Ohio Trip

I love visiting Ohio in the Fall. There is just something inside of me that aches for these trees! I never did feel well enough to go and get Fall leaf pictures anywhere beyond my parent's yard, but it's just as well I suppose. These are the trees I know and love the best.

As much as I love the leaves, my Ohio trip this year was all business. I went out to see a neurologist at the Cleveland University Hospital. He specializes in POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome for those of you who might have thought I just made up a random acronym), something I was diagnosed with a few years back. After electrocuting me at least 20 times, sticking pins in my muscles until they burned and strapping me onto a motorized table until I passed out (ok, ok... they stopped the test right before I would have passed out.. but it was pretty close) they figured out that.....I do in fact have POTS. If you're thinking that ending was a little anticlimactic you're not alone.

But at least I got to see my trees.

(This is my favorite picture. There are only a few people in the world who can honestly look at their yard, see this, and then say- Nope, not quite enough leaves on the ground to justify raking yet...)

Here's One for the Pink

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. I think it's a great cause. I can't even count how many close friends and relatives have been scarred by this disease. But as I'm surrounded by the pink yogurt lids and random Facebook posts I can't help but wonder- is this really helping? Wouldn't it be better to actually help those who are suffering?

For my bit of Pink this month I'd like to post this great list by Lisa Copen. So many times we don't reach out simply because we don't know what to do. This list was created to help with that very problem. It was written with chronically ill people in mind, but most ideas would really apply to any trial. I hope it helps us all focus our efforts to lifting those around us during this month of awareness.

1. Ask, “What events in your life are changing and how are you coping with the changes?”
2. Understand that she lives in a constant state of making decisions for which there is no guarantee that she is making the right choice.
3. Put meals in disposable containers and attach a note saying “This doesn’t need to be returned.”
4. Add stickers to envelopes for a cheerful touch.
5. Arrange for your friend’s kids to have a night with your children.
6. Don’t make a person into a project.
7. Ask, “Would you be willing to talk to a friend of mine who has recently been diagnosed with a chronic illness and offer her some encouragement?” It makes one feel good to know that her experience can offer someone else hope and that God still has a purpose for her life.
8. Wash his car and put a little note inside for him to find later.
   Remember important anniversaries, both the good and the bad. No one else will.
9. Ask, “Do you want company the day that you wait for the test results? I could come over for a couple of hours.”
10. “No matter how little you have, you can always give some of it away.” ~Catherine Marshall
11. Just listen . . . until it hurts to not say anything. And then listen some more.
12. Ask her, “How do you feel God is working through-or despite-this illness in your life? I’m interested.”
13. Ask, “What do you wish people understood about your illness?”
14. Don’t make her feel guilty about things that she cannot do.
15. Treat her to a gift of movie rentals via postal mail through a service ($7-15 a month).
16. Ask, “Would you be comfortable with having your name on a prayer list, so that others can pray for you?” Don’t assume.
17. Instead of saying, “I will pray for you,” say, “I’d like to pray for you right now, if that’s okay.”
18. Mop the floors.
19. Ask if she would be interested in writing something for the church newsletter, maybe even about the subject of living with chronic illness.
20. Buy a brightly colored umbrella as a gift.
21. Ask, “Do you have an errand I can run for you before coming over?”
22. Ask her to do spontaneous things, like go to a concert in the park, or just for a picnic. She may be more likely to participate since she knows if it’s a good day or a bad day.
23. Don’t say, “So, why aren’t you healed yet?” or “I wonder what God is trying to teach you that you just aren’t learning!”
24. For a unique gift, provide brightly colored paper plates, napkins, and utensils in a gift bag with a note that says “For when you don’t feel like doing dishes.”
25. Get her a pretty box to keep all of her notes of encouragement. Remind her to get it out and read things when she is feeling down.
26. Be her advocate. If you are at an event and walking/seating is an issue because of her disability, ask her if she’d like you to take care of it. If she says you can, be firm but not rude. Don’t embarrass her by making accusations of discrimination or by making a scene.
27. Ask, “Would you be interested in a prayer partner from our church?”
28. Purchase matching coffee mugs for you and your friend, and then commit to pray for one another each morning while using them.
29. Say, “While you’re in the hospital I’d be happy to take care of your pet.”
30. Don’t tell her about your brother’s niece’s cousin’s best friend who tried a cure for the same illness and. . . (you know the rest).
31. Find out which charity is most important to her and then give a donation in her honor.
32. Ask, “What are your top three indulgences?” and then spoil her soon.
33. Hold the door open for her. They are heavy!
34. Don’t tease her and call her “hop along” or “slowpoke.” Comments you mean in fun can cut to the quick and destroy her spirit. Proverbs 18:14 says, “A man’s spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can bear?”
35. Say, “I know you must need someone to just vent to occasionally. I may not fully understand how you feel, but I’m here to listen anytime.”
36. Ask your church youth group to come over and clean up the yard during seasonal changes.
37. Don’t ask her, “How are you able to make it financially?” If she wants to share a burden she will.
38. Ask, “What would you advise me to look for in a new doctor?”
39. If your friend has a disabled parking placard and you are driving, allow her to tell you where she wants to park. If she’s feeling particularly good that day, she may not want to park in the “blue space.” Don’t be disappointed that you’ll have to walk farther.
40. Don’t gossip about others. She’ll wonder what you say about her. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).
41. Proverbs 25:11 says,
    “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” Be kind, gentle, and respectful.
42. Accept that her chronic illness may not go away. If she’s accepting it, don’t tell her the illness is winning and she’s giving in to it.
43. Don’t say, “Let me know if there is anything I can do.” People rarely feel comfortable saying, “Yes, my laundry.” Instead pick something you are willing to do and then ask her permission. Try the coupon in back!
44. Ask her to share her testimony at an event.
45. Buy a magazine subscription for her on her favorite topic.
46. Plant a rosebush to view from a window.
47. Understand that you don’t need to know all of the details about the illness in order to be helpful. He’ll share with you what he’s comfortable with you knowing.
48. Don’t ask, “Why can’t the doctors help you?” or insinuate that it must be in her head. There are millions of people who are in pain with illnesses that do not have cures.
49. Avoid having gifts be “pity gifts.” Just say, “I saw these flowers and their cheerfulness reminded me of you.”
50. Send tapes of church services your friend misses to her with a copy of the bulletin and a note.
51. If she doesn’t have a cordless phone, get her one. Phone headsets are also nice.

Favorite Fall Recipes

I love the Fall! I love the smells. I love watching the kids walk to the bus stop with their brand new backpacks. I love snuggling up and looking outside as the cold weather creeps back into our lives. I love thinking about the day when I finally get around to making a pad for our window seat so I can curl up on there and watch the leaves fly by.

I wanted to share a couple of my favorite fall recipes. They just make life feel so festive!

Butternut Squash Soup

My sister in law shared this recipe with us a few years back and it became an instant favorite. The photo is an old one from a party where I served the soup out of a pumpkin. It's the only one I had, but at least it gives you a little idea of what the soup looks like. The pumpkin is, of course, optional :)

6 T chopped onion
3 T butter
6 c. squash, peeled and cubed
1/2 tsp dried parsley
1/4 tsp. pepper
4 oz cream cheese
salt to taste
3 cans chicken broth

Saute the onions in butter until tender. Add all but the cheese. Boil
twenty minutes or until squash is tender. Puree squash and cream
cheese in batches until smooth. Return to pot, heat through but do not
boil. Serve with French bread and green salad.

Hot Almond and Cream Drink

We call this the Narnia drink because as soon as you taste it you will KNOW that it's the exact warm, perfect drink that the Snow Queen gives to .. the boy.. (I forget his name) with is turkish delight. Seriously so good. And perfect all through the holidays. After all, how can something with ice cream as one of the ingredients ever be bad?

1 c butter
1 c sugar
1 c packed brown sugar
2 cups vanilla ice cream, softened
2 teaspoons almond extract
ground nutmeg

In a saucepan over low heat, cook and stir butter and sugars for 12-15
minutes or until the butter is melted. Pour into a large mixing bowl;
add ice cream and extract. Beat on medium speed for 1-2 minutes or
until smooth, scraping the bowl often. This creates the drink 'mix'.

To make one serving: Spoon 1/4 cup mix into a mug, add 3/4 c boiling
water and stir well. Sprinkle with nutmeg and serve.

Corn Chips Take the Prize

I'm always happy when every inch of our counter tops is covered with food. First of all because it covers more of the hideous pink Formica (pink counter tops. Seriously? Who decided on that?) and second because it means something amazing will be in my mouth shortly. This particular shot is in preparation for the annual Salsa Competition at Doug's office. He decided to be unique and do a Italian inspired salsa- tomatoes, fresh basil, caramelized onions, and a lot of other amazing things that I couldn't possibly remember or ever recreate. But boy was it good. I'll just sum up the results by saying he SHOULD have won.

While we didn't steal the prize for our salsa, we did successfully find that George is half puppy. Or at least he'll eat ANY kind of people food in front of him. Which to me is pretty much the same thing. Here he is cleaning up a handful of corn chips we spilled during the salsa prep. (in case you weren't sure, corn chips are not typically a feline favorite) At least I don't have to sweep as often with him around.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

You might think I'm a bit early for Christmas, but I'm actually just really late. I've been working on these stockings for years now. The yarn I knit them out of is something I got in Argentina right before I went home. It's sentimental to me, so I wanted these to be perfect. The years included a lot of planning and searching for materials rather than actual work.

They're FINALLY done!

I must admit the photos do not do them justice. The yarn is 100% silk so it just shines in the light and glides through your fingers. They're lined with dupioni silk, hand embroidered (with designs that I created on my computer then used as patterns) and mine has these Japanese glass beads that catch the light just right. Totally over kill, I know- but I had so much fun finding just the right stuff. I'm so excited to have a reason to buy stocking stuffers this year!

Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?

I've really enjoyed watching all the short videos that have come up on LDS.org lately. This one has become a fast favorite of mine. Maybe because it presents several topics that have been main studying points for me the past few months. Mostly though, I think it's the beauty of the language used. James E. Faust is able to capture a month of my studies into one beautifully worded sentence. It is more like poetry than an address. Here are a few of my favorite lines-

"You will not be able to travel through life on borrowed light"

"Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?"

"This... requires patience in a world that requires instant gratification... (it)requires you to walk by faith in a world governed by sight."

Happy End of Summer

Our windows keep surprising me. Just last week I looked out and saw Mt. Timp covered in fiery red. And today I spotted our own tree turning yellow. I guess it's time to say goodbye to Summer for the next while.

Over the labor day weekend we had a little ice cream party with my friend Steph. She's one of the only people in the world who understands my deep interest in things like cakelet pans and popover recipes and our evening was planned around that fact. We provided the homemade vanilla bean frozen custard (I'm just loving that Costco now sells vanilla beans- I could put them in just about anything) and she made homemade fudge sauce and the waffle cones. (that's right- she has her very own waffle cone maker. I know. She's pretty much the coolest person ever.) Yum yum yum. It made quite the fair well party for the long summer days.