Fresh Squeezed

There's Louie boy sweetest dog ever

This is my parents back yard and in the corner behind the palm trees is an orange tree. This tree has oranges that to the naked eye don't look that amazing. On Monday my Dad handed me a half gallon of freshly squeezed...by HAND orange juice. By hand I mean....by this little contraption. It's true. We are real pioneers at the Burt household. When I say from scratch.....I mean it. 

So the orange juice was not only out of this world but every cup we drank felt extra special because we know the work that went into squeezing it. This is what my Dad likes to do, he makes juice and he shares it with us. Which, we love. 

I've been thinking about the scripture: 

Alma 26:31

• Book of Mormon

Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards theirbrethren and also towards us. 

.............and another thing happened. 

As I as going about being a great Mom this morning...first laying in bed and ignoring my children for literally an hour and a half. Then thinking if I don't create a Sunday atmosphere here... who will? I dragged my lazy bones out of bed. I read some scriptures so I would start the morning out right. I had a prayer in my heart for some things of a personal nature. I will allude to by saying, love really is a double edged sword...especially for the divorcee. Then, I hopped out of bed. I threw on a beloved ASU shirt, walked downstairs put the kibosh on the the video gaming and turned on Sunday music. The kids helped pick up the house, do some dishes and I made waffles. I love noon church because that means I make waffles with Nutella, or cookie butter, fresh fruit, whipped cream, or all natural maple syrup. Only all natural people, the other stuff is goopy and yuckaroo and probably not very good for you. As I was making the waffles I drank the last cup of freshly squeezed orange juice. I thought what a delicious morning. Ayder-tot set the table and I grabbed a bottle of store bought fresh squeezed orange juice out of the fridge to have with our steamy hot waffles. 

Here is the truth. 

Store bought fresh squeezed orange juice is an impostor. 

By itself it tastes so good, but not after you have had the real thing. I took a sip of the store bought juice not long after I had finished a cup of the real fresh squeezed orange juice. The difference was staggering and I thought am I real fresh squeezed juice or am I a poor substitute? Just like the scripture, we can WITNESS their SINCERITY, because of THEIR LOVE TOWARDS their brethren and also toward us. What are the fruits of my labors? I hope they are good and real and fresh squeezed. 

Also I thought about progression and how the store bought juice just sits there, for like ever. It gets old and stagnant. But fresh juice has just been squeezed and worked hard to be so yummy. Am I constantly working? Am I getting better or am I stagnant? I think I am getting better. My fingers are crossed on that one. 

So I hope the fruits of our labors are fresh. We are all doing our best and if it wasn't the best yesterday...lucky us today is a new day. They can be fresh today and every day forward. 

XOXO The Sunny D- Freshly squeezed 

The Fairy Tale Principles...Midnight Strikes the New Year

New Years Eve

I was teaching the story Beauty and the Beast to my class this last week. We discussed the theme or main idea of the story which is how do we define beauty? Beauty can be on the inside, the outside or both. I had a few students call out, "beauty on the inside and the outside is like you Ms. T," and several yes and yeahs in agreement from my students. It is hard to have a bad day when you work with the kids I work with everyday. I mean I pretty much feel like a rock star. How could you not? 

In preparation for our state exams I printed and passed out a list of themes you could find in fairy tales. As we were reading them and brainstorming which applied to Beauty and the Beast I realized how these could seriously apply to life as well. I could be well served by living Fairy Tale principles. 

Fairy Tale Principle #1: Be a good friend and you'll have good friends. This is SO true. Some people never learn how to be a good friend. I have been so blessed with having good friends. They are beautiful, good, and loyal. AND.. this isn't even all of the girls in the gaggle. I am SO lucky. 

Fairy Tale Principle #2: Hard work pays off. My grandpa used to say, "The harder I work, the luckier I get." I feel like life in general is hard work but through hard work I have felt such a peace and sense of happiness. Hard work is an eternal principle. I worked at the singles New Years Eve party. It was a lot of hustling and my fingers were dyed red from food coloring but hey the night was an awesome one. Plus, I met a lot of nice people giving service. 

Fairy Tale Principle #3: Sometimes girls just need a night to get dressed up and feel pretty. That isn't on the list but I am adding it. Every girl needs a pretty dress and heels every now and then! A few of the gaggle New Years Eve. I wish I had a picture of all of us together! I don't though! 

Fairy Tale Principle#4: Sometimes a girl just has to kiss ALL of the princes. It is true. I decided this year....WHO CARES and so when the clock struck midnight I kissed a whole bunch of princes. Not frogs....and guess what it was fun. Travis gets best kisser award. I have his number ladies.....if you are looking for a cutie. I think it started the year on the right foot. :)

Every girl wants a guy who lives by the principles listed above. I am sure every man would like a woman who lives by these principles as well. I hope this is a year of fairy tales for the gaggle. 

XOXO The Sunny D