Epic Fail

Once again this summer, our ward R.S. Activity Committee asked me if I would host our summer outdoor/swim activity. The R. S. provided makings for a taco bar (delicious) and those who attended were asked to bring a pot luck item that started with the first letter of their first name or the first letter of their last name.  Since my initials are J S, I thought I would try to make something I saw on a Facebook post called Squirmy Jelly Worms (at least squirmy and jelly began with my initials).  They looked fun to make, but turned out to not be so much fun at all. The procedure is to pour a jello mixture into some extended flex straws, let them set, then squeeze the "worms" out of the straws.  Well, the worms were not firm enough to grab without them breaking apart. 

 Um...I was not going to give up on my idea to serve Squirmy Jelly Worms to my wonderful R.S. Sisters so I decided to make another batch - this time making them more like Jigglers instead of the recipe I followed before.  This time they turned out better...at least they were solid enough to hold, but were a bit too dark in color.

 I placed these worms on top of a bowl of chocolate pudding topped with crushed Oreo cookies (to look like dirt).  My dear R.S. Sisters dug into them without even cringing.

Feeding the Triplets

A combined family with 7 children in a neighboring Ward just added identical triplet boys to the mix.  The mother previously had twin boys (not identical) with her first husband who died suddenly when the twins were about 13 months old. The father had three sons and two daughters with his first wife who died suddenly about 3 months after his new wife lost her husband. Confusing? Now they have a combined family of 10 children (the oldest is 12) and the mother is only 30 years old. 

As you can imagine, taking care of triplets can be a huge challenge so the Relief Society sisters in 3 wards have combined efforts to help feed the babies every three hours around the clock. Cheryl and I have both had the opportunity to help out a few times. There is nothing like holding, cuddling, and feeding a newborn.

I am holding Owen - the third and smallest of the triplets

James, Lee, and Owen

Even the mom can't tell the triplets apart so they have a designated spot in the portable crib plus an assigned nail polish color on their thumb.  James is white, Lee is blue, and Owen is black.

Right now they basically just eat and sleep, but things will get much more difficult once they get older and more mobile. 

I think this family can relate to the scripture from Psalms 127:3-5 which says:

"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them...."

Brother Beck sure has his quiver full of children!