The Soldier King

No one seemed to notice
The man beside the road
He was just a ragged soldier
Out there in the cold
But he seemed to have a purpose
Only known to him
As he walked along the streets that night
Through the town of Bethlehem

In his head he held the memory
Of all the wars he'd known
In his hand he clutched the medal
For the bravery he'd shown
And the weight of every battle
He carried in his heart
But his eyes were clear in searching
For a manger in the dark

Some are born to greatness
Some are born to fall
Some are bound to be forgotten
Like they'd never lived at all
We're all born to know Him
And stand before His light
Like the soldier who found his King
Tonight

He had marched for politicians
Served under their command
And fought for all their causes
That he did not understand
But there was something deep inside
Enough
That led him on his way
With a single star to guide him
To where the Baby lay

Some are born to greatness
Some are born to fall
Some are bound to be forgotten
Like they'd never lived at all
We're all born to know Him
And stand before His light
Like the soldier who found his King
Tonight

He stood before the Son of God
Come to pay our debt
He smiled up at the soldier
That the world would soon forget
So he held out his medal
And said, "This for You I pray."
And there he swore allegiance
To the newborn Baby King

Some are born to greatness
Some are born to fall
Some are bound to be forgotten
Like they'd never lived at all
We're all born to know Him
And stand before His light
Like the soldier who found his King
Tonight

I am thankful for my brother and all the other troops who are serving us today to ensure our freedom to worship whoever, however and whatever we may!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas...

Merry, Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Great Big Hugs & Sloppy Kisses to All of You From Me!

A Fun Time Was Had By Micalanne

Last night was a very fun night. I was able to go to dinner with two of my favorite girls Judy & Janet! I was also able to meet Randi, Janets work buddy. It was really great to be able to see Janet after so many years!!!!! When I lived in Las Vegas with my family so long ago, I had always enjoyed Janet's company because of the ease of being around her calm demeanor, her "laugh-from-the-bottom-of-my-belly" humor, and her kindness.

Janet, it was great spending a little bit of time with you and hope to do it again soon! Say hello to Randi and tell her she became a new fast friend because of her love of words!!!!! I love words too!

A Poem by Lauren Child

When I was walking up the road, not down,
I came upon a strange, strange sound.
It made me jump,
It made me squeal,
Many goose bumps did I feel.
When I looked to see
What had made the noise
It was just a bunch of stinky boys.

Just a Quick Blurb

Well, I guess the only way there is going to be a new post on my blog is if I put one there! Funny how it works that way...

So far, Dawnae's and my art that is hanging in the Redlands Gallery has not sold, and there are only 4 days left of the show. Do we keep them in for the next show, or not; that is the question.

On the other hand, I do have some exciting art news to share. I have just landed my first paid mural/faux finishing job at my friends house. She has 4 boys, 2 per bedroom. She has asked me to paint an apple tree and airplanes (old 40's era style) in the little boys room, and in the older boys room she would like me to add a dry brush finish, an image of one of the older boys doing a flip in the air painted above his bed and an image of the oldest boy doing a trick on his skateboard painted above his bed. So fun!

I start these two projects a week from Monday and plan to have them finished in two weeks time. I am so excited!!! I struggle with canvas work so this will be all fun for me. One great thing about doing this for my friend is that I will help her get these two rooms finished; which will give her peace and rest, and allow her to concentrate more on enjoying her family.

(LaRae, this will not prevent me from helping you with your quilts should you need me to; I will be able to help when this job is completed.)

Wish me luck, and pray for me to have nimble fingers and un-spillable paint cans!

Crafty Hands

My sister Judy and I love to sew, especially quilts. We inherited that love from our mom (and her mom). She is an excellent seamstress, baker, crocheter, etc. In fact, anything she makes with her hands is either: beautiful - if it's to be looked at, comfortable - if it's to be worn, or delicious - if it is to be eaten! We grew up watching her create. It is only natural that we would have picked up the needles and hooks, too. One of my favorite family traditions with my own kids (the girls) has been to crochet during General Conference. However, for this next GC, we have decided to include our boys in our creative efforts by setting up a still life for everyone to draw while we watch and listen. (Yes, Bart, that includes you! Trust me, there is no excuse, even running the St. George Marathon the day before, that will let you escape! Good Luck on your run - Boston or Bust!)

Judy has created some very beautiful crocheted items over the years; my favorite being an afghan for our dad and a scarf for me. A few years ago, she made and sold the most charming hand-sewn fleece baby blankets that were marketed under the name of her company, rightfully named, "Charming Charming Blankets". After that adventure, she moved on to sewing skirts for herself. It was after her skirt days that she got into quilting. She made a Christmas quilt that is just adorable. With Fall here, and the holidays just around the corner, she is sending me pictures of more cute Christmas quilts that are so tempting to begin! (I keep reminding myself I am up to my elbows in paint)

Quilting, crocheting, painting and drawing are not just enjoyable past-times for me, but they serve a great purpose as well. When I am considering a new topic I've been reading about, or am very perplexed about a situation that requires action, my hands go to work. I worked on this little black, red and white project when I took Cameron out of public school and homeschooled him for the year. He would sit on one side of the sewing table, and I would sit on the other, as he talked to me about whatever it was that caused him to dislike school so much. By keeping my hands busy, my mind could put the information he was giving me into perspective without making me too much of a crazy woman. (I have very strong opinions about how children are best educated; and what he was telling me of his experiences conflicted with my ideas!)
















At the end of the school year, I had only completed these two separate squares, just as they are shown here. But, that's okay. The quilt served its purpose for me; and my son is now able to go to school day after day and enjoy success. Thank Heavens for the inherited lessons of craftiness from my mothers hands; I don't know how that 2nd grade year would have been accomplished if it hadn't been for a project to keep my hands busy!

Church Art Update

I have told Dawnae several times that I am a very slow producer of art. Nonetheless, slow as I may be, I do get some work done. I have some bold colors on there right now, but they will evolve over time.

I've decided to use Bethany for the young brunette woman. I am the older woman. For those of you who see me often, can you see the resemblance? And, after debating about putting a young child in the bottom left corner, hanging on to the young woman's skirt, I made the decision to use photos of Lauren & Ashley from when they were almost 5 years old. They will both be in the bottom left hand corner, close to their "Mom", looking at the older woman that is being served. My goal is to have this completed by the end of the school year. Wish me luck and I'll keep you updated!

Monday's Moment

Under Pressure

Okay, so I folded under the pressure and dropped my Spanish 101 class. It was hard! And I didn't like not knowing the answer when Mi Profesora called on me! I'm weird like that...

However, I have kept my Oceanography 101 class. It is the telecourse version so I can watch the "lecture" on TV, or on my computer, whenever it works into my schedule. And I am really enjoying what I'm learning. Of course, I become fully involved in each class I take, meaning that when I took Medical Terminology I "was" a doctor. And when I took Child Development, I "was" a child development expert. And now that I'm taking Oceanography, I "am" an oceanographer. Too bad I couldn't be a Spanish speaking Oceanographer at the same time...

Sadly, I'm really missing my studio art classes!!! I had a great time last year taking painting and I'm really looking forward to getting back into art classes again.

I'm so excited because tomorrow is Take-In day at the Redlands Art Gallery for the new show. The theme is "Fall Colors". I'm especially excited about it because Dawnae will have one of her pieces in the Gallery, too! The following pictures are of my "Fall Silhouette" and Dawnae's "Sunflowers"! I still need to get a picture of my piece framed. I will update this post with that soon.

Wish us luck on a Great Show and Quick Sales!!!

See Post Previous to Thursday Thirteen for my Montana Adventure Excuse!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things I Love About My Husband

13. When he takes the kids with him to run errands on Saturdays

12. His desire to show the kids the world

11. His persistence

10. His attention getting schemes

9. His ability to get only a few hours of sleep night after night and still go to work everyday

8. His ability to problem-solve

7. His love of discovering/experiencing delicious flavors

6. His love of running

5. He has a nice rear

4. He is not embarrassed easily

3. His commitment to duty

2. His woodworking skills

1. His smile

Excuses, Excuses!

So, why would I, a wife and mother of four, fly to a place I have never been, where I know absolutely no-one, have no connections, and spend my time driving the countryside just to take pictures?! This has been asked by several people over the last few weeks; along with "Help me to understand why!".

I have been considering how I could answer this question and wishing a simple "Because..." would suffice. And truly, the easiest way to explain it is because I was supposed to go with Bart to Chicago, then cancelled at the last minute and had a plane ticket that needed to be used. But, this doesn't explain going to "The Boonies" alone. Hmmm... I'm still trying to understand it myself. So, let's take a walk down this country lane and try to figure this out.

I live in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains. We have an incredible view into the valley and are privileged to witness the most beautiful sunrises and sunsets every day. (They rival Montana Big Sky sunrise/sunsets) Our little neighborhood was built with the requirement that each home lot size be at least 1 acre - in order to accomodate horses. (There are many horses in Yucaipa) We have the friendliest, most down-to-earth people in our community. I would be welcome on anybody's land to take pictures of their gardens or horses. (I could easily manipulate & pose gardening & equestrian equipment, near their barns, to make it look like it was from Montana) So far, it sounds like Yucaipa has everything that Montana has. Still the question remains, "Why go so far, alone?".

Let's continue our walk.

If I ever have decisions to make, points to ponder or a need to feel close to my Heavenly Father, then I go to the temple. I am blessed to have the Redlands temple just a hop, skip and jump away from my house. I have often come away from temple worship feeling closer to my Heavenly Father with a renewed commitment to act as His daughter and live up to the covenants I have made with him. I have been able to make decisions and come to a greater understanding of principles I have been studying. However, because we have lived in the San Bernardino area for many years, I inevitably run in to someone I know each time I go to the temple. As much as I love this, and look forward to it, for the decisions I needed to make and the need to know my status with God at this time in my life, I felt I needed to be in the midst of his beautiful creations - the "wilderness" - where there was no chance of running into anyone I know. While in Montana, I was never interrupted and was able to keep one line of thought the entire time.

I ask you, what Mom is able to say that they had 4 days of uninterrupted thought?!

I came home with a renewed spirit, ready to take on the new school year and all its commitments, and some beautiful pictures that I can look to for continued inspiration. It was truly a blessing to be able to have the freedom to care for myself spiritually and creatively, all at once, for an extended period of time.

So, there you have my reason. Did you enjoy your walk with me down a country lane? I did. Do you understand any better? I hope so. Will I do it again? Certainly. When and Where? Well, Ely, Nevada is on my list, but I'm not sure that taking pictures of brothels will bring me closer to God. I can't promise when or where I'll go next time; who knows, I may just end up wandering around in your neighborhood!

Watch Out World, A New Driver on the Road!

I can honestly say I never believed this day would come! As of this afternoon, Bethany is a licensed driver! A very bitter-sweet experience I must admit. Her dad picked her up from school (a new experience for him-it's quite a process) and took her to the DMV. This will be a memory for both of them for years to come. I would have been a bawling baby sitting there in the DMV waiting for her to come back from the test. I'm so happy for her.

I'm so happy for me.... "Bethany, can you run to the store and get..." and "Bethany, can you take so & so here". However, each time she drives away, my heart will cringe and an intense prayer will be said for her safety and my ability to let go some more.

Congratulations, Bethany! I love you!

An Artist's Delight - Thanks To Bart

There are a few things that I am a real push-over for. A list of these things may include pastures, green trees, wide open spaces, mountains and a blue sky. Well, would you looky-here; Montana has those very things - all together - here and there and just about everywhere you go!

Unfortunately, this time of year, there is a tendency for electrical storms in that part of the country. During my visit, the strike of lightning caused several fires to burn throughout the whole western side of the state - from Yellowstone National Park located on its Southern border to Glacier National Park in the North, bordering Canada. Due to these fires, the smoke spilled over the mountains and filled the valleys with a thick grey - masking the beautiful countryside. Luckily, I was able to capture this scene before the smoke got too thick. If it was clear that day, you would have been able to see the white M on the side of the farthest mountains. (just like the Y in Provo for BYU) Montana State University is located in Bozeman.After noticing the plumes of smoke from the fires, I decided to chase them and try to get pictures of the dangerous event. However, as noted in my previous post, I was sidetracked by some beautiful creatures - the grizzlies. After visiting with my furry friends for a few minutes, and having forgotten the excitement of the fierce fires, I was again sidetracked by a very inviting single lane road that led me to a peaceful hillside with landlots of 10+ acres for sale. One of these lots had a two-story house and 3 outbuildings. (Notice the plumes of smoke in the background.)

Yes, it certainly was a curious sight; dilapidated buildings with a satellite dish still attahced to the roof of the house, yet, a combination of appliances dating back to the 50's and up-to-date clothing strewn about, in what could be called the workshop, as if everyone left in a hurry.

I took it upon myself to explore the property. I found no-one at home, but plenty of critters were crawling around in the tall grass making me feel not-so-warm-and-fuzzy. I decided immediately the cause of the quick abandonment was that it was haunted! Why else would someone leave such a beautiful place! Ghosts, or no ghosts, I was determined to acquaint myself with whatever else this property had to offer an artist for inspiration. Other than the house and buildings, just look at what I found!

Could I have asked for anything better than this old well and water pump?! (If I'd had them with me, I would have haphazardly posed my red cowgirl boots just beyond and to the left of the pump. Can you visualize that scene?)

So, haunted or not, I fell in love with this old house, it's critters, the view and especially the well and pump. I feel so privileged to have been able to experience this peaceful (sort-of) setting.

And, I say, "Thanks Bart, for keeping the home fires burning while I was away, and for supporting my ever-calling, not-so-understandable, wanderlust. You're the Best!!!"

Para Mi Hermana's Judy & Amy

Happy 1st Day Back to Work, Girls! I hope you are enjoying your familiar classrooms, the sound of the bell, the idea of lesson plans, homework and tests.

It is rare to find people like yourselves who have such passion not only for teaching, but for the subject they teach, as well; and may I add "a certain emotion" for their students? (I invite you to explain to us what that "certain emotion" could be)

Below is an old school house from the Bozeman, Montana area that is no longer in use for educational purposes. There were a few things about this building that captured my attention. First was the fire-engine red paint! And then, how well kept it is. Next, it was the size of the lot - about 150 sq.ft. - and the chain link fence that framed it. But what charmed me the most was the one metal slide and swing set with two seats. These two lone pieces of playground equipment sparked my imagination into creating all sorts of stories about the people - the children and their teachers - who were once an integral part of this buildings purpose. And, of course I imagined Judy, Amy and my Grandma Pederson as the teachers of those children. Each of these women have/had a flair for drama and/or play, and learning from them is/was such a pleasure. Truly the children would not have felt that they had spent a day "working" at learning; but that they were on a quest of discovering the world about them as they played. I thought, maybe the chain link fence wouldn't have been there in earlier years - but no matter - they would have felt the same sense of security knowing their teachers were there watching them.

So, from my imaginations of the past generations, to you who invest so much of yourselves in the future generations, I wish you the "Best of Luck", and, "Best of Students" this next school year!

Scenes of Montana for Janet

Are these not the cutest cuddly grizzly bears you've ever seen?! They were both rescued from either being raised in a 5x3x3 cage, or an abusive private owner.
SO CUTE! This 700 lb. male lumbered over to the boulder for a little rest. In the 25 minutes I watched the bears, he got comfy like this several times. Maybe its his message he needs a good chiropractor?! I got a kick out of him. This 400 lb. female was so beautiful! My camera could not completely capture all the colors in her coat.

I happened upon this rescue facility as I was chasing the Montana fires. I never got to the fires because I found these cuties. They were the highlight of my day.

Freaky Friday

Although this picture is a couple of years old, it is a great display of Cameron's expressive face! And while Lauren looks like an innocent bystander, trust me - she had some plan brewing to tease "the boy".

I'm Leavin' - On A Jet Plane - Don't Know When I'll Be Back Again!

I am leaving for Montana on a work trip. Just me and my camera. I will miss all my bloggerland friends - oh, yes, and my family - but I promise to bring back some great pictures to share with you all.

I promised Judy I would find her a cowboy husband. Anybody else need anything? Mark, will you be around that part of the country this weekend?

~See you soon ~

Wordless Wednesday - San Francisco's Japanese Tea Garden - Especially For Dawnae!

FBI's Most Wanted!

Ashley's Reply

After reading all the comments on the post about getting her braces off, Ashley said, "Aww, that's nice!"

Thank you for all your Cheers to her.

It's Football Time!

Cameron is my favorite boy. He is energetic, full of expression, fun-loving, smart and, of course, quite handsome. I try to keep his hair short so I can see that handsome face. However, his sisters would have it otherwise. They want him to have long hair. They believe long hair would be the best "Look" for him. I've had to quickly "shush" their fashion ideas because he takes their opinions very seriously. And once he decides something, it can be very difficult to convince him otherwise. Luckily, football season has come to my rescue. One of the requirements of being on the team is to have his hair shaved to a length no longer than the #2 on clippers. Amen. Below is his best attempt at being "big and bad, mean and mad". (This also happens to be the exact look he gives me when I ask him to do things like, clean his room, do his homework, brush his teeth, etc. It means..."I don't quite agree" or "You actually expect me to change my plans?")
The day we shaved his head we also had to pick up his practice gear. He was so excited he wore the only shirt he owns that has a graphic of a football player on it. However, this is a long sleeved shirt and it was a very hot and muggy morning. I was concerned that his behavior would be less than desirable. Somehow, he seemed to know that amidst these males, you don't whine or complain. He patiently waited with me in a very long line to be fitted for each piece of his gear. And as we walked to the car he was able to juggle all his gear and bottles of gatorade without my help. Having mom help was unaccaptable in this setting.


But he couldn't actually wear his gear on the field until he had completed his 10 hours of conditioning. He was excited about his preparation for conditioning week. And even though he had heard his coaches call it "Hell Week", I don't think he had a true appreciation for what was to come. Well, "It" came! Beginnning on Monday, each night last week he had two hours of intense workouts. The coaches had these boys doing push-ups, leg-lifts, high leg lift runs, running hills, running laps, crab walks, and other exercises that mimic the moves when playing football, etc. And when they had done all of these, they did it all over again. If they began to fall behind, or do something incorrectly, the coaches would yell something like, "What are doin'? Pickin' flowers or playin' football?!" or "What'sa matter? You wanna go hug your Mom?" or "Box it up tight, boys! We're playin' football!" or "Who said you can slow down? You wearin' your sisters shoes? We're not dancin' boys! We're playin' football!" You bet, it was just like boot-camp! No coddling here.



(pictures of his workouts to come; they aren't cooperating tonight)


And guess what? The boys L-O-V-E-D it!!!! (I praise the man who invented football) It is a complete God-send for boys. Just as girls have that sense to know who needs what, boys have a sense about how to "box-it-up", do "up-downs", be aggressive and just simply sweat. Within the boundaries of football it is okay to grunt, spit, tackle, run with all their might, and push themselves to limits they have never known before! In this setting, they are not in trouble for having so much energy! They are not only allowed to be rambunctious, it is expected! And it is all done in a safe place where neither they, nor their neighbors, get [intentionally] hurt. How great is that?!

So, to my son, who was so pleased with himself as he worked so hard this week at being a boy, I say, "Good Job and Rest Well!"

Congratulations Ashley!

A long time ago when Ashley was in 5th grade, she went to the Orthodontist to help close the gaps in her teeth.
Little did she know she would have to have oral surgery to extract 3 teeth and pull one tooth down and out of her upper palate. She was a real trooper, never cried or complained, because that's how she is.
Finally, 2 1/2 years later she patiently waited for her name to be called for her to go back to "the chair".
Just a simple wiggle on each piece of her braces and Viola! off they popped in one piece.
Here she is with her beautiful smile (which has always been beautiful, not just because she got her braces off) with her celebratory bottle of Martinelli's apple cider and balloon. Yea! for Ashley; we're very happy your Orthodontic experience is over!

Remembering the Great Things of God

Well, this is what I've gotten done so far on my painting for the Art Competition. The sketch is not complete. For example, I want to add a child under the outstretched arm of the woman on the left. And, I'm not sure what to do with the background behind the woman on the left. Also, I have just sketched a simple bowl being handed from one woman to the other, just like I had mentioned before, with the plan of having it filled with either fruit or vegetables. However, I'm thinking about changing it to a water pitcher.

The woman on the right will be older, as you may be able to see by her "double chin" sketched in, and she will be dressed in fancy expensive clothes. The color of her fabric will be more "rich" looking than what is there now. The woman on the left will be dressed in simple clothes with neutral simple colors. She is younger with children under foot.

Behind them I have sketched a well, which needs to be larger I think. Behind the well is a building with a tree. Whether this background stays is something you and I will just have to wait to see.

I still have a lot of research to do on 1st century clothing, landscapes, etc. I also need to get lots of pictures of my models - Bethany, Lauren and Ashley - in the same pose.

So, wish me luck and I'll keep your posted.

Per Janet's Request/Menu Monday II

Okay Janet, I've got another one for you. I like to do this year 'round. I take a pot roast, like the ones you get in a 3-pack from Costco, and put it in the crock pot covered in salsa. Depending on the size of your crock, you could use either 1 or 2 16 ounce jars of salsa. However, before you throw just any salsa in, you have to decide what your intentions are for the pork. If you are going to use it for flautas or burritos, you use green salsa. If you plan on using it for a sandwich, use red salsa.

Let it simmer away for 4 - 8 hours.

If you used the green salsa, it is ready to be used as is in your flautas, burritos, etc. You can add some more salsa if necessary.

If you used the red salsa, take the pork out of the crock, clean out the used salsa, place the pork back in the crock. Pull the pork, then cover (not too much) with your favorite BBQ sauce. Heat through. When it's heated through, pile pork on your favorite bun, add some more BBQ sauce, a pickle, onions prepared your favorite way (grilled, sauteed, in strings) and your fave cheese.

Not only is this yummy, it's nice and messy! This would be good served with any kind of potatoe salad or cole slaw or chips, you know, picnic stuff!

Try it and tell me if you like it.

My Weekly Hello to Janet!

Hi Janet! I hope you are having a great day and I'm glad your boys are back nice and safe!

Menu Monday

One of my favorite ways to prepare either steak or chicken is to marinate the meat in Italian Dressing in the refrigerator for at 24 hours and sometimes up to 36 hours. Once it has been marinated, it is as simple as tossing it onto the grill long enough to cook through but keep its moisture. Yummy!

As a side dish, I like to roast potatoes that have been cubed, sprinkled with olive oil and melted unsalted butter, salt, pepper and fresh grated parmesan or asiago cheese. Although it is tasty, I prefer to not combine the two cheeses, just for simplicity's sake. My family likes to add either sour cream, ranch or bleu cheese dressing to the potatoes but I prefer them just as they are when they are finished grilling. They can be prepared in the oven as well and turn out just as good as on the grill.

Along with these two dishes, I take a fresh loaf of French Bread, spread butter and roasted garlic on each slice and broil them just long enough. This is otherwise known as, as you all know, "Garlic Bread". I have never tried grilling this but have just had the thought to try it and see what comes of it.

Of course, the veggies can often be the star of the show. I like to slice squash in long thin slices, marinate them for up to 2 hours in olive oil, garlic salt, freshly ground pepper, lime juice and sometimes hot salt then grill them for just a few minutes. These can round out the meal nicely.

Although dessert is illegal my new favorite one is to place a small chocolate chip, or oatmeal chocolate chip, cookie in the bottom of a dish, scoop in some ice cream and drizzle with hot fudge sauce with just a dab of whipped cream and a cherry on top (not the maracino kind, a fresh one)

So, here is today's dinner answer to the consistent plea that I named my blog after, "Mom, I'm Hungry!" What are you having for dinner?!

Silly Sarah

This is Silly Sarah Anderson. We had a great time watching Sarah while we waited for the Fireworks Show to start. She is so darn cute! Can you see me?
Now watch what I can do!
Peek a Boo! Here I am!

This is Sarah and sister Becca. This is a picture that perfectly portrays the love and admiration within the Anderson family. What is especially amazing is that is picture was taken after Sarah had been pulling up the grass and putting it in Becca's hair! Silly Sarah can be quite a Stinker, too!

Yummy Restaurant in Park City

Below is Bethany, Ashley and Lauren at Red Rock Restaurant in Park City, Utah. Very Yummy and Healthy food for the hungry travellers.

Above, Bart and Cameron pose for me, but to the left I caught them in their natural "giving him a Noogie" state.

And lastly this is Miss Ashley who was the only female who allowed me take more than one picture of her. She's fun and adorable with a cute, infectious giggle! Come on Bethany and Lauren! You've got to allow your mother some fun and let her take more pictures of you!