Oh, what do you do in the winter time?

photo found here :http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/skjetlein

When the snow flies in the country, what do you do with your precious time?

We are in love with the snow.  We love the quiet and cold that begs to see footprints.  We love the constantly falling snow that nourishes next summers garden.  We love the red runny noses.  We love the snow puddles left next to drying boots.  We love the bright white of Winter!  As winter has set in, I have found myself drinking more cups of cider and making many hardy stews.  Today I am borrowing this recipe http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/cinammon_rolls_/  from Pioneer woman.  I am anticipating that delicious smell of cinnamon rolls baking in the oven.  I love the PW's instructions that tell me to do one step and then wait an hour before I continue on.  It seems familiar.  Basically the way I do everything around here.    The boys have already built a snow cave, played with the neighbors dog, shoveled the walk twice, done their school work, minus about 5 pages of reading that I imagine will be done at bed time, finished their house chores, made tracks in the fresh snow, eaten breakfast, snack, snack, lunch, and a snack.  Now I have them in their bedrooms doing some cleaning.  I am listening to the conference talks, sipping some cider, and waiting for the timer to ring, so I can add the next ingredient to the rolls.  Happy Wintering to you all!

this picture reminds me of my boys it comes from this site http://frontierfreedom.blogspot.com/2011/01/snow-caves-and-slickin.html

with love,
jo

I am so glad it is over!

I am grateful for the right that I have to vote.  I am grateful that I live in this country, where the only discomfort I feel when voting is to stand in a 4 hour line- which is a pretty inspiring site!  I am grateful that I have the privilege and right to pray to my Heavenly Father, publicly and privately.  We are part of a great nation. Now as the elections have been decided, I am grateful to be able to move forward.  We are praying for you President Obama and your family.
As we proceed after the election, I am grateful that we have missionaries working marvelously    They are preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They are teaching about the miracle of the atonement.  They are teaching the commandments, self reliance, the importance of marriage, life, morality, fathers and mothers.  They are teaching about saving for a rainy day.  They are teaching about our living day prophet.  They are teaching people to obey the laws of the land.   I also pray for them and their families.
The proceeding two paragraphs correlate for me.  I believe that whatever flaws a man has, the Savior and his teachings can make up the difference.  He is the way, the light, the truth.  If we follow him, it will be down a path of everlasting happiness.
We live in a great time where we can share our thoughts feelings and beliefs through many forms of media.  My thoughts are those of love and peace.  My feelings are of hope in Jesus Christs enduring love.  My belief is that he wants me to share his message of hope and love with each of you.
I encourage you all to pray for our country.  I encourage you to seek out the same hope and love for yourselves.  If you are looking for a place to find the hope for the future that I have, I encourage you to go to mormon.org/chat.   There are missionaries on the site ready to answer your questions, pray for you, and share their testimonies of Christ, his love, and his atoning sacrifice.
Or if you would prefer, you can ask me.  Just leave a comment and your email address in my box.
With love,
jo