With an Eye Single to His Glory ;)

We are having an investigator, a new member and the missionaries over tonight for dinner and a lesson. I am excited! I love missionary work!! Once we were called to the Nova YSA branch I didn't think I would get many opportunities to share the gospel because I was married and they were all single... different worlds. But as I pray every day for opportunities I recognize them and take advantage of them.

I carry pass along cards in my purse now too. haha I'll let you all know how tonight goes!

I absolutely love the lyrics to this EFY song:

"I've never been the kind to testify.

I don't have the words His truth deserves.

But it's a simple thing He asks:

a worthy heart and willing hands.

He says if I'll make the choice,

He'll help me find my voice.

He calls me to serve and I cannot fail Him-

the One who has given me all that I have.

I place my trust in Him alone.

He knows the yearnings of my soul.

Because He believes in me,

I will go willingly.

How can I keep this gift to myself

when I can lift somebody else?

I'll be a witness of His miracles and His mercy.

I put my future in His hands,

knowing He's made me all I am.

I put my faith in Him and truth begins to speak.

His power is real.

It moves me until I will not be still.

Lifting the hands that hang down in sorrow,

strengthening knees that bend in despair.

Reaching the hopeless hearts that do not know His love.

Seeing their lives begin to change,

I know I'll never be the same!

How can I keep this gift to myself

when I can lift somebody else?

I'll be a witness of His miracles and His mercy.

I put my future in His hands,

knowing He's made me all I am.

I put my faith in Him and truth begins to speak.

His power is real.

It moves me until I will not be still.

His power his real.

I trust in His will.

I will not be still."

God is real. The Savior lives and loves us. We are His children. He has provided His gospel through prophets, even living prophets today, to help us be happy in this life and return to live with Him and our families again after this life.

Where should we live? Take a Poll

The last two days have been absolutely beautiful! We had a cold front come through that dropped the temp to 55 degrees! yahoo! It reminded Dan and I how much we love cooler weather and the seasons.

So now this realization has raised a problem for us and we need all your help: Where should we live? Here are the options. We have about a year left to decide. :D

1. (Well since we're already so close) SW FL. It's gorgeous and lots of old people's teeth to fix. ;) Not to mention some really amazing people live here. :)

2. Seattle WA. Also a beautiful place, that secretly has great weather- despite all the tales you've heard about it raining all the time.

3. Asheville, NC: Could this be the middle ground we are all looking for? Mountains, Forests, Country festivals and fairs, The 4 Seasons and relatively close to some family... Did I mention it's gorgeous?

4. Abroad: Asia? Hen Hao!! Dan is currently applying for the army to help repay our loans. And if we get the option we want, we'll be banking! ya! We could also choose to work abroad for those years he works as an army dentist.

So there are the choices! Let the battle of wills begin!! Please post your ideas, suggestions and choices! Who ever makes the best argument will help decide our fates!

Our Garden

Our Avocado plant has really shot up!

Dan grew it from a seed!

Our Pepper Plant has also done well...

our Topsy Turvy though is not Pepper approved.

All the stems and leaves are twisting in crazy directions trying to get sunlight;

all the blossoms died but one and now it's growing one giant Pepper! haha

Our orchids are also getting ready to bloom.

The first buds on our big orchid

should bloom next week.

The smaller Phaleonopsis

should bloom next month.

It's red-green bloom leaf has come already!

WWF

I took them to the vet last week and she asks me "How old are they?" "3 1/2 months." "Really?" She asked. "yes". "Let me check the records." She comes back from the other room and says "The humane society must've gotten their birth date wrong. They look at least 5 months." And I said "no its right they were tiny when we got them and they couldn't eat and we had to potty train them." "They're huge then; they are going really fast. They will be very large cats." AHhhh she made me so happy! I would love for them both to be as big as comet! :D

TWO HOTTIES.... meeeee----ooooowwwwww!

look at my boys... ahhhh

LUMP in the COVERS ;)

Aren't they so cute?

Split Pea Surprise

So one of my favorite meals growing up was lentil stew.  I always say that I can understand why Esau was willing to give up the birthright.  One day, I discovered split pea soup, also good.  Kinda gross looking, but tastes good.

Anyway, lately I have been craving soup.  So I bought some split peas at Target and made some good split pea soup, it was great.  Worked so well we bought some more for future soupage.

In the meantime, Audrey had bought some lentils to surprise me with lentil stew last week.  Surprise dinner came, I came home to smell a house full of sausagey odor and veggies….yum!  I was all excited for my lentil stew.

The dish was served… I didn’t see any lentils.  I dug to the bottom of the stew, and mush came up to the top.  Audrey said, “I don’t remember lentils being this green.”  I said, “They usually don’t break down like this, that must be why.”  Audrey, “Well, I did stew it all day.”  End of story. 

I take a bite of stew.  “Well, this tastes different.  Audrey says, “Oh shoot, I forgot the vinegar!!”  Adds vinegar.  In the meantime, I sneak into the kitchen pantry and find two full bags of lentils, unopened.  I laugh to myself and eat the rest of my “lentil” stew without saying a word. 

About 3 days later, after eating most of the left-overs, Audrey stumbles across the lentil bags.  Confused, she checks the “open bag basket” to find the bag of split peas.  Priceless.  She’s too cute.  She got really sad that she messed up a recipe.  But here’s what I don’t understand… I mess up a recipe and it’s completely unedible.  (I ran out of flour for cookies and substituted cornmeal.  Did you know that cornmeal absolutely will not rise in cookie recipes?)  Audrey messes up a recipe and it still tastes great.  Is that fair?  So whenever we experiment a little with our cooking we can always remember our “Split pea surprise” and know that even if we don’t use the main ingredient it can still turn out alright.  (As long as Audrey’s cooking at least.)