More Sense of His Care

Last week I got off track on the subject of Faith In My Savior.  I found a Relief Society Article that mentioned faith in the Savior as women.  Then I went off on one of my favorite subject:  Unity in RS for women.  I may fix that or come back to the subject of faith at another time.

I have thought about today's words:  More Sense of His Care. It is wider and deeper than simply acknowledging that he cares for us or that we need to be more dependent on Him.  The words 'sense of' brings another feeling to my mind, but the thoughts will not coalesce into the appropriate words.

Our physical senses are the ability to see, hear, smell, taste and touch or feel.  What is a spiritual sense?  See and hear are used by the scriptures often; he that can see or hear, let him see or hear which indicates another level, a spiritual level to sight and sound.  There is a spiritual level to feel, something akin to love, compassion and joy that supersedes the physical realm. 

A Sense of His Care could be an augmentation to need.  It may be that special bond that comes from awareness and feeling that 'His Care' is The Pure Love of Christ.  

The best words of wisdom come from the line from the Hymn 124 Be Still My Soul:  "Leave to thy God to order and provide."  How better can we acknowledge and tap into the 'care' that he freely gives? 

At times there are thoughts going through my head that I cannot explain. Perhaps none of this makes sense to anyone; I thought about it a lot and may be way off.  Please share your thoughts

 Some words from the prophets: (with transfer errors intact)

I am convinced that none of us can appreciate how deeply it wounds the loving heart of the Savior of the world when he finds that his people do not feel confident in his care or secure in his hands or trust in his commandments.

Listen to this wonderful passage from President George Q. Cannon teaching precisely this very doctrine: “No matter how serious the trial, how deep the distress, how great the affliction, [God] will never desert us. He never has, and He never will. He cannot do it. It is not His character [to do so]. He is an unchangeable being; the same yesterday, the same today, and He will be the same throughout the eternal ages to come. We have found that God. We have made Him our friend, by obeying His Gospel; and He will stand by us. We may pass through the fiery furnace; we may pass through deep waters; but we shall not be consumed nor overwhelmed. We shall emerge from all these trials and difficulties the better and purer for them, if we only trust in our God and keep His commandments” (“Freedom of the Saints,” in Collected Discourses, comp. Brian H. Stuy, 5 vols. [1987–92], 2:185; emphasis added).

Elder Talmage used the word succor. Do you know its meaning? It is used often in the scriptures to describe Christ’s care for and attention to us. It means literally “to run to.” What a magnificent way to describe the Savior’s urgent effort in our behalf! Even as he calls us to come to him and follow him, he is unfailingly running to help us.

 He wishes us to come unto him, to follow him, to be comforted by him. Then he wishes us to give comfort to others. However halting our steps are toward him—though they shouldn’t be halting at all—his steps are never halting toward us. May we have enough faith to accept the goodness of God and the mercy of his Only Begotten Son. May we come unto him and his gospel and be healed. By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland  

The quotes say there is more to His care than we can see on the surface.  Learning to 'sense' this is the tie that binds us to him spiritually.  Make sense?  

HAPPY THINKING


BLOG'nGRAM

Wreath for the season: Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day deserves a fancy wreath.  I found some fun stuff in the store and made a red and white wreath.  It is foolish and silly and fun.

There are feathers and poof, and parrot tulips and gerber daisies.  What could be more fun than feathers and poof.  I sewed a basting stitch through the red tulle until the bobbin thread ran out.  It took half a roll of tulle trim.  Then it gathered up to only two and one-half feet.  I tied the ends together and placed it in the center of the wreath squishing down the top so I was shaped like a heart. I don't worry about it falling out because the base is one of my homemade grapevine wreaths.  It has little curly-Qs sticking out all over and they catch the tulle and stick to it.  If it happens to fall, I can just poke it back in.  No biggie.  Easy peasy.

Have a great weekend.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY SOON

BLOG'nGRAM

Southern Lady

The bead project du joir is called The Southern Lady Bracelet.  I admit I made this one exactly like the bracelet by the same name on Fusion Beads.  I loved it too much to change it, and I had to make it.

I love turquoise and coral together whether it is salmon coral or red coral.  Turquoise and red are a Southwestern tradition.  

This beauty is made with size 8 Matte Opaque Variegated Turquoise Round Japanese Seed Beads, (Not real turquoise) 4 mm Red Round Czech Pressed Glass Beads  (Not coral, either.) and Size 5 Dark Olive Baroque Pearl Seed Beads.

The nice thing about this bracelet is looks like a stack of separate bracelets, but it is just one bracelet to fasten on your wrist.  Can someone invent a way to put a bracelet on your own wrist?  Husbands are not handy at it because their fingers are too big.  Long fingernails make it nearly impossible to fasten Lobster Clasps or Round Clasps that require opening the clasp by pushing down a little tiny opener. This bracelet has a Toggle Clasp that is the easiest one to operate by yourself.  The only problem with them is they sometimes come unfastened and whoops, lost another bracelet.  I have lost several--I almost hate to wear them out of the house.

I really love this bracelet.  If you are a beader, click on the Fusion Bead link above and order the beads.  It is a fun bracelet to make.

HAPPY BEADING

BLOG'nGRAM

PS:  One of the prettiest summer wedding receptions I attended used the colors red and turquoise.  I loved it.

Western Ways

The beads du jour is the Western Ways Bracelet from Fusion Beads.  For instructions go to Fusion Beads.  I love the bead combination and the attractive style and made it as shown in order to learn the technique of the wrapped cord bracelet.  I did change the button fastener for one I had that was saved from a dress I made in the 90's that was too faded and tight for me. 

Western Ways is a beginner level bead project.  It is very simple to do and great for combining with other bracelets for that stacked boho or friendship bracelet look.  

It is made with Swarovski Light Turquoise Crystal Rectangle Mini beads and size 8 Metallic Gold Japanese Seed beads.

The other bracelet is one I ordered months ago for a dollar from some place that I don't even remember and it just arrived via slow boat from China.  Some email orders are slower than others.  This has been so long I forgot about it.

Hope to have a craft project later today or tomorrow for Valentine's Day.  

HAPPY BEADING

BLOG'nGRAM

Windsday Pinsday --Kale

Kale has become the green jello of the new millennium. Don't you just love it?  Kale was never the go to vege when I grew up.  I am not sure I even knew what kale was.  Surely, it would have topped the list of least favorite foods right there next to broccoli.  Growing up on the farm we had a silage pit filled with chopped up corn stocks left fermenting for winter cattle food.  It smelled so bad.  When my mother served us chopped broccoli for dinner, I was convinced she had heated up some of the silage.  I just couldn't eat it.  I am glad she didn't know about kale.

This recipe unlocks the mystery of Costco's Sweet Kale Salad (Chou Frise' Doux).  You can purchase a big package of this salad for about $5 that serves a huge crowd or several small salads for two and it comes with the dressing and dried cranberries and pepitas.  I'm not sure why I need to break this down, but some of my children have never eaten it and asked me for my own version.

From the garden's bounty

That looks good on this crystal winter day of clear blue sky and a foot of undisturbed snow still piled in the garden rows. I can see a double batch of fresh salsa and a yummy kale salad and other mouth watering foods.  I can't believe I didn't get the blog written last fall.  I took all the pix.

This is the best greens cleaner.  Cut them up, soak in ice cold water, drain easily, pull out the basket and dump the water (I always water my outdoor plants with it), return to base and spin them dry.

Remove the rib (chop it up and feed it to the chickens.  The girls are not big on pecking it apart).  Chop and wash.  This is obviously not baby kale and it will be tougher and stronger flavored. You can rub the leaves to soften them up a little, but I don't. We just chew it longer.

Add other finely sliced greens like cabbage (green and purple), broccoli shreds, chicory and slice Brussels sprouts. This last addition is such a good surprise. I put them in most of my green salads now. By the way, Costco's salad mix has less kale where mine is mostly kale.  The other ingredients I add if I have them on hand.  Add dried cranberries and pepitas, toss in Poppy Seed Dressing and serve immediately.  Sunflower seed can be substituted for pepitas, but pepitas are the best. If you are wondering what pepitas are, they are shelled pumpkin seeds raw or roasted.

Use commercial dressing, my favorite is Brianna's Home Style Rich Poppy Seed Dressing, or make your own dressing with a recipe I found on Pinterest.  

These are the fixin's for a delicious homemade poppy seed dressing.  I found this recipe on Pinterest on the blog:  bellyful.net  called Homemade Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing.  It is very good.  Thank you, Amy at bellyfull.

• 3/4 cups mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup half and half
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2/ tablespoons poppy seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
• pinch of salt

DIRECTIONS

1. In medium bowl, whisk all the ingredients together until thoroughly combined and smooth.
2. Transfer to a clean jar and keep in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use. Shake well before using.

NOTES

Milk may be substituted for the half n half, but it won’t be as creamy. White wine vinegar can be substituted for the apple cider vinegar. This dressing will keep refrigerated for up to a week.   Makes 1 1/2 Cups.

I did copy and paste this time.  I was getting a bit tired.  I  use honey instead of sugar and only 1-2 tablespoons (to taste). 

TIP:  Honey is twice as sweet as sugar so you can use half as much.

I have another great kale salad recipe.   Maybe next week.

HAPPY GNOSHING

BLOG'nGRAM