My Favorite Things

GREAT PUMPKIN RECIPE--PUMPKIN BAO

2010-01-06T05:01:00Z

When my husband and I were in Shanghai, China,my pallet fell in love with what I called a "pumpkin roll," because I had no idea what its real Chinese name was. I loved it so much that even now, a couple of years later, I searched the internet for a recipe that looked like it so I could take it to a New Year's Eve party. Lo and behold, I found it! I also discovered that it is actually considered a dessert. I hadn't known that at the time, because in China, desserts are really different from the super sweet dishes I'm familiar with. It's real name is "Pumpkin Bao." I didn't have all of the ingredients for the real recipe, so I substituted with similar, common ingredients. Below is the copied/adjusted recipe I actually used. Also, to save time, I dumped all the "Bao" ingredients into my bread maker and set it on the dough setting. My Pumpkin Bao's turned out REALLY good. Everyone at the party raved over them. One even tried to barter with me for more.

Pumpkin Bao

Ingredients

Filling
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 1/2 tablespoons flour
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup whole milk
8 ounces canned organic pumpkin
1/2 cup whole milk

Bao
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon dried yeast
1 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons sugar
4 tablespoons butter
1 egg, beaten
Powdered sugar

Instructions

Filling
In a bowl, combine the butter, sugar, cornstarch, and flour. Stir in the egg and, when combined, mix in the whole milk.

Whisk the pumpkin purée in a small bowl until smooth. Add a third of the butter mixture to the pumpkin, then whisk the pumpkin into the butter mixture along with the milk. Pour the mixture into a double boiler and cook until the custard thickens, stirring constantly after the first 5 minutes. Set aside and let cool.

Bao
Add the flour, yeast, milk, and sugar to the bowl of a food mixer and beat until combined. Add the butter and mix until the dough is smooth and comes away from the sides of the bowl. Add a little more flour if the dough is sticky. Cover the bowl with a cloth and allow the dough to proof for 1 hour, or until it doubles in size. On a floured surface, roll the dough into 1-inch-diameter logs and cut into pieces to form 1 1/2-inch-diameter balls. Flatten each ball of dough with a rolling pin, place about 1 tablespoon of the pumpkin mixture in the middle, and wrap the dough around the pumpkin, pinching the dough together to cover the pumpkin. Set on a sheet pan seam side down, about 1 1/2 inches apart.

Let the pumpkin balls proof again for 20–30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brush egg over the buns. Place in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes, turning the trays after 5 minutes, until the dough is firm and golden. Sprinkle the top of each ball with powdered sugar and serve warm.

BECOMING ONE WITH GOD--RECONCILIATION & THE PURE LOVE OF CHRIST

2009-11-25T02:42:00Z

Family Home Evening Lesson #3 based on the LDS Church's Addiction Recovery Program

Purpose: Help family members understand that full repentance helps us overcome our weaknesses and develop charity, the pure love of Christ.

Preparation:
Provide each family member with a pencil and a small notebook they can use as a journal.

Scripture:
"I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.

"For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors" (Alma 34:31–32).

Song: “Come Unto Jesus” (Hymn #117)

Story:
In his 1998 April conference talk, Elder Robert D. Hales recounted the story of a 1968 marathon runner named John Stephen Akhwari from Tanzania. “A little over an hour after [the winner] had crossed the finish line (in an international competition), John Stephen Akhwari … approached the stadium, the last man to complete the journey. [Though suffering from fatigue, leg cramps, dehydration, and disorientation,] a voice called from within to go on, and so he went on. Afterwards, it was written, ‘Today we have seen a young African runner who symbolizes the finest in human spirit, a performance that gives meaning to the word courage.’ For some, the only reward is a personal one. [There are no medals, only] the knowledge that they finished what they set out to do” (The Last African Runner, Olympiad Series, written, directed, and produced by Bud Greenspan, Cappy Productions, 1976, videocassette). When asked why he would complete a race he could never win, Akhwari replied, ‘My country did not send me 5,000 miles to start the race; my country sent me to finish the race.’ . . . Our mission in life is much the same. We were not sent by Father in Heaven just to be born. We were sent to endure and return to Him with honor.”

Discussion Questions:

In the past two lessons, we’ve worked to repent from our weaknesses by recognizing, confessing, and abstaining from them, but though we may now feel more comfortable with ourselves, there is still more we must do in our quest to become one with God. Stopping now would be like an athlete participating in a marathon but quitting the moment the finish line came into view. Because full repentance is vital to this process, what other step must we now take? (Make restitution.) What does it mean to make restitution?

Quote:
"You must restore as far as possible all that which is stolen, damaged, or defiled. Willing restitution is concrete evidence to the Lord that you are committed to do all you can to repent” (Richard G. Scott, in Conference Report, Apr. 1995, 102; or Ensign, May 1995, 76).

The Lord has perfect love for you and for the person from whom you seek forgiveness. How can your trust in the Lord’s perfect love strengthen your resolve to make restitution wherever possible?

Role Play or Discussion:
Ask volunteers to suggest situations for which they feel family members may need to make amends. Then ask them to act out or discuss how they can make full restitution in those situations. The following information from the Addiction Recovery Program manual will help you teach correct principals:

It is very important that you are not impulsive or careless as you attempt to make amends. It is equally important that you do not procrastinate making amends. Pray for the Lord’s guidance and consult with a trusted adviser for help to avoid these pitfalls.

If those you seek to make amends with give you the chance to apologize, be brief and specific about the situation you remember. Details are not necessary. The purpose is not to explain or describe your side of things. The purpose is to admit those wrongs you have committed, offer an apology, and make restitution wherever possible. Do not argue with people or criticize them, even if their response is not favorable or accepting. Approach each person in a spirit of humility, offering reconciliation, never justification.

In other cases, you may have no way of making amends directly. The person may be dead, or you may not be able to discover where he or she lives. In such cases, you can still make amends indirectly. You can write the person a letter expressing your regret and desire for reconciliation, even if the letter cannot be delivered. You can give a gift to the person’s favorite charity. You can find someone who reminds you of that person and do something to help him or her. Or you may be able to do something to help a member of the family anonymously.

(Reconciliation) must never lead to the further harm of others. Also, at times you may have caused harm that is beyond human ability to repair. Elder Neal A. Maxwell spoke of this reality: “Sometimes . . . restitution is not possible in real terms, such as when one contributed to another’s loss of faith or virtue. Instead, a subsequent example of righteousness provides a compensatory form of restitution” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 41; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 31). From the moment you decide to adopt these true principles as your new way of life, you begin to make amends.

You may still have one or two people you feel like you cannot face. Do not despair. . . We recommend you take your feelings to the Lord in honest prayer. If you still have great fear or anger toward an individual, you probably should postpone meeting with him or her. To overcome negative feelings, you could pray for charity and to see the person as the Lord sees him or her. You could look for positive reasons why restitution and reconciliation will help. If you do these things and are patient, the Lord can and will—in His own way and in His own time—give you the ability and the miraculous opportunities to be reconciled to everyone on your list.

Developing Charity

Scripture:
Mosiah 4:11-12, 26

11 And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

26 And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.

Chalkboard discussion:
Now that we have made restitution and done all we can to put ourselves in harmony with the commandments of the Lord, we have at least partially entered into His rest; remaining there is now our greatest desire. What can we do to ensure we keep ourselves in harmony with God and continue on His path to further righteousness?

List family member’s ideas on a chalkboard, whiteboard, or a large piece of paper. Include the following ideas in your discussion. You may wish to refer to the following scriptures: D&C 88:63; 1 Thessalonians 5:17–19; 2 Nephi 32:3; Luke 22:32; D&C 64:33; D&C 31:11–13.

Regular self-evaluation (see Alma 5:14–30 and Mosiah 4:30).
When you make mistakes, repent quickly
Regular church and temple attendance
Keep the commandments
Work to keep the Holy Ghost with us through prayer and scripture study
Selfless service
Gratitude

Quote:
“It is part of the gift of charity to be able to recognize the Lord’s hand and feel His love in all that surrounds us. At times it will not be easy to discover the Lord’s love for us in all that we experience, because He is a perfect, anonymous giver. You will search all your life to uncover His hand and the gifts He has bestowed upon you because of His intimate, modest, humble way of granting such wonderful gifts. . . Brothers and sisters, as an especial witness of Christ, I bear testimony to you again of the overwhelming love of God for each of us personally. Magnifying that gift from God will bring a new heart, a pure heart, and ever-increasing love and peace. As we increasingly think and act like Him, the attributes of the natural man will slip away to be replaced by the heart and the mind of Christ. We will become like Him and then truly receive Him” (Elder Gene R. Cook of the Seventy).

Conclusion:
Bear your testimony of how full repentance of sin and weakness will cause us to change our ways, correct our course in life, and draw closer to God.

Quote:
“Converted means to turn from one belief or course of action to another. Conversion is a spiritual and moral change. Conversion implies not merely mental acceptance of Jesus and his teachings but also a motivating faith in him and his gospel--a faith which works a transformation, an actual change in one’s understanding of life’s meaning and in his allegiance to God in interest, in thought, and in conduct” (Marion G. Romney, in Conference Report, Guatemala Area Conference 1977, 8).

Journal Entry:
Write your testimony of how your efforts to overcome your weaknesses have converted your heart more fully to God. Record any spiritual feelings and experiences you have had through this process. Express your gratitude for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in your writing.

End

Becoming One With God--Repentance

2009-11-19T05:20:00Z

REPENTANCE
Lesson 2
A series of Family Home Evening lessons based on the Addiction Recovery Program.

Purpose:
Help family members understand when we truly repent and partake of the gift of the Atonement, we grow closer to God.

Preparation:

Obtain a heavy object, such as a tire chain, to use as a “burden.”
Provide each family member with a pencil and a small notebook they can use as a journal.

Scripture: “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

Song: “How Great Thou Art,” all versus (Hymn # 86)

Object Lesson:

Ask a volunteer to walk back and forth across the room. Ask: Was it difficult for you to accomplish this task?

Now have the same volunteer hold the chain or other heavy object you’ve provided and again walk back and forth across the room. Ask: Was it any more difficult to accomplish this task?

In the story, “A Christmas Carol,” by Charles Dickens, Scrooge’s deceased friend, Jacob Marley, appears to Scrooge as a ghost carrying a long and heavy chain which represents the injustices and sins he committed in his life.

How are our sins and weaknesses like carrying a heavy chain through life?

At the conclusion of Lesson 1, we completed an assignment which helped us recognize our weaknesses, chose one to overcome, and considered our actions related to that weakness. Very likely, those actions have hurt others. What must we now do to be cleansed of those transgressions or sins? (Repent)

Confession

In order to fully repent, we must first confess our sins and weaknesses.

Quote:

Spencer W. Kimball said: “Repentance can never come until one has bared his soul and admitted his actions without excuses or rationalizations. . . . Those persons who choose to meet the issue and transform their lives may find repentance the harder road at first, but they will find it the infinitely more desirable path as they taste of its fruits” (“The Gospel of Repentance,” Ensign, Oct. 1982, 4).

Discussion Questions:

Who must we confess our sins to?

Note: If the sin is serious, we must confess them to the proper priesthood authorities. Otherwise, this quote by President Brigham Young may be helpful in your discussion.

“When we ask the brethren, as we frequently do, to speak in sacrament meetings, we wish them, if they have injured their neighbors, to confess their wrongs; but do not tell about your nonsensical conduct that nobody knows of but yourselves. Tell to the public that which belongs to the public. If you have sinned against the people, confess to them. If you have sinned against a family or a neighborhood, go to them and confess. If you have sinned against your Ward, confess to your Ward. If you have sinned against one individual, take that person by yourselves and make your confession to him. And if you have sinned against your God, or against yourselves, confess to God, and keep the matter to yourselves, for I do not want to know anything about it” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1954], 158).

How can confessing your sins to God give you courage and strength to confess to another person?

How would your behavior change if you were only concerned about looking good to God?

Journal Entry:
Consider how holding back part of your confession undermines the sincerity of your efforts. What part of your inventory, if any, are you tempted to hide?

Forsaking Sin Leads to a Change in Heart

After the rigorous emotional and spiritual cleansing of recognizing and confessing our sins and weaknesses, we may be amazed at the transformation in ourselves as we begin to abstain from our weaknesses. We likely pray and study our scriptures more diligently and keep other commandments more readily. As time passes, however, we may notice that avoiding our weaknesses and sins is not enough. We want to lose even the desire for that sin.

Scripture:

“By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them” (D&C 58:43).

Question:
What can we do to rid ourselves of our desires return to our weaknesses and sins? (See Alma 22: 15, 17-18 and Ether 12:27)

Quote:
President Ezra Taft Benson said: “The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature. . . May we be convinced that Jesus is the Christ, choose to follow Him, be changed for Him, captained by Him, consumed in Him, and born again” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1985, 5–6; or Ensign, Nov. 1985, 6–7).

Journal Entry:
What obstacles—including attitudes and feelings—keep you from giving away “all [your] sins” and more fully receiving the Spirit of the Lord?

List your chosen character weakness and next to it write the strength it may become as you come unto Christ.

Quote:
"No matter what the source of difficulty and no matter how you begin to obtain relief . . .The final healing comes through faith in Jesus Christ and His teachings, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and obedience to His commandments” (Richard G. Scott, in Conference Report, Apr. 1994, 9; or Ensign, May 1994, 9).

Question:
What have you learned about the Savior that has helped or influenced your desire or ability to change your behavior?

Press Forward

Just as the people of Alma submitted cheerfully and with patience when the Lord lightened their burdens but did not remove them (Mosiah 24:15), our path to a changed heart will require work, patience, and trust in Christ’s Atonement.

What can we do to make the atonement more meaningful in our lives? (Ponder the words of the sacrament prayer, pray for God to help us do what we can not do for ourselves, keep the commandments and thereby show our love for God.)

Scripture:
Mosiah 4:9–12

Quote:
"When the Atonement and our repentance satisfy the laws of justice and mercy, we are, in effect, free from sin. But just as the sinless Christ was “made perfect” through interaction with his Father’s grace, so his atoning grace can move us beyond the remission of sins to the perfection of a divine nature. Those who inherit the celestial kingdom are “just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood” (D&C 76:69; emphasis added). As Moroni put it, “Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him. … by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ” (Moro. 10:32–33). . . (Bruce C. Hafen, “Beauty for Ashes: The Atonement of Jesus Christ,” Liahona, Apr 1997, 39).

Scripture:
“Whosoever doeth this shall be found at the right hand of God, for he shall know the name by which he is called; for he shall be called by the name of Christ” (Mosiah 5:9).

Most of us think of taking Christ’s name upon us in context of baptism and the sacrament, and rightly so. What might it mean to be called by the name of Christ and to have His reputation as your own?

Journal Entry:
Write about the feelings you experience when you think of His willingness to give you His name or reputation in exchange for all your shortcomings.

Assignment:
Ask family members to apply the principles you’ve discussed in this lesson by confessing their sin/weakness to the proper persons, avoiding the weakness, and seeking help from Christ to overcome the desire to participate in that weakness or sin.

Conclusion: Bear your testimony of your love for and trust in our Savior.

Scripture:
“Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God … giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. … They that wait upon the Lord shall … mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isa 40:28-31).

End

BECOMING ONE WITH GOD

2009-11-05T15:44:00Z

One of the benefits I most appreciated about attending a church sponsored college was the freedom teachers had to unite secular knowledge with spiritual understanding. This blessing is also found in the church’s Addiction Recovery Program; for while it is based on the twelve steps developed by Alcoholics Anonymous, Church leaders have strengthened its principals with the spiritual truths of the gospel.

“A Guide to Addiction Recovery and Healing” can be found on lds.org, and many stakes provide organized classes on it. I have developed three Family Home Evening Lessons based on the Addiction Recovery Program manual because the truths taught in it can aid all church members in their personal struggles to overcome their individual weaknesses of the flesh. I’ve included Lesson One here. Lessons two and three will be published later this month.

Note: These Family Home Evening lessons are not meant to replace the church’s Addiction Recovery Program.

COME UNTO CHRIST
Lesson 1

Purpose: Help family members understand all have weaknesses of the flesh, but as we turn our will to Christ, we can overcome them and grow closer to becoming “one” with God.

Preparation: Provide each family member with a small notebook they can use as a journal and/or individual copies of the assignment questions located near the end of this lesson on a separate sheet of paper, allowing room for their responses.

Scripture:

“I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things” (Alma 26:11–12).

Song: “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus” (Children’s Songbook, p. 78)

Lesson:

We Are Children of God with the Potential to Overcome All Things

President Spencer W. Kimball taught:

“When we were spiritual beings, fully organized and able to think and study and understand with him, our Heavenly Father said to us, in effect: 'Now, my beloved children, in your spirit state you have progressed about as far as you can. To continue your development, you need physical bodies. I intend to provide a plan whereby you may continue your growth. As you know, one can grow only by overcoming.

“'Now,' said the Lord, 'we shall take of the elements at hand and organize them into an earth, place thereon vegetation and animal life, and permit you to go down upon it. This will be your proving ground. We shall give you a rich earth, lavishly furnished for your benefit and enjoyment, and we shall see if you will prove true and do the things that are asked of you. I will enter into a contract with you. If you will agree to exercise control over your desires and continue to grow toward perfection and godhood by the plan which I shall provide, I will give to you a physical body of flesh and bones and a rich and productive earth, with sun, water, forests, metals, soils, and all other things necessary to feed and clothe and house you and give to you every enjoyment that is proper and for your good. In addition to this, I will make it possible for you to eventually return to me as you improve your life, overcoming obstacles and approaching perfection.'”

"To the above most generous offer, we as sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father responded with gratitude.”

Song: “I Am a Child of God” (Hymn #301)

Discussion Questions:

Many witnesses in heaven and in earth testify of God’s existence. What evidences of God and His love have you experienced?

How does it make you feel to know you are a child of God?

What do we need to do to become like our Heavenly Father?

One thing we must all do to be able to become like Heavenly Father is to overcome our weaknesses. What gift has Heavenly Father given us to help us with this task? (Correct answers may include: our strengths, families, keeping the commandments, and agency, but emphasize that one of His greatest gifts is our Savior, Jesus Christ.)

Quote:

Have a family member read this statement by Elder D. Todd Christofferson:

"Jesus was also a being of flesh and spirit, but He yielded not to temptation (see Mosiah 15:5). We can turn to Him as we seek unity and peace within, because He understands. He understands the struggle, and He also understands how to win the struggle."

Discussion Questions:

How does it make you feel to know Jesus both understands and knows how to win our struggles?

What personal experiences have taught you that you can trust Jesus Christ? (Be prepared to share your own experiences as needed. You may also want to tell the story of Alma and his people found in Mosiah 24.)

We Can Overcome Our Weaknesses

Every person on the earth has physical weaknesses. Nephi said:

“Notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.

“I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me” (2 Nephi. 4:17–18).

But then, remembering the Savior, Nephi stated this hopeful conclusion: “Nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted” (2 Nephi. 4:19).

Discussion Questions:

Have you every tried to overcome a bad habit? Was it easy or difficult? What did you have to do in order to accomplish it?

Quote:

Have a family member read this statement by Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

If you’ve tangled your ordered life into a ball of knots, it has taken time to get it that way. It is unreasonable to expect to unravel it all at once. Start knot by knot, decision by decision, and be sure that while you are untying the knots, you don’t let any more get put there through transgression.This example suggests how your habit can be overcome.

Suppose a small child were to run in front of your car. What would you do? Careful analysis of each step taken will teach you how to overcome your serious habit:

First your mind decides to stop. Nothing else can happen until that decision is made.

Then you take your foot off the accelerator. Can you imagine stopping a car with one foot on the accelerator and the other on the brake?
Finally you firmly apply the brake.

The same pattern is followed to overcome your entrenched habit. Decide to stop what you are doing that is wrong. Then search out everything in your life that feeds the habit, such as negative thoughts, unwholesome environment, and your companions in mischief. Systematically eliminate or overcome everything that contributes to that negative part of your life. Then stop the negative things permanently.

Assignment:

For the next few weeks, we will be working toward overcoming our weaknesses. This week, please begin writing in a journal. List your weaknesses and strengths. Be honest with yourself and with God. In your inventory, you will not only discover your weaknesses but you will also understand and appreciate your strengths better. Include in your inventory your good traits and the positive things you have done. In truth, you are a combination of weaknesses and strengths. As you become willing to see the whole truth about your past—good and bad—you allow the powers of heaven to reveal the truth and help you put the past in proper perspective. The Lord will help you change your life’s course and fulfill your divine potential.

After you’ve completed your list, choose a weakness you want to work on and then write down events, feelings, and outcomes of times when you succumbed to that weakness. Ask yourself questions like:

What outcome did I want in this situation and why?
How did I try to control the situation?
Was it any of my business?
Was it any of my business?
What actions did I take or omit to get what I wanted?
Did I ignore reality?
Were my expectations reasonable for myself and for others?
Did I lie to myself or to others?
Did I ignore the feelings of others and think only of myself?
How did I act like a victim to control others, to get attention and sympathy, to be special, and so on?
Did I resist help from God and others?
Did I insist on being right?
Did I feel slighted for lack of recognition or acknowledgment?

President Spencer W. Kimball counseled, “Write . . . your goings and comings, your deepest thoughts, your achievements and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies” (“The Angels May Quote from It,” New Era, Oct. 1975, 5).

When we prayerfully write about our lives, we give the Holy Ghost an opportunity to help us see and understand the potential lessons that come from each of our experiences. We should be prayerful as we write so the Lord can teach us and enrich our understanding through His Spirit.

Scripture:

“If men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27).

Conclusion:

Bear your testimony of the Savior, your reliance on Him, and your belief that we can overcome our weaknesses with His help.

ODE TO FRIENDS

2009-10-15T19:57:00Z

This isn't really an ode, and I shouldn't even be writing on this blog right now. I should be working on my opening night book signing party preparations for October 22nd, but I'm too filled with thoughts not to write. Too filled with gratitude for friends.

There have been times in my life, especially when I was younger, when I felt like friends were few and far between. I've ached for someone I could talk to, someone who would understand me. In time, as I'm sure many of you have also experienced, friends began to appear. Not because they hadn't been there before, but because they either reached their arms further toward me, or because I eventually saw friendship in "small" acts.

Today is one of those friendship awareness days. It began with a greater understanding of the expanded kindness Josi Kilpack has recently shown me. As I was working on mundane, household chores, I thought about the fact that I had confided in her about my feelings of nervousness for the release of my book. With a quick response that is so characteristic of her, she showed me, both in word and deed, online and personal support of me and my writing. She is a friend, and I am very blessed.

A short time later, I read an e-mail from a fellow member of Author's Incognito. She had amazing news she wanted to share with us, because, even though the information wasn't related to writing, she said that some of her greatest, personal supporters are in our group. Knowing you can share honest feelings with someone, no matter when or where you are, is a true blessing. Like my fellow AI-er, I'm grateful I'm part of such a group.

Finally, a few minutes ago, I saw an episode of "Leave It to Beaver." Some of you know I enjoy old shows. One reason for that is because they are often poignant without apology. Goodness is expected and endorsed. I love that. Anyway, in this episode, Beaver was sick with the chicken pox. He asked his brother Wally to take care of his pigeons while he was sick. After a series of misfortunes, and no matter how careful Wally was, the pigeons died. They were killed by a cat. The part that touched my heart, however, was when two of Beaver's friends came over to the house with a shovel and a box. They said they were there to give the pigeons a funeral. They would bury them in the backyard where Beaver could see them from his bedroom. As they asked Beaver's parents permission to hold the funeral, one of the friends said, "We know Beaver would do that for us."

That's what friendship is, and that's what my life is filled with. People who reach out and lift others. People who listen with interest no matter where we are. People who show compassion and love because they have experienced the same pain and know how to succor it. I hope I, in my turn, will be the same kind of friend.

Technical Difficulties Again

2009-10-13T18:47:00Z

I'm updating my blog. Please bear with me.

MISSING EXCERPT

2009-10-03T14:55:00Z

MISSING, as I've hoped from its inception, will be released this month just in time for Christmas. MISSING is about a college student who's on a Christmas choir tour in British Columbia when she sees a Missing Child from her own home town. Suspenseful, yes, but like the Christmas season, MISSING is also heartwarming. Here's an excerpt:

Missing

PROLOGUE

Thirteen-year-old Stacie Cox walked down the heavily wooded path to the A-frame home where she and her aunt and uncle lived during the summer months. She pulled her bandana from her pocket and wiped the sweat from her neck and forehead before opening the screen door and stepping into the dimly lit living room.

“I won’t ask about the hike,” Aunt Kathy called from the kitchen, “because I already know you enjoyed it. But what about the Smythes?”

Stacie sank onto the couch. “Mrs. Smythe said the mountains looked the same from there as they do from her store window in Rexburg.”

Aunt Kathy laughed. “Some people don’t get nature.”

“Then why do they go camping?” Stacie loosened the laces on her hiking boots.

“Same reason you like to hike so much. It’s a chance to get away from it all and just think.” Aunt Kathy, came out of the kitchen, her graying, light brown hair pulled tight in a ponytail, She placed a ham sandwich, baby carrots, and a glass of milk on the table. “Besides, it’s cheaper.”

Stacie slipped on her flip-flops. “Sorry, I’ll have to eat later. Mrs. Smythe asked me to watch her kids at the pool for a few minutes.”

“Don’t let them take advantage of you, dear. You work for the campground, not for her.”
“I’ll try not to. She said I’d only be watching the boys for a few minutes while she and Jessica changed into their swimsuits.”

“Okay. But they better not expect you to babysit for free the entire time they’re here.”
“If it takes too long, I’ll tell them you have something you need me to do.”

“Like eat your lunch!”

Stacie grinned, stepped out the door, and headed to the pool.

Mrs. Smythe and her children were waiting for her next to the Swim at Your Own Risk sign. She gave Stacie a cool once-over. “I thought you were changing into your suit. You took long enough.”

“I—I was going to, but my aunt needs me back soon.”

Mrs. Smythe frowned. “The boys are over there. Jessica and I will be back in a few minutes.”

Stacie opened the gate to the fence that surrounded the pool and walked to where the boys were swimming. More accurately, they were fighting.

“Let go of Harold’s ear!” Stacie yelled to Sam.

“He won’t let me have the ball!”

“I had it first!”

Stacie stood to her fullest height. “Let me have the ball. It’s mine.”

“No it’s not. It’s the campground’s!” Sam had let go of Harold’s ear, but now his fingers were entwined in his hair.

“I own the campground!”

“Nuh-uh! On the hike you said your aunt and uncle own it!”

“Yeah, well, I live with them. They’re my family, so it’s like I own it too.”

Harold screamed and threw the ball to the other side of the pool just as someone tugged at Stacie’s shirt. She turned to see Jessica. The young girl’s bright, brown eyes shined with excitement.

“Where’s your mom?”

“She’s in the camper,” Jessica said, holding out two pairs of goggles. “These are for the boys.”

“Thanks, Jessica. I’ll get them in a minute. Right now I’ve got to get that ball. Wait right there.”

Within moments, Stacie had it.

“Hey!” Harold cried.

“If you can figure out how to play without fighting, you can have it back,” Stacie said, remembering the babysitting tip her mother had shared with her a few months before she died.

“Tell Harold to let me have it, and we’ll stop fighting.”

“No, tell Sam to let me have it.”

Stacie pushed the long strand of dark brown hair that had fallen from her ponytail back behind her ear. “Uh, who had it first?”

“Me!”

Sam pushed Harold. “You did not. I picked it up as soon as I walked through the gate.”

“I had it before you even got there.”

“That’s enough, boys.” Mrs. Smythe had come up behind them, her arms full of towels. “And no more fighting about anything else, either, or it’s back inside for a nap.”

“A nap?”

Mrs. Smythe smiled briefly, and Stacie.

“Now, where’s Jessica?”

Stacie turned. “She’s over—”

The goggles were on the side of the pool.

The hint of a grin left Mrs. Smythe’s face. “Over where?”

Stacie ran. “Jessica!” She picked up the goggles. “Jessica!”

Mrs. Smythe caught up to her. The boys were close behind. “Weren’t you watching her?”

“I was trying to stop the boys from fighting.” Stacie scanned the poolside. “She was right here.”
And then she paled.

Mrs. Smythe looked at the pool too. “Jessica!” she screamed, lunging forward.

Stacie dove in, vaguely aware of Mrs. Smythe’s cries for help.

Stroke. Stroke. Reach. Got her!

Stacie lifted Jessica’s face out of the water, but the girl didn’t sputter. She didn’t move at all.
Mrs. Smythe screamed.

Don’t listen. Just get her out of the pool.

From the corner of her eye, Stacie saw Aunt Kathy and Uncle Frank rush through the pool gate.

“What’s going on?” Uncle Frank rushed to the poolside, took Jessica from Stacie’s arms, and laid her on the concrete. He tilted the little girl’s head back and began breathing into her mouth.

Please, Heavenly Father, help her breathe!

Stacie climbed out of the pool, her limbs shaking even though it was a hot July day. She saw Aunt Kathy put her arm around Mrs. Smythe, who was now crying hysterically.

“Frank used to be an EMT,” Aunt Kathy soothed, trying to lead the woman away from the pool.

“Stacie, get the cell phone from the pickup and call 911.”

Stacie raced to the gate, but as she pulled it open, Mrs. Smythe began to scream. “Someone do something! She’s not responding!”

Tears poured down Stacie’s cheeks. Where is the pickup?

“Stacie, you were here!” Mrs. Smythe’s voice grew venomously shrill. “You were supposed to be watching her!”

Finally, Stacie found the pickup and called 911. Then she waited for the paramedics to arrive, led them to the pool, and watched their futile efforts to revive Jessica. But it wasn’t until they loaded the child’s lifeless body into the ambulance that Stacie ran.

She ran and ran and ran.

CHAPTER ONE

EIGHT YEARS LATER

August 12

Adrienne brushed the traitorous tears from her face, wiping away in one quick movement the emptiness that had filled her since the accident. It was as if sudden energy—life—had returned to her veins, telling her she didn’t have to feel this way anymore. The agony was over, and that child—soon to be her child, the one she’d watched for nearly an hour now—was right there, running toward her.

Adrienne stepped out from the cover of the pine trees. “Can I help you?” she asked.

The girl stopped running, wiped the tears from her cheeks, and shrugged. Her broken expression reminded Adrienne of when she used to cry herself, especially when her mother left her alone with her first stepfather. It was the greatest of betrayals, but his neglect had given her strength she could share with this child. Her child. Beauty and strength all the world would know she had because she’d raised this Riana. Her new Riana. Her daughter.

“Are you hiding from someone?” she asked soothingly.

Another shrug.

Adrienne glanced through the trees toward the secluded clearing of the playground. She had seen that other mother arguing with Riana, and Riana had run off in a tantrum, but now the mother had her back to them and was standing at the base of the slide, watching, waiting for another child, a boy, to whisk down to her.

“I bet no one will find you in my car,” Adrienne said.

Riana peered at the mother through the trees, and her brow furrowed.

“Did someone make you feel bad?” Adrienne nudged the child toward the road.
Riana nodded.

“Then let’s hide, okay?”

The girl didn’t answer, but Adrienne took her hand and led her away.

December 15

They say trouble comes in threes, and if this was only number 2, Stacie hated to think what number 3 would be. She closed her cell phone.

“What’s wrong?” Janice whispered.

The tour bus turned onto Fort Street.

“Nothing,” Stacie replied.

Janice’s dark eyes settled on her with that innate, reassuring power Stacie had always believed came from her Sioux ancestry. “Then why are your hands shaking?”

“Read this.” Stacie handed her friend her phone and the two of them read the text together.

Didn’t want you to hear from someone else. The Smythes have sued the campground again.

<span style="font-family: arial;">Claim we’re financially responsible for their daughter’s death. Everything under control. Good luck on your solo.</span>

“You’ve got to be kidding,” Janice said. “I thought that was settled.”

“Nothing’s ever settled with that woman.” Stacie swallowed the bile that always surfaced with thoughts of Mrs. Smythe.

Keep me posted.

She pressed send, tucked her phone in the bag she kept in the overhead compartment, and peered out the bus window. The trees and houses flickered by like a slide show on fast-forward, and for a moment Stacie wished the posh Victorian buildings weren’t in the middle of a bustling city of almost-green lawns and manicured bushes, but were instead draped with blankets of snow and icicles. That way, it would feel more like Christmas.

Stacie sighed. The choir’s Christmas tour was in full swing, and Stacie’s accompanist for her solo was ill and unable to play for her. That was trouble number 1. She’d be singing with a substitute accompanist, and the idea made her nervous.

The driver turned into Craigdarroch Castle’s driveway, and once the bus came to a stop, Stacie and the other choir members filed off quickly.

“Don’t worry,” Brother Fillmore, the choir director, said when Stacie stepped onto the wet pavement. “You and Matt will do just fine.”

“Did you see where he went? I’d like to at least talk through the solo before we perform it.”

“Up near the front. He was one of the first off the bus.”

Stacie scanned the crowd ahead of her, trying to ignore her growing anxiety. Then she saw him. He stood at the base of the stone steps beneath the castle’s arched entry, and almost as if she’d called his name, he suddenly turned his gaze to hers, held it briefly, then nodded before continuing up to the doorway. Confidence, she suspected, was what he meant to convey, but it didn’t comfort her. Sure, Matt was a good pianist, but she and Lara were such a perfect team, always anticipating the other’s movements. Stacie had learned to rely on her.

A brisk breeze caught a thick strand of Stacie’s hair and plastered it across her eyes, but by the time she’d pushed it away, Matt had stepped inside the castle.

She gathered the skirt of her sapphire formal in both hands and rushed up the steps and through the door. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim light, but when they did, she saw that she was standing at the front of an open hall. The floors and walls were paneled with a warm white oak and lined with historical displays of Christmas ornaments and children’s toys. Ivy adorned the banister of a box-shaped, winding grand staircase, and light filtering through the stained-glass windows added a multicolored luster to the early-twentieth-century Christmas tree display. Across the hall were two widely separated doorways that opened into a large, chandeliered room. And humming through the air were the blended voices of dozens of tourists.

“Are you looking for me?”

Stacie turned and saw Matt standing uncomfortably close to her.

“Yes,” she said aloud. “I thought, well, since we haven’t practiced together yet, we ought to talk through my solo and—”

He shrugged slightly and looked passed her, or rather he gazed over her head and across the room. “We can if you want, but I’ve heard it many times.” His bass voice was so soft she had to strain to hear him over the crowd’s drone. “You sing ‘Silent Night’ simply enough, Stacie. I shouldn’t have any trouble following you.”

Stacie tried not to grimace. Simply enough? Did he mean that as a compliment or an insult? “This is important to me, Matt. I know the city dignitaries won’t be here today, but this is pretty much our dress rehearsal.”

He shook his head. “It’s too late to do anything about it now. Maybe later we can change things. But I really think we’ll be fine.”

Stacie suddenly felt nauseous. “What do you mean? Change what?”

Before Matt could answer her, Brother Fillmore, who stood in front of the fireplace between the two doorways, motioned them to the portable risers, and Matt started forward. If Stacie didn’t speak now, she’d lose her chance.

“I can change something if I need to,” she blurted. “What’s wrong with the song?”

Matt stopped, turned, and looked at her beneath lowered eyelids. “The ending’s not right. Slow down the last note. Let it float for a second longer, then I’ll play the final chord.”

Stacie stared at him. Even after all her practicing, she knew he was right about the ending. But before she had a chance to tell him so, he nodded and said, “Like I told you, it’s too late now. It’s your decision.”

“Wait a second. I didn’t give you my answer.”

Light flashed through his dark brown eyes. “Well?”

Stacie licked her lips, preparing to graciously tell him they’d perform it as he’d suggested, but when a hint of smugness suddenly shaded his expression, she stopped. Was he teasing her or telling her the truth?

Matt shrugged, then headed to the risers where the rest of the choir was waiting. Confused and a bit embarrassed, Stacie followed him.

As soon as they stepped into their positions, Brother Fillmore cleared his throat. “Mr. Underwood, head of the Craigdarroch Historical Society, has asked us to sing our numbers in this hall. However, Stacie and Matt will perform ‘Silent Night,’” he motioned to one of the two doors, “at the piano in the drawing room. Stacie, I’d like you to stand on the middle row today, between Tom and Matt, to minimize the distraction.”

Stacie dutifully moved to the middle row.

“Have you made up your mind?” Matt whispered as soon as she settled in next to him. He was looking straight ahead as if they were already performing.

Stacie didn’t look at him, either. “I don’t know. Were you serious?” She gazed at the gathering audience, realizing that many of the tourists would simply be walking by during this concert, somewhat like at an open house, where they could listen to the choir while looking at the displays.

“Of course I was serious. What’d you think?”

“I wasn’t sure. I thought you might be joking.” Stacie noticed many children in the audience. They were probably on school tours, and their faces seemed so bright with anticipation that it filled Stacie with guilt. How could she even consider giving them less than her best? She turned to Matt. “I’ll sing the end the way you suggested. Okay?”

Matt’s unexpectedly appreciative gaze held hers so long it sent heat to her cheeks, and she involuntarily inched backward. But still he watched her, wordless.

“Well?” Her voice fluttered uneasily, so she stood even taller than she had before, almost on her tiptoes, hoping it would restore the edge—the self-control—she needed, even though it put her barely at eye level with his shoulder.

“Agreed,” he said.

The BYU–Idaho Chorale performed their first few numbers flawlessly, despite the stifling air that smelled of sweat and cinnamon. Out of the corner of her eye, Stacie noticed several children listening so closely that they mouthed the words of the well-known carols. But eventually, it was time for her solo, and Brother Fillmore cued Matt and her forward.

Shoulders back, head poised, Stacie smoothly followed Matt to the elegant, double drawing room. A path of blue carpet led them past period furniture and massive brass chandeliers to a gold-inlaid, nineteenth-century grand piano.

Matt slipped behind the velvet cord that kept visitors from roaming too far into the room and sat on the cushioned bench. Stacie stepped into position next to the piano and looked out at the audience, most of whom were less than twenty feet away from her.

Matt played the introduction.
She sang:

Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.

At the far end of the room, Stacie saw a tall woman in a white hat whispering to one of the tour guides. She seemed upset.

Round yon virgin mother and Child.

The woman turned away from the guide, and Stacie saw a young girl wearing a black coat and green scarf. The girl was wedged between the woman and the wall as if she were hiding.

Holy Infant, so tender and mild.

On closer inspection, Stacie saw that the blonde-haired girl had dark brown eyes and a familiar round face. Stacie’s eyes widened. There’s no way it could be Jessica!

Silent night! Holy night!

Even though she knew it wasn’t Jessica—after all, Jessica was dead—Stacie couldn’t keep her gaze off the girl. It was almost like she was seeing the ghost that had haunted her nightmares for the last eight years.

Suddenly, the woman folded her arms and stared at the docent with narrowed eyes. Then, with one quick movement, she zipped her tan jacket to her neck, grasped the girl’s shoulder, and hurried the child toward the door.

Christ, the Savior, is born!

The girl stumbled to the floor.

Silent night! Holy night!

As the white-hatted woman tugged the girl to her feet, the girl’s scarf caught on the woman’s jacket sleeve, pulling the scarf from the girl’s neck to reveal a large, cauliflower-shaped birthmark that covered most of the skin from the base of the girl’s left ear to her throat.

Son of God. Love’s pure light.

As Stacie neared the end of “light,” a bit of hesitancy crept into her voice, but she pushed through it, trying to focus on the note. Where have I seen that birthmark?

Radiant beams from thy holy face . . .

Had she seen it at the university pool where she’d worked as a lifeguard? The campground? Somewhere else in Rexburg?

Sleep in heavenly—

The woman’s gaze flitted anxiously round the room, stopping briefly on Stacie, before she finally re-coiled the scarf around the girl’s neck and tugged her out the door.

Matt played the last arpeggio.

Stacie took a deep breath and held it, preparing for her final note. And then—
Becka! That’s where she’d seen the birthmark. On the “Missing” posters for Becka Hollingsworth—a little girl missing from Rexburg for several months. Stacie and half of Rexburg had searched for poor Becka.

Stacie’s throat strangled around “peace” as an empty roar filled her ears. And then, no longer thinking about the song or Matt or even Jessica Smythe, she charged into the audience and raced toward the door through which the woman had disappeared. She had to catch that girl.

Breathing fast, Stacie ran past the choir and through the hall. She frantically scanned every face, not caring whom she bumped into and almost knocking over several Christmas displays. When she finally reached the exit, she raced outside, but no one was there.

Trouble number 3.

The Worth of a Soul

2009-09-16T00:00:00Z

Years ago, I had the impression I should write a song, but I had no idea how I could accomplish such a task. Yes, I’d had musical training in voice and piano, but very little theory training, and even less in musical composition. Worse, I’d only been married for a few years and didn't own a piano. I simply couldn't do it, and even if I could, why would God want me to do it?

I pondered that problem for some time and finally confessed my struggles to my husband. He said, “If the Lord told you to do something, He’ll help you find a way.” His convictions gave me the courage to move forward, but still I wondered “why.”

Finally, after months of personal study, struggle, and prayer, I completed it. After that, still trying to find the answer to “why,” I performed the song in church and family settings, but I still didn't’t receive a confirmation of its purpose. I was beginning to wonder if the only reason I’d been “assigned” to write it was so I could learn more about music. One day, the answer came: I needed to give the song to a relative I barely knew. It was meant for her. Again, “why?”

Like I said, I barely knew the girl, so I still don't know why I needed to write and give it to her, but I did feel like my gift touched her heart, at least a little, and reminded her that Heavenly Father was aware of her.

I learned a profound principle through that experience: the worth of the soul is great in the sight of God. Think of it. Writing that song was not easy for me. I had to struggle and study. I had to invent ways to compensate for my lack of resources. I had to pray. And when I completed the “assignment,” I learned its “only” purpose was to touch, perhaps, the heart of one soul. Needless to say, that witness humbled me.

I have since gathered a few “Worth of Soul” quotes I’d like to share here. Most, if not all, you may have heard before, but like the simple testimony of the song, “I am a Child of God,” their repetition and simplicity do not negate their power.

1) Jesus Christ:

"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

"And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

“And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.

“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” (Luke 15:4–7.)

2) President Thomas S. Monson:

“In March of 1967, early in my service as a member of the Council of the Twelve, I was attending a conference of the Monument Park West Stake in Salt Lake City. My companion for the conference was a member of the General Church Welfare Committee, Paul C. Child. President Child was a student of the scriptures. He had been my stake president during my Aaronic Priesthood years. Now we were together as conference visitors.

“When it was his opportunity to participate, President Child took in hand the Doctrine and Covenants and left the pulpit to stand among the priesthood brethren to whom he was directing his message. He turned to section 18 and began to read:

“’Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.

“And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!’”

“President Child then raised his eyes from the scriptures and asked the brethren: ‘What is the worth of a human soul?’ He avoided calling on a bishop, a stake president, or a high councilor for a response. Instead, he selected the president of an elders quorum—a brother who had been a bit drowsy and had missed the significance of the question.

"The startled man responded, ‘Brother Child, could you please repeat the question?’

"The question was repeated: ‘What is the worth of a human soul?’

“I knew President Child’s style. I prayed fervently for that quorum president. He remained silent for what seemed like an eternity and then declared, ‘Brother Child, the worth of a human soul is its capacity to become as God.’

“All present pondered that reply. Brother Child returned to the stand, leaned over to me, and said, ‘A profound reply; a profound reply!’

3) Elder Boyd K. Packer:
“no greater ideal has been revealed than the supernal truth that we are the children of God, and we differ, by virtue of our creation, from all other living things” (Ensign, May 1992, p. 67).

4) Elaine L. Jack:
“Over and over again, the Lord assures us of our worth and value to him. In D&C 18:10–11, he admonishes us to ‘remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;

“’For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.’

“Our eternal worth is given to us by God; it cannot be manipulated or decreased by anyone. Of course, if we are not living the commandments, we may lose sight of our divine worth and potential. Nevertheless, each soul’s inherent worth is always great in the sight of our loving Heavenly Father. I think that is imperative to know! Worthlessness is not an option for anyone.”

5) Marvin J. Ashton:

“A wise teacher and stake Relief Society president … flashed a large picture on a screen. It showed a bright-eyed boy with unkempt hair and folded arms, deep in thought. The caption read, ‘I know I’m somebody ‘cause God don’t make no junk.’ Please let me repeat, ‘I know I’m somebody ‘cause God don’t make no junk.’"

"Junk" has been defined as discarded, useless, meaningless matter, and yet too many times we compare ourselves to it. Even when I'd received the impression to write the song, I doubted both my ability and my worth to do it. I was a mere "nobody," right? Wrong. My testimony, added to those I've listed above, is I, like you, am a Child of God. We are matter organized for specific, eternal purposes. We, collectively and individually, are those Jesus Christ sacrificed His life and blood for. In truth, it isn't self-deprecation we should feel. It's eternal amazement.

My Favorite Homemade Pizza

2009-09-06T03:10:00Z

I frequently make homemade pizza for my family, however, depending on the preparation time I have, I use various crusts. The quickest is a loaf of French bread, cut in half. Next quickest is prepared bread dough, like Rhodes Dough, but the recipes I use most frequently are the regular, white bread dough I make in my bread maker or this one, which I also make in my bread maker.

Pizza Dough--adapted for use in a bread maker
1 cup + 5 T. water
3 T + 1 tsp. shortening
1/3 c. + 1 T. powdered milk
1 1/8 tsp salt
3 1/2 c. flour
2 1/4 tsp yeast

Roll out on greased pizza (or cookie) pan and bake entire pizza at 450 degrees for 10 minutes or until crust is golden brown on the bottom.

Serves approximately 2 large pizzas.

I believe the biggest secret behind a good pizza recipe is the sauce. My family likes this one so well, I use it for all pizza-like recipes.

Sauce
15 oz. can tomato sauce
6 oz. can, Italian seasoned tomato paste
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1 1/2 tsp. Italian Seasoning

Stir together until smooth. Spread over pizza dough, add your favorite toppings, and bake.

Note: A regular bread dough recipe or French bread crust will require a lower baking temperature. I usually use 425 degrees.

On Being Happy

2009-08-27T21:16:00Z

Please bear with me today. My heart is full. Actually, if I hadn't already used the title, "Don't Worry, Be Happy," in my last post, I'd have used it today.

A little over an hour ago, I returned home from the funeral of a dear, dear friend, Anne Creager. She has been in my writing critique group for the past several years, and after regularly meeting with her (sometimes monthly, often weekly), we (Josi Kilpack, Jody Durfee, Becki Clayson, and I) got to know Anne in a way we will always cherish. True, we aren't members of her family or even her closest inner circle--perhaps--but I feel we got to know her on a deeper level than most people get to because we frequently read each other's work and unselfishly helped each other progress through the various feedback and experience we shared. There is something innately personal about putting words on paper. It is, in many ways, a reflection of who we are inside; it is the fruits of our thoughts. Because of this connection, we all knew Anne was beautiful both inside and out. I always marveled at her ability to describe settings in a way I not only saw but also felt it's beauty. Kind of like when I stand above a lush, mountain canyon turned red and gold from fall. The coolness in the air and the glories of nature seem to breathe beauty through me. That's how good Anne's writing was. That's how good Anne is.

Anne is also strong. At her funeral, someone mentioned her determination to do the right thing--to be good. We, too, saw that in her. After Anne learned she had melanoma and would leave her young family far too soon, she began to try attain dreams she'd always wanted. Most of them surrounded what she wanted to do and say and be for her family, but part of her still yearned to write. So, she combined those dreams and worked to use her talents to bless her family. She maintained a blog in which she shared her struggles with cancer, expressed her joy in being a wife and mother, and testified of her love for God and His gospel. She wrote numerous letters to her daughters to be given to them on their birthdays over the ensuing years. She wrote articles for the church magazines. She wrote a picture book which described her experience with losing her hair through her cancer treatments. She began to write a book for girls, one that could help her daughters and others find peace and understanding as they matured. BUT even though these pursuits took part of her precious time, she rigorously kept them within the bounds of what was most important. One specific event stands out in my mind.

Last April, she took the time away from her family to attend the LDS Storymaker's conference with Josi, Becki, and I. We "girls" really enjoyed our time together and loved getting to know each other better. Anne was also blessed with the opportunity (due to the charitable acts of other authors) to "pitch" her books to an agent and an editor.

However, during one class near the end of the conference, the presenter put a time line on the board, helping us see how long the publishing process generally takes. The majority of time was expressed in years. When Anne saw that, she paled, looked down at the table in front of her, and said, "I don't feel very well."

"Is it because of the time?" I whispered.

She nodded, gulped, gathered her things, and shortly thereafter, returned home. I teared up. Anne did what was most important.

Now, after all that, why would I title this post "Don't Worry, Be Happy?" Because Anne succeeded. Living in this world, especially at times like this, it's difficult to keep an eternal perspective; but the truth is, Anne endured to the end--happily and beautifully. She fulfilled her purpose on this earth with dignity and virtue. She has returned home to God as a faithful, pure, and righteous woman. What more could any of us, in the eternal scheme of things, want?