tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19229577344693669602024-02-20T10:48:11.390-07:00The Butler's Did ItThe Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-18700951416904127842011-08-07T18:44:00.000-07:002011-08-07T18:44:23.557-07:0040th Birthday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7bmg_rIuPVmId6fjYJz0rTyuSLCANFOL_LvHOIm2p28xcCzUueyhAbnGxJUd4zLpFJ-Hj_GYDVLAnkNWIRGuxz7WPgs3IDhoaqZECU6QW6_0-hwrHZDOyzsfwJvcsvWy8HHOtwL-UdQ/s1600/kb_potter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7bmg_rIuPVmId6fjYJz0rTyuSLCANFOL_LvHOIm2p28xcCzUueyhAbnGxJUd4zLpFJ-Hj_GYDVLAnkNWIRGuxz7WPgs3IDhoaqZECU6QW6_0-hwrHZDOyzsfwJvcsvWy8HHOtwL-UdQ/s320/kb_potter.jpg" width="213" /></a>I finally have a few minutes to add my thoughts about turning 40. First the party.<br />
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Starting at 5pm on the 15th of July Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets started. Then all the rest of the Harry Potter movies until Saturday evening. Then a short break and we went to the theater to see the final movie in the series. This was a ton of fun. I would love to do another movie marathon again (maybe not 8 movies next time, 2 or 3 should be good). <br />
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The best part of the party was all the company. Mary and Terry from Colorado flew in to enjoy the fun. So wonderful to spend time with one of my dearest friends. Mary is one of those people that will be friends for life and treasured dearly. Her husband Terry is a wonderful addition to that friendship that started in Junior High for us. Then as a surprise my sister, Linda, showed up. She had told Kent she was coming but not me. Sandi was wonderful to hang with us also. The last few years as we have served, laughed and prayed together we have grown into trusted and dear friends. By Saturday afternoon Kristi and her husband Dan joined us. More the merrier. For the last few years Kristi and I have worked together and this has grown into a friendship that will continue even if one (or both) of us move to other opportunities.<br />
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Kent was so supportive of having a house full of people for the weekend. I am so blessed to have a fabulous husband.<br />
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As far as turning 40. So what. I not even half done with my life!The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-67786351498574040662011-01-02T17:22:00.000-07:002011-01-02T17:22:48.578-07:00The last monthI have promised a few people that I would fill you in with what has been going on. During November and December I had about 1/2 dozen doctor appointments, 2 1/2 days of tests, multiple blood tests, and 1 MRI. OK that sounds so much worse then it is. I will start with the end. After all this it was found that the medical professionals have no idea why I pass out for no reason.<br />
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Now if you want all the details read on.<br />
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It all started in June when I was standing in the kitchen talking to Kent and I took a drink of a soda and with in 2-3 seconds I passed out and landed on the tile floor. Fortunately I only received minor injuries but did not have a reason why. I blew this off as just an abnormality. (I had done this before but over 20 years ago - that would be a good story for another post). Fast forward to mid October and this same situation happens again. After this Kent says your going to the doctor (my dad also passes out for no real reason). I go to my Primary Care Doctor and she says let's run some blood work and check your iron, blood cell counts, etc... She also wants to do an MRI and an EKG. So we do all this and find that the blood work is normal and the heart rate is fine. The MRI comes back stating my brain is "grossly unremarkable" (I was insulted by this LOL). At this point then I have to stop my exercising and training for the Grand Canyon and go see a Cardiologist.<br />
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The Cardiologist wants to do his own tests. This includes ultrasounds of my heart - one a rest and one after a stress test, ultra sounds of my choroid arteries, a 24 hour heart monitor and a tilt table test. The weirdest was tilt table test.<br />
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For the tilt table test first they tell you not to eat or drink for 6 hours before. So I get there and I am dehydrated and hungry and they want to put in an IV. I have never had an IV so I cannot give them an option of where is a good place to put it. After about 6 or more tries by the nurse and the Dr. I am done. I have nearly passed out from this process. So now we have reschedule this (of course this is in east Mesa). I go back and there is a different nurse there and she is able to get the IV started with only 2 tries (in my hand). They then hook up a heart monitor and blood pressure cuff. You are strapped to a table and stood up at 90degrees. Every 60 seconds you blood pressure is read and they are waiting to see if you pass out. If in 15 minutes you have not then they give you a Nitroglycerin tablet. I had to have this and that is some weird stuff. Then they watch for another 15 minutes to see if you pass out. I nearly did but not quite. Then all these readings are given to the Dr. After it was done I made Kent take me to Krispy Kreme. It took me about 2-4 more hours to really feel normal again.<br />
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As I said in the beginning after all these tests the Dr. could not figure out what the cause was so I just have to call him if it happens again. How about that for a fun way to spend about 4-6 weeks.The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-78291105146421709792010-10-24T17:49:00.000-07:002010-10-24T17:49:47.190-07:00ReleasedToday was an emotional day at church. I have spent the last 2 1/2 years as the 2nd Councilor in the Relief Society Presidency. I have loved this calling so much. I have been able to grow close to the sisters in our ward by serving them. They are strong, loving women. The compassion and testimony that is shared every time the sisters are together continues to amaze me. During this time I have grown so much. My love of my Savior and testimony of the work being done to save people is amazing. I know that my Heavenly Father loves me and the sisters that I served. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints is true. The Church has blessed my life so much. I also have been so blessed to work with some amazing sisters during the time I was in the presidency, Amberly, Teri, Shannon, Jessica, Mandy, Terry, Rachel, Lois, and of coarse Sandi. I love all of you and each of you taught me amazing things. Thank you for all the love and kindness that has been shown me. May God continue to bless all of you.The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-81105972751469342022010-09-26T16:15:00.000-07:002010-09-26T16:15:17.691-07:00FaithLast Sunday we had a wonderful lesson in Relief Society about Faith. I have been thinking about it all week long and wanted to share my thoughts and insights. I will be referring to <a href="http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/32">Alma 32:21-42</a> during this posting.<br />
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First I thought of hope. "if ye have faith ye hope for things..." I thought of how to build faith we must start with hope. The first time I poured my heart out to The Lord in honest prayers it was with a hope that there was a God and he answered prayers. I had never met with Him face to face. He had never spoken to me so it was with a hope He was there. I found that He was. My prayers were answered and continue to be. This hope has grown to a faith. I now know that if I am sincere and pour my heart out he will answer me.<br />
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I do not have a perfect knowledge of things and therefore I continue to grow my faith with a hope that one day I will have a perfect knowledge.<br />
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We are asked to experiment upon the word. The word being the teachings of our Heavenly Father. By excersisng even a small particle of faith we can learn of the plan our Heavenly Father has for us. <br />
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We compare the word of God to a seed that must be planted in our hearts. When the seed is placed it can grow or wither and die. For the seed to grow it must have sun, water, nutirients, and soil. If any of these are missing then it will die or at least be very weak.<br />
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The analogy of the seed being planted and the conditions needed to grow the seed made me think of my own gardening experience. When planting seeds in CO they would grow just about anywhere with very little care. Our hearts are like this when they are tender and humble. When they are tender and ready to receive the teachings we must act and grow the plant as strong as possible. <br />
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Many times the soil we try to plant our seed of faith in is like the hard clay of AZ. This has been baked and lost many of its nutirents. We must then tend to the soil by augmenting it and working it and loving it. This is true of our hearts as well, the harshness and negativity of this world has baked the soil and leached many the nutrients out.. We must tend to our hearts by prayer, study and humility. As we do this even in the harsh environement of the world we can have a folourishing garden of faith in our hearts from the many seeds we have planted.<br />
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I also see faith as being many seeds. We can gain faith in the redeeming powers of the atonement but it takes another seed to have the faith that we can be forgiven of our sins and still another to believe in the revelations given by the prophet.<br />
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I hope that we all can enjoy the blessings of faith and continue to cultivate the seeds that have been planted, the soil they are going it, and the environment that they grow. May the trees of faith bring forth much fruit that is good and desirous. The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-66196955331616433142010-08-26T22:14:00.000-07:002010-08-26T22:14:12.657-07:00Nothing to SaySometimes I wonder why I keep a blog. I don't have young kids. No grandkids. Just cats. But then I realize that I am incredibly blessed. I have a wonderful husband who is kind and gentle but with a quirky sense of humor. We always have a good time whether we are Disneyland or Sam's Club. I have a fantastic son (OK well I did not give birth to him but he has been a wonderful part of my life since I married his dad). He is a delight to talk to and a strong spirit about him. I love my family so much and don't always remember to express this.<br />
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I also have a testimony of the truthfulness of the Gospel. For this I am very grateful. With this knowledge I can endure the tough times and gain even more joy from the good times. I am thankful for the opportunities I have for service and to be served.<br />
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I know this is just a short set of thoughts about how blessed I am but I needed to express what I am feeling. Thanks for listening.The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-88654527167435737192010-08-01T18:20:00.000-07:002010-08-01T18:20:37.581-07:00Book ReviewI just finished a book that I was not the target audience. This was geared to about 9-13 yr old boys.<br />
Enemies and Allies by Kevin J Anderson. <br />
This is set in the 1950's and is the introduction of Batman and Superman. If you have a child that is into comic books or superheroes then this is a good option for them. The reading level (my guess) is about a 7th or 8th grade. There is some history there and they may have questions about Sputnik, McCarthy, and other significant things in that time period. There was not even any kissing just some talk of Superman and Lois Lane falling in love. There are 2 swear words (as far as I can remember). A few spots get graphic about the battles but it is not bad. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to your children if they are into superheroes.The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-36937853182198512152010-07-16T01:00:00.000-07:002010-07-16T01:00:17.738-07:00VacationJust returned from a wonderful time in CO. Sometimes it is so hard to be so far from family and the life long friends I have had. I guess during this trip I saw that my parents are aging and my brother is getting worse in his battle against MS. I wish we could be closer to help more. It was also great to see Kent's brother and sister-in-law. Such fun and love when we are there.<br />
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I loved seeing my nieces, nephews, and grand nephews. All of those kids bring me such joy.<br />
The little guys. <br />
Coal - Our little diamond in the rough. He is such a joy and always happy.<br />
Joshua - So patient and just wants to be the best big brother. He is a calming influence in the room.<br />
Samantha - Our little princess. So full of life and energy. She has such a strong spirit.<br />
Benjamin - Such the little man. So wants to be an adult and yet still a kid. Full of love and life.<br />
Brady - Such a cutie. Loves to cuddle and share his love. He is always fun.<br />
Scott - So wonderful and loving. He always wants to be in the middle and lover all.<br />
The bigger ones.<br />
Leslie - Such a good mom always wanting the best for her little ones.<br />
Lisa - A good aunt with so much love to share.<br />
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Had such a wonderful time with Charles. I could not ask for a better son. I love him so much. It is amazing to see how much has grown. I am so excited for the future he is planning for himself. I wish he was closer and we could spend more time together. Such a great young man with a kind heart and an amazing spirit.<br />
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Since we were able to spend 13 days in CO we had the opportunity to get together with friends also. So many wonderful people that had an influence at different times in our lives.<br />
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Thanks everyone for a great time and more wonderful memories. Looking forward to the next time we can get to CO.The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-18222040984269251342010-05-14T19:56:00.000-07:002010-05-14T19:57:45.423-07:00Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsS0Nk8SAx-6gA1SHEdiJxgou6BT8hvqE9JbzXGBiSXBcx4hk-1MzuNQcJaeWd3TH0XCNT_eWNbLY2zx6Elu6FiWRlQxNITge-Fe3r1p9lm_jdTh0CpUBTZbhugtTuRurEit1vz5e5v0I/s1600/Tomatoes" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsS0Nk8SAx-6gA1SHEdiJxgou6BT8hvqE9JbzXGBiSXBcx4hk-1MzuNQcJaeWd3TH0XCNT_eWNbLY2zx6Elu6FiWRlQxNITge-Fe3r1p9lm_jdTh0CpUBTZbhugtTuRurEit1vz5e5v0I/s320/Tomatoes" width="236" /></a></div>I am finding that I really enjoy the garden we are growing. The first tomatoes have ripened. They have so much flavor compared to the ones in the grocery store. I am now planning what will go in for the fall garden. I am thinking about some squash and maybe some spinach. There is something very rewarding about growing your own food.<br />
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Every evening when I come home from work I am able to go and just relax by checking the plants and watering them. It is very relaxing and brings me such a feeling of joy. <br />
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I am very thankful for the instruction from the Prophets to be self reliant. When following this admonition there is such a wonderful joy.<br />
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Maybe I will even get good enough at this to have a bumper crop.The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-62311500137559711132010-05-09T15:58:00.000-07:002010-05-09T15:58:05.161-07:00Mothers DayAs many of you know I really dislike Mothers Day. This year is no different but I want to take the time to tribute to my mother and other women who have had an impact on my life.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRge2aXenJsuAzQh7mYWA_yxngg12L_00PMBkEMMTxHXGke3-blp-nB1t123uaanjps_PwNBLbbPtZMZnaBCmcncGjj2ASX2s28InjvqzeC2tBy9uK2mQW9MFbEI40Jz3QafKFN8LU6Us/s1600/IMG_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRge2aXenJsuAzQh7mYWA_yxngg12L_00PMBkEMMTxHXGke3-blp-nB1t123uaanjps_PwNBLbbPtZMZnaBCmcncGjj2ASX2s28InjvqzeC2tBy9uK2mQW9MFbEI40Jz3QafKFN8LU6Us/s320/IMG_0063.JPG" width="320" /></a>First my mom. Through the good times and the bad she has been there. I can always call her and know that she will listen. I know that I was a difficult child and at one time she had 3 teenage daughters. That in its self could send anyone to the loony farm but she loved and cared for us always. Mom set a spiritual example also with her kindness and charity. Mom lives what she believes. I will always be grateful for all she has done for me over the years. My mom is a wonderful woman with strength and love for all. <br />
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Many of the people in my life know that I have a wonderful Aunt Naomi. She has been like a grandmother to me and pillar of strength to our family. Aunt Naomi is a strong woman with so much faith. She has an incredible love of the gospel and life. I am so thankful for the example she has set for me. She is now approaching 90 years old and has faced the challenges of life with so much grace and dignity. At times I have faced similar trials to her and found strength in the example that she set.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlI5oxfX0Ue1Z8Qe6vvvk_J6Y334mecgwWA_GM8yB8rTd-la1bDPULOEY-ExeyeJ1QetyoZOHcil9-dwayEyVDTwK4mc-jmWf9iYY37b-Ba_fUcywP2ECtD1VMZtJjPz5ZkJGYVO4QZ0/s1600/IMG_0134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAlI5oxfX0Ue1Z8Qe6vvvk_J6Y334mecgwWA_GM8yB8rTd-la1bDPULOEY-ExeyeJ1QetyoZOHcil9-dwayEyVDTwK4mc-jmWf9iYY37b-Ba_fUcywP2ECtD1VMZtJjPz5ZkJGYVO4QZ0/s320/IMG_0134.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Of course I cannot forget my mother-in-law she is a wonderful woman with so much love. I am so lucky to have a great mother-in-law who loves me and has never made me feel that "I am not good enough for her son" and supported us always. My mother-in-law always shows me the love she feels. She is a caring person and very nurturing.<br />
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There are so many other women who have influenced me and there is no way I can list them all here. Everyday in my life I see the influence of Young Women leaders, friends moms, friends, coworkers, and Relief Society sisters.<br />
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For all the women in my life I hope Mothers Day is filled with love and joy.The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-2714547420931819932010-04-29T08:11:00.000-07:002010-04-29T08:11:22.756-07:00WorkWell here in a week I will know if I am still employed by Maricopa County. I do hope that I am. I enjoy this job and feel like I am making a difference in the world. I also am so close to be partially vested in my retirement. :) But as this gets closer I realize that all I can do is pray for what The Lord knows to be best to happen and to have the strength to accept it if it is not what I thought was best. I am so appreciative of all the prayers and thoughts that have been sent my way during these months of uncertainty. The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-21400283085799758522010-04-23T22:47:00.000-07:002010-04-23T22:50:26.519-07:00Grand CanyonJust wanted to let everyone know that I have started a blog dedicated to my Grand Canyon Trip. This will have my progress in training and tips for those coming to know what is going on. Should be fun for all to watch whether you are going or not.<br /><br /><a href="http://grandcanyonat40.blogspot.com/">http://grandcanyonat40.blogspot.com/</a>The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-90032904018750582882010-03-19T20:38:00.000-07:002010-03-20T08:03:17.044-07:00Turning 40I am planning a trip for my 40th birthday (in 2011). Who wants to come with me. Before you decide let me give you be start of the details. I am hiking the Grand Canyon from the North Rim to the South Rim. Doesn't that sound like fun. I am starting the planning and I need to know who may want to go so I can get some prices together and then make the reservations. Final commitments would need to be by August 2010 so I can get the reservations. I am planning to hike to the bottom on day 1. Stay at Phantom Ranch that night. Hike around and relax a little for day 2. Stay a 2nd night at Phantom Ranch. Then hike out on day 3. I am getting so excited. Training starts this weekend. More will be posted as I get the training plan and the costs. Some of that depends on how many people want to join the fun. Tentative date is September 2011.<br /><br />SO who is with me...The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-5002126461000241812010-03-14T09:01:00.000-07:002010-03-14T09:49:37.841-07:00DESMA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgc7I5no9AqVL3mOzjqr5rWbkDS_rTf2het6CJ4NcuFGxQlVLyPwZn5xQLYV4I4Ux05Zb-V27l9PUVzI3VRGbNoR9Susaw5Di1x0MHf5_CDLqbvnel1oo8H5zMCx7rujBC9asPFeGv8E/s1600-h/IMG_1789.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgc7I5no9AqVL3mOzjqr5rWbkDS_rTf2het6CJ4NcuFGxQlVLyPwZn5xQLYV4I4Ux05Zb-V27l9PUVzI3VRGbNoR9Susaw5Di1x0MHf5_CDLqbvnel1oo8H5zMCx7rujBC9asPFeGv8E/s320/IMG_1789.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448527741636237346" border="0" /></a>DESMA<br /><br />Let me introduce you to DESMA. This stands for Delicious Eatable Smoked Meat Apparatus. Some of the things we have done with DESMA include pulled pork, fish, chicken, sausage, pork ribs, turkey breast and rib roast. All have been amazing. My favorite has been the pulled pork, it was so tender and juicy. This is followed by the rib roast. There is nothing like a smoked rib roast.<br /><br />There have been several people that have requested information about how we built our own smoker. The story starts with a trip to Barbecues Galore. There we found that a ceramic smoker is around $700 (way out of our budget). We looked all over but could never find anything any significantly less. We were then watching FoodNetwork and saw one of the chefs build his own and though we can do that. If you want to see where we got our inspiration it is on the show "Good Eats" in the episode call "Q". The whole thing was built for about $70.<br /><br />Then the quest to find the parts. Here is what you need to build your own: 1 electric hot plate, 1 metal pie pan (that will never bake a pie again), 1 round grill grate, 2 unglazed ceramic pots, 3 bricks, and 1 replacement grill thermometer.<br /><br />Now the fun part putting it together.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJsO6mWf_0KAwOZgKOco6-1uL_tAkiEtFv3ybcTAVd0xqsbefUkSS9eunuCuaXD6jFvzUDRtUQLHnSnUYR8Xb5RW_SpbFyRYWoc_0W5PCFxiZPpsbPebwHSPiV8XY2B-i1SKQftEBj9Y/s1600-h/IMG_1786.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJsO6mWf_0KAwOZgKOco6-1uL_tAkiEtFv3ybcTAVd0xqsbefUkSS9eunuCuaXD6jFvzUDRtUQLHnSnUYR8Xb5RW_SpbFyRYWoc_0W5PCFxiZPpsbPebwHSPiV8XY2B-i1SKQftEBj9Y/s320/IMG_1786.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448530986973576050" border="0" /></a><br />When we shopped for ours we found it was best to start with the grate and the hot plate. These will determine the size of the pots you need.<br /><br />When you have all your items here is the construction. Place the hot plate in the bottom of the larger pot with the cord coming out the drain hole. Then the pie tin on that. The pie tin should be a heavy metal if you want it to last more then one use. Then the grate place in the bottom pot. The grate needs to be the right size to sit about 8 - 10 inches above the pie tin. Then you will turn the 2nd pot upside down and seat in in the first to form the lid. The thermometer is then place in the drain hole of the top pot. This is the basic construction that you will find on the FoodNetwork and many other sites, but if you see the photo above you know that we have made changes after experimenting.<br /><br />Here are the hints and tips that we have learned:<br />* Drill an extra hole in the top for the thermometer and leave the drain hole for air circulation. This will also give you a place for a kitchen thermometer to be inserted into the meat.<br />* Drill 3 or 4 holes in the bottom for air circulation.<br />* Wrap the pots in pipe insulation sealed with flashing tape to help it maintain a steady temperature.<br />* If you wrap it the apparatus then use some pipe nipples or something similar to keep the holes open and the insulation sealed.<br /><br />DESMA has made some wonderful meals for us and brought a lot of fun into the cooking. I hope that if you build one it will bring you fun and delicious smoked meats.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7nB-2cTjhjauX1kTl8KKRK1L_MCPtuTNv4MUxL7vXibTZ-4bijKhy1eeGSueT24B_9SM7rflpcqWmLn43S4TikHEgnG3lYP55Sc0O0Ac2ll75KHkWKFsknc8_E6PolPSj9Osk-GWH48/s1600-h/IMG_1790.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji7nB-2cTjhjauX1kTl8KKRK1L_MCPtuTNv4MUxL7vXibTZ-4bijKhy1eeGSueT24B_9SM7rflpcqWmLn43S4TikHEgnG3lYP55Sc0O0Ac2ll75KHkWKFsknc8_E6PolPSj9Osk-GWH48/s320/IMG_1790.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448530807703652466" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRy9NHfl0Q0AphJawbA2YSyHfqxYmIiBErzWy717ewSzNDbq6v5eiqrs_HfoBvcugQlME_g35hdRc2Qp7P5MLF0W_ehtz11ZTsSK3TQXoumnp_rluui0gXXIex0kbTxKiPwhrkknUb0Z4/s1600-h/IMG_1787.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRy9NHfl0Q0AphJawbA2YSyHfqxYmIiBErzWy717ewSzNDbq6v5eiqrs_HfoBvcugQlME_g35hdRc2Qp7P5MLF0W_ehtz11ZTsSK3TQXoumnp_rluui0gXXIex0kbTxKiPwhrkknUb0Z4/s320/IMG_1787.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448530280741649618" border="0" /></a><br />This is the turkey breast. Doesn't it look yummy. This photo was taken about 1 hour before it was done. The carcass made the best turkey soup later.<br /><br />Now that you have built one you just need to get some meat and some wood chips/chunks.<br /><br />If you want more tips just let me know.<br /><br />Have fun!!The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-44325135008658600822009-12-16T22:03:00.001-07:002009-12-16T22:20:10.469-07:00Back from all the fun.Well now we are back from our travels. It was wonderful to spend Thanksgiving with family. I loved seeing my nieces, nephews, and grand-nephews. I was so glad to see that my sisters and there families were doing well. Sometimes it is so hard to be far away and not see the kids grow up. My younger sister is well and her 2 children are beautiful. They are fun to be around and happy kids. My youngest sister and her family are happy and busy with a great new house. My little "coal" is fun to talk to and growing so fast. My brother is always fun and a funny character. I was glad to see that my parents are well and had a great time with all the family around. We also were there to celebrate there 40th wedding anniversary. I am so bless to have a great family.<br /><br />We also spent some time with Charles. He is doing well with his schoolwork. We loved being able to be with him. He is a great blessing in our lives and we wish we could spend more time with him.<br /><br />We also spent time with Kent's brothers family. It was good to see them and know that they are doing well. We saw 2 of their kids and the 3 grandsons. All are well and it was so delightful to hang out and have some fun. The boys are growing so fast and just love to see Kent. I think he is the favorite uncle. <br /><br />After 10 days in Colorado we went to the "Happiest Place on Earth" More posting about that later.The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-72356159367192430052009-10-06T23:42:00.000-07:002009-10-06T23:57:35.407-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtujtgpmuBpZUUXin6RIjX63MFdMbmZ2YEqynEND3HH-ahWY4AWMClQ47eECnOCGub0RHFLsWu1OQJmBUik2rAJkieDtBx9gKGdVbRR5MBbO83PG3mOw-V4CmLu7oXrqY2gyy1S_RPBE/s1600-h/IMG_0068.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtujtgpmuBpZUUXin6RIjX63MFdMbmZ2YEqynEND3HH-ahWY4AWMClQ47eECnOCGub0RHFLsWu1OQJmBUik2rAJkieDtBx9gKGdVbRR5MBbO83PG3mOw-V4CmLu7oXrqY2gyy1S_RPBE/s320/IMG_0068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389746408824774194" border="0" /></a>Here are more photos from our trip to UT. These photos are from Kolob State Park. It is a beautiful little place just off highway 15.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVZZ6-hKy1rPJNCQoAfy-scoBdM7sccBgthmlXSS0nTSIVpln0iK3l8O6VUSDjOkrwVNjcSCJ29p-mbn0loGXuFUC1o5lG7iA2cSDFo8H7bp3FGaz8p_gbbqVObWdzCjFthVvGQIas1I/s1600-h/IMG_0078.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQVZZ6-hKy1rPJNCQoAfy-scoBdM7sccBgthmlXSS0nTSIVpln0iK3l8O6VUSDjOkrwVNjcSCJ29p-mbn0loGXuFUC1o5lG7iA2cSDFo8H7bp3FGaz8p_gbbqVObWdzCjFthVvGQIas1I/s320/IMG_0078.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389747597272237874" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZzjxNmEkDsHAjDwJbM77EZfhuKgd185XQesplf2EjHlE5yvrU3KEALMGzJbhOXbiw0xOwyQjgYUUwrqHkB29J3Nd9saMlAwIgRoonCBWcBlVn_Z4I6FPPy_ir_rEBZ3dO5dsxf4swH8/s1600-h/IMG_0096.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZzjxNmEkDsHAjDwJbM77EZfhuKgd185XQesplf2EjHlE5yvrU3KEALMGzJbhOXbiw0xOwyQjgYUUwrqHkB29J3Nd9saMlAwIgRoonCBWcBlVn_Z4I6FPPy_ir_rEBZ3dO5dsxf4swH8/s320/IMG_0096.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389748337093948386" border="0" /></a>The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-88646516330679390592009-09-23T21:21:00.000-07:002009-09-23T21:30:18.405-07:00Utah Trip<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbL7pKojizMalUBRc0_cgRYMfHpL_n9i6XVz9XbMxr3Qa3vPFssG4Rbe8Ng5_tIx6h2aoP2PkxC59th8j1U99a8aRoLXX93fC-tEUKPIMiU8-eK13MtjR_5OaLRoUKaGkX7Gexb8M0ro/s1600-h/IMG_0055.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbL7pKojizMalUBRc0_cgRYMfHpL_n9i6XVz9XbMxr3Qa3vPFssG4Rbe8Ng5_tIx6h2aoP2PkxC59th8j1U99a8aRoLXX93fC-tEUKPIMiU8-eK13MtjR_5OaLRoUKaGkX7Gexb8M0ro/s320/IMG_0055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384885112038141586" border="0" /></a><br />Here is some more of the fun we had in Utah. The photos pretty well say it all. We got a little dirty while riding 4 Wheelers. Aren't we quite the beauty queens. Lots of dirt and dust. It took me 30 minutes to comb and wash all the dirt out of my hair. Probably would have been easier to shave my head.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYluHdj7ABVJJRVluxVxpAg4FSjEGkPs_Q6nE0vyhHZySolMxicM72asR2IFBaPhjnfrR7TIRBoi-hheZBKFq5_0HIaJ84D9eLvPoT9Nzk_FCn4FwiGVIRPbXfI-ilyfM1u-H2shGH9H0/s1600-h/IMG_0058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYluHdj7ABVJJRVluxVxpAg4FSjEGkPs_Q6nE0vyhHZySolMxicM72asR2IFBaPhjnfrR7TIRBoi-hheZBKFq5_0HIaJ84D9eLvPoT9Nzk_FCn4FwiGVIRPbXfI-ilyfM1u-H2shGH9H0/s320/IMG_0058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384885979478807970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Kent had a great time also. Doesn't he look cute!!The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-88825987332160821942009-09-16T19:58:00.000-07:002009-09-16T20:27:48.348-07:00Utah Trip<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIilaGq1_oQk7-XbE2qgOlpEkwZVcxUjC9js_Nj_kyxej-soKwpapjFjLZYSsv4WKH4ZhQEXRpV3y79rsBTeL5CoTfAKvTdcWuAffqOVMqiY1-r-lSuWkBHVOdiaHgQ7VI3ync99CpBA/s1600-h/IMG_0008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIilaGq1_oQk7-XbE2qgOlpEkwZVcxUjC9js_Nj_kyxej-soKwpapjFjLZYSsv4WKH4ZhQEXRpV3y79rsBTeL5CoTfAKvTdcWuAffqOVMqiY1-r-lSuWkBHVOdiaHgQ7VI3ync99CpBA/s320/IMG_0008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382271558886149410" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It is great to be back but I sure needed a vacation. I feel rejuvenated and refreshed.<br />We had a great time. Here are the start of some of the pics and memories.<br />Labor Day we went to the mountains around Fillmore, UT and rode 4Wheelers. This was a blast. The scenery was beautiful. The trees were starting to change colors and I remembered why I miss Colorado every fall.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGSneLIn8In3OUhQbHRjf8-CjM2LRL4GwB2fRoaMZeN8SQt2zIGGqp2UWk4oMofN5nD7_HY1unwGA9HPHPou_QVTOJPj3qIMla1y1hXW2TmMk-ynlr-REqO52O4-7pT2XAcUtDncR6cI/s1600-h/IMG_0019.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGSneLIn8In3OUhQbHRjf8-CjM2LRL4GwB2fRoaMZeN8SQt2zIGGqp2UWk4oMofN5nD7_HY1unwGA9HPHPou_QVTOJPj3qIMla1y1hXW2TmMk-ynlr-REqO52O4-7pT2XAcUtDncR6cI/s320/IMG_0019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5382271858443215842" border="0" /></a><br />The sky was an amazing blue and the Aspen trees were blowing in the breeze. There is nothing like the sound of Quaking Aspens.<br /><br />We could not have had better weather. The Lord answered our prayers for good weather.The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-51278190459460310792009-08-22T22:49:00.000-07:002009-08-22T23:34:29.554-07:00Eternal LoveThis is a long post and if you are not interested in my history then you probably want to skip this. <br /><br />After the comments Kent made in Sunday School and since we celebrated our anniversary this last week I thought it would be a great time to remember our wedding and what we went through to get there. I returned from my mission in late February and by the 25th Kent had proposed. We decided that we would wait about 6 months to get married. This would give us time to get to know each other again and plan the wedding.<br /><br />About 2 weeks before I returned from my mission The Church announced that men would now have to have previous temple sealings canceled before they could be married in The Temple again. Since Kent had been sealed to his first wife we needed to have this canceled. There were a few obstacles involved with this. The first was we had no idea where his ex-wife even was and the bishop had said that we may need to have a letter from her also acknowledging that there was no chance of them mending this relationship. We decided to proceed without any information from her. After interviews with the Bishop and Stake President Kent was asked to write a letter about why he wanted his sealing canceled. All the appropriate documentation and letters were gathered and sent to Salt Lake City by about the first of April. This was about the time that we needed to order the invitations and make a reservation at the Temple.<br /><br />My mom was concerned about waiting for confirmation from the First Presidency that his sealing was canceled. We did not have the letter from the First Presidency when we called the Denver Temple to make our reservation. We were told that we could not make a reservation without the letter. We decided that we would have faith to order the announcements with the date and time that we hoped we could get. By the first of May we still did not have a letter but knew we better get the Temple reserved. My mom called the Temple anyway and asked if they would make the reservation without the letter. She was able to talk to a sweet lady that was sympathetic to our story and made the reservation anyway. We promised that we would cancel if we did not get the letter. <br /><br />Well it was July and still no letter. We were calling the acting Stake President to see if he knew anything. Our regular Stake President was not doing most of his duties because he was battling cancer and was going through chemotherapy. No one knew where the letter was but the acting Stake President had called Salt Lake and found that they had approved the cancellation and we could be sealed. This was wonderful to hear but we knew without the letter the Temple would not perform the ceremony. <br /><br />Now it was the end of July and the Temple was closing for annual cleaning. It would be open for 1 day before our sealing was to take place and still no letter. We kept praying for this because there was so much riding on the timing of our wedding. We had a deposit on married student housing but we could not move in without being married and we would lose our deposit if school started without us moving in. We were getting married less then a week before school was to start so there was not a lot of extra time. <br /><br />We had a reservation for a Temple sealing at 10am on 17 Aug and it was about the 13th and still no letter. We needed to consider the very real possibility of not being able to be sealed. We did not know if we should have a civil ceremony and wait a year or cancel the whole thing and wait for the letter. We knew the importance of starting our marriage the right way so we did not want to make that decision. We continued to pray that they letter would arrive and we would be able to be sealed. We had faith that if we continued with the plan of being sealed in the Temple it would all work out some how. <br /><br />On the 14th we received a phone call from the Stake Presidents wife. She was sorting through some of the stuff that her husband had been receiving during his treatment and found the letter we were looking for. They had the announcement of when we were to be married and knew that we needed this to be able to make our reservation. <br /><br />We drove out there (they lived on a ranch on the outskirts of town) and picked up this letter and thanked our Heavenly Father that this all was working out. We learned several things through this experience. We knew that we were supposed to be married and that Satan did not want us to be married. From the day we were married we have found that every time we try to do something right we get a lot of resistance. We also can draw on this to know that our Heavenly Father approved of our marriage and we are doing it right. Over the years our marriage has been easy and the outside world has brought a lot of challenges.<br /><br />Now 15 years later we are more in love then we ever thought possible. We have a great friendship and a passionate marriage. Kent is my love and i treasure all the time we have. No matter what trials we have faced nothing shakes the knowledge that we have a marriage blessed by our Heavenly Father. There is never a day that passes without me expressing my gratitude to Heavenly Father for the wonderful man I married.The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-59187569584929336062009-08-18T23:24:00.000-07:002009-08-18T23:31:13.296-07:00New BlogI got such a great response I have started the work to do this. It will be <a href="http://askthesciencenerd.blogspot.com/">http://askthesciencenerd.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />I am looking forward to the fun this could be. I have not posted anything yet but please send me any questions your kids, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, or you have and I will start the research and translation from the nerd jargon.<br /><br />I hope you all find it to be helpful I have some ideas to expand to other options but we will see how things go.The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-12129099798732887842009-08-16T17:01:00.000-07:002009-08-16T17:16:53.596-07:00New IdeasJust looking for opinions. I know most of the people reading this have a lot of opinions. I have been thinking about starting another blog. I want to start one that simplifies science for moms to help their kids in school and if they ask questions. I know that many moms and dads did not study science and this is always changing. I had been trying to help nephews with some stuff and could not find good resources. I am certainly not trying to profess that I am an expert in science or in education. I just want to see if I can help those who want to better educate their children and do not have the background to do so. I plan to take requests from parents/grandparents that are tying to help children with school and questions. Please let me know if you think this would be helpful to you or if you feel there are enough sources out there to work with already.<br />ThanksThe Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-83774105980797601042009-07-29T21:23:00.000-07:002009-07-29T21:25:14.404-07:00Clean your computer screenThis is a really great way to keep your computer screen clean from the inside.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf">http://www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf</a>The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-7176049296616033612009-07-26T14:32:00.001-07:002009-07-26T14:39:12.917-07:00Help the EnvironmentThis is for everyone that lives in Maricopa County. In order to help us get some grant money please go to this site and take the survey. This is contest to see what county gets the most votes. This will only take a few minutes <br /><br /><a href="http://drivesmarterchallenge.org/">http://drivesmarterchallenge.org/</a><br /><br />Thanks for your help.<br /><br />If you do not live in Maricopa County then check with your local county to see if they are participating. (but it better be a smaller county then here so that we are not competing head to head)The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-40000465569286791562009-07-06T18:45:00.000-07:002009-07-06T18:48:18.660-07:00Sunday's LessonOn Sunday it was my turn to teach the lesson in Relief Society and my topic was "Delight in Service and Good Works"<br /><br />I posted the following summary on the ward Relief Society page but since it is secured I also wanted to list it on my own blog so to share with others who are not members of my home ward.<br /><br /><br />Sunday there was a request for quotes used during the lesson to be posted. Most of the lesson was taken from Mary Ellen Smoot’s talk, “We Are Instruments in the Hands of God,” Ensign Jan 2001. There is where she listed 4 thing we can do to be better able to give service in a meaningful way.<br /><br />“So how do we do it? Amid the pressures of life, how do we become the most effective instruments we can be in the hands of the Lord?<br /><br /><br />Number 1. Our own conversion must come first.<br />Number 2. We must wax “strong in the knowledge of the truth”.<br />Number 3. Service is a key to being an effective instrument.<br />Number 4. Love must undergird everything we do.<br /><br />Here is the quote from President Uchtdorf that made an impact on me and I believe many of you as well.<br /><br />“In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair; let us feel the silent prayers of others around us, and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers.” Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Happiness, Your Heritage,” Ensign, Nov 2008.<br /><br /><br />I pray that each of us can be effective instruments in the Lord's hands and remember to be the answer to other prayers.The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-217406254419112542009-07-05T22:10:00.000-07:002009-07-05T22:25:09.820-07:00Just a little helpI have posted links to two websites that I would like everyone to visit. Both of these businesses are owned by people that I hold dear to my heart. This is a great way for me to help them be noticed. Word of mouth is the best marketing. <br /><br />* Papas Grow Sticks - This is a great product for anyone who moves a lot or is far from family. My dear friend and her husband make these great sticks that are portable to chart the growth of the children in our lives. Please take a minute and look at the site. I think you will find they are cute and fun.<br /><br />* Marie Wright Photography - She is a great photographer in Southern California. She can handle weddings, portraits and many other things. She also has some photos of Southern California temples that are artistically done. Marie has been a blessing in our lives for years and I love seeing what she has done with the talent she has.The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1922957734469366960.post-60852774359841573932009-06-17T22:14:00.000-07:002009-06-17T22:18:17.053-07:00Kent's cookingJust wanted to brag for a moment about Kent's cooking. We bought some pork (OK 17 pounds in more then some). We got it home and Kent ground up for sausage. He then mixed spices and made Hot Italian and 2 types of Chorizo. This turned out GREAT!!!The Nerdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10015585593064786588noreply@blogger.com1