Oh my goodness, this is incredible!!

This video was passed on to my by my grandfather. I am so grateful he did. What an awesome video and awesome advice. It's about 7 minutes long, I hope you really take time to watch it.

My little McKay

I just love this boy. Did you read the post about Makenna earning $5 by learning to tie her shoes? Well, McKay learned to tie his shoes shortly thereafter. Makenna chose to spend her money and ger her ears periced. My dad jokingly said to McKay,

"So Mickey, are you going to get your ears periced with your $5?"

McKay: "Grandpa!! (With a ton of sarcasm in his voice) Ear peircing is for girls!!! I'm going to get an Easy Bake Oven!!!!!"

And that he did.

He couldn't be happier.

Kenna earns a quick $5!

Brett told Makenna that when she learned to tie her shoes, we would give her $5. So, on our way down to California she spent practically the WHOLE DRIVE practicing tying her shoes. She got it pretty quick, and she was so proud of herself. She could even do double knots! By the time we got to Barstow, she had already decided how she wanted to spend her $5. She wanted to combine it with her own money and get her ears peirced. Wouldn't you know, they have a Claire's store in the outlet mall.

So, we did it! And she didn't even bat an eyelash! (Well maybe just a little....)

This is Makenna's cheesy, happy, thrilled smile. She is excited beyond words right now. (Her teeth and mouth are blue from a blue sucker given to her by the ear pericer, for being so brave).

Such a happy girl!

BYU Women's Conference

Well, the cat is out of the bag. Those of you who know have been bugging me to post about this, so here it is:

I am speaking at BYU Women's Conference this year.

Shocked? I know, I was too.

You may be asking how I got roped into this? You see, I have this friend. Well, she's technically my mom's friend, but she's my friend too. She lived 2 houses away from us in the ward I grew up in. I used to babysit her kids and she was my personal progress leader in Young Women's. Well, now she's on the Women's Conference board. She called my mom last summer and said, "I've been thinking about Cami for months, do you think she'd speak?"

Of course, my mother was thrilled to accept for me.

So, there it is. I'm speaking and I'm totally nervous. I know my talk will come and Heavenly Father will help me know what he wants me to say. I am confident of that. I know that generally, it is the overall feeling and spirit of Women's Conference that inspires, uplifts and encourages women. I don't expect to give this grandiose talk that will change people's lives or give a speech that they'll remember for rest of their lives. But, I am also very aware of the fact that there might be 1 or 2 people in my audience who really need to hear what I have to say. So, I am definitely feeling the pressure.

Your prayers are greatly appreciated.

Thank you for all the support and kindness and pep-talks I have received thus far.

The Book of Mormon and Freedom

This is an awesome video with words from latter-day prophets. The Book of Mormon has so much to offer; not only knowledge, but blessings from Heaven if we read it often, sincerely, and obey it's teachings. I know this to be true, I have seen it's power in my own life. The study of it has brought answers to prayers, more peace in our home, more obedient children and the spirit has been more abundant in our home.

Shoulder Surgery Update

I am doing much better!

I am getting my mobility and range of motion back.

I am not taking my pain medicine anymore.

I am not even wearing my sling.

Life is good.

I'm thankful for a body that can heal; for bones that can be shaved-off and then fix themselves, for muscles that can be torn and heal themselves. I am thankful for a maker who created our magnificent bodies and that I have been blessed with good health.

Thank you for all your well wishes and your concern. They have meant so much to me and our family.

My Valentines Day present!!!!!

I GOT A BOSCH MIXER FOR VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

Many of you out there may not think that this would be a good Valentine's Day present. You may be saying, "A mixer? How could her husband get her a mixer for Valentines?" Well, let me just tell you, I WAS THRILLED!!!! I've had my own wheat grinder for a few years now and I've loved having it. I've been able to make a lot of things with it, but not much bread. You see, most the bread recipes I've inherited or been passed along don't just make 1 or 2 loaves. They make 5 or 6 loaves! I only have beaters, people. I have a hand mixer. That's it. There is no way I was going to try those recipes by hand. You may ask, "Well, why not try to scale down the recipe to make 1 or 2 loaves?" I've tried that too, and once you start getting into fractions and decimals with measuring cups, it just doesn't work. I've had a few attempts at this and the outcome was not desirable.....

So, I've been wanting some type of mixer for a while....but since we've been feverishly working on getting out of debt we could not justify the expense.

I had to wait.

Well, the waiting was worth it!!!! Here is my new beauty of a mixer:



Yesterday I made bread! I made 5 loaves of 100% whole wheat bread. I ground the wheat in my own wheat grinder and I mixed it all up in my new Bosch! I made it and it turned out so good! I was so excited! I think I was smiling all day!

Here is the recipe I used. It's from a good friend, Sandy who shard her bread making talents and an enrichment night during the summer.

2/3 Cup vegetable oil
1 Tbsp. salt
3 T. instant yeast
2/3 cup honey
6 cups hot water
6 cups whole wheat flour to start, plus approx. 8 cups

Mix oil, honey, salt and water. Add 6 cups flour. Mix, then add yeast. Mix in rest of flour, one cup at a time until the desired consistency. Use kneader attachment and knead for 6 minutes, or knead by hand for about 10-12 minutes. (I just let my dough mix around in my Bosch for about 8 minutes). Let rise until double. Punch down. Let rest for 1 minute, Shape and put into pans. Bake for 10 minutes at 400*. Lower temp to 325 for 20 minutes. Remove from pans and cool on racks.

**My favorite loaf that I made yesterday was a variation that Sandy suggested at her class. I rolled the bread dough out, spread a little olive oil across the surface of the dough. I then added dried rosemary, garlic and basil. Then you roll up the loaf and bake it just like normal. It turned out SO YUMMY!!!! Seriously, it tasted like a loaf from Great Harvest. SUPER, super good!!!