Nathan's act of service this morning

I decided to go to the temple this morning. I knew if I left about 7, I could be back before Tyler really got into his workday and wondering what to do with Alex. My kids are old enough to get themselves some cereal and get to the bus, so I wasn't too worried about them.

So I got up and dressed and headed out to have family scripture time before leaving. Nathan, my 11-year-old, was already in the kitchen preparing scrambled eggs so that his older siblings could have a good breakfast before dashing to the bus stop. He stepped up in the place of mom knowing I wouldn't have time to make anything this morning.

My kids never cease to amaze me. Sometimes I get the sweetest rewards for being their mom.

My new hobby

I've been in canning mode . . . and loving it!

Shhhh! Don't tell my mom, but I think I've found a new hobby.

Today while the snow/sleet/hail fell (I know CRAZY; it's only the end of September),

I cut and cored and peeled apples to make applesauce. What I discovered is that applesauce is labor intensive if you do it the old-fashioned way. Next time I'm investing in a sauce maker. Erik, my applesauce lover, better be grateful for the love and time that went into these:

I hate to think about it, but he could down one of those jars in 5 minutes what took me about a 1/2 hour to get in that jar. I tried regular and cinnamon and yes, my bottles look hideously dirty; tomorrow I will make them sparkle.

In addition to my usual peaches and applesauce this year, I tried:

green beans -- first time using a pressure cooker myself

pears

I also came across the yummiest Pear Crisp. In my opinion, it's so much better than apple crisp. You'll have to try it (recipe's at the end). 

salsa -- oh, can't wait to open one of these up this winter

And, when chicken goes on sale, I want to try canning it.

Tyler has also worked hard the past couple of weeks putting together two of our five (or six) garden boxes. I'm so excited for spring planting and already bought the stuff to make my bean trellis. These garden boxes are a work of creative art. Tyler loves the game Tetris and that has been the catalyst for these boxes. You'll just have to wait until they're all done to see the final product.

And lest you think I have lazy children who enjoy watching their dad work, they are really putting their weight to work to hold those boxes together while he drills.

* * * * *
Pear Crisp
The Pioneer Woman Cooks

4 to 5 large pears, peeled, cored, diced
2/3 c. sugar
1/4 t. salt

Topping:
1 1/2 c. flour
1/3 c. sugar
1/3 c. brown sugar
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 c. pecans, very finely chopped
1 cube butter, melted (I tried 6 tablespoons and it worked just fine)

Place pears on bowl with sugar and salt. Coat the pears. In a separate bowl, combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans. Mix. Add butter until all combined. Pour pears in to a baking dish and sprinkle topping mixture over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 40 minutes. Serve hot with vanilla ice cream (or just plain tasted mighty good).

The Little Grand Canyon half marathon

Running a half marathon is a lot like childbirth.

You're never quite as prepared as you think.

You're excited for the race to start and a little apprehensive about what lies ahead.

Okay, there's a lot of apprehension especially if you've done it once before.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE IN FOR!

Pretty soon you're off and think, "This isn't so bad."

Until you hit mile 10 or 11 and then you wonder if you'll ever survive to the end.

But you do it. You cross that finish line and stand in awe at what you just accomplished.

Thirteen miles is no easy feat. Nor is bringing a baby into the world.

And you tell yourself, "I am never going to do that again!"

But before you know it, you've forgotten about the pain, the soreness, the tiredness and just remember the sheer joy that accompanies finishing the race or holding that new baby in your arms.

And you tell yourself, "It wasn't that bad. I could go for another one."

All the pain and soreness you felt was totally worth the experience.

This is how I've felt after each of my half marathons. I've now got three under my belt and each one has been a different experience, just like each childbirth has been its own story.

Katie and I decided at the beginning of the year to try this one since it was practically in our backyard. There was always a field trip to the San Rafael Swell when we were growing up.

This race did not disappoint. Although this race was not a spectator race with people/family cheering you on from start to finish, I loved running through the canyon with sheer walls on either side of me. I loved not running through residential streets. I loved the small company of runners I was with. I loved the compacted dirt road. I loved running by the petroglyphs.

So far this is my favorite and one I would definitely consider doing again. I didn't break any records. I seem to finish right around 2:25, give or take a couple of minutes. But that's okay. This was one race you really wanted to just take in the scenery.

I will admit though, that I was a little miffed when the first marathon runner passed me around mile 9 or 10 at full speed. Dude, where do you get your energy?
My running partner is engaged and I'm afraid my half marathon days may be limited. Seriously who wants to PAY to run 13 miles, get up early to get there on time, spend two days afterwards recuperating if you're the only one doing it?

There is strength in numbers and in conquering hard things together. Guess I'll wait and see what lies ahead for this running gal.

It's all downhill from here

Tyler turned the big 4-0 yesterday. I've been thinking about this day for a long time. In fact YEARS! He always liked my long hair when we were first married and then it gradually got shorter and shorter. Well, several years ago I decided to grow it out for his 40th birthday. So it went from this:

 To this:

And doesn't 40 just scream surprise party? With funny centerpieces turned into birthday hats???

I just wasn't sure how it was all going to work out. Then Fate stepped in . . . Nate had to be picked up from soccer practice at 6:30 so I sent Tyler and as soon as he was driving down the road, it was a mad dash to get everything out and ready. I was pleasantly surprised at how many showed up right at 6:30. It truly made for a real surprise when he got back. I wish I had taken a picture of everyone waiting for him.

Maybe something like this although in this photo we're really just watching the slide show I put together.

 (El Guapo for El Guapo . . . a present from his brother Seth)

Since the beginning of the year I've been surreptitiously working on this:

 
If you decide to watch it, be warned it's just about an hour long, but set to music with some family sentiments and a few short videos embedded. I was quite pleased with how it turned out, although Tyler did not make working on it easy. He seemed to always be popping into my office at the most inopportune times.

I hope he had a fantastic day. I sure had fun trying to put a fabulous day together. We are both so blessed with amazingly supportive family and friends. You only turn 40 once.

Here's 40 thing I love about Ty

1. Patient 

2. Great teacher – can explain things easily 
3. Love of reading 
4. Quick to say sorry 
5. Great left-handed layup 
6. Extraordinary memory and great recall 
7. Discovered his enjoyment in gardening 
8. Plays the piano (a little)
9. Terrific dad – very involved in his kids’ lives
10. Very good with words and phrasing things just right
11. Meticulous

12. Takes time to think through a problem in its entirety

13. The countless hours he put into the building of our home and yard

14. Supportive – comes to all my races

15. Handwriting is neat 

16. A math whiz 

17. Can cook a mean steak 

18. Likes to travel 

19. He’s the cautious one in our relationship 

20. Loves to still learn new things 

21. Wonderful at giving compliments 

22. Excellent with money and our finances 

23. A thinker 

24. Can still speak some Korean from his mission 

25. Works hard in the yard 

26. Doesn’t get stressed or at least show it outwardly 

27.Awesome financial planner – has made sure all our financial needs are taken care of 

28. Very calm – doesn’t get too uptight over things 

29. Knows how to give a good lecture – I’ve been to a few of his at BYU 

30. Loves ice cream just about as much as me 

31. Enjoys being in nature – backpacking, camping 

32. His hair is very easy to cut 

33. Not high maintenance 

34. Will eat the leftovers 

35. Likes to hike with us 

36. Participates in Family Home Evening with us 

37. Huge Utah Jazz fan 

38. Likes pineapple on his ham pizza 

39. Enjoys socializing at our home 

40. So willing to get up in the middle of the night with babies

Charity

 Here's one of the best descriptions of charity that I've come across:

When asked to define charity, many people say something like "service" or "loving others." Although such acts may be a result of charity, they are not what true charity means.

Charity is a small English word that encompasses a large heavenly concept.

Originally the word was agape, which is Greek for "the fatherly love of God for humans and their reciprocal love for God." Nearly all places in the English New Testament where the charity occurs, it is translated from agape --God's love for us, and our love for Him in return.

The Book of Mormon uses it the same way: "And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou [Jesus] hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world. . . . And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity" (Ether 12:33-34, emphasis added).

If you read carefully, you will find that these two definitions of charity -- God/Christ loving us and us loving God/Christ -- fit how charity is used in the scriptures. You could say the requirements are, "faith, hope, and love of God" instead of "faith, hope, and charity." Alma used it this way when he said, "Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts" (Alma 13:29).

Charity is a heavenly relationship between us and God the Father, made possibly by applying the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives. Anything -- whether is be taking the sacrament, studying scriptures, going to the temple, reading a patriarchal blessing, praying, and so forth -- that helps us feel the love of God has for us as His children, and that causes us to love Him in return, helps us earn the all-important credential of charity. . . .

[A]cting in faith produces personal hope, which leads us to taste of charity, which causes us to love others with an eye single to the glory of God. These qualities each build upon one another and are centered on the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Anthony Sweat, Suit Up, "The Essential Credientials")