Happiness

...some looked to God and trusted in him during trials, while others complained and showed a spirit of rebellion and a lack of faith. It is not the conditions people are in that produce happiness but how they respond to those conditions. We are told that those who are faithful and seek the Lord during difficult times will be supported by him. Even though we may be required to experience great hardship, we will prevail over any difficulty by exercising faith and trust in the Lord.

1 Nephi 15-17

My scripture study a few days ago had the above in the heading. It really is about our attitude, and willingness to humble ourselves before the Lord that will fill us with hope. I did a little inventory afterwards of my attitude.

Long beans..thai style

I'm kinda silly but I grew things in my garden for a specific purpose. The pumpkins so I could make soup in the baby sugar pumpkins. Thai green beans...long long green beans. I was disappointed when all summer there wasn't a bean in sight but the bean plant was huge and there was several of them. Finally, October rolls around and I go out to the garden, lo and behold there are long strands of something dangling from my garden wall in the bean plant.



So yesterday I made Papaya Salad and Cashew Chicken for dinner. The Papaya salad calls for the long green bean, which is what I made it with in Thailand. I made it once before with Josh and Cindy using a regular green bean but it was a little big for using the bean raw. I had been waiting all summer to make this salad. Results weren't bad although the green papaya was a little hard, not quite ripe yet.

To give you an idea a bean goes from my shoulder past my hip. They are long and skinny.

I'm sailing...

Before I continue to the trip I must include my mammie's birthday celebration. Before we left on the trip my mom came a few days early. I gave her a facial and took her out to dinner as an early birthday present. So on her birthday we just went out to dinner and then had a lame-o Brownie Sundae. Sorry Mom!



The highlight of New Hampshire was the drive around Lake Winnipesaukee. I couldn't help but to laugh as I thought about Bob, "I'm sailing." Man, it is a gorgeous area to visit or vacation in the summer but really quite dead in the fall, empty beaches, and an empty lake.





We also drove through Kancanmangus Pass which was breathtaking...the little we could see of it. As in life we often can't see the big picture. We may be bitter, upset that the view isn't laid out before us, but then you miss all the small things that the Lord has along the wayside. It was pouring rain during the drive, and the clouds were heavy over us. Our stop to see a gorge, and waterfall was really beautiful. It was a great drive...after we drive down out of the mountain the day cleared up. I ran along an old railroad track.






I will remember New Hampshire for its many lakes, and hiking trails/camping.

Last of all is Ogunquit, Maine our final destination, with the exception of our stop in Pittsburgh, kinda a home away from home for me. Quaint little town right on the coast. We went on walks along the coast multiple times during the day. That was mostly what we did the 2.5 days we were there. I really love the ocean. I had lobster as well, which was pretty good. It has a crabby taste to me, and can be really rich.





We spent one day meandering through the towns, along the coast, stopping to walk along the beaches, and small towns. We saw President Bush's place, which I refused to play the tourist and take a photo of the house. I think it is ridiculous. We also went to the famous lighthouse in which Longfellow visited frequently.




Lastly Josh's place, Pittsburgh. The kids are growing up. Little Emil makes me laugh. His facial expressions are hilarious!

I'm a leaf peeper...

Although I stayed in the most hole-in-the wall joints on my recent vacation. It was still beautiful and it made the trip all the more memorable. I begged my mom in the middle of the summer to come out in the fall and go to New England with me. I've been to Boston, and MA area, so for various reasons I wanted to skip over that state altogether. We toured all over VT, NH, and the very south coast of Maine. It was splendid!



I was brought to tears as I sat watching Saturday morning conference in Sharon, VT, birthplace of Joseph Smith. I was meant to be there, that morning, during that session of conference. I can't explain the feeling, or my feelings coming to that point but the Lord knew what I needed to hear. It was a drizzly morning.
Everything was really beautiful. We visited several of Vermont's many Maple Farms. I was fascinated with the process of making maple syrup. Did you know it takes 40 gallons of sap to boil down to 1 gallon of syrup. Now I understand why it is so expensive and so delicious!

Ben and Jerry's was a interesting place. The successful story of two young entrepreneurs. I really am impressed with companies that also give back to the community in various ways. I got to try Oatmeal Cookie, which was the flavor of the day. Not bad. There have been a dozen or so flavors that didn't make it in the market so they retired them to the flavor graveyard, wooden headstones scattered throughout the fenced graveyard in remembrance of each unsuccessful flavor venture.









Oh how I love ice cream! Maybe it is due to the nightly bowls we had of vanilla ice cream with hot fudge or carmel that I'd swirl up into a milkshake as a kid. Maybe?.

Montpelier. Small capital with a beautiful capital building and restored downtown makes for a nice stroll/short run. We stayed nearby in good ol' Barre.



The largest granite quarry is located right outside of Barre, called the Rock of Ages. Random fact: The Bountiful temple is made from the granite that comes from a quarry right outside Royalton area where Joseph Smith was born. The quarry was amazing. Since the quarry is so close the Hope cemetery has very unique headstones, various athletic balls, airplanes, cars, pyramids, and huge monuments.





Oh I can't forget the visit to Norman Rockwell's Museum in Stockbridge. I love his artwork, the creativity, the still life that is captured so marvelously. I've always liked him...my mom had a picture posted in my room growing up of a tomboy girl standing in front of a mirror holding up a dress. It reminded her of me.




Cabot Creamery supposedly the world's best cheddar. Do you know the reason our cheddar is yellow. If someone asked me what color cheese is, I would say yellow. But cheese is really white. Yes I am stating the obvious. I learned while I was there that the history behind the coloring, cheese from Britain was white and the farmers and early Americans wanted to have a way to differentiate their cheese from the Brits so they colored it yellow. Initially it changed the flavor of the cheese but not so anymore.





We hunted for covered bridge all over Vermont, some still remain hidden from us. We couldn't find them. Covered bridges, unique to the east, so it made for an interesting stop but I did get sick of hunting them down.

oh bother...

Today I decided it was time to clean out the car! I hadn't vacuumed the inside since my move from Cali which was over a year ago. Gross I know but I kept telling myself I was going to get it detailed soon, and soon just kept getting put off. It was filthy dirty not dirty unorganized though. Since I was already out I decided to clean the outside as well. Two things happened...my car wouldn't start afterwards and it rained. My battery was kaput...on the trip with my mom it also died. Thankfully, one kind old man of the 8 sitting in rocking chairs in from of a quilting shop said, "if my battery died, I would want someone to help me." We were fairly clost to having an unexpected layover at Lake Winnepesake, NH. When I went to check it out post the first jump the mechanic said the alternator was in good shape and the battery's charge was fine. So I figured I was good to go but after 10 minutes of vacuuming today with my radio on proved otherwise. After a nice lady jumped my car for a second time. I called a friend worried because I couldn't turn my car off without it dying. I didn't want to get stranded. I took my car to the Sears car department conveniently located by Kmart, very close to my house.

I decided today I really need a man in my life.

Best event of the season...reallly a dream come true

I must include this event in my blog because it is so significant to me. A few years ago I had listened to a talk which encouraged everyone to make a list of things they wanted to do, accomplish, see...whatever in our life times. I made my list and it is huge.




U2 Concert...check!







Loved it! I don't care where I sat, although I am slightly jealous of my roommates who were in the inner circle on the floor and probably 10 feet from Bono. I am just glad I got to be there. It really was a dream come true!

I was like a little kid on Christmas Eve in anticipation of the concert. Yet I must say that there is one thing I didn't really care for...propaganda. I came for the concert, not to be brainwashed about some lady exiled from her country, or how well his campaign for fighting HIV in Africa is doing. Sorry. I came to hear Bono sing his heart out to the tunes to so fill my heart with joy!

A few of these songs, I hate to admit it moved me. At different times in our life we listen to love longs, hate angry songs because of the current events of our lives. This is exactly what happened to me this night.