Day 584: Odds n' Ends

So, I should have posted this picture last night, because that is when our dinner guest gave them to me:

But looking at them all day has still been a source of multiple Joyful Moments.  I'm a sucker for flowers.

Today was the first day in quite some time that I haven't had any urgent obligations.  So, I began tackling the ever-growing list of non-urgent,  but still worthwhile tasks.

This included making about a thousand batches of pesto.  Give or take.

I should have taken a "Before" photo, but this is what my basil plant looked like "After" I used about 10 cups of it!  If you live near me, please come get some!

Making the pesto with my homegrown basil, handmade cheese and garlic from the CSA, and flax seeds substituted for the pine nuts was a super Joyful Moment.  As was eating a yummy pasta dish with some of the pesto used to make a creamy delicious sauce.

And, as if my day weren't full enough with these Joyful Moments, after dinner Little M called me to come outside and see this:

HH was watering the trees when Baby B commandeered the hose.  And was in absolute Baby Heaven.  We watched him play around with it for several minutes.  And it was a Joyful Moment for us all.  It's so fun to see a baby having fun with the simplest of things.

Good day.

Wishing you all Joyful Moments and a good day!

Day 583: A Case For Blue Jell-O

We had company for dinner again.

This time it was a woman HH introduced me to on Sunday.  She's Jewish, but is sort of investigating our faith right now.  I briefly spoke with her between classes, when HH told me he'd invited her to dinner, and she informed me that she was on a special diet and couldn't eat cheese.

So, I formulated a menu all around this "diet" that I wasn't very sure of.  I decided to lean towards healthy foods just in case it was that kind of diet, and because people usually appreciate healthy.  Turns out, it's not that kind of a diet.  There are just certain foods she can't eat.

And given that "cheese" was the only one she told me about, I did really really well on the menu.  The only item I served that she couldn't eat were the tomatoes in the salad.

But the interesting thing is that the dessert I decided to make was a trifle of sorts, but it called for raspberries, raspberry Jell-O, and raspberry yogurt.  When I was at the store I was feeling a bit indecisive and decided to pick up blueberries and strawberries.  I guess I just wasn't in the mood for raspberries.  Anyway, I ended up making it with blueberries, berry blue Jell-O, and blueberry yogurt.  All along, I kept telling myself the blue Jell-O would look awful.

And it did.

But, come to find out, she can't eat any red fruits.

Ka-Zam!

I knew I made a good choice!

And even though it didn't look as pretty as the red would have, it still tasted good.  She even had seconds.

And it was all a Joyful Moment for me.

But I also need to mention the wonderful discussion we got into after dinner about God, the eternal nature of family, and faith.  As HH put it, having that kind of a discussion always leaves you feeling closer to God.

Which is the best kind of Joyful Moment.

Wishing you all Joyful Moments with good choices and good feelings!

Day 582: Not The BEST Fair, But It'll Do

Yeah, we're really missing the fall fairs as done back in New England.  Here in the Great Plains, they just don't know how to do it.

Nor do they know how to do a Demolition Derby.  HH pretty much decided we were going to the fair today based solely on the fact that they had a Demo going on.  He bought the tickets last week and has been super pumped.

I love this picture of Baby B.  He just sat staring like this in baffled bewilderment at these crazy cars crashing into each other.

And yes, that is a Pecan Sandie in his hand.  I told HH to pick up some snacks that would be good for Baby B.  That is what he came back with.

That is why it is best for children to have a Mommy and a Daddy.

So, even though it was all a little disappointing, it was still my Joyful Moment.  Got to spend tons of time with the family all day.  In fact, one of my favorite parts was rocking out together and doing some sweet Car Dancing on the way up.

We are THAT family.

And seeing all of the crazy over-sized fruits and veggies is always one of my favorites.  I couldn't get Little M to step aside so you could really see how big that melon was.  You'll just have to trust me--it was HUGE!!!

Wishing you all Joyful Moments that leave you staring in baffled bewilderment!

Day 581: I'm A Mormon

Well, I am.

And I hope that is the most descriptive word that can be used for me.  I am trying to follow my Savior Jesus Christ and to become more like Him in all I do.

On the first Sunday of every month, we have the unique opportunity of voluntarily bearing testimony of Jesus Christ in front of the entire congregation.  This morning I felt quite strongly that I needed to do so today.  That always makes me a little nervous, but I did it.

And sharing my faith and knowledge was today's Joyful Moment.

I love my Savior.

Wishing you all Joyful Moments filled with convictions that bring you peace and, of course, JOY!

Day 580: Crazy Day

Today was absolutely crazy.

A lot of good stuff.

But emphasis on the "a lot" part.

And a lot of anything can be too much, sometimes.

So, I'd say, today's Joyful Moment was taking a nap.

At 8 A.M.

Because no one slept much last night and we got home at 7:30 A.M.

Although, waking up next to these sweet faces was a Joyful Moment, as well.  Don't let Little M's peaceful face fool you, though.  He was the one responsible for waking everyone else up!

Wishing you all Joyful Moments at 8 A.M.!

Day 579: Fire Pits and Thunderstorms

We've been telling the kids we'd go camping all summer.

But it's been too hot.  All summer.

So, finally, I realized that this may be our last weekend to go because Little M will have a soccer clinic every Saturday until October and then it may be too cold.

It took a surprising bit of coordinating, but we made it happen.

And then the weather did a switcheroo and instead of being the super nice, cool evening predicted, it was hot and humid.

Surprise.

But, we went anyway.

And I'm glad we did.  There were some not so great moments, a crazy thunderstorm, and the sleep was flat out terrible (a.k.a. non-existent), but we had a lot of fun.  And we got to hang out as a family.

And believe you me, there were plenty of Joyful Moments!

Wishing you all Joyful Moments capped off with delicious S'mores!

Day 578: Merry Maids

Tonight we had the wonderful opportunity of going to the temple together.  Learning more about my Savior and how to become more like Him is always a beautiful Joyful Moment.

Then we had the opportunity to clean the temple after all the patrons went home.  You wouldn't think cleaning bathrooms would be a Joyful Moment, but because it was part of a place that is so special and sacred to me, it was.  It helped that they weren't very dirty and I got to visit with another woman who I've never really had the opportunity to visit with before.  And she was wonderful.

Plus, I got to hang out with my HH which is nearly almost always a Joyful Moment.

I do love my HH.

Wishing you all Joyful Moments that leave you clean all over!