I have an opinion

I have an opinion.  I have hesitated to give any opinions on my blog other than testimony, but I am going to speak out on this one.  It is possible I am taking myself and the situation too seriously, but this is how I feel about it and I want to say something.

I have attached a link to a prayer said this past weekend at a Nascar event.  My husband, (a non member and rabid Nascar fan) showed me the video last weekend.  He was so impressed and amused.  I attempted to explain to him how offensive this was to me, but I am not nearly eloquent enough to put my feelings into words.  The fact that a public prayer from one who should be in authority would be such a casual display of attention seeking and self promotion is more than shameful in my eyes. 

I had pretty much let it go and almost forgotten about it completely until earlier this evening when I was watching a show called Trackside on Speed channel.  One of the hosts of this show is named Jeff "Hollywood" Hammond.  He is a former crew chief for Darrell Waltrip, and is an authority on all things Nascar.  I am usually a good fan of "Hollywood", but cannot support him this time I'm afraid.  Mr. Hammond had this preacher on the show and was applauding him for "getting religion out there" and making it fun and casual.  Really Jeff??  Really????

Decide for yourself. 

Essentially wordless Wednesday

Okay, so my name's Wednesday and I'm almost never wordless, so I feel I am obligated to at least attempt something sassy. 

I am no longer in the above pictured Relief Society Presidency.  I have now been called to serve as 2nd counselor in the Young Women's Presidency.  I super duper miss these sisters!

P.S.--Yes, my name is actually Wednesday.
          No, I was not  born on a Wednesday.
          No, I do not know why my parents named me that.  I asked them.  They don't seem to know either.

A story about tithing

Just a few words about tithing and how my testimony of  this gospel principle was strengthened yet again today. 

I have always, always, always struggled with paying my tithing.  It just always seemed such a hardship before.  I'm not sure why.  I have searched and searched within myself to try and discover why this has always been such a hard principle for me (I tend to over analyze my own behaviors--it's a flaw--I'm working on it).  I have never been able to pinpoint what the issue is.

I was inactive in the church for a while and when I came back and re earned my temple recommend, I promised myself I would  never be without it again.  So--I pay tithing.  No matter what, because I never ever ever want to not be able to go to the temple. 

However, when you keep a commandment, you receive blessings.  So along the way, when I was just doing what I had to do to be able to go to the temple, I started gaining this testimony of tithing.  It's really amazing.  We struggle financially quite a bit at times and particularly the past year or two, and I just kept praying.  "I know I'm paying tithing, I know you'll make sure we have what we need."  And we always do, but almost never in the way I envision or think it will happen.  For instance, when we are short on gas money, someone we give a ride to will fill the tank up for us.  When I have committed to drive to the temple (a nearly $100 expense for the driver), another sister didn't want to do without a/c and volunteered to drive instead so instead of costing $100, the trip only cost me $20--my share of contribution for gas.  When we are short on grocery moneys, we have lots more leftovers than usual and are able to make the food we have last tons longer than it should have.  When we have a new medical debt, the administration reviews our account, and since it has been always in good standing with no payments missed, they agree to tack on the newly acquired debt to the end of our current payment plan instead of doubling our medical expense each month.

The list goes on and on.  Does a check appear in our mailbox or fall from the sky???  Never.  But nonetheless, our Heavenly Father makes double sure that we have everything we could possibly need and then some.  I wasn't even working on my testimony of tithing, I was just trying to retain my temple recommend, and here we are, with a wondrous gift that was once again never expected.

Heavenly Father Loves Me

Almost Wordless Wednesday

Storm damage July 19, 2011
We had the storm of the year (I hope) last night and I am grateful our home withstood the storm quite gracefully!  The link above is to a gallery of photos in the local paper, and below is one for you troll lovers out there!  Enjoy!!

P.S.--I despise trolls.  They creep me out.  See previous post here.

Random thoughts

1)  Why do boys put garbage on the counter above the garbage can instead of in the garbage can?  Or dirty dishes on the counter by the sink instead of in the sink? 

2)  Why do other drivers cut you off and then slow down?

3)  Today at work, a customer put me on hold promptly after I answered my phone, only to return and give me the third degree because they got a collection letter when their bill wasn't paid?  I "held" for that????

4)  I've never been a bridesmaid.  Sad.  I think it would be super fun.  And you get a new dress!

5)  Why do we have to get dressed up for work?  We just sit at our desk all day.

6)  Sometimes change can be good, bad, scary, and wonderfully exciting all at the same time.

7)  Why do I still second guess myself when I've already received several spiritual confirmations??? 

8)  Why is practicing the piano easy, but so hard to sit down and start???

9)  Why do I hate getting wet?  Am I secretly the Wicked Witch of the West?  And if so, how come I'm not getting any royalties from that book and broadway musical written about my life???  Maybe they don't have my correct mailing address.

10)  Why do I like to eat things other people think are weird?  Like spaghetti in a tortilla like a burrito, or fried eggs on top of ramen noodles, or boiled cabbage with smoked sausage.

11)  How long do you have to read scriptures every day before you can quote them in Gospel Doctrine?  I'm going on 25 years (for the most part) and still can't do it.  I remember the story, and what I learned, but none of the names or the reference.  That has to be some sort of disability.

12)  I never, ever, ever, ever want to live in a big city again.  Or even a medium sized one.

13)  I love my job and find the work fulfilling.  But sometimes it gets so tedious and boring to me that I want to unbend paper clips and jab them into my eyeballs.

14)  Okay--done for now.

Firebolt - BYU's Divine Comedy

I've learned a couple new things about cauliflower

I have recently discovered some interesting food allergies that have caused a dramatic increase in the amount and type of vegetables I am eating.  A good friend told me this past weekend that you can boil and serve cauliflower "mashed potato style".  With a family full of men who refuse to eat most vegetables, I decided right then and there to give it a try.

My friend advised me to "boil it until it's dead".  So, since I was planning on serving it with pork chops, I put it in to start boiling before I started prepping the meat, thinking it would take until I was about 100 years old.  Well---it was ready before I even got the meat into the pan.  I thought to myself, "it's probably like potatoes where you can boil them a few extra minutes and it doesn't hurt anything."  It hurts something.  I lifted the lid and it was covered with steamed cauliflower goo.  YUCK!!

I quick and drained and smashed the rest of it.  It turned out quite nicely, even though it took me a while to get the salt and pepper right. 

Just another adventure in the kitchen!  If you remember this post,  I did warn you this sort of thing happens all the time!

Photo courtesy of http://www.recipetips.com/

How to be a good chauffeur

1)  Volunteer to drive
2)  Tell people who want to go to the Temple that you're willing to drive.
3)  Send an email reminding everyone that your vehicle has no a/c, so they can be prepared for that.
4)  Send another email reminding everyone that you take a sack lunch so that you  can get home earlier.
5)  Send another email reminding everyone that the other sister who volunteered to drive actually can't go.
6)  Ask your husband to check the oil in the "g" van.
7)  Fill "g" van up with gas.

YAY!!!  Going to the temple on Saturday!!

Be there or be square!!

A surprise recipe

This past weekend, a friend gave me some rutabagas that someone had given them from their garden.  I had tasted them before and knew that I pretty much liked them so I brought them home.  The internet said that you can boil them up and serve them just like mashed pertaters, soooooo I boiled and boiled and boiled and put them in a bowl and dumped some sour cream in to make the mashed pertaters as I suspected my very "i don't like spicy food" husband would object to the stronger taste. 

What the internet didn't tell me was that the texture and consistency is very different than a potato.  I ended up with something waaaayyy too saucy to be mashed pertaters, but it tasted pretty yummy, so I dumped it on our plates alongside some sour cream and onion chips and called it dip.

I thought it was fabulous!  I'm actually not supposed to eat sour cream as it makes me quite ill, but had only a few bites and so far, so good.  However, when I asked my husband if he liked it, he didn't even pretend--the answer was a resounding NO!  Oh well, guess I'm not adding rutabagas to the list of things to grow in the garden next year!

Picture courtesy of faqs.org

Those of you that know me well will not be surprised by this story <smile>.  Those of you who do not know me well, this story is a typical "Wendyism".  Stuff like this happens to me all the time. :)

I miss her already

This past week I've had my fabulous daughter Jessica here with me all week.  Actually, she was here a week, home/Youth Conference for a week, and then here this past week.  That's tons more time than I usually get to spend with her.  Now she has gone off back to her dad's (and honestly, it's about his turn) and I'm hopelessly sad.  I've been on vacation from work this past week, so it's been all Jessica, all the time. 

I also just received a text message from my husband and he and my two stepsons are staying in LaCrosse tonight, so I'll be all alone all night.

Think I'll put in Anne of Green Gables and have myself a good, cleansing cry!

Brightness Acuity Test

I went to the eye doctor yesterday.  Now, this is usually a tremendously traumatic event for both me and Dr. Scoresby because I have some "issues" with people and things be in and around or touching my face.  This year was much better as I was actually able to allow him to hold my eye open for one of the tests.  However, evidently there is something weird about my left eye.  So, since the specific test I need (brightness acuity test) must be done when your eyes are NOT dilated, and mine were dilated when he discovered I needed the test, I have to go back.  Now my eye feels all weird cuz I know there's something funny going on with it.  Your brain is a powerful organ!  Wish me luck!

Dr. Scoresby--he's not nearly as scary as he looks (ha ha) He's actually not scary at all and his voice is very soothing.

 Here's a diagram of the eye.  Did you know your eye is filled with a "gelatinous substance"?  Reminds me of the movie "Overboard" where she calls the caviar gelatinous muck.  Wonder if it's the same kind of stuff.