Real Tears, by Carol Lynn Pearson

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Sunny

In honor of National Poetry Month, I decided to share some poetry with you. It’s not long, and it’s nothing they tried to make you read in high school, so you can go ahead and read it without that worry.

I read these years ago as a relatively young mother, and then forgot about them. I found them again recently and didn’t want to forget thepoet Carol Lynn Pearsonm again. (Which I suppose is a little ironic when you see the last poem.) There are two by Carol Lynn Pearson, and I feel I can relate to them emotionally. If you know me in person, you’ve probably seen me cry, and this may help you understand me a little, too.

I admire how the author learns from hardship, gains perspective, and shares it so simply. These poems are from years ago, whereas the photo of her here is recent. She really was an actress and played Joan of Arc.

(And then there’s an unknown author piece that’s just for fun after the serious ones.)

Real Tears
Carol Lynn Pearson

When I played Joan of Arc
I cried real tears.

Help me, Joan,”
Said the Bishop of Beauvais,
“I do not wish to burn you!”

That’s when the tears would come,
Real tears on cue,
Every night for four nights.

When we struck the set
I saw them,
Little drops on the black canvas.
Strange, I couldn’t feel a thing now,
But there they were.

I believe it will be
A little like that
When the current show closes.
When the set is struck
And the costumes cleared away,
I may drop by with a friend and say,

“Look–when I was playing Carol Lynn,
Back in space and in years,
There is the spot
The very spot,
Where I cried real tears.”

Empathy
Carol Lynn Pearson

I,
Since split open,
Cannot contain.

I pour out
At the slightest
Sight of pain.

My Forgetter
author unknown

My forgetter’s getting better
But my rememberer is broke
To you that may seem funny
But to me, that is no joke
For when I’m “here” I’m wondering
If I really should be “there.”
And when I try to think it through,
I haven’t got a prayer!!!!
Oft times I walk into a room,
Say, “what am I here for???”
I wrack my brain, but all in vain
A zero is my score.
At times I put something away
Where it is safe, but, Gee!!!
The person it is safest from
Is, generally, me!
When shopping I may see someone,
Say “Hi” and have a chat,
Then, when the person walks away
I ask myself “who was that?”
Yes, my forgetter’s getting better
While my rememberer is broke
And it’s driving me plumb crazy
And that isn’t any joke.

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Too Many Mangos Book Review

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Heidi

Perusing books at book stores are a thing of the past, so it’s good to get reviews from others about really good books. And here is one of them. “Too Many Mangos” by Tammy Paikai is a story for children of all ages. True to Hawaiian story form, it contains a moral and a lesson for life in any circumstance.

Grandpa has too many mangos and asks his grandchildren to share the extra with neighbors. They leave with a wagon full of mangos, but return with a wagon full of various gifts as their neighbors share with them.

I love this book because it describes the generosity that is so prevalent in Hawaii, and the custom to give away any excess you may have to your friends or neighbors. The vibrant watercolors make the pictures “POP”, and pull the reader into a small Hawaiian village.

Most of all, it is a story that makes the joy of sharing easy to understand to children of any age. It is sure to be a loved book in your home.

Enjoy!

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Broke Your Blender? Here’s a CHEAP Solution!

Posted on April 11, 2012 by Cheri

Last weekend, my friend was visiting our home and noticed that we have the same blender they used to have. She offered to give us her base since she no longer has the glass pitcher after it lost a battle with her floor. I thought again how much I love my blender and how I would be SO sad to break my glass pitcher.

Not two days later, I broke my glass pitcher.

Can you believe it!? We’ve had our blender for over 7 years and have loved it thoroughly. As soon as it broke, I got online to find a replacement pitcher. Imagine my despair when I learned that our blender is no longer in production and therefore finding a replacement pitcher is pretty much impossible.

I called my friend to share the irony of breaking my blender just days after we talked about it and she passed along a juicy nugget of unknown wonderfulness that has revolutionized my life. She told me that most blender pitchers are compatible with each other because, when blenders were originally created, they were made compatible with regular or wide mouthed mason jars.

I was so excited so yesterday I headed out to Goodwill to see if they had any blenders. No luck. Next, Savers. No luck. Sure, they had other blenders, but theirs fit regular mouthed jars, not wide, like mine. I went to two mom and pop thrift stores, no luck. Finallly, I just bought a refurbished, lower-end blender from Big Lots since it would save me $60 to buy that instead of a whole new replacement blender like mine.

But when I got home, I just couldn’t bring myself to open the box and use it. So I ran downstairs, grabbed a wide mouthed mason jar, and experimented with making a smoothie in a jar. Guess what?! It worked! Perfectly! I am SO excited!

Instead of saving $60, I just saved $100. Sweet.

Here’s how to do it. First, don’t break your pitcher. But if you do, don’t throw away the base, the gasket, and the blade. Second, find out what quart-size mason jar your base fits. Then…

Enjoy it! I just tossed a straw into my quart jar and used it as a glass!

This works great for all things, but consider whipping cream, chopping nuts, grinding spices…It is especially wonderful because there are no nooks or crannies for your food to hide in!!

(Remember, a quart mason jar is 32 oz. A regular blender pitcher is 48-, 50-, or 56-oz. Alter your recipes accordingly.)

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Groupon for Family Fun Magazine Subscription

Posted on April 10, 2012 by Kerri

I just wanted to pass on the current discount for the Family Fun Magazine. I am inspired with this magazine and the ideas and articles inside for me and the kids. So when I saw the price go this low I didn’t hestitate to subscribe (finally)…

You get a 2-year subscription to the Family Fun magazne for $12.

So, in a nutshell, that’s $6 per year of great family activities?
OK, I’m sold!

If you aren’t familiar with the glories of this magazine yet, you can re-read Heidi’s post about the magazine here, called A Binder for Boredom, and a Must Have for Mom.

They also have other magazines, too, like Kiwi and Cricket (pictured above), Parenting and Parenting School Years, and some good educational ones like Ranger Rick, Wild Animals Baby, and Big Backyard.

Check out the deal by clicking here.

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Fairy Blossoms

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Sunny

Trying out our new camera. Loved seeing my daughter on the trampoline with the new spring blossoms. I haven’t figured out the camera, nor my daughter, but I’m trying to enjoy both of them anyway.

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What Do You Get When You Cross an Egg and Plumber’s Tape?

Posted on April 7, 2012 by Janae

Really cool Easter Eggs! Use plumber’s tape to make fun patterns on your eggs this season. We were just sitting down to decorate eggs today when I spotted the tape on the counter. We tried it out and made lots of really fun eggs.

Supplies needed: Plumbers tape (super cheap at any hardware store and probably even Walmart), scissors, eggs, and egg dye.

Carefully wrap the plumber’s tape around the egg as much as you’d like. It won’t stick to the egg, but it will stick to itself. When you are done wrapping, be sure your end lays over tape so it will stick.

Place it in the dye. If you’d like, remove the tape and place the egg in another color for a 2-tone effect.

Get as creative as you like! Happy Easter!

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Incredible Strawberry Pie

Posted on April 4, 2012 by Cheri

It’s almost strawberry season! I love this time of year because I love strawberries! One of my favorite things to do with strawberries, besides eat them, is to make freezer jam. You can learn to do that easily too by reading this post. But my second favorite thing to do with strawberries is make a fresh strawberry pie. And it’s easy!

BEST STRAWBERRY PIE

  • 1 pie crust, baked
  • 4 oz. cream cheese
  • ¼ cup powdered sugar
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • 1 qt. strawberries, washed, hulled, and cut into quarters, divided
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 3 Tbs cornstarch
  • ¾ cup cold water or gingerale

Mix together cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Spread onto the bottom and sides of the cooled pie crust. Arrange ¾ of the strawberries into pie crust on top of cream cheese to form an even mound. Mash together the remaining strawberries, either by hand or in a food processor. Mix with sugar. Cook over medium high heat until almost boiling. Mix together water and cornstarch and add to strawberries. Cook until bubbly. Pour over strawberries in crust. Refrigerate until set. Serve with a dollop of whipped cream.

The cream cheese combo that you spread on the crust will help keep the crust from getting soggy. If you’re looking for a great pie crust recipe, try Janae’s. Serve this for Easter dinner, or any dinner for that matter, and you’ll find yourself Queen of the year! At least until the next night when everyone is begging you to make it again!

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The Week of Easter

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Sunny

To help our family think about the true meaning of Easter as it approached, my husband took the New Testament and listed the things that happened, starting on the Sunday before Easter until that day, including some scripture references. You may find this helpful as you reflect on the mission of the Savior this week.

Easter figurines with tomb, Resurrected Christ, Mary

I have also added videos that illustrate the Bible in a way that I find simple and true to the scriptures. You can go directly to the video site if you just wish to see the list of all the videos. Or if you would like to print this information, here is a print friendly document.

the Sunday that started Holy Week, what we now call Palm Sunday

video:The Lord’s Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

• Jesus Christ descends from the Mount of Olives into Jerusalem on a donkey and people laid their clothes in the streets for the donkey to walk on and shouted praises, giving Christ a triumphal entrance into the city the “King that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (Luke 19:28-40)

• Jesus cleansed the temple (Luke 19:45-46)

Monday through Wednesday of Holy Week

• Jesus taught in the temple (Luke 19:47)

Thursday of Holy Week

video:The Last Supper

• Jesus Christ and the 12 Apostles celebrated the Feast of the Passover which we now call the Last Supper.

• Christ washed the Apostles’ feet and taught about and gave them the sacrament for the first time.

video: The Savior Suffers in Gethsemane

• Then Jesus went with Peter, James and John to the Garden of Gethsemane where he suffered to take upon himself our sins.

video: Jesus Is Tried by Caiaphus, Peter Denies Knowing Him

• Judas betrayed Jesus and he was then taken to an illegal night session of the Jewish court, the Sanhedrin.

• Peter denies knowing Christ 3 times during the night

Good Friday

video: Jesus Is Condemned Before Pilate

• Jesus Christ was taken to the Roman courts and before Pontius Pilate.

• Though Pilate didn’t find any fault with Jesus, he had him whipped and let the soldiers mock him.

• Pilate followed Jewish tradition to let one prisoner go during Passover. He let the people choose and they chose Barabbas, a murderer and thief.

• Pilate let the people dictate what should happen to Christ and they wanted him crucified.

video: Jesus Is Scourged and Crucified

• Christ was mocked, whipped, crowned with a crown of thorns and made to carry his own cross.

• Christ was crucified on Golgotha and was buried in a rock tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathaea

Saturday of Holy Week

• Jesus’ body rested in the tomb

• Jesus’ spirit went to the Spirit World to organize the missionary work

Sunday of Holy Week, what we now celebrate as Easter

• Angels rolled the stone away from the tomb entrance and Jesus Christ rose from the dead as a glorified, resurrected being.

• Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to prepare his body for a proper burial as there wasn’t time on Friday before the Sabbath started at sundown. They found the empty tomb and angels that said “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here but is risen!” (Luke 24:1-6) They told the women to tell the Apostles.

• The Apostles didn’t believe Mary so they Peter and John ran to the tomb to see for themselves.

• Jesus spoke to Mary Magdalene and told her to tell the Apostles that he had risen and was going to Heavenly Father.

• Christ walked with 2 disciples to Emmaus in explained the scriptures without letting them recognize him.

• Christ appears to the Apostles and eats fish and honeycomb. He blesses them and gives them the Gift of the Holy Ghost

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Little Chef Nights

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Janae

Have you ever worked hard on a meal only to find that when you bring it to the table, it's welcomed with a chorus of "Gross!", "Oooooh", "I hate that!". Your elation at finishing a meal and delivering it proudly to the table vanishes as your would-be customers share their opinions.

Well, if you haven't had that experience, send me your recipes. I've had that experience many times (and my husband assures me it's not my cooking). But, it was just such a night in our home which inspired one of my all-time favorite family traditions: Little Chef Nights.

Once a week, each of my kids picks a night to cook dinner. They plan the menu and cook the meal with me. They only have two rules: They can't repeat a meal 2 weeks in a row and it must be a meal from scratch (no boxed dinners). Other than that, the sky is the limit for them. I never realized how many great perks would come because of this tradition.

1. They learn how to cook. While we're preparing the meal, I teach them how to boil, saute, steam, broil, grill, etc.

2. They no longer complain about my meals. Since they don't want anyone complaining about what they make, they've learned not to complain about what I make either. It's heaven.

3. They know that at least once a week they'll have something for dinner that they absolutely love.

4. One-on One time. This is my favorite byproduct that I wasn't expecting. Dinner time has changed from mass chaos to much-anticipated one-on-one time. One child and I get to spend 30-45 minutes talking and laughing while getting dinner on the table. I look forward to my little chef nights.

I had to laugh when the other day I overheard my daughter's friend say, "You are so lucky!! I never get to make dinner for my family". Who knows. Maybe we'll start a trend. For now, though, I'm loving the help.

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Real Moms run out of eggs

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Kerri

It's true. We've all been there.

Real Moms decide last minute to make cookies to take to someone or to surprise their kids when they get home only to realize half-way through the recipe that they are out of eggs.

Hooray for good neighbors that can help you in a pinch, but when that fails, a Real Mom will now be equipped in what to use as a substitute:

Substitute for 1 egg

2 Tbs flour
2 Tbs water
1/2 Tbs oil
1/2 tsp baking powder

Put this in your dough in place of the egg, and continue on in your awesomeness. Works like a charm in almost all recipes (except of course omlettes, scrambled eggs, etc. You catch my drift).

Now speaking of making cookies, I've got to go get mine out of the oven. Yes, egg-free.

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