Yes, a crock pot cake!

CROCK POT CAKE

THE SMELL OF THIS CAKE WILL DRIVE YOU CRAZY !!!
Cook time:        4 Hr                 Difficulty:          EASY
Prep time:         5 Min               Serves: 12

INGREDIENTS
- 1 bx cake mix, chocolate
- 4 lg eggs
- 3/4 c oil
- 1 c water
- 1 pt sour cream
- 1 sm instant chocolate pudding
- 12 oz semi-sweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS
1.   Mix first 6 items till almost mix well (I like mixer set to low).
2.   then add choclate chip mix in by hand.
3.   Spray a large crock pot with non-stick spray.
4.   Cook on low 4 to 5 hours. (DON'T OPEN THE LID !!!)
5.   Serve with vanilla ice cream and drizzle with chocolate syrup.

Kimberly wrote: Can I serve this for dinner?


Myrna wrote: Why not? It has eggs (protein), flour (grain), sour cream (dairy) and a fruit (coco beans). What more do you want? ;)

A cocoa bean is not a whole fruit itself; it's part of a fruit. The bean is the seed of a cocoa pod, which is the fruit that grows on a cocoa tree. According to the World Cocoa Foundation, it takes a cocoa tree 10 years to produce its first pod.

It Was a Nice Funeral

I am certainly happy that we ordered the $90 flower tribute. (I thought it should be $100 but Dad thought that I should make my from-scratch coconut cake from me. I had been asked to do so.) There were only six bouquets besides the casket piece and tribute from the family. Ours was a great size and was made up of red roses and white carnations. It looked very fresh and beautiful and added to the setting. Dad, of course, thought it was the prettiest one there. (He ordered it.) Don't worry, it was as large as the grandchildren and great grandchildren bouquets. So none of you need be ashamed. Thank you all.

One morning, not long before she died, Merlene woke up and smiled at her kids. "I can't believe that I didn't die," she joked. "Can you believe it?" At various times, she would say, "Are we on our way to the mortuary yet?" Even in great pain, she kept a sense of humor. That was one of the things that was brought out over and over during her funeral. Marsha, Kathleen and Ina, daughters, all spoke. (Nancy died a few years ago from cancer.) Her son did not speak. Josh, her great grandson, offered the family prayer, and Marty, his brother, dedicated the grave. Josh also spoke and so did Norm Wood, her home teacher, along with Bert Thacker, for the past 15 or 16 years. Dave Johnson, a son-in-law and Tonya Goddard, a granddaughter, offered the opening and closing prayers, in that order.

About seven months ago, Marsha, gave up her job and came to stay with her mom. The whole family was happy about that and were glad that she could stay at home where she wanted to be. She had asked that the family not move her in with one of them because Nephi was where her friends, neighbors and church family lived. She pre-arranged her funeral since she knew that her time would not be long. So it was as she wished.

The Bishop wore her favorite tie and Dad wore one that she gave him in thanks for all his work for her.

Josh said that when he asked her what the happiest day of her life was she said: "The day I left Mills." (I don't blame her. That would have been a happy day for anyone who knows Mills.) He also told about the times that his mother would have to work late and Merlene would come screeching up to their house and honk on the horn. There was supper and fresh bread. Her fresh bread, cinnamon rolls and homemade hand-dipped chocolates were high on the list of memories of all who spoke.

Apparently, Norm and Bert, received homemade loaves of bread from her on one of their home teaching visits. They got out a tape one of them had and measured the loaves to see who Merlene loved the most. They all had a good laugh but after that she always told them not to compare their gifts because she had done her very best to make them exactly equal. "I don't want you boys going to the car and fighting," she would say.

She was the second youngest in a family of 16 children. When her mom died, she became the person who cared for the family still at home and for her father. Her parents were immigrants from Denmark and her father was a shoemaker. She outlived all of her siblings. Her family was always kept close by her and her own children were taught to always remain close to each other. They said they would continue to do as she wished.

By the way, Melanie, Marty said that he forgave you for being mean to him and making him eat dirt when he was little (and so were you--little). He may not be young anymore but he is certainly not "little." He and Josh are huge.

I feel like Mormon trying to condense so much into so little space.

I am off to renew my temple recommend so that I can work at the temple for the next two days. 

Being an assistant coordinator is certainly a lot of work. This month I am over the special dressing room. That means that I often do not leave the temple until 10 p.m. The security guard shows me out after I am done and Dad is waiting in front listening to the radio. I is nice when he turns my "seater" (seat heater) on so that it is nice and warm when I get there. Next month, I am back over the initiatory desk and the coordinating work that is done there. No one is ever refused if they want to do initiatory work so it keeps us hopping to keep the place staffed. Last week we had 15 women in one section and 16 in another. We have four booths. WOW! 

Melanie Comments on "It was a nice funeral."

This was very nice, Mom. I didn't realize that Merlene Collard had so much in common with our Danish heritage. I agree, the best thing for her was to leave Mills. I remember going there to drop of school students when Dad drove the bus.

As for Marty, he would tease Todd and me incessantly. One day, we had Maria hold him down while we fed him mud pies with choke cherries in them. He didn't bother us after that. (He doesn't seem to remember that I was the one making the "pies," not the one actually doing the feeding...just guilty by association with the Harmons.) It seemed to work though. He played nicely after...then he moved away for a long time.

Love you all.
Mel

Babysit the Waites

Kirsten wrote: On a second note, would you guys be up/available for flying here to stay with the kids next month?  Jared has a conference in San Diego and he'd like me to go with him.  He leaves the 15th and is back on Saturday or Sunday (18th/19th).  We'd take Natalie with us, of course.  No pressure if you can't; there's a girl in our ward who can and needs the cash for her wedding, but I thought I'd check with you first.

Love
Kirsten


Myrna wrote: Is that February?


Kirsten wrote: Yes.

How was the funeral?

Leonard wrote: If you can depend on me,  I would love to that for you. Mom cannot come with.

Graduate from High School Without Setting Foot on Campus

Myrna wrote: You can graduate and never go to the campus. One girl moved to Texas and is flying back this spring to graduate.‏

Juab School District Online Courses
Welcome to the Wasp Online Home Page! 

Please review the Wasp Online Course catalog below to determine which online courses you are interested in taking.  Once you have identified a course, please meet with your school counselor to discuss your interest in taking the course and how it will fit into your Student Education and Occupation Plan (SEOP).  Once you have the approval of your high school counselor, contact Melinda Clark, the Juab High School Wasp Online Coordinator, by telephone at (435) 623-1288, or by email at melinda.clark@juab.k12.ut.us. 


AnnMarie wrote: Looks like Provo might offer more classes than the state school board does.  I'm not sure.  Here is the link for electronic high school http://www.schools.utah.gov/ehs/.  Alyssa is taking a class through EHS and receiving THS credit.

Babysit

Would you guys be up/available for flying here to stay with the kids next month?  Jared has a conference in San Diego and he'd like me to go with him.  He leaves the 15th and is back on Saturday or Sunday (18th/19th).  We'd take Natalie with us, of course.  No pressure if you can't; there's a girl in our ward who can and needs the cash for her wedding, but I thought I'd check with you first.

Love

Kirsten

Flowers for Merlene

Kirsten wrote:Did anyone want to do a plant or something from our family?

Myrna wrote: Dad decided to call the florist at home tonight. We spent $90. That makes it $10 each. We had your names each listed. I am also making a cake from me, at the request of the Relief Society. Love, M

I'm sorry that I did not think about calling the florist last night when we got home. I don't know what my problem is. I guess I am just nuts.

AnnMarie Howard wrote: Yes, I want to be included.  I wish we could include apricot blossoms, but, alas, we are in the wrong season.

Kirsten wrote: I'm not sure everyone wanted to go in.  I had only heard positives on my email from Todd and  Ams.  We can do more than $10, if that is the case.  I was planning on $15-$20.

Myrna wrote: Julie and David told me in person. Shawn called and is thinking of coming to the funeral and he will go in. Eric is the only one I haven't heard from. Did you send it to Amy? His email is down. He does get text messages but I'll be hanged if I can figure out how to do those on my "new" phone (it is not actually new anymore but I still can't figure it out).

Kirsten wrote: Just talked to mom and dad.  They are ordering some from Nephi Floral in the morning and having it come from all of us; if any of you want to add to the pot, let mom and dad know.  I know we will sure miss her!  

Kirsten wrote: Did not send to Amy.  I will send you the moola.  Thanks for ordering on behalf of us all.  Wish I could be there to pay my respects.

Myrna wrote: We have debated back and forth about whether we should do money in a card or give flowers. Flowers look beautiful at the funeral and on the grave but it is cold here and they are sure to freeze in a day or two. I think the family is all well enough off that money is not an issue. I have, from time to time, paid for the meat for a funeral so the family did not have to. We have missed the one viewing because we cannot order flowers here on Sunday and it was this evening. However, we could have flowers there for the viewing and the funeral in the morning.



Kirsten wrote: I still think flowers are the way to go.


Myrna wrote: So does Dad. Flowers it is.

Shawn: Count me in. 

Cahoots

Gordon Smith wrote: I have been in many places, but I've never been in Cahoots. Apparently, you can't go alone. You have to be in Cahoots with someone.   I've also never been in Cognito. I hear no one recognizes you there.   I have, however, been in Sane. They don't have an airport; you have to be driven there. I have made several trips there, thanks to my friends, family and work.   I would like to go to Conclusions, but you have to jump, and I'm not too much on physical activity anymore.   I have also been in Doubt. That is a sad place to go, and I try not to visit there too often.   I've been in Flexible, but only when it was very important to stand firm.   Sometimes I'm in Capable, and I go there more often as I'm getting older.   One of my favorite places to be is in Suspense! It really gets the adrenalin flowing and pumps up the old heart! At my age I need all the stimuli I can get!   I may have been in Continent, and I don't remember what country I was in. It's an age thing.

PLEASE DO YOUR PART!
Today is one of the many National Mental Health Days throughout the year. You can do your bit by remembering to send an e-mail to at least one unstable person. My job is done!   Life is too short for negative drama & petty things. So laugh insanely, love truly and forgive quickly! From one unstable person to another...

I hope everyone is happy in your head - we're all doing pretty good in mine!

I Just Got the Message

Myrna wrote: Sorry. I am just reading this. It is too late to call (12:25 a.m.) and the kids are in bed and asleep. Bree is home from the hospital as of today. It was a surprise to us because David had thought that they were going to keep her for a couple of weeks. He said the doctors thought it was going to take that long to get the meds adjusted. It must not have done. I barely talked to him because I was helping Caydin and so I handed the phone to Erin and she handed it to Donovin who handed it to LHT. We are taking the kids back tomorrow afternoon after church. I will tell him that you are trying to call. Did you try to text David? Sometimes, even though the phone is off, he will get the message when he turns it back on again. We play phone tag a lot as I do with all my kids. (I call and leave a message and then they call and leave a message and then I call and leave a message. . .) Donovin built this great ferris wheel out of her magnetic connect toy. She helped Erin learn her fractions which had been so confusing for her. We ate supper there, then we came home and got everyone in bed and then I looked at my email on the computer.

The three kids spent the day playing with Julie and family. They went sledding, played in the snow, made homemade potato chips, and did lots of other fun kid things. They even ended up filling a honey order for a woman who unexpectedly came to buy some.

Barbara wrote: Myrna: thank you so much for writing this.  I so enjoyed hearing about the kids and what they are doing.  It sounds wonderful.  I had the wrong number for David.  I finally got ahold of both of them yesterday.  Thank you again.

 

Insurance won't pay, so they kicked her out.  I hate our system.  Good ole bottom line.  How much is enough?  Oh well, I am working on getting there as quickly as possible, and I can help with Caydin.  I know he is a handful, but I also really believe that some of his behavior problems are because of her depression and anger.  He is feeling her emotional "offness."  

 

I am sitting here working, and keeping busy between calls.  I really like what I am doing, but ATT took a big hit when that merger fell thru, and they are really getting strange about their call centers.  I know I will have a job with Convergys, maybe not with ATT.  

 

Cant wait to get to St. George.  Have a great day.  

Barbara

Erin, Donovin and Caydin

Myrna wrote: We have had calls from some of you about this. Bree is doing better and is now home from the hospital. We are taking the three kids back tomorrow (Sunday) after church. I think that she has the medication she is taking adjusted so that she should be fine. She has a six-month cycle and was diagnosed as Bipolar 1. They have adjusted her medications and told her that one she was taking only worked when it was taken with food. David said that the only problem with that was that no one, doctor or pharmacist, had ever told them that. Now they know. David has appreciated your texts and your concern. He has told you that himself, I am sure, but he told Dad and I that and we are passing it along.

Barbara  is moving to be with them. She has missed the grandkids a lot, I am certain. I know from experience that it is not so fun to be far away from any of them.