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Caps For Newborns…

I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.”

-Stephen Grellet

My favorite site for this week is Mama to Mama. Its purpose is to find meaningful ways to make a small but significance difference in the life of others. The idea is to connect handcrafters with mothers, children and families in need of a little bit of handmade love.

The first project that they are undertaking is to send handmade caps to aid the newborns in Haiti. Mama to Mama provides the downloadable infant cap pattern, you provide the fabric. They encourage us to use T-shirts that are no longer needed by our families to make the caps. One adult t-shirt will make two caps. The full details and pattern are on the Mama to Mama site.



Author and crafter, Amanda Blake Soule who is the creator of the project says:

“I invite you to join me in sharing your creativity, time and energy to aid our Caribbean sisters. Our life circumstances may be so very different from one another, but as women and mothers, we share so very much in common – the most basic being our desire to keep our children safe and healthy from the moment of birth onward. Please read on to find out how you can contribute to this project in a simple but meaningful way.”

~Amanda

I’ve sent my children looking for the T-shirts that they have no intention of wearing again. The pattern is simple and the hats go together very quickly–and just think, they help to save brand new lives. Imagine what we could do with one hour of our time. How much difference could we make?

About to be caps…

Almost there…

See the final results of the Cap to Cap-Haitian Project HERE.

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A Good Boy…

…in a far away place.

My son Dane is currently serving a full time, two year mission for the LDS church in Lithuania. He is having the time of his life. He loves the people and beautiful land and the companion he’s works with. He is struggling with the language, but it is coming along and he is determined to get better every day.

Dane in the Missionary Training Center

It is wonderful to read his letters and to know how happy he is–but as a mom…well, I never imagined how hard it would be to say good-bye to my boy. It was unlike anything I’ve ever done. I’m so proud of him…but man, I miss him.

With High School Pal–Justin Benson

I always imagined that it would be easy to be the “sturdy mountain woman” type about having him gone…but I’m more like a big, nerdy, cry baby.

Someone asks how he’s doing, and instead of answering…I cry. Someone tells me they’ve heard from him…I cry. We open his emails and read his weekly adventures…I cry. Ridiculous pattern here.

I have no doubt that this two year mission will be an incredible growing experience for all of us…especially his wussy mother.

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Ten Can Taco Soup

The mood today was something fast and very easy…

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Ten Can Taco Soup

Note: Don’t bother draining any of the juices–it makes the soup…soup!

Pour the following in a large soup pan.

2 cans shredded beef (or 1lb. ground beef- browned), or canned chicken

2 cans black beans

2 cans corn

2 lg. cans diced tomatoes

1 small can refried beans

1 can of water

1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix

1 pkg. Taco Seasoning.

Stir all ingredients together and heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and cheese cubes. Great with tortillas or baked pita bread.

Ten Can Taco Soup
 
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Ingredients
  • 2 cans shredded beef (or 1lb. ground beef- browned)
  • 2 cans black beans
  • 2 cans corn
  • 2 lg. cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 small can refried beans
  • 1 can of water
  • 1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix
  • 1 pkg. Taco Seasoning.
Instructions
  1. Don't bother draining any of the juices--it makes the soup...soup!
  2. Pour all ingredients in a large soup pan.
  3. Stir together and heat to boiling, stirring occasionally.
  4. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
  5. Serve with a dollop of sour cream and cheese cubes.
  6. Great with tortillas or baked pita bread.

 

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One Day…

and a pile of snow later.

It feels so good to be inside with all the wind and flurries on the other side of the window. Time to sort and fold and clean and…cook…hmmmm…soup–I think.

I’ll get back to you.

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Election Day…

As an eight year old, Election Day enthralled me so much I couldn’t go to bed. The front room couch eventually called my name, but that didn’t stop me from waking up every hour or so to see how the polls were doing, long after the house was silent. The numbers captivated my attention. Knowing me, I probably wrote all the stats down somewhere. I was (am?) weird like that. I saw the final moments before we knew who our new president was going to be. The unofficial declaration of the winner of the race. The overwhelming feeling of so much happening in such a short amount of time.

I remember what happened months after that election, when I saw an inauguration for the first time. I knew that I was watching an historic event. I realized what it meant to be an American. To stand united. To be a part in something bigger than myself. To support our leaders, whoever we–as a country–choose them to be. True it would be another decade before I could participate with my own check mark, but that didn’t matter. I knew the decisions of others had a large impact on me then.

Years later I cannot help but feel that same pull to the polls. I still remember my duty as an American citizen. I voted. As a history student I know too much of the consequences of indifference to avoid casting a ballot.

If you have not voted, please do. We need every opinion. They held my voting station in a library of a nearby elementary school. “How appropriate,” I thought as I saw the pictures of the presidents hanging in a row. While it was not the school I went to as a child, it reminded me of what I know. It reminded me of how I will behave regardless of the outcome. After all we pledge that we are one nation, under God, which means that we can also stand indivisible as the United States of America.

The only way to do that though is to stand, and–in today’s case–vote.

~April~