They Gave Up Their Christmas

What will you give this Christmas?

This story reminded me once again of the amazing people on this earth that give so selflessly of their time and talents in the service of their fellowmen. How grateful I am to be blessed with health and strength and the ability to serve others, particularly remembering the example of the Savior and his service and sacrifice to all mankind. I would encourage everyone this Christmas season to follow his example and remember that . . . “There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus the Christ.”
—President Thomas S. Monson

I love this talk by Dieter F Uchtdorf . . .

Can We See the Christ?

One night a grandfather was reading a story to his four-year-old granddaughter when she looked up and said, “Grandpa, look at the stars!” The older man smiled kindly and said, “We’re indoors, honey. There are no stars here.” But the child insisted, “You have stars in your room! Look!”

The grandfather looked up and, to his surprise, noticed that the ceiling was peppered with a metallic glitter. It was invisible most of the time, but when the light struck the glitter a certain way, it did indeed look like a field of stars. It took the eyes of a child to see them, but there they were. And from that moment on, when the grandfather walked into this room and looked up, he could see what he had not been able to see before.

We are entering another wonderful Christmas season filled with music and lights, parties and presents. But of all people, we as members of the church that bears the Savior’s name need to look beyond the facade of the season and see the sublime truth and beauty of this time of year.

I wonder how many in Bethlehem knew that right there, close to them, the Savior had been born? The Son of God, the long-awaited and promised Messiah—He was in their midst!
Do you remember what the angel told the shepherds? “Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” And they said to themselves, “Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass” (Luke 2:11, 15).
Like the shepherds of old, we need to say in our hearts, “Let us see this thing which is come to pass.” We need to desire it in our hearts. Let us see the Holy One of Israel in the manger, in the temple, on the mount, and on the cross. Like the shepherds, let us glorify and praise God for these tidings of great joy!
Sometimes the most difficult things to see are those that have been right in front of us all along. Like the grandfather who failed to see the stars on the ceiling, we sometimes cannot see that which is in plain sight.

We who have heard the glorious message of the coming of the Son of God, we who have taken upon us His name and have covenanted to walk in His path as His disciples—we must not fail to open our hearts and minds and truly see Him.

The Christmas season is wonderful in many ways. It is a season of charitable acts of kindness and brotherly love. It is a season of being more reflective about our own lives and about the many blessings that are ours. It is a season of forgiving and being forgiven. It is a season to enjoy the music and lights, parties and presents. But the glitter of the season should never dim our sight and prevent us from truly seeing the Prince of Peace in His majesty. Let us all make this year’s Christmas season a time of rejoicing and celebration, a time when we acknowledge the miracle that our Almighty God sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem the world!

Red Velvet Trifle.... isn't it pretty?

I saw this today and think it is a must have! I can't wait to make it!!! Maybe for my Croin's graduation party this Saturday?!



RED VELVET CAKE TRIFLE
www.RecipeGirl.com

CAKE:
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 3/4 cups sugar
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 1/4 tsp. salt
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. vinegar
1 1/2 tsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ounce red food coloring (use 2 ounces if you desire a deeper red color)

SYRUP:
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup water
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

THE REST:
4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
One (8-ounce) tub mascarpone cheese
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 cups heavy whipping cream
sliced almonds- about 1 cup
shaved dark chocolate- about 4 ounces
mint leaves and fresh cranberries for garnish, optional

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 9×13-inch pan generously with cooking spray; then dust lightly with flour.

2. Prepare cake: With an electric mixer, blend butter and sugar in a large bowl; set aside. Sift together flour and salt; set aside. Mix the eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, baking soda and vinegar in a separate bowl. Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk mixture to the butter mixture. Mix well after each addition. In a small bowl, mix red food coloring and cocoa powder; add to the cake batter and mix just until combined. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. You don’t really want the cake to be soft and super moist, so be sure to bake it until it tests done.

3. Prepare simple syrup: In a small saucepan, bring sugar, and water to boil over medium heat. Stir to dissolve sugar completely. Stir in vanilla. Let cool.

4. Cut the cake in half and cut one half into chunks; brush with cooled syrup. You likely won’t need more than half of the cake for the trifle. Save the rest of the cake for another purpose.

5. Prepare whipped layer: In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, mascarpone and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy. Reduce speed to medium and slowly pour in whipping cream. Continue beating until mixture resembles soft whipped cream.

6. Assemble the trifle: In the bottom of your trifle dish, arrange a single layer of red velvet cake chunks. Spoon about 1 1/2 cups of the whipped topping on top of the cake cubes. Next, sprinkle almonds and then shaved chocolate. Keep repeating layers until you run out of room in your dish. Garnish with mint leaves and fresh cranberries, if desired.

Serves: 10 to 12

TIPS:
*Quick & easy tip: Use a boxed red velvet cake mix instead of making it from scratch (bake it in a 9×12-inch pan)
*If you don’t wish to use mascarpone cheese, you can sub 6 ounces of cream cheese for the mascarpone (10 ounces cream cheese total).
*Using low fat cream cheese is completely ok.
*I used Scharffenberger Dark Chocolate. To get it ready for shaving, place a chunk of chocolate in the microwave for about 20 seconds, then shave w/ a potato peeler to create curly little shards of chocolate.
*Quick & easy tip: Use chocolate chips in place of shaved dark chocolate.
*If you don’t have a trifle bowl, use a glass bowl with tall sides instead.
*Make ahead tip: The trifle can be prepared early in the day. Refrigerate and cover with plastic wrap. Add the garnish just before serving.

This Christmas (All I Really, Really Want) - Original song by Chris Comm...

Chris is a fellow Kingman High School graduate :) I really like his upbeat music! Becca and I love to listen to his music and watch his videos.

My first game stats!!!! (By becca)

Although my team, the eagles, lost 24-4, we made more progress on passing..... But, since those girls were triple my size, eight graders, I had some trouble with them passing or seeing over their shoulders.
As my mom said, they were VERY "handsy". One girl even had to sit out because she lost the feeling in her upper lip from being hit. My mom says she had a bad bloody nose also, but I didn't notice because I was BOOKING it down the floor, from the mixed possessions to the blocking (or at least trying to,) the MANY shots trying to be made.
But, on the upsides, I was the only team member to foul an eighth grader!!!!!! She AIRBALLED the two shots, overshooting them both. I am pretty proud of myself:) I also got an assist:]
It was pretty fun, (except the injuries)and I can't wait for my game on the 7th, and this time it's a home game against Maricopa.