Our Count Down To Christmas... Dec. 1

Dec. 1 - and all through our house, the Elves are a-stirring, including the mouse. They are hanging the Holly and putting up Cheer, in hopes that St. Nickolaus soon will be near.

Hello Fall...!

I love FALL and I really miss all the colors of New England this time of year...

It's Monday!...

It's Monday!... Honey, what more can I say?

DAR's Constitution Week / Fall Kick-Off Celebration

       Starting to realize the desire I have stirring inside to wrap myself in the historical elements of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). This is the third meeting now that I have attended. I am very much welcomed by all those who are there and even though age wise I am on of the youngest by far, I find it very enlightening and yet problematic all at the same time. Heritage wise, I am a DAR through more ways or family lines that I can even begin to address. And yet, all seems so foreign to me. My family comes from the upper part of the original thirteen colonies and one whole group came in on the Mayflower. So with that I feel a deep seeded sense of responsibility to continue the fight for our American and religious freedoms. But as I sat and listened to the guest speaker, I couldn't help but feel like I was out of place and steadfastly setting on the wrong side of the party line. SO... back to prayer and study I go.... :)
      Monday begins the national celebration of Constitution Week. It will be a week-long commemoration of America’s most important document. This week is one of our country’s least known official observances and "Bells Across America" has become a DAR tradition in many of our nation’s towns and cities. And in keeping with tradition, we had a hand bell group come today that played a beautiful piece entitled "American Fantasy". I know I live in the land of opportunity and I am very blessed to be part of this great nation. I am excited and very interested in being able to visit some of these old battle grounds and experience these ideals for myself. I treasure my heritage, and the opportunities to share it all with my boys. Let the American Revolution Class begin....

Happy Anniversary!

       Marty and I just spend three amazing days together. He loves his new job and during his first week they had a Corporate Leadership Retreat / Conference which came with some spare time and an opportunity for us to hang out together. We had a lot of fun, but it is always nice to be home.... :)

      I do want to tell my hubby of twenty eight years, THANK YOU!!! thank you for being my best friend and constant companion. You have given me the world and five wonderful treasures beyond my wildest dreams. I love each and every one of them. I love you and look forward to many more to come... :)

Memories of 9/11: Never to be forgotten!

       Very few people know our story and how we survived the 9/11 attack, because in comparison to those who were there and survived the actual events, our family survival blessing might seem a bit trife and out of place. But for those who know us and know the story, know of the truthfulness just how lucky our family is to be alive today. So, with that being said, I would like to share what we in our family refer to as...

 "9/11 ~ Blessings of Heartfelt Obedience"

        Marty, I and the five boys were living in Provo, we had a nice home, boys attended awesome schools, I had a great job subbing and working at the elementary school where the boys went. We attended a great ward with many prominent people both in church leadership and community affairs. Our boys had great friends, good peer pressures and summer sports programs that kept us centered and focused. Two things were troubling us on the home front... We knew that unemployment for Marty was just around the corner and Marty & I had the overwhelming desire to go on a mission. But we where a young family, with not enough resources to support us on a mission and raise our boys. As the feelings of a mission grew stronger and the final date on Marty's job was appearing on the calendar, we met with our Stake President (President Huber), he listened very intently to our story of job opportunities that would take us to the East Coast if we chose one, he listened to the desires of missionary work that we overwhelming held in our heart, he listened to the sadness of leaving our families and friends, and yet in the end his council was quick and unforgettable. He said to pray and pray often about it, we already knew the right thing to do and we were already benefiting from those blessings. Even though providing for our family right now at this time was the most important thing, missionary work could and would become part of it, we just needed to take care of our family and the Lord would take care of the rest. Marty and I left his office, not confused really, just as bewildered at why we felt stronger about a missionary assignment than taking the job in New England and the it hit us that maybe they were one in the same. 

      So over the course of the next month, Marty accepted the job offer at ReMax of New England, we started getting our affairs in order with our house and financial obligations, spent time getting the boys ready to change schools and getting ready to move, the whole time still feeling very confident that missionary work was to be the main focus of this move. We studied, we prayed, we went to church, we talked to other church members about living and serving out in the mission field. And not once did we or could we agree on a move date! We talked about waiting until school was out... school ended, we talked about middle summer... 4th of July, we were still in Provo, because of Brady's All-Star Football Teams. Marty's new start date was approaching quickly and we knew we had to make some choices, so we started talking about and planning for September. Marty needed to be in New York and Connecticut by September 10th for meetings at the main office (directly a crossed the street from the twin towers) in New York on September 11th. So, that was our plan, we were moving and moving forward! We were all going to go with him, we would all stop over and spend the night in NYC, we would have breakfast together and watch the sunrise from the top of the twin towers on the morning of September 11th, we would hang out and look around while Marty was in his meetings. BUT!!!! every time we prayed or talked about the plan, our hearts sank and become very troubled, the spirit was very insistent that we not follow the plan. The 24th of July, Our Mitchell Family reunion turned out to be more of a going away party, the family was excited for us and our new adventure and yet seemed very concerned that we were moving in September. So to make a long story short, after many more prayers, we decided that it best that we send only Marty, that way he could go there, check things out, get us a house and then we would we move. That plan felt awesome... but being the impatient person that I am and the fact that I hate being alone and without Marty, I kept going back to the September plan... pushing for it just one more time and each time the feeling grew stronger that we were not to go then. Finally School started and I gave up, knowing truly in my heart that if we went in September, then something bad was really going to happen and I just needed to trust in the Lord on this one.

       Marty flew out on the morning of the tenth and was suppose to be staying in New York City that night for meeting the next morning, but after he got there and checked in at the ReMax office he found out that the most of the agents at that office had unexpectedly decided to go to the convention in Chicago and the office was mainly empty and they had rescheduled Marty's visit to the next week, so Marty changed his mind and went on to Connecticut and spent the night there, between his long flight, change in hotel and getting lost a couple of times, it was very late when he got settled so he didn't call me and let me know of his change in plans. He just figured he would call me the next morning... 

       THE NEXT MORNING WAS THE LONGEST DAY OF MY LIFE......! Just like most everyone on the west coast, we woke up to seeing the horrific events unfold before our very eyes. I was scared, (Marty was there) frighten, (was he okay) overwhelmed, (now what do I do?) confused (WHY?) and as I sat crying in utmost bewilderment, I knew then what all those uneasy feeling were all about. I cried and cried, not only for the sake of my possible lose but how was I going to tell the boys, too wow!!! that could have been us... all the emotions that I felt, all the tears that I shed and yet deep down I knew that what ever the outcome was going to be, it was the Lords plan and I had been obedient. Brady had heard me crying and he had come in my room to see what the matter was. He recognized the towers, he had been there once before with his dad, it was his idea that we watch the sunrise. He was 13 and the reality started to sit in. My phone started ringing off the wall, our friends and family knew Marty was there, just like me they were looking for answers and justification. I had nothing to say... I got the boys up and we talked and had prayer, we all felt very strongly that dad was alive and okay and that he would call as soon as he could. We went on to school, I was teaching that day, I was met with many hugs and best wishes, because many of them also knew that Marty was there. Several was surprised to see me, the principal said that I could take the time at home if I wanted it. I assured him that I felt very strongly that Marty was okay and I needed to stay busy, before I got to my classroom of 1st graders, I was informed that three of my students had father's that were also there on business. One child knew and the other two had not been told yet, in hopes to save them from the unnecessary trauma and worry. We all waited that day, even though we went about our business, we waited, suspended in the eternity of time that seemed like forever. I was so relieved when Marty finally able to call home. We talked about everything, all the choices we had prayed over, all the feelings we had experienced and the one the that we knew still rings true today in the ABSOLUTE FACT that we are all still alive because we listened to the spirit and was blessed by our HEARTFELT OBEDIENCE!!!! 

    I leave this testimony with you all in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

P.S. side note to moving.... Marty started his new job, found us a house and came home to get us. We left Utah the first of November and had a very successful move to New England. We have never regretted it for a minute. My first calling in my new ward was to be a Sister Missionary, We worked very hard that year and had several successful baptisms, which I will share stories of throughout this week as I share more stories about remembering 9/11.

Renew Your Spirit Day:

       If you are a Flybaby, then you will know that Sundays are for renewing your spirit and today, Flylady challenged us too... "Take Time to Create an Attitude of Gratitude". Church was really good today and I have to say that it was really easy for me to take on FlayLady's challenge. I am so very grateful for my many blessings and all the opportunities that I have been blessed with. Today was no different. I came a crossed some of Greg Olsen's photo posts the other day and one was perfect for my Dad's Birthday and I have been thinking about this in my mind a lot today. And I have this song in my heart that I keep singing to myself, that I feel like goes along with this painting... In the song entitled: " Teach Me to Walk in the Light" Hymn #304, the last verse say: "Father in Heaven, we thank thee this day. For loving guidance to show us the way. Grateful, we praise thee with songs of delight! Gladly, gladly we'll walk in the light."

Happy Birthday Dad!

This one is for my DAD... One of the greatest truths he ever taught me: "If you lose your horse, just start walking, cuz your Horse (or in some cases the Lord) will be at home, waitin' for you when you get there".

Happy Birthday! We miss you lots... :(

Labor Day / Holiday

No Holiday here at our house... It is the last big tourist (drain them of their money) day of us in the industry at the beach. WE feel very blessed that we have had a fairly good year, our numbers are slightly up over last year and things went very smooth. But to all my friends who were able to spend time with enjoying a great day off with their families, We hope you all had a a very safe and happy Labor Day.

Sept. 1, 2012...

Our summer here at the beach is coming to a close. Work and our daily tasks of life have kept us very busy this season. For the most part our businesses saw a slight increase over last year and the growth and improvement in our family was very rewarding.  Marty started his new job today as Complex Manager (GM) of the Broadway 17 theaters, which includes the new "BIG D", so yes he got his theater back and he is excited.

Blue Moon....?

       The beach made for a perfect viewing of the blue moon tonight. The sky was crystal clear and the moon was huge and full. It was so bright white that it truly did give off a blue hue around it that reflected back towards the moon, as if to make it look like it was sort of blue in color.
       A blue moon can refer to either the third full moon in a season with four full moons, or the second full moon in a month, which is what is happening today. A great send off to Neil Armstrong, who truly was "Once in a blue moon guy" to be the first man to walk on the moon. Today is the private service and funeral for Armstrong, who passed away last Saturday in Ohio.

Why I Scrapbook.... SC#1

Tonight, I signed up for 24 free scrapbook classes at scrapbook.com, just to see what they were all about and to use them as a jump start for me to get back into the swing of scraping again. The first lesson was all about why we scrap and how to get started and it got we thinking about all the scrapbook pages that I have put together over the past 35 years. I also started thinking about all the genealogy and family history stories and information that I have collected over the past 35 years.
        After a very successful catering /wedding job this weekend, I feel very blessed to know that the long lasting elements of these events are the way we preserve the dates and activities of these events. I started thinking about where I would be today, had it not been for a very courageous man, many many years ago, finishing, sealing up and preserving the history of his people.
       One of my favorite stories in the "Book of Mormon", is the story of Moroni, "a righteous and skilled military commander, who became so angry with Amalickiah's dissention and wicked influence that he rent his coat and wrote upon it, In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children. With these words, he rallied his people to defend their families and their freedom, chasing the armies of Amalickiah away in the process". I also love the council and promises he gives to all of us in the last chapter (Moroni 10).
       I am totally convinced that a big part of myself and my heritage, is what it is today, because of great men and women in my life that have been willing to write, keep records and preserve the stories of my ancestors. This reason and many others are why I continue to scrapbook today... :)

Davis Wedding

Centerpieces

Yummy.... Cakes!

We had a very wonderful and successful evening. It was our first official catering event here in Myrtle Beach and it went off without a flaw. We made all the food for the buffett, we provided the dividing wall and extra touches. The beautiful flowers were put together by  "Flowers on Broadway".
We were so excited and very pleased with the turnout and the outcome. Thank you to the Davis Family for giving us this opportunity to shine!

Groom's Parents

Chicken Salad filled Cream Puffs

Close up!

The Happy Couple!

Peach Wedding Punch

Room before Flowers

Great time had by all....

End of evening wrap up... Words of wisdom from the Pro! :)

Bucket List?

Okay, How many of you actually have a bucket list?

 I have to laugh when we talk about bucket lists... It reminds me of a couple of my favorite cartoon characters, Rocky & Bullwinkle. All Bullwinkle ever wanted to do was have Rocky "Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat". If life could only be that simple...

I don't have a bucket list (per say), but there are a few things in my life I have always dreamed of doing, someday, before I die. Some of those things I have already enjoyed and have checked off my mental list and others are still in the back of my mind. Some things on my list are at this point will never be accomplished, because several years ago, I discovered the true meaning on FREE AGENCY and the element of surprise, when it comes to other people (KIDS) involved in your personal space. Yes, some of my boys have not helped to accomplish a few things on my list... Am I mad? NO! disappointed? maybe a little... but I am very proud of my boys and their accomplishments.

So to truly define a bucket list... Urban Dictionary states:  "A bucket list is a list of things you want to do before you die. The term comes from the saying 'kick the bucket'".  I loved the movie and have thought about my list several times since then. My life has been full of many unexpected surprises from the very beginning and I feel like I have been very blessed through out the years.

Today, I decided that I would maybe try and put together my bucket list... (keep in mind some of these things have already been accomplished.

1. Learn how to swim in deep water


2. Compete as a barrel racer


3. Work in the medical field


4. Graduate from College


5. Get Married in the Temple


6. Have a Family


7. Buy a Home


8. Own my own catering business


          9. Trace all my family lines back to Adam


10. Become a certified chef


11. Have my own Restaurant


12. Visit New York City


13. See Plymouth Rock


14. Live at the beach


15. Go on a Cruise


          16. Publish my own book


          17. See the Swiss Alps


18. See a real mummy


         19. Tour the Ancient Mayan Temples


         20. Go to Greece


         21. Run a Marathon


         22. Drive a rally fast car on the track (like NASCAR)


23. Have good friends


         24. See my Kids married


         25. Go on a mission for the church


So... does that mean that because I am almost done with my list that I am almost dead?

"Wheels of Destruction" Date Night

         Date night this week was a big surprise for me... Nate, a friend of ours, is a member of the Drifting Team out a the Myrtle Beach Speedway. And he had invited us to watch him perform as part of the "Wheels of Destruction" show that they have on Wednesday nights out at the speedway. We had so much fun... Drifting, Monster Truck, Freestyle Auto tricks, Motorcycle Air jumping and tricks, and I think Marty's favorite part was the School Bus races.

"Tuesday's with Dorie"... Popovers

I am so excited to get back into the swing of things with the "Tuesday's with Dorie" Group. I have been out of the loop since the group changed books and website formats. I seem to have got lost in the shuffle, but I am so glad to be back... I have missed cooking and chatting with everyone.  So to Celebrate, I think that it was only fitting that I "POPOVER" to the new way of doing things.... :)

My family loves popovers and I remember watching my mother make them a few times. I remember getting a new stove when I was younger and this new stove had a light in the oven, I remember sitting very patiently waiting and watching for the Pops to popover. We had to set quiet, gentle and very still.... lol, hard to do for small ones, but it was always a big hit when they started to flip.

 Many say that popovers are just the Americanized version of  "Yorkshire pudding", but for us at the Pantry, we love ours served with butter and warm maple syrup or filled with fresh blueberries and cream...

Next Eight Weeks,,,

My next personal eight week session of biggest loser started today... My run this morning was great, but I need to come up with a goal for the finish line.

Starting totals:

Weight ----- 225 
Arm ---- 15 inches
Wrist ---- 7 inches
Chest ---- 44 inches
Waist --- 40 inches
Hips --- 50 inches
Thigh ---- 27 inches
Ankle ---- 10 inches



With Brady's Wedding coming up at the end of October and my over whelming desire for some new clothes, I think this round may turn out to be a little more successful than the last one.

Tribute to Julia...

       One of my biggest cooking heroes, next to my mother and my grandmother, is Julia Child. She would have been 100 today.  She is recognized for bringing fine and fancy French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, I have spent many hours pouring over her recipes, trying, tasting and tweaking to fit the needs and likes of my family. I love to watch her in the kitchen, her programs always made it look so simple.

   The two main things I learned from Julia was... 1. Never underestimate the power of a good sharp knife and 2. if at first you don't like the way it tastes, try again!. Which was the case with my "Beef Bourguignon". We are not a wine drinking family, so many substitutions were made and tried before I just finally came up with a very tasty version. I have tried many of her awesome recipes over the years and many of them are still the ones I fall back on if I need a good dish for a party. One of my favorite quotes from her is very simple, “The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude.”  I cannot begin to tell you the number of times we have tried a recipe and like it, but after making a few unpredictable changes we ended up loving the dish even more.


        Another Quote I often use, especially as I have focused on my weight loss and biggest loser challenges, “The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook.”  I have learned alot and hope to continue to do so. She has helped to bring meaning and passion into something that I love so dearly and that is "the art of making people smile through my food!" So HATS of to Juila! You will always be with me at my table... :).

High On The Mountain Top...

"High on the Mountain Top a banner is unfurled," a line from one of my favorite hymns. The banner it refers to is the gospel of Jesus Christ and we have the opportunity as missionaries to share that gospel. Our lesson in Relief Society was all about "Advancing the work of the lord", Chapter 15 in our George Albert Smith Manuals. So, whether in the tops of the mountains or the bottom of the sea, I know that I am a "Child of God" and he loves me!

And I am very thankful for his hand in my life everyday... The picture below is of  Circleville Mountain, where I spend  time as a kid. I was recently asked if I ever miss the mountains and yes, I do, once in awhile. I miss my family too... But my vacation on the beach, is for me. I love living out in the missionary field. 

Still got my Touch!

Cream Puffs... the world's most temperamental pastry next to meringue and divinity candy! But I made then today and they turned out perfect. :) I haven't attempted them here in South Carolina yet, because of all the humidity. But I was sweetly surprised and the chicken salad filling was to die for... I wish all of you could have been here to try them.

You can find the recipes to both the cram puffs and the Chicken Salad Filling on my Food Blog at...

THE PANTRY LIFE

Beacon from Afar...

Today is National Lighthouse Day, it seems so fitting here at the beach that it would be rainy and foggy. Makes me stop and think about all the lives that have been saved by the beacon from afar... Much the same as the testimony I have of my Heavenly Father and the light from afar that he send my way everyday.