Anyone care to get drunk with me?

The lemonade here is clear and fizzy, I really don't like it, but give me American style lemonade, no fizz, regular, pink or strawberry and I'm in heaven. I saw this bottle of what looked like real American lemonade, nice cloudy yellow in colour at the store so I bought it. I opened it today very excited and started to slug it down, only it was fizzy and tasted really strange, ginger and alcohol like! Oh yes, Mormon and pregnant I was drinking an alcoholic beverage. As soon as I stopped drinking it the first thing I read on the label was "does not contain more than .5% alcohol." How come I didn't see that in the store? I've never even heard of alcoholic lemonade, only in Ireland I guess. So much for my enjoyable drink of real chilled lemonade, the rest very quickly went down the drain.

christian the lion

This made me come to tears when I watched this today. Samantha wants to watch it over and over again so I just thought I'd share. I'm a cat lover so this really tugs at my heart strings.

Sophie's love affair with her yogurt

Does anyone experience this on a daily basis? Samantha was exactly the same at this age, only she liked to rub it into her hair too!

The Power of a Shoemaker

Deldon's dad sent us this story to go in their mission monthly newsletter. I find it so exciting to think that the blood of this shoemaker flows in the viens of my husband and children. I love that they come from long tradition of faithful members of the Church that I've never had as my parents where the first generation for my family. Hopefully we can all do a little better, I know I can, in our efforts to take more opportunities to share what we have.

Soon after her arrival in Trondhjem, Norway, Anna Widtsoe rented an apartment for herself and her two boys in Steensbakken (Steens Hill). She was kept busy enough with household cares, dressmaking, and reading and studying her Bible. . .
One day she asked a neighbor to recommend a shoemaker to whom she might take her son’s shoes for repair. One Olaus Johnsen, a very competent, honest workman was recommended. In fact the shoemaker’s son, Arnt brought to the house a pair of captain’s shoes, and took with him for repair, a pair of John Widtsoe’s shoes. When the boy’s shoes were returned, a Mormon tract was stuffed in each shoe. A little later with a parcel containing another pair of old shoes, the widow set forth in the warm sunshine of the spring of 1879 for the half-hour walk to Johnsen’s shoemaker shop. It certainly did not occur to her that she was making the most fateful visit of her life . . .
Olaus Johnsen was a wholesome, well-spoken man in his forties; as a workman who knew his craft but who had earlier been expelled from the island of Ytteroy by the priest, owner of land he worked and the constable because he would not renounce his new found faith and moved his family of 6 via ship 47 kilometers to Trondheim. Anna Widtsoe first met Karen, and made inquiry about the meaning of the tracts found in her son’s shoes that had been returned, repaired. Mrs. Johnsen declared that they told the truth, but that Mr. Johnsen would explain the whole matter.
The shoemaker agreed to put soles on the shoes. The widow was about to leave the shop, yet a little curious about the tracts which she had found in the first pair of shoes when they were returned, but unwilling to ask too many questions.
Anna’s hand was on the door latch when the shoemaker said, somewhat hesitatingly, “You may be surprised to hear me say that I can give you something of more value than soles for your child’s shoes.” She was surprised. She looked into the eyes of the man, who stood straight and courageous in his shop.
“What can you, a shoemaker, give me better than soles for my son’s shoes? You speak in riddles. “ was her answer.
The shoemaker did not hesitate. “If you will but listen, I can teach you the Lord’s true plan of salvation for His children. I can teach you how to find happiness in this life, and to prepare for eternal joy in the life to come. I can tell you whence you came, shy you are upon the earth, and where you will go after death. I can teach you as you have never known it before, the love of God for His children on earth”.
Understanding, happiness, joy, love -- the words with which she was wrestling! But this was the shoemaker’s shop. This man was clearly a humble man who knew little of the wisdom of schools and churches. She felt confused. She simply asked, “Who are you?” “I am a member of the Church of Christ--we are called Mormons. We have the truth of God”. Mormon’s! It was terrible. She had innocently walked into a dangerous place. Hurriedly she thanked the shoemaker, left the shop, and climbed the hill.
Yet, as she walked homeward, the words of the shoemaker rang in her ears; and she remembered a certain power in his voice and majesty in his bearing when he delivered his message and bore his testimony. He was a shoemaker, but no ordinary man. Could it really be that the Mormons had the truth of the Lord? No, it was absurd! But, it made her thoughtful and restless. When the repaired shoes were brought to the house a day or two later, by the shoemaker’s young son, Arnt. Anna Widtsoe found, carefully tucked into each shoe, a Mormon tract. The shoemaker was valiant. He missed no opportunity to fulfill the obligation of a Latter-day Saint, to bear witness modestly and properly but steadily, to all of the world. Then began two years of struggle.
The tracts in the shoes aroused her curiosity, to the extent that one Sunday she went to a Mormon meeting. The meeting room was on the second floor of the shoemaker’s home, a sturdy log house which had been built from the very lumber removed from the evacuated home on Ytteroy. A small group of people were there; a fiery speaker, a missionary, raised all manner of questions in her mind. The main effect of that meeting was resentment against the primitive environment of the meeting, and the quality of the people who constituted the membership of the Trondhjem branch . . .
Soon, however, all was forgotten in her battles with the shoemaker and the missionaries upon the points of doctrine. She knew her Bible. Time upon time she came prepared to vanquish the elders, only to meet defeat herself. She had not read the Bible as these men did. Gradually she began to comprehend that her reading had been colored and overshadowed by the teachings of the church of her childhood; and these men, these Mormon missionaries, accepted the Bible in a truer, and more literal manner. She liked it. Nevertheless she fought fearlessly. It was of no se. At length she had to admit that the Bible was all on the side of the Mormons.
Even then she was not ready. There were other matters to be settled. Questions of authority, revelation, life within the Church, and a hundred others that her quick mind formulated, were presented to the missionaries, debated, discussed and taken up again. She had a worthy teacher in the missionary then in Trondhjem, Elder Anthon L. Skanchy, whose knowledge of the Gospel was extensive and sound, and whose wisdom in leading inquirers (including Olaus Johnsen and his family) to the truth was unusually fine. This well-informed, intelligent widow tested his powers. Upon her he directed the full battery of the Gospel evidence. Unwillingly, yet prayerfully, she became convinced that she was in the presence of eternal truth. Her son was to benefit from this combinations of powers: a loving, questioning mother, a brave and valiant member, a strong and powerful missionary and a loving Father in Heaven to set the stage for a powerful Apostle of the Lord.
At length, on April 1, 1881, a little more than two years after she first heard the Gospel, she was baptized into the Church. The water was icy cold. Yet, she declared to her dying day that never before in all her life she felt warmer or more comfortable than when she came out of the baptismal waters of old Trondhjem’s fjord. The fire within kindled, never to be extinguished. The humble people of the branch became her brethren and sisters. She loved them and rejoiced in their company. Never in her life did she speak of sacrifices for the Gospel, but always of the blessings that it brought to her.
Olaus Johnsen was my Great Grandfather, a valiant member and missionary who eventually migrated to Logan, Utah with his son’s Arnt and Alma Moroni (my Grandfather). May the Lord always bless you and know your mission is and always be worthwhile for you and your posterity. We love you.

President and Sister Johnson

Food glorious food

I have always had a great relationship with food, I simply LOVE it! Anyone who knows me well, knows food ranks way too high in my list of priorities. I have only ever met one girl that puts away food like I used to be able to in my younger days and not gain weight, and that was as co-worker in California. There is nothing I love more than eating out. I really miss the cheap cost of eating out in the States and all my favourite restaurants. When I was in college I got into a really bad habit of eating out pretty much every day except Sundays as it was so cheap! If I did that now not only would I be bankrupt but I'd be a ten ton tessy. My favourite chain restaurants would have to be Outback for their steaks and yummy creamy mash potatoes, Red Robin for their burgers, especially the bacon and guacamole burger. Chilli's for their Paradise pie, Wingers for their yummy wings and sauces, Olive Garden for the fettuccine alfredo and the lunch time all you can eat soup, salad and bread sticks - soupe tuscana is my favourite soup there. On the Border Grill for their 3 cheese burrito, Chipotle for their steak burritos, chevy's for their salsa and that huge meal for 2 with all the different fajita fillings like shrimp, steak and chicken, Trading Table for their cheesy fries and ultimate dipping sauce, Tucanos or Rodizizo grill for all the meat, yum! and the list just goes on and on. I simple love food! So here in Northern Ireland eating out is very expensive and just doesn't taste quite as good. But every Saturday night we do takeout at least, that's the one night I don't cook. Our favourite is chinese food, and I do have to say when it comes to chinese food, I do prefer it here. My favourite sauces are curry, kung po (hot sweet and sour) and Satay. I always have to have a portion of spring roils (egg rolls) and no boiled rice for me, it has to be fried. Curry is like comfort food to me, when I'm stressed I send Deldon round the corner to our local chinese to get me a snack which is locally know as a "half and half" (1/2 fried rice, 1/2 chips smothered in curry sauce) Deldon is always willing to oblige as he loves them too. Actually I sent him round to get one last night and I wasn't stressed, I just like them whenever lol. I also love super chips - this is actually a local dish just from my town - Lisburn, and it's good old british chips smothered in a chicken flavoured gravy with a bit of a kick, it's so yummy. Every time I came home from America to visit I had to get a super chip for dinner that night. Well last Saturday night whilst every good Mormon was fasting I had a craving for a kebab - another popular british dish so I had to go get myself one. I felt really bad for Deldon fasting, but hey this is one positive of pregnancy and I felt sick so I had to eat so I took a picture of my greediness, did I mention I had had a KFC for lunch lol. It actually looks really gross, but does taste yummy. It's on a stool because my lovely husband was mopping the floor so all the chairs were on the table. It's lamb cooked on a big spit seasoned and put in a pita bread then you choose your sauce. I like their chilli and garlic sauce, so have them mix it in a tub on the side for me. Anyways it satisfied a craving but I ate too much so ended up still feeling sick anyways! I just hate that I can't enjoy my food as much these days and everything that I normally love to eat repulses me, it's so strange. I just can't wait until I can get the love part of my relationship back with my food again. Did I mention I love to cook too, well not right now, but normally I can't wait to get everything ready for dinner. I start chopping everything up at lunch time as I can't wait to eat it. I'm sad I know! Well I just wanted to write about food since I can't enjoy cooking or eating until the morning sickness goes away, I feel much better now. Sorry for anyone that just had to read this.

10 year anniversary of the Preston, England Temple

Sunday Night my sister and I attended as stake fireside to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the Preston, England Temple. It was a lovely evening with the speakers being Elder Kerr, an area authority here and Pres and Sister Ferguson who are from our stake but are currently serving in the Preston Temple Presidency. I was on my mission in Germany when the temple was dedicated. I was so glad to be reminded of the blessings of the temple, I haven’t been since November and the evening got me really excited to be able to attend some Temples this summer on our tour. I am so grateful for the sacred ordinances in the temple that have blessed my life so richly. I was reminded of some fond memories of trips to the temple as our stake President encouraged us to take our children as often as we can. I have always been so thankful for the importance my parents placed on temple worship, even though the closest temple was in London. They faithfully attended and were temple workers despite the distance. We always had a picture of the London Temple in our home that I would look at when they went away every 6 months and would imagine them walking through the door. I noticed even as a small child the spirit of the temple that they brought back with them, they were always happier people when they returned. When we became youth we too where taken frequently to the temple and it was there many of my friendships with my stake friends were created. We always had fun and met so many cool people. We meet kids from Portugal one time and although we couldn't’t communicate with words we would sing primary songs to each other in our respective languages. I remember being so curious as to what was going on inside the temple as we would spend many days outside whilst our parents where in the temple. My friend Lyndsey shared the same curiosity. I remember us reading Old Testament scriptures that her uncle gave us to read and going to the distribution center and reading down the list of clothing and looking at each other thinking what the heck? The stake president jogged my memory last night of the time he and my dad took us and his kids to the London rededication open house. We had to take the ferry and drive overnight 12 hours down to London but broke down on the way. We said a prayer and got there in the end. When we left the temple that day I cried as we drove away because I always loved the way I felt when I was in the presence of the temple. I still feel that same spirit and excitement today as we drive up the M61 and the Preston Temple comes into view, I just love it! One of my greatest dreams will be realised the day I have witnessed all my children be endowed with power from on high in the House of the Lord.

Newcastle - where the Mountains of Mourne Sweep down to the sea

Dear Mary this London's a wonderful sight, Oh there's people here workin' by day and by night. They don't plant potatoes, nor barley, or wheat, but there's gangs of them diggin' for gold in the street. At least when I asked them that's what I was told, so I just took a hand at this diggin' for gold. But for all that I found there I might as well be Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.

I believe that in writin' a wish you expressed, as to how the fine ladies in London are dressed. Well if you'll believe me, when asked to a ball oh They don't wear no tops to their dresses at all! Oh I've seen them myself and you could not in truth say if they were bound for a ball or a bath. Don't go startin' them fashions, now Mary McCree where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.

Oh There's beautiful ladies, now never you mind. Loveliest shapes nature never designed. Lovely complexions of roses and cream, but let me remark with regard to the same. For if that those roses you venture to sip the color would all come away on your lip, so I'll wait for the wild rose that's waitin' for me in the place where the dark Mourne sweeps down to the sea.

and so the song continues.

I heard this song often as a child as my dad played it on the piano, and thought of it many times when I lived in the States. Newcastle is a great little day trip here in Northern Ireland. It's a little seaside town with a beach, funfair rides, shopping, and a forest park on the lower slopes of the mountains of Mourne. The mountains do literally sweep down to the sea, it's a beautiful site on a clear day. We had glorious weather on Saturday so couldn't miss the opportunity to take the kids there to have some fun. Here's photos showing what we got up to that day, excuse the volume but they are really for the benefit of the grandparents who are so far away.

Samantha wanted to ride the pony but once she actually got going she wasn't so sure

So Sophie took over on the way back down the beach, she has no fear.

Sophie sat quietly for the first 5 minutes on the swan boat, then was all over the place, they give you 20 Min's out there. I think we lasted about 10 between Sophie trying to jump over board and Samantha's navigation skills.

Samantha loves smiling at the camera

Playing in the playground area

Sophie chillin' on the swings

Samantha had some serious steering issues, the boys were racing around and the girls struggled.

Thought we'd send daddy on the train with her, problem was they could hardly fit in together

More fun at the fair

Sophie LOVED this mini merry go round, I think she had 5 goes on it and every time you tried to lift her off she had a melt down.

No day at the seaside is ever complete with out ice cream - here a speciality is Pooh Bears - a really rich creamy ice cream with honey comb through it.

Buckets and Spades

I saved the best shot for last. Deldon will kill me for this one - he was blinding us all with his whiteness, one of the joys of living in a place that has rain over 200 days out of the year.