[In Full Bloom]

Dandelion Dust Designs has done it again! In Full Bloom is a super versatile kit that's on sale right now! I love the main colors in this kit - and how there are pops of other colors to balance things out.

For my layout, I paired "In Full Bloom" with the Feb2016 Temp2 from Sahin Designs.

[Easter Weekend 2013] featuring May Life 2016 by Dandelion Dust Designs

If you're not a *fan* of Dandelion Dust Designs on Facebook, you really should be! Every month, Ginger releases TWO free mini kits - one in the newsletter and one on the Facebook page!

Today, May Life 2016, was released. The soft color palette is perfect for spring photos! I loved pairing it with a free template (beYOUtiful) from Leaving a Legacy Designs to showcase this photo of Goose and Lills from Easter 2013!

Details:
Kit: May Life 2016 Facebook Fan Free Mini by Dandelion Dust Designs
Template: BeYOUtiful by Leaving a Legacy Designs

[Menu Plan Monday] May 9, 2016

Last week, I somehow aggravated an old injury in my back. Usually when this happens, I am out of commission for a couple of days. I'm on day 10 and still hurting. Last week I didn't do much of anything. We ate out almost every single night. Not good on the checkbook. 

This week, still feeling not great, I'm going to attempt the following meal plan. I may need to make adjustments, but I think I kept things simple enough that it will be okay...

Turkey steak, mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables
Waffles, sausage, eggs, fruit
Chicken Alfredo with broccoli
BBQ chicken, funeral potatoes, salad
Steak, baked potatoes, green beans
Cheeseburgers, fries, fruit
Ham, eggs, biscuits
Cordon bleu pasta, salad, foccacia bread

And if not, well, cold cereal it is. :)

"I could eat a stick dipped in that sauce" Alfredo...
Melt 3 TBSP butter with 2 TBSP olive oil.
Stir in 2 tsp minced garlic.
Cook and stir for a couple of minutes.
Whisk in 1 pint heavy cream, salt and pepper to taste.
Heat over medium high heat, stirring frequently, until it starts to simmer.
Simmer and stir until sauce thickens.
Remove from heat. 
Whisk in 1/2 cup grated Parmesan (the real stuff).
When that's fully melted, whisk in 3/4 cup grated mozzarella.
Whisk until melted. 
Serve hot.

[CLICK!] - new release day for Dandelion Dust Designs

This seriously might be my favorite kit. Ever.

I love the colors.
I love the elements.

I couldn't decide on just one layout, so I made 2. They're totally different in style and color, but they both use the kit Click!

Family Photos '09 - 
(also uses the Boys to Men Template 2, Designs by Connie Prince)

Sunday Selfies -
(also uses Centered Layout Template 4 by Sahin Designs)

Click! is on sale this week at Gingerscraps. 
**Hint, hint - ALL Dandelion Dust Designs kits are on sale this weekend at Gingerscraps!!**

**NEW RELEASE DAY***

If you're looking for a really great patriotic kit - you need to stop over and check out Dandelion Dust Designs' latest kit *FREEDOM* at GingerScraps! At the sale price of $1.50 for the next week - you don't want to miss this one!

I used a template from Tinci Designs paired with FREEDOM to create this layout using a favorite photo from a friend's funeral.

Also - if you missed out on the May Newsletter from Dandelion Dust Designs, I'm sorry. You really should sign up! ;)

This darling FREE mini kit "Mom's Day" was in the newsletter. You can find newsletter sign-up info at www.dandeliondustdesigns.com .

I used Centered Template 3 from Sahin Designs and the "Mom's Day" kit to scrap one of the last photos I have with both of my kiddos and me. Sure do miss that boy of mine!

Happy Scrapping!

Have I done any good in the world today...

...have I helped anyone in need? 

About a month ago, my cousin Jason's Shayla sent me a Facebook message asking me if I would be willing to do a favor for her.

Over the course of the past month, we've been in contact and finally, yesterday, I was able to complete my portion of the requested favor.

I made and delivered dinner to a recently widowed sister in our valley.

Shayla lives too far away. And this is what she wanted to do for her friend.

What a blessing it was to me to be able to take part in this act of service.

...There are chances for work all around, just now. Opportunities right in our way...

It wasn't much. Rigatoni, french bread, caramel popcorn. But it was food. Ready to eat, homemade, delicious comfort food. 

In one of the most important declarations of what it means to be a true disciple of the Master, Alma describes in clarity and simplicity the covenant and responsibility of one who would enter the waters of baptism. We have all entered the water. We have made the covenant. In the eighteenth chapter of Mosiah, Alma describes the conduct of a true follower of the Savior, a true disciple. For he said, “And now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

“Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things.” (Mosiah 18:8–9.)

He has stated simply: If we are to be the Savior’s disciples, if we are to become like him, then we must serve one another, then we must assume responsibility to help with one another’s needs, then we must assist each other through the thorny pathways of life.
H. Burke Peterson, April 1981 General Conference

I often forget just how meaningful something so simple as a ready to eat meal is to those who are just so tired. 

President Monson in April 2001 General Conference said, "There are feet to steady, hands to grasp, minds to encourage, hearts to inspire, and souls to save."

...Has anyone's burden been lighter today because I was willing to share?...

...When they needed MY help was I there?...

Thank you, Jason's Shayla, for allowing me this opportunity, this gentle reminder that what we do for each other really matters.

...doing good is a pleasure. A joy beyond measure. A blessing of duty and love...

[big news and a little bit of creativity]

Well, hello. I've really not been a great keeper of the blog these past few months. Truth be told, I've had a hard time being a great keeper of anything. I hope to change that. In all areas of my life.

My starting point is this...I will be submitting my letter of resignation to the school district next week. Yikes. 

This year of leave has been the best thing for our little family. It just works for us.

But as much as I've loved being home... As much as I've loved being able to be here when Goosey gets home from school... As much as I've loved getting stuff done during the day (which happens a lot less frequently than it should...)... I've missed teaching.

We're not willing to give up that time together. Or that peace that is in our home when I'm not so stressed about testing and observations and school.

But I miss teaching. 

Over the past 2 weeks, a series of tender mercies have occurred that have led us directly to the next fork in the road.

I will be submitting that letter of resignation. And embarking on my life-long dream of opening my own preschool. What the freaking heck?! Ha! There is an undercurrent of excitement in my home. I know Kenton is smiling so big at this decision. We're all thrilled that this is happening. 

I meet Thursday with our city council for final approval. And with that, the Little Fireflies Learning Center will be up and running fall 2016.

The flexibility offered by teaching from my home is so great. My own hours, my own curriculum, super small class sizes, and the opportunity to teach again! 

This also allows me to continue my work with a couple of different digital scrapbook designers, continue to be "scrapbook mom" for 5 (soon to be 6) missionaries, and most off all, allows me to be MOM. (McKayslin is super excited about pre-school and knowing she gets to help on her days off from school!).

So...in the coming weeks/months/years - MamaGoose will look an awful lot the same (only more frequent!) - recipes, scrapbooking, life in general - but with the addition of some fun preschool stuff! 

Yesterday was new release day for Dandelion Dust Designs' latest kit called Thanks so Much. 

I love the colors in this kit and can see it being used so many different ways! So far I've only played with it long enough for one layout, but I have a whole lot of ideas for this one! :)

Sure do miss this handsome boy of mine!

Thanks for sticking with me through all the crazy! 

I'll be back on Monday for #MenuPlanMonday!

See you then!

[O, youth of the noble birthright...carry on, carry on, CARRY ON]

Firm as the mountains around us, 
Stalwart and brave we stand
On the rock our fathers planted
For us in this goodly land...

...the rock of honor and virtue,

of faith in the living God...

See, this morning, this school morning, my little Goose was very excited to wake up early (we're talking like 4:30 am early!) to go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead with her friend Mighty CK.




I have very distinct memories of my 6, maybe 8, opportunities to attend the temple to do baptisms in my youth. The Idaho Falls LDS Temple is located less than 45 minutes from my home, yet going to the temple was a big deal. Huge. Months of planning, interviews, arrangements - so much so that we only went once, maybe twice each year. 

I loved going to the temple, especially as a new beehive with all of the laurels in our ward looking out for us, helping us, doing our hair all cute after we finished. And we always had dinner in the temple cafeteria. They had the best coconut cream pie.

My memories, however, are lacking in the way I felt at the temple. I don't remember recognizing the importance of the work we were doing, nor do I remember clear impressions or feelings during or after our visits.

Last night, McKayslin asked if I could take her to the temple this morning (I took her and Roo 2 weeks ago (on a Saturday morning) and Luke and I took the girls again last Saturday morning) before school. I might have hesitated. It's so early to get up. It's cold. She has school...

Yet, very clearly, I received the impression that I needed to take her this morning. One of the things I'm working on is listening and acting when I receive gentle nudges to do something good.

It took one text and CK was on board to come along. To be at the temple at 5:30 am. On a school morning. Do you know what that does to a Momma heart? As we prepared to tuck McKayslin in for the night, she shared this simple testimony...

"I like the way I feel at the temple. I really like the way I feel after. I think I need to go in the morning to give me strength and to energize me for my day."

My little barely twelve year old craves temple attendance like I have only learned to do in my 40s. Seriously, how great is that?!

This morning, early, Luke left for work, and I grumbled out of bed and into the shower, where this hymn wound itself so tightly around my heart. I found myself humming, smiling, and excited to be the mom that got to take the girls to the temple this morning. And I knew Kenton was smiling. 

Even though Kenton never was able to attend the temple physically, he was so excited when Bishop McDonald brought him his recommend at the hospital. Luke took a picture and sent me a text. Although Kenton was very sick at the time, his smile stretched from ear to ear as he proudly held up his temple recommend.



I was reminded of a story that Cal shared with me. When they were waiting in the baptistry waiting room one morning, one of the temple workers encouraged the kids to really think of the person they were performing the baptismal ordinance for, and to realize that at that moment, they were acting as missionary companions with those who had gone on before, bringing these ordinances to those who had died without the opportunity to receive them. She shared how great it was that our boys could work together on something so great - Kenton in the Spirit World and Payts here.

And now, my little Goose gets to work together with our Kenton in that same capacity. 

We picked up Mighty CK a little after 5 and arrived at the temple right around 5:30. We entered the temple to find youth already there, filling the baptistry, anxiously engaged in the work of the Lord. I watched as the girls confidently participated in the ordinances. I could see their love of the temple and the work performed there.




We exited the temple in a snowstorm. 




Stopped for some breakfast. Listened to them plan and prepare for their next trip - even making plans for the future when finally all of the friends were 12 - giggling about how we'd have to rent a bus every week. And then I dropped them off at school.

As they tumbled into school, facing the challenges of the day with a renewed outlook, with strength, and with faith, I took a moment for a quick prayer of thanks that I was the mom allowed to bring them to the temple this morning. Because, guess what?! Those blessings were mine this morning, too.

These kids of mine teach me so much...stalwart and brave they stand.

...Holding aloft our colors,
We march in the glorious dawn.
O youth of the noble birthright,
Carry on, carry on, carry on!"

Carry On
LDS Hymns 255
Text: Ruth May Fox
Music: Alfred M. Durham