Simple Sunday

1 John 4:19

We love him, because he first loved us.

Contusions A Plenty

A bike accident? Car accident? Fighting at school? Bad seat mate on the bus? Nope....football. Gee I wonder why so many mom's hate this sport! The small ones that are fading are from practice and the big ones that are nice and dark are from today's game. But hey..he did his job and the team earned another win! Go Eagles!!!!

Goal! Goal! Goalllllll!!!!

Morgan has been playing soccer for about a year. She wanted to give it a try...and what do you know...she sorta rocks! This year is the first time she has played goalie. And let me tell you she is so good at it! (just to be clear...the first MacQueen who makes a Monica joke gets exlax brownies!)

Making a save

Sacrificing her cute little hands for a save

She tripped and fell and I put the camera down to make sure she was ok...she gets up and SCORES!! So no picture, darn it!

I think this is what makes her so good....she is way more aggressive then we ever thought possible. It's funny she is really very passive in normal life...but soccer...watch out!!

A Grape Day

Or: Why I am learning to love Utah!

Last night I went to welcome our wards newest Mia Maid. Mormon talk for 14-15 yr old girls! Well....Kaelin was a bit delayed getting home so her father invited us in. As we were visiting he asked me if I would like to try one of the grapes from his vines. Of course I said yes....Oh My Gosh!!! The sweetest grapes I have ever tasted....EVER!!! He had 4 buckets full. I asked him what he did with the grapes. Here in Utah you USE what you grow. You can, put up, dehydrate or freeze. It is so cool. Well he said they make juice from the grapes. Being a city girl I had no idea how that worked, but being a curious city girl I asked. He showed me this steamer like pot that has a small tube attached to the front, where the juice comes out. Duhhh?? Then offered to let me borrow their steamer and gave me 4 buckets of grapes! How cool is that? So today I have been making juice. And you know what? It feels perfect. Just the right thing to do today, uncomplicated, no thinking involved, and man of man does my house smell good!

Now, how's that for healthy recipes...huh Sarah? Not a lick of sugar added!

Fresh grapes

Steamer thing

Steamed grapes

Yummy juice!

Simple Sunday

3 Nephi 11:33

And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.

My Big Sister

Tamra Kaye Chapman

June 26, 1964 - September 4, 2009

I am not able to put into words all the thoughts running through my mind. The thoughts running through my heart are even more tangled. I have countless memories of my oldest sister. Too many to count. Some too precious to share.

Tami was diagnosed with breast cancer 13 years ago. She fought it. About 11 and 1/2 years ago it had spread to her lungs, then her brain. She fought it. 5 months ago she found another lump in her breast. She fought it. She fought and fought until her poor tired beautiful body could no longer withstand the treatment. Still she fought. It was not until her husband Mark told her it was OK to stop fighting that she passed away.

I honestly had no idea how terrible it would feel to see her succumb to this horrible disease. My heart aches for her husband and children. My heart aches for our mother. My heart aches for my kids who loved their Aunt Tami so.

My heart aches.

2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

This scripture describes perfectly my sister. I miss her terribly.

I thank my Father in heaven for providing a way for me to return to him. Where I will be greeted by my grandmother, father, and now my big sister. Who forever has blazed the trail for the rest of the family, the first to do everything.

A New Look

We have lived here, in this house, in Utah, cold cold Utah....for FIVE years! That is the very longest we have lived anywhere! Crazy!!!! Back to my point!!! So my door was a lovely tan color...but it started to fade in the blazing hot Utah sun. I painted it my new favorite color. I don't even know the name!

Here is my question....What color should I paint the lovely....insert sarcasm here.....BRASS kickplate door and lock? Please weigh in. I am leaning towards black, or nickel, or silver...but the problem is that there is brass IN BETWEEN THE GLASS!!!! I can not get to that! HELP!!!!