Monday, June 24, 2013

The storms will one day be stilled

 
 
The tests of life are tailored for our own best interests, and all will face the burdens best suited to their own mortal experience.  In the end we will realize that God is merciful as well as just and that all the rules are fair. We can be reassured that our challenges will be the ones we needed, and conquering them will bring  blessings we could have received in no other way.”
 
Jeffrey R. Holland
 
 
"Nowhere can anyone find a quieter, more untroubled retreat than in his or her own soul.
We need to turn some things down and turn some things off. We need to be quiet."
 
Jeffrey R. Holland's
 
When you feel tossed by the storms of life and when the waves rise and the winds howl, on those occasions it would be natural for you to cry in your heart, “Master, carest thou not that I perish?” When these times come, think back upon that day when the Savior awakened in the stern of the ship, rose up and rebuked the storm. “Peace, be still,” He said.
At times we may be tempted to think the Savior is oblivious to our trials. In fact, the reverse is true; it is we who need to be awakened in our hearts to His teachings.
In our own storms in life the Savior is our solace and our sanctuary. If we seek peace, we must come unto Him. He Himself spoke this eternal truth when He said, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  When our souls are anchored in the safe harbor of the Savior, we can proclaim….. “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.”
Draw close to the Lord Jesus Christ. Be of good cheer. Keep the faith. Doubt not. The storms will one day be stilled.
Joseph B. Wirthlin
Lord, I can’t say it in words… Can you please just listen through my heart.
Sometimes you are delayed where you are because
God knows there’s a storm where you’re headed Be Grateful.
Where can I turn for peace? Where is my solace When other sources cease to make me whole? When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice, I draw myself apart, Searching my soul? Where, when my aching grows, Where, when I languish, Where, in my need to know, where can I run? Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish? Who, who can understand? He, only One. He answers privately, Reaches my reaching In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend. Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.
 
Constant he is and kind, Love without end.
 
Emma Lou Thayne
 

Easy One Bowl Apple Cake

 
Easy One Bowl Apple Cake
Yield: 8-10 servings
Ingredients
One 21 ounce can apple pie filling
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 cup canola oil
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Directions
1. Grease a 9 inch round casserole or cake pan and preheat oven to 350.
2. Mix together all ingredients except raisins and nuts until well-combined. Stir in nuts and raisins and transfer mixture to baking dish.
3. Bake until deep golden brown, about an hour and 15 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center of the cake should come out almost clean - start testing after cake has baked for an hour.
4. Let cool, and serve with caramel sauce.
 

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Peachy Keen Bars

Peachy Keen Bars

 
Ingredients
 
1 pkg
dry cake mix-white, yellor or french vanilla
1/3 c
butter, room temperature
2  large
eggs, divided
29 oz
can light peach slices, drained
8 oz
cream cheese, room temperature
1/3 c
sugar
1 tsp
pure vanilla extract
 
 
Directions
 
1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13” pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2 In a large bowl combine cake mix, butter and 1 egg; mix with fork just until crumbly. Set aside 1 ½ c. crumbs for topping.
3 Press the remaining crumbs on bottom of prepared pan; Bake 10 minutes.
4 Cut peach slices into 1” pieces; Spoon onto partially-baked crust.
5 In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar, 1 egg and vanilla extract; beat with mixer until creamy. Spread over top of peaches.
6 Sprinkle with reserved crumbs; Bake 30 minutes.
7 Chill at least 30 minutes before serving; Serves 12. Store leftovers in refrigerator.

A leap of Faith

 
 
 
Next time you think of beautiful things, don’t forget to count yourself.
 
 
 
 
 
Learning is a gift. Even when pain is your teacher.
 
 
 
“Sometimes your only available transportation is a leap of Faith.”
 
“Jesus Christ lives, knows us, watches over us, and cares for us. In moments of pain, loneliness, or confusion, we do not need to see Jesus Christ to know that He is aware of our circumstances and that His mission is to bless.”
Henry B. Eyring
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Undaunted faith

Faith is not just push a button and you get the answer. The Lord declared, ás many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.’  ‘God never bestows upon his people, or upon an individual, superior blessings without a severe trial to prove them.’ Personally, for some vital decisions I have experienced the grueling, anguishing struggle that precedes a confirming answer. Yet those trying experiences have been edifying. It is comforting to know that
 
God will never try you more than you can manage with His help.”
 
Richard G. Scott
 
 
“Undaunted faith can stop the mouths of lions, make ineffective the fiery flames, make dry corridors through beds of rivers and seas. Unwavering faith can protect against deluge, terminate droughts, heal the sick, and bring heavenly manifestations. Indomitable faith can help us live the commandments and thereby bring blessings unnumbered with peace, perfection, and exaltation in the kingdom of God.”
 
Spencer W. Kimball
 
 
in this marvelous dispensation of the fulness of times, as we journey through mortality and face the trials and challenges of the future, may we remember the examples of these models to follow. May we have the unfeigned humility of John the Baptist, the unquestioning obedience of Abraham, the unlimited patience of Job, the unwavering faith of Noah, the undeviating loyalty of Ruth, the unflagging determination of Nephi, the undaunted courage of the Joseph Smith, and the unfailing optimism of President Hinckley. Such will be as a fortress of strength to us throughout our lives.”
 
Thomas S. Monson
 
 
“Petitioning in prayer has taught me, again and again, that the vault of heaven with all its blessings is to be opened only by a combination lock. One tumbler falls when there is faith, a second when there is personal righteousness; the third and final tumbler falls only when what is sought is, in God’s judgment  not ours right for us. Sometimes we pound on the vault door for something we want very much and wonder why the door does not open. We would be very spoiled children if that vault door opened any more easily than it does. I can tell, looking back, that God truly loves me by inventorying the petitions He has refused to grant me. Our rejected petitions tell us much about ourselves but also much about our flawless Father.”
 
Neal A. Maxwell
 
“The Bible, when it is understood, is one of the simplest books in the world, for, as far as it is translated correctly, it is nothing but truth, and in truth there is no mystery save to the ignorant.”
 
Brigham Young
 
 
“Those who walk in faith will feel their lives encompassed with the light and blessings of heaven.
 
They will understand and know things that others cannot.”
 
Joseph B. Wirthlin
 
“Awareness is the first step in developing gratitude. ….. if we count our blessings with faith, the Holy Ghost will often bring other blessings to mind. Many of our greatest blessings have been part of our lives for so long that we may have forgotten they are gifts. How often, for instance, do we recall that our physical bodies are blessings we eagerly longed for as spirit children?”
Carolyn Wright
 
 
“Hard work is a blessing of God. It involves going after it “with all your heart, might, mind and strength.”
That alone is the difference between the average and the excellent.”
 
F. David Stanley
 
“Think of the long view of life, not just what’s going to happen today or tomorrow. Don’t give up what you most want in life for something you think you want now.”
 
Richard G. Scott
 
 
“…Faith will not prevent life’s problems but will help when things go wrong. Bad things happen to good people. Accidents occur. Some married couples may not be blessed with children. Others may not marry in this life, or they may find themselves married to one who fails to keep the commandments of God. The Lord is aware of these circumstances. He will bestow all the blessings that He has in store for His faithful children-in His own way and in His own time. Be righteous, be patient, keep an eternal perspective, and you will be protected.”
 
 Russell M. Nelson
 
“Love is like a flower, and, like the body, it needs constant feeding… it cannot be expected to last forever unless it is continually fed with portions of love, the manifestation of esteem and admiration, the expressions of gratitude, and the consideration of unselfishness.”
 
Spencer W. Kimball
 

Monday, June 17, 2013

Listen to the whispers of your Heart

 
 
 
 
 
Listen to the whispers of your Heart
 
 
 
Why wish upon a star, when you can pray to the one who created them.
 
 
The Lord places no limits on our access to Him.
 
Julies Beck
 
 
"Turn your wounds into wisdom"
 
Oprah Winfrey
 
 
There is much I do not know about God,
but what I know has changed my Life.
 
 
Take a deep breath. It’s just a bad day, not a bad life.
 

You can’t reach for anything new if your hands are still full of yesterday’s junk.
 
 
Don’t let negative thoughts rent space in your head.
Raise the rent & kick them out.
 
   
 
"In the Lord's time, solutions will come,
 
peace will prevail, and happiness will be yours."
 
Richard G. Scott
 
 
"To succeed, you need to find something to hold on to,
 
something to motivate you, something to inspire you."
 
Tony Dorsett
 
 
"Our refuge, our peace, our well-being lie in walking in the way of the Lord."
 
Gordon B. Hinckley
 
 
"Happiness is found only along that well beaten track, narrow as it is, though straight,
 
which leads to life eternal."
 
David O. McKay
 
 
 
Blessed is she who believes that the Lord will fulfill His promises to Her.
 
 
 
"If you are not present in your life today, you will miss the joy as it happens."
 
Elaine Marshall
 
 
God not only sees where you are. He sees where you can be.
 
Beauty is in the eye of The Beholder
 
  
 
How people treat other people is a direct reflection of how they feel about themselves.
 
 
"Know that God has a plan for your life. Turn your life over to him every day.
Stop looking outside yourself for validation and approval you're letting other people define your happiness.
Instead of trying so hard to manipulate life, take care of yourself on the inside.
Then all those other attributes you're so desperately seeking will find you eventually."
 

Trisha Yearwood's  Coconut Cake with Coconut Lemon Glaze

Ingredients Cake:

  • 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature, plus more for greasing
  • Flour, for dusting pan
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 6 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • One 12-ounce box vanilla wafers, finely crushed
  • One 6-ounce package frozen or fresh grated coconut, thawed
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  •  

Coconut Lemon Glaze:

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • Pinch of salt
  • Grated zest of 2 large lemons
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 large lemons)
  • One 6-ounce package frozen or fresh grated coconut, thawed

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
For the cake: Grease and flour a 9-inch tube cake pan. Cream the butter and sugar until light and smooth. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, beating well. Mix in the vanilla wafer crumbs, coconut and pecans. Pour into the pan and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before turning out onto a rack.
For the glaze: Mix the sugar, cornstarch, salt, lemon zest and juice, 1 1/2 cups of water and coconut in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring until thickened, for about 15 minutes. Let cool slightly, then using a toothpick, poke several holes in the top of the cake and drizzle the glaze over the cake.