tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50565719278875793092024-03-15T18:10:10.539-07:00SimplyCumorahCumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-39864015192544811412018-12-21T14:36:00.004-08:002018-12-21T14:36:57.582-08:00THRILLED (yes, all caps!) to have this article published over at kidsaretheworst.com<br />
<a href="http://kidsaretheworst.com/blog/2018/12/11/shift-from-getting-to-giving-this-season">http://kidsaretheworst.com/blog/2018/12/11/shift-from-getting-to-giving-this-season</a><br />
Read on to hear about how I was the worst...and...how, over time, I became not the worst.<br />
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My first year at summer camp, I was flummoxed by the white rose ceremony held at the last night’s fireside. I discovered after it was too late that the leaders awarded one girl from each cabin a white rose in recognition of their service towards others throughout the week. I didn’t know I could have been competing for such an honor! </div>
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The next year, I went in with a plan. I swept the cabin every night without being asked. I volunteered for extra chores. I finished my dish duty in the mess hall in lightning speed so I could help the girls who were on mopping…and I made sure to do all of these things within eyesight of a leader. I skipped to the rose ceremony, picking up litter on the way. </div>
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There, my leader held the most beautiful, snow white rose, and began describing her cabin’s winner:</div>
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This girl went above and beyond. Check. <br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" />This girl looked for ways to help without being asked. Check. <br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" />This girl made room by the campfire for a girl who had felt left out. <br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" />This girl comforted a crying, younger camper who was missing her mom. <br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" />This girl stayed up late talking with another girl who was struggling with her faith. <br style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" />This girl lifted up those around her, unaware that she was being watched. </div>
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I was not this girl. I wasn’t even remotely close to being this girl. I couldn’t believe my rose had been snatched up by someone just because she was NICE, when I had voluntarily cleaned latrines! Luckily, I held back from demanding the recount I thought I deserved. I spent the next year thinking about how my plan had failed me. I didn’t just need to volunteer and do extra work, I also had to act like I cared about people. </div>
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Fortunately for that pre-teen, selfish soul of mine who craved recognition, I grew up. I learned from mishaps and life experience, but mostly, I met my husband. He would have taken home a camp rose. He is far from perfect—let’s just get that out of the way right this second—but he has a genuinely compassionate heart. He has taught me how to give freely, to be attentive to others, and to look for ways to love and lift someone every day. </div>
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The great news is, compassion can be taught. I do believe some people just have a gift to love and give and feel the need to relieve others’ suffering. To be honest, it wasn’t natural for me—but with a lot of practice, it has become a large of part of who I am, and who I want my children to be. </div>
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I have four kids who are involved in a million things. My husband and I both work full time. Like everyone else in the world, we are crazy busy, but also like everyone, we make time for the things that are most important to us. We make conscious choices daily to help our children learn how to be compassionate. </div>
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The most successful thing we do in this arena is free and easy: we talk. When the kids were younger and we weren’t pulled in four different directions each night, we would sit around the kitchen table at dinner and take turns telling about how we each were able to help someone that day. We heard stories of inviting the new girl in class to play four square at recess, or sharing a snack with someone who forgot theirs, or staying inside to color with sister instead of playing with friends since she couldn’t get out of bed with her broken femur. </div>
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Nowadays, we have these conversations, and still ask the same question, “How were you able to help someone today?” as we drive to volleyball practice, or during halftime as we sit at brother’s basketball game. The stories have changed a little as the kids have gotten older, but the moral is the same: Look. Be aware. Find a way to lift people around you. </div>
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The holiday season is a perfect time to focus on compassion with your children. While it’s easy for kids to get excited about all the things they may be <em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">getting</em> for Christmas, with a little effort and planning, you can help shift their focus to what they can <em style="overflow-wrap: break-word;">give</em> this season. Children of every age can enjoy the gift of giving. </div>
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Young children love the magic of surprise service. Let your children randomly choose the name of a family member out of a hat (or paper bag, or vase, or whatever you have handy). From now until Christmas morning, they get to be that family member’s Service Elf. Their mission as a Service Elf is to look for ways to serve their person each day. They might unload the dishes when it’s their person’s night. They might leave a treat with a love note in their person’s lunch box. They might sneak to make their person’s bed in the morning. As they perform their daily act of service, they should leave a little “from your Service Elf” note. On Christmas morning, each family member can reveal who they were an elf for. We grow to love the people we serve. This tradition is one that will bring more unity, thoughtfulness and gratitude into your home during this hectic season. </div>
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Pre-teens often need a little encouragement to look outside themselves, and creating a Service Tree is a perfect nudge in that direction. A service tree is decorated, not with ornaments and tinsel, but with suggestions for service. It doesn’t have to be elaborate. It can be a small, fake tree with printed slips of paper attached with clothespins, or it could be a hand drawn tree you tape to your wall, covered with sticky notes of service ideas. What it looks like is not nearly as important as the feeling that is put into the giving. Have your children choose one service item from the tree at a time. They can replace the item with an ornament once the service has been rendered. The goal is to have all the service slips replaced with ornaments by Christmas day, and to share then how serving brought light to both the giver and the receiver. </div>
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Some fun ideas to include on the tree:</div>
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leave a snack and note for the Amazon delivery person on the doorstep</div>
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sit down and read a book to a sibling</div>
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visit with a resident at an assisted living home</div>
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reach out to someone at school that might be lonely </div>
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match all the socks in the laundry bin (please , can someone please come to my house and do this for me!?) </div>
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brighten someone’s day with an act of kindness</div>
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write a note of gratitude to a teacher </div>
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create a handmade gift for Grandma</div>
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take a name off the giving tree in the school’s lobby and purchase the item to donate with your money earned from chores</div>
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do a secret service for a neighbor</div>
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help a sibling with their homework…the possibilities are endless!</div>
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Teenagers are capable of big giving. There are many organizations that provide help and service during the holidays that can utilize teen volunteers. Check these sites to find opportunities to serve in your area:</div>
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volunteermatch.org </div>
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justserve.org </div>
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allforgood.org</div>
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Alternatively, working with your teens to create their own service project might fit better into their busy school/extra-curricular/work schedules while still providing the mindset shift from getting to giving. </div>
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Last year, we decided to launch a local clothing drive & give away. Our teenage daughters were instrumental in the process. Together, we made and distributed fliers, talked to schools, and decorated donation bins. We marketed via social media. We emptied the bins of all the donated bags of clothes every day for two weeks. We got the neighbor kids involved with sorting all the clothes. We found an organization that let us have a free booth at their farmer’s market to give away the donated items. A few amazing friends came to serve shoulder to shoulder with us all day. We set up tables and racks and hung and folded clothes for hours. My daughters helped families sort through clothes to find sizes and styles that would work for them, and we cried with people who were overwhelmed with the generosity of our community. </div>
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One man came to the give-away looking for a pair of work shoes so he could get back to his construction job. His shoes had worn through, and he wasn’t welcome on the job site without proper footwear. There was, in our row of donated shoes, a nearly new pair of work shoes, in his exact size. He held the shoes tight to his chest, and whispering, asked, “For me? Free?” He took only the shoes and a pair of socks, and left before the tears in his eyes spilled onto his cheeks. To someone, those shoes were closet clutter. To him, they meant the ability to feed his family. </div>
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We got to be a part of several stories like his that day. It was eye opening for my children to see such need, right here in their own town, and it was a gift to be the hands that helped our community help each other. It took effort. It took planning. It took our attention away from the greed that can slip in to the season, and it filled our family with gratitude for the ability we have to work together and to lift others. My girls didn’t need a white rose. They earned so much more. </div>
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If planning a service project or starting a service tree or being a secret elf seems overwhelming this year, start by just beginning the conversation. Bring giving and mindfulness to your children by simply asking, “How were you able to help someone today?” and then listen. Chances are, their answers will inspire you.</div>
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<br />Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-74401595165303842362017-11-07T18:57:00.002-08:002017-11-07T20:57:15.605-08:00Choosing Family Photo Outfits: 7 XMAS PIC TIPS<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It's that time of year again! Time to gather the troops, slap on some
coordinating (but not matchy) outfits, and bribe the best smiles out of
them. Like most things, it's not as easy at is sounds. Today, I'm
sharing my Simply Cumorah SEVEN XMAS PIC TIPS with you, and BONUS: I'll
provide shopping links to the clothes I curated for our recent beachy
Christmas shoot.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Gs_U2FQiHb_leUkfGl76J9KVWhqjPYhjPr6iSwIi-9s673_Y66gbMVybZgRJme1RAS3xGxib8OamHW4ca7uvwUxrPY-d8YReTtt7EmbNknEoVd3M5Fl_k9C0aQLbsbgAdvjPaQzdIQ4/s1600/7+XMAS+TIP+PIC+COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1362" data-original-width="991" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Gs_U2FQiHb_leUkfGl76J9KVWhqjPYhjPr6iSwIi-9s673_Y66gbMVybZgRJme1RAS3xGxib8OamHW4ca7uvwUxrPY-d8YReTtt7EmbNknEoVd3M5Fl_k9C0aQLbsbgAdvjPaQzdIQ4/s640/7+XMAS+TIP+PIC+COVER.jpg" width="465" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #274e13;">Credit for the skilled
photography, and for waking up SUPER early on her vacation in order to
shoot our pics </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #274e13;">goes to the one and only: Tisha Barlow - based in Queen
Creek, AZ - @tishabarlowphoto</span></span></div>
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<b>1. CHOOSE A COLOR SCHEME</b><br />
I've never done our family photos in traditional Christmas garb, and I decided it was high time. Honestly, I got giddy about juxtaposing a warm, gorgeous beach with bright Christmas colors. Those reds and greens pop against the tranquility of the ocean...and, I like how I look in green...which is important. If you're in charge of what people are wearing, YOU get to choose a color that looks good on you, and build around it. That's the way the world works, people. <br />
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<b>2. FIND A STANDOUT PIECE</b><br />
When choosing family outfits, I find one dynamic piece in the right color scheme, and I build from there. I knew I wanted red and green, but which shades? Would we go lime & brick, hunter & burgundy, kelly and candy apple? The color question was answered as soon as I found the standout piece. I was looking for a dress with a large, bold pattern and I came upon the <span style="color: red;"><a href="https://www.liligal.com/pocket-round-neck-sleeveless-high-waist-maxi-dress-g176522.html?currency=USD&gclid=CjwKCAiA0IXQBRA2EiwAMODil1h21v48uBiw0uQzH7o4JjQyV7EwYKV1qb1ahAk3TvNGYAx8nqb85xoC1Y8QAvD_BwE" target="_blank">red & white stripe dress from Liligal.</a></span> Yep. That was it. This dress was the jumping off point for our shoot.<br />
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<a href="https://www.liligal.com/pocket-round-neck-sleeveless-high-waist-maxi-dress-g176522.html?currency=USD&gclid=CjwKCAiA0IXQBRA2EiwAMODil1h21v48uBiw0uQzH7o4JjQyV7EwYKV1qb1ahAk3TvNGYAx8nqb85xoC1Y8QAvD_BwE" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Liligal.com Maxi Dress" border="0" data-original-height="1228" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLPdGkEMnB4o6rd5VolPQsZnsRsF5qfxaRpxCNxDhgeh4nVMrUs8pRmT2JMtsR3ST42DJyaT-X6BPNLw98XE6Ttj551mMs_ffFgPELi69uwxtb1fQykAnl62pqVqd7QBwvcUUpYVdILQ/s320/Screenshot_2017-09-12-16-15-46-1.png" width="280" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wfsZeKxIkavVjSu0ye_ZjxolFPSz3D8x6EAHd4i9yaY_Fh8tFQfuXRtWwoOQT_ai5is5lnKb-DBJngyuY1k3O7eBNNOUBeNePZ26hjo7ATgJVdVeXOXZvOp-pe0ak0XDXWR4zlL5iiA/s1600/azure+crop%252C+low+quality.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="599" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1wfsZeKxIkavVjSu0ye_ZjxolFPSz3D8x6EAHd4i9yaY_Fh8tFQfuXRtWwoOQT_ai5is5lnKb-DBJngyuY1k3O7eBNNOUBeNePZ26hjo7ATgJVdVeXOXZvOp-pe0ak0XDXWR4zlL5iiA/s320/azure+crop%252C+low+quality.png" width="229" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.liligal.com/pocket-round-neck-sleeveless-high-waist-maxi-dress-g176522.html?currency=USD&gclid=CjwKCAiA0IXQBRA2EiwAMODil1h21v48uBiw0uQzH7o4JjQyV7EwYKV1qb1ahAk3TvNGYAx8nqb85xoC1Y8QAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Liligal.com Stripe Maxi Dress $38</a><br />
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<b> 3. GET THRIFTY</b><br />
I waited for that darling dress to arrive on my doorstep, and then I hit the thrift
stores. I love utilizing second hand stores for occasions where I'm
looking for particular colors, because all of the clothes are organized
BY COLOR. It's a super efficient way to find what you need. At Once Upon a Child, I found the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Alex-Stevens-Christmas-Sweater-Reindeer/dp/B00MGFC2IA/ref=sr_1_7?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1510089114&sr=1-7&nodeID=7141123011&psd=1&keywords=boys+green+reindeer+sweater" target="_blank">cutest green reindeer sweater</a> you have ever seen (which answered the question for our green shade), the white collared shirt, the boys' shorts and the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Spring-Notion-Sleeve-Gingham-Shirt/dp/B01GM4RZQ4/ref=sr_1_8?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1510086200&sr=1-8&nodeID=7141123011&psd=1&keywords=boys%2Bred%2Bgingham%2Bshirt&dpID=61rw4e-xDPL&preST=_SX342_QL70_&dpSrc=srch&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">red gingham button up shirt </a>- in the perfect shade of red to match the stripe dress!<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Alex-Stevens-Christmas-Sweater-Reindeer/dp/B00MGFC2IA/ref=sr_1_7?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1510084452&sr=1-7&nodeID=7141123011&psd=1&keywords=boy+green+reindeer+sweater" target="_blank">Amazon.com Alex Stevens Reindeer Sweater $25</a> (I snagged mine, used, for $4!)</div>
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The Izod, red gingham shirt was purchased at a second hand store for $5, but I found a similar one online for a tad more.</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Spring-Notion-Sleeve-Gingham-Shirt/dp/B01GM4RZQ4/ref=sr_1_8?s=apparel&ie=UTF8&qid=1510086200&sr=1-8&nodeID=7141123011&psd=1&keywords=boys%2Bred%2Bgingham%2Bshirt&dpID=61rw4e-xDPL&preST=_SX342_QL70_&dpSrc=srch&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank"> Amazon.com Spring Notion Gingham Shirt $11</a></div>
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Next, I hit up Goodwill, on the off chance someone had donated a perfect white or green holiday dress, and wouldn't you know it, Jackpot! Some sweet soul dropped their Calvin Klein white, petal cocktail dress at the Goodwill, and I snatched it up for a whopping $16. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_nxNSfwPhC1PQ8-NMtClIpFfAfILA5G1cLC7iI3zIJF8GaVcap6rvcdWRcoqOefTwePyZt0UZuyMgtU1wGM761hFJTirZh8JMC4PWyq1IkjeU-9rtwi7ohyjz13Bla15zlymNBNtC8g/s1600/family-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs_nxNSfwPhC1PQ8-NMtClIpFfAfILA5G1cLC7iI3zIJF8GaVcap6rvcdWRcoqOefTwePyZt0UZuyMgtU1wGM761hFJTirZh8JMC4PWyq1IkjeU-9rtwi7ohyjz13Bla15zlymNBNtC8g/s400/family-24.jpg" width="266" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDIPa4R3hZx3wfLD4zlhuNQW44dUFZsR-P-PMIAa8a5L9GUWhibHvoW-CGOQz6ipbypVvZvSpAIAvknQ7QNLyplfxbB84pOyXIgUklDc02mPn3_RyFDo5v7Jwe_LnPEDHhGmPD6FUGRIE/s1600/Screenshot-2017-11-7+Amazon+com+Adrianna+Papell+Women%2527s+Strapless+Tulle+Petal+Party+Dress+Clothing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="448" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDIPa4R3hZx3wfLD4zlhuNQW44dUFZsR-P-PMIAa8a5L9GUWhibHvoW-CGOQz6ipbypVvZvSpAIAvknQ7QNLyplfxbB84pOyXIgUklDc02mPn3_RyFDo5v7Jwe_LnPEDHhGmPD6FUGRIE/s400/Screenshot-2017-11-7+Amazon+com+Adrianna+Papell+Women%2527s+Strapless+Tulle+Petal+Party+Dress+Clothing.png" width="302" /></a></div>
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I've searched the web,
and can't find the exact dress for sale...but this one by Adrianna Papell is
pretty dang close.</div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VYJT6YW?pf_rd_p=6d50e0ee-c639-41a8-91f7-8e1b816b5bf3&pf_rd_r=38ZTG61FNWHYZACNA7ZP&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">Amazon.com Strapless Tulle Petal Party Dress $65 </a></div>
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<b>4. PERFECT YOUR PAIRS</b></div>
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While I want the overall family colors to coordinate - I also know that I'm going to want pics with just my man and I, so I ensure that our outfits work together, and that we don't wear predominantly the same color. I mean, how embarrassing would that be if we both showed up in plaid suit coats?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgregXb7UJhWeXj-OKoe3utWFkhyphenhyphenKs28-UPT_wvYhvfJ-grzE8V8Gey42uvx9U8F0A0Ior0bcW6enQ2YvlKowOJMpvXdEpKA5CIUIaP2_hP3en27WVZRfp2EVs8WEdlzlkMaSPk70KxNYg/s1600/family-51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgregXb7UJhWeXj-OKoe3utWFkhyphenhyphenKs28-UPT_wvYhvfJ-grzE8V8Gey42uvx9U8F0A0Ior0bcW6enQ2YvlKowOJMpvXdEpKA5CIUIaP2_hP3en27WVZRfp2EVs8WEdlzlkMaSPk70KxNYg/s320/family-51.jpg" width="212" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCEQETLGgcLwqxKbrlQtzRib5cH0r6lypTirCdwrxiBm1Zv5pfziIC8czuVi78NuRQHwQymqaTKVld3wxZ2UAXG5_qf8iHwSVvPx9OzjlrH2A7AFsK_OCmc8nk4BqRC0AXAhPFqcGTGc/s1600/family-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkCEQETLGgcLwqxKbrlQtzRib5cH0r6lypTirCdwrxiBm1Zv5pfziIC8czuVi78NuRQHwQymqaTKVld3wxZ2UAXG5_qf8iHwSVvPx9OzjlrH2A7AFsK_OCmc8nk4BqRC0AXAhPFqcGTGc/s320/family-33.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/MUXXN-Womens-Vintage-Sleeve-Bridesmaid/dp/B01LYSKTG0/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1510084216&sr=8-6&keywords=muxxn%2Bgreen%2Bdress&th=1&psc=1" target="_blank">Amazon.com Muxxn Green Vintage Scoop Neck Dress $37</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODS5pknvmU1uQcSlyo23nGhNfySrMvvEZZT5qaljrHGFL_2nj9C5u51RKNGknvk7uhHblZDUXM2hNckcQUGaj5XeQHlHKvM1gb3mIitfZApYVUjltqpx60dMNxgbdWm2doQARMNzNgxU/s1600/family-50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODS5pknvmU1uQcSlyo23nGhNfySrMvvEZZT5qaljrHGFL_2nj9C5u51RKNGknvk7uhHblZDUXM2hNckcQUGaj5XeQHlHKvM1gb3mIitfZApYVUjltqpx60dMNxgbdWm2doQARMNzNgxU/s200/family-50.jpg" width="132" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8GXG7IQpZeNgc9DA6wG9nuiy9BzN7yHmP4Q5cujZrxmFOhpLFmhdMmazC1UfqWZ4owPDpQ_b_AGrM4ZPTLGKol3hLckBrbFdPFsLI8j7XicCZTKriGFX4PM84OPMF1k646jjMoZFpYg/s1600/Screenshot_2017-09-26-14-49-16-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx8GXG7IQpZeNgc9DA6wG9nuiy9BzN7yHmP4Q5cujZrxmFOhpLFmhdMmazC1UfqWZ4owPDpQ_b_AGrM4ZPTLGKol3hLckBrbFdPFsLI8j7XicCZTKriGFX4PM84OPMF1k646jjMoZFpYg/s320/Screenshot_2017-09-26-14-49-16-1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.macys.com/shop/product/lauren-ralph-lauren-mens-classic-fit-multi-color-madras-ultraflex-cotton-sport-coat?ID=4331528&CategoryID=16499#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D7%26ruleId%3D78%7CBOOST%20SAVED%20SET%26kws%3Dultraflex%20cotton%20sport%20coat%26searchPass%3DallMultiMatchWithSpelling%26slotId%3D1" target="_blank">Macys.com Ralph Lauren Ultraflex Cotton Sport Coat Clearance for $60 (orig $295)</a></div>
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<b>5. ACCESSORIZE</b></div>
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Accessories are a fabulous way to spread your color scheme across every person in your pic. Caution! It's easy to get carried away with this. Not every person needs an accessory. I've made that mistake before - and it turned into an overly stylized - matchy-matchy mess. The use of accessories should look well placed, and effortless - like something that person might actually wear in real life - not like you forced them to wear it to match the family. (I admit, that is how Bella felt about that poinsetta scarf...but I think it worked, and sometimes you just have to take one for the team.) A well chosen hair bow, neck tie, bracelet or belt can be the perfect little thing to bring it all together.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8Ix5zjXpUikux2wK8kC6yl6De_YXJXYvxdS-CFfgJzNFVOhXlmoJbNq-4LqoJdzAvD7kbDJiGm63ztDz393FRwt2KcTm_VCHsAWGeqBhTQ0qMP82nbULRyygEgE7w6zlodo4cDCX8Mw/s1600/Screenshot-2017-11-7+Amazon+com+Retreez+Christmas+Tree+Pattern+Woven+Microfiber+Boy%2527s+Tie+-+8-10+years+-+Green+Clothing.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="421" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8Ix5zjXpUikux2wK8kC6yl6De_YXJXYvxdS-CFfgJzNFVOhXlmoJbNq-4LqoJdzAvD7kbDJiGm63ztDz393FRwt2KcTm_VCHsAWGeqBhTQ0qMP82nbULRyygEgE7w6zlodo4cDCX8Mw/s200/Screenshot-2017-11-7+Amazon+com+Retreez+Christmas+Tree+Pattern+Woven+Microfiber+Boy%2527s+Tie+-+8-10+years+-+Green+Clothing.png" width="141" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWYee87bRrmmE15yDJT2HrBf4SICiO4ovK4g_TZFj1oc3bkEYEMD_HOMC7JFmRwKa0m0y7haTccPBIQk_3FhcF5_i1ow_WMRIb1xuDNEYKfw142eY4L3MV4OmGT2qOtsYKHUdcf6cDSs/s1600/Screenshot_2017-10-03-11-25-17-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="858" data-original-width="1080" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinWYee87bRrmmE15yDJT2HrBf4SICiO4ovK4g_TZFj1oc3bkEYEMD_HOMC7JFmRwKa0m0y7haTccPBIQk_3FhcF5_i1ow_WMRIb1xuDNEYKfw142eY4L3MV4OmGT2qOtsYKHUdcf6cDSs/s200/Screenshot_2017-10-03-11-25-17-1.png" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LVWLR1A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Christmas Scarf $10 Amazon </a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0176G8EK8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Retreez Christmas Tree tie on Amazon $12 </a></div>
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<b>6. MIX & MINGLE</b><br />
Don't be afraid to mix patterns! It gives depth and interest to a photo. In these photos we have stripes, checks, plaid, print, floral and solids. That's a lot going on! Scale is the reason it works. The geometric patterns don't compete with each other because the stripes are a large pattern, the plaid is medium sized, and the checks are small. Be sure to balance pattern with solids & use different types of patterns to keep it interesting.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1nVLFUls97oA9Me7lOkmCDNJGVY51uBtlaJnKP0PTpi75ogEg_h27nSbaXDKLoJVc9rTHCN7_-tOCilLn05Xu7biP-WzuRliqXZey5qvjjTZG-uYHo78nMkkIHlMq8Q_rPW6OsH3hAo/s1600/family-42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1nVLFUls97oA9Me7lOkmCDNJGVY51uBtlaJnKP0PTpi75ogEg_h27nSbaXDKLoJVc9rTHCN7_-tOCilLn05Xu7biP-WzuRliqXZey5qvjjTZG-uYHo78nMkkIHlMq8Q_rPW6OsH3hAo/s400/family-42.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b>7. LOCATION! LOCATION! LOCATION!</b><br />
This is a tip that isn't exactly about choosing outfits, but it is such a huge part of your family pics - I'm going to include it. Choose a location that is
either meaningful to you, or that you find beautiful. For me, this beach
is both. And, huge perk, no coordinating shoes to buy. Barefeet are
the best feet! We don't live by the beach, but we love to vacation there. While it takes some
extra effort to set up a photographer on location - it is lovely to have
your photos professionally taken in a place where you have built
lasting family memories. Take your photog on your family's favorite hiking trail, or to the outdoor seating area of your favorite restaurant, or the park where your kids grew up playing flag football. As my kids get older, I feel an urgency in capturing their youth. In holding on to what we have right now, today. <span style="font-size: large;">Truth be told, it's not about the perfect outfits, or the perfect smiles, or the perfect lighting, it's about capturing the best of who we are, together. </span><br />
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<br />Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-77139059997209238022015-02-18T16:32:00.000-08:002015-02-18T16:32:50.984-08:00Designing for JesusI once was in a church production where the lighting & audio technician spent hours of his free time making sure the show went off without a hitch. I thanked him for all of his hard work and he said something simple, something small, but something extremely powerful. I will never forget it for as long as I live.<br />
He said, "We all just do what we know how to do - to move this work along. This," pointing to his microphones and cables, "is what I know how to do."<br />
Well, I have never looked at using my talents for church service the same since.<br />
What do I know how to do?<br />
Sing. Dance. Create. Lead. Speak. Teach. And...make some kickin' invites & posters. I cannot even count how many posters, invites, logos, t-shirts, etc. I have designed in the name of the Lord. And, I love it, because This. This is what I know how to do.<br />
This is the invite for a ladies' Christmas activity last year:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2neLcbkkl7FEud6gauKhkvdswXkXD_Y57Z2POaOBCWif9PgqvdQQl0DIiLNHxRaEDWbDp45fbsSoynsnGadkgsFSClC57ufkeupJofTZoD75zHVq_y-vfFFx37B0RSMMdJJ_e_BpFvE/s1600/RS+XMAS+invite+2-page-0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2neLcbkkl7FEud6gauKhkvdswXkXD_Y57Z2POaOBCWif9PgqvdQQl0DIiLNHxRaEDWbDp45fbsSoynsnGadkgsFSClC57ufkeupJofTZoD75zHVq_y-vfFFx37B0RSMMdJJ_e_BpFvE/s1600/RS+XMAS+invite+2-page-0.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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And this logo is hot off the presses! I just created this for the project my dad, a Bishop, is implementing within his congregation. </div>
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What do you know how to do? So many things, I am sure.</div>
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In what small ways do you help spread the love of the Lord? </div>
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Probably in more ways than you can even think of. </div>
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God bless you, sweet thing. God bless you. </div>
Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-27643587060516606622013-12-19T13:43:00.000-08:002013-12-19T20:27:27.055-08:00Invitation to a Love StoryI love a good wedding. I love the love stories, the decorations, the music, the dancing, the flowers, the sneaky kisses when the couple thinks no one is looking, darling little nieces blowing bubbles as the bride & groom leave the chapel, and seeing all of the work that a mama, her daughter, and/or a wedding planner have stressed for weeks/months/years/a lifetime over - come to fruition.<br />
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When I get to be just a little part of someone else's big day, I get a teensy bit giddy. I was honored to design this adorable couple's wedding invites. I'm slightly proud of them. OK, more than slightly. The great thing is, since they are custom - they fit this bride & groom to be to a T.</div>
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So, you know...if you ever are getting married...or graduating...or throwing a party...or starting your own business...or hosting anything really, I sure would love to create something that fits you too. </div>
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You can always reach me at CumorahMcomber@gmail.com. </div>
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xoxo,</div>
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Cumorah<br />
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Photo Credit: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Susie-Bielefeldt-Photography/189736364376472" target="_blank">Susie Bielefeldt Photography</a><br />
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Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-13568510089432521532013-04-09T13:44:00.000-07:002013-04-09T13:48:47.568-07:00Easter is the new Christmas<br />
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It is official. I, Cumorah D. McOmber declare that:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGUInRpsh3YuXc1XvL01Tw5KkrVRVBNbqfYn_a9asIhq5aFBMUfcfiIV6bxRUlrXnlTzkpcrH0CN0m8NU_iOq1p9gGptNMfdEOOK82brswxL6H_WbXKLdQzgfUzIobGu2RCuf5JisVuk/s1600/easter+is+the+new+xmas+pics_page001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGUInRpsh3YuXc1XvL01Tw5KkrVRVBNbqfYn_a9asIhq5aFBMUfcfiIV6bxRUlrXnlTzkpcrH0CN0m8NU_iOq1p9gGptNMfdEOOK82brswxL6H_WbXKLdQzgfUzIobGu2RCuf5JisVuk/s400/easter+is+the+new+xmas+pics_page001.jpg" width="400" /></a>Yes. You read that correctly. I
have decided that Easter is the new Christmas, and I couldn’t be more excited
about it. Don’t get me wrong. I adore Christmas. I am confident it will stand
forever as my number one, absolute favorite holiday. But let’s be honest, Christmas
gets a lot of hype. It is a month long parade of cookie exchanges, work
parties, church dinners, family functions, community events, public school
“Winter Festivals,” sledding dates, mall visits, late night crafting, early
morning wrapping, advent calendaring, card sending, wassail & peanut
brittle making, tradition keeping craziness. And I love it. I really, truly,
honestly do. (take a peek at my <a href="http://dcmcomber.blogspot.com/2011/01/twas-season.html" target="_blank">family blog</a> for a taste of how we do Christmas ) But,
I will tell you a little secret. It is stressful. And after all that
preparation and work, and lack of sleep, there is that inevitable snippet of
letdown intermingled with a snitch of family drama. </div>
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Have you ever sworn on December 26<sup>th</sup>,
that you will never let yourself get that carried away again, only to find
yourself in the same exhausted, bleary eyed situation the next year? Well, my
dears, I may have found the solution for you, and it’s a little something I
like to call Easter.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2rC-V6y1WksLyz_F-4pbmqwXKIgOlkFHvWN6qJ4G0kDdQQhhxzfDDUEdHyQRyHcQgiCrTNL5ljSfUq_nSDU5lQ9eLkrLS4nRAIu9ktjyBK223q6Ny46_VI4xdDXyW8Mpa60Sz9JXuYQ/s1600/morning+basket+Az.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2rC-V6y1WksLyz_F-4pbmqwXKIgOlkFHvWN6qJ4G0kDdQQhhxzfDDUEdHyQRyHcQgiCrTNL5ljSfUq_nSDU5lQ9eLkrLS4nRAIu9ktjyBK223q6Ny46_VI4xdDXyW8Mpa60Sz9JXuYQ/s320/morning+basket+Az.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I believe I can turn Easter into the one big holiday in
the year that we host all of our family, and still genuinely like everyone
afterwards. I have decided after a splendid trial run with only two of my
sisters, one niece and one brother-in-law visiting for this sacred holiday, that
this is going to turn into the must-do, feel-good, family gathering holiday of
the year.<br />
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Why should you consider Easter
instead of Christmas for your big family get together? </div>
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<b>Number one: IT IS EASY</b>.
Easter has been around for a good long time, of course, but it’s just gaining
in popularity (thanks in part to the advent of Pinterest and all those cutsie
ideas on how to make Easter fantastically special.) I sure hope it stays small
though, because currently, no one really expects anything out of Easter. No one
expects you to give them an Easter present. There is no laboring over which
friend may or may not be giving you an Easter gift, thus no stockpiling gifts
to have on hand just in case. There is no expectation that you will show up on
all of your neighbors’ doorsteps with a professionally photographed and
PhotoShopped family greeting card affixed to a heaping homemade plate of Easter
treats while you sing songs of the Resurrected Christ. Little ones are thrilled
with a small basketful of dollar store trinkets and a few plastic eggs stuffed
with Jelly Bellies and egg shaped Snickers. And I have ZERO misgiving about my
husband not picking an Easter gift up for me. He shouldn't!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZwAMtewB5C62USyj2W-093OLUaxVAMulAYg8wNdGi3F8KUZZLEjMqa4shfXzyk8UWc-c7JUAweysya8f-UE3UQeUDq3JO0FgX8o1xwznRpN1frKPl4pP9q6_oKOmk_bksD9KsfcNzJA/s1600/morning+baskets+run+em.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglZwAMtewB5C62USyj2W-093OLUaxVAMulAYg8wNdGi3F8KUZZLEjMqa4shfXzyk8UWc-c7JUAweysya8f-UE3UQeUDq3JO0FgX8o1xwznRpN1frKPl4pP9q6_oKOmk_bksD9KsfcNzJA/s320/morning+baskets+run+em.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>The second
reason being: IT IS BEAUTIFUL</b>. The account of the resurrection is filled with
hope, and faith, and unconditional love. Studying the magnitude of the
atonement and resurrection with your family will draw you closer as you feel of
the Savior’s love for you and all of humanity. Gathering for church services
with your family on that Sacred Sunday can be a very powerful, bonding
experience.</div>
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<b>Thirdly: THE FOOD IS GREAT</b></div>
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Easter dinner rivals Christmas dinner, just minus the stress
of every other holiday meal & gathering that leads up to Christmas. (There’s
no Easter Eve dinner or special cookies to bake, decorate and leave out for the Easter bunny, or
traditional Easter breakfast that must
be prepped and cleaned before you can start in on Easter dinner. And the menu: comfort food defined. Ham, funeral potatoes, asparagus, confetti jello salad, homemade
rolls, spinach & strawberry salad, lime & raspberry punch, with
strawberry jelly rolls for dessert. How could you go wrong? Throw in some
Cadbury mini eggs, and I’m pretty sure that’s the type of meal I will be
lounging with in the heavens.</div>
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<b>Fourth, and
perhaps most importantly: EASTER EXUDES VERY LOW LEVELS OF FAMILY DRAMA.</b> (Our
gathering had NO family drama, but it admittedly, did not include the entire
family). I cannot guarantee you no family drama should you choose to host your
family for Easter, (maybe your family has an uncle that is loud mouthed and
offensive at every occasion) but I feel confident in guaranteeing you <i>less</i>
family drama than you usually have at Christmas time. With everyone’s
expectations low, people get really excited about doing things like roasting s’mores
with peeps – no drama regarding inequality of gift giving, or who spent more
time/money/thought on said gifts. Can you even imagine adult tears over what candy
the eggs were filled with? Or arguments over how to properly hang the Easter
decorations? No. No you cannot. Take that Christmas. </div>
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Because the
world hasn't caught on to the Easter craze just yet, your time will not be
divided between so many activities you have to/want to attend but just can’t
squeeze in, or do squeeze in at the detriment of your already over-partied
family, and you can actually spend your time enjoying each other! </div>
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We laid by the
swimming pool while the kiddies swam, played kickball at the park, rode bikes,
attended the Mesa Easter Pageant, roasted peep s’mores, took a hike, visited
the children’s museum, crashed a local Easter egg hunt, attended church, went
to Zumba class, and did a science fair project. (That last one was a <i>have to</i>,
but was 100% unrelated to Easter, so not sure that it counts.)<br />
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All in all,
this is just a really long winded way for me to announce that I had a fabulous
Easter with my family. I mean really, really fabulous. I couldn't love my
sisters more. (sure wish sister #3 was able to be with us too!)</div>
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They are fantastic. And next year, I really do hope that we can
gather the whole family, and enjoy each other during this wonderful
expectation/drama/stress-FREE holiday season. Happy late Easter and early Christmas to you and yours!Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-41951264598321304652012-11-20T10:31:00.001-08:002012-11-20T10:33:29.524-08:00Just Roll With ItThis post is for my newfound friend, Karen. We met at a preschool Thanksgiving feast, where we gabbed over plates of stuffing & chicken nuggets & homemade rolls. She graciously asked me for my roll recipe. I happen to LOVE my roll recipe. It is the ONLY one after many failed attempts that I can get to work out here in the high altitude of Colorado. And may I say, they are scrumptious.<br />
So here's to you Karen {you sweet thing!}, and all roll lovers everywhere! Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlaMgkuVNl21O3fMKoUpGHrxtNQYm0WrJQa7Ns3syutoem4_b-hoRyMAdCyEn0wLlVQWlZJG79zjwVUDmsOqAApuieRsCNi9-JQTbluPMonaKOTiQB5IoKVcdk_Xgb6pbIEdBgl7RfEg/s1600/rolls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlaMgkuVNl21O3fMKoUpGHrxtNQYm0WrJQa7Ns3syutoem4_b-hoRyMAdCyEn0wLlVQWlZJG79zjwVUDmsOqAApuieRsCNi9-JQTbluPMonaKOTiQB5IoKVcdk_Xgb6pbIEdBgl7RfEg/s320/rolls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="ltr"></span>1</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">½ cups warm water<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">1 TBSP sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">2 TBSP yeast<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">1½ cups warm milk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">½ cup butter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">½ cup sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">2 tsp. salt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">2 beaten eggs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><span dir="ltr"></span>6-7 cups bread flour</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<v:rect alt="" filled="f" id="il_fi" insetpen="t" o:cliptowrap="t" o:preferrelative="t" o:spid="_x0000_s1025" stroked="f" style="height: 155.25pt; left: 31.5pt; position: absolute; top: 81pt; width: 198pt; z-index: 1;"><v:stroke><o:left color="#666" insetpen="t" joinstyle="miter" on="t" v:ext="view"></o:left><o:top color="#666" insetpen="t" joinstyle="miter" on="t" v:ext="view"></o:top><o:right color="#666" insetpen="t" joinstyle="miter" on="t" v:ext="view"></o:right><o:bottom color="#666" insetpen="t" joinstyle="miter" on="t" v:ext="view"></o:bottom></v:stroke><v:imagedata cropbottom="7549f" cropleft="6970f" cropright="9311f" o:title="crescent-butterhorn-rolls-top-web" src="file:///C:\DOCUME~1\CUMORAH\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"></v:imagedata><v:path o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:rect><br />
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-width: 95%; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">In a separate bowl, activate yeast, warm water, 1 TBSP sugar, and yeast; set aside until bubbly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-width: 95%; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">Melt butter in milk, then add sugar, salt and eggs. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-width: 95%; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-width: 95%; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">Add 3 cups of flour to the milk mixture, then add the yeast mixture. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-width: 95%; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-width: 95%; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">After combined, add the remaining 3 cups of flour. If dough is too sticky, add up to another cup of flour. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-width: 95%; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">Cover and let rise for 1-2 hours. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-width: 95%; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-width: 95%; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">Punch dough down and form into rolls. Let rise for another hour. </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-ansi-language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-width: 95%; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-width: 95%; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">Bake at 375</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-width: 95%; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;">º</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; language: en-US; mso-armenian-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-currency-font-family: Calibri; mso-cyrillic-font-family: Calibri; mso-default-font-family: Calibri; mso-font-width: 95%; mso-greek-font-family: Calibri; mso-hebrew-font-family: Calibri; mso-latin-font-family: Calibri; mso-latinext-font-family: Calibri;"> for 12-14 min.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-21463996209531895012012-08-07T13:01:00.000-07:002012-08-07T13:11:17.407-07:00Failing with grace<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
On <st1:date day="7" month="6" year="2012">June 7<sup>th</sup>, 2012</st1:date>, I won a little radio singing contest. I called in and sang my heart out to <em>Take Me Out to the Ballgame</em>. The DJ’s, with their discreet taste in crooning, crowned me the singing contest winner. My heart pounded, I called my family in to hear momma sing on the radio a few minutes later for the replay. The kids laughed and squealed. Daddy smiled, kind of rolled his eyes, and asked, "Well, what did you win?" </div>
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That’s when a slight panic set in. My prize was four tickets to the local minor league baseball game the next night…AND…the glory of throwing the first pitch out at said minor league game. </div>
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All very exciting, except that I had not thrown a baseball since I was nine years old. And, may I say, I was not an exceptional little leaguer. In fact, my coach scared the living daylights out of me, and I volunteered to sit the bench whenever possible. </div>
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My sweet hubby agreed to help me practice pitching, and a beautiful blog post about “getting out of your comfort zone and in to your improvement zone” started brewing in my little head. I had grand ideas about laying out the details of how I put myself in a highly uncomfortable position...practiced a new skill…and triumphed as I entered my improvement zone. </div>
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This process started well enough. I had indeed got myself into an uncomfortable position. I had agreed to pitch my first baseball in 25 years in front of a live audience of thousands. I did indeed practice this new skill. Dan and I got up early Friday morning and threw the ball back and forth for two and a half hours. When he came home from work, we practiced for another hour. {my shoulder was sore for days!} And by the end of training, I was feeling fairly confident. I could throw with decent accuracy, and with enough heat on the ball to at least make it over the plate – something that prior to my training sessions would have seemed miraculous. This <em>‘comfort zone to improvement zone’</em> post was going to be good!</div>
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And then, the moment of truth was upon me. I stepped up on the mound {after the seven other “first pitches” of the night were thrown – sure wasn’t expecting that} wound up, and chucked the official Skysox baseball about fifteen feet in front of me – straight into the ground. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutI1l8gf-Cm95lYm3p3kc4czJB46LmhoplFETNupa-4h6M7bAgubjdpgdyqsLImBG5aZcvLXb7CYBRJt5ia1LE1Jpo-oui8APhsNZ8XmI4gR1RLQpIepA-vWjy2_W7-qn3APV0fTMnBQ/s1600/skysox,+cumo+pitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhutI1l8gf-Cm95lYm3p3kc4czJB46LmhoplFETNupa-4h6M7bAgubjdpgdyqsLImBG5aZcvLXb7CYBRJt5ia1LE1Jpo-oui8APhsNZ8XmI4gR1RLQpIepA-vWjy2_W7-qn3APV0fTMnBQ/s400/skysox,+cumo+pitch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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My nerves got to me and the ball slipped out before I could finish my real throw. I walked past the cameraman for the local news with my head hung in shame, and cringed when one of my neighbors caught my attention from his seat and yelled out, “Hey, way to go Cumorah!” At the moment, I was hoping this event could go unnoticed, and undocumented, and unspoken about – forever. I believe mortified is the correct word. </div>
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It has now been two months since this event transpired, and I am finally ready to talk about it. </div>
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The pitch was not a triumph. In fact, if you look solely at the experience as my pitch from the mound at Skysox field, the entire event would look to be a complete failure. But I’d like to let you in on some behind the scenes successes from this story. I am clearly a better singer than I am an athlete. But, my adorable husband <em>is</em> an athlete.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dMXILS_Bpk_qogOm8B1vYH0K5WhAhbCIKpwfrTKrP07k9vPffnHCFd96xaFEofSro5duV-UUqsqKyxCvt4l3V5NK_Qp9Xd8JaIWRFO5R-RD54qIONgcyWjnPovQTnhMQ9RhdGRwADV8/s1600/skysox,+dan+&+cumo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" kda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dMXILS_Bpk_qogOm8B1vYH0K5WhAhbCIKpwfrTKrP07k9vPffnHCFd96xaFEofSro5duV-UUqsqKyxCvt4l3V5NK_Qp9Xd8JaIWRFO5R-RD54qIONgcyWjnPovQTnhMQ9RhdGRwADV8/s400/skysox,+dan+&+cumo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>He has large, lovely muscles. He played basketball for his Jr. College, and is my favorite soccer player of all time to watch in person. I love spending time with him, and spending time with him doing something he is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">great</i> at is even more rewarding. I absolutely love it. That fateful Friday morning, when we got up early and donned our gloves to toss the old baseball around, will remain one of my most memorable mornings with him. It was the kind of morning where dew lingered on the grass, even while the sun kissed our cheeks. We laughed liked little kids. He coached me. And not like my loud little league coach, but lovingly, tenderly. Our children woke after we’d been practicing for awhile, and giggled when they found us outside playing baseball. They disappeared back inside the house, and reemerged with a homemade breakfast of toast, fruit salad, yogurt and orange juice. We took a break from training and sat down to a beautiful outdoors breakfast with our four bed-headed children. We talked and laughed and licked our plates clean. </div>
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That night, we went to the game as a family, ate stadium hotdogs and nachos, and those sweet little chitlins cheered wildly for their momma, even after her pitch came up short. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Sometimes failure is laced with unexpected successes.</span></b> </div>
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Looking at this experience two months later, I can put the embarrassment of failing on the mound behind me, as I recall and cherish the beautiful moments this<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> failure</i> created for me and my sweetie and our four little ones. Thank you Skysox and 95.1 for giving me this blessed opportunity to fail and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">love</i> it.</div>
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<br /></div>Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-27447442650794415482012-07-23T14:54:00.002-07:002012-07-23T15:10:49.533-07:00Carnival Party ~ Behind the Scenes<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
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I am a girl who loves cotton candy, and kettle corn, and face paint and squeals of laughter, and any game that could possibly end in prize winning. I am a girl who<em> loves</em> carnivals. Fortunately for me, my little girl happens to love all of those things too. So, a few months back when we thought we were moving at the end of the summer, I promised that carnie loving chica a big birthday bash to not only celebrate her big day, but also to make memories with her dear friends one last time before our departure. After <a href="http://simplycumorah.blogspot.com/2012/07/through-ashes.html" target="_blank">Grammy & Grandpa’s home</a> burned down, we decided as a family to postpone our move to be here to help them rebuild their home and their lives. Although we have put off our move temporarily, I couldn’t bring myself to cancel or even scale down Azure’s ‘farewell’ birthday carnival…so…the show went on. However, I will admit, that my attention was certainly placed elsewhere for the weeks leading up to the party. Thus, this event was thrown together in one week’s time. While it was not Martha Stewart style perfection, it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was</i> eight<sup> </sup>year old girl style elation. </div>
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Just in case you are ever considering throwing your own backyard carnival, or just in case you are the type of person who will find yourself haphazardly volunteering at the first PTA meeting of the upcoming school year to head up the annual ‘Fall Festival’, I’ll give you a behind the scenes look on how I whipped together Azure’s fair, to help you get those creative carnie juices flowing!</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1. INVITING INVITES </b></div>
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I designed the invite on Publisher (I know, so old school) and printed them at Costco as 4x6 photos. We ran them around to friends and neighbors one week before the party…and ended up with 34 friends with ‘yes!’ rsvp’s.<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2. MAKE FRIENDS WITH THE HELP</b></div>
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You know all those lovely 11-13 year old neighbor girls who love to come over to play? They make the best booth helpers! These sweet girls came early, helped with set up and were some of the most adorable carnies I’ve ever met!</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3. SET IT UP</b></div>
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Make a plan, and do NOT invite the wind. Heaven help me. I cannot stand the wind. Can.not.stand.it. Remember the backyard <a href="http://dcmcomber.blogspot.com/2010/05/meg-carters-wedding.html" target="_blank">wedding reception</a> we threw that was dramatically different than planned due to consistent 40mph wind that day? Apparently, two years is long enough to forget that every day is a windy day here, and that while I had quickly sketched plans for the carnival backdrop to look like this: <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiXBu66wGXUCqzRS2EDwBZ807ety6O-UIlF74yBJFpB65SxaPQKaHR60fLK_zOHsnIhW2xIPLxHvzuJPDr_X86q6gzfuHgShXyIjfIyoTBWI4Rm-MxC2sd998ejCsa2ouPKjjChOFE5s/s1600/carnival+setup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiXBu66wGXUCqzRS2EDwBZ807ety6O-UIlF74yBJFpB65SxaPQKaHR60fLK_zOHsnIhW2xIPLxHvzuJPDr_X86q6gzfuHgShXyIjfIyoTBWI4Rm-MxC2sd998ejCsa2ouPKjjChOFE5s/s320/carnival+setup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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it ended up looking like this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRombGDyYHBQQSAaowh7AK1q7BJO59xT3-a1Lx15KHjS63mu60bXT8l5DfKOWLZFJouLEOQdPKJY-9KN0olX8PKQIvImAV78q5m84mZhBqtxfaFc_1Wewb3WQWVD7JcORoz_VjSSMvB38/s1600/face+painting,+group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRombGDyYHBQQSAaowh7AK1q7BJO59xT3-a1Lx15KHjS63mu60bXT8l5DfKOWLZFJouLEOQdPKJY-9KN0olX8PKQIvImAV78q5m84mZhBqtxfaFc_1Wewb3WQWVD7JcORoz_VjSSMvB38/s400/face+painting,+group.jpg" width="400" /></a>Sweet hubby bought rebar from Home Depot to stake the conduit poles into the ground, tied string across the tops, and we hung red and white alternating cheap plastic tablecloths (54”x108”) purchased at Hobby Lobby by stapling and taping them to the string, and securing them to the ground with big rocks in the back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sadly, it didn’t matter how they were attached/secured, the wind whipped them to and fro like they were thin, cheap plastic tablecloths or something. If you have the funds and minimal wind, canvas fabric would work well, or perhaps oversized beach towels.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AVmXRUB6eO8QEyZKp5XlshzcsKCIsPaPiOIIsYUyK-hqX0IGQpkqJ07My5Zf2ymQM4zyG_XKaHHdLLS2kowthxNpmHqOM0T3as9NBixQyDE2DPeprk7m14siL2zJAQP5X3sK-wFaJnw/s1600/photo+booth+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0AVmXRUB6eO8QEyZKp5XlshzcsKCIsPaPiOIIsYUyK-hqX0IGQpkqJ07My5Zf2ymQM4zyG_XKaHHdLLS2kowthxNpmHqOM0T3as9NBixQyDE2DPeprk7m14siL2zJAQP5X3sK-wFaJnw/s320/photo+booth+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEVQdfjKTbI-6Zz43VF5BS0mSkwBPcx0V8ZIEHO27ya97iXCHX8tTk1oQVVxrJQbiIP3JIWkmCERnnhKa9OaqdvS4rZPvVfAJswb8JWk7gv-EYu7s1_hDzfzzLSxz0LKYmG6bFbrOc2s/s1600/az+carnival+prints.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlEVQdfjKTbI-6Zz43VF5BS0mSkwBPcx0V8ZIEHO27ya97iXCHX8tTk1oQVVxrJQbiIP3JIWkmCERnnhKa9OaqdvS4rZPvVfAJswb8JWk7gv-EYu7s1_hDzfzzLSxz0LKYmG6bFbrOc2s/s320/az+carnival+prints.jpg" width="125" /></a>I designed the signs to be printed at Staples as a 36”x90” $12 Engineer print. <strong>Right click, copy and paste, and you can use it too! </strong>Happy Birthday to you! Cut out the signs with a little white around the outside edges. I backed mine with blue and red poster board purchased at Target, punched holes in the corners, strung red ribbon through, and tied the blue signs over the red backdrops, and the red signs over the white backdrops. If your neighborhood is riddled with wind as mine is, it might be a good idea to simply staple gun these signs to wooden stakes and plunk them in the ground in front of each booth. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4. BOOTHS TO BANK ON</b></div>
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I gave each party goer a polka dot bag with their name on it as their favor bag. I only put a clown nose, a pixie stick, animal cookies and circus peanuts inside, and then they had to earn the rest of their favors by winning the carnival games. They were given a piece of candy for each game they conquered. </div>
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<strong>Giant Bowling</strong>- (<em>purchased from Wal Mart.) Knock over all the pins in 3 tries, and you win! </em></div>
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<strong>Ring Toss -</strong> <em>tape colored paper around water bottles, and toss 6 mini discs (from Hobby Lobby) around them. If you get at least 3 rings around the bottle, you win!</em></div>
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<strong>Spray Away</strong> <em>- stick golf tees (WalMart) into a block of styrofoam (Hobby Lobby), place ping pong balls (WalMart) on top and let contestants attempt to knock the ping pong balls down with a blast of water from a squirt gun. I had six golf tees & ping pong balls, but three would do it. It was difficult for the booth helper to get the balls steady on all the tees in between each player. </em> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JqkjOA6GhfdyTMXq_He1eIbkVA0hsD_FOKatbb4wQuxmyyU-EcYunENNfbqQAhfruEqbEgVkxVWh1L7ILUIimZ-PuWMUE59EghFDT-_cnglDTl7g27B8XKUqa3kElsZv8VnBn_LmYy8/s1600/games,+spray+away+savannah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JqkjOA6GhfdyTMXq_He1eIbkVA0hsD_FOKatbb4wQuxmyyU-EcYunENNfbqQAhfruEqbEgVkxVWh1L7ILUIimZ-PuWMUE59EghFDT-_cnglDTl7g27B8XKUqa3kElsZv8VnBn_LmYy8/s320/games,+spray+away+savannah.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>Use Your Noodle <em>-</em></strong><em> Duct tape 6 skinny pool noodles (WalMart) together as circles, then duct tape those to two thicker pool noodles that function as support poles. Use rebar (Home Depot) inside the support noodles and hammered 6" into the ground to make the noodle structure stand. Each contestant gets 3 skinny noodles to use as javelins to attempt to throw through the circles. Get all three through a hoop, and you win!</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FDIgMCQcSjFE3pXox-iQrhLtZtJI02RGBtOmIcGvPT8YT8Rlsug2pOKkDrUioo-eWjlosVGvvSkMY0OdQRDhJrQdZp2uATgvMCgArp1ZbDl6LpCzP-xExEWty_JrqagzxJwYi4efiLY/s1600/games%252C+dan+noodle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9FDIgMCQcSjFE3pXox-iQrhLtZtJI02RGBtOmIcGvPT8YT8Rlsug2pOKkDrUioo-eWjlosVGvvSkMY0OdQRDhJrQdZp2uATgvMCgArp1ZbDl6LpCzP-xExEWty_JrqagzxJwYi4efiLY/s320/games%252C+dan+noodle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></b> <strong>Tin Can Crash <em>-</em></strong><em> Wrap large tin cans (donated from friends)</em> in colorful paper. Stack, and give contestants 3 tennis balls to use in attempt to topple all the cans. If they can crash all the cans in 3 tries, they win!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOPWHQVCQHkvugpYBWfA8rUZtMwaiwcQxajyChVBefAHlc404UITDsvD0OIsTZPO1_ihXW8m47OiXEIpN9Uqub_dzz4msQdo6T-TzkP_VuK9EnhGfbjTWpaCNLXStDXmgaLxPL7hW0Sw/s1600/games,+tin+can+crash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbOPWHQVCQHkvugpYBWfA8rUZtMwaiwcQxajyChVBefAHlc404UITDsvD0OIsTZPO1_ihXW8m47OiXEIpN9Uqub_dzz4msQdo6T-TzkP_VuK9EnhGfbjTWpaCNLXStDXmgaLxPL7hW0Sw/s320/games,+tin+can+crash.jpg" width="269" /></a></div>
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<strong>Clotehspin Drop</strong> <em>- contestants try to drop 10 clothespins in a large glass mason jar. If they get at least three in the jar, they win! (somehow we didn't get any photos of our pin drop game)</em></div>
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<strong>Fortune Teller </strong><em>- elect a helper to dress up gypsy style and either give fake fortunes on the fly, or arm them with several paper fortune tellers and let party goers pick their own fortunes.</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJ704_ea2S2HVJwF7V91Nd_Lw8LVGT4HaT6RRJjyIlq4ZKzRmRtRNMpfaT1YfL7c8nL7cElg_1rUWQI4epc7gc0NCTRNYP1hvRccX4ax5nim__45FBnOrXyHcIuw9S5RNNfE-_Bj6Fbg/s1600/games,+fortune+teller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiJ704_ea2S2HVJwF7V91Nd_Lw8LVGT4HaT6RRJjyIlq4ZKzRmRtRNMpfaT1YfL7c8nL7cElg_1rUWQI4epc7gc0NCTRNYP1hvRccX4ax5nim__45FBnOrXyHcIuw9S5RNNfE-_Bj6Fbg/s320/games,+fortune+teller.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>Face Painting - </strong><em>I purchased my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002OOXM6O/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00" target="_blank">Snazaroo face painting pallet</a> from Amazon, and was quite pleased with the quality. I would suggest to do all the face painting AFTER any water games, as lots of painted faces got washed away during our water balloon fight!</em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCea6taV0FfcvitYnrqfoy7alflrMIuET3C_VDq6m3GVRmV8nQBa340tafM9RIDU5UeFd1znA3aBzboQ4zwe7NdboS2auphQTc7L88CJ8kEjINyV6m_YMIZBNgLTEj1-_n7TXWsON-VY/s1600/face+painting,+katelyn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCea6taV0FfcvitYnrqfoy7alflrMIuET3C_VDq6m3GVRmV8nQBa340tafM9RIDU5UeFd1znA3aBzboQ4zwe7NdboS2auphQTc7L88CJ8kEjINyV6m_YMIZBNgLTEj1-_n7TXWsON-VY/s320/face+painting,+katelyn.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<strong>Photo Booth-</strong> <em>Who doesn't love to don a feather boa and a cowboy hat every now and again? I freehand cut black paper mustaches and hot glue gunned them to skinny wooden dowels (Hobby Lobby). I gathered props and costumes from our playroom as well as Hobby Lobby and Party City. </em></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafRonP0Oj2u6vIgl1Zi9MERbOfCiOPG-FCkoO0BNx4pqB7hLMSjr1OLddjWrEEVZa4erKtavCqmSfz3x8VxuLQGFUCXq5KdIVChLAE5TMbZeVyVRKSMdM8pe9BicqEu-GeSiv6db_N8Y/s1600/photo+booth,+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgafRonP0Oj2u6vIgl1Zi9MERbOfCiOPG-FCkoO0BNx4pqB7hLMSjr1OLddjWrEEVZa4erKtavCqmSfz3x8VxuLQGFUCXq5KdIVChLAE5TMbZeVyVRKSMdM8pe9BicqEu-GeSiv6db_N8Y/s640/photo+booth,+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<strong>5. GREAT GAMES</strong></div>
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As much as I love carnie games, at a party like this, it’s a good idea to have other group games planned as well. It gives you a chance to gather all the kids up for a little structured play time before you do cake and presents .</div>
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We did a <strong>WATER BALLOON TOSS</strong> game</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUon-Nq7I3BaPttWqDaI9yIaJUL9wQcW0r2AtJOEupektZ-ILoJruwtm2pLc3Zil-EJWx2bEuDqy2B-wQ4SlnouoHMhUBVNGmbQC9Gd56TOIQlOX_dYpq43pZoxrhbfpwNlCsI4PmUn9A/s1600/water+toss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUon-Nq7I3BaPttWqDaI9yIaJUL9wQcW0r2AtJOEupektZ-ILoJruwtm2pLc3Zil-EJWx2bEuDqy2B-wQ4SlnouoHMhUBVNGmbQC9Gd56TOIQlOX_dYpq43pZoxrhbfpwNlCsI4PmUn9A/s320/water+toss.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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which quickly ended up in a (parent sanctioned) <strong>WATER BALLOON FIGHT</strong>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYktZFpvRmrjL-f9E6aHAMxbv90sbhLHWfLHYJ7kHAQ3LUJss7Ojo2mnZvrJOVWEVU8ZTUMzuC06KlmJHNM6qEBj4YtIVyKbIFHta1DZPXKxuB-wGMfxv2MWleeK8eZPhW0YnZlrfYxyk/s1600/water+fight+both.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYktZFpvRmrjL-f9E6aHAMxbv90sbhLHWfLHYJ7kHAQ3LUJss7Ojo2mnZvrJOVWEVU8ZTUMzuC06KlmJHNM6qEBj4YtIVyKbIFHta1DZPXKxuB-wGMfxv2MWleeK8eZPhW0YnZlrfYxyk/s320/water+fight+both.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a></div>
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And a <strong>THREE-LEGGED RACE</strong>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhInwHP-gCTJ8Zy-KMX2jsMp2EksA_Vtpj3I9OYSlbISTlXDyoxAPGPXlWfACzc09lDfi0ol-OU6qOzwzXMJC4tCFrAkM05qlcqLbXf4Ido-vztJpaeZb1dMTSXqZnwh9dOEP6jW5SKQo/s1600/race,+az,+landen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhInwHP-gCTJ8Zy-KMX2jsMp2EksA_Vtpj3I9OYSlbISTlXDyoxAPGPXlWfACzc09lDfi0ol-OU6qOzwzXMJC4tCFrAkM05qlcqLbXf4Ido-vztJpaeZb1dMTSXqZnwh9dOEP6jW5SKQo/s320/race,+az,+landen.jpg" width="242" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4JTr_BAyECQJ0AYOPc5QK3lokwM7LzuiWqMsl6qL_KOmLWJc4LJ1c7jGDvv_DHio44djsAgAh4eyvXsU8f2JqSgJozAEfN9cRm91ogfa4g1VK11_iuo5j8AmYrrMsarj3s-9jygOylc/s1600/race,+mom+&+cal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4JTr_BAyECQJ0AYOPc5QK3lokwM7LzuiWqMsl6qL_KOmLWJc4LJ1c7jGDvv_DHio44djsAgAh4eyvXsU8f2JqSgJozAEfN9cRm91ogfa4g1VK11_iuo5j8AmYrrMsarj3s-9jygOylc/s320/race,+mom+&+cal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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An obstacle course, relay race, and/or hula hoop contest would all work really well here too. We just ran out of time.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">6. FAIR FOOD</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSwLSowOIfDWeAfOcG1BfNNKUY-lSXzupYLamm9djgoc4Y4lHXWsMzQ3qaIE5xBrC_-HG6khp1iK9DshEBNrAZrTntTB2higcebGpHxl2OASErjvuekNXfzwJMrbZHpyo1HTsGQypAcg/s1600/food,+maycee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDSwLSowOIfDWeAfOcG1BfNNKUY-lSXzupYLamm9djgoc4Y4lHXWsMzQ3qaIE5xBrC_-HG6khp1iK9DshEBNrAZrTntTB2higcebGpHxl2OASErjvuekNXfzwJMrbZHpyo1HTsGQypAcg/s320/food,+maycee.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KmvAbsgjJc4yw0Y1zzY6hlLqukbuipeHmpu3IXdVAcMxXM3WsjfkZRmHGKBq_aBlaegJ0c48hlcg9UedhKi9rOuuUnUubz4_pHJK4ETnbbLKLw_zZ9vp1osni8ndH70_shBY5UEQ7-s/s1600/cotton+candy,+cal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7KmvAbsgjJc4yw0Y1zzY6hlLqukbuipeHmpu3IXdVAcMxXM3WsjfkZRmHGKBq_aBlaegJ0c48hlcg9UedhKi9rOuuUnUubz4_pHJK4ETnbbLKLw_zZ9vp1osni8ndH70_shBY5UEQ7-s/s400/cotton+candy,+cal.jpg" width="266" /></a>I am a simple country girl. I don’t know if there is any food I love more than Navajo tacos and elephant ears. I needed to keep it a little more simple for this carnival though, since I knew I would be busy keeping close tabs on a lot of kiddos, coordinating all the events and running the face painting booth as well. The food needed to consist of items that could be prepped before hand that little fingers could help themselves to. So, I decided on some of mine and Azure's other favorite fair treats…kettle corn, cotton candy <em>(machine rented from Bruno’s Party Time Rental),</em> licorice, salt water taffy, pretzels from Costco with melted Velveeta cheese, sugar cookies made to look like Whirly Pops, and cake & cupcakes made to look like buckets of popcorn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Yes, my dears, get your printers ready...here are the <strong>RECIPES</strong> for my homemade fair fare:</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">POPCORN CAKE & CUPCAKES</b></div>
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Make your favorite cupcake recipe. Mine is found at the <a href="http://www.cheekykitchen.com/2009/12/brown-sugar-vanilla-cupcakes.html" target="_blank">cheekykitchen</a>.</div>
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Top with your favorite butter cream frosting, mine is found <a href="http://www.cheekykitchen.com/2009/09/buttercream-101.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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And then follow one of the many guides to making mini-marshmallows look like popcorn. I watched this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wz31aLSvUI" target="_blank">one</a>, and modified. </div>
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In an effort to save time whilst creating 80 cupcakes, I did not cut my marshmallows – I ripped and twisted and pinched and then placed them on the buttercream topped cakes. I scoured my city and couldn’t find red & white striped paper anywhere, and remembered while standing in the middle of the fifth store on my search, that I had red & white striped wrapping paper tucked away in a closet back home. That’s what I used, and though it was a little flimsy, did the job. {Thanks Grammy for helping with cupcake paper wrapping!} I also did <em>not</em> get to the 'butter' painting. I saved that for very last of all my things to get done that day, just in case I had spare time. Clearly, I did not have spare time, but I think they looked just delightful, even without it.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SUGAR COOKIE WHIRLY POPS</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lCbiK_ZryxExVIHeC-nz6DA28WzBOdthn_UjBYhwSVt4t5aKICo01nVGTT2Gg729nnxu4wfZuXNHV2u05YgxxXQ5yxtwecpZJji_yC7Nhr93hscNeD83MJ-wRbjJ8CfMrD-4eP03Oog/s1600/food,+cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lCbiK_ZryxExVIHeC-nz6DA28WzBOdthn_UjBYhwSVt4t5aKICo01nVGTT2Gg729nnxu4wfZuXNHV2u05YgxxXQ5yxtwecpZJji_yC7Nhr93hscNeD83MJ-wRbjJ8CfMrD-4eP03Oog/s640/food,+cookies.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">1 cup butter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">1 1/2 cups sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">1 tsp vanilla</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">2 eggs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">2/3 cup whipping cream</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">*cream together</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">5 cups flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">1 tsp baking soda</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">1/2 tsp salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">1 tsp baking powder</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">*mix together</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">ICING </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">1 cup powdered sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">2 tsp. milk</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">2 tsp. light corn syrup</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">¼ tsp. vanilla extract</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt;">red food coloring (only for swirls)</span></div>
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<img height="58" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrINXKgeH8ku9WPZzmbn8PH_AkOcnukVlqB8HBCY9KjKArfIP7C9coYzPtFKfpd_0611cCnMpdaofSICeui6OYLUF2XMqjIkk0A6nw0rQ_Acj-6UHDwdYeBVIWfhdJhTOeYN-IAPo_Y_g/s320/games,+giant+bowling+both.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 157px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 2073px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /><img height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JqkjOA6GhfdyTMXq_He1eIbkVA0hsD_FOKatbb4wQuxmyyU-EcYunENNfbqQAhfruEqbEgVkxVWh1L7ILUIimZ-PuWMUE59EghFDT-_cnglDTl7g27B8XKUqa3kElsZv8VnBn_LmYy8/s320/games,+spray+away+savannah.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 146px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 2797px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /><img height="58" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYktZFpvRmrjL-f9E6aHAMxbv90sbhLHWfLHYJ7kHAQ3LUJss7Ojo2mnZvrJOVWEVU8ZTUMzuC06KlmJHNM6qEBj4YtIVyKbIFHta1DZPXKxuB-wGMfxv2MWleeK8eZPhW0YnZlrfYxyk/s320/water+fight+both.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 176px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 5451px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /><img height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht4JTr_BAyECQJ0AYOPc5QK3lokwM7LzuiWqMsl6qL_KOmLWJc4LJ1c7jGDvv_DHio44djsAgAh4eyvXsU8f2JqSgJozAEfN9cRm91ogfa4g1VK11_iuo5j8AmYrrMsarj3s-9jygOylc/s320/race,+mom+&+cal.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 478px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 5514px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /><img height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtim1uZYu8n6pt7eDoG_wN-xJn0YGcjU-R3VegIGVzeu9xLh-6FO0EMQcgF5fYwTFli1GczlKIx__3xgitqw0SO_M3BJ7N3wb_R6lozyHZx6_uDRiBwuPhRPq7aBLaVij6GCJfEOn8-X8/s320/cake.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 156px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 6638px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" />Insert the sucker stick immediately after baking, with cookie lying on cooling rack. Let cool completely. Frost with white icing. Let harden. Ice with red swirls. Put in freezer over night to harden. Place in clear treat bags (purchased at Target), and tie with red ribbon. Return to freezer for up to 2 weeks until the day of your party. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">MOCK KETTLE CORN</b> – <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">air popper style, (popcorn bags from Hobby Lobby)</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxP2Bt-jnWcdWgcUv1WoXaELnFumrryI_40TsRf_tjABynwSXZyTHtViNlBkAm6mjd4tne1hEyEg-WmfeBKhgRzIJSljQph5WUyE7jvQFm_mkNpzCgFsp5182FxCqwh0lY02_C2SFGa0/s1600/good,+popcorn,+cotton+candy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" sda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxP2Bt-jnWcdWgcUv1WoXaELnFumrryI_40TsRf_tjABynwSXZyTHtViNlBkAm6mjd4tne1hEyEg-WmfeBKhgRzIJSljQph5WUyE7jvQFm_mkNpzCgFsp5182FxCqwh0lY02_C2SFGa0/s400/good,+popcorn,+cotton+candy.jpg" width="400" /></a>½ cup unpopped popcorn</div>
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¼ cup corn syrup</div>
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1/3 cup sugar</div>
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¼ cup butter</div>
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½ tsp. vanilla</div>
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1 tsp salt</div>
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Pop corn in a hot-AIR popper</div>
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In a small saucepan, combine butter, corn syrup and sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.</div>
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Cook over medium heat 1 minute, continuing to stir gently.</div>
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Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.</div>
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Sprinkle salt over popcorn, then pour syrup over popcorn and stir to coat evenly.</div>
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Let cool slightly before serving.</div>
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And there you have it. A carnival fit for a king, <em>or</em> a sweet eight year old girl, and 34 of her closest friends. </div>
</div>Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-23642693318004455772012-07-10T09:55:00.000-07:002012-07-10T10:18:28.425-07:00Through the Ashes<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Once a pond a time, (that’s how my little Azure begins all of her writings) I was a blogger. I wrote to feel useful. I blogged to hopefully inspire someone, anyone. I tapped out words on my keyboard to share some of the little things I’ve learned in this life that maybe, just maybe, you would like to learn too. </div>
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And then, I went through a period of time when I felt a little less than inspiring. A little less than useful. A little less than wise. Nothing big happened to change anything. I just let myself get busy with this thing called life, and failed to take the time to internalize the daily lessons, light, and knowledge that we’re all given if we look hard enough.</div>
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My tender-hearted Dad is someone who always looks hard enough. I remember sitting at a volleyball game with him once, and after seeing his eyes get misty, asked “Dad, are you ok?” I have never forgotten his response, though I think I was merely 11 years old at the time: “Oh yes. I was just thinking, isn’t it amazing? Isn’t it amazing that we are blessed with these amazing bodies that can run, jump, leap, dive? We have so much to be thankful for! Life is amazing!” </div>
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Life <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">is</i> amazing. Even with its twists and turns, its disappointments and trials, it is amazing. 14 days ago today, my husband’s parents’ home burned to the ground in the blaze of the <place><placename>Waldo</placename> <placename>Canyon</placename></place> fire in <city><place>Colorado Springs</place></city>. </div>
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It has been beyond devastating. When they rushed out to beat the flames that were racing their way, Grammy and Grandpa were able to grab a couple outfits each, a few photo albums, the small safe with important documents (but not the keys to said safe), and their vehicles. They suffered no physical injury (thank the heavens!) but the emotional pain has been heart wrenching. Their home of 24 years, where they raised their 6 children, where they housed their parents’ heirlooms, their memories, and their hopes, is now a pile of twisted metal and ash. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuAboM7qXJgrLGNuRVDXmu7dm4aZGPUmAHNmcQvJbSfNXak7o6evCVFGY3rJHSPA7WJMO3frHnnCT5oTIcSVi62BnOaE8Jje4OQUxUnu2PIQuo9QdYNJQKhA5nSgtWdWhyphenhyphenAluzbmB2L4/s1600/Before+&+After.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuAboM7qXJgrLGNuRVDXmu7dm4aZGPUmAHNmcQvJbSfNXak7o6evCVFGY3rJHSPA7WJMO3frHnnCT5oTIcSVi62BnOaE8Jje4OQUxUnu2PIQuo9QdYNJQKhA5nSgtWdWhyphenhyphenAluzbmB2L4/s400/Before+&+After.jpg" width="400" /></a>I have had the great pleasure to house, hug, and feed them. I have had the great honor to see the goodness of our community as they have reached out in thoughtfulness, blessed kindness, and beautiful generosity to them. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yc2o5zWF3IxivKmM7fS-n6OGaSATMD3TwbY4rrimfXFxa9tiWVtHVR7PQ_PhrTUzmn-fnXjzz07jJHjBN2GNowePlV5jsEy1gfai3sV0DJtfohB-LPFia5h6ZUxgEaiUp3aIDPZLcEk/s1600/grammy+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0yc2o5zWF3IxivKmM7fS-n6OGaSATMD3TwbY4rrimfXFxa9tiWVtHVR7PQ_PhrTUzmn-fnXjzz07jJHjBN2GNowePlV5jsEy1gfai3sV0DJtfohB-LPFia5h6ZUxgEaiUp3aIDPZLcEk/s320/grammy+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I have had the opportunity to return to the burn site along with Grammy, Grandpa, my husband, my brother-in-law, and three sister-in-laws to help remove rubble and sift through ash. We worked harder together than we’ve ever had to before. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfYbQIACBwkZPCHGy3o1nmLKHl_qGsnKPSdTjfoFkzzOcW5Eppj7dKyYFiZzi-MxKIypyIIXRqspMrCb4fdJwUT_mBJyaDwgIxyIWMdQuQWy-reBdCARixPhhd1_VNrs_ML1akXBUNcs/s1600/house+-+metal+roof.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirfYbQIACBwkZPCHGy3o1nmLKHl_qGsnKPSdTjfoFkzzOcW5Eppj7dKyYFiZzi-MxKIypyIIXRqspMrCb4fdJwUT_mBJyaDwgIxyIWMdQuQWy-reBdCARixPhhd1_VNrs_ML1akXBUNcs/s320/house+-+metal+roof.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaMi-HwH9io9Fx5ttWrZyFGJp7U7BlmBaIOZWR-L19KSFpQLbJZoFZDhcqCUwT8w0CXUZ5cHhZCISPHV82d2OzgPi97IH0MdBry2uDD2vUWVgY15m6Cu6INkEhLcLqA0GesL_E-qoPK8/s1600/house+-+K%252C+T%252C+Dan%252C+look+over+ledge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaMi-HwH9io9Fx5ttWrZyFGJp7U7BlmBaIOZWR-L19KSFpQLbJZoFZDhcqCUwT8w0CXUZ5cHhZCISPHV82d2OzgPi97IH0MdBry2uDD2vUWVgY15m6Cu6INkEhLcLqA0GesL_E-qoPK8/s320/house+-+K%252C+T%252C+Dan%252C+look+over+ledge.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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We cleared the space of huge pieces of corrugated metal roof. We hefted the metal innards of recliners, sofas, refrigerators and appliances into a towering scrap pile. And then we searched, through square foot by square foot of ash, for anything worth saving. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfbfed9P-gFPon8e7gZ05-B59nEqBYxwk-PDoL9dej1j1StrxR8PjROIBNBP8GwI-n2DJFALJXrGIXI_pOcrP6VQFbKgCESKtQ6qup6I4Kg8BO5yx40BIz2a94GbslzWDYiyBAU7gB_w/s1600/House+-+girls+working.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfbfed9P-gFPon8e7gZ05-B59nEqBYxwk-PDoL9dej1j1StrxR8PjROIBNBP8GwI-n2DJFALJXrGIXI_pOcrP6VQFbKgCESKtQ6qup6I4Kg8BO5yx40BIz2a94GbslzWDYiyBAU7gB_w/s320/House+-+girls+working.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We found broken china, charred silverware, Christmas mugs with melted glass caked to the sides, and the remains of Grammy’s jewelry rack. </div>
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But we also, bless the good Lord above, found two treasures that once belonged to my husband’s grandmother. Sweet Grammy was heartbroken that she didn’t snatch up anything of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">her </i>mother’s on her way out the door; but through the Lord’s tender mercy, these two heirlooms, one a small statue, and the other, a ceramic pitcher, were saved from the fire and the falling debris. The small statue has some damage and melted glass affixed to it, but it’s in one piece, and it has retained some of its color. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Tn_2fCRqk9J_2cSxaZvuO8ed94QJcOWd_OhFxmjdyCw44HGLezGuB5pZG2BmBVNOmjLmckG-vR1yod2fWpuVQvqSVK8Aby-uCIHkIdBDneigi77GbFNyc3hNiZIgF0i5COej4Ap9trI/s1600/figurine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Tn_2fCRqk9J_2cSxaZvuO8ed94QJcOWd_OhFxmjdyCw44HGLezGuB5pZG2BmBVNOmjLmckG-vR1yod2fWpuVQvqSVK8Aby-uCIHkIdBDneigi77GbFNyc3hNiZIgF0i5COej4Ap9trI/s320/figurine.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="219" /></a>With a good cleaning, the pitcher will be pristine. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6d6PgjYfDYIT1Zp8O6FMCjANGLrTB2h2wOd2XrdzgpnZyx6u8674yKwX_OfOuRE9u_SxmS5VK-2724m6rBl2-OfXamAc2X8EDPCnP4999n7pmrquWVnyT0V63UjHsqTLPKgjBX7ydNPM/s1600/ceramic+pitcher-vase.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6d6PgjYfDYIT1Zp8O6FMCjANGLrTB2h2wOd2XrdzgpnZyx6u8674yKwX_OfOuRE9u_SxmS5VK-2724m6rBl2-OfXamAc2X8EDPCnP4999n7pmrquWVnyT0V63UjHsqTLPKgjBX7ydNPM/s200/ceramic+pitcher-vase.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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This is truly incredible in comparison to the condition of nearly everything else that once filled their home. It feels nearly miraculous.We unearthed a few other treasuers as well, including the remains of Grandpa's military medals, a salt and pepper shaker set, some handmade kid pottery, and several charred, yet intact pieces from a seventies dish set, that by today’s standards is slightly unsightly…oh but heaven help me if those dishes weren’t the most beautiful site to behold amidst the filthy, grey ash.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7xnVIqh4wlfbko_hVHCtPmdcO_-qsEiYMc3DvIl9KV481Nc2BhVP1XWyLazPi9NxGF1z40iXTAhpFmMiThpJIbw_I9pQCHuTDZVdVWyNVjPx62Drkgirb890tsXcHsGkMVzoUdL_RD8/s1600/medals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7xnVIqh4wlfbko_hVHCtPmdcO_-qsEiYMc3DvIl9KV481Nc2BhVP1XWyLazPi9NxGF1z40iXTAhpFmMiThpJIbw_I9pQCHuTDZVdVWyNVjPx62Drkgirb890tsXcHsGkMVzoUdL_RD8/s400/medals.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxW6MX-4Xjkal4H8RmubEiMmpz6Xs9RxPcFWgcigmUeq2pG6B4nuQippFgxMjh-NCb4hT5fA1Y6uD_UaydpOAYxkp5eIHnhS2i7yT2PGv4v_PZRxXFkwOcSBXSni8GJuOz42s36PGmP10/s1600/kid+pottery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxW6MX-4Xjkal4H8RmubEiMmpz6Xs9RxPcFWgcigmUeq2pG6B4nuQippFgxMjh-NCb4hT5fA1Y6uD_UaydpOAYxkp5eIHnhS2i7yT2PGv4v_PZRxXFkwOcSBXSni8GJuOz42s36PGmP10/s200/kid+pottery.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTr-dFY8BsLlWXVLAUXtxowmNzLQLrmy99WqtH1FaxvrQfFZajGePRfzXsrk2k1nOaYl55VcW3_dZ_8ae2iW2icgEPb913hQ3Uh3kqVzQDscIAgjwIChI5R9GbN0kVqjrPnGXMs-iEdAw/s1600/salt+%2526+pepper+shakers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTr-dFY8BsLlWXVLAUXtxowmNzLQLrmy99WqtH1FaxvrQfFZajGePRfzXsrk2k1nOaYl55VcW3_dZ_8ae2iW2icgEPb913hQ3Uh3kqVzQDscIAgjwIChI5R9GbN0kVqjrPnGXMs-iEdAw/s200/salt+%2526+pepper+shakers.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkWbyRrKQbyS_UL-DMqJP_3vywNoASwGux6qY7ELCSMRZIq4a-D-he4TwBtCOYqmtSiZ0ubMy8otMYJsclWtHDxdjSMB4Eri5MfzRe9vSI-lBRZ0eKF-DZyImSLYN5ZQM41KpCK9hKH0/s1600/mug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnkWbyRrKQbyS_UL-DMqJP_3vywNoASwGux6qY7ELCSMRZIq4a-D-he4TwBtCOYqmtSiZ0ubMy8otMYJsclWtHDxdjSMB4Eri5MfzRe9vSI-lBRZ0eKF-DZyImSLYN5ZQM41KpCK9hKH0/s320/mug.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOD4XrTmZmMVw8tpfGrDSyjgFMr4FcSWxcdabEjCXgD4LYjJcIh1R29Azcd9T8XhAxwRYg-GD9aD60c44-un0_rVx31XrJCFCfVQdM_qjkg2vSLNHy69gPOUMW8jn28FhhLAcHZAJObjg/s1600/house+-+girls+breaktime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img $ca="true" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOD4XrTmZmMVw8tpfGrDSyjgFMr4FcSWxcdabEjCXgD4LYjJcIh1R29Azcd9T8XhAxwRYg-GD9aD60c44-un0_rVx31XrJCFCfVQdM_qjkg2vSLNHy69gPOUMW8jn28FhhLAcHZAJObjg/s320/house+-+girls+breaktime.jpg" width="320" /></a>Life is Amazing. Devastating. Trying. Frustrating. Intriguing. Enlightening. Humbling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Exciting. Life is <em>amazing</em>, and I am immensely grateful that I have so many amazing people to share it with, even if some happen to be (temprorarily) homeless. <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-80618755483447896862012-03-14T09:08:00.008-07:002012-03-14T10:05:52.695-07:00My Fairy To Do ListYou know that beautiful to do list you make for the week while you're sitting at church, and of course listening to the inspiring lesson at the same time? Oh good, you do that too? Glad I am not alone!<br /><br />Each week, my list looks quite similiar. I write out all of my kid things, house things, church things, work things, and then get to the part of the list that I love the most...My Projects. This is my Fairy Godmother portion of the list. Everything else is a little Cinderella-esque. Wash the dishes, sweep the floor, scrub down the inside of the van...but then, if I'm a good girl, and work hard to finish all of my other chores, then I can spend time on My Projects. As life goes, my weeks usually end up pretty full of <em>real</em> life...you know...homework, and chores, and sick kids, and sick me, and cooking, and chores, and errands and working out, and chores, and running kids to swim, soccer, tennis, kids' zumba, piano, spanish club, birthday parties, doctor's appointments, and preschool, and chores, and spending fabulous time talking with my great friend who is about to move, and certifying to be a Zumba Instructor (woohoo!), and chores, to the point that it would take a wave of a Fairy Godmother's wand to grant me the time to reach that magical part of my list that seems to reappear untouched every week.<br />That, as you may have guessed, is the part of my list where I jot down my goal to write and create fabulous posts for this little blog of mine at least three times a week. It is in that portion of the list that I remind myself with exclamation points to take beautiful pictures of the healthy recipes I promised my readers at least a month ago, and challenge myself to figure out how to unlock the recording of an awesome interview I did with a very inspirational woman so I can finally share it with you all. It is also the place I vow to offer my personalized graphic design services to you.<br />Perhaps, if I could sleep a little less...I could fit it all in. So that's my goal this week. Sleep less. Do more. We'll see how that works out.<br />Until then, I have a little sample of one of the things I can do for you.<br />Last month, my friend emailed me this list of words:<br />Go Lancers<br />Liberty Basketball<br />Team<br />Integrity<br />Selflessness<br />Industriousness<br />Pride<br />Passion<br />Work Hard<br />You must work like a champion to play here<br />She wanted something special to display at a basketball ceremony, and to give to her son's teammates. I took her list of the basketball team's core values, along with the instructions that the team colors are blue & red, and that no swirly girl fonts were allowed, and created this:<br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 262px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5719796321972456242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzcAoJ0KOd7af96d3Q_jZ_5lUUkdxmBgtt97RALjr5YtFh1_g95oYgPAT6SItqDcEBeyzm6TnXScSpZMR-DL_pWD5XJ4rdlG6OM2bjhrvRLMiqZIIGNmB8WEtoE-Up0ZN_mdNjwdmsKg/s400/Liberty+Lancers+Poster_page001.jpg" /> And wouldn't you know it? They loved it. </p><br /><p>Would you like your very own personalized subway-style art? Would you like me to do it for you? Oh, you're a doll. Thanks! Email your words to me at: <a href="mailto:cumorah@jencotech.com">cumorah@jencotech.com</a>. For $20 I'll send you a completed PDF & JPG file of your artwork. If you want me to print it for you...we'll have to chat.</p><br /><p>I wish you all a selfless, passionate, industrious and Fairy Godmother blessed type of week!xoxo,Cumorah</p>Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-40799129764730193542012-02-27T20:16:00.002-08:002012-02-27T21:38:26.556-08:00Better TogetherYou know those scriptures that talk about how when you are ready to enter the fold of God, you desire to "bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort"?<br />Sometimes, I think we focus on doing all of that bearing, mourning and comforting to those outside of our home. Outside of our immediate family. Outside of our marriage.<br />Can I tell you how blessed I feel, that today, a day definitely outside of my "be strong, be happy, and love the life you live" norm, that my sweet husband was there to bear my burdens, to mourn with me, and to comfort me? He was a strength just when I needed him to be, and a sweet shoulder to let my tears fall on.<br />I am not really a panic type of crier. I tear up at babies being born, and sisters being married, and wipe my wet eyes when a friend shares her burdens, or my little girl talks about her love of the Savior, but I generally hold it together when my life's road gets bumpy. But, suffice it to say, today was a little out of the norm, and my man was there for me.<br />I was reminded in that moment, standing in our kitchen, with my head on his shoulder, and his arms wrapped around me, of the incredible blessings of marriage. We are two, different people, who have, as it turns out, very different strengths. Sometimes our differences might be mistaken as a weakness, but I will say, that I believe our forces combined make us great. We are better people because we have eachother. And I love that.<br />And I love him.<br />The end.Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-22683328380960706242012-02-15T12:36:00.000-08:002012-02-15T13:16:18.618-08:00Valentine's Day, Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me?The following is my sweet husband’s definition of yesterday’s holiday, in his own, exact words:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 287px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709469246089313618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhyQUJxWnzqWe7VnlhxJ0MI1Rtsz7wK0e7n-SK4n_yW1KL1o3iqwbme0Vg935BrReSnoT2ue4pJ8mpzm_oJHnqPaeCI13frIP0qmM8ijDaFC-AvBU0jXz_XMUAf0DsBqkWg9tz8C62gw/s400/Sweet+Husband+--+VDay.jpg" /> Last week he suggested that we celebrate Valentine’s Day on Thursday instead of Tuesday, the real day.<br />“Why?” I asked.<br />“Because everything will be half off the day after Valentine’s Day”<br />You can tell that he is truly a romantic, can’t you?<br /><br />While I know that he is not, and never will be a gushingly romantic guy, and while I have come to the understanding that he will never, on this day in mid-February, sweep me off my feet and plan a date and arrange a babysitter and gaze into my brown eyes over a candle-lit dinner while we talk about all of the amazing, fabulous things that make me, me…I think a little part of me will never give up hope that it could <em>possibly, maybe, just maybe, one of these years</em>, happen.<br /><br />I knew this would not be that magical year. He had a city league basketball game, and an indoor soccer league game scheduled for Valentine’s night. Really? Who schedules city league sports games on Valentine ’s Day. Oh, that’s right, a <strong>guy</strong>! I had come to grips with this. I suggested that we at least go out to lunch for V-day, which he agreed to. Though, while I was pinning down my boys at the doctor’s office for their shots that morning, he called to see if it would be ok if he invited another couple to join us on our lunch date. Apparently his friend had just invited him out to lunch. He didn’t want to have tell his friend no, so the obvious solution in his cute little mind was to just invite his friend and his wife to tag along with us.<br /><br />While I really like these friends, I was a little bewildered that my sweet husband would want to include them on our Valentine’s date. So I gave that idea the old heave ho.<br /><br />While we were at lunch {with our adorable third wheel}<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 242px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709469257554267938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMilnfa3NqYFCzokdg3Rnr4i7qUy2olbcD0DhIREOPtIGHK7N6ET-5ftWHqg4hcMxqm4WzsfFTSeWk8P-0M6cL4aJkCMQuShQdTkgScnDvfTRc4jLCA2bt506WEWRHnyICXnoC56xHooI/s400/emmett+cute-1.jpg" /> An obnoxiously rude woman sitting two tables away was profaning left and right about the horrible service. She did not look like the type of person who was accustomed to <em>lavish</em> service, yet she hollered and stomped her feet and threw around the F word like it was going out of style until she finished her meal, licked her plate clean, and then demanded her money back because it was so bleepin’ terrible.<br />It kind of ruined any atmosphere this place had going for it. Not Sweet Husband’s fault, just not exactly a great time.<br /><br /><p>After a heart pizza dinner, the kids and I cheered Daddy on in a victorious soccer game {it really is a treat to watch such a fantastic player play, and be able to claim him as our own!}, but while he was off winning the league <em>basketball</em> championship, and I was putting the kids to bed, and then doing dishes, and then folding laundry while I watched a couple mushy, V-Day themed TV shows all ALONE, I let those lonely, wistful, girly feelings creep in that make me wish that my man cared about stuff like dumb, romantic, made up holidays.<br /></p><br /><p>But alas, I will have to resign myself to be happy with a guy who cares about things like providing for his family, and taking care of my car, and doing ALL of the yard work, and shoveling our enormous driveway so I can safely leave the house amidst a snowstorm, and making time to attend all of our children’s parent teacher conferences with me, and massaging my quads after a particularly hard work out, and doing his home teaching, and showing his kids tricks on the trampoline, and dancing with me at church dances because he knows I love it, and telling his babies incredible bedtime stories, and making sure those babies have all thoroughly brushed their teeth before they get to hear those incredible bedtime stories, and offering to play Boggle with me when I’ve had an exceptionally bad day, and singing sweet country songs to me even though he’s not exactly a singer, and you know, all the really amazing, charming, thoughtful things he does every. single. day. I sure do love that man - even if he does loathe one of my very favorite holidays. And, really, he's kind of adorable, isn't he?</p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 268px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709469251403664434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjklRXk-zWfrhRR3P9PP8-fNSqA480tg9zLzV9KVzvARoQvRNfph9N2mndi6gJBfs4KGhmG8PGOWHYHd1P-53i_tet6a7Ty4mtYsSfYkxn7Ve2quZiZzvgY5yhvL20Kw6Ha2dioTOMWRmA/s400/IMG_0212-1.jpg" />I do hope you had a good Valentine's Day, but I hope you have a better, every <strong>other</strong> day of the year with your significant other. Here's to <strong><em>real,</em></strong> day in, day out, snow shoveling love!Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-27945897369581612962012-02-06T13:34:00.001-08:002012-02-06T14:27:16.325-08:00Just a taste of my TestimonyI go to church. Every Sunday. For 3 hours. {Well, honestly, I'm usually a snitch late, so we'll make that 2.75 hours}<br /><br />I do this among other reasons because 1. I am a believer 2. being a part of a community to which I feel responsible helps me be a more loving, more selfless person and 3. I want my children to learn the same values and principles that I did as a child & youth, and the good people at church help me in that quest.<br /><br />I am not here to debate theology. I believe God truly loves ALL people, not a select few that belong to a certain sect, and that he gives knowledge to ALL people. I will say that I am happy with the life I have chosen. I am happy with the life I am trying to give to my babies. I am happy that I have felt God's love and light in my life.<br /><br />In my church {yes, I'm a Mormon} we have this little thing called Testimony Meeting. On the first Sunday of each month, during our regular church services, the entire Sacrament Meeting{after the passing & partaking of the sacrament} is open to anyone who might feel prompted to share their testimony with the other members of the congregation. People leave their comfortable seats in the pews {or if you're like me you're usually in the hard metal overflow chairs in the back} make their way to the front of the chapel, step up to the microphone, and share their personal, faith promoting experiences and beliefs.<br /><br />Would you like a teensy glimpse into how this works? Oh, good. I thought you did. :) Yesterday was one such Sunday. And yesterday, my heart was full. And yesterday, I found myself in front of the microphone wondering if what I had to say was at all important. But there I was, and there was no turning back. The following is what I said. {Mind you, I did not write this down beforehand, so this transcript is from memory of what stumbled out of my mouth...but I think it's pretty close.}<br /><br />My name is Cumorah McOmber, and the testimony I would like to share today is a simple one. It is that Christ lives and loves us. When I say “us”, I don’t mean merely us - the Cordera Ward. I don’t mean just us – The Mormons. I mean all of us. Humankind. He loves all of us. Everyone. He and His Father have given us the tools to be happy and find joy in this life. They give us opportunities to see their hand in life all around us. I have witnessed these things in several ways this month.<br /><br />I have felt the power of the Priesthood as my husband and father gave my daughter who was suffering, and in pain, a blessing of comfort and healing before she went in for surgery.<br />I have seen Their tender mercies as I was given the opportunity to snuggle up with my Granny on her bed and sit and chat and hug and kiss her just two weeks before her unexpected death.<br />I have felt comfort and peace as we gathered together to celebrate her amazing, uplifting and inspiring life, and felt joy in the knowledge and testimony I have of eternal families and the Plan of Salvation, knowing that she has joined the other half of her dynamic duo, my Grandpa who is equally amazing. I felt for those in attendance who do not share that same testimony, who were pained and sorrowed at her passing. That is a sorrowful thing, to not believe in the eternities, and that life and love continue on. That is a sorrowful thing.<br /><br />I have seen Their great compassion and love for all of us, as I have spoken with my sister about her trials with depression, and how she was given hope and encouragement in the knowledge that even a prophet of God, George Albert Smith, who’s teachings we are studying in Relief Society and Elders’ Quorum this year, suffered through the <a href="http://tenderheartedmercy.blogspot.com/2012/01/on-physicalmental-illness-and-george.html">same thing</a>. I have witnessed that the Lord loves us and looks after us all, even through our struggles.<br /><br />And just this morning, when I learned that my father was to be called as Bishop of his ward today, the Spirit spoke to me, acknowledging that “Yes! Of course! This is where he is meant to be, and what he is supposed to be doing.” The Spirit spoke to me. What a precious gift.<br />You know, sometimes, as a mom, as a parent, I get nervous that I am doing it wrong. I look to my dad, a man who never raised his voice to me, who was gentle, and kind, but whose quiet words “I am disappointed” were crushing beyond belief, and I believe that is what the Savior and His Father must be like. They are gentle, and kind, and oh, I do not want to disappoint them. Luckily, they have given us the tools we need to live our lives well here, and they surround us with their love. We are given the opportunity to share that love and be a blessing on their behalf with everyone around us. I have had those opportunities, and I have been a recipient of those blessings, which strengthen my testimony that Christ truly lives. That I have a Heavenly Father. And that they love me, just as they do all of “us”.<br /><br />I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-57405978423162147572012-02-03T11:19:00.000-08:002012-02-03T13:11:31.736-08:00Slim Down Series - #2So a couple weeks ago, I was in the ladies room at the gym and encountered an advertisment that looked very similiar to this: <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 357px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704991737180472258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGjGEMUYmwDPcsz-YTv-xqRNtYpWqwL1j5Ub-yNtKJbB5tyvs07ii2UDywHEr_BdJdIRJs64dLWQIozK7W58Q-91bH7Mcag5Q0b_FY7X1ogaqWmcy1JirDuNys0zG08Dpko4HhNtZW7o/s400/crave+this+not+that+both.jpg" />If they were trying to get me to go home right after my workout and eat an entire stack of cookies by myself, their advertisement was extremely effective. If, on the other hand, they were attempting to lure me to their cafe to buy their shake mix. They failed. Bigtime. There should be a rule about posting pictures of delicous looking cookies at the gym. Their ad should have looked a little more like this:<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 357px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704991747602777298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXshtqpKTXiIUzLiexKl0cMESSd9rTXcv-ZaYjh0Phne0Pvo4x_vHylguIQHXROiybuKwwvXRH7j8VH5wejCnclTvSBHWuhTHOF4qmHwDB2_KbfBHu32HT6jmG9TBIKYI2VFJIa6uFgFU/s400/crave+this+not+that+both+2.jpg" /> Now that might have given me the urge to sample their fruit protein shake...which I know they carry...instead of giving me a hankering for dessert. Pictures of greasy, flat cookies at the gym? Sure. Plump, scrumptious, cookies? Heavens no. I get enough temptation in the comforts of my own home, I certainly don't need it at the gym too!<br />As a mama, I think one of the trickiest parts of trying to eat healthy {I won't say 'diet' because that sounds too much like something you do for a few days and then quit} is preparing yummy breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for my kids - that they will actually eat - and having to prepare completely different, healthier things for me. Little Cal's PB&J on white bread with the crust cut off, sounds like heaven when I'm eating dry tuna and pickles for lunch.<br />I have found though, that if I have my healthy food prepared ahead of time, or even if I have a 'go to' healthy food list written down, it is much easier to thwart the temptation to sneak PB&J's or french toast smothered in butter & syrup & powdered sugar off my chitlins' plates.<br /><br />One thing I should say before I give you my little list, is this: my healthy eating plan is not scientific. It is based on what works for <em>me</em> that I have found through trial and error, and from reading lots and lots of diet plans. <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">The rule of thumb that works for me is to: Eat one portion {about the size of your fist} of protein, one portion of smart carb {like a fruit, or whole wheat, or red potatoes - no white carbs}, and as many vegetables as you want for every meal, and drink lots & lots of water.<br /></span></strong>Here is my go to list of super simple, real things to throw together or stock your fridge with. No frills. No Salmon with chutney. Just real, every day, healthy eats:<br /><strong>BREAKFAST:</strong><br /><br /><div>Green Smoothie Protein Shake ~ <em><span style="font-size:85%;">Look for this recipe in a future post </span></em></div><br /><div>Cottage Cheese </div><br /><div>Scrambled egg & egg whites with turkey, green onions and red peppers</div><br /><div>Plain oatmeal with a snitch of vanilla & cinnamon<br />Whole wheat Sandwich Thin {half} with almond butter</div><br /><div>And last, but certainly not least, Homemade 'Lara' Balls </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 324px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705002614497040578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mfE9C0cvv0_maGowMSRzVCxedguhd-y2O8qGJ7kAHxRPkxYvkNTQts15jNZX-TLiOlkwVgf07bZyYGNnK9cwUnLyxcS17ZRNVfIWBoaqaSSRnZQorNepWFPKQ0nzWa3mQoGxiIEuBkE/s400/lara+balls.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 189px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705012047563244994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiJl9wySkmL4_c4SmDIQ_OYVlPWgjnmqRdWb6rOd4y2JS90XZRNlck0BH_KOJnRss5LFHg8xt_pw4tqyYr_drKVK_LkSzZBfR73xL_CxZNEVNWglRpGv8a762Z3Fb3zenRnX5rkel5PjY/s400/lara+ball+1.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 193px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705012052992292946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUu0dMfKsbS7QgdqayQppT2joWDwrM76AosdT1WRGLK8HV1Dn0ZxPG4pca4DoWe3xvAr7YzEcecZjD3f6njrt_nMhCu7jMlO1uwbSXgyc3XgW9nJvQWwYH3mPUGngIKvWojPwVS4i1uVs/s400/lara+bar+2.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 222px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705012062213828082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Rs5dD4_bgsvNa7UAMIWfF7-5Yy4sPNnnAfS0xu-9LVsjeTEnYygFc8G_A6At7NOPnsbeJ5svLGHna21VlT3triOJEfNGupeh_kGsHHTH8yta8gfsX82GZ0tw3tugAhNhmCsIGAgs7-Q/s400/lara+balls+3.jpg" /> <strong>LUNCH:</strong><br />Open faced turkey sandwich<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 272px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705001340951375618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0FK3xZXrXK3ZIQ3Gnv9WEWFH4o4OOTUDebaj3l3pGV2VtQYbYTmTdmaWb40RtVwc7QSIdthT1zk9X7p9CNRys1GTU_uOhXm42g6iORQt7olK-yWCvvuUzp4zxyJ9M1oDJ20jwE_ohMXk/s400/turkey+sandwich.jpg" /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">I take a whole wheat round sandwich thin, add mustard, then stack with mesquite smoked turkey, tomatoes, and green onions and microwave for 15 seconds (just so it gets a little juicy) and add sprouts to the top. Delish.</span></em><br />Plain tuna with chopped pickles {I can only hack this probably once a week}<br />Crockpot shredded chicken salad ~ <em><span style="font-size:85%;">Look for this recipe in a future post</span></em><br />Black Bean & Corn Salsa ~ <span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Look for this recipe in a future post</em></span><br /><strong>DINNER:</strong><br />No noodle Turkey Lasagna<strong> ~</strong> <span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Look for this recipe in a future post</em></span><br />Grilled Chicken with Fruit Salsa ~ <em>Look for this recipe in a future post</em><br />White Bean Chicken Soup ~ <em>Look for this recipe in a future post</em><br />Shredded Chicken & Black Bean tacos on whole wheat tortilla<br /><strong>SNACKS:</strong><br />Lara Bars/Homemade 'Lara' Balls<br />Almonds<br />Turkey Jerky<br />Chewable Vitamin C {sweet enough to pass for dessert in a bind!}<br />Fruit<br />Whole Peas<br />Carrots<br />and Extra Mint Chocolate Chip Gum <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 321px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 252px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5705015243948983554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-prLcDB3yDWkmgr53TdLTxqJlJITYpEf-GfUefe_3BFxHuYvmyQxGf8J9YJ95tkPdSWBk4W02KmxpHrgk-eKVYGMgB_5Q3PMy611sYaQTStPykctZJb1Qejm56q-Ly8jRE2nXwUL45Q/s400/mint+gum.bmp" /><br /><br /><br /><p>Heaven bless the people at Wrigley's for conjuring up this 5 calorie dessert. Love it. Here's to a healthier 2012 version of you! Look for more simple, everyday, healthy recipes in upcoming posts, and remember, <span style="font-size:130%;">YOU CAN DO ANTYHING</span>!</p>Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-56591450031621731382012-01-30T09:58:00.000-08:002012-01-30T13:46:33.792-08:00Slim Down Series - #1Did you happen, like over 40% of US adults, to make a goal to lose weight this year? I have made that goal several times before. Of course I have ~ I am a woman. I have had four babies. I have stretch marks and a closet-full of clothes that range in size from 2-16. Anyone with me here?<br />While I don't ever plan on being a 2 again {there is something to be said for the phrase 'birthing hips'} I am also ready, after two years of chasing my goal, to toss the bigger jeans for good.<br />That's right, I said TWO years. Sometimes a one year resolution to lose weight & get healthy just isn't long enough. It sure is easy to get sucked in by the before & after pictures on a weight loss protein bar or shake mix box and hope that the contents will immediately do the same thing for you. But in reality, it takes consistency and time.<br /><br />After my last baby, I was seriously stuck in the weight department. I always gain lots, and I mean like 70 pound lots, with each pregnancy, but was able to work out and eat smart to lose most of it after the first three babies. But that fourth one. Whew! I tell ya. It was a different story. My usual after baby weight-loss routine did next to nothing for that post-fourth-baby-body.<br /><br />He was born in the summer of 2009. As you can see below, I hadn't lost much at two months out (check out those thighs - yipes!) But I was determined to change. I hired an amazing <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=1130846556">personal trainer,</a> and with her guidance lost about 35 pounds in 2010. And then, I was stuck again. I was working out and eating relatively well, but couldn't get those pounds to move. I switched gyms, discovered Zumba, designed a weekly workout routine filled with interval, weight and cardio training for myself, and found healthy recipes that I actually enjoy eating. By being consistent with those things, I lost my last 20 pounds in 2011, and am currently at a happy & healthy weight/size! <strong>{disregard the seriously cheesball, trying to be a model, sassy face in my 2011 pic - I was posing for my </strong><a href="http://jenniferwyethphotography.com/index2.php#/home/"><strong>photographer</strong></a><strong> friend's portfolio and got a little carried away!} </strong>My fitness goals for 2012 are aimed at firming, toning, and ditching the skirted swimsuit!<br /><br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 319px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703491002689860290" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy05vnUfY46c8gIUjjiGYvG8IKP1lhyphenhyphenyoq68KixX034qeahG2T6Nvdr8VBVE_-Z3Cg_rtXBaKQqQj2YR1ilxXZg08H8VVWTptrhGrIzBSJYFs0zDtxDn4hvSwRJQZAxtmTVLoiE-PuqZE/s400/Cumo+Weight+Loss+2009-2011.jpg" />The moral of my slimming down story, is that it takes time. It seriously took me a whole two years to achieve my initial goal I made in 2009. But I did it, and would love to share a few little things that were helpful for me...just in case there are any of you that are working on that too!<br />Today, I'll give you my first tip: <strong>Schedule Your Workouts and Keep a Log<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5703515167658866850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6muaJG3clpNh0I51uSDVEYawjxDta3z6H02dAlUH_RvguJreob7cWPT56oz9gX3CAZMR9gBNOhIiVsRPVFJG8bjw6clcsp57yqCD0XGh5DUN42ffFJSC03nGpev6ncELzchwvb9KG-s/s400/my+week+in+fitness_page001.jpg" /></strong><br /><em>Hopefully you can click on this picture and print it out larger at home, or else you will have to write really, really small!</em><br />On Monday mornings (Sunday is my rest day so I never plan workouts or an eating plan for that day) I get up early and plan out my workouts for the week. I schedule around our family calendar for the week so I don't run in to giving up the class I was banking on for a doctor's appointment instead. Of course, those things are bound to happen no matter how much you plan...which is why there's also a Workout Record section as well. This is where you have to be honest with yourself and report what exercise you actually accomplished for the day. I like to write down the "when" so I can get a better feel for what time to plan my workouts in the future based on what worked the weeks before. My trainer taught me that in order to lose the amount of fat I wanted, I had to do at least 5 hours of cardio a week, with weight & strength training on top of it, so I planned accordingly. </p><br /><p>The Eating Plan is a little trickier for me. I love food. Especially cookies, and bread, and cinnamon rolls, and pasta. You know, all the super healthy things. So, it was a long road to incorporate healthier choices and cut back (I won't say eliminate because that would be fibbing) on all those delicious carbs. I found if I made a meal plan for the week, especially for lunch and dinner - that I would be much more prepared to make and eat healthier meals. I'll be sharing some of my go to recipes in the next post! And, when I kept myself accountable and recorded what I really ate as opposed to what I was planning on eating, I made significantly better choices. </p><br /><p>I'll be back soon with my tips on preparing snacks and meals ahead of time so you are ready to eat healthy whenever hunger strikes you!<br />Remember what Granny says..."<span style="font-size:130%;">You can do anything!"</span></p>Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-54303504540761686572012-01-27T09:51:00.003-08:002012-01-27T11:34:34.743-08:00You Can do ANYTHINGWhen you attend the funeral of someone you <span style="font-size:180%;">adore</span> and admire, who has lived a long, full, beautiful life... <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 252px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702371296985685458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjtFSp-LzUBpOsznMizZywgs03ii3dwQVFFdoIopY4J93tdfGX-gzUyK13GBU0MIIzmOU8grgjRGmUkFHMGmoWuL7bV0SYK-46n1pbi7txQ9r0tAbLq1OkcIpyjEMnakgQHbtV-m6-io/s400/granny+and+cumo-crop.jpg" /><span style="font-size:130%;">there are a few<span style="font-size:180%;"> tender</span> things that happen.<br /></span><br /><div align="left"><br /><div>1. You cry as you explain heaven to your 4 old boy.</div><br /><div>2. You swap stories of your cherished childhood memories of Granny with your cousins for hours. </div><br /><div>3. You tap your toes, and wipe your eyes as your aunt, cousin and uncle perform a beautiful rendition of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BPoMIQHwpo&feature=related">I'll Fly Away</a>...one I'm sure Granny loved as much as we did.</div><br /><div>4. You are inspired to live a fuller, more adventurous life after listening to your dad's perfect talk recounting Gran's life that was packed with travel, music, dancing, waterskiing, teaching, painting, crafting, life-long learning, sparkly jewelry, service and loving mothering. </div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 301px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702380361451924066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAn-1w9g_5IIpw6Jsgcsgg1pqFWMuIL0Rr0hjRB8eHZrs0N3CXqJRmg0UU_Q3D_SNiXLO4X8Zn5Yz_20u5Q3X8ifnw4qYs4corvIiH-7RY-Pk1nkaX2FKuM9Wi-NyIZxvxHW0OMIKnAug/s400/Basket+for+Grace.jpg" /><span style="font-size:78%;">{<em>Basket for Grace</em> ~ one of my favorite paintings by Granny}<br /><br /></span><br /><div>5. You wonder how she was able to do all of these amazing things while being a fifth grade teacher and a mom to four children. </div><br /><div>6. You make 3 promises to yourself: a.To learn how to play the guitar this year, b. To live your life outdoors more often, and c. To never, ever stop being excited by your blessed life, and the beautiful world around you.</div><br /><div>7. You design a sign of Granny's inspiring wisdom to hang in your home...and it looks a little something like this:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 394px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702393250413501554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQlb428r91UTE6dU6x2-mGEV5boW5ZhEplWumtxTl283JxTXp7CtuHrnyhLkI4EBNGpFF3TGfYVqxcsmhXB4YNTPr0YBAH_9XdJhl1z4VSgrnaVfZEXcMJiOzcMdrm9HgDGSRNL1sMR4/s400/You+Can+Do+Anything_page001.jpg" /></div></div><br /><p>8. You hug your babies, you kiss your brother, you hold your sisters' hands, you cry on your dad's shoulder, and you vow to make your life a little better, a little grander, a little sweeter, a little more like hers. </p><br />The end.<p><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>If you'd like to read more about my sweet Granny's life, jump </em></span><a href="http://tenderheartedmercy.blogspot.com/2012/01/tribute.html"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>here</em></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em> to read the accounts my brilliant sister wrote. </em></span></p>Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-7660512131923696162012-01-06T23:43:00.000-08:002012-01-09T09:43:43.626-08:00On Holidays, a Mishap & Blessings<div align="left">Have you recovered from the holidays yet? Me neither. Next year, I promise you two things: I will, #1 Simplify and #2 Have my shopping/crafting/sewing done by Thanksgiving.<br /><br />There were several beautiful, wonderful, inspiring, fun filled things that went RIGHT during the season. ie. T&K got married. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 303px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694804429768411474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSSZgiH9Qv_f3PtnGZn0Xy8MIme9u-CPXeP3PiRGBAR09BlvrPpyKonip4yELx0zz_eTN7GSayvjxB3ds4x6LGTW4fhIvnj3_TG5veIDDYeeAAxi_YdcmPxj6aYM_lcFp7jBPNLo0LXE/s400/temple%252C+k%2526t+first.jpg" /><em>{isn't this wedding pic great? pretty sure most brides feel like this!} </em></div><br /><br /><br /><p>We bowled, swam, rocked climbed and shot bows and arrows with our kids and nephews without injury.<br /><br />Sweet Husband and I hosted a 21 person sit down Thanksgiving Dinner. </p><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694804423286985538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74qA3lbUYLezOVvtRcrIAiqZdt2o2JYqCMxp0pmkemXCou4b-0cxsZvNqbZ0miZvMa81n-jFLEvM_ovDdBuNt_QaGs_IHvit5Sp_TKEOlIyZs8K1MtrW1j8mq2AHyct7zRWaPzpcV2fg/s400/kid+table-1.jpg" /> {<span style="font-size:85%;">Click </span><a href="http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/227192/good-things-paper-boat-place-card"><span style="font-size:85%;">here</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> for boat placecard instructions.} </span></p><br /><p>The 400 person sit down dinner party/program I oversaw <em><span style="font-size:85%;">(luckily not the food part – just the writing, directing, set making, event decorating. publicizing, and concept part)</span></em> went splendidly, and little B was fantastic as star of the show. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694804421038729794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4EbzphFacbZbyYFeR8IEtymOIufGrPgNpH_R5QhUe_IszgymzMCdBR_NfrOfGxKzk77VcUsVHP8tHcuv89CGdT_JMU3B7HcZ3NUvjF0E8bdXxAYerJmBt6LwdY0Wu3WdZFoh2af4zdE/s400/Cordera+express+Poster_page001.jpg" />Greeting cards were designed and (mostly) sent.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 259px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694803613441819106" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kj6EgukqHo8ebHkFHyEhO_9U-mcF-kqAQ35lXIibVe3affwV3bQFh3AWhfM5Lfi4YKg8kN9fzcw_rM-k7ANVvsDTmvfvvaknVPiyx7w9RdpFSmNyATI91MU13JaXTUNEIDffx2-nTgI/s400/christmas+card+2011%252C+for+blog.jpg" /><br />The stockings were hung and the house was trimmed.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 354px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694803604897904994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzgM206v_ZPYaRDydfqhYZ7BkEUH4vrZKpcGEr_5bssojv4xR2Yu-3aRXBy2bC9zf_65gtTDjFFvynXq7KPperzDten5ezPmZB0hIu_nB4W0lQcakFFgtm4f66kcnFPP9ZKQIRr4ilwY/s400/joy+picture-1.jpg" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 398px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694803603808634706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaAIaTb2Rs5bnP0QXT_AOxJ1Hbdoe4N8oC2YdBZ9kMgvX7lDDMl9TlPT672_9KpCyFSizrY8JBXmV87CUG4yuJTmD7xAJ6a-4kRpAHnogqT20GXAtH2wfd1U0WqGpZYNi4A6vhQqlcwQ/s400/wreath.JPG" /><br />Santa's lap was sat in.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAM-5fmHgYL3fGnGOoh8kKAzovO1IrMaCT2EfxAQKISpbmm-sFL04XJUks-rHrcPICazRkOuPDEf8qVEJeouyFfmsjF4mdCkAzk4ennQipw6m98zf0O0UjsbmMeBZu2OdiNdG6EqfknkI/s1600/b+%2526+santa.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 321px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694808837563369970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAM-5fmHgYL3fGnGOoh8kKAzovO1IrMaCT2EfxAQKISpbmm-sFL04XJUks-rHrcPICazRkOuPDEf8qVEJeouyFfmsjF4mdCkAzk4ennQipw6m98zf0O0UjsbmMeBZu2OdiNdG6EqfknkI/s400/b+%2526+santa.jpg" /></a><br />A true <em>Christmas Miracle</em> occured when I was able to deliver the organized, divided, complete t-shirt order to our elementary school BEFORE the kids were off for Christmas Break.<br /><br />Presents were purchased & made. Carols were sung. Treats were delivered. Stockings were filled. Smiles were captured. Heart strings were tugged as we listened to B perform her solo during Sunday services. Christmas dinner at our dining room table surrounded by people we love was delightful. And, we made record time on our car trip to visit my parents for New Years - a mere 8.5 hours.<br /><br />Fake Christmas was grand.<br />The dinosaur museum was larger than life.<br />Ice skating with my sister and our babies was awe-inspiring.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 257px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694799998577199890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCVmMmy68zSMc1GbI5RttAmdt1QppMsbk_CJaxVpPsvbpnVAzmubLED-SCH1Z6dFLZujVqQQvZxymruHjGB8f2LpE6a7Xq_J8KfUGmvOSsa4J2NB87tSUbeIY_-I3LPY8nL2QSjhaaKc/s400/girls+skating-1.jpg" /><br />A night out with some of our favorite people at our much loved Brazilian place was perfect. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 264px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694799994868374834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8jCaVdMoq1Lvoip4blg-8To5tilzhKnLvYKnUn0MYy4lrf7CaPAM-IxkA6VjlvJ7KbFatEeeCkn1v89lRIUwW-YDaWHfpEVuOF4ktF-XRt9tCTQeu0xKTh0ZbHeekLUSaRoNwxV6BLvo/s400/tucanos.JPG" /><br />And then…everything came to a screeching, and I mean a <em>screeching</em> halt. I have never heard screams like I heard that next day. Heavens. It broke a mama's heart.<br /><br />My sweet seven year old baby girl flew off a piece of playground equipment at the park near my parent’s home and broke her femur, clear up by her hip. We spent the next three days of our vacation with her in the hospital. Agonizing X-Rays, panic, surgery, a metal plate, a bolt, 8 screws, and a long car ride home later, we are back. She is in a wheelchair and will be for the next six weeks. Life is kind of on hold for the moment.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694799994355535586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRlbgxp7YIywxsdi7vJZ2lks3oQfMJj5GLlSvYbl9XjMsNuUvN5lbItFgJh_xea0-82sT4CpNSKcMeuasxwS3dWEe_m3GRkZ3aJsgUx35qlWnqTPkZqAf4mGErSZwXm9z48FrzL7rN9k/s400/az+hospital+gown-1.jpg" /> Through the midst of this trauma, we have been blessed with so much love. My mom’s bedside attendance. My Dad & sister’s tending of my other children so I could hold A’s hand, and wipe her tears through it all. The witness of the Lord’s care for us through my husband’s tender blessing. Her cute friends snuggling up on the bed with her to play games and watch movies for hours on end. My amazing friends & mom-in-law caring for her and my other three chitlins so I could get a little break while Sweet Husband is out of town. B’s darling friend whisking her away for reprieve from her sister who, expectedly, has not been her easy going self recently. And the school staff being so graciously accommodating in preparation of her trial return next week.<br /><br />While her recovery will be a long road, one including sleepless nights, rehabilitation and another surgery, it is not difficult to see our blessings. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 328px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5694804973484820578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcNPWBFENHQ2RjFQX9RGmD4umYMzgB1zuTwG5T47uLEt-egjEGGTVZUCmgXh-b_xKCrGUTVKl25_PsmAQe2Y75DpNJ9AXa7XkezMLLnFwK90pS88gBNHtCJ7Cacj0hkENO_AJdalcYVE/s400/being+blessed+quote.jpg" />We are truly blessed, and our greatest blessings come in the form of friends, family, neighbors…all on the errand of angels. Bless you my little angels. Bless you.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p><br /><p></p>Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-70421516308282511462011-12-17T09:33:00.000-08:002011-12-17T09:54:42.740-08:00Owl Babies<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGu-6HL-J9BH0O7wc4a3nqIKUisQuGhyrhu64mPNKmv5E7-2g4vioZkGH0TiNBr59CTOdveJIc3NP7gT6AJcGWB4Bm03Fs3hzEyXWk9zfWMpBLX-InsgsFpMd9_ni_LfozpA4_7GbXAQ/s1600/Owl+Babies.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 348px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5687152248672523890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGu-6HL-J9BH0O7wc4a3nqIKUisQuGhyrhu64mPNKmv5E7-2g4vioZkGH0TiNBr59CTOdveJIc3NP7gT6AJcGWB4Bm03Fs3hzEyXWk9zfWMpBLX-InsgsFpMd9_ni_LfozpA4_7GbXAQ/s400/Owl+Babies.jpg" /></a> As requested from sweet little Rachel, here are a couple pics of those owls that kept me up all night. Silly little things. B chose a pink one to keep, and sold the rest (for fake money) as part of a third grade project. There's a little tutorial <a href="http://juicy-bits.typepad.com/juicy_bits/2009/12/131-give-a-hoot-for-the-holidays.html">here </a>(yes, I know hers are WAY cuter than mine) if you would love to make your own owls. I would suggest not trying to make 11 in one night. They are a wee bit more time consuming than they look!<br /><br /><div>And, yes, I know how important sleep is. I am a much calmer, sweeter, spontaneous dance party type of mama when I have had my fair share of shut eye. Without it, I am a little slower, crankier, 'please go watch a show so I can rest for 15 minutes' type of mama. But every once in awhile...ok...it seems like every <em>lots</em> in awhile...something requires my staying up past my bedtime to finish. Maybe the number 1 item on my 2012 goals list needs to be: <span style="font-size:130%;">GO TO BED</span>!</div><br /><br /><div>But, not until January. There's simply too much to do for Christmas to spend my time sleeping!</div>Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-54027171190740786902011-12-15T09:38:00.000-08:002011-12-15T09:54:42.941-08:00A Tired PrayerLife this week has been a little bit on the insane side. I will have to fill you in on all of it in a few days when things {fingers crossed} calm down a bit.<br />For now, I will simply admit that some days, my prayers are more <em>real</em> than others. Today is one of those days. It was not a kneeling on the ground, head bowed, pouring my heart out kind of prayer, but an out loud, while driving, with maybe just a few tears threatening to fall from my tired little eyes type of prayer.<br />"Please help me to stay awake and not crash and not hurt my sweet baby boys as I drive them to swim practice, since I'm so crazy tired because I was up til four in the morning making those crazy owl ornaments for B's Product Fair at school that were due this morning; and I'm kind of freaking out because I didn't get to work on the things I was planning to for the church party I'm in charge of tomorrow, or the t-shirt project for the PTA that is also due tomorrow, since I was sewing, and stuffing, and cursing those blasted owls instead.<br />And thank you for caffeine. Amen."Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-62464623053764753342011-12-08T13:58:00.000-08:002011-12-08T14:20:18.902-08:00Oh, Christmas Tree<div align="left"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 310px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683880518709972450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjjA_kQtA7_fkeAwE3xL3IutsmZAe1twbmz3Nrb3CcZHQHqtmJnmwMU01ja0bqBD3traYL3TGxbtdAJn0_63U2qHDdUpH_hDuVXSyFdcYIcFMQ7Yg5xABFwSrHZ0Exshn-L9X0IqYbu0/s400/christmas+tree.jpg" /> I have nothing against fake Christmas trees, well, I take that back…I have nothing against the <em>people</em> who own fake Christmas trees. Some of my favorite people in the whole, wide world decorate and gather round absolutely gorgeous counterfeit foliage every Christmas.<br /><strong>I, on the other hand, just can’t do it.<br /></strong>Every year as my sweetie and I snuggle up to trudge through the Black Friday ads, he elbows my side over every single plastic tree deal. You see, this is one of those little things in our marriage that we will never, ever agree on. He dreads chopping down our own Christmas tree every year, and I happen to love it. Seriously. I love getting bundled up, donning my little ones in hats and mittens and setting out on an adventure to search for our tree amidst a forest of hundreds. I love that our trees have great character. They are not pretty, in the eyes of most. They are weathered and sparse, and sometimes have two trunks, and sometimes have to be balanced by a ten pound dumbbell duct-taped to one side to keep them from toppling over {true story}, but they are beyond beautiful to me.<br />They exude character and life and contain a uniqueness all their own.<br />We came to a compromise a few years back, after a particularly disastrous year of little girls stuck in snowdrifts up to their chests in the middle of the Pike National Forest. Now, we visit the <a href="http://pikespeakalpacas.com/Merry_Christmas_Tree_Farm/Hours_and_Prices.html">Merry Christmas Tree Farm </a>up the road. There is no more hiking through 18 inches of snow in the National Forest, but we still get to peruse acres of forest land scattered with 6500 Scotch Pine, find our {im}perfect tree, and cut it down ourselves.<br />It’s still not a flawless system. This year, our four year old boy had a meltdown in the toe-numbing cold. I ended up trekking him and baby brother back to the car <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 343px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683882302804445090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNhTQKE2mSeBgX9nk588UA8IqsdIaCkeIekN1en4-AKa9J4t9NEkG9TXs-DiCd6IK_0pQnbotWkr4cdrqgn2R3wN2OpxamJkjgVER_0eBDFoFXP3lEI6erzHxEjWUylfIQ5yaWmQjshE/s400/cumo+%2526+boys.jpg" />while Dad & the girls sawed down the tree - but we made lots of memories, and have a beautiful Charlie Brown tree to show for it. A tree that upon most first impressions, receives the reaction: <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 238px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5683881626395616818" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyy-GsgG9MJgejluMmFkR_CekXQLTRqcU3bbDZlyJ2ykDjoFMuMkcl_ZwyJ7iUVli4k0-TcpdGhs0JZCPCU51h0mHkiOPVJKgDKQpazlIu5UnJMwGbnFAgfKzPK3yNUFIfdIWqigcfN88/s400/christmas+tree.jpg" /><span style="font-size:130%;">“Oh<span style="font-size:180%;">…{silence}…</span>did you cut that down yourselves?”</span> </div><br /><br /><div align="left">To which I always respond, “Yes, and I love it!”<br />And I do. I love the tree. But more, I love what it represents. That one little tree, standing in my living room represents more than just family time, and the onset of the Christmas season, and eternal life which the evergreen branches symbolize…my imperfect tree also reminds me that while others may see it as damaged or flawed, I see it’s simple beauty, it’s strength, and it’s majesty. I am not perfect. I am going to go out on a limb and guess that you are not perfect…but we have a Savior who sees our simple beauty, our strength, our majesty. We can rise to our great potential which He sees within us, or we can become what everybody else sees on the outside.<br />My little cockeyed tree helps me remember those precious things every year. I would say those thoughts of encouragement and divinity are worth the chapped cheeks, the occasional boot stuck in the snow, and the vacuum full of pine needles. So sorry sweetheart…I think I’m winning this one! </div>Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-32895184842983924292011-12-05T16:49:00.000-08:002011-12-05T17:06:08.540-08:00And the Winner Is...<span style="font-size:180%;">MELANIE!!!</span><br /><br /><div>Woohoo! I hope you are jumping for joy! It was super scientific. I wrote all of your names on slips of paper, threw them in a bowl, and the first one I picked out was Melanie. </div><br /><div>So congrats to you! You win one professionally printed and mounted {on foam core board} 11x14" print of this darling, if I do say so myself, Christmas Cheer design: <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 308px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682812329007912930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJWoksZkdEqYYwtn8GkW6bVOvqsHWv_-29_yEtYHE9LkASa_4SbZzSX86qYw1Vzwy69n8qX_z6YR0wC9qzmaQBRs7j5kQ-HKSJnxJhFK3QL8YQ-RywTsB1n_IWmnu0kexquo24bVgUfnE/s400/christmas+cheer+4_page001.jpg" />And bless you to ALL of my new followers! So happy to have you! If you would really love to have the same mounted print that Melanie just won - you can purchase it from my etsy site: <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/simplycumorah">http://www.etsy.com/shop/simplycumorah</a></div><br /><div>Congrats again Melanie, and THANK YOU to all who entered. It brings me <em>cheer</em> to see your smiling faces on my sidebar!</div><br /><div>Lots of love,</div><br /><div>Cumorah</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>P.S. Melanie! For some crazy reason, I can't send you a message over Google Friend Connect...so, if you would kindly send your mailing address to <a href="mailto:cumorah@jencotech.com">cumorah@jencotech.com</a> , I will send you your prize! Thank you!</div>Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-88494294797293872502011-12-04T21:27:00.000-08:002011-12-05T07:34:10.012-08:00Candy Cane Mountains RecipeI am not a food blogger. Nor do I have a fancy camera to take adorable pictures of food with. ~Though I have a sneaky suspicion Santa may have stayed up all night on Black Friday to snatch up a good deal on the next step up from our mini point and shoot. And I have a sneaky suspicion that Santa might tell you all about that night on the town in a later post. Keep your fingers crossed!<br /><br /><div>So sorry...got a little distracted there. Back to the matter at hand.</div><br /><div>I may not blog about food. But I happen to love it. I consume it daily, and I like it to taste good. I am particularly fond of baked goods. Homemade dinner rolls fresh from the oven, cinnamon rolls, cookies, pies~you know, all of the delicious carbs. Love them. Love them all! </div><br /><div>As mentioned in the previous post, I had the good fortune of attending two, yes, two cookie exchanges this weekend. I was planning on being super savy and bringing different treats to each one, but it just didn't happen. A little thing called life with four kids who needed their mom outside of the kitchen happened instead. However, I found/tweaked/combined two recipes to create what I am calling Candy Cane Mountains. And let me tell you, they are di.vine. Maybe even my new favorite Christmas cookie. So, in the end, I was pleased as punch to present these at both parties. And I thought, maybe, just maybe, you might be looking for a new favorite Christmas cookie too. So here it is. Please, look past the point & click pic, and just know that these little sweets are beautiful on the inside. Enjoy! <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 272px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682663419270733346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5C-Gi00xiuoS4fxPhmDJ6Mr6aV3ZAZaUDrukZXwTu_VO6cCjyyKXo-DCUILF-gBNHd8SMw6xqKbiLFXt_Vfi9hYVifb0xXDbmY0UlUS4TQOjz8qBn7Q0QUQhe6yB2c4YkURLh6nleak/s400/Candy+Cane+Mountains.jpg" /></div><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">CANDY CANE MOUNTAINS</span></strong><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">SimplyCumorah.blogspot.com<br /></span><strong>COOKIES:<br /></strong>1 C. butter, softened<br />1/4 C. packed brown sugar<br />1 egg<br />a/2 tsp. vanilla extract<br />1 C. flour<br />1/4 tsp salt<br /><br />1. Preheat oven to 320 degrees. Grease cookie sheets<br />2. Separate egg,. (you will only use yolk)<br />3. Cream butter, sugar, and egg yolk<br />4. Add vanilla, flour and salt, mixing well.<br />5. Shape dough into balls.<br />6. Place on cookie sheets about 2 inches apart, bake for 5 minutes.<br />7. Remove cookies from oven. With thumb, dent each cookie. Bake for another 8 minutes.<br /><br /><strong>Let cool.. Then fill with filling</strong><br /><br /><strong>PEPPERMINT CREAM FILLING:<br /></strong>1/4 C. softened butter<br />1/4 tsp. peppermint extract.<br />1 1/2 C powdered sugar.<br /><br />In a medium mixing bowl, beat butter, with electric mixer on high for 1 minute. Beat in peppermint extract. Gradually beat in powdered sugar. Beat for another 1 minute on high.<br /><br />Top with Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips. {aka: Heaven in a bag}<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 228px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 132px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5682664444247806898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia4A649DIqO8nE8ithIvZZvAZqIOJBaLN_utIz6omI-j28RXVKqMaC4bnGUKGysCbP2IFi3JMrOaGQUNCTyHeRwnz2gj0Brg8xnxOYx9DRpD2kYM4Hc8JWfnatf381cw3wxHEpoTKIJoM/s400/andes+peppermint+crunch+mints.png" />Share with neighbors, friends, your children, your childrens' teachers, or hide them all in your cupboard and keep them for yourself. They are just that yummy.Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-51645134072006668072011-12-03T05:56:00.000-08:002011-12-03T08:21:49.763-08:00Christmas Cheer GIVEAWAYGet your popcorn ready people, it's time for SimplyCumorah's first ever Giveaway!<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>BECOME A FOLLOWER OF THIS BLOG FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN</strong>.</span><br />Simply click on the "Join This Site" button in the right column under FOLLOWERS, and you are entered to win a high quality 11x14" print {mounted on white foamcore board} of this cheer inducing, ORIGINAL design:<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlB_AFrPE75SBIva6Fxr1eENPrEDVUjgTGIxSIcz5TPLlE_92EaABKR6gk7L80BAT_IDUogFCTou_GK_LD__6CxiKC_1WFk_u8nAc-UkfSJcNqClf15XiEh1qiGxwE1YBzPriaUNnYZDk/s1600/christmas+cheer+4+watermark_page001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 308px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681901751455003602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlB_AFrPE75SBIva6Fxr1eENPrEDVUjgTGIxSIcz5TPLlE_92EaABKR6gk7L80BAT_IDUogFCTou_GK_LD__6CxiKC_1WFk_u8nAc-UkfSJcNqClf15XiEh1qiGxwE1YBzPriaUNnYZDk/s400/christmas+cheer+4+watermark_page001.jpg" /></a><br />I will give away one mounted print for every 100 followers. And yes, to you little doves who have joined previous to this post ~ you are already entered! Woohoo! I know you are squealing with excitement right now! Good luck!<br /><br />The winners will be chosen at random, and will be contacted via the Google Friend Connect 'Send a Message' button. Your names will also be listed here, in a contest winner post on Monday evening. So start following, start spreading a little Christmas cheer ~ yep, that's right, I expect you to run out and sing loud for all to hear right this second, unless it will get you fired, then wait to you leave the office to belt out that holiday magic that is within you~ and check back here Monday night to see if you are a winner! {No intent on inferring that you are not currently a winner in this grand thing called life...I am CERTAIN you are. I mean, if Charlie Sheen is WiNnInG, who isn't?}<br /><br />Have a fabulous weekend! Mine is set to be chalk full of all things Christmas: Cutting down a *fingers crossed* Charlie Brown Christmas tree {the scragglier the better in my book}, baking for two cookie exchanges, singing in a choir, and attending a live Nativity in the rosy-cheeked, nose frosting cold with my sweetie and our little ones. Life.is.good.Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-31852423042042009262011-11-30T20:25:00.001-08:002011-11-30T23:30:33.056-08:00Pinterest and a Turkey SandwichCan I just tell you a little secret? <strong>I love Pinterest</strong>. But that's not the secret. I'm pretty sure everyone I know loves Pinterest. The real secret is that whilst perusing all of the beauty, the hilarity, the creativity, the gorgeous professional photography in every.single.stinking.pin, <strong>I sometimes start to feel a tinsy bit small</strong>. I start to feel the way I did my first week at BYU.<br /><br /><div>I had just graduated highschool three weeks earlier, with a two digit graduating class in a town of 1800 people. I knew how to conjugate a sentence, and I had all of my teeth. I was kind of on top of the world there. {I love you John Day. I really, truly do.}</div><br /><div>It was quite a shock for me to be thrown into a world where everyone was pretty. Where everyone was intelligent. Where everyone was gifted and extremely talented. Where, it seemed, everyone could do all of the unique things that made me, me...even better than I could. It only took a couple days for me to realize that my pedastal looked more like a rickety three legged step stool among that crowd. </div><br /><div>After reeling in new found self-sorrow for one full week, I was asked to serve as the Relief Society President of my dorm ward. While I fully understand now, that serving in that role in a student ward requires not even a smidgen of the time, effort and soul that it takes in a real ward, at the time, I felt a little overwhelmed. In part, because I wasn't really sure what a RS president did. I had, after all, only attended RS three times before I left home. But also because I thought there were several other girls who seemed better equipped to play that part. While serving, I quickly learned that what my sisters needed most, was just to know that someone <em>knew </em>them. Like me, most of the girls in my dorm were feeling a little lost, a little overshadowed ~and simply to know that someone knew their name, and cared about them made an enormous difference. I wasn't the prettiest, the smartest, the funniest, the most talented or the best dressed...but I was blessed to remember every single one of those girls' names and where they were from, and I got to know, truly, who most of them were. I couldn't recite any of those things for you today... but it made a difference at the time. And I mattered. What I did was important.</div><br /><div>So after browsing Pinterest and beginning to seriously doubt my own abilities in comparison...I find the need to take a step back and remember who I am trying to make a difference for at this time in my life. Who do I matter to today? What have I done that is important - today? Often, my answers for those questions are: my babies. my husband. my close friends. And usually, the most important things I've done during the day are not writing or designing. They are usually mom things, like making a home lunch for my third grader, even though we were way behind schedule, because she was convinced she had a field trip today and needed to bring lunch to eat on the bus on the way there, and was panicking more with every breath that I might not have time to throw together a meal for her, even though I was 100% positive she was wrong, and knew with certainty that she would be in school, all day, and dining in the cafeteria ~ but instead of pointing this out to her and shooing her out the door like I felt inclined to do, I kissed her on the head, whipped together a lunch complete with oreos for dessert, and told her to call me from school if there really was a field trip form that I needed to rush to the office to fill out, but to not be disappointed if somehow she didn't end up on a special outing. That was important today. I mattered to her today. I made a home lunch, and I listened.<br />Those were my big accomplishments of the day. I can't really pin that achievement for everyone to like or repin. I didn't take a breathtaking picture of the turkey sandwich I made to go with this story. But, that doesn't matter. I am kind of a big deal inside my own home...and that's where it counts. </div><br /><br /><div>The end.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 313px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681037769568328850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXHBBY0S8CmnJdoU93vPKUafW2YA8J9JnWW_FJ7-psdEPIkdjyhq61-BCDnyyCXnQ73ZSCDG2FLGkiwNw6c-B5eAJ_JkYsVI6BP4ZrTkCpohdqD-oFfLxYGMfJSKdmPv0iVgcx2Luutw/s400/I+love+you+pinterest.jpg" /></div><br /><div></div>Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5056571927887579309.post-39539674454279687842011-11-29T08:38:00.001-08:002011-11-29T09:18:56.450-08:00Happiness Makeover<div align="left">More than anything in the world, I want my children to be happy.<br />I have four of them. And may I assure you, there are plenty of times when they are cranky, fussy, tired, feisty, crabby, onery, sassy, and sometimes, even downright angry. But underneath all of that, they are happy little souls ~ and I hope to high heavens that they stay that way forever.<br />On the days when I'm really, seriously working at being an awesome mom, I try to do things that will help them learn how to be <em>truly</em> happy in spite of the inevitable trials that will come their way.<br />On the days that I am just surving as a mama, I give them a sucker, wipe their tears and send them on their way.<br />I must have been in good mom mode when I re-vamped my little girls' bathroom, because I took the time to create this poster which, to me, exudes true joy. I think so much happiness comes from looking for good, being confident enough in yourself to be able to build others up, and knowing your divinity.<br />Now, everytime my little ladies brush their teeth, get their hair done, chill on the pot or hop in the shower, they read Audrey's sweet words.<br />Every girl needs to be reminded of these things. Even grown up girls.<br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 196px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680462138466489314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjst2gAJudvuELeAyY4yQ-F55E5143pk1yonuRyVqXcmteOjydViS-qZvHFDz4EyYbrY8nlg83StP2uoiJ8H8_OBTNuIKJnlarA1alWk6Vlmo9ksi8e6onxV3L1kbT1ocKZKtoNb8QCYRU/s400/audrey+hepburn+quote_page001.png" /> <br /><p align="center"><strong>*Print it. *Pin it. *Share it. Just remember the rules:</strong><br /></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">*{Give me credit for the design~thank you very much~link people back to this site to view, and, pretty please, do not use it in any way to make money. Following the rules will keep smiles on all of our beautiful lips!}<br /></p></span>Cumorahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16369168398051034622noreply@blogger.com1