Protecting Marriage

I know the issue of legalizing same-sex marriage is a touchy one. And it's one that will not go away for a while. Utah had the vote on it in 2004; California is going through it now (again); it will come up again and again.

I was sent this article from a family member who lives in California. It is written by a liberal democrat, in support of protecting marriage. Yes, a liberal democrat against same-sex marriage.

It's insightful.

Family Photos

Sam's family had family photos taken a couple of weeks ago. They turned out to be great!

Life of Pi

I finished reading this book over the weekend. Wow. It's fascinating. I recommend for you all to read it. You can check out some discussions and reviews of it, including mine, at GoodReads.com

(Bytheway, if you're not a member of GoodReads, become one. It's a great way to share books you enjoy and to find others books worth reading.)

Baking Soda as Shampoo?

Over a month ago someone told me that baking soda makes a great shampoo. It's similar to lemon juice (for blondies) or vinegar--whereas you only use it to "deep clean" or to get rid of some buildup on the hair and scalp.

I use some sticky pomade-y stuff to make my hair stay, and it does build up--but I didn't notice until after I used the baking soda. Wow. Talk about cleansing. Just mix a small palm-full with some water and rub onto your scalp.

I have now started a habit of a baking soda hair wash every 3-4 weeks. Me likey.

My Own Chicken Coup

In addition to my "One of These Days" list, I'm now inclined to include the following.

One of these days I will have my own little coup of chickens so that I can have a virtually endless supply of fresh, colored eggs. Like these:

PS Thanks to my brother for sharing. I'm excited to eat them. Omelets, anyone? Or German Pancakes?

Bikin' in the Rain

Saturday morning I enjoyed a nice, not-as-windy-as-usual bike ride from my home to an itsy-bitsy town called Utahn. It's a fairly scenic route for around here--passing farms and small cows who run away like you are trying to snatch them. There's llama, snakes, and large long-horn steers. Hardly any traffic. A very nice way to enjoy some exercise.

It's a ride that slowly takes you uphill (you don't tend to notice the slight incline, unless it's windy and then you really notice. Ugh.), with a temendous hill at the end connecting to highway 87, which from there to Duchesne is a carefree, air-through-your-hair downhill ride.

It took me 30 minutes to get to the turnoff to Utahn (7.3 miles from my home), 10 minutes to bike up the hill to highway 87 (1.4 miles...steep uphill, like I said), and 20 minutes to soar down the highway and back home (6.3 miles). (and this is on a regular mtn bike--I don't own a road bike yet) I'm not sure if those are good times or not...

The best part was watching the clouds as I rode. The morning ride started out as beautiful and bright with omnious-looking clouds coming from the south-west. I thought they'd continue south-westerly, and that I'd be too north of them before anything could happen. I was wrong! Each time I looked toward the clouds they were more and more north--following me up the road.

Just as I got to the turn off toward the highway (the uphill part) it rained on me. My bike and I were drenched! And as soon as I got to the highway (10 minutes later), it stopped raining, and I could see the storm cloud heading east, away from me.

The rain was quite refreshing, actually. And while I was certainly freezing by the time I flew downhill in soaking clothes, I did enjoy a nice mug of hot chocolate and a steamy bath to warm me.

Basil Artichoke Pasta

So, I'll admit that this is not the most appealing looking photo. But it is GOOD!

Saute chopped onions and mushrooms with basil (fresh if you have it, but dried works well, too) and any other spice to taste (or smell...whatever). Add sun-dried* tomatoes and a can of artichoke hearts. Serve with noodles (original recipe called for spaghetti noodles, but Sam has a thing against spaghetti noodles). Hmmm num num!

*we didn't have sun-dried tomatoes, so we just used a can of garlic/herb diced tomatoes.

Wishing You Enough

I received a forwarded email with a story about a mom saying goodbye to her daughter for the last time. The mom said, "I love you and wish you enough." The mother explained,
"When I said, 'I wish you enough,'I am wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them."

The guts of the email included this sweet, ever responsible hope.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright, no matter how
gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life
may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye."

Amen. I find it kind of fickle to wish someone anything more or less than "enough."

Sauteed Goodness

This has been a familiar lunch-time favorite sporadically the last few weeks. Doesn't it look delicious?
Fresh stuff from our garden:
Zucchini
Carrots
Green Onions
Add some:
Lemon Pepper
Garlic Salt
Spritz of Olive Oil
Sauté and Enjoy!

An Aunt, Again

I was made an Aunt again yesterday, one hour before my friend, Lisa, also had a baby. And I think my other friend might have had a baby yesterday, too. Yesterday was apparently baby day!

So, Sam and I now have 8 nieces, 9 nephews, and one or the other (gender as yet unknown) on the way. Wow. That's a LOT of little kidlings!

Seven Years Ago

I'm not even sure I can remember my wedding day as vividly as I can recall exactly what I was doing when I heard about the Terrorist Attacks on the morning of September 11, 2001.

I was getting ready for school, curling my hair and doing makeup, when I heard my mom gasp from in front of the TV down the hall.

"Melanie, come see this. A plane just crashed into the World Trade Center in New York!"
"Is it foggy there?"
"No, come see."

I took a look, and was astonished. What a mess. Those poor people in that building. I wonder what happened...

Feeling concerned, but nothing more, I headed back to doing my hair and makeup. Not long after that, my mom gasped again.

"Another plane crashed into it."

I had a sinking feeling. It was hard to believe that one plane could crash into such an enormous building--but two? This wasn't an accident, and I didn't like the feeling that loomed over me.

I watched the news play the crash over and over. I listened to the radio on the way to school, only thinking about how tragic this is and confusing, but again nothing more.

My high school Spanish teacher, Mr. Yoder, turned on the TV and asked us to sit quietly. We didn't have a quiz, an assignment, or anything. He asked us to pay attention, because this would be a day we'd always remember. Many of us took out paper and wrote down our thoughts. I'm sure many of us were silently praying, as well, as we watched in horror as people jumped out of windows to their death; as we watched the ghastly, ominous smoke and debris fill the streets and the air; as we watched hordes of people running, many with noticeable injuries; as we watched the towers collapse.

Every time I'm in a parking garage, I can't help but think of the people who were trapped in the parking garages under the World Trade Center. How frightening it must have been for them.

Later that day, I headed to the mall to pick up something. Many stores were closed. The mall was empty. The streets were empty. Everyone seemed to be at home, appreciating their families, and mourning with the rest of the country.

May we continue to remember September 11, 2001. May we continue to appreciate our families. May we continue to appreciate our country. And may God continue to Bless America.

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

I just have to brag--I mean blog--about one of my favorite recipes. And there will probably be more posts to come with some other favorites. Mmm...good food...what could be better?

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

2 cans black beans (about 4 cups), rinsed and drained

1 can whole corn, drained

2 large tomatoes, chopped

1 avocado chopped

½ small red onion, chopped

2 fresh jalapeños, seeded and finely chopped

1 small can sliced black olives, drained (optional)

¼ cup cilantro, finely chopped or pureed* in blender

2 Tbs. olive oil

1 Tbs. red wine vinegar

3-4 Tbs. lemon juice

1 tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

Mix olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a small bowl and set aside. Combine all other ingredients and pour liquid mixture over and stir. Chill or serve immediately.

*To puree cilantro: add olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and cilantro to blender. Puree until mixed well. Note: this will make the cilantro really tiny.

Mono Free!

For a few months now I have been free of mono. I have tried hard to get back into shape and especially I want to run a 1/2 marathon next summer. It has been an arduous struggle to start running again, which I have not done since high school--nearly 10 years ago. I had hopes of running a marathon after my mission, but when I contracted mono my hopes were dashed. I have been home from the mission for 6 years now and have spent most of my time being very careful to not over-do it physically.

Mono is a debilitating virus which saped all my energy if I was not careful. For the first year after my mission I was very sick and weak from the virus and was not able to do much. As the years passed I got better, but still had to keep a vigilant watch on my physical exersions. I coped well with my weakened state, but many times I desired to be able to run like I once did, or play softball, or hike, or fast; however, because my physical ability was stunted, often daily, to varying degrees, I sometimes was frustrated. Many times when I didn't get 9 hours of sleep, for whatever reason, I was quite tired and unable to function for a day or two.

Last year in Colorado I was debilitated many times because of some long bike rides. I did not have a car in CO and therefore only had my bike to get around. Last October and November I was a bit depressed because of this weakness, but I carried on and struggled to maintain my lifestyle. It was difficult and often depressing, but I overcame. At the end of the Spring semester I was fed-up with mono and being exhausted all the time.

Most of all I was scared that the physical ailment would affect my ability as a father. I wanted to be able to support Melanie when it is needed, and if that requires that I sleep less some nights I don't want to be unable. I wanted to be able to play with my kids and not be fatigued beyond my ability. These are righteous desires, so I decided to petition God that the mono be taken from me. I had previously complained to God about my physical state, but also was not without notice of the many spiritual blessings I had received in my affliction; however the sickness was not taken away.

I spent a lot of time pondering on faith, agency, and the will of God. Previously I had asked with hope that mono would withdraw but possibly without faith, because I didn't quite believe that it was God's plan to interfere, per se. But this past May I pondered more on faith and especially on the Brother of Jared, who seemed to surprise the Lord with his faith and changed the events that followed thereafter. I was sitting through a session in the Vernal temple and prayed about the situation and asked, believing that I would walk away healed without doubt, that mono would be taken from me. I told God that I knew He could do it, that I expected him to, or that after leaving the temple I were going to suppose that the blessing would come. Therefore, it may not have been part of God's initial plan, but because of the example of the Brother of Jared, I asked with great faith and I DID walk away from the temple without mono.

My body has been in an exhausted state for 6 years, so it was not easy to convince it that I was over mono, but I am pleased to say that this past summer I have overcome physical challenges and I have proof. Yesterday I ran in a 5K sponsored by my stake in Greeley and I took first place with a time of 21:30. Over the past few weeks I have trained in the mornings and it has not been easy, but I noticed yesterday that it has gotten easier over time. My best time on a 5K was close to 17:30 in high school, so I think that I have done pretty well. I am over-joyed that God has allowed me to once again do physical things and I know that it is only through him that it is possible.

Bull Frog Invasion

Doesn't this look like a squeaky rubber froggy toy?

It's real.
It's big.
It's slimy.
It's bumpy.
It's pretty cool looking.
It's one of the smaller ones.
It's invading the Duchesne & Roosevelt area.








I guess Fish & Game are concerned. It's eating all the little frogs that are native to the area. That must be why it's called a "bull" frog--it's a big bully! Sure, go ahead...pick on the little guys!