This one's for you, Teags

This is at the Subway by Sonic in Rexburg. We stopped by to grab a bite to eat, and noticed that they charge for water. 27 cents. Not 25, not 30. 27.

Conference Weekend!

Some of my favourite thoughts from conference this weekend...

Righteousness is measured not by our temptations, but by our resistance to them (Robert D. Hales)

Reverence invites revelation (Margaret S. Lifferth)

The sacrament meeting begins with the prelude music, not the opening prayer (Margaret S. Lifferth)

Don’t underestimate the power and influence that the youth in the church can have (Michael A. Nieder)

This is a great time to be alive (Allan F. Packer)

We can build again (D. Todd Christofferson)

We need to take care of each other (D. Todd Christofferson)

We cannot expect life to always be perfect (Henry B. Eyring)

Life is not meant to be fair or equal (Henry B. Eyring)

Things will work out (Henry B. Eyring)

Tragedy does not have to erode faith – it can strengthen it (Henry B. Eyring)

We need to learn to recognize and help those in need, even when we may need it more than they (Henry B. Eyring)

Our lives are examples to others (Quentin L. Cook)

Our prayers can be enhanced with the use of music, and fasting (Russell M. Nelson)

The road to eternal life is not a sprint, but a path of endurance (Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

Spiritual growth requires participation, not spectatorship (Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

Change is an essential part of life’s experience. (Steven E. Snow)

Be cheerful and optimistic (Steven E. Snow)

Learn to laugh – it will enrich your life, as well as the lives of those around you (Steven E. Snow)

The time is far spent (Barbara Thompson)

We need to take every opportunity to strengthen our families (Barbara Thompson)

Because Jesus walked His path alone, we do not have to walk ours alone (Jeffrey R. Holland)

Part of mortality is to be tried, but another part of it is to have joy (President Monson)

The future is as bright as your faith (President Monson)

Forget yourself and go to work (Dallin H. Oaks)

We cannot do great things, we can only do small things with great love (Mother Theresa, quoted by Dallin H. Oaks)

Turn your homes toward the temple (Gary E. Stevenson)

Everything that leads us to do good is from God (José A. Teixeira)

May your homes be filled with harmony and love (Thomas S. Monson)

Blackberry Dump Cake

I made a very tasty cake this weekend, and I thought I'd share the recipe... and the story...

I got the recipe from Mrs. Oliver in Nachitoches (NACK-uh-tish), Louisiana, when we were there on tour. Grace and I stayed at the Oliver's home one night for homestay. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver, both in their eighties, were not members of the church, but had been meeting with the missionaries for a little while, and agreed to let us stay in their home. Mr. Oliver reminded me a bit of Dad, because as soon as we were settled in their home, he offered us a drink. Of beer. When we declined, he said (with a bit of a twinkle in his eye), "Oh, coffee, then?". He was hilarious. They were both so wonderful and kind.

Nachitoches! It was so beautiful and green, though it was just mid-April.

The chapel in Nachitoches, where we had a musical fireside.

Mrs. Oliver had made some cake for us, and it was so delicious, I had to ask for the recipe. She seemed surprised that I had never heard of dump cake before, so maybe it's a Southern thing. Many tasty foods are....

Breakfast at the Oliver's - biscuits, butter, molasses, sausage, and whole milk.

It's called "Dump Cake" because you really just dump all the ingredients into the pan - no mixing required! I didn't get a picture of the one I made because we ate it before I thought of my camera... which tells you how good it was! :)

2 1/2 cups of crushed pineapple (not drained)
3 cups fresh of frozen blueberries (I used blackberries because that's what I had in my freezer)
3/4 cup of sugar (we decided that this ingredient is probably not necessary... :) )
1 cake mix (yellow cake)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup pecans (I used a mix of walnuts and almonds because, again, that's what I had)

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a buttered 9x13 pan, layer the pineapple, berries, and sugar. Add the powedered cake mix on top, and drizzle the melted butter on top of that. Sprinkle nuts over the top, and bake for about 45 minutes.

It's so good, and really easy. The only thing that I might change is that some of the cake mix didn't get "wet" with either butter or berry juice, so there were some dry spots. So next time I think I'll try mixing the ingredients a little in the pan, though that might disrupt the awesome cake layer that forms on top. We'll see... :)

Mr. and Mrs. Oliver (yes, I have forgotten their first names... sorry!)