Week of March 30, 2013

Sunday

Happy Birthday, Gabe.  My Google calendar was wrong.  I didn't think it was until Tuesday, so I missed calling to sing to him.  I guess at 1 year old he didn't know, but we felt bad, so Happy Birthday.  These one year old's continue to grow so fast.  

It was a beautiful day.  I worked all afternoon on an activity for the Young Men Young Women.

Monday

It was a quiet day and I got extra reading time.  I also did more house cleaning in our bathroom.

Dad and I watched Le Miserables for FHE.  That movie is so powerful.  We both cried again at the end.  What a movie on Justice, Mercy, and Redemption.

Tuesday

We went to see Virginia Potter.  She is in the McKay Dee hospital.  Her sodium level went way down and she has several other health issues.  We reminisced of days gone by.  It was good to see her, but I'm concerned for her.  She still has at least another week there.

On the way home we stopped and went to the temple to do sealings with Aunt Margaret.  It was good to do sealings again.  That night I went to the Relief Society birthday party. 

Brigham City temple from the car.

Wednesday

Dad is making cookies again.  We have to keep giving them away.  They were very good.  It was a sugar cookie with an experimental frosting.  Very tasty: 1/4 c. butter, 1/2 c. banana, 1 t. lime juice, and 1 t. vanilla with 3 cups powdered sugar.  The cookies had ww flour, but still, not good to have around.

 Thursday

Quilted in the morning, listened to kids read at noon, and babysat Jessica Wright Jenson's kids.  She recently had surgery on her knee.  Caleb came down to play with her oldest girl that is his age.  Then she has twins Ben's age.  It was a gorgeous day and we spent a lot of time outside.  

Luke and Landon Jenson

 

I made experimental suckers by putting a jelly bean in the middle and then M & M's on the top.  They were for the Riverside Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday.  They turned out pretty good and looked fun.

That night we canned pork.  We did 18 pints worth.  The meat was only $1.38/pound.  

It feels good to have some for sweet pork burritos and other quick meals.  

No wonder I was tired Thursday night.

Friday

We went to the Family History library until 1 and then came home to do some pork with Colleen.  We did 21 quarts for them and then 7 more quarts for us.  Monday we will can with David and do him some.  Anyone want some? Call me.  It's on sale until Tuesday.

 That night Dad went over and got Mike so he would be here for the Easter Egg hunt (really it was so he could rototill the garden, but that was a good prework activity.

Saturday

We helped Tammy and Glen Lee pass out Easter treats from the papers in the eggs.  The eggs I did were good for 2 suckers, 1 to eat and 1 to share.

Noelle after it was all over

Mike and the Easter Bunny.  Who needs a girl?

Mike and his loot after it was over.  Tammy Capener goes to so much work.  She had filled 2,000 eggs.

Work time! I can't believe how much we got done in just a short amount of time.  It really helped.

Cierra and the clean patio!

Finally after sweeping and doing all the boring part, Noelle finally got to spray the basketball court!

Yeah! Chris fixed the steps up to the castle and repaired the board in the back that had fallen over.

Time to cook hot dogs over Grandpa's fire!

Lunch time outside and it is still March, but it was such a beautiful day!

Zander's first cookout at Grandma's - not too happy.

Mike rototilled the whole garden.  Caleb loved following behind with his dump truck.

It's been a good week.  It's late and Ellen and Mike are out watching Le Mis.  It is a good movie to see on the eve of Easter.  If we were all left to justice alone, what a sad state we would be in.  I'm so thankful for the mercy and grace we all have through Christ's atonement.  In my studying of the Book of Mormon I have been looking up words in Webster's 1828 dictionary.  It has added a lot of meaning to my reading.  Here is the definition for Justice and Mercy:

Justice - “The virtue which consists in giving to everyone what is his due” exactly Javert

Mercy - -“That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant.  In this sense, there is perhaps no word in our language precisely synonymous with mercy.  That which comes nearest to it is grace. . . Mercy is a distinguishing attribute of the Supreme Being.” Jean Val Jean was completely changed when the Priest gave him his life back to him when he didn't turn him in. He bought his soul and only asked him to serve God and his fellow man. 

Christ has done the same for us.  He has given us back our life that we have lost through the sins we all commit, and all He asks is that we serve God and our fellow men.

I love you all.  Very Much.