Family Bread Recipe

7 cups flour
1/2 c oil
1/2 c sugar
2 c water
1 TBS yeast
1 tsp salt
1 egg

Put flour, oil, sugar, salt and egg in mixing bowl.
Dissolve yeast in body temperature water (test on the inside of your wrist.)
Pour water & yeast into the bowl. mix through.
Mix 2 minutes with a kitchen aid mixer or knead until elasticy.
Put in a big, greased bowl. Cover and rise until doubled in size. Punch it down.
Cut dough in half if making bread; shape and put each in greased bread pans.
For rolls: shape and put onto greased cookie sheet.
Whether bread or rolls, let rise again, until doubled in size.

Bread: Bake in a 350* oven until golden brown; about 40-45 minutes.
Rolls - Bake in a 350* oven until golden brown; about 15-25 minutes.

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I was looking through my facebook memories today and this one popped up. I didn't even remember writing it ....

As I was thinking about the bad stuff of the day from 9/11 and yet how much it bugs me to think on the bad stuff, my mind turned to another time that we honor & celebrate the bad stuff: Easter.
Then I had to ask myself what was different about celebrating/honoring 9/11 with the "never forget" but that Easter didn't cause that feeling for me. What is the difference?
After all, during Holy Week, most Christians do not shy away from celebrating Palm Sunday, reading about the moment that Jesus rode into Bethlehem on a donkey and then end with shouts of "Crucify him! Crucify him!"
For the entire next week, we let those words soak into our minds and hearts. We wash each other's feet on Thursday and end with the Altar and all of the sanctuary stripped of anything that tells us "Jesus is here." And we feel that, right to our core.
What if we left it right there? What would we become?
I imagine that we would hate the Jews who wanted Jesus dead. We'd think that Judas deserved every bad thing that came to him, including his own death by suicide.
We'd end with anger and hatred and sadness.
But we don't leave it there. We remember the redemption that happened.
The women found the stone rolled away. They saw the tomb empty - where was their Rabbi? They were heartbroken and left to go home. But Mary Magdalene stayed behind and found the gardner and asked where they had layed Jesus - she would take him away if they wanted her to.
And the person that she thought to be the gardner turned out to be the Risen Lord. He had risen! He couldn't be conquered!
That was the redemption. That was the Good News. That is what we truly celebrate when we "never forget."

So today, perhaps we can use the redemptive moments of 9/11 to remember to tell everyone that we see "God bless you." And to our family and friends, "I love you, and I'm so glad that you're in my life." And count our lucky stars for those of our loved ones who are alive and still with us.
Because that is the redemption of 9/11 that causes us to be better people; people who had their hearts broken yet healed because of the love of our family, friends, and God.
We can have terrible things happen, and we still rise. Because we are made of the same stuff as God, because we have a measure of His Divinity is us too.

♥ Melody

"After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and said, 'Drink this, all of you'" (from the Book of Common Prayer)

A few months ago, I went to an EfM Mentor training (what is that?). It began on a Friday at 1 p.m. and went through Sunday at 1 p.m.
On Saturday, after we'd done our training for the day, we went to supper, walking to a restaurant downtown.
Our trainer was an Episcopal Priest.
After we'd finished our supper and was getting ready to go back, she asked if we'd like to do communion right there at our table in the restaurant. She told us that if anyone felt uncomfortable and objected, we would not do the ceremony. We all agreed that we'd like to.

So she bought more bread that we'd eaten as an appetizer, and she bought a glass of wine. She improvised with the linens, and she started the liturgy (for the Holy Eucharist from the Book of Common Prayer) from memory --

On the night before he died for us, our Lord Jesus Christ took
bread; and when he had given thanks to you, he broke it, and
gave it to his disciples, and said, "Take, eat: This is my Body,
which is given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me."

When she got to this line, I felt electricity and such a powerful feeling, because we, too, had just finished supper - 

After supper he took the cup of wine; and when he had given
thanks, he gave it to them, and said, "Drink this, all of you:
This is my Blood of the new Covenant, which is shed for you
and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink
it, do this for the remembrance of me."

The rest of the liturgy followed, and then very thoughtfully each of us gave the bread and wine to each other, feeding each other just as Jesus's disciples had done in the upper room.
It was such a solemn experience that took my mind to how it must have been to have eaten that Last Supper with the Lord. It was such an absolutely powerful experience.

♥ Melody

Blakely's Blessing Day

Steve, Michael, and I went to Blakely's blessing yesterday. It was held outside in Evon and Gerardo's backyard.

It was a lovely ceremony and nice luncheon. We sat with Grandma Howe and visited - reminiscing about her days as a Mormon Missionary in Hawaii.
Just at the end of the luncheon, the black clouds rolled in and the rain downpoured, freaking Michael out. He wanted to immediately go to the car and get in, so our exit yesterday was easier than normal! Poor Mike got soaked and wanted Steve to change his shirt as soon as they got home.

I took a little more time and drove around the house we'd seen for sale close by the pond - just a couple blocks away. Only time will tell what will happen with that. The house itself is very plain - just a red brick rambler, but the YARD! It is all behind the house, making the lot deep, and it is covered with mature trees, ensuring privacy. I just may have to have a realtor take me through!

Afterward, I came home and we ate and watched tv, which is the perfect end to a Sunday.

♥ Melody

June's Grandma's Tuna Noodle Salad

June's Grandma's Tuna Noodle Salad

Cook 1 lb of Ditalini noodles as directed, and then stir in -
2 cups mayo
1/4 cup cream or milk (I used half & half)
2 stalks celery, chopped
4 green onions, chopped
2 or 3 cans of tuna (I used 2)

salt and pepper to taste (I used about 1 tsp of salt and 1/8 tsp of black pepper)
Stir together well.

If it is too dry after it sits, stir in a little more mayo. I am told it is even better after sitting overnight in the fridge.

5 years at St Mary's Church

Yesterday marks the day of my 5 year anniversary at St Mary's Church.
5 years before, on a Friday, I went to Al Anon in the library St Mary's Church.
I was intrigued by the red front doors and the stained glass windows, and I really wanted to see the stained glass from inside the church proper, but the doors were locked that day. I resolved to go to church that Sunday and see them from the inside, and I did. I also did research on what the red doors symbolized (old time sanctuary) and what The Episcopal Church's doctrine was - it was the inclusive church I was looking for, and I've been there every since.

It is interesting to me that St Mary's Church has been in that same spot since 1907, but until that day I never realized that it existed, though it is only 6 blocks (on the same road, no less!) from the house I grew up in from 13 years old on. I must have driven by it hundreds of times!

Who would've thought when I showed up hurt and wounded from addiction and loss of my religion that day in 2014 that 5 years later I would be starting an EfM group as the mentor, using that same room in the library.

♥ Melody

Potato Salad

Potato Salad
(4th Printing - 1980 Betty Crocker's version, altered a bit for my preference)

2 lbs potatoes (about 6 medium)
1 1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 TBS vinegar
1 TBS mustard
1 tsp salt
2 stalks celery, chopped (about 1 cup)(optional)
2 or 3 green onions, chopped (optional) (or 1 medium onion, chopped)
4 hard boiled eggs, chopped

Boil potatoes, let cool. Cut up into bite size pieces
Hard boil eggs, let cool. Chop into small pieces.

Mix mayo, vinegar, mustard, and salt. Add potatoes, celery and onions. Stir in eggs. Cover and refrigerate.

1st Day of School - The Grandkids

4th grade, 1st grade, preschool

5th grade, 3rd grade

Kindergarten, Preschool x 2

Miah - 5th

Aiden - 4th

Teryn - 3rd

Bentley - 1st

Mercedes - Kindergarten

How I love these grandkiddos! 

♥ Melody, 

AKA - Grandma Mema

Michael's really on the ball

Michael had his picture taken several years ago with a silver or black exercise ball. It became one of his favorite pictures, and he became obsessed with that ball... only the cat popped it. So the ball got thrown in the trash. C'est la vie. Well, c'est la vie for you and me but gloom and despair for Michael, who wanted to go to the dump many years later to rescue that broken ball.

We compromised - we took a new picture with the blue ball instead. May God preserve the life of this blue ball for many, many years. Amen.

SnickerDoodle Cookies

SnickerDoodle Cookies

Preheat oven to 350*

2 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs

In a small bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, & salt.
In a larger bowl, mix together butter & sugar until fluffy & pale; mix in eggs. Stir the flour mixture into the bowl with the butter, sugar & eggs.

In the small (empty) bowl, combine:
2 TBS sugar
2 tsp cinnamon.
Roll the cookie dough into balls and then roll the balls in the sugar/cinnamon mixture, coating them well.

Bake until edges are golden.

New Perennials in the Garden's Flower Bed

I just planted some new perennials in the garden flower bed:

Thrift "Joystick" - armeria pseudarmeria
Salvia "Salute Pink" - salvia nemorosa
Coneflower "PowWow Wild Berry" - echinacea purpurea
English Lavender "big Time Blue" - lavandula angustifolia
And three ground cover plants:
Speedwell - veronica liwanensis

I am super excited! I want to get another salvia plant, and perhaps some Asiatic Lilies - Jessica got some for me a few years ago, but they died.

I'll take a picture later today and post it.

~Melody

Baby Blakely Raelyn

Baby Blakely Raelyn was born on:
Wednesday, April 3rd
@ 10:12 p.m.

She weighed in at:
6 lb 3 oz
and was:
18 inches long.

Isn't she so sweet?

Welcome to the world sweetie pie! ♥
(Photo credit: Grandma Evon)

(below: Grandma Mema and Baby Blakely)

♥ ♥ ♥ The arrival of Malekai Dustin ♥ ♥ ♥

Baby Malekai Dustin was born on:
Wednesday, March 6th
@ 8:45 a.m.

He weighed in at:
9 lbs 8 oz

and was:
20 inches long

Isn't he so sweet?

Welcome to the world "little bear"! ♥


Pics of Baby Malekai with Mema & Pops:

A theological discussion with my 5 year old granddaughter.

I had a conversation with Mercedes (5) yesterday about what happens after we die.

I think that the conversation started after she was standing on a step stool and was tall - I think she said something about "someday when her mom is little again" and went on to say something about that thought.

I said that we don't get little again. We keep growing until we're about 20, and that's the size we'll pretty much stay.

She said, "But what about after we die and are born again?"

I told her that some people believe that when we die we are born again, and that is called "reincarnation," I said that other people like to believe in heaven where our pets that die and our family who dies all go to heaven to live with Jesus (God.)

I said that I like to believe in heaven, but I don't know exactly how things will be because I've never died before, and people who have died can't tell us what it's like.

I said that maybe we're both right and we get to choose.

She said, "Or maybe I'm right and you're wrong. Or maybe you're right and I'm wrong." And she wasn't in the least bugged that we could have a different opinion - I stuck to my thought that "maybe we're both right."

I told Hayley & Josh about that conversation, and Hayley brought it up to Mercedes:

"I just asked her about your conversation. She told me 'I believe people come back as babies and start over and grandma mema thinks we die and go to heaven.' I said, 'That’s really interesting and that I’m not sure what happens after we die.' She said, 'I’ll just have to ask dad, he’s a really smart guy, I’m a really smart girl but dad is really smart too!'”

How I wish all religious conversations could end as well as this one. Both of us are happy with what the other thinks, we kept what we believed, and nothing but love happened as we discussed it. ☮ Peace.
♥ Melody

Happy 49th Birthday to me ♥

♥ Melody

Shield the joyous.

I love this prayer. 
I never would have added, "shield the joyous" to my own prayer... but isn't it so honest? 
I think part of growing older for me has been seeing the other "stuff" and wondering how I'll ever get back to "joyous" again. 
Now that I have the awareness of this issue, perhaps I can work with God to do something to help me get back to "joyous" as an emotion/feeling/state of being again.
Oh, and Amen.

♥ Melody