How can I keep from singing . . .

Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul . . .
How can I keep from singing?
~Robert Lowry, 19th century Hymn

I love hymns. They help us to see the reality of life in a very simple and very vivid way. Often when I am on my own I will put a cd of hymns or Gospel music onto our cd player and just sit and listen to them, allowing the words and music to wash over me and feed my soul, and Todd and I keep an assortment of the same music in our car. It's a wonderful way to get yourselves spiritually prepared for just about anything that life can and will throw at you.



My faith in my Heavenly Father and in my Saviour, is a deep and abiding one. It has carried me over many a high and low in my life. Hymns and Gospel music are a beautiful extension of that. The words and the music sometimes touch me in such a way that it were as if the Heavens themselves were opened up and fingers from above were reaching down to cover me with love. Just as the scriptures speak to my mind and my soul, this type of music speaks to the very heart of me as well.



I have quite a few pieces loaded on to my ipod and often when I am at work and puttering away I plug my ipod in and listen to it. It helps to while away the hours of what can sometimes be pretty mundane. When I first came over here, I worked in a Care facility. Working in a place like that can often be sad and depressing. I was far away from home and having to clean toilets in a place where the people I worked with were not very friendly or welcoming. The residents were lovely, but the other cleaners and care assistants were quite the opposite. I used to often sing hymns to myself as I puttered away. It's amazing how much some well written words and music can lift you up when events or people would try to knock you down. It is hard to feel low when there is a song in your heart.




One of the most moving and wonderful experiences of my life was getting to attend Music and the Spoken Word with Lura this past February when I was over in Salt Lake City. Being able to sit in the Tabernacle and see and listen to the Tabernacle choir in person was amazing, and to do it sitting next to a dear and much loved friend only made it all the more touching.

Yes, hymns certainly add a beautiful dimension to my life and I cannot picture a life without them in it. They do echo in my soul and are a vital part of what keeps me singing.

A young woman in my Ward recently had a baby and we were asked to make up some meals to be delivered to their home to help get her through these first weeks that are bound to be very busy for her, especially where it is her first. I have to send a meal over today and I made a delicious casserole for them that I hope they will enjoy. The pictures are not the best as I can only really show you the outside of it, but trust me when I say this is truly delicious. If you don't have any leftover ham, you can always buy the thick sliced ham from the deli counter or even canned ham in a pinch. This comes from my Big Blue Binder. (By the way my cookbook, Recipes From The Big Blue Binder is now available on Amazon!)



*Ham and Mac Bake*
Serves 6
Printable Recipe

This is an old standby of mine that goes way back. It is simple and delicious. This is family food, comfort food. The ingredients may sound a bit unusual, but trust me when I say they go together very well and create something that truly does taste quite wonderful. it's funny how putting a few simple things together like this turns into magic.

1 2/3 cups macaroni
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup plain flour
2 TBS prepared mild mustard
1/4 tsp salt
dash ground black pepper
2 cups milk
2 TBS brown sugar
2 cups cubed, fully cooked ham
2 medium apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1 cup of cracker crumbs
2 TBS butter or margarine, melted

Pre-heat the oven to 180*C/350*F. Lightly butter a 2 litre casserole dish and set aside.

Cook the macaroni in boiling salted water, according to the package directions. Drain well, rinse and set aside.

In a large saucepan, melt the 1/4 cup of butter. Stir in the flour and cook and stir for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in the milk. Blend in the mustard, salt, pepper and sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Remove from the heat and stir in the macaroni, apple and ham. Turn this mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Combine the crumbs with the melted butter and sprinkle them evenly over top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until bubbly and lightly browned on top. Serve hot.