Grace

GRACE

   Did you know that the Messenger of Grace is the Holy Ghost?

All the power comes thru the Holy Ghost, like Priesthood blessing.

I guess I really did not know very much about Grace before I studied it this week.

D&C 8:2-3

Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.

I know that in the scriptures it says that if we do all we can and are faithful and diligent we can be blessed with the power of Grace to  help us make our way back to our Heavenly Father.

I picture a ladder that the Savior is holding for us to climb the rest of the way.

I am so grateful for the power of the Atonement and the Grace of God in my life.

(2 Nephi 25:23)

One of my favorite scriptures is Moroni 9:32

Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in Him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness: and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is His Grace sufficient for you, that by His Grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the Grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

I know that for me the power of Grace is something that I hope to be more mindful of in my life.
I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ and for all of the aspects of the Atonement that we can learn from and appreciate more each and every day.

Veggie Mac and Cheese

VEGGIE MAC AND CHEESE

Preheat oven to 425* F.

2 med. Carrots, peeled 

1 med. Turnip, peeled

1 sweet Potato, peeled

Chop so that they are all the same size. Place on cookie sheet lined with foil.

4 tablespoons olive oil

Salt and Pepper

Toss veggies with the above ingredients

8 cloves of garlic, peeled

add garlic and place in oven for 20-25 minutes

Cook 1 pound of Elbow Noodles ( I use whole wheat)

While this is all cooking,

Chop 1 onion finely 

Place in a skillet with 4 tablespoons Olive Oil on Med. Heat.

Stir and cook Onions until they have sweat and are translucent.

add:

1/4 cup Flour and stir with onions for 2-3 minutes

then add:

1 cup whole milk

1-2  cup grated cheese( I use Cheddar, Jack and some Parmesan)

Take Roasted Veggies out of the oven and Puree in Food Processor or Blender

Then combine your onion flour mixture.

Drain cooked Elbow Noodles and add to mixture.

Season to taste with Salt and Pepper

Put in Oven safe Pan or 9 x 13.

Sprinkle top with more cheese

Bake for 20 minutes

Serve immediately

I love the way it looks and tastes. So yummy and delicious!

Putting on the Armor of God

Putting on the Armor of God

Michelle Patterson

Recently I was on a flight heading home to Connecticut. As I entered the plane the staff announced that due to the weather the ride was going to be very turbulent and if we needed to use the restroom we should do so now. All passengers and flight crew would have to remain in their seats once we took off.  We may or may not have any refreshments served depending on the turbulence.

As we took off it was smooth and beautiful. It was about 30 minutes before we started to hit rough air. As we climbed higher into the clouds it got really turbulent. I myself had sweaty palms and was holding on for dear life. All around me you could feel the tension of everyone and some women crying out and screaming. Just when I started to wonder if this was going to be the end, the Captain came on the intercom and in a very calm voice said” Well, remember when I told you it was going to get really turbulent?” This is it! It is going to be rough for another 10 to 15 minutes but we are going to climb up to a higher elevation and find some smoother air. So I just need you to hang on while we do that.

All of the sudden I felt a peace come over me as well as all on board. It wasn’t that the turbulence had changed. It was hearing the kind soft voice of the Captain.

I felt for the first time the incredible love our Heavenly Father has for us. He thought of everything.

He knew that there would be times in our lives when we would need a calm and reassuring voice of comfort, Through the Holy Ghost.

In Alma 43, we read of Captain Moroni providing protection for his army.  We too can put on the armor of God to protect ourselves in this world we live in today. If we follow the commandments, read and study or scriptures, pray often with pure intent, attend our meeting, attend the Temple, hold family home evenings.

We will be blessed to be protected from the temptations and fears of the world. We will be blessed to feel and hear the promptings of the Holy Ghost and know what we need to do.  And most importantly to have the peace and warm feeling that comes from being protected.

I am so grateful for the experiences in my life that help me to have a much deeper understanding of all of the wonderful blessing the Lord has for us.

I use to have such a fear of flying until I put my trust in the Lord.

Now, when I look out the window I can only see all the miracles of creation around me.

So put on your armor of God each and every day, you will be protected and blessed.

Nephi's Faith

Donald has great Faith like Nephi

I have been reading and studying in the Book of Mormon.

In 1 Nephi 15-22.

It is so interesting that they can now show a map with a general idea of where Lehi and his family traveled. 

After looking at the map it is very clear,  just like the Children of Isreal they had to wonder in the wilderness to be put through the refiners fire as they say. To be humbled. 

Through this journey Nephi is always strong and has incredible faith. Even when his family are all murmuring he is still strong. He has exceptional faith.

He also shows incredible patients, love and respect.

In my own life I have had moments were I have murmured. After living in Spokane, Wa. and building our beautiful home. Then having to move to Charlotte, NC. Only to find that the Job Donald was suppose to have has been cancelled.

What were we to do. No money, No job. No where to live?

Donald had so much faith. He remembered we had 2 doors on our storage unit. The camping gear was near the 2nd door. He was able to get all of our camping gear. We said a prayer and loaded up the car and kids and set off to find a new job. We traveled up and down the east coast in search of work. We ended up doing a small job in Georgia. Then Hilton Head Island. We visited friends in Washington DC and saw all the sights their. Donald made a positive out of a very negative situation. Even though we did not find a new long job and our house did not sell the 4 months we were traveling. Donald never lost Faith. He always new things would work out. It may not have been the way we had thought. It may not have been fun at times or easy. It did bring us closer as a family. It helped us appreciate the Pioneers and what they went through. It was very humbling. 

I use to think having a home was the most important thing. Now I know having a family and being safe and healthy, having a Testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important thing.

We have moved close to 50 times in our 30 years of marriage. 

Each time I learn something new. Each time our home truly is where our heart is.

GRANDMA JENSEN'S BAKED BEANS

1 lb. Chopped bacon
1 lb. Ground Beef
1 Brown Onion
1 15 oz. can Butter Beans
5-6 15 oz. cans Pork & Beans
1 15 oz. can Dark Kidney Beans
1 C. Catsup
3 tsp. Vinegar
1/2 tsp. Liquid Smoke
1 C. Brown Sugar
1/2 C. Sugar
Salt and Pepper
Chop onion fine, brown bacon and just before done add onion. remove most fat and set aside. brown the meat and salt and pepper to taste.
In Crockpot layer pork & beans all but 1 can. then add meats, save a little for on top. add remaining ingredients, then add remaining meat. and can of beans. cook on low for 7-9 hours.
stir halfway through

Feeds 20-25 people.
Enjoy

This is a view of the backyard. Can you believe how big the trees have gotten?

Road Trip

Our House in Spokane Washington.
1616 S. Mamer Road
For Labor Day weekend we headed up to work on house.
Got all the outside windows sanded primed and painted.
Decided to go with grey since there is so much white already.
I think it looks amazing!
Hung the FOR RENT sign.
Waiting for someone to live in our beautiful home.