From Our Kitchen

Grace came out of the pantry saying, "Chocolate! Chocolate! Chocolate!" while carrying the extra can of cocoa powder. She knew what she wanted! I decided we could bake a cake together while Anne was napping.

LATER THAT SAME DAY...

Edwin stopped in and asked if I had a butterfly cookie cutter. Much to his surprise I responded in the affirmative. Excitedly he asked if we could make sugar cookies today because he wanted to take some "special" cookies for his classmates and coworkers tomorrow.

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Cookies represent the cross section of the spinal cord. Gray butterfly shaped center represents nerve cell bodies. The white outer ring depicts spinal conduction pathways.

Glad we could make learning so fun today!!! Bon appetit!

Hairstyle Trademarks

Our future children predicted by...

Baylor College of Medicine Students

During a babyshower hosted by Edwin's classmates the guests sculpted our future children. Several of the playdough figures vividly portrayed Edwin's "Count Dracula" hairstyle and large eyes. Both of our girls came with daddy's wide eyes, but they chose different hairstyles.

Grace opted for no hair.

However, Anne came along with her hair....

JUST LIKE DADDY'S!!

Love ya, BABE!!!

Divine Womanhood

Someday, when the whole story of this and previous dispensations is told, it will be filled with courageous stories of our women, of their wisdom and their devotion, their courage, for one senses that perhaps, just as women were the first at the sepulchre of the Lord Jesus Christ after his resurrection, our righteous women have so often been instinctively sensitive to things of eternal consequence. Teaching of Presidents of the Church Spencer W. Kimball p. 215

When facing the Mount Everest of laundry that has recently consumed the washing machine, or the torrent of dishes that seem to multiply when no one is looking, it helps to remember that there are some things I can't neglect. The breakfast dishes may not have been washed right away, but did we remember to say our family prayers? I may have finished that project I've been wanting to complete for weeks now, but did I raise my voice in frustration because someone in the family interupted MY time? Does the spirit reside in our home often, or do we race through daily life as fast as we can using gospel principles as a last resort when things don't work out the way we want? The eternal perspective is to put spiritual things first and remember....I won't have to wash dishes in Heaven!!!

I have been contemplating the roles women have in life. For me.... my roles include

• Caretaker
• Nutritionist
• Comforter
• Entertainer
• Housekeeper
• Historian
• Guardian
• Spiritual Leader
• Mother
• Wife
• Sister
• Daughter
• Friend

“I love women…They doubt nothing. With them the world becomes something very simple. They give everything its correct value and well realize that their laundry is as important as the constitution of the German empire. Near them one feels reassured.”
Renoir

May I live my life such as this....simply, beautifully, and lovingly.

Being Jen

This is how it went at our house today:

Edwin: From the kitchen sink hollers "Jen"

Grace: Yells "Jen! Jen! Jen!" while knocking on the door where her mother is working on the computer.

I opened the door and Grace was so excited to see me appear once again yelled "JEN!!!"

I guess I'm mommy most of the time, but when dad is home and needs my help suddenly I become Jen.

Every Day Pictures

I love sleeping babies...even when they get out of bed!!

Poor Grace, mosquitoes sure think she's sweet!!! (That big bump on her forehead is also a mosquito bite.)

Grace helps give Anne a bath

Learning to dress herself...Grace managed to put 2 pairs of rubber pants on over her clothes.

Ready for church dad!!!

Grace loves the swing too!!!

Although the children like the swing, Edwin wanted me to have a reprieve from time to time.
Thanks for the swing Sweetie!!

Little Anne 2 weeks old and still naked!!!