These Is My Words

I just finished one of my favorite books. It is the first of three. "These Is My Words" is absolutely one of the best ever! It is based on the early days as Arizona was settled. The places and times are real. The characters are fictional, but come from the journal written from the authors great grandmother. The author Nancy E. Turner is very talented. There are two books that follow, "Sarah's Quilt" and "The Star Garden". They are just as wonderful. So when you need to get back to basics and give thanks for all our blessings I suggest you read these books. I know you will love them as much as I do!

http://www.nancyeturner.net/

ps. Ivy is much improved. A shot, some medicine, a very restricted diet. She has an infection in her intestines. Weird! Rule #1 for all dogs is not to give them people food, and we never do, but her stool showed a high fat content from eating something..... it is a mystery to me where she got it, but she is doing much better. I am so grateful!

Ivy is sick

My heart is breaking today.... and it is day 3 since I have felt this way. My sweet Ivy is sick. She won't eat, she just lays and looks at me. 2 days ago she vomited a few times, but seemed a little better yesterday, and now today she is worse again. We have a visit to the vet in an hour. I dread the news. I love her so much. It is like having a child sick and I don't know what to do. That love is so much the same. She is a part of this family, as is Zoey and Ozkar.

They are just 3 more of my kids. And then my grandkids Millie and Sadie are as precious as Madison and Jack! Isn't love wonderful!! But I don't want my little Ivy to be sick. So off the the doctor we go.... say a prayer.

Done Jamm'in

39 bottles of Jam, 2 pies, 5 tarts, and 2 cups of berries left over for smoothies or yogurt, or whatever!

What a wonderful feeling of accomplishment, and the best sound is the "pop" of the lids as the jars seal.

Tyia, Thank YOU, for all your help! I love ya tons. Now lets go have a PBJ with the 1/2 of cup of leftover jam!

Jamm'in

Last June we picked wild berries while we were camping. At the time I put them in quart freezer bags and froze them in the fridge of our 5th wheel. They were to be made into jam, when "the weather cooled off".

So the freezer has been full of the berries, and not leaving adequate space for groceries. Yesterday, Tyia and I had the day off from our jobs and decided it was as good a time as any to get the jam done. I had the bottles, but needed a little pectin and sugar. So we took the berries out of the freezer and put them in the sink to thaw while we ran errands and to get the needed supplies.

Our little errands ended up taking hours, instead of minutes.... you know how that is.... We had a drop off for Deseret Industries, .... so while we were at the DI we went inside to look for books that Book Club will be reading in the next few months. As we perused up and down a few isles we recognized a few things that we had donated a week ago. Some of the birch candle holders Varcel had made. A green dish, a black coffee mug and plate, some kitchen dishes and a few more odds and ends. We got a kick out of seeing our old yard sale stickers still on some of the things with the DI sticker on top of it.

Then we went to the books. I found "Emma Brown", the one I had rented from the Library for Book Club, and while in my possession it was damaged, so knew it was once mine.

Anyway, I am getting off track of my story. We stopped at a few other places, Sprouts, Bookmans, the 99 cent store and Frys grocery store and then went home.

We found the berries thawed and started to make our jam. It was much later in the day than we thought it would be to start that mess. But the berries thawed, and we were ready to get at it.

We only got 1/2 of it done. We ran out of Pectin, and low on sugar. Tyia went to 4 more stores looking for pectin, and finally came home empty handed. After 7:00 pm Varce went to Bell road and 67th Ave and found pectin there... and since he was there, and since they were having a "case load" sale on some food storeage canned goods, he stocked up. That took another hours of us waiting to do the jam... so .....I made a pie with some of the berries and added a couple of apples to it, as Varce loves apple pie!

By the time Varce got back it was nearly 9:00 and we hadn't eaten dinner yet...which was a really good one, stuffed bell peppers and butternut squash...

So, by 12:00 midnight, Tyia and I were cleaning up the jam mess. But we weren't done yet, so we left much of the supplies on the counter so we could finish them in the morning. Our count of bottles of jam at that time was 20 bottles. Some are pints, and others are 1/2 pints.

But with what we spent in time, gas, and supplies (and the "case load" of groceries) the free berries ended up costing much more than we thought it would.... but after it is all said and done, picking berries, buying lids, bottles, pectin, sugar, (and shopping at other stores in the process) this jam is PRICELESS!!!!

Inspiration for today.

check out http://www.dashpoemmovie.com/

It totally, completely, throughly gave me energy to make today a better day.

I fell I prayed

I got to take a ride in an ambulance last week. On Monday I was at work, in front of the computer, and stood with my right foot caught in a computer cord, and went down onto the cement floor on my new knee. I was paralyzed with fear and pain. But cute firemen came, and darling ambulance guys, so it made my ride more bearable.

4 X-rays and an afternoon in the ER, I left with a brace on my knee, and a couple of prescriptions.

I spent the next couple of days with ice on my knee and elevated. I was too sore to even try to do some therapy.... and it was swollen. I just couldn't help but wonder if the "old girl" was up to going through recovery again. I can tell you, I am not!

Prayer is the most powerful medicine there is. I had a good talk to my Father in Heaven. Although I know He is aware of me, I had to spell each thought I had been having out to Him. I had worked hard, very hard, very very hard, to get back my motion, and not limp. I had struggled with depression, inadequacies and so many negative feelings over the last 6 months. I promised Him I would do what ever I needed to do with a smile. But I had to plead that my knee not be damaged by the fall.

In the ER I was told the bones were damaged but the Hardware looked great, and I have a piece of bone chipped off floating around in there. So, I asked to be healed. Simple Faith.

I had the rest of the week off, but was able to have company for the weekend, and a 2 day garage sale, and not be bothered much with an ailing knee.

Yes, our prayers are heard! And answered! We just have to ask.

Blessings

Varcel was proud to give Treyson Christopher Ortega, and Jersey Shea Ortega their blessings, and names. Saturday, after the 2nd session of Conference, our Bishop Edward Maznio and our son in law Jeff Ritter joined Varcel in placing their hands on the children and giving them wonderful blessings.

Madi, Jack, Nikki, Tyia, Tiffany, Brittney, Vicki, Tawnya, and a few angels witnessed the blessings.