Notes on Being Mormon: What Kind of Disciple am I?

Lately I've been thinking about this question a lot. I've also been thinking a lot about the nature of sin, but I think that's for another post. 

By the way, if you don't speak "Mormon" and want me to translate any of the jargon in this post, comment below. I think most of my readers are LDS, so I'm not going to worry about it as I write.

For over 3 years now, I've been serving as the Ward Primary Chorister. I deeply love these kids, especially my little fan club of 3-5 year olds in the front rows. They warm my heart and I love singing with them. However, it is a decidedly exhausting calling, and usually by Sunday (even before church) I'm just about falling over from fatigue, and then I push through primary with a smile on my face and singing my throat dry and then I go home and collapse for a while. Every. Sunday. (I'm currently working toward a solution to my fatigue, but I'm not there yet.) And every Sunday I feel all mixed up with both extreme tiredness and happiness. Dread and love. I don't get excited for this calling anymore-- not only am I physically tired, but I'm feeling a bit burned out. More than a bit...

Marshmallow Caramel Corn

As easy as Rice Krispy treats and tastier than mall caramel corn (which has that weird burned undertone), this is one of my favorite gooey, sweet treats. I have to use two bowls and divide the ingredients in half to be able to stir it all, because it's a huge batch-- all the better for sharing!

Marshmallow Caramel Popcorn

Three Decidedly Uncool Things

I'm out of sync right now and haven't been keeping up on my blogs at the rate I was hoping to sustain. No surprise, really. My body seems to be having some issues. So this week, instead of three cool things, I give you Three Not Cool Things:

The Perfection Expectation

I recently read an article (blog?) called "Killing Off Supermom", which struck a chord for me. Over the years, I have long felt guilt, remorse, and shame due to the state of my imperfect, cluttered, messy house; my lack of homemade Christmas (and neighbor) gifts; my inability to stay on top of everything my children are doing; and the sad, sorry state of my daily hairstyle.

Three Cool Things 12/12/13

Oh my it's cold here in rural Utah. It's below freezing for the second week in a row. Thank heaven for modern conveniences like furnaces and electric blankets!! If you're looking for things to keep you busy while you stay indoors, maybe these will help.

Notes on Being Mormon: The Sleepover

First off, let me just say that I'M NOT TELLING YOU WHAT TO DO. So don't get your feathers in a flutter. I just feel like I want to share this, so that if anyone else thinks they're alone in their choice not to allow sleepovers, they will know that they're NOT alone.

Soup Season!

Winter is back, so that means it's soup season once again!! Soup is cheap, easy (relatively) and very good for you. Especially if you make your own broth.

Three Cool Things 12/4/13

Today's ideas are random and unrelated, but all great things:

First up is something that maybe all of you know about, but I didn't until about 18 months ago: Homemade Broth, also called Stock.

Did you know that broth made from bones is super-duper healthy? Consider the known benefits of chicken soup for colds. Yeah, now you're getting it. Did you also know that making homemade broth is as easy as simmering water? It totally is. And if you have a slow cooker, it's even easier.

from kristensraw.com