The Meanest Mom in Town

And you thought I was kidding when I said I was the meanest mom.

by Tyler Davis

Tyler painted this for Eliora on the occasion of her baptism, there's a lot of beautiful symbolism in the painting. The CTR over the door stand for "Choose the Right." Congratulations, Eliora.

Here Come the Brides

Here Comes the Bride (pretend organ music)...
With two more brides waiting their turn.


When you're 2 it's okay to let your sisters dress you up in costumes.



Here are the lucky brides! Complete with a bridesmaid. Watch out, Grooms!

Banana Bread

What do you do on a cold day when you have bananas that are black and perfect for baking?


You make a loaf of absolutely perfect Banana Bread!


Banana Bread
(been using this recipe since I was a girl)

1/3 c. shortening or butter
2/3 c. sugar (I use brown sugar)
2 eggs slightly beaten
1 3/4 c. flour
2 3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. mashed bananas (about 2-3 bananas)

Bake at 350 degrees for 60-70 minutes (45 min for very small loaves). Let cool in pan 20-30 minutes before turning onto a rack. For easiest cutting, allow to cool to room temperature.

My Own Ugg Boot

Not hard to get your own. Just drop an 2x8x10' across your foot. Fortunately, it'll be off soon...

Happy New Year

That's Paige with the orange hair. That's me with the red shoes and beautiful blonde hair. I made this picture for Grandma. We're going to the park. Paige is my great friend and my great sister. She always plays with me.
-Avery

Obedience

The key?

Self discipline and Obedience

This photo was intended to be a group shot of several elite police dogs, when all of a sudden the cat walked brazenly onto the scene. It was unstaged. It was unexpected. Some say it took a lot of courage for the cat to do this. Maybe, maybe not.

But let's look at it from the perspective of the German Shepherds. Inside each of them is the natural tendency to persue this cat - - maybe to simply investigate or maybe to injure. Most other German Shepherds probably would act on this instinct. But not these. No, these are highly tranined German Shepherds who have been taught to discipline the more base and common tendencies. They are going to be called upon to serve in the most important positions possible, and to be successful in their high calling, they must be able to restrain themselves when others would not.

And look at them! All 15 in the picture are letting this temptation walk by! Giving in makes them ineligible to be trusted with special assignments.

- author unknown






Another example of self discipline and obedience. The other day the parents of all my grandchildren decided to see a matinee. Leaving the oldest three in charge of their younger siblings with strict instructions they headed to the movies. I was invited to go to the movies with them but at the last moment I decided it would be better to stay with the grandchildren. When I arrived, the doors were locked. I knocked. I knocked again. I heard them saying, "It's Grandma!"

There was a loud rapping on the window and when I turned to look I saw a note they were holding to the glass. It read, "Sorry, Grandma, the Parents told us not to open the door for Anyone. Love, the kids"

A call to the Parents and I was granted entrance. Sure, I was annoyed standing outside in the cold, but having obedient grandchildren is a wonderful thing. They were trusted with an important job and they showed they had the self discipline to do the job right. The little ones were all for opening the door, the older ones who had been entrusted and given instructions did not give in to the "temptation" even though they knew me best.

My grandchildren have awesome parents.