Love Day 2 - My Faith

President Hinckley spoke at a CES fireside in December and said that we should use our blogs, our web pages and the internet in general to teach the gospel and reach out in the world with a message. I am not shy about talking about church or activities in my ward or stake, but I don't know if I have really followed through on the prophet’s desires. I haven't really used this space as a means to bear my testimony, until today.

On this day of love I want to share with my limited readership my love of the gospel of Jesus Christ. My testimony of the restored gospel burns in my chest. I really feel that sometimes I could stand on the rooftops and preach repentance and the mercy of a loving Father in Heaven who hears and answers our prayers. We are his literal sons and daughters and he wants us to be happy and make the most of this time on earth.


I know that His son, Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know that He died for me and that the drops of blood that he shed in the Garden of Gethsemane were because of me. I know that He lives and that He will come again to this earth. Every time I read 3 Nephi in the Book of Mormon, I imagine what it will be like when he does come. I imagine what it will feel like to be in his presence - I am sure we will feel love like we have never known before.

I know the Book of Mormon is true and that it was written by prophets who saw our time. It was translated by a prophet - Joseph Smith. I know that Joseph Smith was the one chosen for this work of restoring the Lord's church and bringing forth the Book of Mormon and other revelation that we need. We do need it. We need the wisdom of the scriptures every day.

I know the priesthood is truly the power to act in God's name and that it is restored to the earth. I am so thankful to have the priesthood in my home and to have local priesthood leaders who care for me and my well-being. I know that we have a living prophet on the earth who holds all of the keys of the priesthood.

I have made mistakes and sown some wild oats in my youth. But even when I wasn't always living the standards of the church, my testimony of the gospel was always in my heart. I never doubted that what I had learned from my parents, in church or seminary was true. I never saw for myself the kind of happiness that I now have as a woman of testimony, an endowed wife and mother, a returned missionary and faithful member of the Lord's church. What joy I feel just thinking about the blessing it is to know the truth.

I love being a Mormon. I love going to church. I love the associations I have with members of my ward and stake. I love the programs of the church, Relief Society, Young Womens, Scouts, Primary, Activity Days etc... I love having my testimony strengthened by amazing talks, lessons and activities. I love the feelings of peace the gospel brings. I love when our Sabbath day is a Holy day of worship and prayer. I love Family Home Evening. I love reading the church magazines. I love General Conference. I love special broadcasts and women's conference and education week. I love the hymns. I love the scriptures and all of the wonderful printed material out there to help us. I love having a calling and serving in the church. I love the way my home feels when I know the spirit is here.

Jolene Loves...

To start off this week full of love - I am back to my favorite Google game. I love doing this!

So, according to Google, these are the first 10 things that come up when I type in Jolene loves:

Jolene loves Barack Obama

Jolene loves her role as COO of Inova, one of the premier health systems in the country.

Jolene loves Linebeck.

Jolene loves the outdoors and enjoys swimming, surfing and yoga

Jolene loves hiking the many trails around the Tompkins County area

Jolene loves you

Jolene loves how quickly she can find what she needs by a simple turn of the rack

Jolene loves what she does

Jolene loves everyone with fur!

Jolene loves performing.

I don't think we will have any grand Valentine's Day celebrations. I always buy some kind of little gift for the kids and usually something red for Alan but I don't get all caught up in the romance of it. I don't know if that is lame or not. I'm fairly sure Alan will bring home flowers or some other little gift and we will have a nice family dinner. But what I will do is dedicate this week of posts to people that I love. Having just written that - did I just start off my week of love by posting about myself?

p.s. Did blogger cancel the spell check button? Mine hasn't worked for a week or more.

Seperated at Birth?

I just saw this somewhere and laughed out loud.

If he wins, at least we know who can play him on Saturday Night Live.

What I am Loving Right Now

Fresh delicious berries from the farmer's market. Strawberries, raspberries and blackberries for breakfast in February!

Sunny and 65 degrees in February!

The Wednesday Letters by Jason Wright. I was desperately searching for an appropriate book for my turn at book club and I think this will do the trick. Cute, fast read.

Devon (13 yr. old son) left his slippers downstairs last night and they fit me. My feet are warm.

The movie Penelope comes out in theaters this month. My daughters have been waiting for this movie for months. They can not wait any longer! The website has been keeping them busy and full of anticipation. Mr. Tumnus in another romantic role!

My friend Nic who told me about her secret combination for headache relief. I woke up this morning with a splitter but it is gone now.

I am going to Girl's camp. Every year I tell myself that it will be okay if I don't go. But I really love going and I am so glad I just got a call to go.

Today, Mervyn's is having a final clearance sale. You buy one thing on final clearance and get TWO things on final clearance FREE. Baby shower shopping at its finest! You can never have too many of those on hand!

Happy Wednesday!

Super Tuesday is Tasty Tuesday

Today, I will go and vote. I will wait for Alan to come home and we will go together. It is no secret who I will vote for, I will always go with the business man. The man who has real world experience. I voted for Steve Forbes in the Primary in 1996 and really thought his ideas were great. I like Romney, I think he is the best man for the job. I really think it would be great if he could win Arizona (McCain's home state) so the nation would know that we Arizonans do not appreciate McCain and his Washington pandering.

I am usually an optimist. I promise! But you know that I am kind of in love with the bizarre daily holidays and according to my favorite list - today is also National Disaster Day. It truly would be a disaster if today John McCain wins more delegates than Mitt Romney.

Tuesdays are also my food group day and I like to post recipes here on Tuesdays. I thought something truly patriotic was in order for the day - this Amber Waves of Grain bread will warm you up on a chilly afternoon. It is easy to make and very delicious!

Amber Waves of Grain Bread

Ingredients:

2-1/2 cup stone-ground, seven grain hot cereal (including cracked wheat, flaxseed, oats and other cracked grains look for products like this or this in the organic section at Bashas or at Trader Joes), not cooked

2 cups boiling water

1/2 cup wildflower or other pale amber honey

2 tablespoons instant yeast

2 teaspoons salt

1 cup of warm (110-degrees) water

4 cups bread flour

Directions:

1. Put cereal in medium bowl, pour the boiling water over it and set aside to soften for 15 minutes.

2. In a bowl of electric mixer or another large bowl, stir together honey, yeast, salt and warm water. Using paddle attachment or a wooden spoon, beat in three cups of the bread flour, then beat in softened grains with their liquid, until dough is moist, soft and heavy.

3. Knead by hand or switch to dough hook and knead dough for eight to ten minutes, adding about one cup more flour, a little at a time, until dough is elastic and no longer sticky.

4. Place dough in large, oiled bowl and turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until doubled in bulk, about one hour.

5. Grease two 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pans or a large baking sheet and set aside.

6. Punch down dough and turn it onto floured surface. Knead it a few times. Divide dough in half. Shape each portion into regular or round loaf and put in prepared pans or on baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in warm spot until doubled in bulk, about one hour.

7. Preheat oven to 375-degrees. Bake bread 40 minutes until loaves are rich brown on top and sound hollow when tapped on bottom. Instant-read thermometer inserted into center should read 190 to 200-degrees. Cool on wire rack.

My Name is Jolene and I am a Hypocrite or Miss Ridd Regrets

For the last three or four Sundays I have watched and then posted about how much I am loving the PBS Masterpiece Complete Jane Austen series. But something happened last night that has thrown a wrench in my routine. My husband called me out on my hypocrisy.



See, we kind of have a no tv on Sunday rule. So, when the kids got home from church -- where apparantely all of their friends and Sunday School teachers (ahem) were talking about the Super Bowl -- they wanted to turn it on. Alan was busy with meetings at the church but I stuck to my guns about the game. At dinner the kids were telling Alan all about how cool it is that the Super Bowl was taking place right here in our own valley and how their Social Studies teacher was going to ask them about all of the commercials etc... I piped in with a "hey kids, I already told you that we don't watch tv on Sundays" - mostly so Alan would know that I am upholding virtue while he is out counting tithing checks.



So, kids in bed by 8:30, Masterpiece starts at 9:00. Alan has had two very early mornings in a row and is headed to bed. I ask him if he wants me to go downstairs and watch Jane Austen or if I can stay up there and watch it in our warm bed. You see it coming - he says, "I thought we don't watch tv on Sundays." I say, "but it is Jane Austen and the kids are all asleep - they won't even know." He gives me the look, I set the VCR and tape it. What I should have told the kids in the first place is that we practice more of a Jewish Sabbath - you know - it's over at sundown.



I watched it this morning in my warm bed. It was not one of Jane's stories but a drama based on Austen's life. It was called Miss Austen Regrets. I really liked it. Of course, I really liked Becoming Jane and I know a lot of Jane Austen superfans did not. It was hard to get over James McAvoy as Tom LeFroy in that film - I just kept seeing Mr. Tumnus. Anne Hathaway was a beautiful Jane Austen when I believe she was probablly more plain. For the next three weeks they will be showing Pride and Prejudice, I'm looking forward to that.

What do Nine 13 Year Old Girls Sound Like?

I can't tell you because I can't hear a thing! My ears are bleeding!

Tonight my 13 year old daughter is having her long postponed birthday party. Her birthday was January 3rd but she has decision making issues. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do... a murder mystery (kept putting it off until too late to order materials, make invites etc...) a 50's themed sock hop, take a few friends to lunch and a movie - I finally forced her in to making a decision and she had a video scavenger hunt. They roamed the neighborhood getting people to do funny things while they video taped them. Future Ward Talent Show gold right here: Bishop doing the chicken dance in his pajamas (it was 7:15?).

Right now they are trying to get settled down so they can watch a movie but they are finding that hard. In fact, it just keeps getting louder and louder.

Worst part: My friend Kelly called and wanted to go to a movie (I had to lock myself in the laundry room so I could hear her phone call). I totally wanted to ditch these girls and go see 27 Dresses with her. Instead, I will go pop some more corn for the masses.