BYU President - Let Him Eat Cake

We make 2 layer cakes in SFL 340 and SFL 215. This year we were busy testing recipes using all-purpose flour and a cake flour substitute so we had lots of extra cakes. We took cakes to Dean Walker, SFL Director Dr. Holmes, FCSE Director Natalie Hancock, and the SFL office staff that do everything for us. 

We froze a cake to take to the BYU President. One of my SFL 110 students piped lettering on it. I called President Worthen's office to see if he was in town and he was. I fully expected to send TA's over with a cake, but his secretary suggested I bring the class. So, we scheduled to take the cake after class. 

It was a blast. We got there and found an official photographer there. President Worthen had each student come in one at a time, he shook their hands and asked where they were from. We had a great visit with him. We got to tell him about our class, about FCS classes in Utah high schools, and about our recipe testing. He was so kind. It was a highlight of the semester, if not of my career. 

See the phone in my pocket? I seriously took it with me to take pictures. Wasn't expecting an official photographer!

Sisters' San Diego Getaway

Last weekend, I was enjoying time with 4 of my sisters in San Diego. Kelly couldn't make it because she was at a conference. Derek and family were invited to join us, but it didn't work out for them. I remember those busy days of raising kids. I missed out on many family events in Utah and California because we lived in Texas. It was either too difficult or too expensive to fly to family for every event. These things just happen. 

Jenny, Debbie, and I met up in the Salt Lake Airport long term parking and took the shuttle together to our gate. It was an uneventful flight with Debbie getting to trade places with the man next to me so she and I could sit together. Jenny was across the aisle and behind us. It didn't matter because it's such a short flight. It was nice to sit by Debbie and catch up, though. She and Jen drove down together. They also see each other every once in a while due to their proximity and their love of quilting. 

Alaska Airlines gets us there!

We arrived and picked up the rental car just in time to go back to the terminal to get Kristen and Karen, who had found each other by then. We recalled when airports were small enough and there were few enough travelers that rental car desks were on site. They were near baggage claim. As more people travel, I suppose they've needed more rental cars and have moved the rental locations off site. It's easy, but not as easy as it used to be. I don't know how they did it. 

San Diego is such a beautiful city! We went grocery shopping and got to check in early to our place and it was fantastic. Jen got us a 2-bedroom 2 bathroom timeshare. They were able to check us in early. We kept mentioning that we were 5 sisters celebrating one's retirement, one's dream job, and one's assignment to Africa. It got us a free car upgrade, early check-in with treats, and a small lemon cake. Not bad. We changed and went to the San Diego Temple for an endowment session. A very nice sister showed us to the atrium and showed us around that area, including some great views of the Angel Moroni and the reflection of a painting of Christ. She commented that when she saw us all she couldn't help but think of the 5 wise virgins in the parable of the 10 virgins. I thought that was a very sweet thing to share with us. 

After the temple, we went to get pizza at a place called Pizza Nova that my neighbor Lynn had recommended. It was delicious! Sooooo good. We shared a couple of salads and a couple of pizzas. We went back to our place, played some games, and went to bed. Karen and I shared a room because we are the late sleepers. Jen took the sofa bed because she snores. Deb and Kris shared the other room because they get up early. It was a perfect set up. 

On Saturday, we went to Coronado Beach for a couple of hours. At Kristen's suggestion, we looked for a lifeguard station and set up behind it to take advantage of the shade. We are seriously such wimps. Then we went to Cabrillo to see a lighthouse. It was very interesting to see a lighthouse and to read about them. It was windy up there, but beautiful. Kristen didn't get her sunset at the beach because the timing never worked out. Jen got welcomed to Mexico via text. We got a laugh out of that. 

We also went to the Mormon Battalion Visitor's Center. That was very informative. I knew of the Mormon Battalion, but didn't know a lot of details. What a sacrifice! The sister missionaries asked for a volunteer to get dressed up in the soldier garb and Karen did it. She's a good sport. Each member of the battalion had a very small "backpack" thing to carry all of their belongings. In spite of its VERY small size, the members of the battalion also brought their scriptures and a journal as the prophet suggested. Much of what we know about their journey is from journals. After the tour, we got excellent Mexican food. Very delicious. It was a great day. 

Karen actually caught the hat on her head. Good job!

Sunday we went to church down the road, then drove back to Carlsbad to see the Flower Fields in full bloom with Ranunculus flowers. There are rows and rows of flowers in full bloom. They also have a huge American Flag made of petunias. The place sells out quickly. In fact, there were only tickets left for the last entrance time. It was still enough time for us. We walked around, took pictures, and loved it. Then we got yummy burgers at Hodad's. It's a fun place with a quirky atmosphere and great food. I'd go back to all the places where we ate - the pizza, the Mexican, and the burgers. 

Jenny and her family love these cutouts

Jenny was on a family call, so the rest of us waited in line and got our table

On Monday, we headed back to Carlsbad and hiked at Torey Pines Nature Reserve. It's a great walk that starts along the beach, then goes uphill on some rocky steps. There are great views of the ocean on the way to a ranger station. Then you walk down a road back to the start. It was a beautiful walk. After the walk, we met Sarah Christesen, Kristen's daughter, for lunch. She drove down just to spend the day with us. After lunch, Sarah showed us the BEST donut place. You order your specific donut flavor and they make it for you right there. They are hot and topped with wonderful toppings. I got one with chocolate, caramel, and pretzels. Sarah and Cam always find great places to eat. I love hanging out with her. 

On our way home from donuts, Karen, Jenny, Debbie, and I stopped at the grocery store to replenish our candy supply. Haha. While at the store, we decided to grab take and bake pizza and a salad mix for dinner. We all agreed that we were ready to just hang out in our great place and eat pizza and salad and continue playing games. Sarah actually brought some games and we had a blast. She is really fun to be with. 

Tuesday was our day to fly home. It had been a great trip. We talked, laughed, and did the "Come Follow Me" app together each day. I realized I hadn't bought a magnet for my fridge, but I did find one at the airport. I bought one that said San Diego and had a lifeguard stand and flowers on it. Reminds me of our shade at the beach and the flower fields. A really, really great trip with the sisters. I hope Kelly can join us someday. 

Time Management

I love General Conference weekend. It's been a great weekend. I went walking with Kim Blight yesterday morning then I dropped cinnamon rolls off at Andrea Busby's house for her and her family. She's new faculty in the School of Family Life and we work together with the student association. She's smart and wonderful. She helps me understand issues of race. 

I enjoyed the Saturday afternoon session then took a nap. Kamiko and Bekki brought Dotty over for the afternoon session. It's always great to have them here. They stuck around for pasta, asparagus, and breadsticks. We also played a couple of games of Yahtzee. My neighbor Lynn had reached out to see if I wanted to watch the afternoon session with her and Michael. I had plans with the kids already, but I invited her over to watch the women's session with me and mom. Kamiko and Bekki left just as mom and my neighbor Lynn came over for the women's session. Lynn got to meet the kids and Dotty. I fed mom and Lynn dinner and we watched the session together. Lynn is great and it was fun to visit with her and mom after the session.  

I went to bed and was thinking of the VERY overwhelming week I have coming up. There is so much to do to prepare for spring term, a month of travel in Europe, and other work responsibilities. I officially signed my contract for the upcoming academic year, so now it's time to write my expectations document. It's just a lot to think about. I have a lot of meetings, too. It seems that everyday I go to work, I cross 4 things off my to do list, but I add 3 more. Anyway, I was feeling the stress of it all and went to bed hoping there would be a talk in conference on time management. Then I realized there already WAS a talk on time management. The talk given by Sister Craven in the women's session was perfect. I always like to hear her speak. She's my friend RaDawn's sister-in-law. I recalled that her talk was on doing what "mattereth most." I realized that if I spend time with morning and evening prayers and scripture study, each day I will have time to do the other things on my list. Start with what mattereth most. I can do it. 

Here's a quote from her talk:

"In the Doctrine and Covenants, there are times when the Lord says, “It mattereth not.” If there are things that matter not or matter less, there are things that must matter more. 

“In our efforts to do something, or do anything, we might ask ourselves, what mattereth most?”

Satan wants people to misplace their values or waste time, talents and spiritual strength on things that matter not, and distract from those things that matter most."

I called RaDawn this morning and told her my realization through tears. She reached out to Sister Craven and told her how much her talk helped me. I'm grateful for the spirit's help in realizing what I can do. 

After the morning session, I went walking with Maria Trump. We walk and talk on the phone, as she lives in Manteca, California. Then I watched the afternoon session. I spent the afternoon reading about Moses and the plagues that led to the Israelites release. God really does take care of His children. I listened to a podcast and watched a Youtube video about the upcoming week's Come Follow Me study. I really do like this newer way of gospel study. Happy Sunday!