No time to post

Slacker

Well sometimes life gets so busy somethings got to go! I know you all have those periods in your lives. But with Blogging it becomes really apparent and public as to what we all choose to give up. In fact, I think about what to blog, but because there is so much I give up...Too much thinking... and as you know sometimes that just a hard thing to do. So, here's again to a new commitment! And in the mean time these are some of the wonderful things in my life! Our cute grandson who is so funny, my darling Katie and Spencer finding joy in everyday, The adventurous Plewe couple that just returned from New Zealand/Australia, and travel up and down the coast and to and from UT constantly, Our beautiful Carly, enduring all the tests these economic times have to give, Elder Max, and his conquering the Korean language as he serves in S. Korea, And of course, Lucky Luke who got to climb Half Dome, go to EFY, play volleyball, shoot hoops, and watch his parents annoy him daily, and my loving husband that I get to make Mashoonga!'s with!

LEMON MERINGUE PIE

My girl's are always calling for recipes and with our beautiful spring weather I thought I would post one of our all time favorites. It comes from a department store restaurant I went to with my mom when I was a little girl. Bullock's Department Store was located on Lake Ave in Pasadena. It was a special treat to go to lunch there. They had a fashion show during lunch, with a runway and wonderful models. Funny I can picture that lunch room today with its wide bamboo chairs and tropical green fabric on the padded seats. We would get dressed up, with our patent leather shoes (white or black depending on the season). By "we" I mean my sister and my mom. And we would always order the same thing... an egg salad sandwich with chips and a sweet pickle and Lemon Meringue Pie for dessert. Always a very special memory.
Here's the best Lemon Meringue Pie from Bullock's Pasadena

1/4 C flour
5 T cornstarch
1t salt
1 1/2 C sugar
2 1/4 C boiling water
3 egg yolks
1/2 C plus 1T lemon juice
Grated zest of 1 1/2 lemons
1t butter
1 9" baked pie shell

1. Mix flour, corn starch, salt, sugar and boiling water. COOK in top of double boiler over simmering water OR over direct low heat about 15 min or until thickened and clear, stirring constantly.
2. ADD lightly beaten egg yolks and cook 2 min longer.
3. ADD lemon juice, zest and butter.
4. Cool slightly then turn into baked pie shell.
5. Spoon meringue over pie completely covering filling. Place pie in OVEN at 400 degrees to brown slightly. About 10 min or until tinged w/brown.

MERINGUE
3 egg whites
6T sugar
1/4 t cream of Tartar

1. Beat egg whites until frothy.
2. Gradually beat in sugar and cream of tartar until whites are stiff.

Once a month is not enough!

It has been a busy month! And I hate playing catch up because I am lousy at it. But there have been some really special moments this month, and they can best be discribed in pictures. As most of you know, my son Max is serving a mission for our church. He is serving in the Seoul West South Korea Mission. It has been an incredible experience I'm sure for him! And for me it has been a roller coaster of emotions. Sometimes I miss him so much I just break down and cry. And at the same time I am so grateful he is there and would not want him here loafing on the couch. I love the wisdom that he shares with us, the way he lifts our spirits, how his testimony has grown, that he is being real, and true to himself and his beliefs, that he is relying on the Lord in all he does, that he can write to everyone in our family and have a very special message for each of us. I love that his humor comes through even though he is so far away, and that he is full of love for those he is serving.


While Max was in the mission training center a sister missionary from the Seoul West area came up to his group and asked if anyone was from the Oakland Mission. Max said he was and they exchanged information and went on their way. Sister Cho is here at the Oakland Temple and serving in one of the Walnut Ward. I have met her at the Temple and have had her and her companion Sister Nai over for lunch. And in Korea her Mom has phoned Max a few times and has had him and the other missionaries over to her house for dinner! I feel so blessed to have this connection with the Cho Family,and having Sister Cho here, in our house, getting to know us, and answering so many of our Korea questions. The Lord really knows what we need when we need it!

mp.danwho.net -- SNL: Don't Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford

This makes me smile and laugh. Watch it and then we can all go out to dinner with Jim's credit card!
mp.danwho.net -- SNL: Don't Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford: "SNL: Don't Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford
added: 02/07/2006"

Max's Birthday

This little video needs no explanation. Actually I am a little embarrassed to put it up, but its who we are. And I thought it was a bit amusing too. Other people put cute pictures of their little kids, well Jim and I are those little kids.

Do Overs

I'm so glad that there are do overs in life! Like re-doing your blog when your sons tells you, "its really ugly, let me do it for you". Motherhood is so good for the ego. You can count on your kids to tell you the truth. But seriously, think about all the do overs we get each day by just getting up and doing laundry again, the dishes, again, the floors, again, standing on the bathroom scale- AGAIN, making breakfast, lunch, dinner, changing diapers, taking out the trash, buying gas, eating your favorite foods, again, yum, looking at pictures of all the people you love or not, kissing, hugging, praying, journal writing, reading, changing your clothes, hair, make-up, shaving your legs, again.... wow that list could go on forever. But it does cause us to run into that great list we all have, the gratitude list. I stand back and think how much I take so many things for granted. What if I couldn't have all those do-overs? I guess I need all those things to keep perspective of how much I am blessed. Especially for seeing and hearing smiles and laughter over and over again!

For the Love of Family

You've gotta love family! Jim and I just spent Valentines Day at Laurel's little love nest to attend his brother Rick's wedding. No, Laurel and Ryan were not there. They had gone skiing for the weekend. Jim and I had a great time visiting with his family and celebrating Feb14Th with his brothers and sisters. First I should point out that there are seven kids in his family. His brother john is deceased and now the rest of them are married. One of my favorite moments of the day was when I found out that Jim's older brother could say all his siblings names at record speed and in order! He said the trick was in the "y" at the end of every ones name; Sammy, Jimmy, Janey, Johnny, Ricky, Stevie, Sara. Try it, it's actually fun to say.

So the wedding was a horse wedding in Eaton Canyon and everything appeared to come off great. They planned everything in 2 weeks! Which to most of us would be crazy, but they did a great job and their vows were heartfelt and tender. We all then went to Grampa Sam's for dinner and cake. I love being with my sister's in laws. I think because we are all getting older and have such history with one another. Anyway, crazy Aunt Mary did a great rendition of "Happy Wedding Day" ala Marilyn Monroe style, the bro in laws sang "Swing low Sweet Chariot" ( don't know why), and Lauren(the bride)'s step Dad sang a Chinese song about a Junk. Which was funny because we all thought it was a wedding song. Go figure..... That's why you have to love family. At least your own..

Laurel and Ryan's Wedding

I just watched this slide show a few times (!) in a row. My heart and mind is flooded with wonderful memories and all those smiles and tears! I have never seen Laurel shine so brightly, and I hope when she is an old woman she will watch this and all the love that she felt that night will come flooding back into her heart. We are so fortunate to have the tech to do that. Anyway, watch again and feel their love and remember who you love.
http://www.terrencebishop.com/2008slideshows/PleweSlideshow/

"My" cute grandson!

No w0rds are really necessary. Katie calls this the "Attack of the Aunties" to see more pictures click on Katie's blog. They are sooo cute!

Pity Party

I have to apologize for my last post. I guess I was having a pity party and I was the only one invited. I guess I'll chalk it up to instable hormones and move on. I think that is the message anyway. Just move on. No two days are the same, they always bring something different. Yesterday at church our Bishop in his message gave this quote, "The futures a mystery, the past is gone, and thats why today is a gift, it is the present." something to that effect. Not that anything has changed much since Saturday, its just different today.

Chin Up

Does anyone else have trouble keeping their, "chin up"??? I could use some help on this. You know just new ideas as to how to get threw the day to day. Don't get me wrong, I'm saying my prayers, trying to show more faith, reading my scriptures, working my Sunday lessons way in advance of Sunday, etc. but with all that is going on in the world and in my personal "Mashoonga!" world I find it harder and harder. And I hate to say it but money would help. So often no one comes out and says that awful truth: I need more money in my life! There I said it, if you say it it will come. I don't know that yet but we'll see. For me the burden of pressure that sits on my shoulders and just stays there seems to be finding a permanent place. I know the self help stuff, music, a song in your heart, cast your burdens on the Lord, but I come back to this lethargy that paralyzes me from "doing". I usually would garden or make something for someone, or visit a friend, or go to lunch, or shop, or take a class, or do service. But as our funds have shriveled up, and all gone to our business, there isn't anything left. No hair cuts, no contact lenses, no lunches, not even a costco card! This sounds so trivial, and I know there are so many with so much worse, physical pains, death, accidents, trauma, abuse, addictions, jail, prison, homelessness, oppression. I am grateful for my trials, I just wish I could afford them. So if anyone knows of some investors or has ideas to send me back to my possitive nature PLEASE respond!

A New Year

Thanksgiving has come and gone, Christmas too and even New Years Day is behind me. The three biggies. And yet I have not found the time to update my blog. Funny thing is Jim and Luke think I do it all the time. Not true at all. While I am on the computer, I'm usually reading everyone's blog and that takes a long time. You are all so cleaver, and the lay outs and pictures are so fun. So the creative procrastinator in me dreams about how I could improve, I try out a few things, press enter and.. you got it, I forgot to press save! Ugh. I think I can remember that now.

As I review all that has gone on in the last 2 months I'm amazed at how much we pack into a season. And the times I love the most are when I'm with family or friends, and the times when I have quiet reflections. Although I have to be careful with those reflections 'cause often I just end up in tears!
So I think I'll just post a few of my favorite pictures that come to mind as part of our holiday starting with Luke's birthday at Disneyland.

1. Talking to Elder Bogner when he flew to S. Korea, and on Christmas Eve- what a joy it is to hear from him. He has an exceptional Mission Pres. and his wife has a web site for the families of the missionaries. She posts regularly pictures and even videos of whats happening in the field. It helps to make the miles closer!

2. Baby Ryan! what more can be said about this cute little guy. I just can't get enough of him. And when he was here over Christmas I had to share him! I wish I had a fairy godmother who could grant me all my wishes and fill my bank account so I could go see him and have him come here too!

3. Our Thanksgiving on the beach with Carly and Luke.


4. The First Annual Guacamole-Off
staring "the Captain", Spencer and Ryan.
Guess who won?









5. Of course Christmas morning, well the whole day. I just love my family so much!


so
what else is there......hmmmm.. those blasted goals for '09....

maybe next time!!


Happy New Year!