HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHOUT! To Our Baby Girl...

BIG BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUR TOO ELYSE, she will always be OUR BABY GIRL!

She has always been the LIGHT of our Lives. She was born HAPPY! She is loves dancing and from twirling at two. To 16 years of ballet she still dances her way into many hearts! She LOVES to be in the outdoors. She has an EYE for spotting DEER. She loves fishing and always catches the BIGGEST FISH. She loves to be beside her DAD in everything, For this reason she is pretty sharp in diagnosing a problem-engine, and changing flats etc. She is like me --she loves to SHOP but is not a big spender... She is a pretty good cook. She has a natural talent with the ability to handle BLOOD. She graduated from Provo College and loved being a dental assistant but that didn't pay the bills... So now she is back in school hoping someday to become a nurse. She wears many badges... She is an awesome Aunt who loves playing with her nieces. She is a good listener, she would be there in a heart beat to help anyone. She is generally always a service to her family. Elyse and I have had the fun tradition that my mom and I shared and that is -Spending the day together every year on her B-day. Elyse never once went to school on her b-day (until this year) She has finals and so we are celebrating her day when she flies in on FRIDAY. Can't wait to spend a few day's with her. WE LOVE YOU ELYSE

HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Miraculous Monday

Shew we made it through Sunday! What a "WHIRLWIND" Literally!!!! We drove to Kansas City to see a co-worker of Mr. Clarks who was in the BEST Hospital EVER -- K U Med. ROCKS (yes its a place where miracles happen) any way, Larry has lung cancer and had one lung removed. He is doing great. Friends of theirs made a cute sign for him to wear. It said "I LEFT MY LUNG IN KANSAS CITY" While in Kansas City the sirens blew in El Dorado declaring a "Tornado" Luckily we missed it! We had tornado's touch down next to us in the city of LEON the night before. I REMAINED CALM... It is somewhat miraculous that I was calm. Hmmmmm have I become numb to the warnings??? We ended up driving home in the dark following the path of the storm all the way and it was another MIRACLE that I was able to drive without freaking out. I always MAKE Mr. Clark drive in bad weather but I felt confident. I even slept all night with flood warnings and tornado watchs. Woo hoo I'm officially a "Kansasite"?????

Raising a little Dough!

This was last Wednesday's Baking Day. I made 6 pans of breadsticks for the YW/YM dinner- fundraiser and 4 loaves of reg. bread and 8 mini loaves. Mini loaves went $10-$12 each and reg. loaves went $18-$22 each -- a good cause!

Squirrel Crossing in KANSAS

I have been hauling my camara in the car to catch a squirrel crossing the wire on the next block down. But this morning guess what this squirrel was on my deck and by the time I got the camera it was up the power pole. LOVE IT :) Miss all the squirrels in my back yard in La.

p.s this morning during seminary at my house the kids saw a possum crossing the yard. --Mama bear please come on friday its gone now! eewwwww for you!:(

THANKFUL THURSDAY- for friends who surround me...

Ever been to a "ROCKIN' CHRISTIAN MUSIC " Concert. Pretty entertaining... mostly the crowd.

Nothing better than cotton candy Even Sister Albaugh was entertained--once again from the crowd!

Ever heard of Mercyme- they sing "I can only imagine"

The lines of youth at a Christian Concert - You can't tell from this pic. but it was a sold out crowd, wrapping lines through out the parking lot. I was impressed that so many of the youth -no matter what religion went to hear christian music.

Girls day - Richelle and I celebrating our B-Days -- wish I was Richelle's age 35 again!

(I didn't get a pic. of my other celebration with closest friends, Love you guys. Mama bear, Emma and Syndee thanks for taking me to lunch! I had a great day!)

Today I am thankful for all those people that surround me with a smile, laughter and friendship. I am now surrounded by the youth and they inspire me to feel young again!

Miraculous Monday- CELEBRATING

So FINALLY --today I got to play outside and dig in the dirt. Woo hoo LIFE FEELS SOMEWHAT NORMAL! Can't wait to show you all my tulips! One popped out in blossom TODAY. Even got to mow the lawn and the sprinkling system is now ON. LOVIN' the SPRING FEVER. I think it is officially here and I AM CELEBRATING!!

What could have been, wasn't SHEW!

So Mr. Clark had the ol' Ambulance ride. (don't panic) just to transport him from El Dorado Hospital to Wesley in Wichita.

Now that it's all over... Here are the details. Clark had chest pains all night on Tuesday. He went in for routine blood work on Wednesday for his Kidney Doctor apt. but the test came back HIGH POTASSIUM which now we know was the cause for the chest pains. So because he was already scheduled for a Heart Cath on the 22nd of April they decided to ship him to Westley to get it done early. YES, I had a melt down after the Doctor told him the WORSE CASE SCENARIO, kidney failure because of the dye etc. and couldn't fix more than one blockage at a time.... la da da da da. Thank goodness the outcome was great. No blockage, heart looks great. If you were around me in my melt down moment (surgery morning, sorry everyone) Scared my little pea picking patootie! Thankful to the Triers for spending the morning with me. And the missionaries, knowing I had someone there, meant a lot!! Not only to me but also to my kids who went crazy being so far away. We were blessed that what could have been wasn't and SHEW... Tests so far have said no additional damage to the kidneys from the dye. Blessed even more that the Doctor team including the Kidney doctor was all in on the surgery. Clark was insistent that all three doctors have the same opinion before he even consented to be admitted. Thankful even more for the power of the priesthood that allows heavens help for the doctors, and calms us when the storm was brewing. (thanks Patrick) I will continue to try to learn to BE STILL

BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT TO LAURA

Love this picture. Terrence and Laura have ALWAYS been MUSHY! They are just a kissy face couple since their Sophomore year!

A special moment! Laura LOVES to be a MOTHER. She loves being pregnant. She loves every moment including oopsies! She is just a nurturing, patient, loving person. Her pride and joy are those two little girls.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR LAURA! You know that you are loved! FROM DAY ONE you've been our own. Laura is extrememly talented. She has a beautiful voice. She is QUIET about it but we know how gifted she is with her talent and abilities. She graduateed from the Denver School of Massage Therapy so our family has an added benefit of her expertise! She loves to COOK. She is above great at it. Terrence is very picky and so she has made a HUGE effort to try new recipes. Honestly she can out do Olive Gardens anyday. Terrence and her team up to cook often and they are quite the dual. She is a great partner to our son. They began dating their sophomore year and honestly you could see they were meant for each other from the first date! They have an awesome relationship. Laura is talented when it comes to cake decorating, and sewing. She is very good at the piano. I have maintained the fact that my Mom would have bonded with Laura right from the start. They have so many of the same talents. I can see them at the piano just singing away!

Laura is an AWESOME MOM! She is the most patient person I know. And she loves being a Mom.

So thankful she is in our lives. CELEBRATE BIG -- WE LOVE YOU MORE THAN YOU CAN KNOW!!! HUGS AND KISSES. HOPEFULLY WE CAN ALL CELBRATE WITH A GIRLS RETREAT SOON!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHOUT!

HAPPY B-DAY SHOUT GOES OUT TO DANIELLE, who's Birthday is TODAY! for real. I was kinda delirious on Sunday. Had it in my brain that Danielle's B'Day was on EASTER... So I called her and wished her Happy DAY and found out later that it is today. I WAS CORN-FUSED...

So today is my Daughter in Laws real B-day.

She is the perfect wife for our son. You have to know Tyrel to appreciate that she brings out the best in him. She is PATIENT AND QUIET. We are still learning her talents and abilities because she is so QUIET. She is a wonderful photographer. She is a designer of wedding invitiations, and wedding and family photos. She is crafty and shares her mom's talent. She loves to FISH, hunt and camp. (another plus in our family) She is PATIENT with Tyrel's long hours, and QUIETwhen he vents his frustration. She's a good listener. She is a very good cook. She is patient to cook Tyrel his favorites(like tuna cheese swirls!). She takes good care of Gramps. She puts up with all his "NICKNAMES" and spends a lot of time keeping Gramps Company. She has a high endurance for pain! She survived 4or 5 months with a ruptured appendix. It is her personal miracle. She is a NON- COMPLAINER. She loves what Tyrel loves, they both have the same sense of HUMOR. She SUPPORTS him. She is the Queen of Nerks( a card game) so she fits right in with our family and shows us how its done! She is obsessed with being on time, which tries her patience when Tyrel is S-L-O-W. She is a saver. She is a kind and SELFLESS person. She has a strong testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ. Another personal goal- they love to attend the temple.

She is good to Clark and I -it takes an incredible amount of PATIENCE!

She makes us feel at home and we love staying with them when we travel to Utah.

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE:) WE LOVE YOU!

Miraculous Monday-quiet and humble...

I'm going to be STILL for a while.... We'll see, YOU MIGHT SEE A MIRACLE!

THANKFUL THURSDAY- Easter Lillies

Pushing it for a nice Spring Day. It is cold and dreary. Thankful that yes I made it to the YMCA to play a little racket ball. Thankful that my good friend Emma was is the same mode as me, and we were just there! Another soup day... Can't wait to be GRILLING. Thankful for Easter Lillies... Love the Smell of them. It's spring when they surround me.

I could be VERY THANKFUL for a change in the weather to lift my THANKFUL MODE! Blaaaaaaaaaa

Big Decision at Sportsman's Warehouse

Sportsman's Warehouse in Wichita is shutting it's doors. Clark and I hit the BIG "going out of business" SALE

Woo hoo with all that was on my list of "WANTS" biggest priority of course for me is always the wilderness pictures. It is my very most favorite purchases. Along the list was a NEW Dutch oven fry pan or even the special 3 basket outdoors deep fryer....

And what did we come home with... 3 pkgs. of fish hooks and.... don't hold your breath....

YEP, this 50 gallon water storage jug! Do ya think we are hooked on EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS?????? YEP, so when you come to my house and the walls are bare of decor:(

you'll know you can come to our house in an EMERGENCY. I am my mothers daughter:) LOL

Stacey's Chicken Pot Pie

CHICKEN POT PIE

Stacey Scribner

For the Pastry-- which was excellent by the way. Freezes GREAT

1 1/2 C All purpose Flour 1/4 C. Vegetable Shortening, Cold

3/4 tsp. Kosher Salt 4 T. Cold Unsalted Butter, Diced

1/2 tsp. Baking Powder 1/4-1/3 Cup Ice Water

Mix the flour and salt, and baking powder in the bowl of the food processor fitted with the metal blade. Add the shortening and butter and mix quickly with your fingers until each piece is coated with flour. Pulse 10 times, or until the fat is the size of peas. With the motor running, add the ice water: process only enough to moisten the dough and have it come together. Dump the dough on a floured board and knead quickly into a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic and allow it to rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

*Note: The key to good pie crust is "ICE WATER"

For the Filling

1/3 C Margarine, melted

2 T. Olive Oil

1 C. Chopped Onion

1 C. Chopped Celery

1 C. Chopped Carrots

1 C Frozen Peas

4 C. Chopped Cooked Chicken

1 small can Mushrooms

1/3 C. Flour

2 Cups Chicken Broth

1 C. Evaporated Milk

Melt Margarine and Olive Oil in a large skillet. Add onions, celery,mushrooms, and carrots. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook 5 min. Add chicken and peas, cook five minutes in skillet. Stir flour into mixture. Cook about 2 minutes. Pour in chicken broth and evaporated milk, cook until thickened.

Place the filling into 9X13 pan. Roll out dough to fit 9X13 pan. Place on top of filling. cut slips into pie dough. Bake at 400 degrees for 40 min. Let stand 5-10 min. Enjoy!

* this was baked then frozen and we reheated it. Delicious!