General Conference Weekend...

I have really learned to LOVE General Conference Weekend!

You can go HERE to learn more about General Conference in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

I say "learned" because when I first joined the church, General Conference weekend meant I kind of got a break from some of my church responsibilities, because it is a Sunday that we don't participate in our normal regular meetings, and if you are lucky enough to receive the conference by broadcast through satellite at home, you can watch it in your pj's. 

Living the Gospel is not easy, it requires work, but it is worth it and blesses lives... I didn't fully understand that for years.  Hence the need for a "break" from my church responsibilities... now I listen to General Conference for help and guidance with those responsibilities.

 I have learned so much from listening and "participating" in General Conference.  I guess the scripture that we are taught line upon line and precept upon precept is very true.

It is such a beautiful time to hear messages from Apostles and Prophet to know what the Lord would have me know at this time for what I am living in my life and guidance if I would listen to the spirit of the Holy Ghost and receive personal revelation for answers to my prayers.

So now I plan and prepare for General Conference weekend!

It is a time I know my family will be home and together all weekend!

So I plan some meals, or at least some dishes that might be comforting food and try to have some family favorites.  This weekend I have hoagie fixin's and chips, mountain man breakfast stuff, and a couple of new recipes... cheesy gratin potatoes (which we tried and it was undercooked... flop) , and macaroni salad (which I don't know if I have the courage to make now after the potato flop).

But lucky for me I have wonderful home teachers who brought by some homemade bread last night.

 It smells sooooo good!!

 So I made some french toast for Saturday breakfast and there is nothing better with homemade bread... YUM!!!!

 And I got to snuggle under my favorite blanket that Patsy made for me.  Yep, that is the teenager almost conscious on the floor under the other blanket.

And our puppies LOVE General Conference weekend too!

It's really not all about napping...but that does seem to look like the trend. 

 I made this Conference frame this year that I found HERE to keep track of some of the topics spoken from the twelve apostles to hang on our wall for the next six months (until Oct General Conference) to help remind us what we hear so we can ponder, study and learn more about those principles and apply them into our everyday lives.  

Here is what we were able to fill in just from Saturday's sessions.

The summaries we put on our frame are what we gathered as the theme from the talk to focus on as a family... they are very personal and everyone that listens could draw something a little different or have their own focus.  These are ours.

You can listen or read the talks on HERE on lds.org

Elder L. Tom Perry - Pattern of the Sabbath and Sacrament

Elder Quentin L. Cook - A woman's role to be Faithful and Valiant

President Henry B. Eyring - Opportunities and Blessings of Service

President Boyd K. Packer - The Lords Church

Elder Russell M. Nelson - Obedience strengthens Faith

Elder Dallin H. Oaks - Desires>Priorities>Choices>Actions

Elder M. Russell Ballard - Small and Simple Acts of Kindness and Service (flecks of gold)

Juicy Jigglers...

I love jello eggs.

I have had the mold to make these forever.   I am not even sure you can buy them anymore... probably (the jello people are cool that way) but it's really old, maybe even vintage by now.

Anyway, it comes out with my Easter Decorations every year... and I get all giddy, like the first day I made them all over again!

There are several recipes for them... cream jigglers, juicy jigglers (made with juice instead of water, which is what I made), sparkling jigglers, and original jigglers, and you can hide gummy stuff in the middle or fruit, and you can mix colors and flavors... the possibilities are endless!

But it is so sad to have BLAH Big Boys at home that are all grown up (well I use that term very loosley) and don't have a real appreciate for jiggle eggs!  They don't eat them or want to make them with me.  I have totally failed as a wife and mother.

My brother is the only one who gets me and my jello jiggler obsession... they are just cool and so festive for Easter time and fun to make and they make you giggle when you eat them!

  Thanks Ralph for always being a kid and making really fun Easter memories with me.  I miss you!  You totally have to teach Lillian and Brooklynn how to make and eat jello jiggler eggs for Easter and carry on the tradition!!

Flippin' Stix...

It was so nice outside this afternoon and the teenager had been aching to go shoot his bow.

So we finally got to go out together to the local archer range to flip a few stix!

 It's a fairly new outdoor range and I hadn't seen it finished and the cool metal sculpture that had been added.

 Yes, the competitive drive came right out in the boys... but it wasn't super fair because the teenager had outgrown his bow, so he was having to short pull it so he didn't end up shooting himself in the hand.

I did better than I thought I would after not having even gotten mine out of the case for a really really long time, I was honing in after a shot or two.

 Of course my strong silent mysterious man has to show off his mad skills.

 We all had a really fun time and soaked up all the sun we could get!  It was so neat to get out of the house and do something together, I love family time :)

A good time was had by all.