A Message of Hope

Maybe it's because of the Christmas season. Maybe it's because my life is so full of joy. Either way, I have been thinking a great deal about where our true happiness comes from, how I found it, and how every person in the world has the exact same opportunity to find it, too.

The gospel it true. I know it. I was raised in a home that has taught me this my whole life. I has helped me know where to go more than anything else. It has given me balance, structure, and an incredible sense of purpose. As I look back on the journey my life has taken me, I have pondered how I gained this sure knowledge for myself. While my experience are very personal and special to me, the principles behind them are universally the same. 

It begins with Hope. Hope is a precursor to Faith. In order to have a true understanding of the gospel so that it envelopes our lives, we have to hope that it will work. Hope is the spring in our legs that allows us to leap. We hope that the gospel is true. We hope that by following commandments they really will make our lives happy. We hope it will sustain us through times of immense temptation. We hope that others will be there for us so we don't have to go through this life alone. And most of all, we hope that when Christ suffered in the garden of Gethsemane it was for each of us, personally. I think that's where seed of hope is planted: when we understand the Atonement was meant for "me." 

Following hope comes Faith. The hope that gave us the courage to leap now evolves into the long journey of living the gospel. Our hope is still there, but it becomes stronger as it is surrounded and fortified by faith. It's like a sphere. As our testimony grows, nothing ever goes away, it only expands. Whenever any part of us grows in the gospel, every aspect of our life grows as a result. That growth comes from faith. We are now doing what's right, and walking in the light of the gospel. However, we may not see the blessings right away. In fact, we may still feel the Siren call of our former lives. This is where faith is put to the test. Faith is doing what's right and trusting in the Lord's timing. But as we continue to follow His commandments, we no longer have to just hope that God will help us, we simply know He will. This is faith. We exercise faith when we show enough patience and diligence to trust the Lord will help us in the way that is most conducive to our lives and personal needs. Faith also happens to be the most difficult step, because it is where we prove to the Lord  we want His will for us, not our own. 

What occurs after faith is the greatest of all: Charity. We know from the scriptures that "charity is the pure love of Christ." By exercising faith to do His will, we become more like Him. We make his choices our choices, and are blessed with charity. It is the fruit from the tree of life, tasting sweeter than words can express. We become so full of love and gratitude that joy seems to appear in everything around us. It engulfs our whole soul. It isn't that our lives are easier, but everything is suddenly much clearer. That is why charity is "the greatest of these," because it is Christ's love. We are now living like Him, and become privileged to feel the way He does about ourselves, as well as our fellow men. 

I know this is true because I have experienced it for myself. I also know that in order for it to be successful, we have to be willing to give our whole heart to the Lord. If we only go through the motions without the desire or the trust that it will work we will always wonder why the Lord is not listening to us. We won't see any purpose in keeping His commandments because they hold absolutely no value to us. We will see the gospel based on the people we know follow it rather than the principles it was founded on. But if we sincerely strive to know if the Atonement is real for us, the Lord will fill our lives with so many blessings there won't be "room enough to receive it." Our cup will runneth over. 

Christ lives. He knows you and loves you. He knows me personally and answers my prayers. I know His Atonement was for me, just as it is for you. To those that are searching, the answers are here. For more information, fee free to ask me questions, or visit mormon.org.   

Rockin' Date Night

 With Brenton's busy schedule, our rambunctious toddler and a tight student budget, coming up with a fun weekly date idea is hard. Often we just end up putting Ryan to bed and watching movies on the couch. It's fun, but gets old quickly. A few weeks ago I decided we needed a change. I invited two couples over who were kind enough to drop their schedules for the evening, and we pulled out all of our instruments for Beatles RockBand. It was awesome!

Everyone took turns on the instruments and really got into the music, which made it even more fun! 

Once we were done with RockBand, we decided to break out "Just Dance 2." It's one of my favorite games for the Wii. Basically, you hold the remote in your hand and copy the dancer on the screen. The result? Some pretty fantastic pictures! 

It was a good time. In between dancing and singing we ate some tasty brownies and laughed at how silly we looked. Thank you to our awesome friends who came over to rock it out at our house, and for letting me put up pictures of it. You guys are champs. Who says you can't have fun on a budget? 

Food Blog Entry

I love when I find a good recipe on a food blog. It's great to see that someone has already tried it, taken pictures of each step, and provided helpful hints. So, a week or so ago I made a beautiful dinner and decided to take pictures along the way, because I know how helpful it is. The recipe? Rachael Ray's "Chicken Not-pot Pie." It's kind of a one-pot meal. Somehow every time I cook it ends up being a one-pot meal. In fact, if I had the time to write a food blog, that's what I'd call it: One-pot Meals, Throw it all in! Anyway, on to the recipe!

Step 1: Buy a large loaf of crusty artisan bread. I got a delicious honey loaf from Great Harvest Bread Co.

Step 2: Cut a lid out of the top and hollow out the loaf. I left about an 1/2 inch of bread around the sides because it was so tasty, and I wanted some of that flavor in the dish.

 Step 3. Cook 3-4 chicken breasts in a pan with Olive oil, garlic salt, and whichever herbs you choose. I used a pesto cube I'd made the week before. It was just the herbs from our garden grated up with olive oil, then frozen in an ice cube tray. One cube did the trick. Then I sprinkled on the garlic salt as I cooked. Don't fret about the measurements. You can judge it as you go. Start small, because you can always add more. The aroma was heavenly as the chicken cooked!


As you cook, you should see a yummy herb crust on the chicken like this.

Step 4. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. This isn't what Rachel said, but I thought that way the whole bottom of the loaf could be covered in chicken, and you never get a piece of plain bread. Once the chicken is cut, line the bottom of the bread bowl with it. 

Step 5. On top of the chicken, pour in a small jar of artichokes (drained), a handful of banana peppers or pepper salad (you can get a jar of them next to the pickles in the grocery store), 2 small tomatoes (diced), and 1/2 a bell pepper (diced). Sprinkle the whole thing with a dash of olive oil. 

Step 6. Add slices of provolone cheese on top to cover. It took three slices for my loaf of bread, but use however many you need. For those I know and love who can't have milk, this is definitely not a crucial step. You can easily leave it out and it will still be delicious! Next, cover the layer of cheese with fresh spinach leaves, and add one more quick drizzle of olive oil. Then place the lid back on top. 

Step 7. At this point, Rachael Ray says you're done, but I wanted a bit a of a toasty crunch on my bread, so I put in the oven at 400 degrees for about 5-10 minutes. Check on it every few minutes and pull out when the top looks golden brown and crispy, like this! 

Cut the loaf into large wedges, and enjoy! Since it's a one-pot meal, you're done with dinner. I think that's why I make one-pot meals so much. Everything's shoved inside one thing, and then the whole meal's ready to go. How simple is that? Here's a picture of a single slice. 

The whole meal was delicious, and very easy to make. I already had all the ingredients except the loaf of bread, so it was simple on my pantry, too. And the crunchy, toasty, outside layer combined with the soft, fluffy inside layer of the bread was divine. Not to mention it was a pretty healthy meal, too. Lots of veggies, and healthy olive oil. And you can always hollow out more bread if you're counting carbs carefully. Hope it turns out as tasty for you as it did for me! 

Weekend Surprise

Last Thursday began like any other weekday. I had just put Ryan down for a nap, and was getting ready to fold the laundry when I got a call from my mom. It went something like this.
"Hi, mama."
"Hi, Katie. I may or may not be about to de-board a plane in Salt Lake City, and I was just wondering if you had plans for lunch."
"What?! *cue tears* Are you really here?!?"
"I'm really here."
"Wait. What??"
"I'm really here. Are you free for lunch?"
"Um, yes!! I don't have plans. I can't believe you're here! I love you!"

Yep, it went something like that. As it turns out, my mom brought my brother's girlfriend out for the weekend, and while he and Brenton both knew about it, she kept it a surprise from me.

So now that we had all the ingredients set up for the best weekend ever, a hour later Mom was at my doorstep. I have never been so excited to open the front door in my entire life. The weekend was full of shopping, swimming in the hotel pool, more shopping, playtime with Ryan, eating out, and mostly just wonderful time being together. My mother lavishly spoiled me every minute. I felt so pampered and loved.

On Friday, we went to Gardner Village in West Valley. I had always wanted to go, but had never got around to it. We met my mom's sister, Shelley, there and hit the shops. I was so happy to simply spend time with them. We looked at all the funny witch displays, enjoyed some amazing Snickers fudge, and Mom bought me a few exquisite pieces of vintage-style jewelry.

Later in the evening we all had dinner together. It was lovely to get to know Nicol, Joe's girlfriend, a little better. She is a wonderful girl. It's a new thing to see my little brother head over heels in love, but I'm so happy for him. He is at such an exciting stage in his life, and it's great to be a part of it while we're both still in Utah. Ryan charmed everyone with his smiles, giggles and new words. Grandma bought him lots of fun animal toys, and he had a blast making the noises for each one.

Saturday, Mom and I shopped til we dropped. She purchased several gorgeous things for me, including a stunning black-tie party dress and a lovely new parka. I was so grateful. We were very tired upon arriving home, so it felt great to relax in the pool and spa at the hotel. Ryan loved spending time in the pool with us. Brenton shot a few pictures before he jumped in, too.

All too soon it was time for goodbyes, but it was truly one of the best weekends I've ever had. I feel completely rejuvenated and grateful for my amazing mother. She knows me so well, and understood how much this weekend would mean to me, especially by making it a surprise. Just when I feel like my life couldn't possibly be more like a fairy tale, something wonderful like this happens, reminding me that I truly am the luckiest girl in the whole world.

A Super Mom Day

Most days I'm scrambling to get a few tasks accomplished while taking care of my sweet little boy. But every once and again I have a Super Mom day. Last Monday was one of them.

I woke up early, fed Ryan breakfast and went for my morning walk with a friend. After an invigorating walk, I caught up on a weekend's worth of e-mails, played with Ryan, then put him down for his nap. I got a shower, got ready for the day, cleaned the upstairs, made the bed, started the laundry, and tidied up the downstairs. Then Ryan was up.

Later, I had a friend over and we worked on crafts while playing with Ryan. I finished a sweater I was crocheting, and taught Ryan how to say, "moo," when he saw the cow in one of his books. My friend and I then diced several tomatoes, and I let them marinade in their juices with garlic, basil, salt, pepper and olive oil for the next four hours, to be served for dinner with angel hair.

In the meantime I finished the laundry, and washed the mountain of dishes in the kitchen from a whole weekend of being lazy. Then I scoured the kitchen counters and sink, and while doing so saw the bread maker. "Hmmmm," I thought. "Fresh bread sounds delicious!" So, I put in the ingredients and pressed start.

After doing so many dishes and cleaning the kitchen, I wanted to make sure my little boy didn't feel neglected, so we played for the next hour and a half, laughing and playing with the hose as I watered the garden. Then we went inside and ate handfuls of fresh cherry tomatoes, giggling at how good they tasted.

Before I knew it, Ryan was ready for his afternoon nap. I placed him in his crib and went downstairs. Suddenly, I realized I had nothing left to do! The house was clean, laundry done, dinner made, bread cooling on the counter. Could I actually have some free time? In amazement, I curled up on the couch and read a book until Brenton came home and Ryan woke up.

I wish every day was this fabulous and productive, but then I probably wouldn't have appreciated it as much as I did. Brenton came home to a charming, beautiful, happy wife, and we had a lovely evening together.

So here's to having Super Mom days! Though they may be few and far between, they are worth every minute, and I feel it's the Lord's way of telling me I'm doing just fine.

And as a side note, did I mention I'm down to my last 7 pounds of post-pregnancy weight? Oh yeah!!

On the Brink

Yes, the rumors are true. We are looking/hoping/praying to be moving out of Utah in the not-too-distant future. Brenton's classes will be finished by the end of Winter semester, and then all he has left is in internship, which we can pretty much do anywhere. YAY!!! Can there really be a light at the end of the tunnel that is not, in fact, an oncoming train? Are we really going to be able to move?! Please do not misunderstand. I have wonderful friends out here. We are very happy and will be sad to move away from the great friendships we've made, but it's time. Actually, it's beyond time for me.

Utah has been the site of so much joy, love, pain, suffering, discouragement, promise, and most of all growth for me. I feel like it marked a poignant era, but that era has passed. It's very hard to remain in your college town after you've graduated college. To me it feels like a canvas full of strokes that made up my college years, and now that I've moved on and have a completely different life, I'm repainting over that same dull, completely-covered-with-old-paint-canvas. I want a new one. I want to move to a place where my mind and lifestyle have already been for over two years now. I am SO ready to move on.

While I met Brenton out here and have many fond memories of our courtship, I also have several painful memories of past events, people and places that I do not enjoy seeing on a practically daily basis. I have moved on from those choices and people, yet somehow every time I think I've pushed it all away something comes up where the past is slammed in my face. Truthfully, I hate it. I've moved on, why can't the world do the same? I feel it's mostly because I'm still here. It some ways it feels like a reformed alcoholic who is still working at a bar. Not the most ideal of situations. Now of course it's not that extreme for me, but a metaphor none the less.

This post is not meant for me to seem ungrateful. We have been so blessed here. Truly. Since marrying Brenton our lives have been a fairy tale. We are so lucky with all that has been given to us, and I am sometimes a bit confused when people talk about how difficult the first few years of marriage are. If these are the hardest years, the rest of lives will be complete bliss! I know that much help and blessings have come because of where we have been living. I'm just ready to put the past behind me not only mentally, but physically, too.

I know that to some extent the past never truly leaves us, but I can leave the place where it all occurred and face the future with faith. I am so excited for Brenton, Ryan and I to strike out and pave our destiny as a family. We are giddy at the prospect of going some place back East. So for now we are searching for internships, looking at the cost of living in various areas, and writing down our Provo Bucket List (it's pretty short). Updates will follow as we decide where our next adventure will take us, and I am THRILLED that it's time to start looking!

A Successful Venture

Yes, my friends, the garden was a fantastic success! Remember that cute little plot we had in May, with all the seeds and starter plants in their organized rows and boxes?

Here it is today....

 

Quite the jungle, huh?! We are so proud of our little garden, and how much produce it has given us this summer. We've picked dozens of tomatoes and green beans, bunches of herbs, plenty of zuchinni, lettuce, peppers, corn, cucmbers and spring onions, and this week the melons are all starting to come in. We also have about a dozen pumpkins ripening for the Fall season, and a few butternut squashes, too!

It has been such a thrill for me to water, nurture, watch, and pray over these plants throughout the season. I have been especially proud of the plants we grew from seed. I was nervous about planting those, because I'd never done it before. But each plant came through and brought us quite the bountiful harvest. What a wonderful blessing for our family. Even now as I type this post I'm happily eating a fresh cucumber and several cherry tomatoes, of course. Ryan and I still go out every day and pick handfuls of the delicious little tomatoes and giggle excitedly as we eat them together. It's one of my favorite parts of the day. 

All of this abundance of harvest has made me so grateful for the gifts from my Heavenly Father. Watching his creations grow that I planted myself has given me a deeper respect for Him and His plan. It has been amazing to watch them grow as my son grew right alongside them. Each experience helped me to see the joy in nurturing, and why I'm so happy to be a mother. 

So here's to another wonderful summer full of tasty fruits and veggies. There is so much to be learned from growing a garden, and being able to really see the "fruits of [my] labors."  I'm off to make a batch of zucchini bread. Mmmmm!