Spiritual Refill

Today our stake hosted an enrichment with mini classes, luncheon and keynote speaker. My last day away from my daily responsibilities was just over a month ago when Eric took the girls the day I started a new piano student and then taught all my flute students. It was refreshing, relaxing, and renewing. Today felt just the same. I am always excited to learn new things, and having a morning away from responsibility is always a welcome pleasure. The three classes I went to today were about finances, Mexican cooking, and basic car maintenance.

Here's a quote that I loved from my finance class: "You can never get enough of what you don't need, because what you don't need will never satisfy you." Isn't that so true? And I need to stop making emotional purchases. Something on sale is not a good deal if you don't need it or can't afford it.

Here are two recipes from the Mexican cooking class. It was really fun to watch these ladies make their authentic food!

Mexican Rice

1 c. white rice
8 oz tomato sauce
4 tsp. vegetable oil
1/4 onion, cut into thin slivers
1 tsp. salt
3 1/2 c. hot water

Put the vegetable oil in a medium size skillet; add rice and cook on medium heat until the rice turns light brown. Add the onions and tomato sauce and mix them together. Add the hot water and season with salt. Cover pan with a lid. Rice will be ready once it's dry, about 20-25 minutes.

Mexican Fajitas

1 lb. beef fajita (flank steak sliced thin)
1 lb. chicken bistek (breast sliced thin)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
3 diced tomatoes
3 diced red bell peppers
3 diced green bell peppers
2 diced onions
8 oz. sliced fresh mushrooms
All purpose adobo seasoning (seasoning salt)
Black pepper

In a big pan preheat the vegetable oil on high heat; add the meat and salt. Stir until browned and until all the juice from the meat is gone. Add all purpose seasoning, black pepper and vegetables. Continue cooking until vegetables are tender. Serve with rice, beans and avocado. Serves 6-8. (Really delicious and full of flavor.)

In my car maintenance class I learned the four things that are the life of your car: oil and oil filter, air filter, radiator, and transmission. I remember when I was 15 and taking Driver's Ed that I had to learn how to check the oil, but I didn't know transmission fluid is supposed to be pink, or that the air filter is as important to change as the oil filter. I hate feeling like the clueless woman who doesn't understand the language or her car mechanic. So, I was very happy to have been somewhat enlightened on the subject. We also talked about ways to get better gas mileage, one idea being to walk! (Anyone else have any good ideas?)

By the end of the day I was thinking more about being done than enjoying the last part of the enriching. But, I couldn't have been more uplifted and renewed than by listening to Sister Gilliland, the mission president's wife, give her talk. There were several things that hit me while she spoke. One of them was when she was telling the story of her preparations to come on their mission to Ohio. She came to a point where she locked herself in the bathroom sobbing and saying, "I can't do this. I just can't." She then said a voice came to her mind that said, "I know...but, [I can.] I will help you." That was something I needed to hear right now. In mothering two small children, there are days, almost every day, when I think, "I can't do this." I feel very overwhelmed and think about all the things I am doing wrong and how other mothers must be able to do all those things right. I needed that gentle, but piercing, reminder that I'm not SUPPOSED to be able to do it...alone. And I need to humble myself and ask for the help that is waiting to be given.

Sister Gilliland also quoted President Hinckley's son from stake conference last Sunday. He said, "With every problem there is an opportunity. Feed the opportunity; starve the problem."

I needed that spiritual boost so much today. I was thinking of my "feasting" on the new conference Ensign yesterday and how feeling the comfort, warmth, strength, and sustenance from the Spirit I felt yesterday, made me want it so much more today. I was so grateful to have that experience, to have added upon it today, and to strive to repeat it tomorrow. It always amazes me how much that daily dose of spiritual study can give your spirit light, make you less susceptible to temptation, give you more patience, and increase your desire for more light. Wow, is this gospel true.

After my awesome morning, Eric and the girls came to pick me up, and we went to the park.



I happened to start conversing with another mom who was there with her daughter, and we chatted for over an hour! Soon some of her neighbors joined us and we all enjoyed getting to know each other. We were even invited to join in Saturday night potlucks at the park in their community. It was so great to be able to form a new acquaintance and enjoy all the things we had in common.

After dragging Mierae home after the park, Eric was getting dinner ready when I looked over at Jolie in her high chair.


Her refusal to take a nap that afternoon finally caught up with her! She ended up napping just under an hour and went to bed by 9:00, after Mierae had fallen asleep. And that is how I am able to write this blog!

And all that is what I enjoyed most about my day. :)