FHE - Hygiene Kits

This post is a bitter-sweet post. So bare with me.

Lately I have been feeling that my kids need a kick in the pants. I'm sure I can't be the only one that feels today's generation is a little selfish. I have been discouraged that my kids don't realize how lucky they are. We have so much to be grateful for! Don't get me wrong - I know my kids over-all are GREAT kids. They surprise me at times. I just want my family to understand "When much is given . . . much is required". . . and not have them complain that they are doing to much.

Soooo what can I do to get my kids wanting the next ipod, 3g phone, always want to play instead of work - I know that our family needs to do more service work. Get us out of ourselves and more out there for others.

So in our Effort to have more service opportunities for FHE we made hygiene kits. I know this is nothing new - my kids have done it for mutual etc. . . But we wanted to make it more personal on a family level.

For FHE we watched the video from Pres. Monson "Have I Done Any Good in the Word Today" video that is on the LDS web-site. LINK

We watched some videos of Haiti on You-tube.

We read the Story of "Learning to Hope" . . . about a women that personally has used a hygiene kit in her life. It is such a powerful testimony to this humanitarian effort. LINK - This story is AMAZING!!

We ran over to Wal-mart and bought all of our stuff - and came back and put together all our our kits. We made 30 kits - on a whole it's not much, but something is better then nothing.

When the night was over - I really felt that there was a sense of - "we have it good" . . . "what more can we do to share our good fortune" The kids were really excited about the kits - they wanted to know if they would know the people they go to. It felt good to have done something good in the world today!

Canning

I have made a goal to can every Friday. I had my friend Shannon Morris come over and show me how to can "Chicken". I have done it once before - but not in my own home. I can't believe how easy it is. I have opened it up and we had the chicken for dinner. I can't believe how good it is. I have done - sausage, beef, chicken, beans. My sister-in-law Amy is really good. I call her for little tips along the way. She has made me potatoes, beans. We make the best White-Chili straight from our "Food Storage" - it is soooo good.

White-Chili Bean Soup (adapted from Leta Olsen - G3 Ward recipe)

White Lightening Bean Soup

2 bottles of White Northern Beans (or about 3 cans)

4-5 cooked chicken shredded (foodstoarge - 1 jar of chicken)

1 box of chicken broth (I use the wal-mart brand 16 oz)

1/4 cup chopped onion (use about 1 T of onion flakes - my family does not like onions)

1/2 cup of butter melted into broth

1 can of green chili's

Mix together - serve with homemade bread! Add to each bowl - shredded cheese & dab of sour cream

Left overs - I just put back into the canning jar

Soooo Yummy!

usury pass - love it

Usury pass is such a great hike (in the winter). It's only 15 min. from the house. It's about 2 hours up & down. It's a nice quick fun hike on a Sat. morning. We are hoping to take a different kid with us each week and work our way into the whole family. It was beautiful! The weather couldn't have been more FANTASTIC!!! Anyone want to go - let me know!

Hmmm it's been quiet for awhile??

The house was pretty quiet. I was cleaning upstairs - started to wonder what Rowdy is up too!

Polar Express - catch-up pics

We changed our plans like - 3 times to go to Polar Express. We have gone several years and enjoy it so much. Last year we didn't go because Rowdy was an infant - but we knew this year he would LOVE santa! Sure enough - he enjoyed the snow, santa, bells, the train, the lights, the big bathtub in the hotel etc. . . . Everyone, and I mean everyone had a great time especially seeing it through Rowdy's eyes. Everyone wanted to be with Rowdy when Santa came through our car on the train. If you ever go - make sure you stop by "Black Bart's Steak House". It like a dinner theatre. Your kids will enjoy it. They sing Disney songs and song from broadway. The singers are really good! We kept requesting songs . . . they love the audience.

Going on the Polar Express makes Christmas Time magical!