The Adjustment

I have been home from my mission exactly one month. It is insane how time flies. I feel like I got home yesterday. I still can't believe that my mission is over. I look through pictures and it seems like it was yesterday I had taken those particular pictures.

Since I've been home, I have been trying to adjust. The adjustment has probably been one of the hardest things ever. I have come to appreciate the mantel I had when I was a missionary so much more, now that I don't have it. I realize now, what kind of protection you have as a missionary. It is hard having that taken away. 

Now that I am home, I have had the task of finding my purpose. When you are a missionary, you have your purpose written in Preach My Gospel for you. You have your task set before you. You have a specific schedule set for you in a little white handbook. Now I'm not saying that missionary work was easy because of this, what I'm saying is I knew what my goal was. Now that I am home, my purpose is similar but not as focused. I have to find the other part of my purpose. I need to figure out where the Lord wants me. It is time for me to figure out what I want to do with my life. It is a whole lot harder than I anticipated.

As of now, my goal is to find a job. I have also been looking into going back to school to get my masters, but I'm not sure what to get it in. There are just so many different decisions to make. For now, I am just taking it one step at a time. That is all I can do. One of my favorite quotes is by President Hinckley. He said: "It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers." 

I know that whatever crossroad we may come in our lives, the Lord is right along side us helping us. I know that I have felt his help with trying to find my purpose a lot. I know that I will find my purpose. I know that He will not forsake me through this trial. I know that this trail will turn out to be my biggest blessing. It's just like it says in the song "What I Need" from Forgotten Carols, "All I ever wanted, all I ever dreamed of, everything I've hoped, and all the things I prayed for couldn't hold a candle to what I've been given. I've been given what I need." I know that whatever happens, it will be what I need, not necessarily what I want. I am grateful for this! 

Families are FOREVER!

I haven't been on in awhile. This has probably been one of the hardest/ testimony building months of my life! I am sure most of you have heard, but I will give a brief explanation of this past month. On February 6th, my sister Melissa was in a car accident with her two kids, 7 month old Edward and 2 year old Ethne. They were broadsided by a cement truck. Melissa was hurt pretty bad. She was in the hospital recovering from her injuries for about a week. Edward only got 5 stitches from it. Ethne did not make it. She died the night of the accident, while in surgery.






This experience was one of the hardest trials I have ever been put through. I have heard of stories similar to this happening to other people, but I never would have guessed it would ever happen to me. When I got the news of the accident, my heart felt like it had stopped. I couldn't believe it. What was harder, is that my family was headed to Utah to be with them, without me. I felt helpless. I was in Idaho and there was absolutely nothing I could do except pray. I went to my Grandpa Stone's house to stay with them for the night. I was there for probably an hour or so before I got the call saying that Ethne didn't make it. I couldn't believe it. I felt earlier that everything was going to be ok. Everything had to be ok. Ethne was only 2. I prayed and prayed. I wished it was just a dream. It was not though. I began going back into my memory and remembered all of the wonderful experiences I had with Ethne. She was one of the sweetest little girls I have ever met. I was then grateful to have the knowledge of the gospel and Heavenly Father's plan that he has for us. I knew that Ethne was with Heavenly Father. She was perfect. She was so valiant, she didn't have to be put through the horrors and all the trials of the world. This has comforted me and continues to comfort me every day. Every once in awhile, I get a little choked up and wish I could just wake up from this bad dream, but then I am reminded that God has a plan for each and every one of us. Ethne has fulfilled her mission and now Heavenly Father needs her on the other side of the vail. I will be with Ethne again. I know that families are eternal. I know that this life is short and time will go by faster than I think it will. Before I know it, I will be back with all my family members that have gone to the other side of the vail. I know that the plan of salvation is a real thing. I know that it was inspired and I am so grateful to Christ for being willing to die for me and everyone for that matter so that He could open up the gates of Heaven. I am so grateful that through the atonement I can become perfect and worthy to be with Ethne again.


Here are just a few memories and pictures of Ethne.

Ethne with Ephant

Ethne was one of the sweetest little girls I have ever had the opportunity of meeting. She loved everyone. I will forever remember the first time she started saying my name. Lawrence and Melissa came up to Idaho to see Eliza's play "Scrooge" and to be with family a little. Ethne was as active as always. She and I started playing her little game of "come chase me Aunt Kathryn and throw me around a little." It was so fun going to get her, pull her up to me, give her raspberries on her tummy, tickle her and put her down so that I could go catch her again. Ethne loved this game so much! As we were playing, she ran up to the couch, turned and said, "Cooomme get me Aunt Kathryn!!!!" while she was doing her sweet little laughing. When she said this, Melissa informed me that that was the first time she had ever said my name. It melted my heart that I was able to be there the first time she said my name. We played that game for hours. We even played it while we waited in line to get into Eliza's play. I will forever remember that little mischievous laugh she had when she would run away from me and I would chase her.

Another memory I have is when Ethne discovered my giant tigger slippers. The slippers are the head of tigger. Ethne loved them! She would attempt to walk around in them. They were so big on her, she would often fall down, but she would promptly secure those slippers on again and try walking in them again. I am so glad I was able to get pictures of this!!!

Attempting to walk in my slippers

Falling down

Patiently securing them back on

Ready for another go. 

Another favorite memory I had was the last weekend I was able to see her. My family had gone down to Utah the week after Christmas since Lawrence and Melissa were unable to come up the week of Christmas. We were having dinner at Mike and Heidi's place. Samantha and Ethne were sitting by each other on the stools by the island in Heidi's kitchen. Ethne decided she had had enough of sitting there. She wanted to go play, so she got down and started walking to the play room, when Samantha turned around and said, "Come back here you little stinker!" Ethne turned around and gave Samantha a dirty look as she promptly told Samantha, "I notta stinker! Ina princess!!!" That is one of the last memories I have with Ethne. I will never forget it. She truly was a princess and she knew it!

Samantha and Ethne at Winco. They were best friends. 

Samantha also was famous for her tantrums. According to my mom and dad, she throws a tantrum just like my brother Lawrence did. One Sunday that Lawrence and Melissa were up visiting, Ethne all of a sudden threw one of her tantrums. She threw herself on the floor and just stayed there. It was so funny! My parents just looked at each other and said, "That's Lawrence!" haha

This was taken while she just laid, face first, on the ground haha. 

Here are a few more pictures that I just love:

Grandma fixing Ethne's hair

She's definitely a grandma's girl. 

This was Easter last year. She would only pick up the easter eggs if Lawrence pushed her around on this. 

Ethne and Snoopy

Ethne always loved stuffed animals... especially singing ones. =)

Melissa and Ethne

Those are just a couple of some of my favorite memories. I will share more later. I love Ethne, and I can't wait for the day that I can be reunited with her and the many other family members that are with her. I love the gospel. I love God's plan. I challenge all of you to hug your family and tell them you love them every day. You never know when they wont be here any more. Enjoy every moment. I love you all.

Chicken Fricassée

Ok, so I tried this new dish for a sauce presentation I had to do for my Applied Culinary Fundamentals class.  It took me awhile to make, but just because I never made it before. I don't think it will take me quite as long the next time I make it. I hope anyways. I would suggest reading the recipe through once or twice before making it. That way you wont make as many mistakes as I did. GOOD LUCK!!!! It's absolutely FANTASTIC! Let me know what you all think of it!

Chicken Fricassée

Yield: 8 Servings

Chickens, 3 pounds each, cut                          2
in serving pieces (I just bought 
chicken breasts with the skin and 
bone still on.)

Salt and Pepper                                                To Taste

Butter                                                               3 ounces

Onions, Chopped                                             2 Medium

Flour                                                                2 TB

Hot White Chicken Stock                                5 Cups

(I just made chicken broth)

Button Mushrooms                                          8 ounces

Pearl Onions, Peeled                                        8 ounces

(I used the white Pearl 

onions, not the gold.)

Heavy Cream                                                   3/4 Cup

Egg Yolks                                                        4

Lemon Juice (Optional)                                   1 Tsp.

1. If you'll be cooking the chicken in the oven, preheat the oven to 350ºF. Season the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. 
2. In a straight sided sauté pan, gently cook the seasoned chicken pieces, skin side down, in 2 ounces of the butter. After about 10 minutes, turn them over and cook the flesh side. Cook gently to avoid browning the chicken or burning the butter. Remove the chicken from the pan. 
3. Add the chopped onions to the butter in the pan and sweat them, without browning, until translucent. Add the flour and cook gently for 5 minutes. 
4. Add 4 cups of the hot chicken stock to the roux and bring to a simmer. Arrange the chicken pieces in the liquid. Cover. Cook the chicken in the oven or over low heat on the stove for 15 to 20 minutes. (I preferred to cook it in the oven. I just found that easiest and I had more space.)
5. Cook the mushrooms in 1/2 cup of chicken stock for about 15 minutes until they soften. 
6. Simmer the pearl onions in the remaining 1/2 cup of chicken stock for about 15 minutes until they soften. 
7. Strain the cooking liquid from both the mushrooms and onions and pour it into the cooking chicken. Keep the mushrooms and onions warm. 
8. Strain the braising liquid from the chickens into a 2-quart saucepan. (Keep the chicken pieces warm!) Reduce liquid, while skimming, until approximately 2 cups remain.
9. Whisk together the cream and egg yolks in a bowl. Whisk in half the reduced basing liquid. Return this mixture to the saucepan. 
10. Gently heat the cream-braising liquid mixture, while stirring, until the egg yolks thicken it slightly and give it a silky texture. Don't let the mixture boil or the egg yolks will curdle (there is not enough flour to stabilize them). 
11. Adjust the seasonings (One teaspoon of lemon juice, if using, will often enhance the finished sauce.) Serve the chicken coated with the sauce and topped with the mushrooms and onions. 
• I personally didn't need to add the lemon juice or any other seasonings. I thought it tasted perfect without. It is personal preference though. 

Scripture Power is the POWER to WIN!

I LOVE THE GOSPEL!!! Yesterday was my first Sunday in a brand new ward with a brand new bishop. We had our fast and testimony meeting. It was a very powerful meeting for me. One of the men that bore his testimony, shared a scripture that has kind of stuck with me keeping me pondering about different things going on in my life right now. The scripture was 2 Nephi 32:3. It says, ‎ ‎".... feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." I have read this scripture many times, but it has never struck me in the way it did today. It bore testimony to me that whenever I have a question on what I need to be doing in my life, I just need to feast upon the words of Christ and I will be guided to what I need to do. I will know if I am making the right decisions. This is very much applicable to my situation as of always! But even more so now. I graduate this semester and as of now, I am planning on serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! I am pretty sure that I am making the right decision by doing this, but every once in awhile, I wonder, is this really the right thing to do or am I just doing it because that is what is expected of single women at my age? Well, this scripture was ment for me at this moment. I needed to hear that. I needed to be reminded that reading the scriptures and my patriarchal blessing and any words from the apostles will give me that answer. I know for sure that I making the right decision and I know that my assurance will be confirmed every time I read my scriptures!

HOLIDAYS ARE ALMOST HERE!!!!!!!

This has been the busiest semester of my life! Project after project, field trip after field trip! It's been insane! I only took 15 credits, but it was quite the load considering that half of them were project intense classes. Through all of this craziness, I have been able to learn the following:

• The Lord truly does want you to succeed and is willing to help you in any circumstance even if it doesn't happen when you want it to. 
• Taking 4 classes that require a lot of projects at the same time probably isn't the best idea ever.
• Online classes should never be an option for me. 
• I shouldn't underestimate myself with anything. I am better than I think I am. 
• Don't procrastinate a big cake assignment until a few days before it's due.... you wont get any sleep the night before it's due. 
• Using a calendar is a great idea! 
• Sometimes it's ok to take a breather and be with family. 
• You can't do it all. 
• It's ok to say No. 
• My life doesn't revolve around swing. Homework should come before swing. (This was a way harder concept to get than I thought it would be.)
• It's important to broaden your talents.
• I love photography! 
• Running a foodservice type of business is a lot harder than you would think. 
• AND NEVER EVER EVER EVER PROCRASTINATE A 50 HOUR PROJECT 
• It is possible to do a 50 hour project in 3 weeks..... you just get a few nights of no sleep. 

I could seriously go on forever, but those are the main things. This week is the last week of school, but I am basically done. I have a few flowers to make and a few online things, but other than that, I am done! After that I only have one more semester and then I will graduate! That is a little far in the future though. Right now I can't wait to go home! You might think, you are only 15 minutes away from home, but I still get homesick every once in awhile. I don't see my family as much as you would think. 

Here are some pictures from this past semester. It should give you a good idea of what I've been up to the past 4 months:

I got a new camera. However, after I got this one, I had to exchange it for a different one that had the settings I needed for my class. I now own a Cannon PowerShot SX150 IS. I love it!

This was the first cake I did for my advanced cake decorating class.  

This was my final cake! It was a pumpkin spice cake. It was also my first topsy turvey cake! 

This is the scarecrow I made for the top of my cake.   

This is a picture I took on a field trip to Bannack, MT for my digital imaging. 

This is also a picture I took at Bannack, MT. 

I love the Holidays! I am so excited to be with family and do our usual traditions. My sister posted on her blog some of the traditions that we did through our childhood and I kind of want to share them! They are wonderful! These traditions just remind me of how magical Christmas was in our house growing up! I love it! It always seems to continue to be more and more magical every year because of the love we feel for everyone and being able to have all the smells and music around us. Here are the traditions of my childhood:

• Pajamas
• Read Luke 2
• Watching Mr. Krueger's Christmas (If you haven't seen it, you need to! Jimmy Stewart will make you cry.)
• Watch Luke 2
• Muppet Christmas Carol
• Taking fresh salsa and chips to neighbors
• A new ornament every year
• Christmas music, especially the Harry Connick Jr. album
• Staying up most of the night with my sister in anticipation for Christmas morning
• Wrapping Dad's presents for mom (even though she already knew what they were)
• Knowing where all the presents were "hidden" but also knowing if we got in to them Mom would know and return them all!
• Dad not wanting to put up lights
• Sorting through all the Christmas piano music
• Caroling with the church youth group
• Eggnog and rice pudding for breakfast
• Going to Grandma and Granddad's house
• Sledding down Granddad's hill and trying to get as close to the river without falling in as you could all while avoiding the tree (that is not a fun thing to run into)!
• Wearing a new outfit
• Playing games and watching movies all afternoon
• Going down the stairs youngest to oldest
• Dad checking to see if Santa came and telling us he didn't and to go back to bed!
• Lots of good time with family!!!

I wish I had some pictures to show you, but I don't have them on my computer. Maybe I will post them another time after I've scanned them. 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!! Here is a great video to help you remember the true meaning of Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

If you would like to check out my sister, Heidi's blog, click here! She is the one that came up with the list of Christmas Traditions! =) 

Cakes and Breaks! =)

So school is finally done! I have been looking forward to this break for the past two months! Well... after I was done with clean checks and finals on Friday, I got to go home, but I started to get sick. Just my luck. It turned into a nasty cold and then I finally started to feel better on Tuesday. Well Wednesday night I started having this really bad ear ache. I was up half the night because it hurt so bad. Well in the middle of all this, I was working on my friends wedding cake that had to be done by Friday. Well my mom made me call in sick on Thursday and I went to the doctor. The doctor told me that this is usually something you see with toddlers, not 21 year olds. He told me that I needed to take it easy and not do anything strenuous for the next couple of days. I said ok, all I have to do is this huge wedding cake haha. Wedding cakes always stress me out because they are so much work and I always worry that the bride wont like it. I truly believe I had help from on high because there is no way I should have been able to push through getting that cake done on time like I did. I was able to stay up late and work on the cake without feeling absolutely horrible. I never had to take my pain medication which was a very good thing considering the fact it knocks you out for hours. The cake took a long time and a lot of work, but it turned out beautifully and the bride absolutely LOVED it! =)

1 MORE WEEK AND I'LL BE FREE!!!!

So as you can imagine, it's been a CRAZY, BUSY, HECTIC semester..... to say the least!  I have learned a lot, mainly the fact that fast grad wears you down FAST! I was ready for the semester to be over about a month ago. I have got to the point where I just am dragging and it is taking all of my energy to keep up. We are now down to just one week! YAY!!!! I will then get an 8 week break! Just what I need! This summer is going to be busy with weddings and family reunions and lets not forget the trip I am planning on taking down to Utah! I plan on meeting my new nephew Edward Lawrence Stone. I am so excited!

Since it will be a break and a rather long one at that, I am planning on reading some books this summer because I can. =) Any suggestions on what I should read? I am for sure planning on finally finishing Harry Potter 5. =)

I will fill you all in on my life in a week! HOOOLLLAAAA!!!! =)