AWESOME FRESH CRANBERRY SAUCE

This is a favorite!

1 12 oz pkg. Of fresh cranberries
1 ½ C. of sugar
2 pears peeled and sliced in small cubes
(Apples are also good)
1 8 oz. Can of crushed pineapple
Juice from one large orange
1 T. orange zest

Simmer everything except the zest until
The cranberries pop and the sauce thickens.

Add the zest and chill until ready to serve.

THANKSGIVING AND MORE - A TRUE STORY

http://mormontimes.com/mormon_voices/reader_voices/?id=5182

This was published in the Mormon Times section of the

Deseret News on Thanksgiving Day

We just never know how our desire to do a little service can expand into something bigger. The year this happened my brother Jack and I had so many teenage children it took two hands to count them. We thought it would be nice to harness this teen power for a good cause. My brother had recently started a catering business and had a big kitchen in his basement. We discovered a trailer park where people live in small camp trailers all year. The park owner gave us the names of five families that would appreciate having Thanksgiving dinner brought to their home.

Thanksgiving morning bright and early we all organized for the meal preparations. There was a good feeling with all the boys sitting around a garbage can peeling potatoes and chatting amiably. We cooked sweet potatoes and big pans of wonderful stuffing. We roasted extra turkeys so all would have a good portion. There were quarts of gravy for the fluffy mashed potatoes, fresh rolls and pumpkin pies. We piled up generous helpings of all the food for each family. Our delivery time was 1:00 P.M. and we wanted everything to be hot at drop off.

Everyone was interested in the delivery so we all squeezed into two cars and drove to the trailer park, 10 minutes away. We all agreed that a camp trailer wouldn’t be a good place to spend the winter. Jack was enlisted to carry the food to each home. When he returned to the car we were anxious to hear who answered the door and how it was received. Everyone was gracious and thankful. One older lady cried.

The fourth delivery shocked us all. As we drove to the spot we could see the mom, dad and two children standing by a car—this was their home, for now. We were glad the food was hot, knowing they had no way to heat it. We delivered our last dinner and as we drove out of the park we noticed the little family eating their Thanksgiving dinner huddled around a picnic table on this cool crisp November day. Our group was humbly silent. We could only quietly gasp.

We drove home to a warm house and had a wonderfully sumptuous meal. Good feelings prevailed as the girls cleared the table and the guys went to the basement to scrub all the big pots and pans we used. It was just the Thanksgiving we had hoped for.

A few days later Jack decided to drive through the park to find out about the homeless family. They were still there. He talked to the mother and the two little girls. She said that they had moved from another state on the promise of a job that didn’t materialize. The father did eventually get a job but it would take a while before they could save enough money to rent an apartment. My brother left determined that this family would have a home by Christmas.

Jack stood with his hand on the door knob and a lump in his throat, not knowing if he could go into the neighborhood and ask his friends for money—his goal was $4,000 for a camp trailer. He went back into the house and knelt down to pray for courage and generous friends. "How much do you want?" they would ask and when he answered, "$200 if you can"—most would write a check. When I found out he was collecting money, he already had $3,000. I solicited donations in my church paper and collected $500. When it was over, $4,644 had been donated. A suitable trailer was located in the newspaper from someone anxious to sell. He offered a good price. It needed a water heater, plumbing supplies, and carpet—All was donated along with food from a local grocer. There was money left over—enough to help someone else.

The owner of the park said there was a woman with three children in a desperate situation living in one of the camp trailers. She had been in and out of the hospital with pneumonia and her ex-husband had not been paying his child support payments. Consequently, she was in arrears on her rent, had very little food and absolutely no Christmas presents for her children. The rent was paid, gifts for the children were purchased, and the remainder of the money went towards food for the two families.

The trailer was delivered before Christmas. When it arrived many people in the park came to help set it up. There was great excitement in the neighborhood that day but the man who received this gift was amazed.

"People just don’t do things like this," he cried.

My brother said, "You know there is a price."

"Oh, what is it?" asked the man.

The answer, "You must promise me that when you are back on your feet and you see someone in need you will help them."

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED IN 62 YEARS

Tomorrow, November 19, I will turn 62 years old. Getting this old has made me reflective. Life is good for me right now even though I didn’t get some of life’s goodies that I expected, like better health, married children and lots of grandchildren. But,


1. I have learned I can be happy and content without getting my fantasy expectations. My life has many opportunities to serve, to write, paint and to share my days with a wonderful partner. Dwelling on what I didn’t get would be foolish.


2. I have learned that you can rise above the insanity and domestic violence you grew up in and be somewhat normal. I give God credit and good people in a church setting who taught me another way. The hand of God has been in my life from my first prayer with Oral Roberts in front of the television.


3. I have learned that the mothering time is so short that it would have been best to give up some of my selfish pursuits in order to have more time to enjoy and teach my children.


4. I have learned that you don’t mold children. They come as they come. Your job as a parent is to love, be a good example, teach to their willingness and laugh a lot at least more than I did.


5. I have learned that I need an artistic outlet and because this urge can be obsessive in me I have let it crowd out things I should have been doing.


6. I have learned that miracles can take a long time but if you never give up, keep fasting, praying and going to the temple, surprises can happen. I will never limit God’s ability to answer my worthy prayers because I have experienced real miracles.

7. I have learned that I married the right man. Mike is a gem. He has given me the space and means to grow without stress. He has taken good care of our family, often at the expense of his own comfort and happiness.

8. I have learned that choosing not to take offense can save you from a lot of heartache and pain.

9. I have learned that the most important prayer I can pray is as Mormon said in Moroni 7:48 "Pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart that ye may be filled with this love..." When I began to pray to be more loving my life changed—I saw my relationships differently. I have definitely caused some pain in my life. I now see the importance of being a healer as Christ was a healer. But, I know that without His help I can’t do it.


10. I have learned to love the scriptures and understand that they have power beyond their words. I am in my 3rd year of reading scriptures every day "no matter what". The Word never fails to buoy me up and give me hope.


11. I have learned that trying to control another person is evil. A war was fought in heaven over our right to have agency. "No power or influence can or ought to be maintained ...only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned: By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—" D&C121:41-42


12. I have learned that the Holy Ghost is a gift of unspeakable value. "...put your trust in that spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit...which shall enlighten your mind which shall fill your soul with joy." D&C 11:12-13


Of course, I know many things intellectually and spiritually but still fail. I do believe that in time "I can do all things through Christ which Strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:63

WISE THOUGHTS ABOUT LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR

Anne Perry (Author, who is LDS) : If we say or do anything that drags someone else down, discourages them, makes them weaker, less likely to succeed in what is good and beautiful, then we sink with them, as if we were tied at the ankle. We may have crippled or debilitated them, but we have injured ourselves even more. And if we help, encourage, lift others, and make them better able to reach for the stars, we rise with them. If I can keep remembering that, then I will guard my tongue more, praise more, encourage more. I will leave people better and stronger than I found them, filled with a conviction that success is possible. (Meridian Magazine, WWW)


C. S. Lewis: Do not waste time bothering whether you "love" your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him. If you injure someone you dislike, you will find yourself disliking him more. If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less. . . But whenever we do good to another self, just because it is a self, made (like us) by God, and desiring its own happiness as we desire ours, we shall have learned to love it a little more or, at least to dislike it less. (Mere Christianity p. 116)


Mother Teresa: …Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God’s kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting.

SPEAKING OF COSTLY APPAREL

If you are reading the Book of Mormon this year you may wonder why "costly apparel" is so often associated with wickedness in these scriptures. I like this quote. It helps me understand why it is a problem. For me if Ross doesn't have it I don't need it. In a conversation about this today with some friends we decided that in Utah perhaps our costly apparel is our obsession with big overly decorated homes.


"An analysis of the attitudes that lead to and are involved with this habit indicates why it is associated with wickedness. First, it promotes idleness and vanity. One who spends many hours coveting, shopping, spending, and adorning oneself becomes increasingly self-absorbed and uninterested in anything requiring that attention to be diverted from self. Accumulation and adornment become the prime concern. This practice is also a way of displaying wealth in a prideful manner, a manifestation of which has been called the ‘conspicuous consumption’ of the rich, which leads to despising the poor as somehow inferior, a separation of people into ‘us’ and ‘those kind of people.’ And when money and possessions become the chief marks of distinction in society, then the pursuit of money becomes the only action worthwhile. And if this pursuit requires the sacrifice of honesty, integrity, compassion, and all the other virtues, then so be it, for the love of money is indeed the root of all evil. The wearing of costly apparel involves the soul as much as the body." (Mae Banch, BM Studies in Scripture, p. 292)

PUMPKIN BREAD PUDDING

If you like Bread Pudding this is very nice and easy.

Cube or break up 1/2 Loaf of French Bread into a greased 9x13 pan.

Mix Together with a whip:
½ C. White Sugar
¼ C. Brown Sugar
1 Tsp. Cinnamon
¼ Tsp. Mace or Nutmeg

(Mace is a little different than nutmeg but

similar. I like it in the recipe.)
¼ Tsp. Allspice
¼ Tsp. Salt
½ C. Whipping Cream
4 Eggs
1 C. Canned Pumpkin
1 ½ C. Milk

Topping:
2 T. Melted Butter
½ C. Brown Sugar
½ C. Chopped nuts. (Can use Oatmeal)

Pour the pumpkin mixture evenly over the bread cubes. (If you have time let it sit for 1/2 hour or more so the bread can soak up the pumpkin mixture) Sprinkle with the topping. Set the pan in a larger pan with about an inch of hot water. Bake 350 for 40 Minutes. Serve warm with a little brandy or rum flavoring added to about 1/2 C. maple syrup and whipped cream or just whipped cream is wonderful.

WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY AS A PARENT

http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=db977cf34f40c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1On

Sunday I spent some time going through my files and ran across a reference to this article from the July 1996 Ensign. I contemplated writing my own regrets but as I thought about doing it the process seemed painful in a way. As I read through this article I think most of these ideas would be on my list. The world is changing. We must be more valiant than ever in instilling within our children a knowledge and love of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not enough just to take your children to church anymore. Young parents--I pray you will never have regrets.

ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER

When you are trying to live a Christian life sometimes it is hard not to get discouraged. Disappointments get you down. People that you love are not happy for various reasons. Society tends to want to go in a direction that frightens you and on and on. I do feel helpless at times but I try not to be co-dependent. I have lots to be grateful for. I am so very blessed. Nothing gives me perspective like the scriptures. These are some verses that always make me feel better because I know that they are true. When I consider the past I know that God will support me and comfort me whenever I need Him. He always has.



And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Rom. 8:28


Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another. D&C 90:24


Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord. D&C 98:3


Therefore, let your hearts be comforted; for all things shall work together for good to them that walk uprightly, and to the sanctification of the church. D&C 100:15

WHEN YOU ARE OFFENDED

This is a quote by Brigham Young. I found it in something with no source, but I think it is powerful. Choosing not to be offended has to be the happiest, healthiest choice we can make.



"He who takes offense when no offense was intended is a fool, and he who takes offense when offense was intended is a greater fool. There are two courses of action to follow when one is bitten by a rattlesnake. One may, in anger, fear, or vengefulness, pursue the creature and kill it. Or he may make full haste to get the venom out of his system. If we pursue the latter course we will likely survive, but if we attempt to follow the former, we may not be around long enough to finish it."

THE SHACK - BOOK REVIEW

My visiting teacher mentioned she bought this book recently upon the recommendation of Jerry Johnston, a religious journalist for the Deseret News. While perusing the books at Costco one day there it was so, I got two copies one for me and one for a gift. There are two pages of recommendations for the book and the premise looked interesting. It is on the top 10 NY Times book list right now.

This is the story of Mac, who came from a sad childhood and is trying to create a loving home for his wife and 5 children. He has spiritual leanings, but church is not always comfortable. A family tragedy sends him into what he calls "the great sadness," as indeed it would any parent. He struggles to cope for several years when he receives a letter in the mail signed by "papa", which is his wife's name for God. It tells Mac to come to the shack and meet with papa. The shack was an important place in his great sadness. He finally decides to go by himself in a borrowed jeep.

God is there in human form along with Jesus in the form of a middle eastern looking back woodsman in a flannel shirt. The Holy Ghost is also there in the form of an ethereal Asian looking girl who gardens in gossamer clothes. The entire area is transformed into an almost Garden of Eden idyllic setting. During a weekend at the shack Mac is taught by these characters how to forgive in very creative ways. If you need to forgive someone of any sort of injustice this book gives you hope that it is possible through the atoning example of Jesus Christ.

What I didn't like about the book:

1. A few things in the story frustrated me a lot. The author wasted time trying to explain how these 3 characters could really be one, as the traditional Christian view promotes. But, as the story unfolds their personalities are distinct to the point that they actually disagree at times. The three in one concept never made much sense.

2. The author portrays this Godhead as taking three human forms of characters that Mac could relate to. So, it made me wonder: why was it necessary to portray this Godhead with "body parts and passions?" Well of course, because the body is wonderful! Anyone would want one even God. I thought of the parts of the story when Mac saw things in the eyes of God and Jesus; when their touch healed Mac; when Gods arms melted Mac's soul as he hugged him; when God "wiped away the tears," in Mac's eyes as He has promised all of us. Food and eating is an important part of the story. We eat and cook together out of love for each other as well as sustenance for the body. The most spiritual experience a human can have is holding a baby. Oh yes, God would want and need a body for his loving work. How do you wipe away tears without a hand?

3. There was a part in the book when Mac talks to God about religion and God discounts its value. Jesus said in John 7:17: "If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." God has a will and he has doctrine. Religious intuitions try to interpret the scriptures as best they can to create a basis for good wholesome God centered loving living. I am personally grateful for a prophet I believe God inspires and directs. I am also grateful that I am intitled to a personal witness for any doctrine. When you read the scriptures you feel God's presence more and are stronger in living a loving life. In the book "love" is all that we need and I do believe it is the most important part of religion. But, evil exists and it is a powerful force trying to draw us away from being loving. We are all naturally self absorbed and self centered. Religion shows us a better way. Once I wrote a 15 page treatise on "A Case for Organized Religion." I feel strongly about the value of religion. I can't resist giving a quote from Harold Kurshner, a Jewish Rabbi, from his book "Who Needs God."

"In congregational worship, regularly scheduled services on a Saturday or Sunday morning, I have come to believe that the congregating is more important than the words we speak. Something miraculous happens when people come together seeking the presence of God. The miracle is that we so often find it. Somehow the whole becomes more than the sum of its parts. A spirit is created in our midst which none of us brought there. In fact, each of us came there looking for it because we did not have it when we were alone. But in our coming together, we create the mood and the moment in which God is present." (Who Needs God, p. 149)

"The Shack" had some inspiring moments, some surprises at the end and a lot of thought provoking aspects but it's great value is in learning how we can forgive through Christ.