for all of you that like to make dill pickles!!!

This is a great thing that I just learned the dills turn out real crunchy, insead of mushy

I like to use small cukes from 2 inch to 4 inch.
clean then cover with water and keep ice on them for 12 to 24 hours.

1 1/2 quarts of vinegar
2 quarts of water
1 cup salt
bring to a boil while you put cukes in the jars
add in in jars.. a bunch of dill weed
garlic... if you prefer a bunch of dill weed
in each pint jar add 1/4 teaspoon of alum

pour hot vinegar water over the pickles within one inch of the top
place lid and screw on ring tightly
put jars in very hot water bath and proc ess for 5 min.

let cool overnight and enjoy

I hope you will enjoy these as much as I do...

some things that I think that I know!!

A few years ago I saw a small note book that terry lee had made, it was full of quotes that she wanted to remember.
So I began my own notebook.... I really love it.

"books are the bees which carry quickening pollen from one to another mind"

(another favorite)

I asked God to take away my bad habits.
God said NO
It is not for me to take it away ... it is for you the give it up>

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said NO
His spirit is shole, His body in only temporary

I asked God to gran me patience
God said NO
Patience is the by product of tribulations. It isnt granted, it is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness
God said NO
I give you blessings. Happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain
God said NO
Suffering draws you apart from worldlyu cares.

I asked God to make my Spirit grow
God said NO
You must grow on your own. But I will puune you to make you fruitful

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said NO
I will give you life so that you can enjoy all things

I asked God to help me LOVE others as much as He loves me.
God said ++++AHHHH
finally you have the idea.


MY very favorite is from Winnie the POOH
"you're braver than you believe,
and stronger than you seem,
and smarter than you think"

broke my back & had to sit a lot...

after I broke my back in a fall off of a 6 inch stool... the only time it didnt hurt was when I would sit in the recliner. So to keep from going nuts. Nanette got me started on project # one... It is a lazer cut that you choose the colors you like and tuck them into the cuts on the foam material.
I thought that the two pictures turned out nicely.
Project # two was also given to me by Nanette. It didnt apeal to me too much at first... I pieced it together and sewed on the felted wool flowers and did some embrodriary..( dont you just love my spelling) The more unusual thing about my project IS that I am visually challenged so that I am unable to sew with a sewing machine... everything is sewn with a needle and thread. and how do I thread a needle? I have tried starching the thread so that it would go thru the needle.... not too sucessful... and then Theron sent me a small plastic box like object
I put the needle hole side down and place the thread across the top and push a button and waa hoo the needle is threaded. I now love project #2

project # 3 is a christmas or winter wall hanging... I really struggled with this one... at one point I had completed all the stars for the sides and... later could not find them... I must have thrown them out.. I almost gave up at that point however I thought about it and went and bought more fabric. and completed the job... the hardest part for me was the embroidary.. me satin stich work that spells WINTER looks like it was done by a drunken sailor... This project got me to thinking about doing the four seasons. Sooo now I have almost completed the four different wall hangings for the seasons.... MORE TO COME LATTER Love Robin

How i kept from goiing crazyer....

project number one

project number two

project number three

hard work pays off.. check out the new patio

my number one son and his family gave me a $100.00 visa card for my birthday. I was sooo over whelmed. I had never had $100. to do anything that I wanted with... so I began thinking. every night I would lay in bed and try to think of what I could buy.. a dress..(no, I hate shopping) more books for my kindel dx..(no that was too temporary) I would ask friends and they would say put all your ideas in a hat and pull out one and DO IT. I knew I would look at it and say nay. after about one month... I came up with the idea... it would last forever.. I would be forever reminded of what it represented. I would turn my corner weed patch into a patio!!!
I thought about buying $100 dollars of walmart pavers... Nanette said NO.. you want stone.
so we got into Gordons truck and went to international stone co. I choose arizona stone. and my $100 dollars @.18 a pound purchased 3 BIG stones..... it came to $99.21... how awesome!
Nanette and Gordon dug the area down about 6 inches and leveled the ground. Then Dann came to visit and had the privildge of setting the first stone with the help of his father.. it weighted 475 pounds. The other 2 were a little smaller.... however the stones are about 2 1/2 to three inches thick. seeing that we would need about 2 more loads of stone, Gordon and Dann went and got it .
Sunday we ate dinner on the patio... however the chairs and table had to be carefully placed of they would fall thru the cracks. So Monday I went and got two more loads of smaller stones. and thus began my part of the patio. All the stones are set in small pea gravel... so I would look at the spaces between the big rocks and look around to find a piece of the puzzle that would fit that spot. If it didnt fit closely. I took my sculpting chisels and hammer and broke off the pieces that didnt fit ... until it was a perfect fit.... after 4 days crawling around on the rocks covered with the small pea gravel.. my knees are sore, my hands are swollen.. and I can look at that corner of my yard with pride. "IF ITS TO BE ITS UP TO ME" this has always been my motto. NOW I have built a flower bed along side of the fence and set containers of flowers in place... My other big purchase... was a large container of sterilant. to kill all the weeds in and arould the area.. WOW I hope I dont get too carried away and sterilize the whole place... OH WELL.

troubles for Nick

We just found out that this morning, Nick was backing his motorcycle out of the garage, and it began to tip over..... of course in the direction of his damaged leg. He had a spiral break this christmas from a skiing accident... and has still not been able to walk on it... but he could ride his bike to work..... with the cruches behind him....
From what I understand the bike tipped over onto his broken leg.. and did further damage and also broke his hip.... he is in surgery ... so pray for him ... when I know more I will let you know more. love robin

My Talk on Temples, a source of strength and power

As an introduction.... I was asked to give a talk on the conference talk of Elder Richard G. Scott: Temple Worship the Source of Strength and Power in Times of Need.

If we have never met, I am Robin the mother of six boys and one girl.. we have 28 grandchildren, and eight sweet grandchildren. We have belonged to this ward for 38 years.. through all of its changes. I teach the 4 year old in primary. and hear a lot of things said by these kids that I don't want to hear. So I say tell me after the lesson. It works every time.
Gordon and I have been serving in the Boise Idaho Temple for 7 years.. Our shift at the temple is Wednesday from 10:45 to 4:30. It is the best job I have ever had and we love every min. we are there. I begin smiling as soon as we get close to the temple and cant quite smiling the rest of the day. When I enter the doors of the temple and feel the quiet and peace and a feeling comes over me that I have come home.
As I look out over this congregation, I see beautiful people who are at peace and are striving to become more spiritual. The calmness of your demeanor tells me that you have no problems and that life is sweet. RIGHT
Because I know my situation, I realize that I am the only one here who constantly has problems. So I will share with you how I make it through my trials and find joy along the way. Gordon and I have had children problems or was it problem children? We have had money problems and so many other kinds of trials or tests..that later we realized we had to pass in order to progress. And sometimes it is very painful time....but I know now that life goes on.
Several years ago I attended a seminar.. where a catholic priest talked to me. I was talking about my worries. He pulled out a AA 12 step card, and pointed to the first step and asked me to read it. #1 do you feel your life is out of control? I replied.."boy oh boy do I ever" He said read step #2 Do you believe in a Supreme Being? I replied " I most certainly do, I pray over everything every day. I love my Father in Heaven. He smiled and said read #3 Then turn your problems over to Him. Let Him handle it.... It was a light bulb moment for me. I had prayed and because nothing happened right away, I tried to take care of the problem.
13 years ago I was diagnosed with mauclear degeneration. And that I would be legally blind in five years. I was devastated. I cried all the way home When I got home there was no one home to tell my sorrows to... then I realized that there was someone.... so I knelt down by my bed and prayed for comfort. I felt the presence of the comforter and received joy. When Gordon came home I ran to him smiling and said guess what I have maculear degeneration. I received a marvelous blessing from Mark and Gordon. and I knew with assurance that I would be fine. I can still see to read all the books that I desire. I just cant read one in one day.
This early spring I was diagnosed with Parkinson Disease, which affects brain cells that control movement and balance, again with the blessings, I know that all will be well. So when you see me bumping into doorways and my hands and feet shaking just give me a big smile. I am OK. I fear not because I know that at no time will I go thur this experience alone...and I will pass with flying colors, and a joyful spirit.
Before we can change anything in our lives.....we have to recognize that this is the way it is meant to be right now IN OTHER WORDS. Father, you lead and I will follow.... this is the way it was meant to be. This is part of my journey
Challenges that tax our faith, are usually opportunities to stretch and strengthen our faith by finding out if we really believe the Lord will help us.
Elder Scott spoke about how so many of us now have access to the temples. And many of us do not have to travel long distances to attend a temple session. But there are some who sell their homes and all they own to travel for many days by boat, bus and bike to receive their temple endowments. We must not allow anything to interfere with our plans to go to the temple . Elder Scott encourages us to set a goal and stick with it. What other activity could have a greater impact and provide more joy and profound happiness for a person than worshiping in the temple
I enjoy watching the people come into the temple. They tend to arrive rushing as if running from the world.. If it is a husband and wife, the wife is five feet ahead of the husband. But after they have spent time doing temple work, they dome out dressed again for the world walking slowly hand in hand.
The temple is the House of the Lord, a Holy place. In the temple we learn, what it means to be in... but not of the world. As we enter the temple we change from our everyday clothes into white clothing. Wearing white is a reminder that we are temporarily leaving the world being and entering a holy place. White is a symbol of purity and reverence. private dressing rooms are provided, modesty is a priority. The Temple is a Holy place. Their is an abundance of the Spirit within its walls. We can feel the Spirit whether we are outside looking at the Lords house or inside performing baptisms, receiving our endowment or participating in a sealing.
The temple is a place of learning, where we receive ordinance necessary for us to return to dwell with God. One ordinance we receive is the endowment, this word means "GIFT" and it is truly a gift from God.
Another temple ordinance is Celestial Marriage. At that time a husband and wife are sealed together forever. After the endowment session, we go into the Celestial room... a very sacred and beautiful room... It is so quiet and here you can fold your arms and talk to your Father in Heaven. and give thanks for your blessings. talk to Him about your problems, pray for guidance or pray for comfort. Elder John Widtsoe said "the temple is a place where revelations may be expected at the most unexpected moments in or out of the temple... this will come as a revelation... the solution to the problem that vex our lives.
I cannot promise you that you will not have hardships, trials, health problems or money worried. But I can promise you that going regularly to the temple will give you comfort, insight, and strengthen your love of your Father in Heaven so that you will have the faith to understand that.. when you say " I will go where you want me to go.... You may not end up where you planned on going.... and with your new found faith that is OK.
Boyde K. Packer " a Scripture says " Ye learn obedience by the things we suffer." Sure trials will come. Because of them Faith will increase, Happiness will increase, Security will increase. You will be glad to be alive at this time. Temple attendance will help you to develop faith and happiness,
President Gordon Hinckly "Vicarious temple work for the dead, more nearly approaches the vicarious sacrifice of the Savior Himself than any other work of which I know. No one comes with any expectations of thanks for the work which we do. It is given with love without hope of compensation or repayment..
What a wonderful principle
Working at becoming obedient is like putting puzzle together. Each piece has a place where it belongs. And as each piece of the obedience puzzle goes together, you will gain strength and knowledge and will gain more and more faith. And stronger faith in your Father in Heaven, you will be able to turn your trial over to Him...and you will know joy.

Pres. Gordon Hinckly "Never forget that you came to earth as a child of the Devine Father, with something of divinity in your makeup
The Lord did not send you here to fail. He did not give you life to waste it.
He bestowed upon you the gift of mortality.....that you might gain experience.......
Positive, Wonderful..Purposeful experience......that will lead to life eternal.
May God Bless you and May you listen to the Spirit and be encouraged to attend the temple. Love Robin