Trailing Star

A woman on an archaeological dig discovers an ancient lamp. She rubs it and a genie appears, offering her a single wish. She asks for world peace. The genie considers her request and says: "What you’re asking for is impossible. The division among the peoples of the world is too deep and has existed for too long.  You must ask for something else.” The woman thinks again and replies: "Somewhere out there is the one person I was meant to be with. I want to find him. He should be handsome, thoughtful, and have a sense of humor. I want someone who’ll help around the house, loves kids, doesn't watch sports all the time, has a great job, and thinks first about my happiness; someone who’ll go shopping with me and who can get along with my family." The genie considers her request a moment and replies, "Let me see what I can do about world peace."

Christmas in July

Most of the kids here will head back to school three weeks from today. It can’t come too soon for me. The past two months my students and their parents have been floundering. They come without their music. They come without having practiced. They get dropped off at their piano lesson in their swimsuits – dripping wet – because they were swimming in their neighbors’ pool. They come without a check for this month’s (or last month’s) tuition. All too often they don’t come at all; not because they’re too busy, but because they’ve forgotten what day of the week it is. I’m all in favor of holidays, but I think three months is too long to be away with the fairies. It’s frustrating for them and for me to spend several weeks just trying to regain the ground we’ve lost since May. But we’ll do it, because we only have 17 weeks before the Christmas recital.

Boxes

If you can't stand the heat, you can get out of the kitchen. Or you can do your cooking in the morning, when it isn't quite so miserable. I like to keep a salad or two in the fridge, especially during the summer months. If I'm in no mood to cook in the evening, I can still throw a decent meal together in no time.

Pasta Salad

16 ounces Rotini

1 cup ranch dressing

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

4 green onions chopped

6 sliced radishes

1 cup halved cherry tomatoes

1 cup frozen broccoli florets, thawed

1 chopped bell pepper

2 medium sliced zucchini

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. Rinse with ice water and drain again. In a small bowl, whisk the dressing and oil together. In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients. Add the dressing and toss. Cover and chill for at least an hour.

Spinning Wheel

“God’s purpose is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. That is fundamental to all we do. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in things that we find fascinating or become so consumed by mundane responsibilities that we lose sight of God’s objectives. As you consistently focus your life on the most basic principles, you will gain an understanding of what you are to do, and you will produce more fruit for the Lord and more happiness for yourself. When you focus your life on the basic principles of the plan of salvation, you will better concentrate on sharing what you know because you understand the eternal importance of the ordinances of the gospel. You will share what you know in a way that encourages your friends to want to be strengthened spiritually. You will help your loved ones want to commit to obey all of His commandments and take upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ.” – Richard G. Scott

Hide and Seek

It is not enough to study or reenact the accomplishments of our pioneers. We need to identify the eternal principles they applied to achieve and then apply those principles to the challenges of our day. In that way we honor their pioneering efforts, and we also reaffirm our heritage and strengthen its capacity to bless our own posterity and “those millions of our Heavenly Father’s children who have yet to hear and accept the gospel of Jesus Christ.” We are all pioneers in doing so. The foremost quality of our pioneers was faith. With faith in God, they did what every pioneer does. They stepped forward into the unknown: a new religion, a new land, a new way of doing things. With faith in their leaders and in one another, they stood fast against formidable opposition. When their leader said, “This is the right place,” they trusted, and they stayed.- Dallin H. Oaks

Days of '47

When the first group of Mormon pioneers came to the Salt Lake valley, they celebrated. In fact, they pretty much celebrated all the way across the plains. Whenever they stopped for the evening, they prayed and they sang. When they had the energy, they even danced. They gave copious thanks for their blessings, knowing it was foolish to ask for more without gratitude in their hearts for what they’d already been given. So, even though they knew they had mountains of work ahead of them, they took time to commemorate their arrival. The first Pioneer Day parade was held here just two years afterwards, in 1849. 165 years later we’re still making a big deal about it, with more parades, pageants, races, concerts, rodeos, and of course fireworks. If there’s one thing we know around here, it’s how to throw a good party.