I Create by . . . COOKING

Question of the day:  HOW DO YOU CREATE?

Do you know?  Did it take you a moment to think about?  Or did you think instantly of many ways that you create?  For me, it honestly took a moment.

I wanted to share something about cooking today and I started a post about it.  But I wasn't "feeling it," until I saw something on facebook, of all places!

Do you have 1:53 minutes for me?  You won't regret it.  No matter who you are or what you believe, I BELIEVE this can help you today!

So, do you? GREAT!  Watch this! (click on picture below)  The BEST PART is at the end! 

So, how do YOU feel? 

I hope you feel as great as I do!  Here I am, wanting to "create a post" on cooking, it isn't going very well, and then it hits me, "HOLY COW . . . I CREATE!  And I CREATE EVERYDAY!"  

One of the MANY ways that I create, besides blogging, is by cooking.  I LOVE to cook!  I haven't always loved cooking, but I do now.  And like the video mentioned, it didn't just come together in one day.  It took one small step at a time.  Each step was one that I dared to take and they weren't all successes.  They still aren't, most nights, because at least 1 member of my family COMPLAINS about what I have made, or "created", for dinner that night.  

To be honest, it hurts!  It really has, until lately. What changed?  Paul.

I believe he was inspired to make this small but HUGE change at our dinner table.  Each night, that he GETS to eat with us, he makes one comment and it sounds something like this . . . "Isn't this meal wonderful?  Do you know how blessed/lucky we are to have your mom cook for us?  Did you know that she is a gourmet cook/chef?  I love eating her meals!  You kids don't know how lucky you are to eat such wonderful meals every night.  People pay a lot of money to eat like this in restaurants."

Wow!  I am blushing now, re-reading this.  But that's it.  That is all he does. 

I can't believe that such a simple, heart-felt recognition of what I am "creating" has changed dinner time from 2-3 complaints to only 1-2 a night.  And it is getting better each week.  What Paul started has been a blessing to me. . .

But I had to let it be a blessing and this is how I did it.  

I first ALLOWED those comments to enter into my heart.  I accepted them as truth, then just left them there.  THAT'S IT!  As I have done this, love for myself has started to grow.  I first FELT that what I was doing was:  good, important, something special that I was creating and sharing in the world.  Then I started to SEE that it not only blessed my family but neighbors, friends and extended family.  I was able to RECOGNIZE the JOY on their faces for the meals I was sharing with them.  Then I felt GRATITUDE for having this gift in my life.

It is all so overwhelming to think that these gifts come from somewhere.  So start simple!  Just think, "What do I create?" and accept it.  Share it.  Allow it to bless your life and I promise you, it will!

Give it a try and TELL ME what you think!  If my blog won't let you post, then facebook your comment to me and I will share it for you.

Before I go, here is one of my favorite, EASY, pinterest recipes that I tweeked a bit.  My family LOVES it!  I know it has been 100 degrees here in Utah, but this soup tastes so comforting, so nurturing, so fulfilling, that it makes a perfect meal, anytime of year!  And think, doesn't all your food come to the table hot in some form?  Soup is a light meal, affordable and quick to throw together.  I hope you enjoy it!

Lion House Creamy Chicken Soup

2 chicken breasts
6 cups chicken broth  (I used chicken base from Costco/Sam's.  Easy, NO MSG, stores in fridge)
1 C chopped carrots
1 C minced celery (chop rest of celery, put in freezer bag and store in freezer for next meal.)

1 C peas

½ C chopped onion  (chop rest of onion, put in freezer bag and store in freezer for next meal.)
2 cans cream of chicken soup (I make my own - do you want to know how?  EASY!  No MSG!)
1/4 C evaporated milk or ½ C whole milk
8-12 oz uncooked egg noodles (homestyle)
Salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot, place chicken and broth and bring to a boil over high heat.  Decrease the heat, cover pot and simmer for 20 minutes, or until chicken is tender.  Remove chicken to cool.

Add carrots, celery, onions, and noodles. Simmer until veggies and noodles are tender. Shred chicken or cut into small, bite-size pieces.  

Add cream of chicken soup, peas, milk, salt, pepper and shredded chicken. Simmer until heated through and ready to serve.

Makes 6 servings (enough for my family plus leftovers for Paul's lunch)

Serve with crackers/rolls, green salad and fruit.

Wendi's Tips:

• Instead of putting onion/celery in a bag back in your fridge, to possibly dry out or mold - chop all of the onion/celery, use what you need for your recipe and then place the rest it into a freezer bag.  Store the bag in a "ready to use" section of your freezer.  Next time need onion/celery, just throw the frozen amount you need into your recipe.  It will cook up just fine!  
• Cooked Chicken = why not cook all your chicken at once?  The cooking time is the same no matter how much chicken you use.  And it only takes 10 more minutes to: cut up all the leftover chicken, let it cool and bag the leftovers for the freezer.  It will save you 30 minutes per meal.
  
  • I use leftover chicken for:  chicken caesar salads, pasta dishes, mexican dishes, oven sandwiches with ranch dressing, tomato (sprinkled with white pepper and season all), chicken and cheese (broil until cheese is melted.)  YUM!
  • How do you re-heat the chicken?  If I need it hot, I place the frozen chicken in a microwave-safe bowl, add a tablespoon or two of water (depending on how much chicken in bowl) and microwave until heated through (about 2.5 minutes on my microwave).  
  • If adding to soups or casseroles that call for cooked chicken, just add to meal and cook until chicken is heated through (about 10 more minutes).  

   
  
      

Having a Hard Day!

(Microsoft Publisher 2007)

I have been going through a rough few years and this last week, I took a leap of faith and did something to hopefully put my life on a better course.  Unfortunately, that leap of faith didn't "fix" everything.  I have struggled to KNOW who I am, KNOW what I believe, and I have dedicated 2 years to find that out.

I could go on and on about my journey over the last 2 years, but, we all have our journeys we are going through.  We can't sit and stew about how hard it has been, or ask "How much longer?"  We must keep looking forward, with hope in our eyes, for a better day.

So as I have been struggling with sleep for a week, I was prompted before bed, to click on the follow list of videos from the Relief Society on facebook.  (I didn't even know the R.S. was on facebook, did you?)

I took a few minutes to watch almost all of them.  As I did, the spirit washed over me, peace FILLED my heart, comfort surrounded me and I KNEW I was NOT ALONE!  Though I don't have the answers to fix the problems I am facing personally right now, I DO BELIEVE that the answers and time will come that I will know what to do.  

Until then, I will continue to surround myself with positive thoughts, encouraging words to myself, gratitude that I am even able to face these problems with hope to overcome them, and love for me and all those around me.  I can not describe the pain my "problems" cause me, but though the pain goes DEEP and is a BURDEN to bear, I KNOW I AM NOT ALONE and I can do this!

I am so grateful for this knowledge and I am so grateful to have someplace, somewhere that I am loved for being me.  Though the world, my neighbors, the school, even family or friends may not agree with me or understand me, I KNOW I AM NOT ALONE!  I KNOW I AM LOVED AND ACCEPTED for who I am and who I will become.  I am me!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=vb.65924029832&type=2

  

This is where you can find the videos.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!  If not today, another day.  Just know they are there!

All my love ~

Saying Goodbye - Our LAST Sunday in Costa Rica

 I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!  Today was our LAST Sunday in Costa Rica.  It has just flown by!  My heart actually hurts from the thoughts that we are getting ready to go home.

 Our time here as a family has been a huge blessing.  We have learned so much and HOPE to bring what we have learned here, in just 25 days, home with us to Utah.

The kids build a fort in a tree by the swimming pool/playground.  (This was taken Saturday while I was taking my much needed nap.  What a cool dad they have!  I would have NEVER let them do this!)

The kids have had a lot of fun being in Costa Rica.  I don't know if they even understand that they have been living in a foreign country?  But one day, this will matter to them!

I am just SO GRATEFUL that I get to be the mother of these 4 beautiful babies!  I am SO GRATEFUL for the truth that I have been given, that FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER FOREVER  through our Savior, Jesus Christ.  

I am SO GRATEFUL that I have the opportunity to learn from my mistakes, to grow, to have each new day to try again and to love myself through the process.  I am SO GRATEFUL to not be alone in this journey!  I am surrounded by family, friends, ward members, and even strangers who see me for who I am (especially when I don't have a clue).  They love me, encourage me, lift me up, carry me and forgive me when I do something wrong.  My heart is truly full.

In our last Sunday here, we had lesson #32 in our Book of Mormon Sunday School class.  The lesson was on "They Did Obey-Every Word of Command with Exactness."  It was about the 2060 Stripling Warriors who obeyed because their mother's taught them to.  It touched me so deeply.

 

.

 It struck me so hard when I read this in the lesson today.  I realized that I haven't been turning my life over to God.  I have been lonely, upset, bitter and even angry with my Heavenly Father because He wasn't giving me what I wanted in this life.  I was thinking purely selfish and unthankful thoughts.  I have been behaving like a spoiled, rotten child . . . AND I AM SO SORRY FOR THAT!

I have decided to turn my sorrows, at not knowing why Paul has a job different from the norm of a 9-5 / non-traveling job, to JOYS.  I have decided that instead of comparing myself to everyone else's lives, that I would learn to accept mine for the beauty that it is.  Instead of feeling different from everyone - thus feeling we must be doing something or possibly everything wrong - I have decided to TRUST that the Lord has guided us down this path for a REASON.

Even though I DON'T KNOW the reason Paul has this job, I can . . . "Trust in the Lord, with all thine heart, and lean not to thine own understanding.  In all thy ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths."  Proverbs 3:5-6.  That was actually my Senior Seminary Scripture for the year.  I didn't attend seminary as often as I should have, but I sure did memorize that scripture!

This scripture has single-handedly lead me on this path, called my life!  I have endured more things than I would want my children to endure and I have done it only with trust, faith and at times, a smile.  I have come to understand so many precious truths and they have come from the trials I have faced.  NOT from shying away from life but by ACCEPTING IT and LIVING IT.

I am so proud of where I have come from and where I am yet to be.  I had hoped that my little family would be moving to Costa Rica some time soon, but in all honesty, I am okay if we don't right now.  I would rather do something on the Lord's timetable, than venture out and do it on my own.  I am happy with this decision to come home and I look forward to applying many things I have learned in Costa Rica to my life in Utah.

I won't ever give up on the dream to live outside of the USA or to give my kids the opportunities to "pop their bubble" and SEE the world with their own eyes.  I want my children to accept ALL PEOPLE and to LOVE THEM FREELY!  I want them to be a friend to all and to be warm and kind, rather than afraid or scared to live the life Heavenly Father has given them.  I want them to be free to choose their choices but have an understanding of gospel principles to help them make those choices the best that they can be.  I want them to be who they are meant to be, not who I think they should be.  

 

So, I only hope, that as I tuck these little ones into the fort they have made to sleep in tonight, on K's tile floor bedroom - OUCH!, that they will feel the love, joy and excitement I have for them and their lives ahead.  This really can be a good life and it really can have joy in it, all while living gospel principles.  I just hope and pray, that I won't forget this when I return to "good old Utah!"

I am sorry to go on and on about this.  It is just so deeply sunk in my heart, that I had to share it.  I hope you will all feel the love I have for you and the peace and joy I wish for you.  I know my Savior lives!  I KNOW He loves us and wants what is best for us.  That doesn't mean that life will be easy or we will get what we WANT.  It means that He will allow the opportunites in life that can shape us and change us genuinely for who we can and want to become.  My only wish is for YOU to know this too.  

All My LOVE FOREVER  ~  Wendi

E's First Time at the Temple

Today was a very special day for our oldest son, E.

He attended the temple for the first time!

The San Jose, Costa Rica Temple - Pretty Special!!

E with his dad, Paul - before we entered the temple.

E was patient to go; we had to wait for Paul's leg to heal enough to take him. Stitches have been out for a few days, so we took the chance to go.

Thank Heavens!  The temple is closed for the next two weeks, starting this Sunday.

E with his mom and biggest fan - also before we entered the temple.

I couldn't wait for this opportunity.  I can't believe we are doing this with E! He is going to be taller than me in only a few more years!

E made a couple of friends in the temple.  Two boys took it upon themselves to show E what to do and where to go.  They even spoke English and translated for E when needed.  Blessings from heaven right on Earth.  It was just what E needed to not feel nervous, embarrassed or worried.

E after the experience.  Just look at him glow!

Just look at him glow.  He had an amazing time!  Paul was able to baptize both E and myself.  It will be something I hope to remember forever!

Tender Memories!   ~  Wendi

Boredom

Oh, what do you do in the winter time, when Costa Rica is green?

Do you swim in a pool, to keep yourself cool,

or go to the beach and play?

NO!  We go to three hours of Spanish speaking church.

Can we saying BORING!!

Yes, I admit, this is a bit of a negative perspective.  But please, don't get me wrong, we LOVE IT HERE!   And if we moved here, we would do EVERYTHING we could to learn the language, interact with the members, go to activities, etc.  But we don't live here and we are just visitors going to church, for 3 Sundays, and listening to nothing but Spanish for 3 hours in a row.

It can get a bit boring, OKAY, A LOT BORING!

So, what do you do???   You COLOR on your iphone and ipads with your kids.

Check out our art work.

Adam in the Garden of Eden - Wendi colored

Noah's Ark - G colored

David and Goliath - G colored

Naomi and Ruth - G colored

Joseph and the coat of many colors - G colored

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego - Wendi colored

Jonah and the Big Fish - Wendi colored

I told the kids, that if they were good at church and went to their classes (all Spanish speaking) that they could have a homemade fruit snack when we got home.  They bought it!  Even L went to nursery all by herself.  It was a great day for the kids.  2 Sundays down, 1 to go.

K and L loved them, E not so much.  G not at all.

But G wanted to be in the picture anyway.

As for me, I was SO BORED from church that I decided to make a family favorite dessert when I got home . . . CARROT CAKE with cream cheese lime frosting.  I just needed to do something productive after sitting still for 3 hours straight.  

Next I made homemade pizza for our dinner guests, Ken and AnaMaria Booth, our landlady and her husband.  Ken stopped by and took the kids on a ride in his golf cart.  They had a wonderful time.  We had a lovely night visiting with them.  I even taught Ken had to make pizza crust.  He made the kid's pepperoni pizza and did a great job!  That was the only pizza our guests ate.  I made deep dish Hawaiian.  Only Paul and I ate that.  Oh well, leftovers for ME!

Well, this is an end to another WONDERFUL day!  I do have to say that even though church was SUPER BORING, it did make me appreciate all the MANY lessons I HAVE HEARD in English but also made me think, do I really listen?  It made me realize that I DO LOVE IT HERE and WISH I could live here everyday.  But until that wish/dream comes true, I want to live my best life in Utah.  I want to appreciate and enjoy people speaking to me and I GET to understand them.  I want to enjoy that I have SO MANY FRIENDS but so little time to spend with them, but that is okay!  At least I have friends and at least I get to see them when I can.

I want to enjoy the fact that I GET to live in a house of my own and that I don't share a wall with anyone next door.  And that we can be as loud as we want without worrying about the neighbors hearing.  I want to enjoy the fact that I have the best neighbors in the world, the best family in the world and the best friends a girl could wish for.  I want to be happy today and not hold my breath for what tomorrow may bring.  I want to be Wendi and accept Wendi for who she is today, who she is striving to be tomorrow and who she will become in the end.  I know I will be delightfully surprised.

So, from one girl who is pulled out of her "Utah bubble" for a month, take it from her, you have a GOOD LIFE - FIND THE JOY IN IT, it is right in front of your face.

All my love  ~  Wendi