M.I.A.

Yes, yes, I am missing in the internet world, as of late. However, it is all for a good cause! See, I am doing a fireside in Houston, TX this week and I decided to get the most out of it and spend an entire week with my sweet little sister and her fam!

So, while you are not reading all the thoughts that run through my little mind, think about me basking in the glorious 80 degree weather on a beach in Galveston, or wandering through the streets of Woodlands....or just simply breathing in this perfect air....I swear humid air feels like breathing in conditioner or lotion for my dry, moisture deprived lungs...and I can't get enough of it!

As soon as I head home, I will be off on a fun date with my hubby for the weekend in St. George. THEN you can have my undivided attention! :) See ya next week ya'll! :)

Fishes Wishes

Have you heard about these little girls? 

This is Alice (2) and Natalie (8). They both have a very rare disease called Leaky SCIDS. It is an auto immune disorder that was threatening their lives. The only hopeful cure was a bone marrow transplant. So, over that last few months, this family has been going through the process of finding donors, going through chemo to kill the marrow in their bodies and then through the transplant process. 

Both of these girls are my friend Lisy's daughters. One of their brothers was a perfect match for Natalie and able to donate. Alice finally received a match from an anonymous stranger. Thank goodness! 

I have been amazed at the burden Tyler and Lisy have been carrying on their shoulders. 2 girls in the hospital, plus surgery for one son to be able to donate, no to mention the fact that they have a very young baby that also needed to be with Lisy. So crazy! 

This has been something they have been dealing with for so many years. However, only recently has anyone known about it. My friend Wendy has organized so much of the donations, media attention, etc, needed to help them through this process. She has been so inspirational to me. I have never seen anyone, with enough on her own plate as it is, so willingly and lovingly give every ounce of energy she had, and then some, to aid and share in the burden of someone else. She is really quite an example! 

I want to thank Lisy and Tyler for letting us share in this experience with them. I know it is hard to share your burdens and experiences with so many, but because you have my testimony of modern day miracles has grown infinitely! My testimony of the power of prayer and the reality that God hears and answers them is stronger than ever! There is no possible way to know what has happened thus far in this experience and doubt the existence of a loving Father in Heaven. So thank you! Thank you for letting us watch this experience unfold! 

If you want to see something incredibly amazing you should really read their blog! They have documented daily the things they have experienced. Videos included. 

Just over a week ago I read the blog and saw that Alices body was not "engrafting" or accepting the transplant. I feared so much for her little life. My heart ached to think of the grief that was waiting to receive Tyler, Lisy and their family. I know that grief, and I ached for them to face the same. 

We decided to hold a fast for little Alice. As this decision was made and just as the fast began, little Alice took a turn for the worst. She had a seizure and crashed totally. You can read about that night HERE. It is heart breaking! 

We were all grateful that the inspiration for the fast had come earlier that day and the fast had already begun. The next day was filled with heartbreaking fear. To be honest, I watched my phone all day worried for the phone call to come that Alice had returned to our Father in Heaven. It didn't come. Thank goodness! 

Instead their was a post that left no room for the denial of miracles. Though Alice had been incoherent, she was suddenly talking just like her cute little self. Tests were done, there were no lasting effects, or even signs that the seizure or any damage had taken place. Within hours Alice was back in her normal room, and hours after than, miraculously, engrafted! Her numbers that indicated the marrow was taking hold grew day after day. Just over a week after this terrifying accident came a post stating that Alice was going home! You have to read it and watch the video! So amazing! You can see that one HERE.

Alice has changed lives! She is a positive little girl, with a very strong spirit! Her parents just posted this about her! So profound! So inspirational! I just had to share it with you! I hope you read it! I hope I can be more like Alice with the ability to see the good in everything....even, and especially in the hardest times! 

 READ "ALICE INSPIRED" POST HERE! 

If you would like to help the Fish family in anyway, be sure to check their blog, on one of the links above, for details! 

Recipe #19: BAKED FRIED CHICKEN

This is a recipe I posted a while ago on Our Life Uncommon. It is blowin up the joint over at Pinterest, as of late! It is honestly the best chicken I have ever had! AND it is crazy easy! Today I thought I should share it here! I wouldn't want any of you to miss this glorious KFC remake! YUM!! Here is the exact post......

This is, hands down, a family favorite! Everytime I make this everyone goes nuts! I have actually made it a lot easy! It is super easy, so it is easy for big groups! I made it for our little family. Then I made it for the weekly Lindstrom gathering at my in-laws house, which usually includes about 20-25 people. Then, because it was such a huge hit there, we suggested to Jake & Tyler (cousin), whom are both working on their "Citizenship in the Community" merit badge for scouts, that this would be a great dinner idea for the Ronald McDonald House in SLC. A few days later, we were on our way up there. Salad, bread, corn, mashed potatoes & gravy and this chicken were all on the menu. The boys worked their little hineys off and we served nearly 50 people! We cooked 4 big bags of chicken tenderloin strips, about 100 strips in all, and we knew the meal was a success when there was only 1 piece of chicken left and a lot of happy faces! :)

I am pretty sure that I have discovered the KFC secret recipe! It is DEAD ON! It is also baked...not fried and there isn't any skin! So you get to enjoy the taste of the seasoning, instead of pulling it off because of the slimy skin!

This is super easy and you are TOTALLY going to love it!

ENJOY!

{Baked Fried Chicken}

Place thawed chicken breast tenderloin strips in a bowl of milk. Let soak for 20-30 min.

Mix in a Gallon Size Ziploc or Large Bowl:  

1/2 tsp. Salt

1 T Season All

3/4 tsp Pepper

1 c. Flour

2 tsp. Paprika

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut 1/2 stick of butter into a few pieces and place in a 9x13 pan. Melt butter in pre-heated oven.

Spread melted butter around the bottom of the pan. Lightly spray the pan, if needed, to make sure that there are no dry spots.

Shake excess milk off of chicken and completely coat each piece with the seasoning mix. You can either shake the chicken in the bag, until coated, or dip each piece in the bowl until coated.

Place each piece of chicken in the pan.

Cook for 15 min. Turn each piece of chicken and continue cooking for 15 more minutes, or until cooked through.

ENJOY!

"The Death of Pretty"

Oh my goodness! I just read such a great article! It gave me SO much to think about! 

Please read it! It is super short and totally worth the read! 

CLICK HERE to read! 

I wanted to find an image to go with this post. Something that would represent "Pretty". Even searching through images confirmed to me how skewed our perception of "pretty" is now. Other than this flower.....

There wasn't anything that I could find that represents "pretty". Especially among the women presented. Some of the images were so wildly inappropriate that I decided to give up the search. 

I looked up the definition of pretty and found: 

  "Pleasing or attractive in a graceful or delicate way."

Then I looked up hot, which just led me to a bunch of stuff about temperature, so instead I looked up sexy, since that is probably the word with the most similar meaning. I found: 

 "Arousing or tending to arouse sexual desire or interest."

Pretty different, don't you think? 

I have actually been thinking a lot about the impact of women liberation, etc. I found it really REALLY interesting that the man that wrote the article said this.....

"It is ironic that 40 years of women's liberation has succeeded only in turning women into a commodity. Something to be used up and thrown out."

Oh my goodness! Is that ever true?!

It is totally our jobs as women and mothers to stand up for pretty....for virtue & innocence!

This article stoked a fire within me to help my kids understand the importance of virtue and seeking after things that are "pretty" and reflecting them in their lives and choices. 

And can I say BRING BACK THE JULIE ANDREWS! Media needs a lot more people like her! 

SO PRETTY! LOVE HER! 

Recipe #18: BUTTERY BREADSTICKS

Remember how the other day you saw this delicious plate of Pepper Steak, green salad, and a yummy little bread stick? Well, you didn't think I would deny you the opportunity to know just how I made that little morsel, did you? Nope. I'm a bit nicer than that! 

BUTTERY BREADSTICKS 

From: World Wide Ward Cook Book 

Ok, now we are back to the fact that I DO NOT like bread. Weird I know. I mean, french bread, that crazy perfect bread at Zuppa's, all good, but they are the exception to my rule. My rule of bread is bad. No worries, my hubby and kids got to be the judges of this recipe and they give it a mighty thumbs up! They loved them, compared them to crazy bread, and devoured almost all of them! 

As for my judging of this recipe....they are super easy to make! SUPER EASY! I will totally make them again, often. 

INGREDIENTS: 

• 1 T. yeast
• 1 1/2 c. Warm Water
• 2 T. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 3 c. flour
• 1/2 c. butter (I used a dairy free margarine)

DIRECTIONS: 

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Dissolve yeast in warm water and sugar. Let it stand until foamy. 
• Place salt and flour in a mixer. Mix well. 
• Add yeast mixture to the flour and mix well. 
• Knead until smooth and elastic. Add a bit more flour, only if needed. 
• Let dough rise for 10 min. 
• Melt butter and pour into a baking sheet. 
• Roll out dough into a rectangle about 1/4 inch thick. 
• Cut into 1 x 4 inch strip using a pizza cutter. 
• Roll each piece in butter covering all sides. (It will be totally soaked and seem like too much. It absorbs during cooking so much! Don't skimp)
• Arrange in the baking sheet. Sprinkle with garlic salt or Parmesan cheese. 
• Let rise 15-20 min. 
• Bake for 15-18 min. 
• Makes 12 bread sticks. 

Recipe #17: PEPPER STEAK

PEPPER STEAK

From: World Wide Ward Cookbook

This meal really surprised me. I was a little unsure about it, but thought perhaps my hubby would appreciate something that says "steak" in it. The cooked peppers and celery....OH MAMA! Cooked celery, don't overlook it! It is DELISH!! 

OH and I have an announcement, believe it or not, Jake sang my praises through this whole meal! HE TRIED IT....AND HE LIKED IT, nay, LOVED IT! I was pretty pumped! So, this meal comes with Jake's stamp of approval, now that is a rarity! 

INGREDIENTS: 

• 1 lb. beef chuck steaks, fat trimmed
• 1/4 c. soy sauce
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 1/2 tsp. fresh ginger, grated, or 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 2 T. Olive Oil (if you find you need more, add. Original recipe called for 1/4 c.)
• 1 c. green onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 c. red bell pepper, cut into 1 inch squares
• 1/2 c. green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch squares (I was fresh out. Doubled the red peppers)
• 2 stalks celery, thinly sliced (don't skip this, even if you don't like celery)
• 1 T. cornstarch
• 2 Tomatoes, cut into wedges (optional, cause we are not fans at our house)

DIRECTIONS: 

• Cut beef across the grain into 1/4 inch thick strips. 
• In a medium bowl, mix soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and beef. Set aside. 
• Heat oil in a wok or large pan. 
• Add beef mixture and cook over high heat until beef is browned. 
• Simmer over low heat for 30 min. until beef is tender. 
• Add the veggies and cook over high heat for 10 min. 
• Combine the cornstarch with water and add to pan. 
• Stir and cook until the sauce thickens. 
• Stir in tomatoes and cook through. 
• Serve over mashed potatoes. 
• Makes 4 servings. 

Recipe #16: Lush Slush Punch

LUSH SLUSH PUNCH

From: Worldwide Ward Cookbook

I am telling you now, you want to make this! You want to make it for friends, family, neighbors, enemies....it mattereth not who it is for, you just MUST make it! None of us could get over how delicious this is! It is the most refreshing, most delicious punch EVER! It may or may not be because of the sugar....probably is, but a special exception to a no-sugar policy is well worth the smiles on your kids faces when you serve this up with dinner! Just go for a good family walk after to work it out of your system! And then brush your teeth, for the love of pete! Sugar = Cavities. OH, and I halved the recipe below and got the amount you see in the picture. Do what you will....

INGREDIENTS: 

• 1 1/4 c. Sugar 
• 6 c. Water
• 2 (3 oz) pkgs Strawberry Flavored Gelatin Mix
• 1 (46 oz) can Pineapple Juice
• 2/3 c. Lemon Juice
• 1 qt. Orange Juice
• 2 - 2 liter bottles of Ginger Ale

DIRECTIONS: 

• In a large saucepan, combine sugar, water, and strawberry gelatin. 
• Boil for 3 minutes.
• Stir in pineapple juice, lemon juice, and orange juice. 
• Divide mixture in half and freeze in two separate freezer bags. (I didn't have enough time to have it freeze completely. It was super cold and had a bit of a slush to it. Still perfect!)
• When ready to serve, place the frozen contents of one container in a punch bowl. 
• Stir in 1 bottle of ginger ale until slushy. Makes 30 servings.