a testimony

This past Sunday, I was given the opportunity to share my testimony briefly in Sacrament Meeting. I want to remember the things I said, and the feelings I had, so I'd like to share a few of the notes I jotted down here, if you don't mind:


My heart is full of gratitude today for my good husband and for his willingness to serve. Gratitude for the stretching and growing that our family will surely experience along with his new calling*. I am thankful because I know that in that growth, we will be blessed.

Our Heavenly Father has created a plan for each of us to return to live with Him. His plan requires work and dedication and discipline, but in that work there are great blessings and much happiness. I have seen this in my own life, and I know it to be true.

I bear testimony that because of our Savior, Jesus Christ, I can be forgiven when I fall short. And because of His sacrifice, I can be with my family again. Nothing brings me more joy than this knowledge.


*A calling is an opportunity to serve in the church. We believe that these callings come from God. They can be anything from playing the piano during our meetings, to teaching a sunday school class, or in Mike's case, serving in the Bishopric (or the leadership) of our congregation.

It has only been a few days now, and I already feel those blessings pouring down from heaven onto our family. Our home has been a peaceful place since the call came last week, and I've seen a greater focus on the things that are most important in Mike and in myself. These are the blessings of service. They are real, and I am grateful for the opportunity.

on my not-green thumb

Do you like to garden? I've never been very good at it. I keep waiting for the urge to take hold in me, but it hasn't happened yet. And so really, I have no idea what I am doing, and I don't care to learn at the moment. It is purely luck then, that the pots on my front porch are still alive. This is the longest they have lasted, and I am so happy about it. It's the watering- I can never figure it out. And with summer on it's way (this weekend, probably!) things aren't going to last much longer. Goodbye curb appeal! See you next winter.

Benjamin

He's here! He's here! Benjamin Peter was born last Friday evening to my little sister, Julianne, and her dear husband, Toni. He is chubby and perfect, and already adored by so many. Hooray!

Baby steps until July when I can squeeze him.

naps and overdue babies, and some nice weather, too

I realized this week that my life was seriously lacking in naps. I used to be really good at napping, but somewhere along the way, I started skipping them and putzing around the house, or sewing instead. That was a mistake. I am a much happier, more productive person when I take a little nap. So I've resumed them, when I can, and I feel fantastic. Turns out I wasn't hungry or busy or overwhelmed. I was just tired.

Other exciting news: It's going to be nice this weekend! Not too hot. Chilly, even. Oh, I can't tell you how much I appreciate nice weather after a few days of summer-like heat. I have big plans to spend all of Saturday outside.

My entire family is on pins and needles right now, waiting for my little sister to give birth to her first baby. He is overdue and we are anxious. Plus, she is so very far away (she lives in England), so we feel extra concerned, I think. Come on baby Weis! We are ready for you!

I hope it's going to be nice wherever you are this weekend, too. Cheers!

Chocolate Quinoa Cake

Isn't that the craziest thing you've ever heard? I was really skeptical when I saw the recipe, but I am here to tell you that chocolate quinoa cake is real and it is delicious. And you can't even tell that it's made with quinoa instead of all-purpose flour. I promise. Granted, it's been a while since I've had regular chocolate cake, so I'm not sure how it would hold up in a side by side taste test, but I thought it was really good.

You can find the recipe here.

My notes: I baked the cake in a 9x13 pan. It sounded like it was going to be sort of fragile, and I didn't want to have to worry about layers crumbling. It ended up being sturdier than I thought, but I am still glad I went with a sheet cake. (I baked it for the recommended round-pan-30 minutes and it was just right.) I used regular whole milk, and regular butter in place of the Earth Balance. I knew the frosting was going to be plenty sweet, so I cut the sugar in half, and only used half a cup of regular granulated sugar (in the whole cake!). Make sure you have cooked the quinoa ahead of time, as it is supposed to be cool when you add it to the batter, and you're not going to want to wait for it.

And now some notes on the frosting: the frosting! Oh man, I wanted to eat the entire bowl with a spoon. It was so, so good. I used one full can of coconut cream (Sprouts brand, with no added sweeteners) and 10 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips. I refrigerated the coconut cream for a few hours, but not overnight since I didn't think there would be anything to separate out like there would have been if I had used the coconut milk called for in the recipe. Once I melted them together on the stove, I refrigerated the mixture until it was firm, making sure to take a swipe with my finger (or a spoon) every time I opened the fridge. When I was ready to frost the cake, I whipped the cream for a minute with a hand mixer. Here's the thing, it is more like a heavy whipped cream than a thick frosting, and that is just fine. But that's one reason why I am glad I made a sheet cake and not a layer cake. I think the frosting would have oozed right out of the layers. The consistency of the frosting didn't bother me because it tasted SO good. It has a very slight coconutty flavor. It is so slight that even if coconut isn't your thing, you would probably like it. I still can't believe it only has two ingredients. It couldn't be simpler. Just make sure to keep your cake in the fridge.

Have you ever made this cake before? Do you think you'd like to try it?


Thanks to my friend, Jill, for passing this recipe along to me.

Easter review

I love Easter because despite what the world tries to tell me, it is purely a holy holiday. It is about hope and redemption, forgiveness and mercy. It is about Jesus Christ, and His atonement and resurrection. It is about being with our loved ones after this life is over. In other words, it is about joy.

We had a nice, slow Sunday, spent with our little family and Mike's parents. Of course there was an egg hunt and plenty of chocolate, but most importantly, there was peace and so much love.

It was the best start to a new week. Happy Monday!

Easter anticipation

We are starting this Easter weekend off right with a day off of school. Hooray! We don't have any plans today, but we are hoping to attend the Easter Pageant at the Mesa Temple tonight. If you are local, you should come!

I love Easter. It fills me with hope and peace. I know that because Jesus Christ came to earth and suffered and died for me, then when I make a mistake, I can try again. And because of Him, I can live with my family after this life. Nothing brings me more joy than my little family, and the thought that we can be bound together forever is so important to me.

I really like this little video:

Here's another quick video about how Jesus Christ is the way back to our Heavenly Father. This woman's story is really powerful.

I hope you feel the hope of this Easter season in your own life this weekend and always. Have a happy one.

headaches and water

It's warming up here in the desert. Blerg. This week has been nice, actually, but last week was much too hot for early April. I noticed I was ending each day with a headache, and I was fairly certain that dehydration was the culprit. Increasing my water intake became my goal. Sometimes you need something new and pretty for motivation, so Elliot and I braved a trip to Target (that of course ended in tears for Elliot, and a few extra things we "needed" in the cart) and bought this cup. It holds 20 ounces of water, and I think I filled it up at least 5 times yesterday. It felt really good.

We still have a few lemons left on our tree, so sometimes I stick a lemon slice in there. I don't know if I believe them all, but here are 11 benefits of drinking lemon water.

quinoa

A few months ago I discovered a mysterious grain in my pantry. After a quick google image search, I was happy to see that it was quinoa. I had only eaten quinoa a few times before, and I was anxious to try cooking it for myself.

It turns out that it is super easy. I found this post to be particularly informative. (I use broth for the liquid.)

I made a batch this morning to keep in the fridge and use for my lunch for the next few days. I'll probably do a variation on this recipe for quinoa with black beans and corn each day. I have a few avocados that are threatening to go bad, so I better dice them up asap. Cold, warm, plain, wrapped up in a tortilla, I've found Elizabeth's recipe to be delicious each way.

Do you have a favorite quinoa dish? I'd love to try some others.

summer heat, late nights, and some pretty light

Oh man, am I ever ready for the weekend. This past week has felt particularly long and much too hot. We had temperatures near 100, and they completely wiped me out. I am hoping for a cooling trend. Even if it's just to the upper 80s. I'll take it!

Mabel is planning a late night with some friends tonight. Do you do late nights? We have a no-sleepover rule, along with everyone else around here, it seems, so late nights are a thing. One of her friends has never seen Studio C (and I am pretty sure her parents are even BYU alum, so it is extra shocking!). Obviously a Studio C marathon is on the agenda. My kids love that show.

I sort of never have a reason to go down to the basement while the kids are at school, so when I popped down there to put clean sheets on the girls' beds the other afternoon, the pretty light in their room stopped me in my tracks. I am a sucker for pretty light. I'll admit that once the sheets were back on the beds, I laid down for a minute and soaked it up.

Have a nice weekend!

on sibling friendship

I couldn't resist snapping a picture of my two matching boys last night. They might be five years apart in age, but they are good friends already. I'm so glad. This is what I have decided lately: more than wanting my children to need me, I want them to need each other.

From time to time, Mike and I leave them, to go running, or out on a date, or even just to the grocery store. When we do this, I hope we are teaching them two important things: that our relationship as husband and wife comes first, and that they can rely on each other.

Maybe we are just lucky that they all get along so well so much of the time. But we make a conscious effort have lots of time with just our little family, too. We play with each other more than with other friends, they share teeny rooms, etc. I think if we can help them solidify those sibling friendships now, then we will be giving them such a wonderful gift. I know I treasure the relationships I have with my own siblings. I want my children to have that, too.

p.s. Happy Sibling Day! Who knew that was even a thing.

a slightly healthier banana bread

Sometimes I'm in the mood for a classic white banana bread. And sometimes I am trying not to eat too much sugar, so I want a banana bread that's a little bit healthier. Something with whole wheat, maybe even some oats. I had a few bananas looking sad and spotted sitting on my counter, so I started looking for a recipe that included coconut oil, flax seed meal, whole wheat flour, and oats. I found lots of recipes that had one or two of those things, but nothing seemed exactly right.

So I threw caution to the wind and I winged it. I never do that in the kitchen. It is not one of my talents. I used a little of one recipe, and a little of another, and then I added a bit of cinnamon. What I ended up with was a squat little loaf, but it was so moist and delicious, with a crunchy crust and just the right amount of sweetness inside. I am pretty sure I'll make this one next time I have over ripe bananas hanging around. Elliot and I thought it was just right. The real test will be whether or not the other kids gobble it up after school today, though. But I have a feeling they will.

A Healthier Banana Bread

In a medium bowl, whisk together these dry ingredients:

1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1/4 cup flax seed meal
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

In a different medium bowl, mash up 2-3 very ripe bananas. Then add these wet ingredients:

2 eggs
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 40-45 minutes.

Makes one loaf.

I know there are so many banana bread recipes out there. Do you have a favorite?

Conference weekend is the best weekend.

When I was little, conference weekend seemed to stretch on forever. But now, I can hardly believe it when the final session has ended. I would happily sit through another day or two. The peaceful feeling in my home and the absence of outside distractions during this weekend make it so special. On Saturday, I looked around the room, at my little family, with the spirit so palpable from the words being spoken on the tv, and I thought my heart would burst. Oh, it was just what I needed! It always is.

I've been mulling the talks over in my mind, and I listened again to my favorites as I went about my housework this morning. These are the ones that really stuck out to me:

Elder Holland always bears such a powerful witness. My favorite quote: "Defend your beliefs with courtesy and with compassion, but defend them." Also, "Pure Christlike love, flowing from true righteousness, can change the world."

In one of my favorite talks, Elder Uchtdorf spoke about gratitude. "Gratitude is a disposition, a way of life, that stands independent of our current situation," he said. Instead of being thankful for things, we should focus on being thankful in our circumstances. Another good quote: "How much of life do we miss by waiting to see the rainbow before thanking God that there is rain."

Perhaps my most favorite of all, though, was Elder Bednar's talk on how it is our "load" or our burdens, or what we choose to burden ourselves with, that bring us back to Christ. "Sometimes we mistakenly may believe that happiness is the absence of a load. But bearing a load is a necessary and essential part of the plan of happiness." Am I burdening myself with a load that will increase my spirituality, or is it simply distracting me from the things that matter most? He went on to speak about the Savior and His atonement. It was really wonderful.

Some honorable mentions:

Elder Packer said, "The ultimate end of all activity in the church is that a man and his wife and their children can be happy at home." Sometimes I feel like as a member of the church, so much is required of me, at times maybe too much. But really, everything that I do for the church is so that my family can be happy at home. I know this is true. He also spoke to those who have yearned for marriage and family and whose dreams haven't yet been realized.

Elder Perry said, "The time in which my grandfather lived was a simpler time, especially regarding the choices between right and wrong. . . I am of the frame of mind that today's complexity demands greater simplicity." Yes! Despite how complex the world might be now, what we need are simple, solid truths. He focused on listening to the holy ghost, faith, and obedience. "Our faithfulness through obedience will ultimately rescue us." Another great quote: "Someone who is all wrapped up in himself makes a very small package." Loved that one.

And if you've ever been curious about how our church began, Elder Corbridge gave a great summary. He spoke about the restoration of the Gospel, and the organization of the church in these latter days. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this one, especially if you are not a member of our church.

It was a really nice, slow, quiet kind of weekend. And I have a renewed desire to hold fast to the covenants I have made with my Father in Heaven, to be the wife, mother, and woman that He knows I can be.

weekend plans and a big thank you

Phew! We made it. It's the weekend! And General Conference weekend at that. My big plans include: not budging an inch from the couch and soaking up as much inspiration from our church leaders as I can. This weekend only happens twice a year, and I so look forward to it. It seems like I am always in need of a little uplift and wisdom by the time it comes around again, and Conference provides those in abundance. Let's meet back here next week to discuss our favorite talks, ok?

I owe you all quite a bit of thanks for your nice comments here on my blog always, and on my guest post this week over on Clover Lane. Your support means so much to me. Thank you! I have felt nothing but love and acceptance here and I am so grateful. I wish we could all meet for lunch.

I snapped that picture during Elliot's morning cuddle yesterday. Of all of my children, he has required the most affection. Do you think it's because he knows he's my last? He gets to hang on to the title of baby for a lot longer than anyone else and he is taking full advantage of it. Thank goodness.

Here's a little blurb about Conference:

Have a good weekend!

coming home

I am reminiscing about my decision to stay home with my children over at Sarah's blog today. I am so glad that Sarah asked me to share my story. It is always in the writing (and sharing) that my beliefs are re-solidified. I have a renewed desire to be present at home, and that feels really right.

Thank you Sarah!