My stupid weakness

Yesterday, I was talking to my brother about books. We were talking about our love for reading. How we love when a book takes us out of this world and puts us in their world. I love forgetting about the worries I have when I read a book. My poor husband always feels abandoned when I get into a book. I get so engrossed in it, that I don't hear him talking to me until he's said my name 500 times.... Sorry babe.

As I mentioned in my first blog post, I need books with dialogue. I don't know what it is, but when a book doesn't have a lot of dialogue, my mind wonders. I have a bad habit of skipping ahead to the dialogue. When I hear the book being read to me, I can concentrate just fine. I have been trying to read this trilogy called "The Sword of Shannara". Hardly any dialogue. If they talk, the bad guys catch them, and the good guys win. No one wants that. So why can't I read this book that is packed full of intense get aways, and cutting it too close hiding from the bad guys? That is the question. So this brings me to:
My new goal.

I am going to try and get over this weakness. It's a really lame excuse not to read books. There are so many books I've been wanting to read, but steered clear of, because the lack of dialogue. It's sad, really. Books like "Count of Monte Cristo", and "The Lord of the Rings", and, well, "The Sword of Shannara". So, last night, I picked up my book again. I separated myself from all distraction. (although, no distraction can be the worst distraction...) and I read. I read a chapter and a half that contained 2 VERY short conversations. It was mostly "They talked about this. They argued about that. So and so told them he didn't like what they were doing." and so on. I tried to get into it's world, and you know what? It kind of worked. I enjoyed it all. I'm excited to read more today (and before yesterday, I hadn't touched the book in several months).

I think I will always be drawn to books with dialogue, but I hope that the point will come that don't need it to enjoy a book. I would love to hear some books that you have read and loved!

Anyway, thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. Stay tuned, and remember God loves you! See ya!

I love to see the temple, I'm going there someday!

Today in church, we had a combined meeting 3rd hour. The Youth taught Primary and nursery so the adults could attend together the lesson that the stake wanted us to receive. It was on Temples and the blessing received from going to the temple. This is one of many things I love about my church. The work done in the temples makes it possible for ANYONE dead, or alive to receive the necessary ordinances to receive exaltation.



There are over 130 temples on the earth today. All over the world. And engraved on the temple it reads "Holiness to the Lord The House of the Lord" What an amazing blessing to have a place on Earth where we can be in the Lord's presence! It is a place to receive Heavenly guidance, peace, comfort, knowledge, and so much

more.

I am so grateful that Cory and I were sealed in the temple. Literally the most beautiful experience I have ever seen and been apart of. Knowing that our marriage lasts for eternity is such a comfort. I can not picture my life without him, and thinking about the after life with out him is so painful. We will be married for eternity.

It is no coincidence that we were place on this earth with a family. Families have a Divine role on earth. So if it's so important on earth, don't you think it would be important in Heaven. God is our Heavenly Father. So doesn't it just make sense that we have a Heavenly Mother? Jesus is our brother. There is a hymn that we sing at church called "O My Father" the third verse reads "I had learned to call thee Father, thru thy spirit from on high, but, until the key of knowledge was restored, I knew not why. In the heavens are parents single? No, the thought makes reason stare! Truth is reason; truth eternal tells me I've a mother there." (text by Eliza R. Snow) It makes sense. Families were made to be eternal. We are given the opportunity to receive eternal marriage in the temples. What a blessing!

Another wonderful blessing the temple offers is helping those who have passed on before they accepted the gospel of Christ. God loves each of us. No matter what we do. And if one of His children died before accepting him, or even hearing His glorious name, He gives them a chance to accept Him. So, in the temple we do work for them by proxy. Which means we represent them. Since they can not be there physically, we represent them. They can either choose to accept or deny the work. But we want to make sure that everyone gets that chance. How amazing! The love the Heavenly Father has for us is unmeasurable.

The Kansas City, MO Temple will be dedicated on May 6. The past 2 weeks and this week the temple is having an Open house. CNN covered this and did a very nice job. this is the link. http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/07/taking-a-rare-tour-of-a-mormon-temple/?iref=allsearch

I am so grateful for temples! I am so grateful for the gospel in my life. I'm grateful that Cory and I are eternally married. That our future children will be with us for eternity as well. I love my Heavenly Father. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Thank you for reading. If you are not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (The Mormons) I hope you learned something and have more respect for my faith. If you have more questions, you can go to lds.org to find answers and a church building near you. We are glad to talk about our beliefs, but not what goes on in the temple by detail. It is not secret, it is sacred. Please respect that.

Stay tuned! And remember, God loves you very much!

Picture 1- Salt Lake City Temple

Picture 2- Winter Quarters Temple (Where Cory and I got married)

Picture 3- San Diego Temple

Picture 4- Washington DC Temple

(For some reason, when I add pictures, it doesn't recognize where I started a new paragraph.....This bugs me. I'm sorry if it makes it hard to read for anyone. I am trying to figure out how to fix that. No luck so far though....)

Strawberry Pie!

Pretty much ever since Cory and I have had a kitchen, I have been dying to make a pie! So finally, Cory and I went to look at pie filling. It was ridiculous how expensive they were! We ended up buying fresh strawberries and right when we got home I went straight for the computer to look up recipes for strawberry pie. But I wanted to bake it. Needless to say, my first pie was a success!

The pie was a bit runny and a little too sweet, but that's not that bad. So, I will be sharing the original recipe, and then put down what people have said to do to fix the runnyness and stuff... if that makes sense...

First, the pie crust recipe I used:

1 cup and 2 TBS of flour

1 tsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup oil

Blend with fork

Add 2 TBS water

mix till it sticks together (should be hard to mold and keep together)

Form a ball and put between 2 sheets of wax paper and roll with rolling pin.

To keep the dough from sticking to wax paper, lift up wax paper, put back, flip over whole thing and lift the wax paper on other side...

You will want to repeat this recipe for the top crust. The hardest part I had was laying the crust over my pie pan. Cory helped me shift it around, so you might want a good helper to help. :)

Second, the delicious pie!

1-1/4 cups white sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

4 cups fresh strawberries

2 tablespoons butter

1.) Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees F

place one of the crusts into bottom of pie pan.

2.)In a medium-large bowl mix sugar, cinnamon, and flour. Lightly mix in the strawberries. Pour filling into pastry lined pan and dot fruit with butter. Cover with top crust, cut slits on the top. Seal and flute the edges.

3.) Bake for 35- 45 min, or until crust is slightly browned.

Like I said, it will come out a little runny. So this is what was suggested. I haven't tested it yet, but I will. Never you worry.

"Reduce the sugar to 1 cup and added 1/4 cup cornstarch to thicken the juices up...Overall, very good!" Jen (http://allrecipes.com/Cook/18648117)

They all pretty much say that. If you try it before me, let me know how it turns out! But that's it. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it. Stay tuned. Remember God loves you!

Probably the best dream I could ask for!

I have become obsessed with elephants! They just melt my heart. In Joplin, they have a circus half way house thing for circus animals, and every time we drive by I look for the elephants.

Cory and I were talking about going to the zoo sometime. We went to the zoo web site to see what they had. I was looking at their pictures and just seeing them put me in such a good mood. But only 2 or 3 pictures weren't enough. I had to see more of those adorable animals. So, naturally, I googled elephant's. EEP! So cute! That night, as I fell asleep, this is what I dreamt

My best friend, Lucy, the elephants.

I decided to be a volunteer at the zoo. Just to be around the animals would be awesome. I wasn't expecting to have any cool jobs, I knew I would just be cleaning up the poop.

As I walked into the elephant habitat, I large, but very cute elephant started walking toward me. It held out it's trunk to me as if a gesture to shake my hand. I shoot the trunk and continued doing my duties. The elephant started following me around and eventually started helping me. My co-workers started to gather around to watch.

"Lucy has never done that before! Sara, I think Lucy likes you!" my friend, Joe, pointed out.

I turned toward Lucy, giving her my attention. This was what she wanted. She held out her trunk and took my hand. She led me to a large shelf full of trinkets. Lucy would grab the odd objects on the shelf and hand them to me, she was showing me her treasures.

Our friendship blossomed over the next few weeks. I would give her gifts, and as she would open the box to her gift, she would do a happy dance (the cutest thing ever). I would play music while I cleaned the elephant area, and she would dance to it.

I brought Cory over to show him my new friend. Lucy greeted him with a kiss on the cheek by her trunk. She hugged me with her trunk, lifting me into the air. I would ride her, and teach her new tricks. We were best friends.

But then sadly, I woke up. I miss Lucy. She was the greatest!

Anywho, thanks for reading. Stay tuned, and remember to choose the right!

Hello April!

I don't know if it was just me, but March seemed to craw by so slowly! I think if the activities I did at the beginning of march and it's weird thinking that it was only a month ago. It seems like at least 3 months ago. Why is time going so slow for me? Excitement. Funny how time always does that. It's like punishment for not looking forward to everyday. What am I so excited about? Well...

In May I get to meet my new sister! My big brother got married at the beginning of March. I haven't met his new bride, but we have talked on the phone. What I can tell, we are so much alike! I am so happy that James is married! I love that my new, sweet, sister-in-law makes him so happy!

In June is my sweet husband's birthday! He will be turning 26. *crazy* I don't know what I am going to do for this wonderful occasion, but I want to do something big. But cheap. My present to him isn't exactly on the cheap side, so I want the event to be cheap, but fun. It's crazy to think that Cory and I are in our 3rd year of marriage! To me, that sounds like a long time (I know to all you "old married couples" you are laughing, but think back to when you were in your 3rd year...), but then, at the same time, I feel like we have been married forever! (in a good way) I barely remember what it was like without him!

In July is the famous Hale Family Reunion! Cory will finally get to meet my extended family. And that is a lot to take in, and he wont know any of the inside jokes. I am excited but nervous. I want this time to be really fun for him. But I can only see it as overwhelming. We have some family (Cory's side) and friends in the Salt Lake area, so either we will both take a day off and see old faces, or he will just take a break. But I am very excited to see my family.

Now that you know why times seems to have slowed this last month. Let me take some time to let you know that March was very enjoyable! I am loving my calling more and more, and I feel closer to the ward. The best part of March? The end of it. General Conference! Cory and I watched it at home. It was very relaxing and lovely. In between the sessions on Saturday, I baked a strawberry pie (recipe will come soon), it was so good! I am quite proud of myself! My very first pie. I love having a kitchen! (Have I mentioned that before?)

Sunday sessions of General Conference were amazing as well. I needed every talk.

Exciting news: the Kansas City Temple open house will be going on for the next couple weeks. I wish we could go! But sadly, our weekends are full. Kansas City is far away for us. But we are planning a temple trip at the Oklahoma City temple to make up for it.

Well anyway, now that my novel is complete, enjoy reading. Stay tuned. Remember, you are a child of God!