Thursday, September 27, 2012

"He is not deadbeat dad"

             For the last few years, I have researched alot of topics in the
adoption world. Among many blogs, is a blog  that writes so profound about
adoption. Why do people adopt when they don't have the funds?
Often, money comes with hard work, making something and selling. Also prayer and faith goes hand in hand along with wondering how to come up with the next dollar, just to bring a child home.

            Please read the post written by an adopting family! Their post is worth your time to read. Here's the link....

http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/2012/09/he-is-not-deadbeat-dad-part-1.html#comment-form

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Peanut Butter Bars

I found the peanut butter bars reciepe on someone's blog, and it's a school lunch reciepe!! Brings back memories of my elementary school days, where I would crave those bars! So happy to have finally found the reciepe! Do you remember eating peanut butter bars?? This reciepe makes a whole cookie sheet full.



School Lunch Peanut Butter Bars

11/2 C Flour
1¼ tsp. Salt
½ tsp. Baking Soda
¾ C Butter
¾ C Sugar
¾ C Brown Sugar
1 ½ tsp. Vanilla
1 1/2 C Creamy Peanut Butter (split)
2 Eggs
1 ½ C Quick Oats

Frosting:

½ C Butter (1 stick)
3 ½ C Powdered Sugar
2 T Cocoa
¼ C Milk (I use whatever I have in the fridge)
1 tsp. Vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small mixing bowl, mix together flour, baking soda and salt. In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter, sugars, 3/4 C peanut butter, eggs and vanilla until light and fluffy. Gradually add dry ingredients, just until incorporated.
Then, stir in the oats. Spread onto a greased 11 x 15 Jelly Roll Pan (cookie sheet). Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool for 10 minutes.

The frosting is a two step process:


First, whip the remaining
¾ C Creamy Peanut Butter until it becomes lighter colored and fluffy. Carefully spread the whipped peanut butter over the pan cookie.

Then, add butter to a small sauce pan and melt the butter. Add the milk and cocoa. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly. Heat just until boiling. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Then, gradually add the powdered sugar. Stir until thickened. Pour over the peanut butter and gently spread over the cookie. Cool completely, and slice into bar cookies.
Enjoy!

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

July- August

   It's been about two months since the last post. In that time, We've been busy with packing in the last minutes of summer break! Enjoying hot/warm weather, before Fall coming at the turn of the corner.
       Around end of June/early July, my sister Camille's family came visit. We took the opportunity to go spend few days camping and swim at Bear Lake. It was loads of fun seeing beautiful overview of the lake, enjoying seeing hummingbirds up-close, building sand castles, wadding along North Shore of Bear Lake. My  sister in law's family came up and spend time with us also. We also got to see long-beaked herron birds, they are a rare sight!  
       On the Fourth of July, we spent time at North Ogden's Cherry Days. This is an event that happens annually, on July 4th in the northeast corner of the Rockies. :) I took the opportunity and sold alot of blue frosted star sugar cookies. They were unbelievable huge cookies! Beautifully designed cookies. Along with those, we sold water bottles. Water was sought-after, on a 97 degree, hot day!!
Doing this was good experience for both of us!
     
     Two half weeks later,on July 24th,  we anticipated the return of Troy's parents who had spent 18 months living and working as Perpetual Education Fund Specialists in the jungle country of Panama. They are the first senior missionaries, to serve in Panama!How exciting when we learned of that. My parents-in- law spent alot of time teaching the people English language, travelling to stakes and teach about PEF, and the benefits of education. These people are pretty happy with what little they have, and work hard for 75 cents an hour! Wow! It's hard to support a family on that income.
       They wrote home couple of months ago, told us about a young man who was a leader in his stake, and didnt have much income. With the PEF, he had the blessing of promotion at his job, and serving in his ward, things looked up for him. There are count-less stories of how the PEF have helped people in Third-world countries. So we were happy to share Elder Gary and Sister Nancy with them.
       During their absence, two new members were born to the Harrop clan. Little babies from two siblings, a boy Dax Harrop, and a girl, Janneke Clark. It was fun seeing them again when they arrived back in the States. Before they left, Nancy knew no Spanish, and came back speaking Spanish! We are proud of them for their dedicated service. :)

     The month of August was fair-filled month... fairs happening all over the place. Weber county fair, and Preston, Idaho fair; among them.
     We also had the opportunity to walk through the new built  LDS Brigham City Temple, on August 24th. This temple is a smaller temple that will serve the people of B.C. and the towns of Snowville, Tremonton, Garland, and surrounding communities. Beautiful peach designs were seen on the outside walls of the Brigham City temple, its oval glass stained peach flower design windows, and peach flower design on tip of fence surrounding the temple. Gorgeous!
        I started the fall semester again, beginning my senior year at the end of August, also. Officially the end of the summer. Fall feel is beginning to be detected, in the weather temperatures, the night darkness starting at 8pm now. Yep, Fall is here.