Project night is here AGAIN!

Craft night is Nov. 4th. Come on over after you have voted. Let us know which projects you want to make and we will have it ready for you! FUN FUN FUN Anyone who wants to come is invited.

Each block is painted a different color and the has an embellishement and a letter to spell FAMILY. It is $15.00

This one is 12x12 and is $15.00

This one is $10.00

"The glass is half full" kinda gal.

I am really trying to find the silver lining in this election fiasco. I read a great article and for anyone who wants to spend some time reading click here-Fairness-

Teacher's Backlash to CTA

Marc spoke with his union rep. regarding the CTA donation and fuond out he can make a statement by requesting the portion of his dues that are used for political purposes to be refunded. My friend Natalie also called me this morning and told me of some of her family members who work in the education field and gave me a website that speaks to the issue. I don't advocate pulling your kids out of school however, as this really only hurts the local school and cuts their funding. It wouldn't impact the CTA but I do feel writing letters to the editor and also to the CTA is a wonderful way to let our voices be heard on this nasty little mistake.

No, no, no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't even believe this world. Marc has one of the most noble professions TEACHING, and therefore must belong to the union of SCUM. The CTA has made its second donation to the No on Prop. 8 organization - to the tune of 1 million dollars. (Last donation was $250,000.00)I hope you can hear me screaming no right now wherever you are. I have already contacted my brother the lawyer to see how we can withdraw from this union he is forced to belong to. It doesn't seem right that we as a family spend our time fighting for what we believe in and his union pours dollars in the exact wrong direction. Please know that it was the union and not the teachers who made this wonderful decision on how to spend the dues but oh that makes it even more despicable. For a link to the article see Candice Lynn's blog. I don't know how to link and I am shaking so bad right now I might send you to some militant group.

Fall into this!!!

Tuesday night we did a project night of fun. We were a little crafty and ate some treats. I made my favorite fall dessert and thought I would share the recipe for anyone wanting to bake on this blessed "cool down" weekend. The recipe is from Mandee's blog who shared it from Thanksgiving Point. It is amazing and I have finished off the pan all by myself one delicious piece at a time.


Fall's Best Pumpkin Bars
1 cup oil
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 tsp soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
32 oz pumpkin
2 tsp cinnamon
Mix oil, eggs, and sugar. Mix dry ing. together and then fold into wet. Add pumpkin(which now comes in 28 oz cans due to the shrinking packages of the canning factories of America)I used the 28 oz. can and it was still delicious. Pour into an ungreased 10 x 18 (cookie sheet sized with edges)pan and bake @ 325 for 25 minutes. Let cool (because if you don't the frosting will melt into the bars which only adds to the fabulous taste but it doesn't look neat and pretty and bakeryesque)and frost.
Frosting
8 oz cream cheese (softened)
1/2 cup butter (softened)
2 tbsp milk
1 tsp vanilla
4 c powdered sugar (1 lb)
Mix together to frost cake and lick your fingers well while frosting.
ENJOY

THE FIRST LETTER

Okay for all you moms who have already sent out a missionary it's official"We are crazy". When Marc brought in the mail I chased him around the house trying to grab the letter from him. He wouldn't give it to me but did let me sit on his lap so I could read it while he did. I thought I would die waiting for it. It has only been a week but it seems like a year that he has been gone. Even Mason at the table keeps commenting on how weird, quiet, lonely our house is without our fearless stud brother. I knew I would miss him but seriously everyday. Don't worry all my letters to him are encouraging and uplifting. I feel encouraged and uplifted myself with the spirit which is the only way I am handling this. So when you ask me how I'm doing if my answer is anything but "dying inside" know that I am lying. I hear it gets better. For those of you who haven't sent your sons yet- love them and -hug them and -kiss them even if they push you away. I am so grateful for this chance to let the Lord have my son for two years but know that I am also grateful for a testimony that lets me do so. I love this gospel and conference was of course exactly perfect for me. As President Monson admonished, I am living for today and cherishing this chance to have a son serving a mission but when the next 720 tomorrows are over there will be a major party at Southwick!!!
Okay for all of you who care- here is the condensed version of the letter.
His companion didn't arrive until 7 pm the first night so he was totally freaked out. His companion is like a physicist so Jordan's not sure they will hang out on the gym floor together but he says and I quote "I love him so much already" He said he walked around the first day and couldn't quit smiling all day. He had heard the second day was the hardest but he is a pretty happy guy so I'm betting he walks around for 2 months with a big smile on his face. He addressed our letter "Dear Familia" and said gracias so he thinks he is an expert at the language. I do pray every day that he will have the blessings promised to him in his Patriarchal blessing regarding his ability to learn things. He had only two minutes to write us as he still needed to read his scriptures. He also asked for the little game things to remember Scripture Mastery. Life is GOOD!

Too Much Fun

My sister in law Jaime and I had planned on taking a cake decorating class. The classes keep being filled when we check to sign up so we decided it can't be that hard and we would give it a shot. I have logged over 50 hours watching ace of cakes so I thought we could at least try one. We started with baked cakes at 10 in the morning. We didn't finish until 4 in the afternoon so we definitely aren't fast but we had a blast doing it. I have to say we were happy with the end result. It was for her daughter Taylor's birthday and she was thrilled so that made it even more enjoyable. I figure I have until June for Courtney's wedding and by then I will know if it is something we can conquer or not.

Sorry, me again.

Okay I promised myself I would write about something besides my missionary but since the football game was so painful last night I could not blog about it sooo here we are again. Marc called after the priesthood session of conference to tell me that the choir was composed of missionaries form the MTC. Of course Jordan jus arrived so he wouldn't have been singing but it opened the heart again to the crazy pain of missing my son. Candice told me today "don't cry he is happy and busy" to which I replied "oh, I am not crying for him it is all about me". Those are words a mother should never utter. I think somewhere in the mother handbook it says that we should think of our children first before ourselves. No wonder math is my favorite subject. I am excited though that as I listen to conference our missionary is also doing that exact same thing. Oh but they probably sing all the songs at the MTC and not use it for snack time. I do love conference and a temple in Italy. Oh that is a beautiful thing for the saints and missionaries in Europe.

No Tears

Okay he is there! There are a couple of neat stories that have already happened to the missionary. His Uncle Michael had told Jordan that he gave away a book on his way to his mission. Jordan took a "blue book" just in case he had the opportunity to share the gospel. After a flight delay and another bout of tears our sweet boy boarded the airplane for his mission. I(Linda) was already panicked as the Kern County Sheriff dept. had brought in a handcuffed and shackled prisoner who was being extradited to Colorado. Mom's have the ability to make everything into a big deal and that is exactly what I did. The prisoner would take over the plane and blah-blah-blah. Marc laughed and told me have faith. So he arrives at the airport for his layover in San Francisco. He will be in the terminal for 2 hours so he sits in the middle of a row and tells himself he will have a gospel conversation with whoever sits next to him. He sits and sits by himself and then notices this man running through the terminal frantically. He is pulling beautiful Louis Vuitton bag (yes my son is a fashion expert) and carrying a polka-dot handbag. Jordan said he knew that this was the man (not voting yes on prop 8)who would soon be sitting next to him. The guy ran to the counter and was told that he had not missed his flight as it had been delayed. He then of course walked over and sat down next to the handsome missionary. Jordan said the whole time they were sitting next to each other he couldn't even open his mouth because he was holding his laughter in at the irony of the situation. Well he decided I will try again on the airplane. He gets on the airplane and is seated next to a middle-aged gentleman. Jordan starts talking to him and the man says he is flying to Salt Lake on business. As they get further into the conversation, the man tells Jordan that he will be meeting his son on Wed. to take him into the MTC. Well- Paul Harvey moment- that was Monday and today when Jordan goes into the MTC and sits down in the chapel there sitting next to him once again is Brother Morrison from the airplane. As missionaries enter the MTC at different times this was a pretty coll experience that they would both be in the same session to enter the MTC. Before Courtney took Jordan in they went out to lunch with G and G Nichols. They went to Toucan which is a Brazilian BBQ joint. It just so happens that missionaries eat free there which is good because he only took his suggested money in cash. The waiter said oh there is another missionary here that is going in today. Later during the lunch this missionary came by and said did you say you are going to Paraguay? Jordan said yes I am and the other missionary is going------------yes, Paraguay. Cool experiences to know of the Lord's tender mercies. Oh and thank you to Pam and Robin for the flowers. That one did bring some tears. I am ready for this journey ahead. Only 729 until our missionary is home. I know the 729 days will bring amazing blessings into the lives of the people Jordan serves and into our families life as well.