Monday morning ponderings . . .

I was able to talk to Lura for a short time on the telephone yesterday. It was so lovely to hear her voice. I know she is in a lot of pain, but the medication helps to keep it under control a lot of the time, and having her family there with her also helps to distract her somewhat. She does appreciate having phone calls, much for the same reason, they are a most welcome distraction.

She shared with me a special story about a blessing that she was given by a man in the hospital who happened by. I wanted to share it with you.



In our church we believe that all worthy men, and young men over the age of 12, hold the Priesthood, which is the power and authority of God . . . to both act in His name and to call upon His power here on earth. One of the special gifts of the Priesthood is to be able to lay your hands upon the heads of individuals and, with inspiration from above, give them special blessings from our Heavenly Father. These could be blessings of comfort or strength, of healing, of special counsel. I have been the recipient of these blessings on many occasions and I can attest to the comfort and the inspiration they render to such an individual . . . and to the deep seated belief that they truly come from our Heavenly Father.

I cannot remember the exact wording that Lura shared with me, but she was told by this man that her Heavenly Father had saved her because she was not yet finished her work here on earth. I believe this to be true.



Look at this car . . . that anyone walked away from this alive is a miracle from above. Surely Heavenly Father has a special plan for her and for John. From the minute I heard about the accident and all that had occured I knew in my heart that they had been saved for a special purpose, and I was so very grateful for that.

When you look at our everyday lives as a gift from God . . . and as our gift back to Him . . . life begins to take on new meaning. One little puzzle of the purpose that our Heavenly Father has planned for each of us since the beginning of the Universe. This makes each day so very exciting as we approach our lives with all the joy and excitement of discovering all the divine appointments He has in store for each of us.

Nothing happens by happen-chance, or co-incidence. I don't believe in co-incidence . . . only God-incidence . . . each blessing, large or small . . . each miracle experienced, a truly divine signature from above . . . signed personally with an unmistakable signature, so that we will know with certainty that it comes from Him . . . that He lives and that He cares about each of us in a deeply personal and individual way.

Even when our trials seem beyond our ability to bear, our faith can be strengthened and made stronger by being able to identify the tender mercies of the Lord that truly abound in our lives and that help to lead us closer to Him. We only have to be willing and open to seeing them as they truly are . . . not luck, or co-incidence . . . but as the fingerprints of a Heavenly Father, and a reminder to us that He is truly there, and He does care.

They may not come as something so dramatic as a freakish car accident (and I pray that they don't) . . . they may only be something tiny and almost unremarkable . . . but they are there if we choose to see them.

Just my thoughts today.

In the meantime please do continue to pray for Lura and for John and their family. They need our prayers as much as ever. Lura is having a difficult time breathing which is understandable considering her injuries, but she needs to be breathing deeper, to keep those lungs working and moving. Pneumonia is a very real possibility in cases such as this and she needs to keep her lungs clear, which is not easy with all her broken ribs and the pain they are causing her. Please pray that she will be able to overcome the pain and be able to work her lungs in the way she needs to do, that she will be able to breathe deeper and to cough up anything in there that needs coughing up! Also please continue to visit her page and leave her your comments of support. Her daughter reads them to her every day. I know that they uplift her beyond measure and that she appreciates them all so very much.

Here is a delicious recipe that is not that difficult to make. It is not something you would want to have too often as the calories in it must be out of this world, but a once in a blue moon treat never hurt anyone!



*Alice Springs Chicken*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

Chicken, honey mustard,bacon, mushrooms, cheese . . . what's not to like about this!!

1/2 cup of Dijon mustard
1/2 cup runny honey
1 1/2 tsp of vegetable oil
1/2 tsp of lemon juice
4 boneless,skinless chicken breasts
1 TBS vegetable oil
2 cups of sliced fresh mushrooms
2 TBS butter
salt, pepper and paprika
8 slices of streaky bacon, cooked
1 cup of Monterey Jack Cheese, grated
1 cup of cheddar cheese, grated
some finely chopped flat leaf parsley to garnish

Wipe your chicken breasts. If they are really thick, place them between two sheets of cling film and pound them until they are about 1/2 inch thick. Place into a shallow container in one layer. Combine the mustard, honey, 1 1/2 tsp of oil and lemon juice in a small bowl with an electric hand whisk for about 30 seconds until completely amalgamated. Reserve about 1/2 of the marinade and then pour the rest over the chicken breasts. Cover the container and then refrigerator for at least two hours. Cover the remaining marinade and chill that as well.

Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5. Remove the chicken breasts from the marinade and discard the marinade. Heat a large skillet with an ovenproof handle over medium high heat. Add 1 TBS of the oil and then sear the chicken for about 3 to 4 minutes per side, until golden brown. Set aside for a few minutes. Melt the butter in another skillet. Saute the mushrooms in the butter until golden. Season the chicken pieces with a bit of salt, pepper and paprika. Stack two pieces of cooked bacon crosswise on each piece of chicken. Spoon the sauteed mushrooms over top, covering each breast evenly. Sprinkle both cheeses evenly over top. Bake in the preheated oven for 7 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and the chicken is completely cooked through. Sprinkle with the chopped parsley and then serve immediately, with the reserved marinade on the side for dipping.



Over in The English Kitchen today, a tasty teatime treat, Strawberry Jam Swirls!

Marie's Sunday Six . . .

As many of you know, my good friend Lura and her husband John were in a terrible car accident on Friday. This did not make me smile. Aux the contraire . . . I spent most of yesterday in a fog of tears and on my knees in prayer. I have prayed continuously on my own, out loud, silently and together with my Todd. Lura is the best friend that I have ever had. From the moment we connected on here we felt a very special bond, an eternal bond. We both know that we have always been friends. That we were friends before we came to this veil of tears we call the Earth . . . . that we have been so blessed to have been able to find each other here on the Earth, even though we may live thousands of miles apart . . . that we will still be friends when we live this Earth. That makes me smile. The living thousands of miles away part doesn't . . . but knowing we are eternal friends does. I am so very grateful that she and John are holding their own and that they have survived this horrible accident. The fact that Lura is in so much pain does not make me smile either, but knowing that it could have so very easily have gone the other way and that she is still with us, despite the pain . . . that makes me smile in a very big way . . . but then Lura, always makes me smile.

Lura is one of the kindest, dearest people I know. She gives so freely of her spirit and her time and her love.



Serving in the Temple with her husband each week. I know that she is often in pain because of ongoing problems with arthritis etc., but still each week she goes to the Temple and works for the Lord, serving Him lovingly and Faithfully.



Serving her family in every way possible. I have been so blessed to have been able to spend time with her and John and their lovely family and was able to see first hand the beautiful relationship that they have together. Lura and John's children and grandchildren are all lovely people.



They are a wonderful testimony of the strength of good Parenting and Grandparenting skills, and a prime example of what can go so very right in our l ives when you walk the Lord's path, and in His footsteps. I am so grateful that she and John are surrounded at this time by the love and ministering hands of their family. That is a wonderful thing.



Serving her friends. Lura is the best friend that anyone could possibly ever have. When she is able to, she calls me every week. We spend at least an hour on the telephone each time, laughing together, sharing together and even crying together. When I have something special to share, she is the first person I want to share it with . . . both the good and the bad. I know that she is a good friend to all who are lucky and blessed enough to be able to call her their friend. I know that she gives generously of her time and her love to all her friends. The old and the new and the inbetween. She and John are wonderful people. I think they should have a sign over their front door that reads . . . "There are no strangers here, only friends we have yet to meet."



Serving her community. Lura is a good citizen. She worked for years as a Teacher and I know that it was not always easy for her to do so. I know that sometimes her students were not all, or even close to being what they should have been, and that some of them were often very difficult to handle, and rude and inconsiderate. There were many who weren't and they were the lucky ones because they got to experience first hand what a wonderful and giving person this very special lady is. The ones that were difficult and stroppy truly missed out on knowing what I think is a National Treasure.



Serving her church family. Lura has always been a wonderful example to me of someone who honours her callings to the best of her abilities . . . even when it is not easy to do so, or when she would rather be doing something else, she serves and she smiles and she does it with all sincerity and all of her heart.

I know that some of you would be thinking now that I think that she walks on water, but the really beautiful thing about Lura and about John is their humility and tender spirits. They do not do any of the things that they do because they expect anything in return. They serve others because they love the Saviour. They do not serve because they want accolade or huge pats on the back . . . they do it in a humble and selfless way, because it is in their very natures and core to want to give back to Him who so freely gave so much to each of us.



I know that many of us cannot be there in person to minister to Lura and to John, but we can minister to them with our prayers of healing, comfort and thanksgiving. We can also send them cards and letters of support. Those can be sent here:

Utah Valley Medical Center
1034 North 500 West,
Provo, UT 84604

She is in Intensive Care and will probably be so for a few days at least. In the meantime do keep up the prayers and if you would like to leave a message for her, you could do so on her blog, Grammy's News. I just know she would love to hear from you and that her daughter is reading her the messages that have been left. Her friend Sil, is also updating her page as she receives news about Lura and John's conditions. Keep the prayers coming!





I have no recipe here today. Between all the prayers, and having lost an hours sleep with the spring Time change, I just could not get it together this morning, but there is a tasty recipe over on The English Kitchen should you want to go over and have a gander. It is a tasty Apple and Blackberry Crumble Pavlova.

Update on Lura and John

(Lura freezing her arse off in Idaho, just for me, two winters ago in Idaho)

I have had an e-mail from my friend Jan, who is also a very good friend of Lura, and goes to her Ward. She and Kris have been able to speak with Lura. I will copy the e-mail verbatim here:

She is at Utah Valley Medical Center
1034 North 500 West
Provo, Utah 84604

(If you would like to send a card. I think that would be really nice if everyone sent her a card, don't you! Her full name is Lura Staffanson)

Could you please post this.

Kris and I just talked to her. The most horrible part was that John was knocked out from a blow to the head and she thought he was dead because there was so much blood. She said she called to him begging his not to leave her, and then she heard a moan and knew he was alive. She said there was blood everywhere but that miracuously Ellie's sealing dress got no blood on it. Everyone is at the Temple now doing the sealing, but will all come to her side when it is over.

She is so weak, but thrilled to talk. She says it all there is to do to keep away the pain for a minute or two.

I told her that we talked and there are prayers for her being sent to Heavenly Father from around the world.

So far so good. Please continue to keep them in your prayers. I thank you so much for this. Apparently it will be at least 5 to 6 weeks before she will be well enough to return to California. I am so very grateful that she and John have survived this accident. It could so easily have gone the other way and I praise God for not taking them from us. I don't think I could stand to lose another dear friend so soon after losing my Angie. Please hug your friends today and tell them you love them. You never know when it will be too late.

Prayer Request

This is my dearest friend Lura with her husband John. Lura and I became friends through blogging. There was an instant connection between us and we were so blessed to have been able to meet in person a couple of years ago and spent a whole week together in Utah and Idaho when our Eileen was competing in the World Special Olympic Games. Lura and I have always felt like eternal friends . . . from the beginning we had this special connection that felt like we were long lost buddies finding each other again . . . a special blessing here on earth.

We talk on the telephone pretty much every week and often wish that we lived closer to each other. She is very dear to my heart. Earlier this week we spoke about how she and John were going to be travelling to Utah to go to a special family occasion that was up and coming. They would be leaving right after their stint in the Temple on Thursday evening. They often do this and I always pray for their safety.

Lura and John were involved in a serious car accident on Friday, March 25th, in Nephi, Utah. Lura and John are going to be OK, but Lura is in Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, where she was transferred from Nephi. They were travelling on the freeway at about 70 miles per hour when the car in front of them lost control on the ice, spun around and hit them head-on. They were then knocked across the freeway into oncoming traffic and hit by a semi-truck. John sufffered a head injury and multiple bruises and contusions, but Lura has a lot of fractured ribs, broken sternum, and serious bruising, and many injuries they are still diagnosing. They are concerned about her developing pneumonia because people with broken ribs don't take deep breaths.

Lura is the sweetest, most loving, dearest woman I have ever known. I love her so very much. She is the best friend I have ever had and I hate living so far away from her, especially at a time like this. I want to be doing something more than all that I can do, which is pray.

I would ask that you uphold and keep them in your prayers please. I am just devastated by this news. I will let you know more when and if I can. Thank you so very much. Lura, Angie and I were like the Three Musketeers . . .

Poetry Saturday, Sap's Running

Sap's runnin in the maple trees
The smell of sod is in the air,
Although the wind is raw and cold;
The feel of spring is everywwhere,
This morning 'ere the sun came up
I saw a robin zooming down,
A hardy pioneer no doubt,
Looking up housing in the town.



The maple bush is all alive
With light and shade and pitted snow,
Blue smoke is drifting through the trees;
Above a hill I heard a crow
Giving a broadcast of events,
To fellow crows who listened in,
From the split rail atop the fence.



On every rutted tree there hangs
A shiny pail to catch the sap
As drop by drop it slowly falls
From the small nozzle of the tap,
In the pale liquid clear as wine
A few small twigs and leaves have blown
Combining with the frost and sun
To give a flavour of their own.
~Edna Jacques



Oh the memories this poem brings back to me this morning . . . of early spring trips into the sugar bush with my children. The smell of the wood smoke, the air cold and crisp . . . the smell of maple sugar boiling . . . that tasty treat of a maple lollipop at the end. Oh, I do love my Maple Syrup. I think I get that love from my father . . . how I long for some tasty Maple Candies or a bowl of Maple Walnut Ice Cream. That has always been my father's favourite ice cream. You cannot get it over here. I guess I shall have to dust off the ice cream maker and make my own!

When I came over here to live in 2000, I brought with me on the airplane a big 2 litre metal container of Maple Syrup. It was soooo heavy and you could never get away with that now, post 9/11 . . . but we did so enjoy it. Of course you can find Maple Syrup here these days, at a premium price and every so often I do splurge and buy myself a little bottle. Ahhh . . . memories of home.

When I was a child I can remember my Aunt Thelma sending up beautiful Easter Breads to us each year, stogged full of fruit and decorated with icing and candied cherries. This recipe here today reminds me of them. Bless her heart . . . she did not have a lot of money as a single mom with a houseful of children, but she shared what she could with us. As an adult now myself, I can truly appreciate the generosity of her gift, and the love that she must have had for my mother to do so . . .



*Easter Surprise Buns*
Makes 16 buns
Printable Recipe

A lovely bread roll with the hidden surprise of a hot cross filling inside! They make a delightful addition to your Easter Morning breakfast or brunch!


For the buns:

1/3 cup dried currants

3 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar

3 tablespoons butter, softened

1 teaspoon grated orange peel

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice

1 (1-pound) loaf frozen bread dough, thawed
(Or one loaf of white bread dough made in your breadmaker on the dough cycle)

3 tablespoons butter, melted

To frost:

1/2 cup icing sugar, sifted

1 tablespoon butter, softened

2 to 3 teaspoons milk

Make the filling by placing the currants, brown sugar, 3 tablespoons softened butter, orange peel and allspice in small bowl. Mix all together well.

Separate the bread dough into 16 equally sized pieces. Place one teaspoon of the currant mixture into center of each piece drawing dough around it to form a ball. Dip the ball into the melted butter. Place into an ungreased 8-inch square baking pan, seam-side down. When all the dough balls are placed in the pan, drizzle with melted butter. Cover lightly and then let rise in warm place until double in size (about 45 minutes).

Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Place the buns in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and wait a few minutes before removing completely from the pan and placing on a wire rack to cool completely.

Combine all frosting ingredients in small bowl, mixing together well. Place the buns on serving platter. Place frosting in resealable plastic food bag, cutting a very small tip from one corner. Decorate the top of each bun with cross. Serve.



Over in The English Kitchen today, a tasty Chocolate Fudge Cake.