Happy Birthday Relief Society

Lovely Susan G., Marty the Game Maker

Pru W. & Jessie A. . . BFF Debbie R.

Musical Chairs. . . Me and Karen A.
Thursday we had lots of fun at the Relief Society Birthday Party. It was a "Mad Hatter" theme. Marty gave away door prizes like they do on the old "Let's Make A Deal Show" where she would ask for things that you had in your purse etc. We had and LDS Standard Tea Party where we ate finger sandwiches, salads, and birthday cake. We had a game of musical chairs and some motivational speakers. Oh and of course, everyone came with a crazy hat or was provided with one. Lots of Fun. Thanks Jackie our Homemaking Leader. It was great!

"Sisters, Sisters,

There were never such devoted sisters..."

~Irwin Berlin

MY MARCH RECIPE

POTATO CASSEROLE
6 medium potatoes
1 can cream of celery soup
1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese
1 cube butter
1 pint sour cream
1/3 cup green onions (chopped)
seasoned salt (optional)
2 Tablespoons melted butter
1/2 to 3/4 cup cornflake crumbs

DIRECTIONS: Boil potatoes until almost done. Peel and shred (or cube) into mixing bowl. In pan on stove, heat soup, cheese, butter, sour cream & onions. Heat until cheese melts, then pour over potatoes. Add season salt for taste. Put in casserole dish. Combine 2 T Butter & cornflake crumbs; sprinkle over top. Heat in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.

This is a recipe otherwise known as "funeral potatoes". There are many variations and this is my favorite. Enjoy!

Jake - Chivay/Colca Canyon & Machu Picchu

Martha Ann & Steven David Together

My parents first born grandchild was my sister's oldest, "Martha Ann" named after my sister and my paternal grandmother. She came 32 years ago on March 21st. Interestingly, her birthday is the same as my parents youngest granddaughter, my daughter, Jessica. Martha Ann left us as she was born. My sister had complications with her pregnancy bringing on the delivery that was too early for Martha Ann to survive. An interesting fact is that she was delivered in Lancaster California even though my sister was living in Utah at the time. She came to see my older brother, Mark, return from his mission and upon arrival to Lancaster, she started having contractions. The baby didn't survive and she was buried in a children's section of a cemetery in Lancaster. Ten years later another tragedy in the family, our baby son Steven David passed away upon a family visit to Lancaster. Curiously, the grave next to Martha Ann had never been taken for use in that ten year period and so we were able to bury our baby next to Martha Ann. Somehow, I believe they were meant to be next to each other. When I visit my family in California we take the time to go visit the graves. But I have greater solace knowing that my sister Martha, now resides in Lancaster and can visit the grave more frequently.

"Families can be together forever."

Happy 13th Birthday Jessica!

Last But Not Least

"The Carsons"

1st and 2nd Place

Last night was our annual Pinewood Derby for Cub Scouts. It was Carson's "last" race because he turns eleven in two weeks and moves up to boy scouts. He placed 2nd overall among all the cub scouts and got first place in his Webelos Den. It was a fun event thanks to the cub scout leaders. Way to go Carson! Good job.

Black cars, blue cars, green and gray,

Do-da, do-da!

Are running on the track today,

Oh, do-da-day!

Happy St. Paddy's Day

Here are some fun "Irish sayings"

to celebrate this day:

"Mothers hold their children's hands

for just a little while and their hearts forever."

~Irish Proverb

"May your blessings

out number the shamrocks

that grow and may trouble

avoid you wherever you go."

~Irish Blessing

"If you lie down with the dogs,

you'll rise with fleas."

~Irish Proverb

"It's easy to half the potato,

where there is love."

~Irish proverb

"A best friend is like a four leaf clover,

hard to find and lucky to have."

~Author Unknown

"May your pockets be heavy,

your heart be light;

may good luck pursue you

each morning and night."

~Irish Blessing

Happy 16th Brithday Michael

Michael and Emma as little tots

My brother Adam's children

Michael is my brother Adam's oldest son. Carson and Michael got to be good video game buddies last summer when we visited family in California. This is Adam's kids when they were real young. Adam was blessed with red hair and no one in the family passed it on. We'll see if it ends up skipping a generation. Anyway, Happy Birthday to Michael.

Meet Me in St. Louis

This week I booked tickets for Angie and me to meet up at the Nursing School of St. Louis University. We'll be spending the weekend there at the end of this month checking out the campus, seeing where she'll be attending church and figuring out where she can live. She's been accepted to the accelerated bachelor's nursing program that lasts a year, from May to May. We're excited for her and hope this we'll be a good choice for her future.

"Nursing is a work of Heart"

March Madness for 10 Year Olds

Carson with Coach Spivey

2nd Place Winners

Carson ended his basketball season with 2nd Place in their League at Gray's Creek. So the team got to go to a single elimination tournament in the county. They won their first game and lost their second. Carson had a really good season this year. His coach said his "quick release" shooting helped the team with a lot more scoring and his teammates voted him best defensive player on the team. Next year he'll move on to the 11 and 12 year old age group which for me, is the funnest to watch. Go Carson!

Warming Up Before a Big Game

Family History Surprise

Samuel Randolph Williams,

born 3rd March, 1810, Ohio

died 25th June, 1885

Hart, Oceana, Michigan

(My great, great grandfather)

My dad has always had a passion for family history. His family is from Michigan. Being in the navy brought him to California when he was younger and he ended up settling there. We didn't have much contact with our Michigan relatives when we were young, but one day, sometime after my grandfather had died, some of his family had been going through his belongings and found some old photos. They knew of my dad's interest in genealogy and sent him lots of wonderful photography of family from the 1800's and 1900's. I don't know much about my dad's family except dates and places but I'm learning little tidbits here and there from family members and also by going on the Internet and studying the histories of others. I hope to learn more about them so that in the future, I can make a history about the families and not just dates and places.

Family faces are magic mirrors.

Looking at people who belong to us,

we see the past, present, and future.

~Gail Lumet Buckley

Rare Snow in March

"Poor Dottie"

Wishing there was more snow

We had a rare snow storm come through North Carolina. The western part of the state got the most but here in Hope Mills area we only got a trace, much to the sadness of children and a few dogs.

“Getting an inch of snow

is like winning 10 cents in the lottery.”

--Bill Watterson