I'm a complete slacker...I know! - March

Did you know that you don't have to have Instagram on your phone to follow me?  http://instagram.com/kristinconk 

Check it out and see what really is goin on over here in crazytown! 

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Sometime in the past 2 or 3 weeks a must have been really busy because I missed the alien abduction of my 15 year old son.  In his place was put a moody, sullen, ornery, disrespectful punk.  He has always been quick to help and one of my more loving children.  I frequently hear words like

"Shut-up"

"Get out of my room"

"You're so stupid"

"You don't know what you are talking about"

and my very favorite...

"You're so annoying"

So as I am trying to muddle through these turbulous (is that a word? it should be, it means bumpy and scary and hard, like a different form of turbulent) now where was I, oh yeah, as I muddle through the turbulous years I pray that I may have the patience and love so as to not cause bodily harm to this kid. His words do hurt me, but he knows that and that is why he is using them. I know that somewhere deep, below his pimpled hairy body, he has a heart that loves his momma.  I just hope them aliens bring my sweet boy back and soon.  

P.S. He is totally going to kill me someday when he realizes that I air all our dirty laundry on my blog! 

Top 5

Top 5 Favorite things RIGHT NOW...

1.  Instagram
2.  Starbucks Hot Chocolate
3.  My fireplace - that burns real wood!
4.  Our family scripture D&C 64:33
5.  Cadbury Creme Eggs

*I'm so proud that I only have 2 food items on this list!
*Do you like how I just pretend that I haven't been completely absent in blogging for the last 2 months?  I'm purty tricky!!

January

Pizza

Obviously my need for pizza did not disappear when we moved to a place with little or no pizza options so a quest began.  The quest for the perfect pizza that I could make at home.  There is so much that goes into pizza and after much research and trial and error (and even a little brain picking of the owner of my favorite pizza place in town) I have come up with the perfect recipe.  the trick is to do it the night before and let it raise in the fridge overnight. You also want to keep the dough cool until its ready to be shaped and into the oven.  I have also found the better the quality of ingredients the better the pizza.  No great value brand mozzarella for this girl! I have found that the use of a pizza stone really helps get that nice crispy crust on the bottom while still soft and yummy inside!  Good luck and let me know how it goes!

 

Pizza Dough

yields 2 medium pizzas 

Ingredients:

1 cup warm water
2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp instant yeast
2 tbsp honey
3 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 tsp salt (2 tsp also works well)


Directions:

Mix honey, warm water and yeast in mixer, let stand 10 min, until yeast is activated.  add rest of ingredients and knead for 10-15 mins on medium speed. 

Place the dough in the oiled bowl and spray a little oil on top of the dough as well. Divide into 2 balls cover with olive oil and put refrigerator over night

Pre-heat your oven with pizza stone placed on bottom rack for at least 30 min. at 425 prior to cooking pizza.

Punch it down and transfer it to a floured board. Make sure there’s flour on both sides of the dough and then only use more flour if the dough starts sticking to your hands.

Use the sides of your hands to create the border, push it down in the center and use your hand or finger tips to gently stretch the dough while turning it around. When dough is roughly the size and shape sprinkle your paddle with cornmeal and move quickly to add sauce cheese and toppings.  Transfer to pizza stone and bake for 10-15 min.

Be Still

Be still.

My new goal, to be still.
Let my mind ponder and be open to inspiration from the spirit. I find I busy myself so as not to be alone with myself. I know I am missing valuable time with my father in heaven by making sure there is always noise. Life can be so hard to be IN and the noise drowns out the hard for a time but I know that if I but be still The Lord can inspire me to do what is needed to raise my family up to the him. 

So I will be still. If only for a moment. 

{photo of my home away from home:Shady Willows River Ranch in Medford Oregon}

The Book of Mormon | Another Testament of Jesus Christ: My Testimony

Confession time: So this is embarrassing for me to admit to you my readers, especially the ones who are members of the Church.  I recently finished reading the Book of Mormon in its entirety for the first time.

GASP
How can you be a member of the church and not have read the whole Book of Mormon?

Well in my 35 years of being a member of this wonderful Gospel I am sure I have read the book in it's entirety, just not cover to cover. Pouring over it's pages and feasting upon the words written.  I have spent the last 21 months doing just that. Not just reading but STUDYING those words.

I have had a testimony that the Book of Mormon is true for as long as I can remember.  Actually I don't remember ever doubting it's work as being of God, \ a truer book has never been written. I never thought that it could have changed me the way it has though.  I have gained a testimony of this Book like I never thought possible.  It has brought me closer to my My Savior than I ever thought simply reading could.

I have not been shy about the struggles that we have been having over the last few years.  It has been tough.  REALLY  TOUGH!  It continues to be.  Life is just plain hard.  But through prayer and  study of this book I have been carried thorough these treacherous times and made me a better, stronger more faithful woman.  I have learned lessons that opened my eyes to the truth of the gospel and of the mysteries of the universe.  I have had answers to prayers more times than I can count, in the words I have read.

The book also helped me gain a testimony that the Bible is a true account of the prophets of old.  The authors of the book testify to the Bible being true words given us by God.  We as a family are studying the New Testament this year and both books reaffirm my testimony of the other! The Book of Mormon IS Another Testament of Jesus Christ.  The Book of Mormon tells about the Savior, before his birth, his mortal ministry, his death and subsequent resurrection.  In fact the Book of Mormon mentions Christ in some form every 1.7 versus. If that isn't a testament I don't know what is.  The book of Mormon is written by prophets that through the power of God taught the people the righteous ways of the Savior on this continent.  I am not a writer and it is hard for me to express my feelings about this sacred text, but I hope you can feel of my conviction of the truthfulness of this Book.

So why?
Why do I write these words today?
In such a public forum?
Where I am open to criticism, and slander?
Why?

Because I HAVE TO!
It is my duty to declare it from the rooftops, and since I don't know how I would even get on my roof, let alone if anyone other than the 15 people who live in earshot of my house would hear it, I choose here.
My place where i have a voice to the world.
I probably get 300 unique views a month on this blog and that is if I don't post it to facebook.  It is very scary for me to put this out there like this.  I don't know why because if you know you me you know I am a Mormon and I love it!  I am not shy about my faith but sharing my experience as I conclude my reading of this sacred text I leaves me vulnerable for some odd reason!

So there it is.

And now I am going to ask something of you, my wonderful friends and lurkers and maybe even a few of you that really don't care that much for me as a person but are here out of sure curiosity, I ask that you take my challenge.
A challenge you say? 
Yes a challenge!
I want to challenge you to read this book.  Whether you are a member of the church or not! Whether you think Mormons are crazy and have lots of wives and wear funny underwear or not!  I want you to read these words.  If you will accept my challenge I will mail you a free copy of the Book of Mormon with no strings attached.  After you read it you can use it to fill in those empty book shelves if you want, or you can put it on your nightstand to prop up your phone at night.  I hope you will take some time to open it's pages and feel the spirit that comes when reading this book.  If nothing else it's free, you have nothing to loose! RIGHT??

So who will take my challenge?

Leave me a message in my comments section with your address or you can e-mail me to keep it more private kristinconkphotography@gmail.com, but whatever you do, if my words have touched you in anyway, don't let the feeling pass.  Take a minute to just put your address down and let me give you the greatest gift I have ever received!

December 365

Word - 2013

LOVE

All you need is love

Love is all you need

I have come to the conclusion that I am missing something in my life.  Life has been hard the last few years. I have let it consume me and any ounce of happiness I have.  My kids say I am never happy anymore and they are right.  When tossing around ideas of what my word for this new year should be I thought of happiness but truly I think that what I am really lacking in my life is LOVE.  I am not giving or showing enough love.  Love is crucial to being happy and if you can't love then you can't be happy.   I have decided to not only choose a word for the year but a sub category of the word for each month.  Something to really focus on LOVING!

I've created a desktop background for each month so I can be reminded of what I am working on every time I get on my laptop.