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Time for Each Other


“We live in a world that is filled with options. If we are not careful, we will find every minute jammed with social events, classes, exercise time, book clubs, scrapbooking, Church callings, music, sports, the Internet, and our favorite TV shows. One mother told me of a time that her children had 29 scheduled commitments every week: music lessons, scouts, dance, Little League, day camps, soccer, art, and so forth. She felt like a taxi driver. Finally, she called a family meeting and announced, ‘Something has to go; we have no time to ourselves and no time for each other.’ Families need unstructured time when relationships can deepen and real parenting can take place. Take time to listen, to laugh, and to play together.”

M. Russell Ballard


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Washington’s Birthday

That’s PRESIDENT Washington to you…

george-washington_prayer“The Prayer at Valley Forge”  by Arnold Friberg

…and me.

“In the pantheon of our republic’s founders, there were many outstanding individuals. And yet each of them—Franklin, Hamilton, Adams, Jefferson, and Madison—acknowledged Washington to be his superior, the only indispensable figure, the one and only “His Excellency.”

So, you know about the small problem I have with our planet messing up the holidays that we had when I was a kid–right? And it’s likely that you thought I was finished since my last rant. Sadly…no.

Tomorrow is the official day that the world should celebrate President George Washington’s birthday…mainly because, the 22nd of February is his birthday. Duh. But since it doesn’t always obediently fall on a Friday or Monday so that we can have a 3-day weekend, SOMEBODY thought they’d just move it.

Who’s in charge of that anyway? I mean who has the power to just change somebody’s birthday to a more convenient time? Is it the all powerful Birthday King or something? I’d just like to know. *Who decides this stuff? It is just so weird.

Well, I’ve devised a simple way to make myself feel better. I’m just having a little celebration all by myself. I’ll read some quotes and stories about President Washington and probably, my family will be forced to participate as well. But I have a feeling that they’ll be respectful, and humor me and they’ll be fine.

Besides, this event involves lots of crumbles, and cherries…

…and pie.

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That ought to do it.

Happy Birthday President Washington

~~~*~~~

*In 1971 President Richard Nixon combined Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthdays into a single federal holiday.  Good grief.

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Snow boy

Daney boy sent some pictures the other day–from the other side of the world.

He says it rains ice in Lithuania that makes the streets look–and behave like glass.

The snow is so dry that you can’t even make a snow ball until it finally starts melting.

But it is comforting…

to a whiny mom-heart…

to find that some things…

never change…

 

 

Be safe~~ and stay warm and dry my great, sweet, silly boy.

We miss you so.

love,

Mom

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Family Day

…in Canada.

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I have this funky little calendar that says that today is National Family Day in Canada. I’m good with that. Any reason to have a celebration is usually fine with me–but Family Day? How can you possibly beat that?

This day is supposed to be spent having all kinds of adventures with your family–indoors or out. I’m an inny sort myself. It’s a bit nippy out.

Since this day falls in a cold month–the books say that Hot Chocolate and Cookies are the thing to do.

I’m pretty darn ok with that too.  :]

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Since we wanted to do this properly, we chose to make Canadian Maple Cookies in honor of the day. They were a hit.

So take this as the excuse you may need to stay home tonight and play games or watch a movie or just sit around eating cookies and being with your family.

Grab them while you still can. They grow up sooo fast.

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You must trust me on this.

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Canadian Maple Cookies

Ooooh—maple cookies…all the way from Canada!

Or your kitchen.

heh, heh.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 cup maple syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup granulated sugar

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets.

2. In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar. Add the egg, syrup and vanilla. Mix until well blended. Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda. Stir into mixture until well blended. Shape into 1 inch balls and roll in sugar. Place on cookie sheets about 2 inches apart.

3. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Let cool on wire rack.

Canadian Maple Cookies
 
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Ingredients
  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Grease cookie sheets.
  3. In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar.
  4. Add the egg, syrup and vanilla. Mix until well blended.
  5. Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda.
  6. Stir into mixture until well blended.
  7. Shape into 1 inch balls and roll in sugar.
  8. Place on cookie sheets about 2 inches apart.
  9. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven.
  10. Let cool on wire rack.