My Sister Beckie

This is my sister Beckie. I could add the words "In law" here, but it doesn't mean anything anymore. Because Beckie has become a true sister to me. 

Beckie was my first sister that came by way of marriage. I've learned so much from her. She is a pillar of patience and love. She is hard working, creative, clever, and brave. She is quiet and maybe she thinks that I don't notice her, but I do, and I see how much humility and love she has for my family and me. She braves the boisterous family and she reminds us to be kind and true to ourselves.

Beckie gave me blogging and family cookbooks and love. She even welcomed me to her house on Christmas Day with a few hour's notice and put us up for the night. But mostly, she also gave me my first niece, my first nephew and then another nephew and another niece. She lets me play with her kids in pools and on floors. She lets me change their diapers and walk them to sleep. She lets me absorb myself in them when I am around, and for that, I will eternally be thankful to Beckie.

Today is Beckie's birthday. I'm pretty sure she's a lot younger than I am. But I'm so glad she was born.   She's taught me so much and in spite of some differing opinions in life, she shows me her love and I am so glad to call her my sister. I love you, Beckie. I'm glad your last name is the same as mine, and I'm glad that our family is forever, because I want to be with you for that long.

It's Time to Begin Again

Hello dear ones.

Forgive me for dropping off the face of the planet for awhile there. But, I promise I'm back and I'm better than ever!

Although January falls in the middle of the school year for me, and although it's the middle of winter, for some reason January is also a time for beginnings. A new year, Terms of Office begin in January, and for me: A new chance to begin this blog again.

In honor of all that is new this year, I am posting photographs from behind the scenes with President Obama on Tuesday. I'm gearing up and centering myself like him and I hope that we all renew ourselves and come out better on the other side.

Christmas Cookie Roundup!

Ahhh. I'm so sorry I'm tardy on this one. I've been under the weather in a big way- think 2 trips to the Dr, a few prescriptions, and some time off work. Luckily, I'm up a little today, only a few hours late for this post. Sorry...

Here is my Christmas Cookie:

These are the sugar cookies of my childhood. My mother got this recipe as a teenager and made it for us every Christmas. Here it is:

Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies

1 c shortening

5 c flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

4 tsp baking powder

1 c sugar

1 c brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

1 cup sour cream

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

Mix well all ingredients. Chill 2 to 3 hours at least. Roll and cut into decorative shapes. Bake at 350 degrees until edges are lightly browned. Do not overcook. Frost or decorate.

Here is my sister-in-law's fabulous easy, secret frosting recipe.

Jello Frosting

1/4 c Jello powder (use the color/flavor you need)

1/4 c boiling water

6 Tablespoons butter

1 lb. powdered sugar

Dissolve the jello into the water. Add the butter. Then add the powdered sugar until it reaches spreading consistency.

Decorate and enjoy!

Happy Holidays!

For the next recipe check out Critter Creations. Click here.

30 Posts in 30 Days

Thank you, thank you ladies and gentlemen! No, please sit down, really, I don't deserve such applause! I'd like to give a special sound out to the following people who helped make this event possible: First, to Beckie for helping me get this whole ball rolling and for your ongoing support. I love you, Beckie and I'm so glad I can call you sister. Next, to Kaleena who sat next to me and encouraged me and tutored me several times this past  month. I appreciate your help and love and support also. Also, a special thank you to my daughter Taylor for all you've done to allow me access to the computer when I know you'd rather have had access. Also for all the good supply of blog posts that you've given me lately, a special and loving thank you. No thank you would be complete without a huge shout out of gratitude, love and more love to Daniel who has suffered through my feeble writing attempts, late nights at the computer and a consistent drop off in my ability to complete any household tasks. I love you, sweetie, and i appreciate you buying the laptop that sits on the kitchen table that I use to post. :*

Finally, a great big hug and kiss to all the readers who read my blog. All 8 of you! I love you and I love your comments. Thank you!!!!!

See this look? I melt with this look. I love Daniel! He's so fun and charming and can make me laugh just as hard as I did when I met him 19 years ago in the middle of the night in the parking lot. He's looking at our daughter, Taylor, and he's just got the pizza dinner that he spoiled us with. He drives 5 hours a day and works 8 hours so he can support us and be with us, even if for a few minutes. I do love this man...

Today I went to lunch with these 2 ladies: Karen and Sally. Doesn't this look like we are about to spend more than 2 hours laughing, crying, having fun and eating great food? Thanks, Sally! I love my friends!

There's that guy Daniel again. I sure do love him. He's the kind of guy that you want on your side. He's the one that makes me laugh and feel good being around. He's also the guy who makes me a better person by being around him and knowing him. How lucky can a girl be?

I've been hanging out with these 2 for 9 years now. The one on the right, Taylor, I've known for about 13 years. In spite of everything I adore her and love her so much. And Katie, well, Katie is like another daughter to me. Except I don't have to pay for her orthodontia. (Taylor hates this photo, btw)

I went to the Aquarium yesterday with this fun group of people. The Chemers Family. Sorry I posted the blurry one. I have some others that I'll email to the family if they leave me a note in the comment section with their email address. 

Tonight's the night.

I've completed 30 posts in 30 days.

Thanks for coming along for the ride!

I've shared a lot these past 30 days. Did I find my blogging voice? Sometimes. Sometimes I did not. And I had a few moments of writers block. I've learned a lot about blogging and I've also found that I literally CRAVE comments. I've tried to be better about leaving comments on other blogs that I stalk.

For now though, let me raise my glass in salutations and gratitude to all the readers out there: Thank you for hanging on through this crazy month and thank you for being kind and loyal in spite of my ramblings. I salute you, readers, for getting through the last month! Cheers!

Reflections

You know, it's almost the end of 2008. I just got another year older. It's an interesting time in which we live, isn't it? It makes me want to sit down and really assess my life. What's right with it? What's wrong with it? What's in my future? What have I done well and what do I still need to learn? Where have I been and where am I going? 

The only problem is that as I sit down to do this, my mind doesn't know where to start. I instantly start thinking of all of my friends and family who might be reading this and I can't stop thinking of all of you. There are some of you that I miss so terribly that my heart hurts just thinking about it. There are some of you that I am filled with regret about things I should have told you or should have not told you. There are some that I have just seen or will likely see within the week. And here's what I'm thinking: It's all of you that still hang in there with me and are willing to glance at my bizarre writing/thoughts on occasion that really make my life meaningful. All of you are the ones who add the brushstrokes to my life that make it what it is. And I want you all to know that of all the things I'm thankful for, you all are on the top of the list.

But would you like to know what I still need to learn?

1. To balance a checkbook

2. To prioritize

3. To live fully

4. To stop feeling like I disappoint certain people.

5. To learn how to live with my adorable 12 year old daughter all the time.

6. To keep in better touch with all of  you.

7. To change my own windshield wipers.

8. To stop procrastinating.

9. To stop worrying.

10. To remember this list!

Are there things you still need to learn? Things that you want to share for me to help me take stock of my life? Feel free to leave a comment!

What On Earth?!?!?!

And just like that, it comes to me this morning that I totally forgot to post yesterday. I mean, really??? I drove across Utah, Nevada and California exhausted, and managed to still write a few lines going each way. I have gotten up in the middle of the night to post. And then, it's the day after Thanksgiving and then it's a holiday weekend and I just forget until this morning???? What is going on with me?

I will tell you all a secret. I think I know what happened to me. I allowed myself to get lost in a book and it was all I could do to come up for dinner and the next thing I knew it was today. 

The book I've been engrossed in is _The Story of Edgar Sawtelle_. It's the Oprah book. And I know what you're thinking...but really, this was a GREAT book. And at the end, I just had to sit there and think and think and think. (I don't want to hear any jokes about that...)

But here is what else I did yesterday: I went to the mall. Not to shop. Not to contribute to our nations failing economy. No. I went to see Twilight again with my gal pals AGAIN. At 10:45 AM! 

And I took a nap.

Consider it a late birthday present to myself. I indulged in almost all my favorite things!

I'm going to post twice today to make it up to myself.

And here's another weird thing: My birthday post date says 11/26. But it was 11/27. Promise.

Because it's my birthday, Thanksgiving, and I won't have time to really post, here's one I made for today. Happy Thanksgiving, dear ones!

Here's what the signs around my office should/could read: 

Special Thanks go the Pioneer Woman from whom I borrowed these images.

I think I would actually love to work where they had enough of a sense of humor to actually post these.