waste some time today

"Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted" John Lennon

little miracles

My grandchildren were visiting yesterday when we heard a thunk! I recognized the sound as that of a bird flying into our picture window. It happens occasionally; they see the sky reflected in the glass and don’t realize until it is too late. Sometimes it kills the bird instantly, sometimes it just stuns it momentarily. So, fearing the worst, I rushed out to find a sparrow with blood dripping from his beak, alive, yet on his last leg. I took him inside for the children to see. They were so sad for the bird, each wanted a turn to hold him and offer sweet words of comfort; it was all very touching. I said a silent prayer that this wouldn’t be a traumatic experience for them. The bird didn’t die in their hands, but fearing their jostling was making his anxiety worse, I made a little bed for him in a small box and set it on the table where the children could keep an eye on him, speak sweetly to him, but not touch. Twenty minutes later he jumped to his feet! We were delighted and after another 10 minutes I carefully lifted him to the window sill outside. He stayed there another 10 minutes or so, then flew to a nearby rose bush, then farther to the lilac. He would be all right. I was SO relieved, and grateful that my silent prayer was answered with this little miracle. Then 4-yr. old Dallin, so thrilled with the wonder of it all, said, “I hope another little bird bashes into the window!”

"... far above rubies..."

This little verse was published in the fall 2008 issue of “Legacy”, the Daughters of Utah Pioneers newsletter. I thought it worth sharing…

A woman has strengths that amaze,
She can handle trouble; carry heavy burdens.
She holds happiness, love, opinions.
She smiles when she feels like screaming.
She sings when she feels like crying.
Cries when she’s happy, laughs when she’s afraid.
Her love is unconditional.
There is only one thing wrong with her---
She forgets what she is worth.

ballot blues

Today is election day. I hope you have/will vote in this very important election. We are suffering much anxiety along with our excitement this time around; having been involved in the whole process more than ever before. We attended the caucus meetings, served as delegates, walked a precinct to encourage voter registration, and it is daughter Hannah’s first election. She is excited about this opportunity to vote and has been studying the issues and candidates on her own (I’ve tried not to influence her). Last Halloween she dressed as the scariest thing she could think of, Hillary Clinton; this year she took a lighter side and dressed as “Joe the Plumber”. We have enjoyed the Saturday Night Live sketches and political cartoons in the paper, but remind ourselves that this really is serious stuff, our nation hangs in the balance.

bee friend

I watched the grandchildren a couple of days last week. When I opened their living room drapes first thing one morning I found a dead bee on the window sill. I thought Dallin (4 years old) might like to see it. He was SO thrilled, apparently he had been wishing for a new friend and he knew that this bee was it. He put it in a treasure box and carried it with him wherever he went. He checked on it periodically, giving me status reports. When I came back the next day he asked me to help him find another one (so the first one wouldn’t be lonely). We spent the morning checking all the window sills in the house, then we went outside to check spider webs and leaf piles. We found a few dead moths, but he thinks they are too “creepy”, a dead beetle and two live beetles. He kept the dead one and one of the live ones for his “collection”. I remembered when I was a little girl and found a cockroach trapped in an empty soda bottle. I was SO thrilled to have a pet! It is easy to forget (or take for granted), as we get older and busier, the beauties of this marvelous world, great and small. The fall leaves in their gorgeous colors are just too beautiful not to notice and appreciate (Dallin has a leaf collection, too). Take time today to see this world with child-like eyes and be delighted with the wonder of it all!

what God permits

“Do not suppose that God willfully causes that, which for His own purposes, he permits. When you know the plan and purpose of it all, even these things will manifest a loving Father in Heaven.” Boyd K. Packer from “The Play and the Plan”

pumpkin pie cake

Pumpkin Pie Cake

Crust:
1 package yellow cake mix (less one cup) 1 stick butter (softened)
1 egg
Mix well and spread in greased 9x13 pan.

Filling:
1 large can pumpkin (enough for 2 pies)
1/2 C brown sugar
1/4 C sugar
3 eggs
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/3 C milk
Mix well and pour over crust.

Topping:
1 C. cake mix
1/4 C butter, softened
1/2 C sugar
1/2 C chopped nuts
Mix and sprinkle over filling.
Bake at 350 degrees for 50 min. or until knife comes out clean. Serve warm or cold with whipped cream.