Canning

This year I have taken up canning. It was so fun to do.My mom even bought me a special canning book that helped out a lot. I don't think you will understand the joy until you have spent a couple hours in the kitchen peeling, pitting and cutting up your fruit to prepare for the jars. Then when you are all finished and have jars of beautiful golden peaches and other yummy fruits sitting on your table it is just sheer joy. It is so wonderful that I know I can do this and if anything arises I have this new talent under my belt. It was also so nice to control how much sugar and such was put into it. I use a light syrup on the peaches and pears. I was considering using juice but the books said that they don't keep their taste, color, and shape as well in juice.

The apple sauce is sugar free in delicious.

My sister-in-law Ann gave me this great recipe for apple butter that is also sugar free. It calls for honey instead. I started using unfiltered raw honey that is so much better for you.

I have some more apples waiting for the works so I can make more applesauce and apple butter. Next year I have big plans for salsa and sugar free jams.

Recieving Priesthood Blessing

Today I was finally set apart as a Young Women's advisor. I don't know about any of you but I get so excited to receive any type of Priesthood blessings. I just know that Heavenly Father is speaking to me and telling me the thing I need to hear. I also feel so close to him at these moments because I know He knows me. He knows my trails, my fears, the thing I need to hear keep me going. I am so thankful that Jeremiah is a worthy Priesthood holder and he blesses our family greatly because he is.

Promptings of the Spirit

So Thursday I was getting ready to take Joseph down to Utah for a check up. We were to leave at 3:00pm. At 2:35ish, as I was trying to finish up last minute things before heading out, I just felt so uncomfortable about everything. I had had this feeling earlier and just shook it off. So I as I was experiencing this feeling once more I thought maybe I am not suppose to go out of town. Then whoosh I felt better. At this time I was headed to pick up Joseph and Michael(he was coming with) from school early. I was still battling with the decision because I just didn't know when I could get Joseph down again and we have to be really careful with his eye care. In a split second I picked up my cell phone and called the school and told them I was no longer going to pick up the boys early. Whoosh I felt even better. So I turned around and went home and called to doctors office and spent sometime setting up a new appointment. The funniest part to me was while I was calling to change my appointment I was thinking 'I am following a prompting from the Holy Ghost so everything will fall into place and they will make the appointment for next weekend when the boys have two days off of school, even though Jeremiah will have to switch his schedule around or I will just take all the kids with me.' So it didn't work out that way. They couldn't get us in until November 13, a month away. But as I checked out the calendar it would work out better for Jeremiah if I did it this way. And they thought Joseph was doing OK enough it could be pushed back that much.
That evening I just felt peace and joy. I got to spend a peaceful evening with my kids, which we don't get enough of. And a very pleasant Friday together. I am not sure why I had this prompting. The weather was better then it had been in a couple weeks. But as I was trying to get ready I kept having the feeling that if we went we were going to get hurt. So yay we are alive, healthy and safe.

The Joy of Womenhood

In Young Women's we had a beauty night. The Young Women's President read this quote to all the girls. It is taken from a talk in a Conference by Sister Nadauld.

The decision for you to be born into this earth female was determined long before mortal birth, as were the divine differences of male and female.
Our outward appearance is a reflection of what we are on the inside. Our lives reflect that for which we seek. And if with all our hearts we truly seek to know the Savior, we will reflect his love to others.
Celebrate your femininity! Part of knowing that you are a Daughter of God is looking your best. Looking your best on the outside should reflect your standards on the inside.
Women of God can never be like women of the world.
The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender.
The world has enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind.
There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined.
We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith.
We have enough women of greed; we need more goodness.
We have enough vanity; we need more virtue.
We have enough popularity; we need more purity.