What's In The Pantry?

My pantry isn’t anything special; it’s just a small closet stuffed with various types of canned goods, cereal, baking supplies and bread.  But, there must be something in there with magnetic powers because it seems to draw people toward it. When my kids, my daughter-in-law, my sons-in-law and my grandchildren come to my house, they head to the pantry, open the door, turn on the light and then just stand there looking.  What’s in there?  What are they looking for?

After they leave, I have to go check it out for myself.  I stand there and I look and look and look. I can’t figure out what they find so interesting.  Maybe it’s how it’s organized.  Maybe it’s so crammed with stuff, they can’t see the trees through the forest.

Well, today I cleaned it out.  What did I find?  Four bags of opened rice krispies, one package of rock hard forgotten-about red licorice, ten pounds of mints left over from my daughter’s 2003 wedding reception, six partial bags of three different sizes of marshmallows and a whole lot of orange jello.

Hmmm….I’m still wondering what it is the family is looking for in there.

Institute

Jerry and I have been serving as Church Service Missionaries for the Institute Program for over two years.  We recently extended our calling for another year because we love our calling.

We not only get to associate with some of the choicest young people in the church (I call them the “cream of the crop”), but we also get to attend the classes and learn new things in the gospel.  

 Our assignment is to open the building and set up the classrooms, greet and welcome these single young adults every Thursday night, assist the teachers in whatever way we can, take roll and provide refreshments after class.

The whole idea of refreshments is to get the young people to “munch and mingle” so they can make good friends with those who share their same values.   Throughout the two years we have served, we have worked by ourselves providing the refreshments every week, and we have also worked with other missionary couples sharing that responsibility.  It’s a lot of work coming up with some great and delicious ideas for refreshments.

Pecan Pie and Ice Cream

Rice Krispie Treats with Chocolate and Caramel

Cream Puffs, Danish Dessert, Strawberries and Chocolate Dipped Rice Krispie Treat

There are over a hundred young adults attending every week this semester, but during some past semesters, we have had classes with as little as four or five. It doesn’t matter though, the spirit felt there is the same.  The prophets have made promises of blessings to those who attend Institute.  President Monson said, “Friends will be made, the Spirit will be felt and faith will be strengthened.”  President Hinckley promised, “… your knowledge of the Gospel will be increased, your faith will be strengthened, and you will develop wonderful associations and friendships.”  Jerry and I have the privilege of watching this literally happen every Thursday night.  What a choice opportunity we have of serving these young people!

More Information on Institute

Saying Goodbye to Grandma Jones

We said goodbye to Grandma Jones on Saturday, October 22, 2011. We enjoyed a very nice memorial service at the church in Pleasant Grove.  The talks were wonderful and the music was beautiful, touching everyone who attended.  I was so proud of my son, Jaron who gave a great talk on the Plan of Salvation.  You can also hear my grand daughter, Adia, sing her song during a practice on my daughter's blog at http://www.lovelyladyfox.blogspot.com/ on her October 23, 2011 post. 

It was a perfect and beautiful fall day at the Rockpoint Cemetery in Maeser, Utah.  The surrounding area was so peaceful. 

Just a few of the family were able to make the three-hour drive.

Jerry, Laura, Aunt Jane and Uncle Dick visited for a little while.

Little Zoey was fascinated by the tiny toys etched onto a nearby child's headstone.

Alyza was so sweet and tender-hearted.  She picked four beautiful roses from her yard for Grandma Jones.  By the time the roses made the long ride, they were droopy and wilted, but it was so tender to see Alyza place each rose by the headstone while she paid her last respects to Grandma.

I will miss Grandma Jones.  I hope I can live worthy of her example.

I Love Fall

I love fall flowers, especially the mums in my yard.

I love the red apples hanging on the trees.

I love decorated front porches.  Everybody has pumpkins on their front porch, and so do I.  I wanted to make a wreath using some dried magnolia leaves and dried artichokes from my parents' house in California, but I think I must be craft-impaired these days. I even went to the trouble of spray painting the magnolia leaves a beautiful gold.  The wreath looked absolutely ridiculous, so I threw that all out. Then I tried adding just the natural dried leaves to enhance the swag and wreath I already had.  I resorted to putting the artichokes in a basket.  They were just too "cool" to throw out. If you look closely, you can see them.  (One note:  I hot glued the leaves on the wreath and the swag while they were hanging.  I wonder how many will be glued directly to my door when I take them down?)

                UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Witches' Night Out

Going to Witches' Night Out is an annual event for Grandpa J and I. It's an outdoor event held two weeks before Halloween. It started out to be an evening for the ladies while their husbands were away hunting. Now, it's developed into somewhat of a family affair.

I love to go because of the fall atmosphere and it's just plain 'ol fun to people watch. Hundreds.... no, thousands, of witches come dressed in all sorts of witch attire. No two witches are alike. Some wear their hats, plain or very fancy, others go all out with fancy dresses and crazy makeup. There were scarey witches, baby witches, elegant witches, pretty witches, dog witches and white witches. I think my favorite this year was the witch who obviously was wearing some sort of "blow-up" costume. She reminded me of a humpty-dumpty witch. She was as wide as she was tall.

As the sunsets, more and more witches converge on the grounds until it's so crowded, you can't move and you can't get into the shops. You just stand in one place gawking and oohing at all the amazing costumes.

This year, Grandpa J and I got to take two of our grandchildren, Aryn and Alyza. I concocted a couple of witch outfits for them and brewed up a hat for each. These little girls had as much fun dressing up as I did making the costumes for them. We had a great time making memories!

As promised, here are a few pictures. Grandpa J and I both had "camera" issues, so don't expect perfect or great pictures.


The place is full of caricature witches posed in fun poses. This one had it's arm around me. Aryn couldn't stop talking about the one with the skirt lifted up showing a cat chasing a rat.


We try to get to the place before dark so we can take pictures. There are witches mulling around, but the crowd hasn't arrived yet.




This witch rides a bicycle in the air over a duck pond.


The girls enjoyed looking at this dog with a witch hat and cape on. I tell you, there are all kinds.



Since it was Grandpa J's birthday, we had to get a picture of him in here.


It's starting to get crowded and the sun is setting. Everytime I went to take a picture of a "good" crowd of witches, by the time I got the camera set up, everybody dispursed.


Witches of all sorts and styles show up.


It started to get so crowded, poor Alyza had a hard time keeping her hat on.


We stood in a very long line for soup in bread bowls. Aryn and Alyza enjoyed cotton candy.
I was trying to get a good picture, when all of a sudden...


This witch jumped in between Aryn and Alyza and surprised them!


Again, there were some crazy hats...



But, Aryn and Alyza, I think, were most fascinated with this werewolf and the witch. They couldn't stop talking about them.

Austen and Hats

When I think of Austen, I can't help but picture him with a hat on his head. For those of you who don't know Austen, you've got to know he LOVES to wear ball caps and always has one on. If I didn't know better, I'd think his hat was attached to his head in some manner. He ALWAYS has on a hat. But then, his dad was just like that when he was little too.





















I understand Austen would sleep with his hat on if his mom and dad let him. Also, he's not allowed to wear a hat on Sunday. I can understand why. . .to see him without a hat is a RARE occasion.



So, in honor of Austen's birthday today, Grandpa J and I are wearing ball caps and wishing him a happy birthday!






Austen is a CUTIE! His dark brown eyes just lure you in and then his smile will melt your heart.

Happy birthday Austen on your second birthday! We love you!