Have HOPE!

Okay, so recently we moved to Texas. YEEHAW!!!! We are excited to be here, and definitely feel like it's where we're supposed to be. We were in Utah doing our thing and we just felt like we needed to move... without knowing really where or why. Although it is so hard to act on faith, the HOPE that we had that good things would happen if we just kept going, is what helped us go on. This video is exactly what we've been going through, and I know that the Lord will lead us to where we need to be, when we need to be there!!! Have hope that things will work out, no matter your circumstances! 

The purpose of LIFE

Life is so short. Seriously. One of my good friends from high school passed away in his sleep last week. Today my sister-in-law's sister died in a tragic car crash. It seems like everywhere I turn there are tragedies and heartbreak. A baby in my ward was born 8 weeks early, with a cancerous tumor in his stomach. He is two months old and starting chemotherapy.

Amidst all of this sad news and heartbreaking stories and things that life throws at us... one thing is constant and unchanging and ESSENTIAL to surviving the obstacles that we are given. That is the Atonement of Jesus Christ. My sister in law (the same one who just lost her sister today) lost her first newborn son 5 days after he was born. It breaks my heart to think of how much she's been through, yet how strong she is. I wrote a song for him (and them) when he passed, and I just wanted to post the words here. 

"Choose To Be Strong"

Little baby you’ve come as a blessing and joy
To the most prepared parents of a little boy
You’ve united a family in prayer and song
And we pray for you now

Choose to be strong, choose to hold on
Choose to fight for a life even when your strength’s gone

As a father be strong for your little son,
As a child be strong ‘till your time has come.
As a mother remember that you’re not alone
There is One who’s prepared his safe journey back Home.

Choose to be strong, choose to hold on
Choose to trust in the Lord even when your hope’s gone.

Sweet little boy when you get to the other side,
Be strong for your parents as they’re tossed and they’re tried.
Be strong help them know that you’re in safe hands
And you’re waiting for them ‘cause that’s part of God’s plan

Be strong
And our Savior will carry us along.
Hold on to his hand, you’re not alone
And wait for us there in that Heavenly home.

I know that the purpose of life is to come here, be tried, tested, suffer incredible heartbreak and ache and in our darkest moments is when we need to RELY on our Savior Jesus Christ. His atonement was for us, so that we can feel PEACE, JOY, COMFORT and HOPE that we will see our loved ones again. I KNOW we will. Life is forever, it doesn't just end with death. 

"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27 

She Put the Music in Me

"For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads." 

- Doctrine & Covenants 25:12 

My love for music and so many other good things come from my mom. Growing up as she sang to me, and as I learned the songs she sang, I felt the truth of the gospel. I have many precious memories of my mom singing to me by my bedside, the piano or during FHE. She always encouraged me to listen to and sing good songs and that they could be a strength to me during times of trial. How true that is! Some of the most poignant faith building experiences I've had in my life have come through the spirit that good music brings.  

Keep singing wherever you are in your life - mom, aunt, mentor, or friend. Sing to the kids around you, they do listen to and learn from your singing. 

And to all you mother's and mothers to be - 

Happy Mother's Day!

P.S. I totally bawled through this video... anybody else having crazy waterworks? 

Bread pudding( rescue an old loaf of bread before you toss it)

Last week..I made some french bread...I'm still trying to figure out how to cook for 2..so we always have leftovers. This time I made 2 loaves of bread to freeze...and another to use during the week. We didn't have the chance to eat the whole loaf last week....so I tried this recipe for my relief society presidency meeting...they loved it!!!! and I was able to use the leftover loaf of bread sitting in my counter rather than through it away. I love this recipe! Buen Provecho!!!!

Bread Pudding

3 eggs, beaten 1 1/2 cups white sugar 2 tablespoons light brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 cup butter, melted 3 cups whole milk 10 slices bread, toasted and cut into cubes 1 cup raisins (optional) Sauce: 1/2 cup light brown sugar 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 pinch ground cinnamon 1 egg 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1 1/4 cups whole milk 1 pinch salt 1 tablespoon vanilla extract   1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a 2-quart baking dish. 2. In a mixing bowl, whisk 3 eggs, sugar, 2 tbsp brown sugar, cinnamon, 1/4 cup melted butter and 3 c. of milk. Gently stir in the bread cubes. 3. Spoon misture into the baking dish. 4. Bake in oven until browned 50 to 55 mins; cover the dish with foil after 30 minutes to prevent excessive browning. Let the pudding stand for 10 minutes before serving. 5. For sauce: whisk all ingredients in a heavy saucepan until smooth. Heat over medium heat, whisking constantly until thickened for about 10-15 mins. Stir in the vanilla extract. Pour sauce over warm bread pudding or serve on the side.

Looking for a FHE treat?

The treat at the end of family home evening is a favorite in this house.  If you're wanting to make a tasty treat without loading your kids up with too much sugar before bedtime - these cookies are a great choice! They're even gluten free and vegan depending on what kind of milk you use. If you've got a bigger family you may want to double... or triple it:)

Flourless Chocolate-Chip Cookies

• 3/4 cup rolled oats
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/8 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp brown sugar or coconut sugar
• 1 tbsp plus 2 tsp white sugar or evaporated cane juice
• 2 tbsp chocolate chips
• 1 tbsp oil or pre-melted margarine (I used coconut oil and it gave it a really nice flavor)
• 1-2 tbsp milk of choice (start with 1)                                                 

Blend first 5 ingredients together in a food processor, blender, or Vita-Mix. Mix with other ingredients, form into cookie shapes, and place on a greased cookie sheet. Cook 6 minutes at 375 F.

This cookie is one of a couple that we've now tried from Chocolate Covered Katie and so far I've yet to find one we don't all rave over.  

Happy Monday!!

He Is Risen

"But these are written, that ye might believe that

Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through his name."

-Jonn 20:31

Happy Easter

Matt and I just came back from a weekend trip to our dear Barcelona. Las Ramblas, the warm metro, Plaza Catalunya...napolitanas from Mercadona. It  has been great!!! but it has also been a great blessing being able to re-conect with old recent converts and some members over there. It was sad to hear from them...from all of them...that the Faro missionaries have other priorities right now...so they no longer visit inactives or members; unless they have friends with them that want to listen the missionaries. It was sad to hear our dear Archie remembering our group of missionaries as if we were his children. He said that he no longer sings the "amigos para siempre" song that he used to sing to each of us...All our members and investigators that we left in our mission still think and pray about us and our families. It was a great experience to remember my time on the mission through their eyes...and I wanted to share that with all of you....just a little memory this evening to let you know that in each of the lives that we changed years ago....the spirit is still burning inside them because of us.