Thursday, April 26, 2012

Journey To The Gym




My journey to the gym has ended for a while.  I had to buy other important things instead of renewing my membership.  That's ok since the weather has been great and I really like to go walking outside early in the morning.  I did learn some new lessons last month.  One of them was purchasing quality exercising shoes.  JC Penny's had a good sale on Women's Nike running shoes so I bought a pair of Nike Reax 6 for $60.00.  They have the mechanical heal cushioning system that provides superior cushioning and stability.  They are lightweight, comfortable and stylish!
The back of my ankles have been bothering me so I hope these shoes work out.
I've also decided not to go back to the school kitchen next fall.  It's been a great experience but the physical work is just not what I was looking for.
I'll miss my new friends that I've worked with these last nine months.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Easter Sunday and Jessie




Jessie was born on an Easter Sunday right after the first session of General Conference.  In fact Doctor Gammet came into the room to watch the last thirty minutes of conference while I was crying my eyes out.  Not because of pain, it was  the beautiful song the Tabernacle Choir was singing. My hormones were all out of whack and I couldn't stop crying. After the prayer the doctor said, "Lets push this baby out"!  Jes came an hour later.




Her birth was a little scary because I didn't hear her cry at first.  After a good smack on the buttocks I knew she had vocal chords but they still rushed her off.  The nurses did the same with Jac when he was born so I panicked.  The nurse came back informing me that she was fine they just needed to do more test concerning her blood.  Apparently my blood started attacking hers during the birthing process.
The next day Doctor Slingerland our great pediatrician visited my room to tell me my baby had Positive Coombs.  He said I had a rare blood type,  D mosiac. Which I was never told before.  Needless to say GW and I became very humble and scared.  If our babies bilyrubin did not go down within the week she would have to have a blood transfusion.  Her name was put on the temple prayer list and extended family began a fast.  We took her home after four days but she would have to stay in a suit case with lights to help her jaundice.



GW took her to the hospital twice a day for one week to have her blood tested. In a short period of time Jes recovered and grew into the cutest baby you ever saw.



When Jessie was little she loved to smile and pull faces at people who sat behind us in church.  I don't remember her crying very often unless she had an ear infection.




When she was two she got a big plastic ball for her birthday. When we gave it to her she started dribbling the ball for a long time.  My mom was so impressed that a two year old could dribble a ball so well.  When Jessie turned four her brother got a basketball for his birthday and she went to town dribbling that ball as well only outside.  Again, my mom was so amazed of her talent that I'm glad we got it on video.


First birthday party with neighborhood friends.

As Jessie got older we signed her up for soccer and she played a great goalie.



I also signed her up with the BYU Childrens Creative Dance Department when she turned five. She really seemed to enjoy it so she stayed with the organization until she was thirteen.



During her thirteenth year we almost lost our Jessie. Once again we really had to rely on our Heavenly Father to get us through a stressful time. Jessie had a very serious ruptured appendix where the infection had spread throughout her body. The surgery was much longer then what we were told it would be.  After about four months of frail health and being home schooled she was able to recover from the danger zone, we were very grateful.  She still has complications due to scar tissue but thanks to modern medicine we are able to stay on top of the situation.
Music is probably one of her favorite things. It's nice hearing her sing around the house and playing beautiful songs on the piano.




Jessie continues to love life and enjoy her many activities at school with her friends. 

We are so blessed to have her in our family.
Happy Birthday Jess!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Two Minutes Alone

Redhead
     Back in 1974 I was in the chorus of my first high school musical.  The play was called, "The Red Head." What's ironic is that it's a rare murder mystery musical about a nice girl named Essie and a cold blooded killer.  My good friend was the lead, and we were just sophomores.  She didn't have red hair, but she had a cute red wig that looked great on her.
     On the night of November 8th, I was getting ready to go on stage.  I was alone out in the hall next to the girls dressing room.  I had been told that the very popular Mr. Burningham from Bountiful High drama department, may be watching our play.  While I was dancing and singing in the hall, out came a handsome man dressed in a dark navy suit with dark wavy hair from the auditorium.  I thought to myself, maybe that could be Mr. Burningham. The handsome man started looking around not paying any attention to me.  He looked as if he were looking for someone and walked right past me to get a drink of water at the nearby drinking fountain.  The odd thing was I was the only one out in the hall.  He kept looking down other halls even though no one was around.  I didn't feel uncomfortable, in-fact I was hoping he was paying attention to my singing so I could be in one of his Bountiful Community plays.
I finally went back to the dressing room to tell my friend that I thought Mr. Burningham was out looking around for someone.  When I described what the man looked like, my friend said that wasn't Mr. Burningham.
      The play was a success and everyone went home to sleep.  Everyone that is except for  seventeen year-old Debra Kent.  She had come to watch the play and never made it back home.  I didn't find out about it until I attended my modern dance class the next day. Debra was supposed to be in my dance class but was not there.   One of the girls had told me that she may have been kidnapped the night before.
     The next thing I knew, two police officers came and got me out of class and took me to the principals office.  They asked me questions about the man I saw out in the hall during the play.  Apparently, this same man tried to get my dance teacher, who was watching the play, to go outside and hold a flashlight  for him while he fixed his flat tire.  She told him no.
    A police artist came into the principals office and asked my dance teacher and I to describe in detail what the dark haired man in the dark suit looked like.  I must have been there for a few hours.
Everyone felt really sad for the Kent family.  Debra Kent was never found and it wasn't until years later that I got a good look at the man with dark wavy hair.  He was on national television and his name was Ted Bundy.  He was on trial for murdering several young women in Florida.  I recognized him right away.  I felt a little sick inside and was glad that he had been caught.
     I think to myself, "Why didn't he come after me?"  It may have been because I was in costume and was making a fool of myself.  Or, maybe, it just wasn't my time to go. In any case, my two minutes alone with Ted Bundy were quite enough.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Hummus is a great alternative to calorie-filled dips!

U


Another new food the Provo School District has been trying this year is hummus.  I was skeptical at first but as lunch ladies we always sit down together and eat lunch before we serve the kids.  Some of the cooks were eating red pepper hummus with their veggies. Comes frozen and already pre-made, we just have to thaw it out the day before.
My friend Pam also mentioned to me about making hummus at home with a food processor.  Once she made some for J#4 and it tasted great!  


At school we serve it at least every other week with a finger salad that includes carrots, celery, and jicama. Which is another new veggie I've never tried before until this year.


The stores sell hummus but it's pretty expensive, so I'm going to share a recipe that Pam gave me with a little extra of my own ingredients.


First you have to find this interesting ingredient called Tahini. It can be found in most grocery stores. Just think peanut butter, only made with sesame seeds.


 I don't have a food processor so I use a blender.



Red Pepper Hummus

1 garlic clove minced
1 15 ounce can of garbanzo beans or chick-peas, drained
1/4 cup tahini
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup roasted peppers
few dashes of cumin and cayenne pepper
drizzle of olive oil
optional 1/2 chopped onion and a 1/2 cup of plain yogurt

For a change you use the same recipe but delete the red pepper and add an avocado.


It's not only good but healthier then the sour cream dips.
You can spread it on sandwiches as well.


Enjoy and let me know what you think.