While studying the scriptures this evening two important things stood out to me. The following scriptures are in reference to two blind men who were sitting by the way when Jesus passed by as he was leaving Jericho.

Matthew Chapter 20:29-34

29: And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him.

30: And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

31: And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David.

32: And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you?

33: They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened.

34: So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

The Bible Dictionary states that: "Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others, blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them."

...blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them.

In most, if not all instances of healing in the New Testament, Jesus is approached and asked by individuals for healing, either for themselves or others. This may not mean that he never healed anyone of his own accord but the accounts we have show that every time Jesus healed someone, he was asked to do so. Sometimes, he was asked more than once, as was the case with the blind men.

Just like those blind men, sometimes we need to ask more than once. Not because our Father in Heaven doesn't hear us the first time, but because we need to show our faith through continual prayer. Other times we may be asking for something that God isn't willing to grant or at least not at that particular time. But it's okay to keep asking. We need to remember that no concern or fear or joy is too trivial to express to our Heavenly Father in prayer. Yes, He may know of things we need before we ask, but if we never ask we may be missing out on blessings He is perfectly willing to bestow and will not give us otherwise.

The second thing that struck me particularly was verse 34. In the last sentence of verse 34 it reads:
 "...and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him."

The Lord healed them of their blindness and they followed him

I know there have been times in my life that I have asked that my eyes may be opened spiritually, to new knowledge, to spiritual growth or to the needs of others but that I haven't always followed the promptings that I have then been given. It is very significant to me that those blind men received sight, AND they followed him.

God giveth to Him that asketh but if we continue to prove unreliable in using the gifts we ask for, he will bestow them on others who will use them better.

I am VERY picky when it comes to peppermint ice cream. It's a seasonal indulgence that I love, but only if it's just right. They say you eat with your eyes and when it comes to peppermint ice cream, I know whether or not I'll enjoy a certain brand simply by the way it looks.

Are there actual peppermint pieces in the ice cream? If not, there's no way I'll touch it. I have to have little peppermint crunchies with every bite.

Does it have a more spearmint flavor than peppermint flavor? I adore the sweeter spearmint flavor!

Is the color of the ice cream only pink with red peppermint pieces? I might eat it but it's nowhere near as tasty as a white ice cream with red AND green peppermint pieces mixed in.

I know. It's all in my head but thus it is.

So  being that I'm in the mood for peppermint ice cream and finding not one brand that fit my idea of perfection, I set about to make my own. After perusing pinterest I settled on this recipe, with one change: I substituted two teaspoons of vanilla extra for the peppermint extract and added 1/4 teaspoon of mint extract. Below is the basic custard mixture ready for the ice cream machine.

To prevent my crushed candy cane pieces from completely dissolving in the ice cream I waited until the last possible moment of churning to add them to the mix. Then immediately placed into the freezer to become more solid. After crushing the pieces I put them in a collander to sift out the tiniest flakes which might dissolve anyway and totally discolor the ice cream. I don't mind red and green swirls. I just don't want them mixing so much I get brown ice cream.

And here is the finished product, sprinkled with a few reserved candy cane flakes. I highly recommend this recipe. I will use it as a base for other flavors from here on out.This ice cream is so creamy; no ice crystals at all. Crunchy peppermint pieces and smooth ice cream. Yum!!

• Peppermint Ice Cream - from www.sproutedkitchen.com
• 
  
• 5 egg yolks
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 2 teaspoons peppermint extract
• 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies

Set a large glass bowl above a pot of simmering water, not letting the bottom of the bowl touch the water line. Add the egg yolks and sugar into the bowl and stir occasionally until the sugar has mostly dissolved the the yellow has paled in color. About 5 minutes. Set the bowl aside.

Mix 1/4 cup of the milk with the cornstarch and set aside to dissolve. Empty the water from the pot, put the remaining milk and cream in the pot over medium heat and warm until bubbles form on the outer edges. Slowly add the warm cream to the yolks, stirring as you add to temper. Stir in the cornstarch mixture and the peppermint extract.
Chill the mixture in the fridge for at least an hour. 

Put the mixture in an ice cream maker and churn according to instructions. In the last minute, add the peppermint candies. Take a bite, if its not quite minty enough for you, add another splash of extract. Transfer the mixture to a container for the freezer, and freeze for at least a few hours to firm up.

"In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread..." Genesis 3:19

This sentence took on new meaning for me this past Sunday. As I looked at that scripture written on the board in church this past Sunday I realized it had a double meaning. 

I had always interpreted it literally; in order to survive in mortality we must work to stay alive. In Adam's case, hunting for his own food. In the case of many of us nowadays, working to earn money to purchase our own food. 

Temporal survival takes work of all kinds. But so does spiritual survival. I looked at that verse and for the first time, thought about the bread of life, Jesus Christ.

"I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst." - John 6:35

Coming to him requires much more than desire, though that is a great place to start. It requires more than just asking in prayer, though that is also important. It requires work. It requires active study and reflection on the scriptures and other teachings that have been given to us. This active ongoing study, combined with prayer will bring us toward him, the bread of life. 

Only as we work to understand, can we come to know truth. 

Through regular study of scripture I have felt peace and clarity increase in my understanding of the turbulent world surrounding me and the purpose of my mortal existence. I know that God lives, that Jesus Christ is his son. I know that Jesus Christ suffered for all mankind. I cannot comprehend how he knows what each of us suffer, but I know that somehow he knows. I know that he loves us and that if we will accept that love, it can motivate and help us reach a potential we may never have known existed within ourselves. I do not know the meaning of everything that happens in life, but because I believe in my Savior I am willing to live by faith, waiting with patience until the day that all things will be opened to my understanding.  I look forward anxiously to Christ's second coming with great joy and hope that it cannot now be long. Whether I am here on earth or in Heaven it will be a day of great gladness. I am so thankful for every day I am allowed to remain in mortality and all that it has taught me and will continue to teach me. I am so thankful for all the beauties God has put on earth that bring a smile to my face every single day; for the animals, flowers, sunlight, storms and family and friends that surround me. It is a beautiful world and a beautiful time to be alive, with so much to add to our enrichment and learning and light. I know that we are loved, far beyond our ability to understand and I am thankful for the times in my life when I have felt that love tangibly from beyond, assisting me through dark times. In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.

I took this picture two days ago. I could feel two eyes burning holes into my hand as I put each toasted round topped with gouda and genoa salami up to my mouth. I had to capture the cuteness of my goofy meat loving Sokka. (points if you know exactly what I'm referencing)

By the way, did I mention we got a dog?

It's been a few months now. After researching the pros and cons of many different breeds we decided on a schnauzer, and let me tell you schnauzer's are great. We were going to get one from a breeder, but the more I thought about starting with an 8 week old puppy and all of the work that entailed, the more I became convinced I wanted a rescue dog.

Above is a picture of our boy when we first got him, just under a year old and lacking any of the carefree and playful nature of a pup. This picture does not adequately convey the poor state he was in. He had over 35 ticks attached to his body. His fur was matted and covered with burrs. He was friendly but quiet and subdued, as if he were resigned to being neglected.

All of that began to change though. It started with a bath and a shave. Then vaccines, and flea and tick medication, daily walks, good dog food, clicker training and lots of love and attention. Pretty soon our boy started to become more vocal. He would give a soft but excited howl when he saw his leash pulled out, he began to bark and run to the door to greet my husband when he came home. He learned how to sit and touch and lay down and over time, how to play. He had no idea what to do with dog toys so first I taught him how to touch an item with his nose, then with his teeth, then to pick it up, then to hold it for longer periods of time. The dog that didn't even think to pick anything up with his teeth (other than food) now retrieves the frisby in the backyard. He has even developed a habit of picking up shoes and taking them to random places in the house. Luckily he doesn't chew on them. I think he's just trying to tell us he wants a walk. Here he is after first being cleaned up, a day or two after the previous picture:

Now I'm not saying he's perfect. In fact he chewed on a door frame about 3 weeks after we had gotten him. I had left him in his room before when I was running errands and he had never seemed to care. So when I came home and heard anxious little yips and then opened the door to discover the frame had been chewed on I was of course a little annoyed. But suddenly I realized that though we had already adopted him, his anxiety over our leaving seemed to mean that he had finally adopted us! Luckily with even more love and training, no more door frames have been marred.

And the best part about him aside from his kisses, his wet nose, his quick learning skills and his enthusiastic greetings? I've not swept up a single dog hair. ;)

With the recent release of "Meet the Mormons" some members of our church have decided to change their facebook profile pictures to reflect what religion we belong too. I went ahead and designed my own version, emphasizing our true title, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  The most common misconception people seem to have is that "Mormons" (the nickname we've been given) don't believe in Jesus Christ. In reality, Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone of our religion.

"...And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may looks for a remission of their sins." 2 Nephi 25:26