Ruck

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Posts posted by Ruck

  1. I made this for Mothers Day for my wife, mom, and mother in law. They all loved it and my wife has me make it alot. Be warned though, it makes a lot and tough to cut in half. So its perfect for after Sunday church leftovers.

    Fiesta Taco Pasta Salad

    14 oz bag Fiesta Pasta

    2 lbs. ground beef

    2 pkgs. taco seasoning mix

    1 15oz. can refried beans

    1 lb. Velveeta cheese

    1 14.5 oz can Rotel

    1: Brown ground beef. Drain and add taco seasoning mixture, following the package directions.

    2: Cook pasta until tender but firm. Drain and add ground beef and refried beans.

    3: Melt cheese and add Rotel. Add to beef mixture and combine. Reheat to desire temperature.

    4: Serve over shredded lettuce and chopped tomatoes or with your favorite tortilla chips. Add toppings such as green onions, sliced black olives, avocado, sour cream, salsa, etc.

    It says it serves 8-10. When we make it, we have it for a Friday night dinner and then after Fast Sunday, once we get home we have it for dinner for Sunday night. Sometimes there is enough left over to take for lunch on Monday.

  2. Radio more than likely. I have a bunch of chores to do around the house so I will have that going unless I get my TV antenna put up then it will be on the TV.

    On a side note, I went to my Bishop with a few problems and he gave me the advice to write down the questions that I would like to find the answers to prior to conference. As I listen to the speakers, watch how the answers will come to me. I would like to just pass that on to others who might be having some troubles.

  3. I am a disfellowshipped member of about 3 months. I am one of those baffling members that has a super strong testimony, great family, and lives the gospel... but made a super stupid mistake in which I was deceitful and dishonest.

    I was reading in the new handbook and saw a section which states that a priesthood holder that is not fully temple worthy may be allowed to baptize and somewhat participate in ordinances pertaining to his child if he was working towards, but had not fully resolved his issues. I am wondering if disfellowshipment could possibly fall into this category? Or is it more for members on less severe formal/informal probation? I am meeting with my Bishop monthly and am a bit hesitant to even ask as it seems a bit of a stretch... but thought I would see if anyone has any thoughts or advice.

    My child is turning 8 in a couple of months and has hinted that he might wish to wait until I am worthy to perform at least the baptism. He is ready to be baptized and I don't want him to wait on account of his idiotic father, although it would mean the world to both he and I if I was able to perform the ordinance...

    Any comments or advice would be appreciated.

    Thats my answer. Meeting with the Bishop shows that you are willing to make the changes and working towards making it all better. Ask the Bishop what you would have to do to be worthy of performing your child's baptism. It is a few months out, so you better ask now then wait.

    Good luck.

  4. My wife and I spent our honeymoon in SLC. If you can get it, get the Plaza hotel in downtown SLC. The hotel is across the street from Temple Square and cost a lot less then what the others did. It was a very nice hotel also.

    As for things to do, my friends and I always:

    -Visit Temple Square

    -Hogle Zoo

    -This Is The Place Park

    -Malls (There is one nearby the Plaza, just ride the Trax to it)

    -Hale Theatres

    -Clark Plantarium

  5. -Ultimate frisbee was a big one.

    -Game night at the Bishop's house. This was a fun one. The Bishop was a very successful businessman who started with nothing and has a great company now. We would play games like Monopoly and he would give us advice on finacial situations so we weren't all in debt.

    -BBQ with nonmembers. The whole goal was to bring atleast one nonmember or nonactive member to the park where we had a BBQ and got to know everybody else.

    -Indoor soccer. Look up the rules. Lots of people had fun with this.

    I can't think of any more right now. Its 5 in the morning and I have to get to work haha. I will write down some more later.

  6. In your shoes, I'd try to avoid the drama as much as possible and focus on your immediate family (wife and baby). Practice being polite, for those times when you can't avoid those who will try to start stuff.

    Do you and your brother live near enough to get together often? What's your wife's family like? I'd focus energy on those relationships that work.

    It's painful when family members don't do what one would expect from them. That said, what can you do but move forward with your life? It's important to acknowledge the sadness of it, but not to remain "stuck" there.

    My kids have some grandparents they've never met - while they're curious why (what can I say? They don't care to come see you?), that "hole" is filled with aunties and uncles and cousins, and the other grandparents.

    We readily preach the ideal, but reality is often more complicated and messier. Best wishes to you as you move forward.

    My brother use to live a few streets down from us but he is moving out of the state. As for my wife's family, most of them live 30 minutes away except her parents and they are all over the world since her Dad is in the Navy.

    Thanks for the advice I was given already by everybody. A part of me feels like I need to take it upon myself to fix everything but I just didn't know how to go about doing that. Maybe somethings aren't suppose to be fixed.

  7. There was a discussion about this once in my Priesthood meeting and the general belief was that it was the work of the Devil. The Holy Ghost works to bring people towards the church but the Devil works towards seperate churchs.

    Somebody may want a church that has a leader that gets revelation. As that person searches for the truth, somebody might find the Pope. Since the Pope meets the standard, that person accepts that as the true church. They were looking for the right thing, just the Devil worked towards making it difficult to find the truth.

    It is important to stress that we must pray to God and Christ if the LDS religion is the true church. That is the only way we can gain a testimony of what the true church is. That is a big reason why that is one of the questions to be a member of the church, get a temple recommend, etc.

  8. Two quotes of advice:

    The first was advice that my wife's grandpa gave me my wedding day. This is advice for you alone. He said, "There is three rings in marriage. The engagement ring, the wedding ring, and the suffering."

    But the second quote of advice is serious and comes from a few different people throughout my life. Remind both of them that they come from different backgrounds and were raised different ways. Both need to remember that when it comes to issues dealing with each other that they are dealing with the feelings of another person and to take that into account next time they talk. They might have to give some ground with each other, but you hate being stuck in between the two and refuse to take sides.

  9. Before I start, I just want to say that its a lengthy read. If you do read it and just want to comment that my life is messed up, then right on at least I'm not the only one to think that haha. I would like your opinion personally.

    In July 2008 I got married to my wife. Everybody said that I rushed the decision because I was only 19 at the time, but I had too many friends die young that I decided to live each day like my last. I fell in love with my wife and I was going to get married and get sealed. I would have my family and have them be mine forever. In Nov 2008, I was sealed. Both my marriage and my sealing seemed to be at the disapproval of my mother but she supported me. I always got the feeling that she didn't like my wife, but I felt that it was more or less the "nobody is good enough for my baby" attitude that she seemed to have towards all my other girlfriends growing up.

    Well last year, my parents got a divorce. Totally shocked me. They had their problems, but they usually worked through them. Personally, in my eyes, the problems really started when she got on Facebook and started meeting friends. Then she would go on "trips" to see lost friends and family. The worst part about it was the fact that she went from Utah to Missouri for a week, getting back on the day that her first grandchild was going to be born. Luckly she was here in time to see my son born.

    After my son's birth and before the divorce was final, my brother got married in a haste. He knew the girl for probably two or three months. I had no big issues with it, just I wish they knew each other a bit more. At that time, I wrote both my parents a letter about my reasons to get married and start a family. I gave them the letter along with a copy of the Proclamation to the Family. Sadly, both saw it as a reason to push my religion onto them.

    My mother finally left Utah and went to live in Oklahoma with her boyfriend. My brother and his wife had a daughter, which my mother never returned to see. When people ask her why, she says that she isn't running away but just needs a new life.

    My father started dating a close family friend, who was basically like my brothers and I sister. Glad he is dating but hate the fact of who it is. We work together, and when I ask to borrow his truck to take something to the dump or borrow a tool to get a home project done he says no. When my wife's family offers to help, he gets offended that I didn't ask him even after times I have.

    The worst of it all is my father adopted my brother and I when we was around 6 and 7 years old. Our biological father was abusive, on drugs, and basically worthless. He has come around to all his kids he has fathered to ask for forgiveness. All the brothers (4 in total) have forgave him except me. I still have major issues with how he left us, and just the various rumors I hear. Also, I know I must forgive him, as Christ would have, but it is something that will take time and I have to work towards. Anyways, my brother has now returned to talking to him, calls him Dad, has his kids calling him Grandpa, and talks about how great he is.

    Its sad to say but my family has been torn apart. My son hasn't seen his grandma since he was 5 months old. My neice hasn't seen her grandma ever. My brother and Dad don't talk to each other because of my brother going back to the other guy. Situations around my Dad and his new girlfriend is just ackward. My mother's boyfriend wants me to be friends with him, when I have no real desire to know the guy.

    In my Patriarchal Blessing it says to be an example to my family but how do I go forward doing that? I have talked to my Bishop and he gave me the letter idea. But other than that, he just talks about how big of a heartache that must be and to keep being an example to my family.

    There is no real person to blame it on, but I keep looking for answers to question I don't know to ask. I guess I am looking for how to move forward from here. Any advice will be appreciated.

  10. So for the next month, my wife is going to be roughly 1385 miles away from me. We both made a deal to try and save as much money as we could while she is gone on food.

    So asking the LDS Social Network Community, what is some easy and cheap dinner ideas. The main idea is to make some low cost meals for dinner and hopefully some left over for lunch at work the next day. Give me your thoughts.

  11. I hate to say this but this season was eventually going to happen. You can't always be on top. Just a few notes:

    1- The two QB system hurt BYU. The QB is suppose to be the leader of the offense and that offense was dealing with two different leaders. That just breaks the locker room up into two (possibly three) groups. Jake Heaps supporters, Riley Nelson supporters, and those who don't care.

    2- BYU didn't plan to play this year without Harvey Unga. Going into this year, they expected to have Unga for the season. After being kicked out of BYU for violating the Honor Code, they have been scrambling to find a new running back. JJ Di Luigi looks to be filling out that roll.

    3- Better for this to happen this year then next year. Better for the rebuilding year to happen before we hit Independence play, that way our young team has a year's experience under their belt and will be that "turn around" team we always hear about.

  12. I always found an "out." I am a huge sports fan so whenever I would start to feel depressed, I would go outside and kick around a few soccer balls or hit some golf balls to clear my head. I also love to paintball and would go out doing that a few times. I enjoy the outdoors so I would go on four wheeler rides.

    Just find your "out." Just take a hobby that you love and do it. It don't even have to cost anything. If it is as simple as read a book, set the environment so that your in a cheerful area. Don't read in your bedroom with the blinds closed and a lamp on, go somewhere else and read, maybe outside.

    Hopefully I was of some help.

  13. This is a blessing in disguise. BYU needed to pick on one QB and just put all faith in him. I was pulling for Heaps because I saw this year as a rebuilding year and knew that in years like that, you put the younger talent in a tough position such as QB so they can get over the nerves.

    As for Jake Heaps going on a mission, I don't see it happening. The kid is too much into himself and I see him more as a Steve Young, where he won't go on a mission but with all the exposure he is gaining himself, according he keeps it all in a positive manner, is the same as being on a mission. Take Tim Tebow for example, the way he acted on and off the field is the way Heaps should act. Tebow was credited that way for his religion and way he was raised. If Heaps could become that new Tebow, that could essentially be his mission.

    Also, Nelson can't claim for Medical Extension. The rules state the following to qualify:

    -the student-athlete’s injury or illness was incapacitating;

    -the student-athlete’s incapacitating injury or illness occurred during the first half of the

    season and before competition in more then two contests or 20% of the season’s

    scheduled contests (whichever is greater); and

    -the injury or illness is supported by contemporaneous medical documentation

    Injury happened in game three of the season (which beats the two contest rule) and since they play twelve games, three games count for 25% of the season.

  14. After City Creek is finally finished, putting a retractable dome over the BYU stadium would also be an excellent idea.

    Here is a suggested idyllic conference schedule for BYU

    Utah- 2009 Sugar Bowl

    Utah State

    USC- 2009 Rose Bowl

    Notre Dame- 2007 Sugar Bowl

    Alabama- 2010 BCS Championship Game

    Oklahoma- 2009 BCS Championship Game

    Ohio State- 2010 Rose Bowl

    Michigan- 2007 Rose Bowl

    LSU- 2008 BCS CHampionship Game

    Arizona State

    Florida- 2010 Sugar Bowl

    Boise State- 2010 Fiesta Bowl

    Hawaii- 2008 Sugar Bowl

    Wow...talk about bringing it on heavy. Outside of Utah State and Arizona State, you realize all those teams have played in a BCS Bowl game within the last three years. Next to each name, I put the last time that team played in a BCS Bowl game. Keep in mind, I honestly don't think last years Alabama or even the 2005 or 2006 USC could of taken on this task and came out looking decent.

  15. You have to expect in a few years that they will be reguarly playing Navy and Army, due to all of them being independent. Also BYU will have to play some of the lower guys just to round out a schedule. You can't go out every week and play a top 25 team or else your just asking for trouble.

  16. BYU and Utah leaving are good moves. I have always felt that the Mountain West should of been split up. TCU should be in the Big 12 along with Colorado State. Air Force should be independent. BYU and Utah should be in the Pac and the rest in the WAC. Boise should also be in the Pac. Basically have these major super conferences and the WAC as little beat up schools you play within the first three weeks. Looking at the schedule though:

    Utah- No real reason to say more.

    Oregon State- Pac 10 opponent. Win gives us a big name to add to it.

    Texas- Big 12 opponent. Like Oregon State, win would be huge. I have a feeling the reason Texas wants a shot at us is because of the how we have shown that we can hang with the bigger schools and take them down if needed (Oklahoma)

    Central Florida- A smaller school we should be able to beat but can be dangerous. I mean last year they were down 20-7 with 8 minutes left on Marshall and rallied to beat them. One win away from playing in the C-USA Championship game, who they would have to played a ranked Houston which they defeated once that year.

    Utah State- Utah State has the chance to be dangerous after all the teams settle in their leagues. This is a team that proven in their first week that they can hang with Oklahoma and almost beat them. They really are starting to come around.

    Hawaii

    Louisiana Tech

    New Mexico State,

    San Jose State

    Idaho

    -Yeah they are all pushovers, but in the end they had committments to play some WAC schools. Good luck trying to schedule Oregon in the middle of their conference play or any team like that. Usually once conference play hits, they worry about conference. The teams will get better with time, just have to allow it to come.

    You really can't decide if its a good decision or not until you see the end results.

  17. Yeah but in the end, beating somebody like Notre Dame is a big deal just because of the name. Plus things are looking upward for them since the addition of Brian Kelly.

    Texas series is a home and home series. They already agreed to one game before this announcement being played in 2011. The 2013 game will be played in Provo and the 2014 game in Austin.

    Last time Notre Dame was ranked was last year. They started the year ranked #23. Went ranked as high as #18 but by the end of the year they weren't ranked.

  18. I don't favor LDS business but if I have the chance to, I might go to somebody I know from my ward or stake because of that relationship. I don't see that as favoring the LDS business but favoring the person because of our relationship.

    Another account to take into affect is I won't generally return if they aren't honest in their everyday doings with their fellow man.

  19. So my wife and I are getting ready to start putting together 72 hours kits and food storage in case of 72+ hours of disaster. I have a buddy who is retired military and told me he could get us some MRE from one of the Army bases.

    Is this a good method to maybe start the food storage or maybe just for a 72 hour kit. My wife and I have been talking about going to the Distribution Center and getting their starter kit and building from there with the cannery and bishop storehouse. Any opinions or in sight?