Category: family

Posted on

Keeping Secrets

One year at Christmas time my little, then three-year-old Lyndi, wanted to help me wrap some presents for Daddy. Seemed harmless enough, so I let her do all the easy stuff–you know, “hand Mommy the tape,” and “pick which paper,” that sort of thing. The whole time I carefully explained to her that all these presents were secrets until Christmas morning and to be sure not to tell Daddy or it would spoil his surprise. We even practiced. Oh, how she promised to keep the secret.

Then Daddy came home.

She ran up to him and grabbed his legs and said, “Guess what? We wrapped your Christmas present today.”

Uh-oh, I think.

“It’s a secret…”

Good girl, good girl…

“…so I can’t tell you…”

That’s right, good job!

“…what it is…”

Well done!

“…but it ticks.”

…sigh…

If you’d have known this particular little sweetheart, you wouldn’t have been able to be mad at her, any more than I could at the time. Especially, since–from what I’m told, I was the very same sort of kid. Apparently, Christmas secrets or any other kind were just not safe with me. I don’t remember being the surprise spoiling blabber-mouth, but according to my siblings…I was.

Having lived a million years, since that time–I think I’m a little better at it…but sometimes it’s still really hard. I love to share surprises more than anything, which makes keeping a secret for very long–a trial. Probably why I have the “Secrets” tab on this very blog. I need to tell someone!

Then this very cool thing happened. Our household recently discovered a notebook stuffed full of “secret” famous recipes–just waiting to be tried and shared. And what-do-you-know, I’m really good at both things!  This could be the healing enterprise that I need…and the cool, famous restaurant favorites that  you need!  Hee hee hee.

So stand by. I’ve got some great recipes coming. Some from the “Secret Notebook” and some serendipitous finds from other places.

In fact, we’ll start with Brazilian Limeade, served at places like Tucano’s, from my sweet friend Susette.

What you choose to do with the secrets….

…is up to you.

 

 

PS—You are welcome to request a restaurant favorite and I’ll go on a hunt for it as well.  ;}

 

Posted on

Food Storage Folks

The Bare-bones year supply!
Ok, so I am fully aware that everyone on earth does NOT store food and have a wheat grinder.
I also know that most people don’t really worry about updating a 72 hour kit and rotating the canned goods.
AND I’m sure it’s quite likely that if you announced to a lot of folks that there was a big sale on 50 pound bags of rice and black beans–they’d look at you like you had a blue face.
But then, on the other hand, I know that in these parts, there are quite a few families that have organizing a year supply and 72 hour kits as a pretty hefty priority. Some of us do try. But the dilema has always been–how to make it interesting?

Yes, you’d survive–but you’d be so bored!

Our ward has a new program that I want to tell you about–it’s called Wheat Watchers. They send out a weekly newsletter–which is worth signing up for–and have a blog to share tips and information so that if an emergency does come–we’ll know what to do. It promises to help us get beyond the boring basics and learn ways to take care of everyone without making them all sick.
Oh, go on…check out the site. It’s pretty cool. And you know, as long as we are trying to do this storage thing–we may as well be creative about it!
Posted on

The Home Is a Refuge

“When the seas of life are stormy, a wise mariner seeks a port of peace. The family, as we have traditionally known it, is such a refuge of safety. ‘The home is the basis of a righteous life and no other instrumentality can take its place or fulfil its essential functions.’ Actually, a home is much more than a house. A house is built of lumber, brick, and stone. A home is made of love, sacrifice, and respect. A house can be a home, and a home can be a heaven when it shelters a family. When true values and basic virtues undergird the families of society, hope will conquer despair, and faith will triumph over doubt.
“Such values, when learned and lived in our families, will be as welcome rain to parched soil. Love will be engendered; loyalty to one’s best self will be enhanced; and those virtues of character, integrity, and goodness will be fostered. The family must hold its preeminent place in our way of life because it’s the only possible base upon which a society of responsible human beings has ever found it practicable to build for the future and maintain the values they cherish in the present.”

~Thomas S. Monson

Posted on

One Moment More

Feeling particularly mushy today.

Not sure what it’s about entirely, but the fact that my dad passed away–one year ago- this month–may have something to do with it.

My father lived almost ten years after my mother died, and yet, when he left, it made her–my sweet mama–so much more…gone.

It felt like they both floated away on the same morning.

Oh, I know where they are, and I know they are safe and happy and together. And I know that we’ll all be with them again, someday.

That’s not it.

The thing is, I’m a tactile soul–I need to smush and grab and hold and pat and squeeze and nuzzle and pinch and lean on…and touch.

I’d like to touch my daddy’s whiskery face again…

…and hold my mama’s feathery-soft hands…one more time.

That is how things stay real to me.

This world–my world–is a funny, foreign place without Andrew Kirby in it.

It’s like, without his physical presence–his twinkly smile, his enormous hands, his healing, engulfing arms around me–a bright light dims.

But I realize now, that it’s the same light I used, to see my mother by, when she wasn’t here anymore.

I just wasn’t finished with them yet.

I miss them so much.

Makes the Millennium sound really good, right now–you know?

*****

“One Moment More”

Hold me
Even though I know you’re leaving
And show me
All the reasons you would stay
It’s just enough to feel your breath on mine
To warm my soul and ease my mind
You’ve got to hold me and show me now

Give me
Just one part of you to cling to
And keep me
Everywhere you are
It’s just enough to steal my heart and run
And fade out with the falling sun

Oh, please don’t go
Let me have you just one moment more
Oh, all I need
All I want is just one moment more
You’ve got to hold me and keep me

Tell me that someday you’ll be returning
And maybe
Maybe I’ll believe
It’s just enough to see a shooting star
To know you’re never really far
It’s just enough to see a shooting star
To know you’re never really gone

Oh, please don’t go
Let me have you just one moment more
Oh, all I need
All I want is just one moment more

Oh, please don’t go
Let me have you just one moment more
Oh, all I need
All I want is just one moment more
You’ve got to hold me and maybe I’ll believe

So hold me
Even though I know you’re leaving