Rob's B'Day

It was Rob's birthday this week. Here's the "funky" quilt I made for him. It has minky on the backside, which makes it a really cozy TV blanket. Hope you enjoy it, Rob!

New Windows

I just can't resist posting this. Maybe it's because we did just replace our windows a year ago, and I AM blonde!

REPLACEMENT WINDOWS Last year I replaced all the windows in my house with that expensive double-pane energy efficient kind, and today, I got a call from the contractor who installed them. He was complaining that the work had been completed a whole year ago and I still hadn't paid for them. Hellloooo,............just because I'm blonde doesn't mean that I am automatically stupid. So, I told him just what his fast talking sales guy had told me last year, that in ONE YEAR these windows would pay for themselves! Helllooooo? It's been a year! I told him. There was only silence at the other end of the line, so I finally just hung up. He never called back. I bet he felt like an idiot.

Soup Weather

We've had some beautiful Indian summer weather, but the temperature has really dropped. It's time for soup! This blog was never intended to be a cooking blog, but every once in awhile I have a recipe that I think is worth sharing. This is one of my new favorite recipes.

Colombian Chicken Soup

3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs and/or legs

1 large white onion, peeled and cut into quarters

2 leeks (white and light green parts only) cut into 1-inch rings

1 green bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces

1 handful of green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces

2 ears of fresh corn, cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces (optional)

2 ribs celery, cut into 1-inch pieces

2 large carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces (I cut on the diagonal for interesting shape)

2 lbs potatoes (gold, red, or Idaho), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes

6 cloves garlic, peeled

1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves

2 chicken bouillion cubes

1 Tbsp salt, or more to taste

1/2 teas ground pepper

Aji

4 scallions chopped

2 tomatoes, peeled and diced

1 small white onion, peeled and chopped

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped fine

3 Tbsp fresh cilantro leaves

3 Tbsp white vinegar

1/4 teas salt

Boil chicken in 8 cups water. Simmer 10 minutes, frequently skimming off the foam.

Add all the vegetables, the garlic, cilantro, bouillion, salt and pepper. Stir a few times to distribute the vegetables. When broth returns to a boil, lower heat, partially cover pot, and simmer about an hour. Stir with a large spoon, breaking up some of the potatoes to thicken the soup slightly.

Serve the soup with a spoonful of the Aji. You can also garnish with sour cream, avocados, and cilantro springs, if desired. Enjoy!

Isaac's Birthday.

Happy 9th Birthday, Buddy! I really wish that I were there having breakfast in bed with you. I love this picture of you and me together. Many times when I look at pictures of me I think, "Seriously? Is this what I look like?" And then I quickly delete them from my computer. But not this one! This is actually what I think I look like, except for the flashing white eyes. Of course, I look way better because I'm close to you.

Isaac collects fossils and rocks, and I like to help him add to his collection. Once I gave him a piece of petrified dinosaur egg shell. That was cool! I've tried to give him this crinoid fossil I found in our garden, but he says, "First of all, grandma, it's too heavy for me to carry (like 50 pounds), and second of all, it's too big for my collection box." Funny boy! Love you!

Don't be too quick to judge

One of the wonderful things about serving on the Alumni Board is the opportunity to have my eyes opened to so many things. We are often quick to judge BYU. We are unhappy because our kids didn't get in. We are angry because BYU asks us to donate when, after all, we are paying tuition (Let's face it, tuition pays for a very small percentage of your student's education. It's like every student who attends BYU gets an almost full-ride scholarship from the church, yet we are so annoyed that the university calls once or twice a year and asks us for a small donation). Some think Bronco Mendenhall should lose his job because BYU lost to Utah. Others are upset because BYUTV didn't broadcast all of Education Week. It goes on and on. We have so little vision about the goals and purposes of BYU. And sometimes we forget who is really running the university. Every time President Samuelson speaks to the board he reminds us that he takes his orders from a living Prophet of the Lord Jesus Christ, and he's not likely to question him.

One of the really interesting presentations we heard last week was from Scott Swofford, who is the content manager for BYUTV. He shared a few emails he had received containing scathing criticism about how programming has changed and suggesting that he might be headed straight for He - -. Not everyone understands that blessing the lives of the Latter-day Saints is only one of the purposes of BYUTV. It's broader purpose is to attract non-member viewers from around the world, thus opening doors for missionary work. (It happens with some frequency). As brother Swofford mentioned, when non-members click onto BYUTV and it is a man wearing a suit with a lei around his neck, they are most likely going to continue channel surfing. However, if they tune in and it is a guy riding a Harley around to historical sights it might just pique their curiosity. Check out "American Ride". If you pay attention you'll notice that every episode ends with the message that this little part of our history was in preparation for the restoration of the gospel.

The more I know about BYU the more I love it. All of the very best things in my life were put into place while I was a student there. It has blessed the lives of all our children, and now our grandchildren are preparing and praying for the opportunity to go there. I'm grateful to be able to give back in a small way. Go Cougars!

Finally!

Okay, so I got home from my board meetings Saturday night, dying to post about the birth of our #19 grandchild, who was born a week ago. BUT, no name, and consequently, the parents were not ready to release any pictures. It stopped my blogging dead in its tracks. Who wants to see pictures of women wearing navy blue blazers with Alumni Board patches on the pocket when I knew people were waiting for news about a new baby. Just couldn't do it. So here she is: Blakelyn Kamille.

After four boys, this is a real change for this family. A few months ago I asked Isaac how he felt about having a baby sister. His response: "Boring! Now we're going to have Barbie dolls everywhere, and we'll have to watch Barbie movies, and have all this pink stuff around." I think they are actually pretty excited about this adorable little pink bundle.

Navy blue blazers tomorrow!

Flight Delays

"I'm leaving, on a jet plane. Don't know when I'll be back again. OhhOhhhOhhh." Actually, I do know when I'll be back. I'll be back on Saturday in time for our stake conference Saturday evening session. I hate deadlines and tight connections, always fearing that something will go wrong. Don't you hate it when your flight is delayed and you have to sit there for hours! Once in a while, amazingly, it can be a huge blessing. Yesterday, Randy and one of his colleagues were on their way to China and when they got to Chicago they discovered they would have a 7 hour delay. Quick trip to the airport, Sunday dinner together, a nice walk and some conference, then back to the airport. That's the second time Randy has been delayed in Chicago. I can't think of a better place to have it happen.

One-year-old

Today our little Soren turns the big #1. I was with the family a year ago when he was born, but have not seen him since. He looks an awful lot like his brother Max. Happy Birthday, Soren!

Tomorrow our 19th grandchild will be born. Stay tuned!