Happiness Comes From Changing the World Inside Ourselves.

Poet, critic, and dictionary writer Samuel Johnson observed, "He who has so little knowledge of human nature as to seek happiness by changing, anything but his own disposition will waste his life in fruitless efforts and multiply the grief which he purposes to remove."  Most people want to change the world to improve their lives, but the world they need to change first is the one inside themselves.  That is a choice - one that some are not willing to make.

I am just starting to read the "Difference Maker", by John C. Maxwell.  The previous quote was in this book.  I am on page 13 and have highlights on every page.  What a great book full of inspiration.

I like this!

A quote from Princess Grace of Monaco in the Family Circle Magazine - 1972.

"I am like anyone else trying to keep a home together.  I must fight, I mean fight, for the time to be with my children.  My husband and I spend every spare moment we have with our children in an effort to share our lives with them.  And where there are no spare moments, I struggle to make them."

Is this not beautiful.  This is my struggle, as life throws so many opporunitites, obligations, and challenges. I have to fight to stay close to my family.  When I have to leave my home and family, I do not have peace until I return.  My sweetest memories are those with my family, being together, sharing our love and life experiences.

I look at my youngest who is now 16, and this morning reflected back on the days when he was a baby, knowing he would be my last.  We shared many days snuggling together when he was young; he was so content to be close to me, and so content to be hugged, gently rubbed, and so sweet.

It is hard to see him grow up.  He is now 6'2", and a handsome young man, still so loving, respectful and kind.  And he still loves to be gently rubbed and hugged.

It has been the sweetest experience to be a mother.  I thank God  for allowing me this privilege.

Marilyn

Zucchini Brownies--Um um good!

I'm sad to see summer come to and end.  I have so enjoyed fresh vegetables out of the garden.  One of our favorite uses of Zucchinni is to make Zucchini Brownies.  We usually replace the margarine with applesauce (it makes them more healthy so you can eat more????).  They are so most and chocolaty and, um um good!


Amazing Zucchini Brownies
(Seth’s Specialty)

½ c. margarine

½ c. oil

1 ¾ c. sugar

Cream with:

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

Combine:

2 ½ c. flour

4 T. cocoa

1 ½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. soda

½ c. buttermilk (we use milk with a few tablespoons of vinegar added)

2 cups grated zucchini

Combine ingredients and pour into a greased cookie sheet.

Sprinkle with:

½ - ¾ c. brown sugar

1 cup chocolate chips

Chopped nuts, if desired

Bake 30 minutes at 350.  These brownies are moist enough without any frosting unless desired.

He asks, "Do You Love Me"

Each fall and spring, I have the privilege of listening to our General Conference of our church.  It is such an amazing feeling to listen to apostles of the Lord speak as a witness of Him.  I so appreciate the eloquent, deep with feeling and spiritual power that these men along with our prophet convey messages to guide our lives.

One of my favorite apostles is Elder Jefferey R. Holland.  He speaks with power, dignity and unquestionable faith.  Today, I have enjoyed his incredible message of Loving and serving the Lord.  I am happy to share his message.  It makes me stop and look at life to see if my actions truly show my love and dedication to Him.  I am truly grateful for the blessings that I enjoy in my life, and know that these truly come from God.


       
We have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love of the Lord.

The First Great Commandment (click on link to view video)

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/the-first-great-commandment?lang=eng&format=general-conference&view=sessions&media=

I Love Halloween

These are photos from a super fun Halloween party that I hosted for my piano students.  I pulled out my fun dinner ware for Halloween, made franken mummies, witch hats out of cookies and kisses, and had my favorite: chocolate, caramel and queso fondue.  It was a real hit.  I love pulling out the Halloween decorations, and use my fondue warmers tons, they are so easy to set up and clean up. 

Halloween Piano Party

This is actually the Scentsy Warmer "He's Alive" with a Silicone Fondue dish from Velata.  I served Hot Caramel in this pot with sliced apples that were dipped in lemon water so they wouldn't brown.  This was everyone's favorite.  The Velata Fondue warmers have a temperature regulator so that what you are melting won't burn.  Scentsy warmers do not have this feature.  Using the Scentsy Frankenstein warmer was risky, but seemed to work fine with the silicone dish, and didn't seem to burn the caramel.

These cute guys, I found at All A Dollar, they were connected with string for a chain.  I think there were 6 on a chain for $1.  What a Halloween Bargain.  They are a great addition to my collectionl

These adorable cups are so fun from Walgreens.  They even have a jewel on one of  the fingers  Soooo, fun to drink out of.  We served apple juice or water.

These frankenmummies are hotdogs with pop and serve biscuits wrapped around them and miniature chocolate chips for the eyes.  I baked them on 350 for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown.  I had a skeleton mug with salsa in that we poured onto their plates for dipping.  We called the salsa, Vampires blood.  The witches hat is a striped cookie turned upside down with a dab of orange frosting in the center and a hershey's kiss on top.  They turned out cute!

This was our table set up to serve 6.  The skeleton mugs on the ends of the table were also from Walgreens.  We served Chocolate, Caramel, and Queso Fondues.

Velata Fondue Warmer with Queso (hot nacho cheese), and Halloween colored chips.

Super Fun Party!

Tender Mercies

Today is such a happy day for me.  I am able to be part of a miracle or a tender mercy from God.  My story starts last year, and the events that have played up to this miracle are incredible. 

Last fall during a time in my life of intense searching and praying for guidance to fulfill my purpose in life, (I had just turned 50 and decided it was time to let God lead me).  I had some incredibly spiritual experiences, and enjoyed one of the most happy times in my life.  I recall having two dreams.  One was so random, and had to do with my dentist and a humanitarian service event, which I thought was in another country.  People were standing in lines, waiting for hours, and hours to get their dental work done.  I felt a real need to help, but I have no dental experience at all.  But, I am an organizer, and felt that maybe I could help organize this event.  This dream was so random, that I thought maybe it was telling me that I need to help organize some health or wellness clinic--a center of hope.  Just so random.  The other dream, was one of chaos.  Once of those that you are trying to do something, and just can't quite meet your goal because there is so much chaos all around.  I woke up from this dream and felt the importance of being so careful of what I put into my day.  By being too busy, I could miss the important things in life.

So, a few weeks later, I go to my dentist.  We start talking about something that triggered in my mind this dream that I had forgotten all about.  I told my dentist about it, and he said, this is funny, because we are having a dental service day this Saturday, and it is totally not organized (which it really was).  He insisted that I come help.  I was blown away, giving every excuse, because I have no dental experience.

I did show up to help at the dental service day.  It was great.   I enjoyed it, and went about my life.

So, it is now a year later.  I just went into the dental office.  Alot of the staff are saying hi, and calling my by name, and finally a gal told me that they just had a staff meeting about their upcoming dental service day, and my name and story were brought up.  So, while sitting in the chair, my dentist  starts to tell me about their upcoming service day, and invites me to be a part of it again.  He tells me they are doing it a bit different this year.  They are not just having walkins, like last year. They are having people nominate those who they think could benefit from free dental work.  All of a sudden, in my mind, I remember a sweet gal that I had met a year ago at a boutique at a trailer court.  I was doing a booth at this very small, boutique.  It was so interesting.  I met some of the neatest people that day.  The sales were horrible, but I had such a great time visiting, and purchasing Christmas gifts from the vendors there.  Once of the gals that had helped to set up this boutique was so darling, but when she smiled, she had some obvious dental issues.  At the time, I remember wishing that I had money to help her get some dental attention.

So, when the dentist was describing how to nominate  people for this dental day, I thought of this gal.  The problem was, how to find her and get ahold of her.  I tried calling her friend, and both phone numbers that I had were disconnected.  I tried going on facebook,and left a message with her friend.  I did not remember this girls name,and hoped to somehow connect with to her, so I could nominate her.

So, today, the dental office calls me and tells me that they need the name of the gal that I have in mind.  My dentist told them to save a spot for her, and make sure she got on the schedule.  I panicked for a minute, trying to think of ways I could get a hold of her.  I had just been to our temple, and while driving home, I prayed that I would be able to track this gal down. 

When I arrived home, I went to check a book that I sometimes put contacts in.  I went right to a page that had a sticky note on it, and there was her name and telephone number.  I was so excited. 

So, I called this gal, and told her why I was calling.  She was beyond words and so happy to think that I had remembered her.  She talked about how she gives everything she has to her family and friends, but never has enough to take care of her teeth.  She said that her front teeth have wrotted to the gums, and there are a lot of foods that she can't eat because it hurts her teeth.  She said she has wished that her front teeth would fall out because they hurt so bad.  She was so excited to think that she might get some dental help.

I can't even express the feeling of being able to be a connection for this miracle to happen for this girl.  I know our God loves each of us.  I know that the most random coincidences happen in life to bless those that we are around.  Wow!  I am amazed at how this miracle has formulated from God through me to someone that I really don't know, but had the opportunity to meet once.  You can not tell me this is not a miracle.

How blessed we are.  Thank you God for you tender mercies, and love for us.

Marilyn