love you and miss you Mom

We hope this will tie you over for a minute or so. Injoy mommy, love you! xoxoxoxox

Family Pictures

OK since no one else likes to up date the blog I will. These days We are a busy family. Here are a bunch of pictures of my kids in some of the items from my new clothing line Taija & Roe and my new rocker tie line Rock R' Ties. Our photographer was amazing thanks again Evelin/Little Wunders Photography I will post more pictures as our family ones get developed.

Mother's Day Recipes

In honor of Mom aka Sister Edwards I thought I would put together a few recipes That Mom loves. Most of them are from my personal collection as well as some of mom's favorites. I think all of you will enjoy them and feel free to add to this. Post any others.

Pulled Sweet Pork Salad ( the one from our favorite restaurant you know the one)

Ingredients:

2- Large heads of Romain Lettuce (washed and cut for salad)
1- Lb Black or Pinto beans (see below)
3- Lb Sweet Pork or Lime Chicken (See Below)
6- Cups Sweet Rice (See Below)
16- Cook to order Tortilla (you can find them @Costco or Wal-mart)
2- Cups House Ranch Dressing (see Below)
6- Cups Tortilla strips you can find them by the produce section in Smiths
or make them by frying up strips of flavored corn tortillas
Sweet Corn and Onions (see Below)
Garnish with your favorite Salsa, guacamole, sour cream, lime and cilantro

Beans
1- LB washed and sorted black or pinto beans
* cover beans with water about 1-2 inches above beans let soak over night.
* rinse soaked beans
* place beans in a large pot and cover as before.
*add 2 Table Spoons Salt.
Place the drained beans into a large pot or Dutch oven and cover with 6 cups fresh water for each pound (2 cups) of beans, or to about one inch above the beans. Add 1 to 2 Tablespoons oil (to prevent boiling over) add 2 Tablespoons salt. Boil gently with lid tilted until tender when taste tasted, 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Add hot water as needed to keep beans just covered with liquid. The best rule is to test frequently during cooking, then come to your own decision when beans are tender and taste "done".
Smash beans on side of pot about 6-8 times using a large spoon to create a thicker sauce. Add 1 small can of mild green chillies and heat through. Ready to serve with a slotted spoon.

Sweet Pork

1- 3to5 lb Pork loin or Roast
1- can Rosaritas Red Enchilada Sauce
1- 1/4 Cups Brown Sugar
1/4 cup Water
1/2 can of Coke (not Diet)
Cook Pork loin or Roast in crock pot with water, enchilada sauce and brown sugar and Coke until meat falls apart about 3-4 hrs. Do not let it dry out. Shred with fork.

Lime Chicken

4-5 boneless chicken breasts (about 2.5 to 3 lbs of chicken)1 1/2 cups of 7-up or Sprite (12 oz. can)½ to 1 tsp. cumin½ tsp salt½ tsp pepper2 limes Cook in crock pot on medium heat for 8 hours or 6 hours on high heat until chicken falls apart and shreds with a fork. Stir in the juice of 2 limes before serving.

Sweet Rice

1/2-1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 of a white onion, chopped
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro
1 1/3 cups white rice
3 cups chicken broth
1/4-1/2 cup white sugar Put a little oil in bottom of pan (maybe about 1/2-1 tablespoon). Saute chopped onion until translucent. Add the chopped cilantro (no big stems) and saute a minute more. Add the rice, cooking until it is light brown (being careful not to burn). Combine the chicken broth and sugar, letting sugar dissolve. Then stir into rice until combined. Bring to a boil. Cover and let cook on low, med-low until rice is done, about 25-30 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.

House Dressing

1 packet TRADITIONAL Hidden Valley Ranch mix (not BUTTERMILK)
1 c. mayonnaise
1 c. buttermilk
2 tomatillos, remove husk, diced
1/2 bunch of fresh cilantro
1 clove garlic
juice of 1 lime
1 jalapeno (we don't like it very Spicy so remove we remove the seeds /if you want is Spicy leave them in)
Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Refrigerate 1 hr.

Sweet corn




Assemble ingredients as fallows
Tortilla, beans, rice, meat, lettuce, dressing, corn and onions and Toppings of choice
Enjoy


Mom's Poppy Vinaigrette dressing

1/4 Red Onion
1 tsp. dry mustard
3/4 Cup sugar
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/3 Cup red wine vinegar
blend together and slowly add
1 Cup salad oil
1 tsp. Poppy seeds
refrigerate 1 hr
shake before serving

Cottage Cheese Salad

2 cups small Cottage cheese
1 8 oz of cool whip
1 lg Pack of Jello ( your favorite Jello I like Grape)
add your favorite fruit ( grapes, bananas, Pineapple, oranges etc)
Mix together and refrigerate at least 1 hour

Hope every one loves these recipes as much as we do
Happy Mothers Day Mom

Taija's blessing! sunday March 29, 2009

ON SUNDAY MARCH 29 MINDY AND SHAYNE BLESSED THERE NEWEST MEMBER OF THERE FAMILY! TAIJA ROE BATT. THERE IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT TAIJA! SHE JUST HAS A CALM AND PEACEFUL PERSONALITY, I THINK SHE IS PROBABLY THE BEST BABY I HAVE EVER SEEN. MINDY AND SHAYNE REALLY LUCKED OUT WITH HER. WE ARE ALL SO BLESSED TO HAVE HER IN THE FAMILY SHE HAS SUCH A STRONG SPIRIT ABOUT HER I THINK SHE IS VERY CLOSE TO HER HEAVENLY FATHER. NOT TO MENTION SHE IS SUCH A GOOD SLEEPER. I DONT THINK SHE EVER REALLY CRIES!

SHAYNE GAVE HER SUCH A WONDERFUL BLESSING. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!

WE MISSED MOM LOTS IT WAS OUR FIRST THING TOGETHER AS A WHOLE FAMILY SINCE MOM HAS BEEN ON HER MISSION AND SHE WAS TRUELY MISSED:( BUT WE KNOW SHE IS DOING GOOD WORK IN BOSTON AND THE PEOPLE THERE NEED HER MUCH MORE THAN WE DO AT THIS TIME. WE LOVE YOU MOM! PLUS THERE ARE A LOT MORE GRANDKIDS TO COME! ;) WINK WINK!

IM NOT SURE HOW I DIDNT GET MAD SKILLS LIKE MINDY! I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO DESIGN AND SEW CLOTHES BUT I CAN NEVER GET IT ON PAPER LIKE HOW IT IS IN MY HEAD! BUT MINDY ON THE OTHER HAND IS AMAZING! SHE MADE UP THIS DESIGN AND CUSTOM SEWED IT ALL! IF YOU THINK IT LOOKS GOOD IN PICTURES YOU HAVE TO SEE IT IN PEASON ITS A MILLION TIMES BETTER!

SHE LOOKS LIKE A DOLL!

Taija's baby blessing

Hey everyone! Its been a while since I have blogged. My mom sent me a letter that she wanted me to put up on the blog for everyone to read since she does'nt have much time!
Dear Friends and Family:
Hello form Massachusetts! First week has passed quickly and I'm glad to have the learning curve behind me.
I loved the MTC! It is so amazing - I am going to list all of the areas throughout the world the seniors just from my group will be serving- one weeks worth of seniors:
Italy
Florida
Vietnam
Winnipeg
China
Texas
North Carolina
Australia
England
Malayria
Washington DC
Ukraine
Ontario
Georgia
Asia Area
Michigan
Portugal
New Mexico
Moscow
New Guinea
Illinois
Africa
Columbia
Indonesia
Argentina(to work with Pres. and Sister Asay!)
and Boston!
Wow! Don't you think that is amazing? And then they told us at the MTC that for every senior missionary couple the church needs 10. Outside of Utah, there is so much need for senior experience.
My companion and I are serving in Fair Haven, New Bedford, Dartmouth area about 60 miles south of Boston. I believe much of our time will be spent working with the single mother population of the ward - it is a huge percentage of the ward and therefor a shortage of priesthood holders. I haven't learned yet where all the fathers are. Many of these women are Cape Verdeans who speak Portaguese. most all are poor, very few own a home or a car, many are unemployed, some are illegal but have lived here many years, many have very large problems. But despite all that, they are a loving, kind, and friendly people . The moms that are active are stalwart and have converted many of their family. However, the inactivity rate is very high, for sure we have our work cut out for us!
So, we visited one senior sister, 90 yrs. old and very spunky, who had us sign a guest book - she has every missionary that has come to her home sign. I was looking through her book and noticed that Elder Devin Dastrup had signed in 2003!
So this is what we have done this week:
Met with the ward mission leader who gave us this list of single sisters/moms that needed to be visited. We contacted and visited with many single and home bound sisters of the ward.
Attended a Portuguise language Enrichment, had a district meeting, attended church,(1st Sunday)in Natick where a perfectly little affrican baby was blessed. (Natick is where the mission office is)
Yesturday,I attended church in Dartmouth ward because the Elders had a single sister to investigate that they wanted our help.
Then went to our ward for the first time. It is a good ward, I felt quite at home!
Saturday we traveled with the senior couple to Boston, we got to do temple session and then attended a short senior missionary seminar(or we call it that so the Elders won't know that we are really just getting together and having fun!) What can I say there's a few bonuses to being older! I might add it was inspirational too.

Never forget this gospel is true and it is such a priviledge to know that and to belong to this church. In just one week I have met many whose lives are so sad and hard, if they could only realize the difference the gospel and church could make. we are so priviledged to know forsure that God lives and is not only perfect in every way but has perfect love for us and will never let us down; all we have to do is keep his commandments and do our best. That is such a clear, straight forward, and plain way to live. So refreshing after seeing how messed up and complicated and sad the alternative is.
Well, you are awesome people. I love you! Be good and have fun in that order!
Love always, Mom, Shirley, Sister Edwards.

TODAY WE VISITED HARVARD UNIVERSITY AND CAPE COD!

TODAY WE DROVE DOWN ALMOST THE WHOLE COST LINE IT WAS BEAUTIFUL! WE SAW ALL THESE LOBSTER CAGES THAT WERE JUST WASHED UP ONTO PEOPLES BACK YARDS.

RIGHT DOWN THE STREET FROM THIS WE FOUND THE BEST FRESH FISH RESTURANT IT WAS CALLED CAPTIANS PARKERS AND IT WAS TO DIE FOR!

WE WALKED ALL AROUND HARVARD UNIVERSITY TODAY IT IS A HUGE CAMPUS AND THE BUILDINGS ARE SO NEAT. IT WAS SO WINDY AND COLD THAT WE COULDN'T LAST VERY LONG SO WE TOOK ALOT OF PICTURES FROM THE CAR. SORRY IF THE PICTURES ARE A BIT DIRTY!

JUST SOME REALLY COOL BUILDINGS IN DOWNTOWN BOSTON!

WE FINALLY ARIVED IN BOSTON TODAY! :)

AFTER BEING IN THE CAR FOR 6 DAYS WE FINALLY ARIVED IN BOSTON!
IT IS VERY COOL HERE WE HAVE ONLY VENTURED OUT A BIT BUT TOMORROW WE WILL HAVE THE DAY TO PLAY!
WHEN WE ARRIVED MOM WAS SO EXCITED TO MEET THE OTHER SISTERS, SO WE HEADED RIGHT OVER TO THE MISSION OFFICE AND GOT TO MEET JUST A VERY SMALL PORTION OF THE MISSIONARIES. THERE ARE MUCH MORE THAN WE THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE. 90% OF THEM ARE FROM UTAH AND THE REST ARE FROM CANADA AND BRAZIL.

TODAY WAS ZONE CONFRENCE SO WE DIDN'T GET TO MEET PRES. ENGLAND BUT SHE WILL MEET HIM THIS SUNDAY!

THE SENIOR SISTERS WERE VERY FUNNY AND THEY SEEMED TO HAVE A GOOD TIME! WE LEARNED THAT THEY JUST KINDA THROW YOU OUT IN THE FIELD WITH NOT MUCH DIRECTION BUT YOUR TESTIMONY AND YOUR KNOWLEDGE IN THE GOSPEL!
WE ALSO LEARNED THAT MOM WILL BE SERVING VERY CLOSE TO CAPE COD AND MAYBE PARTS OF CAPE COD. THAT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL AND VERY HARD WORK. IT SEEMS TO BE THAT THE PEOPLE THERE DONT KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE GOSPEL AND THERE ARE SEVERAL INACTIVE MEMBERS SO IT LOOKS LIKE SHE'S GOT HER WORK CUT OUT FOR HER!

I THINK MOM WILL DO GREAT HERE IT SEEMS LIKE THEY REALLY NEED SOMEONE THAT CAN PUT IN LONG DAYS AND THAT HAS A LOT OF ENERGY LIKE SHE DOES!

OUR 5th DAY ON THE ROAD!

THE SACRED GROVE! NEED WE SAY MORE!WE GOT TO VISIT THE HILL CUMORAH AND MOM WAS WAS SHOCKED WITH HOW BIG THE HILL WAS I THINK SHE WAS MORE EXCITED ABOUT THE HILL AND WALKING UP IT THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

OUR 4 DAY INTO THE DRIVE AND WE GOT TO GOTO PALMYRA NY!

NIAGRA FALLS
MOM COULDN'T RESIST FEEDING THEM POPCORN

IT WAS BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!

RIGHT WHEN WE GOT TO NIAGRA FALLS IT WAS SO FOGGY THAT WE COULDN'T EVEN SEE THE FALLS. BUT I THOUGHT THE CITY WAS PRETTY COOL WITH ALL THE FOG. AFTER ABOUT 10 MINS THE FOG CLEARED AND WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THE FALLS.

THIRD DAY INTO THE DRIVE AND WE FINALLY MADE IT TO KIRKTLAND OH!

SISTER EDWARDS WEEK AT THE MTC!

SAYING OUR LAST GOODBYES AT THE MTC!

SOAKING UP THE LAST MOMENTS WITH THE GRANDCHILDREN

Called To Serve Boston MA!