The Garden is Growing

Now for another exciting update on our square foot garden!!! It has been growing very well. There are a few pea pods growing, and we had to add to the pea trellis because the peas outgrew the original trellis Garrett constructed for them. We even had a salad tonight made entirely from our garden lettuce, and it was delicious! 

Thanksgiving!

This year, Garrett and I went to my aunt and uncle's house for Thanksgiving. We had a great time. The food was delicious, and the company of my cousins and uncle (who have very witty senses of humor) was lively and pleasant. We arrived around noon to find my uncle putting up the last of the Christmas lights on his house. I was surprised to see that he had a blue print for his house, complete with a guide to where each particular string of Christmas lights would go (labeled A, B, C, D, etc.) I have never seen anyone be so organized about putting up lights!!! He had already picked up the turkey that morning-completely cooked and ready to go whenever the rest of the meal was done. And the turkey tasted fantastic! My uncle was telling me that a local Scout troop does a fundraiser every Thanksgiving that consists of cooking people's turkeys overnight & underground in a sort of "pit roaster". So every year for the past several years, my aunt buys a turkey, and my uncle takes it the night before Thanksgiving to the property where the turkeys are cooked and drops it off, then picks it up the next morning after it's been cooked. The turkey fell off the bones, and was very juicy and moist. But the highlight of the meal was this chocolate cake that my aunt made-Buttermilk Chocolate Cake (nicknamed "Trenchbull Cake" by my cousins--remember the book "Matilda" by Roald Dahl?) It's four layers thick with rich, creamy icing that melts if it isn't kept in the fridge due to its high chocolate content. Oh yes, I've found a new favorite dessert! (You will see me pictured with my aunt beside the famous "Trenchbull Cake" in one of the pictures included with this blog). 

Besides participating in the Thanksgiving festivities at my aunt and uncle's house, Garrett and I also enjoyed remembering our blessings and being reminded of the counsel that we are to give thanks in ALL things (even challenges and trials).  Garrett showed me this YouTube video produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints that helped me get in the true spirit of Thanksgiving. I highly recommend watching it. The video is called: "In the Spirit of Thanksgiving"

http://www.youtube.com/MormonMessages

I know from my own experience that when I am willing to give thanks in all things that I am given strength to endure well whatever trial or trouble I am going through. 

Our Friend's Baptism

Garrett and I had the privilege of attending (and speaking at) the baptism of our friend, Otto. He lives very near to us and we started having him over for Family Home Evening a little over a month ago. He took the missionary discussions in our home to learn about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and committed to be baptized yesterday (Nov. 7th). Our Bishop baptized Otto, and today, Garrett performed the ordinance of confirmation for Otto to be confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and bestowed the gift of the Holy Ghost. It has been a sweet and wonderful experience to be with Otto as he learned the truths of the gospel and gained a testimony for himself that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. We have become very good friends with Otto, he feels like a long lost brother who we finally got to meet! A piece to the puzzle that we didn't even know was missing in our lives! In addition, he knows some delicious Cuban recipes, and he has already cooked a Cuban-style dinner for us. 

I also attended my first Scout O Rama activity yesterday. What fun! I wish Garrett could have come with me, because he would have loved all the physics in action! All the troops from the cities in the area had set up booths to make and do different things. Some of the booths could help the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts pass of requirements for badges. Other booths were just for fun. Our troop set up an Obstacle Course booth, for example. Perhaps that could pass of a physical fitness requirement...but overall, it was just meant to be fun. There were rocket making/launching booths, a marshmallow gun making booth, a chess playing booth, a science booth (with dead animals preserved in jars of formaldehyde) to name a few. And my favorite...the FREE ICE CREAM booth! Well, that booth was actually operated by a sponsor of the event (Blue Bell Ice Cream), and not a Scout troop. I really like being a Cub Scout leader and being involved with the Scouting program. It really is a neat program!