HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUNTER

8 years ago yesterday (September 26,2001) Hunter joined our family.

Hunter's 1st Birthday

Hunter's special friend

Hunter & Jordyn

Tonight we celebrated his 8th birthday.

We celebrated by having everyone over to Dad's house for Pizza and Chocolate cake. Sorry No pictures of either.

After Pizza we gave Hunter some presents.

Jordyn was anxious to help unwrap Hunter's presents.

and more presents.

This combined 2 of Hunter's favorite things, Sponge Bob and Legos.

Aunt Leanne picked out a musical card, that made everyone laugh.

Hunter was a good sport and let everyone give him Birthday spankings, although he resisted a little when it was Jordyn's turn.

Hunter is a good boy and a blessing to have in our family.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUNTER!!!

I'M BACK!!!

My blog was locked yesterday. Apparently I was suspected of running a spam blog. After reviewing the content blogger.com is satisfied that I am not doing anything horrible. I'm glad they resolved the issue so quickly.

NEW BLOG

Since I have been posting a lot more book reviews lately, I have decided to move all of the reviews I have done, and the future reviews I will do to a new blog so that this one can be for other stuff. Come on over and visit.

 Click here for Mary's Book Corner  

Kaitlyn Glenn is alone in the world. Disowned by family after her baptism, her only friend is the beloved horse she rides as a champion barrel racer. But loneliness is the least of Kaitlyn’s problems. Her competitor’s jealous father has vowed to sabotage her success. And her former boss—the handsome, rich, and extremely dangerous Jace Landry—stalks every move of this beautiful and talented cowgirl.

Aided by a mysterious man in a black cowboy hat, Kaitlyn escapes Jace’s iron grip and flees. On the road, she finds protection and companionship with a loyal trucker named Celia. But when Jace puts seedy private investigator Myler Keegan on Kaitlyn’s trail, she must outrun two men who will stop at nothing to feed their violent obsession. And when her cruel stepbrother joins the hunt, Kaitlyn faces lethal danger from every angle.
With deft skill, master of suspense Clair Poulson serves up nonstop action that pulls readers into Kaitlyn’s pulse-pounding race to freedom—and love.
Clair Poulson retired after 20 years in law enforcement. Jobs have included Utah Highway Patrol Duchesne County sheriff.
This is his 16th published novel. Most of his novels are crime drama/suspense type. He has been compared to John Grisham in his style.
Clair Poulson draws the inspiration for his books from his time in Law enforcement and the court system.
Dead Wrong is very suspenseful, Kaitlyn has more enemies than even she knows about. During the book we follow her around the intermountain west, from Cheyenne, WY to Logan, UT, to Boise, ID and other stops, always 1 step ahead of the bad guys. She is helped in her attempt to stay alive by a mysterious man in a black cowboy hat, a truck driver and a very insightful 9 year old girl.
If you are into suspense, and crime drama I would recommend that you read Clair Poulson.
This book is available in all the usual places,Desert Book, Seagull book, amazon.com and inter library loan.
Clair Poulson doesn't have a web site, but you can find some of his books on amazon.com.

This bride can’t stop laughing after her groom pronounces a word wrong!

BOOK REVIEW SISTER PACT by CAMI CHECKETTS

Savannah Compton is devastated when her sister and best friend Allison falls into a coma after a tragic accident. Or was it an accident? Even with a charming and handsome detective at her side, it seems Savannah may never discover the truth. But if she doesn t, her family could be in even more danger. And Savannah s past holds its own secrets that could change everything.
Now she must prove her innocence to the one person who is beginning to matter most. Join Savannah as she struggles to summon hope and rely on faith, even in the darkest of circumstances, and learn how the bond between sisters can overcome anything.

The Sister Pact is a thrilling romantic mystery, full of unexpected twists. Cami Checketts delivers an exhilarating new novel that will keep you guessing to the very last page.

This is the first of Cami Checkett's books I've read, and I was not disappointed.
I would have to catagorize this as a "Whydunit". In the 1st chapter the author tells us "Whodunit", the mystery is how will they prove it, and will they prove it before he strikes again. Another mystery, will Savannah figure out she is in danger before its too late, or will her stuborn pride just get her in more trouble.

I loved this book from the beginning to the end, even though I knew who the bad guy was, there were a lot of twists and turns in the story to keep me guessing and interested.

This is another book I would recommend for Mystery/Suspense/romance lovers.

You will be able to find it at Amazon.com
Borders
Barnes & Noble
Deseret Book, Walmart, Costco,and Seagull Book and Tape. Also as always you can use Inter library loan.

check out Cami's other books here

BACON SOAP

Bacon Soap

We love bacon, and we've seen everything from Canned Bacon to Baconnaise, Bacon Salt, Bacon Floss — heck, even Bacon Lip Balm — so it was only a matter of time before we discovered Bacon Soap ($6). Made to both look and smell like frying bacon, this soap will get you clean while giving your appetite a jump-start on the day.

HOT CARROTS

2 1/2 Cup of white vinegar
1 Cup of sugar
1/2 Cup of water
3 tabl. canning salt
1 tabl. mustard seed
1 tabl. celery seed
1/4 tsp turmeric
40 pearl onions,
 24 jalapenos,
4 bags of baby carrots,
2 heads of cauliflower

Combine vinegar, sugar, water, salt, mustard seed, celery seed, and turmeric.
40 pearl onions, 24 jalapenos, 4 bags of baby carrots, 2 heads of cauliflower.
For preparation of the jalapenos make sure you use gloves. ( if desired 3 Santa Fe peppers, cut)
Peel onions, cut jalapenos, and cauliflower into bite sized pieces. Cook veggies in  vinegar mixture, bring to a boil and cook for 5 min.
Pack veggies into sterile jars fill with mixture in jars leaving 1/2-inch head space.
Recommended process time for boiling water canner.
Half pints or pints: Makes about 18 pints.
altitudes of 0-1,000 ft. =15 min
altitudes of 1,000-6,000 ft. =20 min
altitudes above 6,000 ft =25

ZUCCHINI RECIPES

I have not tried either of these recipes, but they come highly recommended from a friend.

Zucchini Parmesan Bread

3 cups of all-purpose flour
1 cup peeled, shredded zucchini (drain on paper towel)
1/3 cup sugar
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter
1 cup butter milk
2 eggs
1 tablespoon grated onion
Mix flour, zucchini, sugar, cheese,soda, baking powder and salt
together; set aside. Melt butter; stir into buttermilk. Beat eggs in
medium bowl; add butter/ buttermilk misture and onion; sttir into
flour mixture. (batter will be thick) spread in greased and floured
9-1n.x5-in.x3-in loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. (use wooden pick
inserted at center to test for donenness.) Yield I loaf.

Pineapple Zucchini
4 qts cubed Zucchini (remove seeds)
46 oz of canned unsweetened pineapple juice
1-1/2 cup of lemon juice
1 cup of suggar
Yield about 8-9 pints
Procedure: Peel zucchini and cut into cubes. Mix zucchini with other
ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer 20
minutes. Fill jars with hot mixture and cooking liquid, leaving
1/2headspace. Adjust lids and process.
Recommended process time for Zucchini-Pineapple in a boiling-water
canner.
Half pints or pints 0-1,000 ft = 15 min 1,001-6,000ft = 20 Above
6,000 ft = 25 min

I HAVE TO ADMIT IT!

Much as it pains me to say this, I have to admit it - my Democrat friends were right. They told me if I voted for McCain, the nation's hope would deteriorate,
and sure enough there has been a 20 point drop in the Consumer Confidence Index since the election,
reaching a lower point than any time during the Bush administration.

They told me if I voted for McCain, the United States would become
more deeply embroiled in the Middle East, and now,
tens of thousands of additional troops are scheduled to be deployed into Afghanistan.

My Democrat Party friends told me if I voted for McCain,
that the economy would get worse,
and sure enough unemployment is exceeding 9.5%.


They told me if I voted for McCain, we would see more "crooks"
in high ranking positions in Federal government
and sure enough, several cabinet nominees and Senate appointments
revealed resumes of scandal, bribery and tax fraud.


They told me if I voted for McCain, we would see more
"Pork at the trough" in Federal government
and sure enough, over 17,500 "Pork Bills"
showed up in Congress since January 2009....


I was also told by my Democrat friends that if I voted for McCain,
we would see more deficit spending in Washington D.C.,
and sure enough, Obama has spent more in his first 100 days than
all other Presidents together - in the entire history of the good old USA .


Well, I voted for McCain in November
and my Democrat friends were right,
all of their predictions have come true!

AN UNLIKELY MORMON--GLEN BECK'S CONVERSION TO MORMONISM

BOOK SIGNING

This afternoon I was privileged to attende a book signing at Deseret Book in Glendale, AZ.
GG Vandagriff was in Phoenix this week to promote her book, The Last Waltz and her new (just released today) The Hidden Branch.

GG & Me

I was able to have GG sign all of her books.

Marjean & GG

April (Deseret Book Employee) & GG

Marjean, Leslie (store employee), GG

It was a fun afternoon, visiting with GG & Marjean and the store employees, as well as customers that stopped by to learn about GG's exciting books.

Lunch with GG Vandagriff Part 2

Friday afternoon some of the members of the AZ LDS forever friends group got together for lunch with GG Vandagriff at the Paradise Bakery.

We had 6 group members there and missed the ones who couldn't join us.

left Joyce Di Pastena, GG Vandariff, Marjean

Left Deirdra,Kal'el, Chris, Marjean

Kal'el & Deirdra

We had 3 authors with us and it was an interesting lunch, listening to then talk about how they write and what makes them tick. Usually when I pick a book to read I don't stop and think what goes into creating it, so it was very enlightening.

Left Kal'el, Chris, Mary, GG, Marjean, Joyce, Deirdra

Click for more pictures.

If you are interested in joining LDS Foreverfriends

Click here

9/11 A DAY OF FASTING AND PRAYER

Today is September 11th. In 2001, 2,993 people were killed as a result of terrorist attacks. Eight years later, most of us still remember exactly where we were on that day, and prayed for our country with more conviction than possibly ever before.

Eight years later, and perhaps with more fervor than ever known in our lifetime, our family, our faith, and our freedoms are under attack.
Today is a National Day of fasting and Prayer
If you aren’t able to fast, for whatever reason, please continue to pray. There will be thousands of people joining in, but its not about the numbers,  it’s about the unity of joining together in fasting and prayer for our families, our faith, and our freedoms.

Click Herefor Candacce Salima's tribute blog In Memory of September 11th

BOOK REVIEW ENGLISH TRIFLE by Josi Kilpack

What begins as a holiday trip for amateur sleuth and cooking aficionado Sadie Hoffmiller and her daughter, Breanna, turns into a bizarre mystery. First comes the discovery of a dead body in the sitting room of an English manor belonging to the family of Breanna's boyfriend, who is also heir to the family title. When the body comes up missing, Sadie and Breanna are stranded at the estate until the police can clear them to leave. Armed with a jogging whistle, her personal recipe collection, and an unfailing sense of American justice, Sadie begins her own investigation to find the killer. But when she seems to encounter one dead end after another, Sadie wonders if anyone is telling the truth- or if the case is really as hopeless as it appears to be.

Picture a cool gray rainy day. For me that is the perfect kind of day to sit down with a good mystery. Josi Kilpack's 2nd Culinary Mystery, English Trifle, is just the mystery I chose to read on our cool gray Saturday.
This book is fast moving and has a lot of twists and turns. More than once I thought I knew who did it and why, but I never suspected the real killer or the motive.
If possible, this book was even better than the 1st Culinary Mystery, Lemon Tart, written by Josi Kilpack.
click here  to learn more about Josi Kilpack and her other books.
Engish Trifle is available at the usual places, Deseret Book, Seagull book, Amazon.com and inter library loan, or if you live in my immediate area I will lend it to you.

Lunch with GG Vandagriff Part 1

This afternoon a few members of LDSFOREVERFRIENDS got together for lunch at Boston Gourmet Pizza.

The reason for lunch was to meet and visit with GG Vandagriff, who is in town for a series of book signings.

GG Vandagriff (http://www.ggvandagriff.com/) & Marjean

Mary & Marsha Ward (http://www.marshaward.com/)

Marsha & Sandra (G.G.'s friend from Utah)

Back GG Vandagriff, Marjean Stebelski

Front Mary Walker, Marsha Ward.

We had a good time visiting and getting acquainted. We wil be having with GG again on Friday for any of the AZForeverfriends who weren't able to attend today.

click here for more pictures

For anyone in Arizona here is a list of GG Vandagriffs signings

8 September, Tempe,AZ Barnes & Noble 6:00-8:00
9 September, Peoria, AZ, Arrowhead Barnes & Noble, 6-8:00 PM
11 September, Kierland Commons, Scottsdale,AZ, Barnes & Noble 6:00-8:00
12 September, Chandler,AZ, Deseret Book 1:00-3:00
12 September, Glendale,AZ, Deseret Book 4:30-6:00
If you have read any of GG's books or you love a good mystery please attend one of the signings and meet great author and a very nice woman.
Also enter the contest to win all 5 Alex and Briggie mysteries

More details on the contest

I STILL LIKE BOLOGNA

HE FINALLY FINISHED THE ARK

Man Builds Noah's Ark (exact scale given in Bible)

Working Replica of Noah's Ark Opened In SCHAGEN, Netherlands . The
Massive central door in the side of Noah's Ark was opened the first
Crowd of curious townsfolk to behold the wonder. Of course, it's
Only a replica of t he biblical Ark , built by Dutch Creationist
Johan Huibers as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of
The Bible.
The ark is 150 cubits long, 30 cubits high and 20 cubits wide.
That's two-thirds the length of a football field and as high as a
Three-story house. Life-size models of giraffes, elephants, lions,
Crocodiles, zebras, bison and other animals greet visitors as they
Arrive in the main hold. A contractor by trade, Huibers built the
Ark of cedar and pine. Biblical Scholars debate exactly what the
Wood used by Noah would have been.
Huibers did the work mostly with his own hands, using modern tools
And with occasional help from his son Roy. Construction began in
May 2005. On the uncovered top deck - not quite ready in time for
The opening - will come a petting zoo, with baby lambs and
Chickens, and goats, and one camel.
Visitors on the first day were stunned. 'It's past comprehension',
Said Mary Louise Starosciak, who happened to be bicycling by with
Her husband while on vacation when they saw the ark looming over
The local landscape.
'I knew the story of Noah, but I had no idea the boat would have
Been so big.' There is enough space near the keel for a 50-seat
Film theater where kids can watch a video that tells the story of
Noah and his ark. Huibers, a Christian man, said he hopes the
Project will renew interest in Christianity in the Netherlands ,
Where church going has fallen dramatically in the past 50 years.
Now that I am old and gray...give me the time to tell this new
Generation (and their children too) about all your mighty miracles... Psalm 71:18

LABOR DAY

HAPPY LABOR DAY!

Labor Day is the Day set aside to honor workers

in all lines of work

Have a safe and happy Labor Day Weekend with family and friends.

Arkansas centenarian receives endowment at Memphis temple

Dorothy Wagner turned 105 on Sept. 2. In July, when she was still 104, she had a first.
She went to the temple for her own endowment on July 22 in the Memphis Tennessee Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"It was a marvelous experience just going," she said. "It's something you would remember."
Her visiting teacher, Teresa Bailey, taught her the temple preparation lessons. Bailey and her husband, Robert, who is Wagner's home teacher, took Wagner the 170 miles from her home in Horseshoe Bend, Ark., to the temple in Memphis.
"She said she wanted to go back," Teresa Bailey, 62, said. They are hoping to work on Wagner's family history and go back to do work for Wagner's ancestors.
"Everything about (the temple) is so pretty, clean and lovely," Wagner said of the temple. "Everyone is so sweet."
Wagner joined the LDS Church when she was 103 and is quite possibly one of the oldest converts to the church.
She grew up Presbyterian and had faithfully attended for about a century when she decided she wanted a different church.
It was an Easter Sunday when she got ready for church and just drove in the parking lot of the Ash Flat Branch's chapel in Arkansas.
"Everyone was so warm and sweet," she said of her first impression of the branch.
She has spoken at a stake women's conference and attends church as often as possible.
Wagner, a widow with two sons, two grandchildren and two great grandchildren scattered across the country, still lives in her own home.
A nurse comes in occasionally, and Wagner stopped driving earlier this year due to some health issues.
"She is a really sharp lady," said Teresa Bailey, who also checks on Wagner. "It's been a pleasure to know Dorothy and I've learned a lot from her."
Wagner says she has no plans to change churches.
"I'm perfectly satisfied with the Mormon church," Wagner said. "I can't say enough about the people."

COMING SOON THE HIDDEN BRANCH by GG VANDAGRIFF

The Hidden Branch, G.G. Vandagriff's latest novel, of mystery, romance and Comedy will be released on or before Sept 16, 2009. 
This is the 5th book in the Alex and Briggie Mystery series, but it can also be read as an introduction to the series. It takes place in Huntington Beach, California. For more information on this new book or the Alex and Briggie Mysteries click here

Anyone who buys The Hidden Branch, on line or in the store before September 17th can qualify for an Alex and Briggie gift package and a change to win an autographed set of the entire series by doing the following:
1. EMail GG at this link
 2. Give her your name and address
3. Tell her where you bought the book