Raspberry Squares

I found this in my pile of recipes.  Originally it came from a Family Fun "Our Readers' Best Bake Sale Recipes."  I finally got around to trying them and they are awesome.

Crust:
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon milk

Topping:
3/4 cup raspberry jam
1 1/2 cups shredded coconut
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon melted butter

Preheat oven 350º.

In a medium-size bowl, use a pastry cutter to blend the butter, shortening, flour, baking powder and salt together until crumbly.  Pour in the milk and mix until the dough holds together (it doesn't hold much, but can be pressed into the pan).  Press the crust into an 8-inch greased pan.

Carefully spread raspberry jam on top of the crust.  in a small bowl, combine the coconut, sugar, flour, egg, vanilla extract, and butter.  Spoon it on top of the jam.

Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the topping is brown and the jam bubbles along the edges.  Cool completely before cutting into squares.

Christmas Eve Wish

I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  I am grateful to a loving Heavenly Father, who gently placed his son on earth to accomplish his most beautiful, glorious plan.

Love, Christine (and the rest of the bunch)

Ally, Sammie, Benji, Kayla, Hyrum
(from bottom left around to the right)

Joy to the World!

Gratitude Challenge Day 19-20, Final

Day 19:  I am grateful for the LDS Young Woman's program.  I will always be forever affected by the examples of the leaders from my youth, including my own mother.  I'm grateful that now that the first of my three daughters will be "cared" for by valiant women.



Day 20:  I am grateful for Sundays and being able to feast on the words of God and others' testimonies.  I love the warmth and renewal I receive by going to church every week.

...I'm going away for the Thanksgiving and so I will end this Gratitude Challenge with:

I am grateful for life.  Life that I've been given to live on this beautiful earth, to have freedom to worship how I like and accomplish good without fearing for the safety of my family.  I'm grateful for life's trials that have stretched me and will continue to stretch me.  I'm grateful for my life as a granddaughter, daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend.

I love you all and hope you have a...

Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S. We attempted to take a family Christmas photo yesterday and by the end we were all freezing and just a bit crazy.  Say "Cheese!"

Gratitude Challenge Day 17-18

Day 17: I am grateful for family vacations--where some of the best memories are made. (The top of Ensign Peak, Salt Lake City, Utah.)

Day 18: I am grateful for the scouting program, the leaders and the experiences that prepare our young men for greater things. (This picture is from the last camp-out Ben went on with Benji up American Fork canyon. It just so happens that Benji and Ben are out camping right now.)

Gratitude Challenge Revised...Day 12-16

As I've worked on writing things I'm grateful for, it has been a fun challenge, but I've realized that the task is exploding exponentially.  Trying to write the amount of items corresponding to the number of the day is getting difficult. (Some of you got a good laugh at my Day 11-15 with all but Day 11 missing.) I must admit, the first 11 days took me on a fabulous journey.  

Therefore, I hereby amend my original intention and will from now on write only one thing each day.

Day 12: I am grateful for electricity, natural gas, and auto fuel that light up the night, keep me at a comfortable temperature and allow me to travel to family far away.
Day 13: I am grateful for being able to sing my favorite holiday music.
Day 14: I am grateful for quiet places where I can sit and rejuvenate my soul (like the celestial room at the temple--this photo is the Salt Lake Temple).

Day 15: I am grateful for cultural arts--Shakespearean plays and Christmas concerts--to list just two.

Day 16: Simply...I am grateful for forgiveness.

Gratitude Challenge Day 11

Day 11:  I am grateful for...

1--Benji, he is an awesome big brother and an example of true discipleship (he wakes up on Sundays at 6:30 a.m. for meetings even when I'm still asleep).

2--Ally, she has an endearing smile and loves life.

3--Kayla, she is quick to act for good and keeps me on my toes.

4--Sammie, she has such a forgiving heart and cheers people up with her giggle.

5--Hyrum, he is a ball of energy and loves to explore anything in his path and still gives the best hugs.

6--their cousins (my nieces and nephews that are too many to list)--examples of missionary work, being well-educated, hard work...

7--my cousins and feeling bonded with extended family even if I don't know them well.

8--family reunions.  The Packs do it at This is the Place Heritage Park.  It's a blast!

9--family meals.  There is nothing like good food and family put together. 

10--dinner time at home.  It is always nice to know that we are all in one place at least once a day.

11--chore time, when we all work together to tidy the house right after dinner.  I can sleep easy knowing I don't have a mess to clean up in the morning.

Gratitude Challenge Day 10

Day 10: 1--I am grateful for the scriptures--LDS standard works.

2--I am grateful for the lives of the ancient prophets and their examples.

3--I am grateful for Paul of the New Testament.  I've been touched by his message.  One particle of it reads: 

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

4--I am grateful for a living prophet who gives us current counsel.

5--I am grateful for technology that allows us to hear his voice every six months and more.

6--I am grateful for my church calling and being able to work with some of the elect children of God.

7--I am grateful for the blessings that have come from paying tithing.

8--I am grateful for food storage.

9--I am grateful for the Word of Wisdom--the Lord's code of good health.

10--I am grateful to see when my children are soaking in the truth.