I helped Jacob create a home teaching lesson today.  It only needed a little guidance.  He had read the talk and marked a few parts.  He knew one of the families had a small daughter and that the lesson would need to be adapted so she could understand.  A little of letting him talk it out and his two individualized lessons were ready.  His companion (Daddy) said he did a wonderful job.  Jacob has been filling in the last few months, but this was his first time preparing a lesson.  He took his role seriously.

I will share quotes from his lesson throughout this grateful, thankful week.  He said the principle he selected  for the home teaching lesson was “If we are grateful we will be blessed”.  Or as President Monson words it, “Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love.”

I am grateful for a ever-willing, sweetheart of a son that asked if I would like him to give his lesson for Family Home Evening tomorrow night as well.  Yes, please.   Perfect.

p.s.  I did have him wipe his taco face before going to home teach.  😉

I created a clean kitchen floor, cleared the couch of all the clean clothes and made granola.  The kiddos worked on creating clean bedrooms and building a cardboard “stronghold” aka fort.  Yup, it’s Saturday!

I also planted garlic today.  Last year the garlic was in the ground way before now.  We’ve been waiting for our garden spot to dry up enough to till.  It didn’t happen and a huge storm is a-coming in.  So I blocked off a spot to plant garlic and we’ll till the rest come Spring.  It was a little windy today, but not too chilly this morning when I was planting.  However I think this is my first time gardening in winter boots.  Hmmmm…  yes!  We didn’t even cover the garlic last year and it worked great.  I’m thinking on covering it with compost of some sort this year since it’s so late.

The creation I am most pleased with today is a recipe I created.  I had some veggies that no one is really a fan of, besides me.  {*cough* brussels sprouts *cough* cauliflower *cough*  mushrooms *sneeze* – if you ask Jacob}  So I combined them all.  I cut the cauliflower into small chunks and quartered the brussels sprouts.  Sliced the mushrooms thick and put them all on a cookie sheet.  In a small food processor I ground garlic, pine nuts, sunflower seeds, olive oil, salt, a splash apple cider vinegar, fresh thyme and fresh rosemary.  I poured the mixture over the veggies, mixed with my hands and baked the veggies for 1/2 hour at 400 degrees.  It started smelling heavenly about 15 minutes in.  The perfect Fall mixture.  It tasted nutty and delicious – almost like it had bacon in it, which is pretty much the highest compliment I could ever give anything.  😉

I created extra room in my fridge by serving leftovers.  Sweet.

I also created the yummiest popcorn for Friend’s Day treat.  It’s our special recipe.  Our Stir Crazy popcorn popper (entertainment in itself!), Orville Redenbacher popcorn oil, real butter and Real Salt.  So yummy and it makes a huge batch – 6 quarts from one cup of popcorn kernels.  Our family rarely finishes a whole bowl.  This afternoon we went through two.

Today I created some time (aka folded many loads of laundry) to listen to a wonderful program.  It is on the Mormon Channel, the official radio station of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  A conversation with Sister Julie B. Beck (the Church’s General Relief Society President) and her daughters Gerilyn and Heidi.

It is a beautiful show about motherhood and loving individuals and finding joy.  Simply wonderful and enlightening.

A sampling of what I learned/enjoyed:

*   Each Saturday their family had “Books at Breakfast”.  They are all avid readers that enjoy it and have since they were young.

*   There are only three children in the family.  Sister Beck said because they didn’t have a large household to keep up and no farm/cow, so her children learned how to work hard by playing the piano.  They trained, practiced 3 hours a day and now all teach piano lessons.  Sister Beck said having that music in her home has been so enjoyable.  Her grandmother had the talent of playing the piano, but she never had the opportunity.  She feels that her children are the generation when talent met opportunity.  She also felt if she didn’t act on that then she would be accountable to her grandmother.

*   Gerilyn said she knows many ladies that are not sure they can get up in the morning and mother.  There are so many challenges and being a mother is hard work.  She said that she had many examples of righteous women that found fulfillment in their calling as a mother.  Gerilyn said it is possible to find joy and delight in what you are doing as a mother because you realize that is what the Lord wants you to do.  “You are a mother that you might have joy.”  She has 7 children born in 11 years and her mom joked about having “night visitors ” and very little sleep.  Gerilyn’s answer was that yes,  She gets very little sleep, but it’s an investment and that there are plenty of delightful things that happen ech day to balance it.  She also keeps her Grandmother in mind on the hard days.  She has what Gerilyn calls a “fan club consisting of 67 grandchildren and 67 great-grandchildren.  She also taught that children are individuals.  They have their own favorites,needs, and desires.

*   Enjoy it now or enjoy it later…  You’ll have to listen to hear this story about Sister Beck’s mother’s adjustment to Brazil while her dad was a Mission President there.  It involves soggy diapers, flea bites and rats.

*   Sister Beck said she wanted to raise children she could be friends with later in life.  She wanted them to be smart, able to have fun together and someone she could have a conversation with.  She said in order to do that she had to start young to instill those qualities.  She had to be a parent while they were younger so that now they can be friends and peers.  She said at this point her children nurture her more than she them.  Beauty.

I’m actually only 50:10 into the show, with 36:55 left.  Looks like I need to find some more dirty clothes.  Oh wait, here we go… 😉

p.s.  Here is a fun creation from my brother and his sweet wife.

Today I helped create a clean bed.  The sheets are fresh out of the dryer.  Our bed warmer is on.  Good night all.