BuTtEr BeEr CuPcAkEs!

I love Harry Potter. I loved the books, the movies, all of it. I really wish I could be a student at Hogwarts. One thing I have always been curious about was the flavor of the famed Butter Beer the students like to indulge in while at The Three Broomsticks pub. Recently we came across a blog where a woman had created a butter beer cupcake based off of the butter beer served at the new Harry Potter World in Orlando. Since Mackenzie was coming and I know she enjoys a good cupcake as much as I do, we set about making these delectable delicacies!

DuKe GaRdEnS

Two weeks ago Mackenzie was in town and we took the opportunity to show her Duke Gardens and Duke Chapel (more to follow on Duke Chapel). Duke Gardens is a free to visit and sits in the middle of campus. Its beautiful with many different types of gardens. We only had time to visit two of them and of course I wanted to go to the Asian garden. All of it was beautiful and I'll let them do most of the talking....

I'm totally in love with these tall, spindly, Dr. Seuss like flowers. I took a lot of pictures of them.

The little yellow buds are called Skullcaps!

From the Terrace Gardens to the Asiatic Arboretum, can we say "homesick"?

This is the Japanese version of gutters. The water drips down the cups and chains to the ground.

The bamboo gardens helped to reaffirm my growing love for this wood. I think I could have a house with only bamboo for the floors and cabinets.

It'S dOnE!!!!

Congratulations to my most intelligent and capable husband! All of the "T"s are crossed and "I"s are dotted! James graduated (the diploma came as proof today) and now on to the next step. I'm so proud of him for finishing his AA degree. I know that it has been really challenging to finish up his classes all online and in 3 different states. He has survived 2 moves across the country, the deaths of each of our maternal grandfathers, a wedding, 2 other wedding parties and the first year of marriage. I think he's pretty incredible. And I can't wait to see all the amazing things I know his brilliant mind is capable of. (can you tell i'm pretty proud of my husband?)

It'S tRuE!!!

The Book of Mormon is true! I know it and I know you can know it too!!!! Just click on this link and watch the video!!!!!! I spent 18 months sharing this book and the truths held within its pages to the people of Japan and I want to share it with all of you. On of the dear women that I taught started reading it and when we asked her how she felt she said that "it felt like water was being poured into her soul as [she] read". It can feel that way for you too, I promise.

fRiDaY cOnFeSsIoNaL

I haven't been keeping up with my confessionals and I know I'm in need of a good share....

So without further adieu I confess:

*My husband has made me start watching NCIS and I'm totally hooked! I can't help myself. I have to get caught up with all 8 seasons!!!! Horrible time waster.
*We made our first batch of real jam. It was pear jam and we canned it in a water canner. We feel like grown up mormon people now. (pictures to follow)

*ok really i'm drawing a blank at this point. Maybe I didn't need as much as I thought.

Till next week my friends.....

HaPpY mOtHeR's DaY!!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms in my life. Got to talk to my mom and James' mom today. Also because it is Mother's Day we got to talk to Charlie. Elder Gates is serving in Iowa with 3 months left to go! It was really good to get to Skype with him. I can't believe that they allow Skype-ing on his mission but I'm not complaining. The nice part is that it is free and its easy to use and you do get to see your family and families get to see their missionary. Charlie is doing great. He is a hard working happy missionary with a couple baptisms coming up in the next couple weeks. As an interesting side note, Charlie's companion, Elder Unsicker is the cousin of our friend Megan Burke who was one of my mission companions and is responsible for introducing James and I. The world is one small place. For all of us who miss Charlie it was so good to see him. He is a great little brother and I feel very blessed that he was placed with our family 21 years ago. He definitely completed our little family and has been one of my very best friends. I'm very proud of the man he is becoming and if you want to see how amazing he is go here. Ok later gaters

fRiDaY cOnFeSsIoNaL (the MoNdAy EdItIoN)

So James was finishing up his last class for his AA degree this weekend and totally "Bogarted" the computers. I know, who knew being married to a computer nerd meant not getting to use either computer? Oh well I have to love him I guess;-)


So here goes some confessing:

*I totally planned ahead so I would have my day off on Friday so I could watch the Royal Wedding!
*I'm a wedding sucker!!!! But I just love them so much. And this was no exception!
*I got chills when I saw her dress I loved it!!!!! How can you not? Didn't it just say "I'm a Princess and one day I'm gonna be Queen!!!!"*Well it does for me. Seeing this made it worth getting up at 6 am on my day off to enjoy this historic event.
*I also truly enjoyed the whole wedding, the choir boys were wonderful and the sermon from the Bishop was beautiful.
*I wish them all the happiness and I hope this is a real marriage unlike the Royals have knows for a long time.
*My cute husband thinks I'm crazy but I don't care cause I loved it all!
*I also loved Pippa's dress too, brave and unique choice that I believe payed off big.
*Ok enough wedding stuff....I confess I cut off my hair!!!!
*I feel more like myself than I have in a long time and I feel like a recognize myself in the mirror again.
Confession is good for the soul and this girl is feeling all cleansed!