The Wisdom of a Child

I was up this morning before 3:00 AM to help my daughter prepare for a school choir trip. By the time I got her out the door I was exhausted, but there is no rest for mothers, there were other demands. When my 5 year old woke up she saw me elbow deep in bread dough. I had not showered, my hair was unkempt, I was covered in flour and she stood and smiled. "Mom," she said, "It looks like you need a break. Tomorrow I want you to take the day off. Dad can cook. You deserve to have some fun." Her perceptions were right on. I do need a break! I hugged her and she smiled again. "Mom, can I help you," she asked? "You already have." I replied, and together we finished kneading the bread dough.

Now I have the strength to hang on until Mother's Day.

The wisdom of a child calmed my troubled heart.

Thank You Brigitta!

It was just what I needed.

Harvest

This is officially the first harvest from our winter garden we planted in January. (This is one of the advantages of living in the Southwest, year round gardens.) Yes, there were a few cold spells and even some snow but we insulated the plants with mulch and covered them when ever a frost warning came in effect. This gives us an early harvest and we still have plenty of time to get two more plantings in this year.

Beets, green onions, and carrots.

Brigitta thought these carrots were cute
because they were hugging.

This is actually our 4th large bowl of strawberries this year.

I only had time to harvest one-fifth of our carrots this morning and then everyone (except Kendrick) asked for carrot salad. I have several different recipes that I have created over the years for carrot salad. The one we chose today is Carrot Crasin.

Carrot Crasin Salad

4 Cups chopped carrots
1/2 Cup Mayonnaise
1 Tablespoon milk
1 Tablespoon sugar
Dash of Cinnamon
1/2 Cup Crasins


Cut the carrots in 1-2 inch chunks and put in food processor. Chop until desired size. Stir together mayonnaise, milk and sugar. Sprinkle in cinnamon to your taste. I usually do at least three shakes. Fold into carrots. Add crasins. Refrigerate until chilled and flavors have a chance to blend.

ENJOY!

When I do not have fresh carrots on hand I will tap into my food storage and use dehydrated carrots. To rehydrate carrots add them to equal amounts of boiling water for quick re hydration. You may use cold water but it will take 1 to 2 hours. If they are soaked for more than 2 hours, they should be refrigerated.

Bravo!

Shantell had her piano debut Saturday evening

with the Tucson Civic Orchestra playing

Robert Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor.

Rather than describe the whole evening,

we invite you to watch her.

She gave a remarkable performance!

Thank you to all who came to support her.

Bravo Shantell!

Star Wars Epic Duel

It didn't happen in a galaxy far far away, but right in my own dining room. Darth Vader and a Clone Trooper battled in Epic Duels to gain ultimate power over the universe. In this battle, Darth Vader, the master of the dark side won. But don't despair, the war is not over. Good will triumph over evil!

Kendrick and his cousin were so entertaining

as they used their helmets to speak

to each other during the battle.

There were phrases such as:

Don't make me destroy you.

Your powers are weak.

The force is with you.

You don't know the power of the dark side.

Come on, hurry, hurry!

Go, Go, Go!

All units, fire at will.

We've got you outnumbered.

I've got a bad feeling about this sir.

May the force be with you always!

Hummingbirds Take Two

This is absolutely amazing because the nest is only 1-1/2 inches in diameter. If you look closely to the right side of the nest you can see a yellow beak sticking up. There are two baby birds.

Isn't nature fascinating!

I don't know if Kendrick is getting blog crazy or what, but he wants to continue to photograph the birds as they grow. I am sure he will keep you informed of their progress.

Cool Fiesta Wheat Salad

This salad is made from whole wheat and your choice of beans. Today I chose to use pinto beans because that is what I had on hand in the refrigerator. You can choose from pinto, kidney or black. I actually prefer using black beans because it adds more color contrast which makes a more attractive salad. I find it best to let the salad sit over night in the refrigerator before serving to let the flavors blend.

1 Red bell pepper finely diced

1 Green bell pepper finely diced

1 Red onion (small) finely diced

2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro

1 4oz can green chilies

3 Cups wheat berries cooked

1 16oz. can whole kernel corn

2 Cups cooked beans (pinto, black or kidney)

2 Teaspoons chili powder

2 Teaspoons cumin

1/4 Cup Balsamic Vinegar

2 Tablespoons sugar

1/2 Cup olive oil

1 Teaspoon salt

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of one hour before serving.

Serving ideas:

• Serve with fresh homemade tortillas.


• Serve over a bed of lettuce with a dollop of sour cream.


• Our favorite is to serve it over tortilla chips with a dollop of sour cream.


• This salad is great with diced tomatoes thrown in, however they tend to get soggy, so I serve them on the side.

In the Leafy Treetops

We took the dog out for a walk today and noticed a small nest in one of our trees. As we stopped to marvel at our discovery the mother bird flew to the rescue. It was a hummingbird protecting her two babies that have just recently hatched.

Kendrick ran inside to get the camera thinking that surely this is worthy of a blog. He snapped a few photos but the birds were camera shy and stayed close to the bottom of the nest.

Kendrick has decided that he will go out everyday until he can get a good picture of the baby birds. Who knows Kendrick, this maybe worthy of two blogs. Great job!

Anticipation!

We have officially started our countdown to

Elder Petty's homecoming.

He will be home in 34 days.

We are so excited!

Brigitta woke up this morning and said, "Mom, I can't wait any longer, he needs to come home NOW!" I just chuckled and gave her a hug. "He will be home before you know it," I replied. We then sat down at the computer and made a list of things to do to prepare for his return. "When everything has been completed, Mar-Kell will be home," I told her. She anxiously set to work on the list. No worries though, it is definitely long enough to last 34 days.




A mission is the most wonderful experience that a young man of 19 can have. I have enjoyed so much corresponding with my missionary these last two years. I am really going to miss the weekly letters and e-mails, they have been a source of strength to me as well as the family. We have grown even closer as Mother and Son, a special bond that will last forever. I have witnessed his growth in so many areas and am amazed at what the Lord has accomplished in his life. He has had a lot of challenges, but that is great. He needed to experience the refiners fire in order to learn and grow. As I have seen him struggle and sacrifice I have witnessed the blessings that have come into his life. Miracles have not ceased.

I can hardly wait to hold him in my arms and

welcome him back home.

See you soon Elder Petty!

Like Father, Like Son

Back in 1999 we purchased our Grand Piano. It was such a memorable occasion that Cameron and Tyrone wrote a duet in honor of the special event. They performed it at my Fall Piano Recital later that year. It was entitled, The Black Piano. While the name itself was not too creative, the piece they wrote was absolutely amazing. I had no idea they had such a remarkable talent.

Well that was 10 years ago. The time has flown by and now

Cameron and Tyrone have sons of their own.

Only time will tell what masterpieces

these two young boys have within them.

I expect great things as they follow in

the footsteps of their fathers!

It is moment's like these

that bring life's greatest joys!

Happy Birthday Shantell!

I had such a wonderful journey down memory lane last night as I looked through hundreds of family photos. I am so blessed to have each of my children in my life. All of them with the exception of the oldest and youngest have been fertility babies, so we feel greatly blessed to have the children we do. What an honor it is to be their mother.

When I was expecting Shantell, I was so excited to learn that we were having a girl. We had already had one daughter and then came three sons. Don't get me wrong, I love my boys, but I was ready for another girl. Shantell weighed in at a whopping 9lb. 9oz. and she was two weeks early. She had a difficult start because her blood sugar was zero.(I had gestational diabetes during her pregnancy.) This prompted an immediate transfer to the Intensive Care Unit where she remained for a week. She looked so odd next to all of the preemies.

We did not know at the time how inspired her name was. Shantell's name means "song". She has been blessed with a remarkable gift. She sat at the piano at the age of 2 and began to play. She has been playing ever since and will be featured at the end of this month with the Tucson Civic Orchestra playing a Concerto written by Robert Schumann.

Here are a few pictures of our Shantell.

Greeted by Brianna, Tyrone, Grandma,
Aunt Desiree and Cousin Darla.

Peacefully asleep.



All of our children were brunettes until Shantell came along.
We called her our 90's model.


Shantell and Kendrick at Disneyland.



Frontier Land

Shantell at 5 years old playing at the Tuson Mall at Christmas time.

A few interesting facts about Shantell.

• She literally slept for the 1st six weeks of her life.
• She gave herself a middle name, Rose. She would often introduce herself as Shantell Rose Petty.
• She could play songs by ear in different keys at the age of 3. By the time she was 4 she could read music at sight without instruction.
• She was reading books by the age of 4.
• Again at age 4 she memorized phone numbers and would hide in the closet and call her grandmother, LONG DISTANCE. We didn't know about it until we started receiving bills.
• She had a love for baby dolls and named each of them after flowers.
• At the innocent age of 4 (I never noticed how important the number 4 is to Shantell) she called all of her primary age friends up and invited them to a party. I did not find out about it until the mother's began calling to find out a few more of the details. When I asked Shantell where she got all of the phone numbers she said she just went through my notebook and found them. I was the Primary President at the time.
• Shantell was incredibly shy and would stare at her hands when any adult or stranger approached her. It wasn't until the age of (you guessed it) 4, that she would acknowledge other people.
• Shantell had a hair cutting fettish. By the time she was 6 she had dramatically cut her hair 4 times. I'm saving those pictures for blackmail purposes later. :)
• Shantell loves to text! Her record month for texting stands at 14,850. Thank goodness for unlimited texting. If you are reading this Shantell, this is not a challenge to try and beat your record!
• She is a peacemaker and a help to everyone.
• She does not talk back, however, if there is something she does not want to do she will just silently not do it.
• Shantell is a special young woman and an amazing addition to our family. I can't imagine where we would be without her.
  
  

The loving big sister.

Always cheerful and smiling.



Not quite ready to grow up.

It's unbelievable how much these

three are alike in personality.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHANTELL

WE LOVE YOU!

Strawberries Galore!

I went out this morning and was amazed

at how many strawberries I found.

Now to decide what to make with them before

Brigitta eats them all.

I LOVE GARDENING!

Wheat Berry Salad

This is one of our MOST favorite meals using wheat berries.

It is so easy to make and yet tastes like you slaved all day.

1 1/2 Cup cooked wheat berries
1 15oz. Can pineapple, drained and chopped
1 Cup chopped celery
1 14 oz. can Chicken
1/4 Cup mayonnaise
Salt and Pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients and chill. Serve cold.

I love to serve this with fresh homemade rolls right out of the oven.

Holidays Are All About Family

Yesterday was Easter and I was blessed to have my entire family, with the exception of my missionary son, at home. What a wonderful feeling it was to be together again. My family means everything to me! Looking back I wish that I had taken more pictures, but we were so busy enjoying each others company we just forgot.

As tradition in our family the Easter Bunny has always come on Saturday rather than Sunday so that we can separate the secular from the sacred and teach the children the true meaning of Easter. The celebration started Saturday with the decorating of the eggs.

Apparently it takes quite a bit of concentration to color eggs.

Kendrick is in his alternative universe right now.

Rob, Arianna, Brianna, and Tatianna


Michele, Dallin, and Cameron


Tyrone, Ty-Kell, and Aimee

He Lives!

The greatest events of history are those which affect the greatest number of people for the longest periods. By this standard, no event could be more important to individuals or even nations than the Resurrection of the Savior Jesus Christ. It is a glorious reality. He truly rose from the tomb on the third day, just as the prophets foretold. He literally is "the resurrection and the life." Jesus is the Christ, the Savior of mankind, the Redeemer of the world. He is the very Son of God. How grateful I am to have this knowledge. It shapes every aspect of my life and I am forever indebted to Him.

He is My Savior.

Happy Easter!

Now That You Have It, What Do You Do With It?

Whole grains are the backbone of any long-term food storage,

and wheat is the most important grain to store.

Once you have hundred's of #10 cans of

wheat stored the questions quickly arise,

"What do I do with it all?

How can I use it in real,

everyday, non-emergency life?"

If you have ever pondered these questions

then stay in tune because

I will share how I use wheat in my

everyday cooking with my family.

Cooked wheat berries (the whole wheat kernel)

provide an excellent way to extend many recipes

so I will start here and branch out.

COOKED WHEAT BERRIES

To make using wheat berries more convenient, cook a big batch all at once and then freeze them so that you will have cooked wheat on hand when you need it. I find the easiest way to cook a large batch is to use my crock pot. I put the wheat and water in before I go to bed, turn it on low, and it is ready first thing in the morning. It is as easy as that!

4 Cups wheat
12 Cups water

1 Teaspoon salt

When I wake our breakfast is ready (wheat berries with brown sugar or honey and milk,) plus I have a supply of cooked wheat to use throughout the month. I drain and freeze the rest in small amounts, 1 or 2 cups in freezer bags or tupperware. The wheat is now ready to stir it into almost anything I am making. When I need it, I just take it out of the freezer in the morning and let it thaw in my refrigerator.

You can store the cooked wheat up to a week in your refrigerator and several months in the freezer.

Stir in Ideas:
· Add to crumbled hamburger
· Lasagna
· Spaghetti
· Sloppy Joe's
· Tacos
· Enchiladas
· Chili
· Beef and Broccoli
· Sprinkle on Yogurt
· Salads
· Soups or stews
· Serve with butter and salt
· Use in place of cooked rice or beans
· Serve with vegetables as a side dish
· Grate cheese over it and serve

Bunny Buns

At General Conference time each Spring, our family makes and enjoys Bunny Buns. They are made with a basic sweet dough recipe, however, I add in orange juice and rind which makes them simply delectable and perfect for Springtime. They are topped with an orange glaze and then laid on a bed of tinted coconut surrounded by jelly bean eggs. It has been a tradition with our family for years and one that I hope my children will carry on with their own families.





Recipe:

1 Tablespoon yeast

1/4 Cup lukewarm water

1 Cup milk

1/2 Cup butter, or shortening

1/3 Cup sugar

1 Teaspoon salt

5-5 1/2 Cups flour

2 Eggs, beaten

1/4 Cup orange juice

2 Tablespoons grated orange peel

Soften yeast in warm water. Let sit for 5 minutes. In the meantime combine milk, sugar, butter or shortening, and salt in medium saucepan and cook on medium-low heat until the butter or shortening is melted. Set aside and cool until lukewarm. Stir in 2 cups of flour to the saucepan mixture and beat well. Add eggs, mix well. Stir into the yeast. Add orange juice and peel and remainder of the flour to make a soft dough.

Turn out on a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8-10 minutes. Cover in a greased bowl and let rise until double. (About 2 hours)

Punch down and cover it again. Set it aside to rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile prepare two baking sheets by spraying with cooking spray.

Tear off a fist full of dough.

I put it on a small salad plate to give you

an idea of the size.

Roll out the dough into about 16 inch piece with tapered edges.

Lap one end of strip over other to form a loop.



Now bring the end that's underneath up over the top end,
letting the ends extend to each side to make the ears.

Add a cute fluffy tale, by rolling a small ball out of dough.

Cover and let rise until double, about 45 minutes.

Bake in an 375 degree oven for about 12-15 minutes.

Glaze:

4 1/2 Cups powdered sugar

1 Teaspoon orange peel

1/2 Cup orange juice

2 Tablespoons melted butter

When they are golden brown, take them out and

drizzle with orange glaze while still warm.

After they have cooled, lay them on a bed of tinted coconut

and jelly beans and watch your children's eyes light up.

We Reap What We Sow

At the beginning of March we began planting our spring garden.

The first crop we sowed was potatoes.

This is our first experience with them and we are so excited.

I am amazed at how fast they have taken off.

On the other end of the garden is our strawberry patch.

Last week we planted squash, spinach, beets, carrots, green onions, basil, oregano and tomatoes. During these difficult times, this is something that our children feel they can do to help provide for our family. They feel such a sense of accomplishment in planting, tending, and harvesting the rewards of their labors.

Life is Hard

My daughter Brianna has been the choir director for Sabino High for the past two years. This morning she was called into the Principal's office and given "notice" of intent to let her go. Due to budget cuts they are planning on laying off all 1st and 2nd year teachers in our district. If this was not bad enough Brianna was informed that the discussion of the Site Council is to cut the ENTIRE Choral Program at the High School.

Brianna is an amazing teacher. She has a way of working with her students that helps them express their creativitiy and emotions through the art and dicipline of singing. I was so shocked when she called me this morning. This is a tradegy to lose such a valuable teacher let alone disolve an entire program. The arts are not just a frill, they offer many values to our children.

Let me just vent for just a few minutes on some of the values associated with Fine Art programs.

• The arts provide an emotional outlet and growth for all who participate.
• It has long been proven that they help develop thinking patterns that benefit all areas of life.
• The arts promote discipline and commitment. Just ask Shantell how many hours a day she works at the piano.
• The arts provide a positive social network.
• They help students develop teamwork as well as leadership skills.
• The arts develop skills that will last a lifetime.
• They open both minds and hearts and leave a lasting impression on all involved
• The arts add beauty and refinement to the world in which we live.

Can you think of any aspect of your life where the Fine Arts do not play an important role? I personally feel that it is our obligation to protect and nurture the arts in our school systems.

If anyone has suggestions on how we can save our program, please help!