Sunday, June 27, 2010

Car Accessories

For our move down south last summer we purchased a Rocketbox to hold all our luggage since we drove the whole way from California to Alabama.

The funny thing is that you see these types of luggage holders on LOTS of cars in California. There is so much outdoorsy things to do there that people just leave them on their cars and when the time comes to go camping, or canoeing or hiking, they just pack them and they're off. Makes sense to me!

But if someone was like us and just has it on top of their car because it is a real hassle to take it off, you would never know. You could just assume they are the active type that is always prepared for whatever outdoor adventure comes up.

People don't really think that way here. I have had several people ask me why we still have our box on top of the car, some have asked if we are going on a trip and some have even teased me about my car's accessory.

Sure we have only used it for one camping trip since getting here. But I tell you what, I never loose my car in a Wal-Mart parking lot. So the Rocketbox stays.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Are We There Yet?

This past Sunday in my 9-11 year old girl class in Primary our lesson was on the Isrealites in the wilderness. Moses had just taken them out there, freeing them from a wicked Pharaoh with the promise that they are going to a wonderful paradise that God has created just for them. Unfortunately it was going to be quite the journey, but with a little faith God would help them through it. They were there for 40 years. The people murmured, and some lost faith.

I tried to explain this in terms that my girls could understand.

"Imagine you are on your way to the most magical place on Earth. You are going to Disney World! But you have to drive because airfares are too expensive for you and your whole family. At first you're all pumped up to go, then the hours drag on. You've watched all your DVD's and gotten bored with your DS's. Now your getting cranky and you start to whine, "Are we there yet?". You KNOW you are going to this wonderful place, and yet because you don't have the patience you start to loose faith thinking you are never going to get there."

I thought it was an excellent analogy, but let me explain something that sets up an even more present scenario. Whenever one of my girl's is having a birthday I buy doughnuts. Not just any doughnuts, Krispy Kreme doughnuts. I even ask the girl's in advance what their favorite is so I can bring those in. We had a birthday to celebrate this week and a fresh box of sprinkle doughnuts were on the table. Some of the girls were focused on the lesson, but there were some where the fragrance was just too much too handle.

After my awesome Disney World analogy one girl raised her hand. I called on her thinking she may have some insight to my example.

"When are we going to eat the doughnuts?"

Seriously? This was the perfect example! You know you are going to get doughnuts, they are right there. I bought them, displayed them and promised we would have them and yet the few minutes she had to wait for the lesson to be over was just too much to bare. She started to murmur, she wanted her doughnuts right now.

I compared this to the Isrealites. They know they are going to this wonderful place, but they just have to wait a while. And here my class just has to wait a few minutes before they can partake of the food paradise that I have provided.

I think of how this applies to today. The Lord has promised us blessings untold. All we have to do is stick it out while on this earth and keep the commandments and then...Wa-la! Paradise! But we get so caught up in wanting things NOW, that whole instant gratification thing. And if it takes too long we give up, some going so far to lose all faith that there is a God at all. It really is unfortunate, but we have to stick with it. In the words of Nike, Just Do It! And in the words of Pres. Hinkley, Do It Now!

Have you ever looked back on an opportunity you missed and think, "Why didn't I just do what I needed to do then, and I could be enjoying the benefits now?". I know I have, but how horrible is it going to be when we look back on our lives and think, "Why didn't I just do what I was commanded to do then? It wasn't as hard as I made it out to be, and I could be gaining the blessings from it now.".

Hopefully my girls got that message, and hopefully I'll follow my own advice so I won't be looking back on my life with the regret of frivolous priorities.

Saturday, June 5, 2010

The Crawfish Cake

This has got to be one of my most favorite cakes I have made so far. My friend Amber asked for a unique cake for her husband's birthday/crawfish family get together. When she told me it was a crawfish party I immediately got the idea to do a large crawfish. I was super excited to do this and I think it turned out pretty cool. The inside was white cake with cookies and cream filling so that it looked like the poop vein inside the crawfish! Hahaha!

The best compliment though is that Amber told me she had the cake on the table with decorations around it. Her family kept looking at it until she told her it was a cake. They were completely surprised, they thought it was just a center piece for the table!

That was one fun cake, and thanks to Amber for giving me the opportunity to do it.

Family Home Evening and Reenactments






Apparently all my children are playing Nephi and the other two missionaries, Elder Morrison and Elder Metcalf are his brothers, Laman and Lemuel. In the first picture Elder Krieser is telling them that they have to go back to Jerusalem to get the plates of brass from the wicked King Laban.

When they get to Jerusalem the brothers decide on Laman going to King Laban to ask for the plates. Elder Tolley is King Laban, and I'm pretty sure the pillow on his head as his crown was his idea.
Of course King Laban says "No Way!" when Laman asks for the brass plates and sends his guards after him. That's a sweet picture with Elder Morrison jumping clear over that chair to escape Theo, the King's guard.
When Laman told his brothers about how King Laban turned him down they figured they had a lot of riches at their house and maybe they can bribe him with them. Here they are showing King Laban their precious things in hopes that he will give them the brass plates.
He says, you guess it, "No Way!" and sends his guards after them all and tells them to kill them all AND take their precious things.
The guards chase them out of the city, but are unsuccessful in killing them. Phew!
The Lord tells Nephi to try one more time and He would deliver King Laban into his hands. So obediently he returns to the city to find King Laban passed out drunk in the street. The Lord tells Nephi to slay him, Nephi is hesitant at first but then the Lord SAYS, "It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in disbelief." for the plates of brass was scripture that they needed to take with them on a long journey. So Nephi slays the wicked King Laban, with some mad pillow fighting skills, gets the plates and returns to his family in the wilderness.

THE END.