Dancing

Raising a kid is hard work. More for Kristen than for me. Scarlett is very demanding, and doesn't take very good naps. As a result, Kristen doesn't usually get to shower in the morning (I try to come home from work for lunch, and give her the chance), let alone really get ready for the day, poor dear.

Tonight, while we were making dinner, she left to feed Scarlett. When she came back to the kitchen and put Scarlett in her swing, she just seemed very tired. We had Spotify playing some Brad Paisley, and the song "New Favorite Memory" came on.

I walked up behind her and wrapped my arms around her. She started swaying back and forth a little bit, and I turned her around and kissed her, then pulled her close and we danced. I was suddenly overcome with gratitude that I am married to this beautiful woman who gives of herself and her time so selflessly to take care of our tiny little girl, and I offered a prayer to Heavenly Father, that He would always help me remember what's most important, and how blessed I am.

Day Zero 101

A few years ago, I started an experiment called Day Zero: 101 in 1001. The idea was to come up with 101 goals I wanted to accomplish, and to do them in 1001 days (roughly 2.75 years). I didn't quite accomplish all I'd set out to do, so I've decided to make another go of it. If you'd like to track my progress (and give me encouraging words of advice as I go), feel free to check it out here.

2011 Letter

Merry belated Christmas and Happy belated New Year! Here is a link to our 2011 Christmas letter. Enjoy!

Stuffed Mushrooms, a la Adam

So New Year's Eve, I tried out making my own stuffed mushrooms. We love stuffed mushrooms, and get them all the time at restaurants. Funny enough, I think my favorite are actually Olive Garden's.

I based my recipe off of a couple of other recipes I found, but added my own twists. Kristen's words after eating these were: "Home run babe. Home run." Most stuffed mushrooms have some kind of seafood in them (crab, clams, etc.), but these use the much more accessible bacon, and are super easy to make. I hope you enjoy them!

Ingredients
About 1/2 lb. (20-30) whole mushrooms
1 package cream cheese, softened
1/4 C. grated parmesan cheese
Dash of cayenne pepper (about 1/4 t.)
Dash of onion powder (about 1/4 t.)
6 slices bacon
1 medium clove garlic, minced fine
Italian bread crumbs (I use Progresso - only about $1-2 at the grocery store)

Cook the bacon slices in a pan until crispy. Wipe out the pan with paper towels, retaining a little of the bacon fat in the pan. Chop (or crumble) the bacon very fine.

Remove the stems from mushroom caps, and rinse both stems and caps well, then dry with a paper towel. Chop up the stems fine, then fry them with the garlic in the retained bacon fat. Once any moisture has evaporated (about 5 minutes - careful not to burn the garlic), mix them with the cream cheese, parmesan cheese, bacon, and spices.

Fill the mushroom caps with the cheese/bacon mixture (you can fill beyond the top - just don't add too much, or they will bubble over). Then dip the cheese-filled end in bread crumbs. This will help keep the filling from bubbling out of the mushroom.

Place the filled mushrooms (not touching) filling side up on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 about 15-20 minutes, until the mushrooms are piping hot (the liquid from the mushrooms will start to pool under them). Enjoy!

Privacy

I haven't written much this last year. Sure, I've been busy - a pregnant wife, a few plays, work, getting ready to apply to grad school - but it also has to do with the issue of privacy. I'm not a super-private person, as any regular reader of this blog knows. I've shared a lot of my personal thoughts and feelings with the world over the years, though this blog.

But I've been debating how much I should share. In our modern world, you can use the internet to find just about anything, or anyone. Just think about how many times you've Facebook or blog-stalked someone:

I have a child now - I want to do everything I can to protect her. Not to be overly paranoid, but there are bad people out there. So I'm trying to come to some kind of a balance with still wanting to share, but trying to keep private things private. I don't want to take my blog "private" - I like being able to view peoples' blogs in Google Reader - there are about four private blogs I follow, and I have to have separate links for them. For an organized person like me, that's kind of annoying. I only put up with it if I really like you. :) So the idea is to strike a balance with not sharing too much personal information, but sharing just enough. If I know you, and you want more information, feel free to email me and ask. I know people always say that, and no one ever emails - but seriously, email me and ask.

As I said, our baby girl was born recently. Her name is Scarlett Marie, and she is adorable. We love everything about her - even when she's driving us crazy. We're getting the hang of being parents, slowly but surely - she is the best part of our lives.

I've been a journal keeper for a long time, until the last couple years (since I've been married, essentially). I feel bad I haven't written about my life, thoughts, feelings, etc., especially now that I have a kid, but maybe I just need a fresh start. I can take blog postings, Christmas letters, Facebook statuses (stati?), and use them to fill in the gaps for the last little while. And then I want to do something like this:

I know this was made as an ad for Google Chrome, but I love it.

Letter to My Girl

Dear baby girl,

I feel kinda silly right now. I’m sitting at work, and trying to find a song that conveys my feelings about you. And I’m crying. That’s right – I’m crying, because as I listen to these songs, I know that someday you’re going to grow up and leave, and it breaks my heart. I haven’t even met you yet, and I’m already sad to see you go.

I don’t want to give you away to some young punk. I don’t want you to grow up and move away, to not need me anymore. You’re my little girl, and I love you more than you know. I am beginning to understand the love parents have for their children. I can’t wait to meet you, baby girl.

Love,
Daddy

Primary

The last year and a half, I’ve served in Primary of the Heatheridge 6th Ward. I’d been a substitute teacher before, but this was my first church calling serving with the children at church. I was called as the Primary pianist – technically as one of the pianists, since there seem to be fewer callings to go around in Utah wards. Too many active members of the Church – not a bad problem to have. I loved playing the piano – it was in my comfort zone, and I got to listen to all the funny things the kids say in Primary.

Well, last summer, our wonderful Primary chorister up and moved on us. We were very sad to see her go – she was so much fun, and I loved serving with her. But guess who they called as the new Primary music leaders? Kristen and me!

At first we were super-nervous about it. I’ve never directed music before, and for some reason, little kids seem imposing. Maybe it’s because you have to work to keep their attention. As Rebekah (our predecessor) told us, you always need to have some sort of a “gimmick” to keep them engaged. A game, or props, or pictures, or all three. Something.

But as we’ve had the privilege to teach music to these wonderful children for the last year, to see some of them graduate Primary and go on to young men’s and young women’s, it’s not so scary. And we’ve learned that they’ve really been teaching us all along. I think I’ve become a more humble person, a more soft-spoken person (although at the same time, you DO have to speak up sometimes in Primary), a more kind person, simply by being around these awesome kids.

And I say they’re awesome – sometimes a couple of them are punks, it’s true. But if you threaten them with coming up front to sing a solo…and then actually follow through with it…they learn that you mean business. And they also learn that singing can be fun. And you still love them and think they’re great. The best I’ve ever felt about a calling was when I heard that a little girl in Primary told her mom she wished they would do singing time for all of Primary – that it was never long enough.

I think I’ve always secretly been an “aspirer.” I never sought after it, but I always kinda wanted to have that teaching position, or that leadership position. It makes you feel good when you know the Lord has that kind of confidence in you. And I like to teach – it’s enjoyable, definitely. But nothing compares to being in the Primary. I now know why this is my mom’s favorite calling, and I thank my Heavenly Father for the blessing of teaching music to his sweet children.

Here are some of our favorite moments/quotes from Primary:

Leader: “What’s General Conference?”
Kid: “He was a soldier.”

Leader: “Does the Holy Ghost have a body?”
Kids: “No!”
Bela: “He only has a head!”

Leader: “Who’s the third member of the Godhead? There’s Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and…?”
Abby: “Nephi?”

Leader: “What’s so special about your family?”
Bela: “My mommy and daddy sleep together.”

Caitlin: “I testify that the prophets are like the living God, but not, because they’re different…”

Leader (showing pictures of people and asking how we can serve them): “What can you do to help a blind person?”
Sarah: “You can say, ‘Don’t go over there! That’s a nitro glycerin plant!’”