A new year for Primary and I'm still the chorister. Yeah for Primary chorister! I think it's wonderful to have my very most favorite callings at the same time. Still. I love being with the kids and teaching the gospel through the Primary songs. There are some that are crazy and silly, but some that really truly explain exactly what we believe. And I love that. And I love being in Cub Scouts. My calling is actually changing, but I'm happy and excited and ready to stay in Cubs, but do something else.

I always like to have something to work toward in Primary--two years ago we did popcorn and had a large jar to fill with popcorn. As the kids sang well, they got a scoop. We were working to fill up the jar so we could eat a ton of popcorn. Then last year we did rice krispie treats, so we filled the jar with rice krispies, marshmallows (all sizes--including the huge Texas marshmallows), and M&Ms. They kind of got lost and we had to pass some of those around as a snack.

I was kind of getting tired of filling the jar and couldn't really think of anything that was cheap enough to fill it with and then throw it away since by October it may not be edible. We talked about it and started with sandwich fixings like a huge Subway, but came up with a whole picnic. So I made a double size poster and drew a picnic basket, complete with ants climbing up the side. I made it so it stands out from the poster and put in it a sandwich, drink, chips, chocolate cake, etc., all stuff for a picnic. As the kids learn the song, they earn a part of the picnic. And on the list of songs, I will put little ants that I drew to show they know that one. I think it will be fun.

We have changed to having the sharing/singing time with the whole Primary. So far it's kind of crazy, but I think they (they--the kids and us as leaders) will figure it out. We also have the last block, so the kids are tired. We'll see how it works. It's nice to think of only having to teach the song one time, but then there are things we do with the big ones that the little kids don't want or can't do and vice versa. But there have been lots of times, especially closer to the program, that I've wished all the kids were in the same room, just to see how it sounds, to see if they really know the song. It's kind of weird to think of teaching a song separately and then having them sing it all together--at the practice they kind of look at each other like, why are you singing this song? I did ask for a practice on a Sundy just to have them together, but now I don't have to! So I'm kind of excited about it.

And, and--this is the best part--the presidency decided to have our sharing time during the last hour, so I get to hear Corky teach his lesson in Sunday School. I was asked my opinion of the combining of the two groups, and I kept crossing my fingers that they'd choose the set-up this way. I haven't been able to hear him teach, and he's been there for a year. Sometimes I'd sneak out for a minute and peek in at him, but I never got to hear much. I think I need to hear a Sunday School lesson, too. I love being in Primary, but sometimes I think I let other areas slip. This will help remind me to be reading all the time. However, Corky gave me a Book of Mormon in Italian, so I'm going to be reading that most of the time, not the New Testament anyway. But that's okay, I recently (year before last) read the New Testmant (almost all of it), and when they reach the part where I left off, I'll read along. Okay, that sounds really lame, but as long as I'm reading, that's more what counts, right? Hope so, because that's my plan.

And, are you ready? I'm becoming a new woman. I have decided to try really hard to simply be more pleasant--to everyone. It's so easy to spew out a scathing remark, or notice how dumb some people can be (especially in the grocery store or on the street), or simply to think that my ideas are wonderful and truly are the best (because they really are, right?)--but not at the expense of others. So I'm trying really hard to just bite my tongue, literally. And I did on Sunday. I actually put my tongue between my teeth, but didn't draw any blood, when I wanted to say something. I knew it would cause an issue, so I just let it go. Holy cow. I let it go! I've been telling the kids to do that for a long time, but I think I have a harder time (presumably because I'm so old, as they are quick to remind me). But I did it. And if I can do it once, certainly I can do it again. Right? Please tell me I can. I think I will be happier, and it will only follow that other people around me will be happier, too. I know happiness is contagious, so I want to give that.

Today I went visiting teaching (I know, crazy, it's not even the last week of the month!) and the lesson said "You pass the heritage along as you help others receive the gift of charity. The history of Relief Society is recorded in words and numbers, but the heritage is passed heart to heart." This was from President Eyring--and I love what he said as far as "helping others receive the gift of charity." He didn't say, "as you give charity," but he talked about helping others receive it. That brings a lot of thoughts to my head. You can be very literal and say well you have to give it in order for others to receive it, but then he goes on to talk about passing our heritage (what the lesson was about) heart-to-heart. Isn't that how we receive it? One sister I've only visted in her home once before because of scheduling issues. She hasn't been here that long and was so anxious for me to come and visit. She even commented that she wanted to get to know me better becuase she needs friends. Isn't that what we're talking about? That's part of the heart-to-heart. We need each other. We need to feel loved and accepted for who we are. She needs that, so do I.

I'm glad it's a new year. I'm not trying to really set "New Year's Resolutions" because I rarely stick to them. But like I said, I'm going to be a new woman. So, check in again at the end of the year (or sooner) and see if anything is happening. Who knows how many other ways I might become NEW?

Today while I was sewing my Christmas jammies I realized how much I like to sew. Not that I didn't already know it, but I guess I was just thinking about it, again. Last year I bought a very nice serger, and I really, really like it. Thirty years ago I bought my sewing machine, and I really, really like it, too. They are both Berninas and I think they are wonderful. I mentioned awhile back that my sewing machine needed some extra love, and it has just been awesome since. I was happy when the fix-it guy told me that it's still a great machine and is probably worth about $500-$600. Not that I plan to sell it, but it just tells me that it's still in good shape and if I wanted to sell it, I could. That was probably part of a great big plan for me to trade it in, knowing that I'd get some money out of it. But I love it and don't have plans to sell or trade it.

Yes I know it's only a couple of days before Christmas, and what am I doing just now sewing jammies? I cut them out--finally--yesterday. It was killing me, but every day has slipped by without having a chance to get it done. Or without taking the chances offered, I guess. So, now I only have one neckband to sew on. Then I'll be done! And I broke a thread and was in the midst of re-threading when Corky told me it was time to leave for work. See, I love sewing and had totally lost track of time. So (sew) I'll finish tomorrow.

You have to know this really isn't bad--I remember one Christmas Eve being at the fabric store searching for a pattern. I remember I had wanted to make matching nightshirts for the kids and couldn't find the pattern to fit Dante. So there I was, last minute, buying a pattern. That one was crazy. There have been other times when I was finished by December 1--I loved that feeling. One year I was helping someone else sew and didn't have time to sew my own--bought 'em. That's okay!

One time I made four extra pairs, plus our jammies. So how did I do that? Even last year I made three extra pairs--two pants (with pockets, flies, buttons and ties) and a nightgown. I gave those away. So why am I so behind this year?

Don't know. But I'm getting there!

So anyway, my point was, I really like to sew. I think I wander into another realm or something. I've learned a lot of little tricks over the years, and then for years I only sewed jammies and forgot a few things. But they come back. I think I just love making something--taking a long piece of fabric and actually having clothes when I'm done. I guess I feel like I'm doing something for my family, or for whoever. But I like it.

Maybe Barbie and Ken will appreciate the clothes I'm making for them. . .

Anna requested the mousse filling recipe. It's really wonderful. In fact my mother-in-law commented the other day about how good that cake was. Again. Nice!

So here it is:

melt two squares unsweetened chocolate (I do this in my 8-cup glass measuring thing in the microwave)
stir in 1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup cold water
1 sm package instant chocolate pudding mix

refrigerate for 1/2 an hour

remove chocolate mixture from fridge, stir to loosen (since the pudding will set up)

whip 1 cup cream and add to chocolate mixture
refrigerate for at least another hour before adding to a cake

I just used a regular chocolate cake mix--well the trippple (yeah, I know there are 3 p's in that word--I thought "triple" looks better with 3 p's) chocolate--the one that is chocolate and has chocolate chips and pudding or something else in it. But I don't know that that part will matter much. I had too much to do to make a cake from scratch, and my husband seems to like cake mixes better anyway. So I've adapted to cake mixes and seem to manage just fine, thank you.

The original recipe says to use part of the mousse to fill the cake and part to frost the cake. I obviously did not do that. I have a glass dish that is 15 x13, I used 1 and 1/2 recipes of cake mix for that pan, two times; hence, two layers.

When I did my practice run at home just to test this out, I really didn't have much time because I also had to make cookies for pack meeting that night. So I made the cake in the morning, and it sat all day long. I made the mousse but didn't even have time to put it on the cake. But I tasted it--wow! That evening, just before pack meeting, I put some filling between the layers and just left it. Finally later that night, I was asked what the cake was for and if people could eat it. Yes! that's what I wanted to happen, so unfrosted, it was devoured. At least half of it was. And then it sat overnight, uncovered, out in the open, and it disappeared the next day.

Now sometimes I know my family thinks that treats show up at our house only on occasion, but that's not true. We have treats all the time (that's obvious by looking at us), and quite often we'll eat only part of a cake, but not this one. They loved it. Filled but unfrosted. So I decided that meant it was a good cake and worthy of the Eagle.

I guess you didn't really need all of that information, just the recipe, but oh well. But then, you already know I'm a rambler. Right? Yeah, sure you did.

Oh, and in response to the comment about my "fancy grandma shirt" and the fact that I'm not a grandma--I could be a grandma because I'm certainly old enough, and he just thinks it looks like a grandma shirt.

So, on that note, about the grandma bit, I have to tell you this little story--last week Jake and I were in Walmart (where I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time) at the checkout line. There was a young gal in front of me, wearing an incredible amount of make-up which has nothing to do with the story but still haunts me--with a baby. So she and the checker were talking about the ages of their babies and since I can't stay out of a conversation even when it has nothing to do with me (I think I get that from my dad who always talked to everyone), I commented that my baby is 10 and that I have a son who would be turning 20 on the next Saturday. They both dropped their jaws and said I didn't look old enough to have a 20-year old. I laughed and told them I was 50 (now that I've been 50 for nearly a whole year, I'm able to say it out loud). The checker said--my mom is 50 and she doesn't look like you! She thought I was in my mid-30s. Yup. She's my new best friend.

How fun that we got to attend Hunter's baptism. It was nice that they all came to Utah, just so we could be there. He was excited and very cute. And of course it was fun to see Alissa, her family and my sweetie-pie sister Arlene, as well as her husband Duff. Of course holding a new baby is always fun. . .