Dan's baptism was a joyful and wonderful occasion. He has such a vibrant testimony, and sweetness of spirit, and his life is moving in the right direction with his family. There were many people there, a great show of support, and the program was just beautiful in every way. Tonia played her violin, "I Stand all Amazed", which sums up exactly how I feel. I wish all my family could have felt the Spirit that was there last night. What a miracle of mercy-I am so grateful!!!

Water, water everywhere... today we are irrigating for the first time this season. I am so grateful for the blessing of living on a farm and enjoying the seasons and having the water to nourish the pastures and animals. Cool, clear, water is a gift of love from our Heavenly Father and I am thankful today for all that I am so richly blessed with. Tonight our son-in-law, Dan, will be covered in sacred water as he is baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It doesn't get much better than that! I am so thankful.

Family Ties

Last Friday Alexis and I headed off to Rexburg so she can attend summer term. She drove her car and followed me. It was a long, but enjoyable trip. Her new apartment is so cute and I enjoyed spending the night with her. It was hard to say goodbye the next day, and I miss her so much already. I drove to Sandy on Saturday to pick up Brooke, and we met my brother Jim and my Dad in Bountiful where we attended a 90th birthday party for our cousin Jane Argyle Page. What a tender reunion she and my Dad enjoyed there. We enjoyed the party and also drove around Centerville and Bountiful looking at old family homes and reliving some memories. We stayed with Melanie and Curtis. and had a wonderful visit that evening. Dad and Jim left the next day and I stayed on. Brooke came down every day and Taylor came every evening. Some highlights were: volunteering in Kelcie's class with Mel ( the teacher adores them both), going to swimming with Kelcie, Brynn, and Sara, (they are so good at it!), eating lunch out, (Curtis' treat), crafting with Melanie and Brooke, playing with and cuddling my sweet girls, (Brooke and Taylor did a lot of that too), and enjoying all the good conversations and time with them all. Chester was a lot of fun too! I came home yesterday and had a great drive. Altogether 1,800 miles-not too bad! I am so grateful for all my children and grandchildren-they are the BEST and I am so BLESSED!!!

Homemade Vegetable Stock

Yesterday as I gazed at my bare garden spot, I hungered for fresh good food. So I whipped up some vegetable stock from some fresh veggies, and made a wonderful soup for dinner. As I put these healthy, colorful veggies in the pot, it almost looked like a bouquet. Yummy looking, smelling, and tasting as well as healthy-it doesn't get any better than that. I am so grateful for my health and that of my family, and for the abundance of food we enjoy.

Recipe: yields 12 cups

14 cups water

2 onions

2 leeks (white and pale green parts only)

4 carrots

4 stalks celery, coarsely chopped

1/4 bunch parsley

4 bay leaves

4 cloves garlic-slightly bruised

1 (6 inch) piece kombu (don't leave this out!)

6 whole black peppercorns

Combine all the ingredients in a large stockpot. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat then decrease the heat to medium-low. Simmer gently uncovered for one hour, or until the broth is flavorful. Strain into a large bowl and discard the solids. This broth will keep two days, covered and refrigerated. *other veggies can be added.

April showers...

Yesterday I thought it might be good to start looking for asparagus on the ditchbank as a nice and healthy springtime activity. Today, however, it was snowing hard with 3 or 4 inches of snow on the ground. I headed out to the pasture with a wheelbarrow full of hay for the horse and sheep. As I swung the large gate open to enter, I slipped for the first time this l o n g winter and fell flat on my bum with the hay tipping over on top of me. The horse and the sheep just stood over me looking at me like, "what the h---?" Quite humbled, I got up and finished my chores, including giving that sarcastic horse a bowl of warm mash to eat, while I rubbed my sore bum. I glanced at my coat sleeve for some reason, and there was a solitary snowflake, the most beautiful I have ever seen. It was minature, and perfectly shaped in a striking swirl pattern. All of a sudden, the snow around me was okay. Even though I haven't seen a flower yet this spring in my yard, there is still beauty all around, and I know the flowers will come. But today, I got to enjoy
winter in one more tiny, yet significant way. We may not know what tomorrow might bring, but we can find treasures all along the way each day.