A Christmas Carol

John, Ally and I are representing our family in our Stake Play this year. Our Church has done a play every 2 years for the past 20 years and it is a major production! There are over 125 cast members and a 12 peice orchestra! We are doing the musical version of "A Christmas Carol". The directors are awesome and the people we have met are so wonderful! It has been a great experience!

My Crazy Trolls!

I call my have lovingly called my 3 littlest kids "trolls" since they were old enough to stomp around and wreak havoc! I walked into Kendryn and Cara's bedroom to check on how far they had progressed in picking it up and this is what I found! Crazy girls! They told me they were stretching! I will post more about them later! So much more to say!

Thank You.

I got an anonymous call last night with a directive to look on my porch. This is what I found when I did.
If you ever get the chance to read this, THANK YOU.
There are truly angels living among us.

Happy Birthday to my Hot Husband!

I love you, John Starke! I have loved you for what seems like forever and I will continue to love you with all of my heart for ever and ever and ever...........
We have been married almost 15 years there is still no one I would rather spend my time with than you! Thanks for being a wonderful dad and and my very best friend! Thanks for making me laugh every day and making our home a nice place to be!
Happy Birthday! Ha! Now you are the same age as me! OLD!

Bread

So, I have made this commitment to regularly post on this blog to fulfill my journal obligation. I am sadly starting to run out of ideas after the first week! I know, pathetic. I know that not many people read this but I thought I would post my recipe for whole wheat bread. I make it twice a week and it only takes an hour from start to finish. I use whole white wheat and I grind it myself. It make 4 large loaves. My kids love it and I feel great feeding it to them. Here it is:

Whole Wheat Bread

6 cups warm water

12-15 cups wheat flour or more

2 TB salt (Real Salt)

¼ cup Lecithin

¼ cup vegetable oil or applesauce

2/3 cup honey or agava

2 ½ TB Dough Enhancer

2 ½ TB Saf Instant yeast

3/4 cup potato flakes (optional, but great!)

Directions:

1. Combine 8 cups flour, 6 cups warm water with dough hook

2. Mix in yeast

3. Add salt, honey, oil, lecithin Turn mixer speed to 1, then two, three, four, adding flour as flour pulls away from the middle (up to 15 cups total) I usually use about 131/2

4. Knead in mixer 7-8 minutes

5. Add dough enhancer

6. knead two more minutes.

7. Cut (don’t pull) dough apart

8. 4 large or 6 small loaf pans

9. Cover with plastic wrap. Let rise to double—dough above pan about an inch and a half.

10. 350 degrees 28-38 minutes (180 degrees)

I usually add about 13.5 cups flour total. Depending on your water in your flour you may need more or less flour. I grind white wheat and it tastes great but red wheat or a combination of both works well too!

In Loving Memory

This summer my Mom's side of the family gathered in Coos Bay for a memorial. It was a time to celebrate the lives of two fabulous people that we had lost. One, my Nana, had lived a full life and passed away at 95. The other, my Uncle Mike had lived a hard life and left this world too soon, leaving behind two beautiful children and a grandchild he never got the chance to meet. As we gathered at my Grandma's house and reflected on these lives that had touched ours, I was grateful for many things. Most of all I am so grateful that we have choices. No matter the mistakes our parents make, or that we make as we progress in this life, we always have a choice. It is never too late to change, never too late to make things right. As long as we are here on this earth we can make a choice to positively (or negatively..but I am focusing on the positive) affect the world and those around us. I am grateful for the opportunity to self-evaluate and make corrections in my life. I still have a long way to go, but that thought gives me hope!

Pallo Family

We had friends visit us last night. We stayed up until midnight chatting, they are so fun!
Nicole and Aaron have been some of my closest friends for many years! I was there when they met, watched them fall in love and get married in the temple. Nicole and Aaron have an 18 year old senior, Gage (MHS!!) and a 4 year old cutie pie, Alex. I am so glad they are so happy and have such a wonderful family! Please visit us any time!