal. A necessary evil I guess.
Wasn't conference wonderful? So inspiring.
I hate cooking. I need to improve though, like you I do have a desire for us to eat healthier. Good luck with the bread, it'll be worth it I'm sure!
I too have been nervous about actually reading pride and prejudice because of the language. You've inspired me to think maybe I could give it a shot.
Oh, and I will have to give the music a listen. You and I are on the same page as far as that goes.
The camp fire smell would be a headache-inducer for me, I hope you figure that one out.
Reading Jane Austen is much easier after seeing any of the movies because they give you such a better feel for what's going on and help you appreciate the language.
Austen can often be intimidating, but once you get into the swing of her language (her cadence, her word choice, etc) she grows on you, and it becomes much easier. It's like reading the scriptures, they're hard at first, but then get easier as you become more familiar.
I'm a high school English teacher and am forever begging my kids to just give "hard language" a try -- they usually end up loving it! Good luck with it!
Ooh, I've had two root canals. Not fun. I too have lost some of the interest I used to have in cooking because of my kids never wanting to eat anything I make. Homemade bread is something everyone loves, however.
If you're still dealing with the campfire smell, you can simmer some vinegar on the stove or sprinkle baking soda on the carpets and vacuum.
I love your comments about pride & prejudice. I love that book (and don't fee too bad--last year was the first time I'd read it too).
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