Hello...from our garden

Month of Rubies

July, in my mind is the official month of summer. If you haven't had warm weather by this point then usually July makes up for it. Many family trips and reunions are planned during this month which rests symmetrically in the middle of the 3-month break from school. 

And the month, quite literally starts off with a bang, thanks to the fourth of July. My other favorite part comes at the end of the month, a day before pioneer day festivities. Needless to say this is definitely one of my favorite times of the year. 

This weekend we experienced our first Fourth in Pocatello. Without having much planned for the day I decided to dress it up a bit with some good grub. After searching through several recipes I settled on making a simple salsa dip, a cheese ball served with Wheat Thin crackers, classic potato salad, and chocolate-berry meringue. Here is a glance at our spread.

Honestly, I don't think I've ever spent so much time in the kitchen during one single day. Ok, I don't spend that much time in the kitchen period! But Steven was at work all morning so it kept me busy, and in the end it was worth it. Our good friends joined us for dinner and brought some delicious steaks with them. 

After that we went up the hill and watched some amazing fireworks that blew our ears out. I've never been so close to a show. I actually had to kink my neck to see them, like I was in the front row at the movies. I even had to squint at times because it was so bright. Pretty cool. Wish I had my 3-D glasses with me. Ever tried that? It's crazy. My Uncle Bob introduced that to us a few years ago while we were vacationing in Texas. More about him later.

Until then I'll be enjoying this wonderful month of summer! 

Oh yes I did...

You will all probably think I'm incredibly vain after this post. Not just because I posted it, but because I actually took all these pictures of myself in the first place. But what can I say, it was kind of fun! I was out in our yard with our dog Leila and my laptop, didn't have much to do so I busted out photobooth. Which, for those of you who don't know is part of the mac system. So all of these came from the tiny camera on my computer. Obviously low res. Totally random. Definitely makes me a dork. Enjoy.

 

Summa time

I don't love they way Blogger completely nastifies all photographs, but I will post this anyway. This is one of my favorite shots of Steven wake-boarding last summer just outside Reno at Boca. We only go every so often seeing as how we don't own a boat! But whenever someone charitable invites us we jump at the chance. (Thank you Foote's !) I enjoy watching Steven wake-board. He doesn't do any crazy tricks, but I love the way he cuts in and out of the wake. It's a bit more like surfing.

P.S. Dear Surfing...I still dream about you. Let's get together sometime.

The Millennium

Steven and I get to teach Sunday School at church once a month. Even though I'm not the best at delivering them I love preparing the lessons. I always learn so much during prep. Today we got to talk about the Millennium. What a fun topic! There is so much to cover; how to prepare for it, signs of it, what it will actually be like...This is what I focused on. I put together a little fact sheet that I think I'll post here. So here it is.

Facts about the Millennium

Gathered from Gospel Principles, Unit 9, D&C 101, and LDS.org

- The Millennium refers to the 1,000 years following Christ’s Second Coming. (This is patterned after the Lord’s period of rest following the six creative periods.)

- The wicked will be destroyed.

- The earth will become anew.

- Christ will reign personally upon the earth, and all will see him.

- Mortals will live on the earth. Jesus and immortal beings (resurrected saints) will probably not live on the earth the whole time but will frequently visit the earth.

- The Millennium will be a time of righteousness and peace on the earth.

- Everyone will be good, but not everyone will have received the fullness of the gospel. (Everyone living at this time will inherit the terrestrial or celestial kingdom.)

- There will be lots of missionary work. Temples will continue to be built and key ordinances for the living and dead will still happen.

- Agency will still exist. For a time many will continue to believe their false religions and ideas, but eventually everyone will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.

- With the help of revelation ancestral records will be traced all the way back to Adam and Eve.

- People will be granted what they righteously desire.

- The whole earth will be a delightful garden as it was when Adam and Eve lived.

- The continents will not be divided, but will all be gathered together as it was at first.

- Satan is bound and has no power or influence. Children will grow up without sin.

- There will be no war. People will live in peace and harmony.

- All animals will be at peace. All will eat grass and grain.

- The Lord will be our King. Christ will lead the church and also the political government. Government will be based on righteousness and will preserve the freedoms of all people. Mortals (members and non-members) will hold other government positions, and will receive help from resurrected beings.

- No sorrow, disease, or death. People will grow “as old as trees” when the time comes to “die” they will instantly become immortal instead.

- New truths will be revealed. Including how the earth was created and what will become of it.

- At the end of the Millenium Satan will be “loosed for a little season.” Some will turn away from Heavenly Father. The armies of Satan will fight against the hosts of heaven (led by Michael/Adam.) Satan will be defeated and cast out forever. The final judgment will come. Kingdoms will be assigned to people.

 

Sometimes, Like Today

Summer is here. I am unsettled about this year’s arrival.  A three-month calendar without a single set of X’s or arrows sits in my office. No volleyball here to there, no reunion this to that, no trip to CA, no beach, no camping, not even work work work. No blotches of ink anywhere. I have all the time in the world to do anything I want and yet, no desire to do it.  I could use money as my scapegoat (or rather lack thereof) but the truth is, I feel lost. And no worldly thing can fill this void.

My life is full of constant flipping and flopping; a giant handful of variables that seem to get jumbled like a giant Rubik’s Cube. One variable changes and everything gets jumbled up, seems impossible to ever piece back together. I never could figure those things out.

Instead of a silly toy that I can stuff in a drawer when I’ve grown tired of trying, I’m handling the fragile fragments of my life. And while I may not know how to sort it all out, it’s not going to piece itself back together. Days, holidays, and seasons could pass but that colorful jumbled mess will look the same as it did when I left it. After every rested break comes an enthusiastic and determined attempt. This will be the time. I can figure this out! A few good strokes and suddenly a glimpse of resolve, progress in the right direction…that dissipates a few strokes more. To keep spinning round in circles seems pointless. Even to go back is impossible.

Before long three options seem to present themselves. Stop once more and try again later, hand it over to someone who knows how to do it, or learn to love the disruptive pattern. On days like today, I feel like handing it over.

Utopia

I feel like my last two posts fell into stereotypical blogginess. I apologize for this and am going to try to be more original with this post and just speak to the world (all nine of you) about more random and everyday occurrences.  

First off, we are starting a compound. Over the years (usually after Steven has shared his dreams of owning land and a milk cow) many friends have requested to live near us, and even on the farm with us. Some of you have already reserved your first order of grass fed beef, and who knows when you'll actually get it. We have had many joint business offers along the way. Think Water Buffalo cheese and Purple Cows...ever had one? They will be for sale in the farm store and diner.

Many of you reading this know that being a "farmer" is far from the top of my list. I have never been big on stinky animals who require constant care. (Except for our sweet dog Leila who is sick and VERY stinky at the moment.) I am still pushing for plants rather than animals. A beautiful orchard perhaps. It's the business venture that excites me more than anything else. But here are the benefits/requirements I foresee. About 40 acres of photographic bliss. Having my own studio outbuilding to work in whenever and however I please (not only promised, but proposed by Steven.) Steven and I both envision building a farm store that can also transform into a stage for wedding celebrations, community gathering, and artistic events. And greatest of all, family. I plan on having one no matter where and how we live. But for Steven, the thought of raising his children on such an interactive scene with chores, work and bonding to be had, is the most exciting of all.

Long before this plan was ever considered a few criteria were discussed. When we were dating (seriously) Steven promised that we would either reside in a beach community of my choice at some point in our marriage, or he would take me on a vacation to Hawaii. And guess what, while on our honeymoon in Monterey we passed a beautiful ranch right there on the coast with cows grazing in the pasture. So it is possible to combine the two!! We just have to make a couple mil first. 

So for those of you who would like to join us, let it be known! And don't worry, my final criteria is that it's close to a thriving city (Nordstrom and all.) So it won't be in the middle of nowhere!