My Favorite Things- Lindor Truffles

It's been awhile since I posted one of Ken's favorite things. Among his very favorite treats are Lindor truffles. He loves them. Especially the white chocolate ones with the white chocolate filling. They were originally Swiss chocolate, but now are made in New Hampshire. If I want to give my husband a special treat (Christmas, birthday, most recently- Easter) I know just what to get him: white chocolate Lindor Truffles- because they are one of his favorite things!

Grandkid Firsts

Though our grandchildren live far away, we've been so blessed to be with them for a few of their "firsts." We were all in Hawaii in 2008 when Nathan first learned to crawl.

We were visiting the Mackrorys in Provo for Brielle's birthday in November of 2008 when Nathan took his first steps.

I was visiting the Camerons in Ohio in the summer of 2011 when Caleb took his first steps.

And Jacob took his first steps when everyone was here at Christmas.

Thanks, guys for saving some of your "firsts" for when your grandparents can celebrate them, too!

Mother/Daughter Book Club via Google Hangout

We've always had a very close family, but it's a challenge to stay that way when all three daughters live so far away. They are all very busy mamas too. We are SO grateful for email, skype, phones, and old-fashioned snail mail that keeps us connected. Michelle came up with another great idea that we just started last month. We meet once a month on Google Hangout and have a bookclub. We all read the same book and then discuss it together. We had our first meeting on March 27th. It just so happened that Joan was here visiting, so she joined our discussion. We decided to start with reading the histories my Dad wrote. We also read the recently discovered hand-written history of my grandmother, Libby Fox Peterson- my mother's mother, which my sister Joan transcribed and sent to all of us.

My Dad's histories are a compilation of several histories that he wrote. Actually, he was a Dr. and used to voice recording. So he spoke his histories into an old-fashioned cassette tape recorder and then, either Patty or I transcribed them. He did his own history, his parents, and all four of his grandparents over a period of a few years. It bothered my mother that she didn't write her life history. When she was very ill with cancer, she tried to write, but just didn't have the strength. My Dad asked if he could help. So, he interviewed her, writing notes. He promised her he would complete her history for her. My sister Patty wrote: "For the first year after her death, Dad could not bring himself to work on her history. It was simply too painful to recall such tender memories. Into the second year after her death he began the process of making notes and recording his memories mixed with the notes he took when he interviewed her." He finished the first draft of that history early in the summer of 2003. Patty transcribed it that summer and gave it to Dad to review. He made some corrections and changes and in early September, 2003, she finished the final draft of that history. He said, "I feel so relieve to have this history finally finished. I can now read novels and other books I have set aside until I finished Dorothy's history." He died on October 19 of that year. When he finished that history, I think he felt his life's work was done.

A few months after he passed away, my sisters and I got together and compiled this book containing all of his histories. We added pictures and made copies for ourselves and all of our children.

It was so fun to discuss the details of the lives of my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents with my daughters and sister. It was fun to hear their perspective and to see what to me was common knowledge be so new and interesting to them. The book also contains the Life Sketches of my parents, given at their funerals: Mom's by my brother John and Dad's by Tom Morris. They are both so well-written and moving. It was a joy to read them again.

I am grateful for the miracle of technology (and for Brian who understands how to USE that technology and get us set up!) that allows us to hold a book club that spans the United States and brings us together in one more way.

Blue Angels in St. George!

It was so fun to have the Blue Angels in our little town last week. They did air shows on Saturday and Sunday out at the new airport. Ken got these pictures of them on Saturday on his iphone. He rode his bike to a hill above the airport and watched the show. The best day, though, was Thursday. They rehearsed much of Thursday- and that day the skies were blue and clear and they really put on a show. I wish we had pictures of that day. You could hear the roar of the jets most of the day. I watched from my front lawn. On Wednesday, they took VIP's up in the jets, including Dieter F. Uchtdorf. They interviewed the pilot after and he said, "He handled the G's." I guess they gave him a "test" and he passed. You know, I've seen them practicing a lot on our way to and from Vegas near Nellis Air Force base. It's quite a common site there. But there was just something about having them in our "air"- right above our house at times- that was truly thrilling. The local newspaper reported that this was one of their best ever air shows. They expected 20,000 people and 30, 000 came on Saturday (creating a bit of a porta potty problem!) True to our Mormon culture, Sunday's show was not as well attended, but I hope they'll want to come back. I'd love for this to be an annual event!

The Late Homecomer

The Late Homecomer by K.K. Yang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My introduction to Hmong people was when I first visited my daughter's family who had just moved to Wisconsin. There was a large, happy group of Asian people at the park. She told me they were Hmong. "What is Hmong?" I asked. She said they were from Viet Nam. She was sort of right. They did live in Viet Nam, but really they are a race, a culture, a community without a country. My daughter has since made many friends with Hmong, one of whom recommended she read this book. She did and recommended it to me. It is the true story of an Hmong family who are hunted in the jungles of Viet Nam (after they assisted us in the Vietnamese war) until they escape to Thailand by swimming the Mekong River (with a baby strapped to the mother and a small scrap of embroidery her mother had made tucked between she and the baby.) They live in a refuge camp there for six years, then a transition camp for a few months, then come to America. Hmong families were sent to California, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. This large family was split- some sent to Minnesota, some to California. They struggle to survive, but express gratitude every day for the opportunity to live in America. This is their story, as told by the second daughter of the youngest son of this large family. Her purpose is to preserve the history of the race and the culture, and specifically, her family's history- mostly her beloved grandmother's life story. The author's ( Kalia) father instructs her on what to write when he learns she is writing the book with this powerful statement. He says,"It is very important that you tell this part of our story: the Hmong came to America without a homeland. Even in the very beginning, we knew that we were looking for a home. Other people, in moments of sadness and despair, can look to a place in the world: where they might belong. We are not like that. I knew that our chance was here [America]. Our chance to share in a new place and a new home. This is so important to our story. You must think about it, and tell it the way it is."
I am amazed that all of this happened in my lifetime and I knew nothing about it. In fact, I read the book in a very personal way, as Kalia's parents started their family about the same time we started ours. As they were being married in a jungle, hoping they would survive and the ceremony would not be interrupted by the Vietnamese soldiers hunting them, mine was performed in a beautiful temple with a large gathering of friends and family. A few months after they had their first baby girl in a dirty hut, after being captured and held prisoner(they were later able to escape.) I was having mine in a sterile hospital. My second daughter was born in the same month(December 1980) as their second daughter- the author of the book. She was born in a filthy refuge camp in Thailand, delivered by her grandmother. My daughter was delivered by a doctor and was brought home in a large Christmas stocking to celebrate Christmas around a beautifully decorated tree. It was impossible to read this book without feeling gratitude for my blessings.
I enjoyed being immersed in a culture very different from mine. I learned a lot. Though there are many differences, I can't help but see the many similarities as well. The love of family, the desire to preserve one's personal and family history, and the desire to succeed and make a difference in the world are all so much a part of all. I conclude that we are more alike than different. We are all part of the human family, and though they don't understand it yet, children of the same God. I wish I could share that message with these remarkable people. Thank you, Ms. Yang, for so beautifully sharing and preserving your important story.

View all my reviews

I'm Gonna Need Thy Help

My Mantra #1: "I'm Gonna Need Thy Help" or "Please help me!" When I started planning to write mantra blog posts, I hadn't even considered this as being my mantra. I have a list of others, but this wasn't even in my consciousness. But, after reading about mantras, I listened to myself- my self-talk. And this is what I most often repeat in my mind. This is my #1 mantra- and I didn't even know it! I am constantly asking my Heavenly Father for help. I wonder if He's sick of hearing the word "Help!" from me. I say it when I'm heading in to conduct a Keynote or Choir rehearsal, or when I'm trying to get all the groceries in from the car, or when I'm trying to talk myself into going to the gym, or when I'm making a scary phone call, or when I'm going into an uncomfortable social situation, or when I'm going to write a thank you note or blog post, or when I 'm going visiting teaching, or when I'm trying to get the fitted sheet over the corner of the bed, or when I'm in the dental chair, or, or, or . . . . I tell you, it's constant. My life is a prayer. A mantra is an oft-repeated phrase, the purpose of which is to bring about change in oneself. I guess this is an acknowledgment that such change is impossible without Divine help. No matter how hard I try, I am utterly and totally dependent on my Heavenly Father. Therefore, if I'm being completely honest, I have to list this as my #1 mantra. It's not catchy or profound or what I expected to write about at all. But it is what it is: my #1 mantra.

Do you have a mantra to share?

Mantras

Ahhhh! Somebody stop me! I have had SO much fun! I've had an idea for blog posts for quite some time: I want to share my mantras. Or, at least I want to share what I think a mantra is. See, I really didn't know for sure what a mantra is. I had only heard the word used in conversation, and had figured it out in context. So, I went on the Internet and I've been reading about mantras for the last few weeks. I have learned a lot and it's been really interesting and fun for me. I've listened to chants of mantras and read many articles on how to develop business and personal mantras. I've read lists and list of people's mantras. It has been so enlightening and interesting. I want to just keep reading, but I think it's time to write this post or I'm going to end up with a book! Here's a smidgen of what I've learned:

A mantra is a tool or instrument for transformation. From what I can gather it started in the Hindu religion. It's a repeated word or phrase used during meditation which is believed to have the power for change. One article I read said it shouldn't be more than three or four words long (but believe me, I've seen many exceptions to that rule!)

In Hindu meditation, the mantra is repeated over and over and over again, instigating change. "Om . . . " is a common and frequently adopted mantra. You can't get any smaller or more simple than that. It becomes a relaxation, deep breathing exercise. Try it. Just say/sing ohmmmmmm on a single note and hold the "m" as long as you can. Then say it or sing it again. I took a voice class once that showed us "Om" computerized (as well as other sounds.) "Om" makes a perfect circle with concentric circles around it when computerized. It is believed that "Om" is the center of the universe. Chanting it taps into the center of the universe. I just can't help but notice that if you put an "h" on "Om" you get what I believe is the center of the universe: HOME. Anyway, have I lost you? Stay with me. This is fascinating stuff!

In business, the effect of a mantra is supposed to be the same: Get the phrase into employee's heads, get them weighing every business decision and interaction by the mantra. Get them repeating it over and over and over in their heads, so it's so ingrained that mantra-based decisions are just natural.

My interest in the word, though, is in developing personal mantras. I guess I shouldn't use that word in the plural. A mantra is supposed to be singular- one powerful word or phrase that has the power for change. But, I have and have had many "mantras" in my life. And since this is my blog and my post, I guess I can make the rules. I want to share my mantras with you . . .over a period of time . . . . kind of like "my favorite things" posts. And, I would very much like you to share your mantras with me. What phrase do you repeat over and over and over that motivates action and change in you? You don't have to answer right now. Think about it. To get you started, here's some from individuals and businesses you might recognize:

President Spencer W. Kimball: Do it

Walt Disney: Dream big

William Faulkner: Kill your darlings. (I guess if this was my mantra, this post would not exist- but it isn't; so it does.)

Federal Express: Peace of mind

Ralph Waldo Emerson: The world belongs to the energetic

Albert Einstein: Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character

Abraham Lincoln: Most folks are about as happy as they make their minds out to be

John Shaw Billings (started what became the National Library of Medicine): Only begin.

Steve Jobs: Real artists ship.

Kurt Vonnegut: I was sick, but I'm better now, and there's work to be done. (This one might be my favorite on the list)

Thomas Edison: There's always a better way; find it.

Anne Mollegen Smith: Done is better than perfect.

Some guy whose article I read: Look for the Second Right Answer

See? Aren't mantras amazing? There's so much food for thought- and this is just a sampling of the buffet I've been enjoying. Like I said, I've really had fun- a veritable word feast! So, look for my mantras on here from time to time. I'm formulating my list and my thoughts. And again, when you feel so inclined, please share yours with me. And, maybe someday, I may write that book with everyone's mantras included. Wouldn't that be fun? "OOOHMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!"

My Favorite Things- Tokyo Milk Perfume: Gin and Rosewater #12

A year and a half ago, Ken and I went to Lake Tahoe for a little getaway. I enjoyed looking through the little shops. I sprayed some perfume on in one of the shops, and then enjoyed the smell of the perfume so much the rest of the day, I felt compelled to go back the next day and buy some. I ran out a few months later and found it online and ordered some more. I'm just about out again, so it reminded me that it's one of my favorite things. I guess it's also on Oprah's favorite things list. There are lots of different scents, but I like this one: Gin and Rosewater. It's really different, but I really like it. The description of it is: A beautiful balance of citrus zest, rosewood, mimosa, and mandarin. Looking at the bottle makes me happy, too, as it has a picture of a rose on the backside of the front label that you see looking through the bottle. And for perfume, it's a pretty decent price. Because of a free shipping deal, I also ordered some of the soap and lip gloss(you know me, I can't resist a sweet pot of gloss,) which I also enjoyed. Tokyo Milk No. 12- one of my favorite things.

We Don't Put Plates on Walls!

When everyone was here at Christmas-time, two-year -old Gabbi said a cute thing. She was eating in our dining room all by herself. Michelle walked in to check on her and found her just giggling out loud. "What?" "What's so funny, Gabbi?" Michelle asked. Gabbi, looking up at all the plates on her Grandma's walls, was just cracking up. "We don't put plates on walls!" she giggled.

I guess it is kind of silly, Gabbi. When looking through the eyes of a child, we can see how silly some of the things we do are! But, silly or not, I like the plates on my walls!

24 Hours of Bliss

We do a lot of traveling now our kids are gone. But this time of year- tax season- we pretty much stay put. It's kind of nice. I like normal, day-to-day boring life. So, I'm not complaining. But I do look forward to our one getaway this time of year. Ken does government audits all during the fall and audits a lot of the little towns in Utah. All towns, by law, require an independent yearly audit- and many of Ken's audit clients are the little towns of Utah. His firm does them in Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Nebraska, California and Arizona. But Ken's are all in Utah. So, then, sometime in December, January, or February he has to travel to those towns and attend their city council meeting and present the findings of the audit. Usually he drives up and presents, then drives home that evening, but the Tropic one is a little too far away and it's on a two lane highway where the deer roam- so it's not really safe to drive home at night. So, we've established the tradition of me going with him on that one each year. We spend the night at Ruby's Inn where we honeymooned and always go into Bryce Canyon National Park in the morning before we come home. This year we left at 1 pm on Thursday and got home at 1pm on Friday. So it was exactly 24 hours. We loved this little trip. It gave us time to talk in the car. Then, I loved sitting outside the city council meeting in the hall and listening to him present. It's obvious that they honor him and appreciate his work. It's fun to hear my husband work. This is the town of Tropic, taken from Bryce Canyon:

We ate at the lodge there at Ruby's Inn. When the hostess sat us at the table, we were surprised to be right next to three of Ken's first cousins. They were there, attending a quilting convention. They are all avid quilters and two of them were even presenting one of the classes. It was fun to see them. I wish I had thought to take a picture. I had the camera right there, but didn't think!

They have THE best food. I think I told you about it last year. It is really, really good food. Ken loves the "bottomless" hot chocolate and has it for dinner and then again in the morning for breakfast: I love the portabella mushrooms with gorgonzola cheese as an appetizer. Oh, my, my mouth is watering looking at this picture.

I was too busy eating to take a picture of the main course of steak. Oh, and the rolls. They are so good. Here's the wagon wheel dessert.

Then we swam off some of the calories consumed in the wonderful indoor pool, and then a soak in the hot tub.

The next morning, we went into Bryce Canyon National park. It is so pristine and beautiful . . . and silent. I think we forget what absolute silence is. We were the only ones at one of the lookouts and you couldn't hear anything except occasional sound of the wind. Peace . . .

We came home rested and renewed. I love our little 24 hours of bliss!

Hinton Family Pictures

When our family was here at Christmas time, we had family pictures taken. Here are some of my favorites:

Kristen and Jared's family:

Shonna and Blake's family

Michelle and Brian's family

Us with our Seven Grandchildren

The Original Five Hintons

Mother- Daughter Shot

Sisters

Three Best Sons- in - Law

And maybe my favorite of all: I just love this picture:

Lucky Rock

I own a lucky rock:

You may remember this guy- John:

From this post: http://kenandkayhinton.blogspot.com/2011/11/tuesday-st-lucia.html

If you don't remember: I was out in the ocean on a boat in St. Lucia last November, and this Rastafarian, John, paddled out on his "water taxi" to sell me stuff (and to get rum from our boat). We got to talking and he and I became friends. That's the short of it. But what I didn't tell you before is that John gave me a lucky rock. After we visited awhile, he reached down in his boat and pulled out a rock. Then, with great ceremony, he presented it to me, declaring it was a lucky rock- obtained from the local volcano. He told me it would bring me luck. I smiled. I thanked him, and when I got back to the ship, packed it in my bag and brought it home. I set it in a basket on my dresser and kind of forgot about it. Recently, I noticed it in there. Hmmmm . . . I thought. I guess it isn't that lucky of a rock. I thought of my teeth (three of them) that have broken since I got home. I'm still seeing the dentist, trying to get two of them fixed. The dentist broke the 2nd one, fixing the 1st one. Anyway, it's been quite an ordeal. I thought of the terrible cold I had last month- and still, I have a clogged ear, lingering from that. I thought of two of my grandchildren who have had RSV- one of them having to be hospitalized. I thought of other disappointments and hard things in my life. "No, that's no lucky rock," I thought. Then, in almost the same thought, I was overwhelmed with how lucky I am: I have the kindest, nicest husband who honors and loves me. I have three beautiful daughters whose greatest desire is to be a good mother and who strive every day to be a better person. I thought of my three fine sons-in-law. And then I thought of each of those seven precious grandchildren (LUCKY!) and how much I love them. I thought of my comfortable home with running (hot) water and a washer and dryer and dishwasher and computer and many, many conveniences that make my life better. I thought of the good people I live near, the opportunities I have to serve and the joy I feel in every day. I thought of my siblings and extended family and of my heritage. I thought of the many opportunities and blessings I have in my life. "Oh, yes," I thought," That is one LUCKY rock." That is a good, good rock. Now, I know you'll all be wanting a lucky rock, too. So here's what to do: Just go out in the ocean near St. Lucia and John should come floating up. Tell him you're there for a lucky rock and that Kay sent you. I'm sure he'll give you one. He's just that kind of a guy. OR, you could just sit down and think of all the ways the Lord has blessed you and guided your life. That might be cheaper, and I think you'd find that maybe you don't even need a lucky rock. I kind of suspect I don't need one either. But I'm hanging on to it . . . just in case!

Grandpa and Gabbi Christmas Duet

Whitethorn Woods

Whitethorn Woods by Maeve Binchy My rating: 2 of 5 stars This book was an exercise in frustration for me. I was relieved to finish it. I don't think that's the emotion you should feel when you finish a book. It wasn't a novel, really. It was a bunch of little stories, with the characters all having some connection to a place in Ireland- Whitethorn Woods. Some of the stories and characters intertwine, but it's very hard to keep track of everyone. Though Binchy is good at characterization, I kept forgetting them before they came up again, so I felt like I was always needing to go back and try to find them. I do like some of Binchy's earlier books, but just wasn't crazy about this one. View all my reviews

Patty and Hal come for a Winter Retreat

Last week, Patty and Hal came for a short visit. Hal is now a branch president at the MTC and had a big group of missionaries from his branch leave on Tuesday morning. So he felt he could miss his Tuesday evening responsibilites there. (He got another big group in on Wednesday) We always have such a good time when they come. On Tuesday, the sisters went for lunch at Sakura and had bento boxes. Yum! We were eating when Roger and Hal showed up to "take our picture." I think the waitress and staff there were pretty sure we were famous or something when two guys show up with cameras to take our picture! We then went sister shopping. We always have fun shopping together and talk each other into buying stuff. It's just what we do.

Then Wednesday, the guys went golfing. We all went to Pancho and Lefty's for dinner, then to Pam's for pie after. It was fun to visit and be together.

Thanks for coming, Patty and Hal . . . and thanks for the pictures, Pam and Roger! (I forgot my camera.)