I hate Cancer.

It's official. I hate cancer. It really is the pits and it's nondiscriminatory. That's what I hate most about it. No one's in the clear. When my softball coach, Hugh died of cancer, it stunk, but he chewed tobacco forever. When my grandma died of cancer, we weren't surprised because she smoked for over 60 years. They are such bummers, but I could see them coming.
When my dad had cancer the first time, it blew my whole family out of the water. He truly is our rock. And I mean it....solid, quiet, unmoving, always there. That's him. We weren't suprised when he totally kicked cancer's butt the first time. That's what he does. But its a huge bummer that it's back. Why can't cancer just leave us alone. The jerk!
But, I will say this. He will totally win again. I have no doubt. He received a Priesthood blessing from our friend, Rick Kinoshita. He was told his body would be made whole and would come through with little ill effect. When I heard that I just lost it. I have faith in the will of our Heavenly Father. I know that he loves us more than we can imagine. If it was my dad's time to go, I know it would have been okay. The lord takes care of us that way. But, I am so glad my dad gets to fight and, I'm sure, win.
I hope cancer gets the message this time and decides to stay away from the whole Berg family.

Gluten Free Banana Muffins

This is for my sister, Charity, who's son Wyatt is pretty sensitive to gluten. They have had quite a journey with this little guy. We've had different paths but taken the same approach.
This banana muffin recipe is one my sister, Kate, adapted from one that my mom adapted from our neighbor of 30+ years. The Webster's home was a haven for me. It was nice and quiet. Mary seemed always around and so kind.
I always start with the wet ingredients:
6-8 bananas smashed
3 eggs (I have been using Shelf Reliance egg powder with great results)
1/2 cup oil
1 t vanilla
I add the dry and mix after all is in:
3 cups of gluten free flours (I use 1 cup of each; buckwheat, soy and tapioca.)
1 c white sugar
1 t baking powder
1 t baking soda (my sister Kate omits this and it turns out find, I'm not brave enough, yet.)
1 pkg vanilla pudding mix
Mix to just combined. Don't overmix, it ruins fluffiness.
Add 3 cups whole oats and 1 cup chocolate chips. Stir to just combined.
Drop spoonfuls in greased muffin tins.
Bake 18-20 minutes @ 375. If using mini muffins (my kids looooove), 12 minutes.
I just made these last week and I used chocolate pudding instead of vanilla, worked great. Like a dessert.

Worst of Enemies, Best of Friends

This was a long day with these boys. They fight so much but are fiercely protective of each other. It warmed my heart to see this sign of friendship with each other. Kids are so nice when they're asleep.

What a Woman Wants Expo

I did an expo in April in Orem. Heidi Johnson is the cute blonde who worked with me for the afternoon. It was a fun time. A great chance to talk about Shelf Reliance and learn about food storage from so many experts out there. I hope to become one.

Gluten Free Pancakes

These pictures are of the gluten free pancakes that I gave the recipe for in March. I added frozen blueberries and always add a mashed up banana. They are fabulous. They are fluffy and brown just like regular pancakes.

Bridge Builders

My mom and dad came from extremely difficult, impoverished upbringings. They suffered abuse, cruelty, my dad hunger and cold. These two young kids from backwoods found each other, found the gospel of Jesus Christ and raised a loving, intact family. I have always been sure that before we came to this Earth my parents stepped up and said they would bring us all together, my folks, my brothers and sisters and now more than 20 grandkids.
For Mother's Day, I shared how I felt about my mom. I am thankful for her love of animals, her optimism, her kindness, her intelligence, her love of music, her thoughts on alternative medicine, her green thumb, her cinnamon rolls and regular rolls, her love of my dad and her love of Christ. I expressed my gratitude for her bringing the gospel to all our lives. This morning when I read this poem I thought how aptly this sums up my feelings for my parents.

The Bridge Builder

An old man, going a lone highway,
Came at the evening, cold and gray,
To chasm, vast and deep and wide,
Through which was flowing a sullen tide.

The old man crossed in the twilight dim;
The sullen stream had no fears for him;
But he turned when safe on the other side

And built a bridge to span the tide.

"Old man," said a fellow pilgrim near,

"You are wasting strength with building here;
Your journey will end with the ending day;
You never again must pass this way;
You have crossed the chasm, deep and wide --
Why build you the bridge at the eventide?"

The builder lifted his old gray head:
"Good friend, in the path I have come," he said,
"There followeth after me today
A youth whose feet must pass this way.
This chasm that has been naught to me
To that fair-haired youth may a pit-fall be,
He, too, must cross in the twilight dim;
Good friend, I am building the bridge for him."

Will Allen Dromgoole

I love you guys. Thanks for everything.

Normandy's Prayer

I am so grateful that my family has developed the habit of daily scripture study and family prayer. It never fails that when I'm finding it hard to find strength that one of my kids inspires me. Today in her prayer Normandy said, "We're thankful for parents so that we can learn from their mistakes." Nothing gets past these guys.
Most times I feel like I could be such a better parent but I know this is exactly what I should be doing and I'm grateful for this opportunity to raise these kids.