Thanksgiving

Our first Turkey

Jeff carving our first Turkey

Our Thanksgiving Table

Our Thanksgiving turned out wonderfully! It ended up just being our family and it was one of the nicest days I have ever had with my family. We were in no hurry to get up so the whole day started off calm. When we did get up we turned on the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and snuggled with the kids while we watched it. I started to prepare dinner around 9. When I got the turkey out of the fridge it still felt a little icy in some parts so I put it in an ice bath for an hour. When we took the wrapper off it had a bit of slushy ice inside of it which made it very cold to work with. I was worried that the ice might pose a problem, but decided to go ahead and proceed with prepping it because it felt thawed out every where else. I had the turkey in the fridge for over four days- so for the future I will plan on maybe five to six days thawing time. This is the first turkey I have ever handled and I had no idea what the neck or giblets were suppose to look like and if Martha herself had been observing me should would have found it amusing to watch Jeff and I try and decipher the different parts to the bird. We found the neck tucked inside and it was hard to see because of the slush and the package said that the giblets were tucked inside the neck cavity which we thought we were looking in, but it turned out to be the bottom that we were searching- I had no idea that turkeys were open on both ends..LOL! Once the bird was rinsed and dried we added some celery, carrots, onion and garlic (something from all the recipes I had read or been told) loosely inside the bird. Then we placed it in a bag and were good to go. It took about three hours to cook. While the turkey cooked I prepped everything else as far as I could so that when the turkey came out I could put the yams, green beans and stuffing in the oven. Mean while we cooked the potato's on the stove top and the gravy. The only thing I ended up forgetting was the rolls that were still in the freezer. Everything turned out exactly like I remember it growing up. It was all so good. The kids made place cards and set the table. While we were eating Ashtyn read us a story she had written about turkeys called "Bright Feathers" and Whitney read us all the things our family had written on the thankful chain we made for FHE the Monday before. It truly was the nicest day I have had. We were not in a rush, all together, working together, cooking along side my hot husband, the house was warm from all the cooking, it smelled wonderful, we weren't trying to impress anyone but ourselves and we were all happy to spend time with each other. I still love the big family thanksgivings, but it was nice just to be with my family. After we ate and cleaned up we took a plate of dinner to my mom who had just had surgery a few days before then we stopped by Jeff's parents house and got to see his parents and two brothers and their families. Then we went back to my mom's to help her and see her for a minute and then we went home and ate chocolate pie (Whitney's highlight of the day) Then we got the kids to bed and I put a Marie Calenders razzleberry pie in the oven to bake. It came out more than perfect and I enjoyed a piece of it all warm and oozing. It was the perfect end to a perfect day. I am so thankful for my family. I have a beautiful husband who loves us and supports our family so I can stay home with the three kids that I am so lucky to have. It was a great day!

Thanksgiving Hats

I am having Thanksgiving at my house this year. There will only be our family and two or three guests- It will be small and quaint. I have never in my life cooked a turkey so I am super excited to try. I love Thanksgiving dinner, all the tastes and smells that only come once a year. Here is a list of my favorite dishes.

Mashed Potatoes

Candied Yams

Stuffing

Green Bean Casserole

Pumpkin Pie

What are yours? I would love to hear about all the wonderful dishes that are Thanksgiving to you and if you have any recipes or turkey roasting tips please pass them on!

This Thanksgiving I will be wearing this hat. I ADORE this hat and it was a gift from one of my favorite people in the world. I wanted to give a huge shout out to my super awesome SIL Malia that made me this cool hat. She is a crochet super hero. If you love this hat and I know you do, you can buy one here or purchase the pattern like she did and make your own.

What a GREAT idea!

I wanted to share this wonderful idea I found with all of you. I have secretly been throwing the Halloween candy away slowly so that the kids don't know it's gone- but when I read this I knew it would be perfect for the rest(we still have a ton). What a GREAT idea!

I Love Primary

Our ward split on October 25th. The day it split I was EXCITED and SAD and HOPEFUL. EXCITED that it wouldn't be so big, that I wouldn't just be another face, that I would finally get to know people. SAD that I wouldn't see all the people that I had gotten to know anymore, that I wouldn't get called back into Young Women's- a calling that I had always wanted and had only had for a few months. HOPEFUL that our new ward would be where we needed to be, that we would feel welcome there, that we would love it.

November 1st they began the reorganization. When we got to church I commented to Jeff that I had a strong feeling that I would NOT be serving in Young Women's any more and that I felt like Primary was where I was suppose to be. We left it at that and went inside. New callings were announced. When my name wasn't called for Young Women's I bawled. Right in the middle of sacrament meeting- cried. It hit me so hard that I wouldn't see all those girls I had grown to love so much every week. Cried, even though in my heart I truly felt like I was suppose to be somewhere else.

Wednesday we had a goodbye party in Young Women's to say goodbye to all the girls and leaders that would be in different wards now. Before I went I had a phone conversation with the new Young Women's president in my ward. She told me that she had submitted my name to be her laurel advisor. She said that she couldn't wait to tell me because she saw how sad I had been on Sunday. She said she felt so strongly that I needed to stay in Young Women's. This confused me and yet made me happy. Maybe I was wrong- maybe I really am suppose to stay in Young Women's.

Thursday I got a phone call to meet with the Bishop. I was fully prepared to hear him call me to Young Women's. We talked for a bit. He asked me about my experience in Young Women's. I told him how much I love it there. Then he said "We'd like to call you as the secretary in Primary." WHAT? I was shocked. He proceeded to tell me that there were several organizations that felt strongly about my name. He said he had prayed so hard to know where I was suppose to go and in the end he felt like Primary needed me the most. He asked me what I thought. I didn't mention Young Women's. I knew he was right. That I was right all along. That Primary was where I needed to be. I told him that I love Primary and I meant it. I told him that I was excited to work with the Presidency.

Friday I got a call from the Primary President. She said that we had two days to organize a new Primary and that Sunday would be our first day. At this point our ward had not received any computers yet- so everything must be done by hand. I had to make all the rolls, door signs, list, birthday lists, teacher information, etc. all by hand. I spent all weekend on the computer getting organized. By the time Sunday came- it was ready or not here we go. We were ready. Primary went off without a hitch. Everyone got to the right class, there was reverence, our sharing time went great, I got all the rolls where they needed to go and back again. It was a success.

Sunday night I was talking to the President on the phone and she told me that she had felt so strongly about my name. She said that when she submitted it the Bishop he told her that I was needed in Young Women's and that she would need to pray again and submit a new name. She said she went back to her counselors and told them to pray. They all got the same name. My name. She went back and told the Bishop that she could not receive another name and that she knew I was the one. He told her he would pray about it. He did and he too felt that she was right. Primary is where I needed to be. I have a testimony that the Lord does direct the church. He calls people to the right place. It's not a decision made by men- but by him. I know that Primary is the right place for me to serve. I am so thankful to be in this calling. I am so thankful to get to be with my kids each week. I do not feel sad or any remorse. I am EXCITED. I am HOPEFUL. I am HAPPY.

The rain that fell from Spain

Jeff's parents have been home now for a few weeks- part of me can't believe they were even gone. It was a blink of the eye. But I have these pictures to help me remember. They were so kind to bring us back a taste of Spain. This plate I will cherish always. I am very sentimental that way. It will be an heirloom to be passed on. I may not always display it like I am now- but I will always keep it special. The red dresses were a gift for all the little girls. Besides the fact that I think they are adorable- they are striking- they are fun and funky and made the best Halloween costumes. The little boys are sporting the soccer jersey- a favorite sport in Spain or shall I say football.

A Beautiful Person

Photo courtesy of fistulafoundation.org

Dr. Catherine Hamlin. She founded the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital in 1974 in Ethiopia. This beautiful person was submitted by my sister in law Malia who wrote:

"I have followed her work for about five years now and I am consistently impressed with the ways she gives new life to these women. When I think about her my heart fills with gratitude, admiration and love."



The following information is taken from http://www.fistulafoundation.org/ and summarized by Malia. Check it out…you’ll be amazed, too.

A fistula is a hole between a woman’s birth passage and one or more of her internal organs. The fact is that less than 6 out of 10 women in Africa and other developing countries give birth without even a midwife, much less a doctor. When complications occur (which is often due to several factors of living in a 3rd World Country), there is no one there to help. After many days of obstructed labor, the baby’s head against the side of the mother’s pelvis cuts off blood supply to tissues in that region and the fistula develops when the dead tissue falls away, leaving a hole between her vagina and bladder (and sometimes rectum. After this obstructed labor not only are their babies most often stillborn, but they become permanently incontinent. Due to the low status of women and girls in these areas, women that develop fistulas are abandoned by their husbands and ostracized by their communities because of their inability to have children and their foul smell. Some are locked away in small, dark huts…sometimes for YEARS!


The saddest part? The majority of fistulas are 100% curable. They just don’t have the doctors that are able to do surgery to fix them (and most of the women have no idea what is even wrong!). In the late 1950s Dr. Catherine Hamlin and her husband, also a gynecologist, wanted to practice medicine somewhere where they were needed most. They opened a midwifery school in Ethiopia. A colleague of theirs explained fistulas to them (something they’d never heard of because it’s been extinct in the US since the 1890s) and the couple immediately began learning everything they could so they’d be able to help the thousands of women that were suffering. They perfected the surgery to mend the fistulas and in their first year treated 30 fistula patients. They soon discovered, however, that even other patients were shunning the fistula patients because of their odor so, in 1974, they opened the fistula hospital. Catherine’s husband died in 1993 but Catherine, now 84 years old, continues to oversee the work in the hospital and even does some of the operations.

Dr. Hamlin not only “fixes” these women, but the hospital also provide rehabilitation for them so they can be integrated back into society with dignity and a sense of worth. They train them that when they are pregnant and they feel the baby move the first time that means they need to start walking (knowing it may take months to get there) to a hospital. I can’t remember all the other things, but I do know that when they leave they are given a fresh, new dress…and their dignity. All women need that…I can’t even imagine how they must feel.

Though over 90% of fistula surgeries are successful, there are some that are so severe they cannot be repaired. However, Dr. Hamlin has provided hope for these women as well. Because they are unable to return to their villages, these women are invited to live at the hospital (and the surrounding “Village of Joy” developed just for them) and are trained to provide care to others. They attend school, make handicrafts, and some help with the gardens and livestock. It makes me choke up to just think about the hope they must feel as they are surrounded with people that understand and still see their value and worth.

All of this has come to pass because of ONE woman. Dr. Catherine Hamlin chose to reach beyond herself and to take her gifts and talents and abilities to recognize and then bless thousands of lives with them. And those women she’s saved, I have no doubt, reach out more often as they extend the dignity, hope, and care that they, when all hope was gone, received from Dr. Hamlin.

She inspires me.

And THAT is why she is one of the 50 most beautiful people in this world.