Saturday, December 31, 2011

2012

Since starting the new year usually means contemplating change and trying to see hope and good in the new year, here are a few quotes to help us.
"It isn't what you have, or who you are, or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy. It is what you think about."
Dale Carnagie
You can never make the same mistake twice, because the second time you make it, its not a mistake, its a choice.”
“Quite often we change our jobs, friends and spouses instead of changing ourselves.”  Akbarali H. Jetha
"You will never change your life until you change something you do daily."  John C. Maxwell
"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot cange anything." George Bernard Shaw
"A ship ought not to be held by one anchor, nor life by a singe hope." Epictetus

"All human wisdom is summed up in two words - wait and hope." Alexander Dumas

Are you waiting and hoping like I am?

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

26th Annual Spiritual & Religious Art of Utah

Yesterday the kids and I went to the Springville Museum of Art's 26th Annual Spiritual & Religious Art of Utah Exhibition. There were so many beautiful pieces. I had a favorite last year (and am still kicking myself for not taking a photo of it), but this year I don't think I did.
This triptych shows the atonement, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ with just his hands. The artist is Jennifer Diane Gubler and the title is Galatians 2:20   
Mother & Child by Emily Ann Gordon
This is a very unique piece entitled Serrano de Christo is by Trevin Prince. He used resin and his own blood.
I just had to include this one just because of its title--Pondering by Catherine Darling Hostetter. Click on it to see it bigger and see the interesting old newspaper articles.
This piece Welcome to My World by Heather Barron reminds me of some paintings by my friend Elizabeth Sanchez, who I mentioned in this post.
Madonna Francesa: Remember My Son by Pedro Jose IbaƱez
The light was coming in through a window hitting Christ by David G. Dean.
This one is called "Beacause of Your Faith"-Elder Holland by Matthew Grant McNaughtan. It is based off of a part in Elder Holland's talk Because of Your Faith where he describes the faithful "osteoporotic couples who trundle off to the temple at 5:00 in the morning with little suitcases now almost bigger than they are". It called my attention because I love to see older couples together, especially hand in hand. Two people who have gone through so much together, have so many memories and suffered and celebrated together, and because of their faith, stuck together through it all.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Chicken Nachatta

Found this recipe at We Heart Food a while ago, put it in my file and finally made it tonight. Yummmmm! Tender chicken with a delicious flavor. It's easy to put together, but looks and tastes kinda fancy. I *heart* cranberries. I followed the directions except I used 100% cranberry/pomegranate juice in place of the Marsala.
Chicken Nachatta 
2 T. unsalted butter
1 c. thinly-sliced red onion
2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, (approx. 1 lb)
1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 T. olive oil
1 T. light brown sugar
1/4 c. chicken broth
3/4 c. Marsala wine (or cranberry juice)
1/2 c. sliced mushrooms
1/4 c. dried cranberries
1/4 c. heavy cream

Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the red onion and cook until tender and somewhat browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Coat the chicken breasts with the flour, patting to remove excess.

Add the olive oil to the skillet and heat to medium-high. Add the chicken breasts and brown, 1-2 mintues. Turn the chicken over, add the brown sugar to the skillet, and stir so that it melts. Add the chicken broth and boil until reduced by half, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the Marsala, mushrooms, onions, and dried cranberries. Bring to a boil, add the cream, and lower the heat to medium. Simmer until reduced by half and the chicken is cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes, turning once or twice. Season to taste with
salt and pepper.

Transfer to plates and top with the pan sauce.  

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Prayer of the Children

I have heard this beautiful, almost haunting, song many times over the years and I love it. I heard it again Sunday morning and I couldn't stop thinking about children. We all know the deplorable conditions that some children are forced to live in throughout the world. Every minute of their reality on earth is so different from ours.

The song is by Kurt Bestor, who I'm sure many of you have heard of. If you'd like some background on the song you can read it on his BLOG.

Prayer of the Children
Can you hear the prayer of the children?
On bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room
Empty eyes with no more tears to cry
Turning heavenward toward the light

Crying Jesus, help me
To see the morning light-of one more day
But if I should die before I wake,
I pray my soul to take

Can you feel the hearts of the children?
Aching for home, for something of their very own
Reaching hands, with nothing to hold on to,
But hope for a better day a better day

Crying Jesus*, help me
To feel the love again in my own land
But if unknown roads lead away from home,
Give me loving arms, away from harm

Can you hear the voice of the children?
Softly pleading for silence in a shattered world?
Angry guns preach a gospel full of hate,
Blood of the innocent on their hands

Crying Jesus*, help me
To feel the sun again upon my face,
For when darkness clears I know you're near,
Bringing peace again

Dali cujete sve djecje molitive?
(Croatian translation:
'Can you hear all the children's prayers?')

Can you hear the prayer of the children?
(Feel free to play the song while you read or to watch the video first before reading on.)


I have heard Kathy Headlee of Mothers Without Borders talk about how children in Uganda are forced to be "night commuters", walking miles every single night to a safe location where they will not be kidnapped from their homes and forced to join the military and kill their family and others.

I also heard Rebecca Douglas of Rising Star Outreach talk about how children who have parents with Leprosy in India are rejected from society.

I cannot imagine living with the challenges that so many children live with daily throughout the world. But my thoughts today are about the children right around us.

"The mothers of Helaman’s warriors lived in times not unlike our own. Their circumstances were difficult and dangerous, and youth were being called upon to defend physical and spiritual liberty. Today we live in a world where we “wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12)."
(If you are not familiar with the story of Helaman's warriors from the Book of Mormon, here is a
children's story version of it.)

The world really is difficult, dangerous, and full of darkness and our children need to be able to feel safe and loved. But many struggle. There are many children around us who need us. They are in our own backyards or in our homes. Some children come from "broken" homes and others have families who love them, but they have been through some trauma or have emotional challenges like low self-esteem, maybe even sickness or disablities that might make them feel different.

There are children whose lives we can touch. I am grateful for people around me who are such a good example. I have friends who have befriended children or teenagers and helped them feel loved. Some of my friends have had children who aren't their own live with them and have treated them like their own children. My children have primary, young men and young women leaders who care for them and get to know them. Right now, I am just trying hard to keep up with my own children with all that is happening in my life. But there is one girl I have on my mind who I'd like to get to know better and help her know how wonderful she is. So this is a challenge to me to hear the prayers of the children, to reach out to their hands and hearts.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Sadder

Crazy busy school week and finals are coming up in 2 weeks and I spend any extra time with my family, of course, so my blog is being so ignored. I do miss it and all of you!

Back in May I blogged about one of my favorite local singers, Nik Day. Remember that? Well, I saw him sing several months back and he sang a new song called "Sadder". He just released the video for that song so I gotta share it with you. It isn't his usual upbeat kinda song, but I like the catchy tune. I definitely didn't picture what the video looks like when I heard him sing it.

Hope you're having a great December.