Fads

In a world of this...

I'm so happy to have this....Word of Wisdom and here
Consistent, inspired, true.
I'm excited to start reading this book: The Word of Wisdom-A Modern Interpretation by: John Widtsoe

Reading up

This is what my night stand looks like right now. Or should I say my throw pillows that pretend to be my night stand. What is not pictured is my two books on cd I'm trying to listen to while in the car. Though I have pretty much decided I am not an audio book type of gal, the information just doesn't absorb and my mind wanders a lot. It doesn' t help that the narrators voice could bore anyone to tears. So I kicked those to the curb.

From top to bottom:
Sciptures (Book of Mormon)
March 2011 Ensign
The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer: This is a book I have read over and over again. I read it anytime I am training from cover to cover. It has everything from motivational stories from other runners to the proper form of running and breathing , stretches, resistance training, tips on the best shoes for your type of foot, etc. I'm sure there are plenty of good training books out there but this one is my favorite!
The Help:  This one has been around for a while but I am just barley getting to it. I've only read the summary of it so far. I hear its good though!
Drive: I'm obsessed with this book! Topic: Motivation. Intrinsic motivation. A better way to motivate in this generation. yourselves and others. The book has a "tool kit" at the end of the book that gives tips for motivating from everything to excercise, best motivation for your children, career, etc. This is a book I will read over and over again and often refer too.
Food Politics: Just dipped into this and I am already hooked. SO interesting!

I'm a total dork I know.

Nourish

So where to begin? ....well from the beginning is where.

When I had just barely turned 19 life shattered for what felt like the 1000th time. I faced what I felt like to be a major heart break, a major trial in my life at that time and what little self-esteem I had seemed to diminish completely.  I quit the secure and well paying job I had had for two years, I moved out of my Mom's house into an apartment full of strange girls, I signed up for school at SLCC and thought I was going to be able to pull myself out of this one.  And I did but it wasn't through some pursue of a career I wasn't even sure about or trying to become independent or spontaneous.
One of my good friends at the time whom is still one of my closest was experimenting with something called the Raw Food Diet. Well for me, me who consumed a dozen crispy creme doughnuts in one sitting, I thought she was a fool!  At about this time I had picked up a job at Borders Books and on breaks had picked up a book by this guy and for some reason well, I WAS IN.

This is where the fire started.

The next day I was in the grocery store buying all the fresh vegetables, fruit, and antioxidant foods I could get my hands on. I became a regular at Good Earth.  I started with eliminating all junk (sugar, sweets) out of my diet, low sodium, eating lots of healthy protein and fruits and vegetables, drinking tons of water, and this is where I got into yoga as well.  After a few months I had gained 15 healthy pounds and could actually say I was happy.  This was different though. This happy felt different. I could look myself in the mirror and honestly say that I loved myself.  I cared enough about and loved myself enough to actually think about what I was putting into my body it was this beautiful cycle that was happening.  After about 6 months I realized that this was me now it wasn't a passing trend of a "diet",  that eating healthy and taking care of my body was a part of who I was and always needed to be.  I moved to South Carolina and then Hawaii and then back home all the while experimenting with everything from raw to vegan, to vegetarian, and doing several different varieties of cleanses.  From the time I had started over a two year time period I had gained 26 healthy pounds ( I had been quite under weight, tall and bones aka a lurp) And was running up to 18 miles training for a marathon.  All the while  this monumental change had been going on other small steps were being taken as well. I was active in Church again, I received this special guidance, and....I....was....progressing...with a heart mended and full of hope.  Now 6 years down the road and here I am busily bustling around in my kitchen daily with the privilege and goal of not only nourishing myself but the ones I am lucky enough to call mine.

So really what I am saying is my "lifestyle"/"eating habits" are not a mere passing trend, or calorie counting or trying to get my body to conform to a worldly standard of beauty....they are to NOURISH this  gift and miracle of a body that I am blessed with and to instill in my children the importance of self-worth and respecting their bodies.


Extra: WOW

P.S. In an effort to splash some sun into these chilly days we have been having, we have been eating some deliciously healthy frozen treats while staying warm by the fire.  Post coming soon.

Girl to woman-

Today on my way home from the grocery store I had to take a little different of a route to stop by Gandalfo's for some Upstates for the hubs and brother in law. When I was standing in line with Zealand in my arms I remembered how many lunch breaks I had spent at this place in H.S. It was actually packed with H.S. students (I hit the lunch hour perfectly…greeeeeat) and as I stood there watching them goof off and chatter and be 16 year olds. I thought….um I'm old. Except I don't feel it, I feel like I should be the one standing there in my fresh stylish clothes flirting with the boys in front of me. Yet it was over 7 years ago that I was that tiny bopper girl with no cares in the world being immature and looking out for #1. But I am me, not a girl, a woman, standing here in my gym clothes, hair pulled high in a messy pony tail,not a smudge of make up on, holding my baby boy, and thinking of his lunch that he needs and husband's lunch that needs to be delivered but not thinking of the shower that I am going to have to forgo to get to work on time. Then on the way home as I drove down Cavemen Blvd. past A.F.H.S. I again thought how can it be that it has been over 6 years that I walked those halls? I remembered driving with friends to school and sporting events so many times in the beautiful weather like we are having. Windows rolled down, new found glory, brand new or fifty cent blasting, thinking of boys, boys, boys. Now I am driving windows down, but instead of a back seat full of friends, it's full of a sweet boy and groceries, instead of fifty cent it's the soundtrack to Curious George and instead of boys, boys, boys on my mind I have just two very special boys on my mind, my little family.

How did I make it? How did I make it to who I am today? When did I truly make that transition from girlhood to womanhood? How did I make it through the trials, the hard times, the ugliest times of my life to this beautiful happy life? A life of family, a life where I am blessed with the beautiful privilege as a woman to be a mother and wife. To be sealed in the temple to my family for eternity. How did I come to realize what is truly important in this life that is so short?

I will tell you The Atonement is real and life changing. It heals and transforms. Mercy and forgiveness. Hope piercing the darkness. My membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints gave me the strength to overcome and persevere. Here I am today, I feel strong and beautiful as I try to be a faithful daughter of God. I know that life still holds times of trial and distress but I know that the hope I have in Jesus the Christ, the goodness and mercy of God, and that prayers are heard and answered, that all things shall work together for good.

Reflection and Looking Forward

2009 Was a year of excitement and newness. Still Newness of being married, new Mother, new work schedule, new car, new and eternal family, new School Major for Dan (from International Business to Accounting). I welcomed all this "newness" with excitement, curiosity, and a bit of the feeling you get with the unknown.

How many times can I write down, give prayerful thanks, tell my sister, tell my mother, tell my friends, and think every day that to me being a Mother is the most glorious and amazing privilege anyone could ever have. And how wonderful it is that I get this opportunity! I guess not enough because every morning I wake up, the amazement has grown for this beautiful adventure called Motherhood. I have learned so much about myself, and every day that I pick that lil' gooey ball of love out of his crib I vow to be a better person and to try a little harder. For him, for his Dad, for all the children to come. For our family. I will miss 2009 in the way that it was the year I bore my first child and oh how I would live the day he was born and the days and months shortly after again and again. But how excited I am for 2010! For a one year old Birthday party, and many more firsts. For progress, for Dan and I and what life will bring and for all the many goals to accomplish. And just the excitement and fun of a whole new year of Holidays, birthdays, seasons , and many more to experience. I know I have a lot to work on and I am anxious to see the results of hard work. The goal list is long this year. But I have come to accept better that with a child I cannot accomplish what I did pre-child as quickly. Accepting this has banished self-criticism, discouragement, and frustration. I also keep close to my heart and the fore front of my mind that I have no greater responsibility or "job" then to be a Mother and a great one at that. A couple of quotes that I have taken note of from church leaders that will be the "theme" if you will and the guiding light for my goals is "eliminate the non-essential" and "patience and perseverance are part of our eternal progression".

*****I think you might have noticed I have not blogged in several weeks…I had a "mid life blogging crisis" you could say. I woke up one day confused about how I felt about blogging….how I felt about anyone and everyone reading my personal journal entries, wondering if I should go private because maybe I wasn't divulging my whole mind and thoughts knowing others were reading them (but how could I possibly get any cheesier?), wondering if I was putting my family in danger….on and on it goes. Furthermore and to be honest I still am not sure how I feel about it. What I do know is that documenting my life for the benefits of my children, grandchildren, etc. is important to me. As well as for self. Being able to look back and read of my feelings on my first born child I'm sure will bring me happiness in the years to come. So for now I will not be private. I am sure family in faraway lands appreciate being able to keep up with my Family. I would like to mention that I am the mushy gushy type. So if you are not into reading others leak ever bit of their emotion and thoughts onto paper (word document) then I would recommend not visiting my blog.

******************* Update on Achievements, accomplishments and mischievousness of Z bub!

*walking (check) (started walking 01/08/10)

*playing peek-a-boo (check) his favorite peek-a-boo ally is his cozy blanket but if not handy he simply will place his arm across his eyes and POOF! He disappears (at least that's what he thinks)

*First bubble bath (check)

*mastered the tantrum (check) THIS KID IS NOT MESSING AROUND…FULL BLOWN BACK ARCHING, HEAD THROWING, SCREECHING AND NOISES I HAVE NEVER HEARD BEFORE. It is somehow funny to me and fingers are crossed this is a phase; something tells me it's not though.

*Best Buddy (check) I believe a stuffed animal is the preferred choice of "best buddy" for most children. Zealand's best buddy= a pan w/a lid and handle that is more than 30 years old. I think it's cute. So we have done the proper thing and given the pan a proper name-Pete the Pan. I know original right? Zealand loves Pete the Pan, he knows what drawer Pete the Pan lives in and every morning he goes to the drawer and gets Pete the Pan out and at the end of every day we put Pete the Pan to bed back in the drawer. They have lots of adventures making alphabet block soup, orange, lime, lemon soup, putting the lid on and off on and off to hear the sound it makes oh how much Zealand loves Pete.

* Does not sleep through the night (wakes 1-2 times)

* Fully breastfed. I can't believe we have made it this far but how glad I am that we both made it through the hard earlier days of the nursing saga.

*Favorite foods-Blueberries (totally my kid), BANANAS, strawberries, anything we are eating. (just recently, Dan and I had turned our heads for two seconds and somehow Zealand managed to get a pop tart off the twirly and was having chow time on a S'more pop tart) quick lil' stink.

*going up and down stairs (check)

*loves to throw his blocks

*8 teeth , one on the way

*loves to throw his Dad's tennis balls around and chase them

* might be a future chef, wants to see inside every pan I am cooking in, if I am using the mixer or grinding wheat he has to see what is in the bowl. He is so excited about anything to do with cooking or baking. And will promptly leave any toy he is playing with in the living room if he hears me start up the oven or get any pans out.

*cuter everyday (check)

Love you Z!

LDS Church Statement on "Big Love" (HBO)

Read the LDS Church's Statement about HBO's "Big Love"
For the truth about our Temple's watch this:

Hope for our little ones

God Is at the Helm
Posted: 26 Feb 2009 01:00 AM CST
"The world can at times be a frightening place in which to live. The moral fabric of society seems to be unraveling at an alarming speed. None—whether young or old or in-between—is exempt from exposure to those things which have the potential to drag us down and destroy us. Our youth, our precious youth, in particular, face temptations we can scarcely comprehend. The adversary and his hosts seem to be working nonstop to cause our downfall. "We are waging a war with sin, my brothers and sisters, but we need not despair. It is a war we can and will win. Our Father in Heaven has given us the tools we need in order to do so. He is at the helm. We have nothing to fear. He is the God of light. He is the God of hope. I testify that He loves us—each one."
Thomas S. Monson, "Looking Back and Moving Forward," Ensign, May 2008, 90

Live with proper perspective!

"The past is behind--we must learn from it. The future is ahead--we must prepare for it. The present is now—we must live in it."Thomas S. Monson, "Three Gates to Open," CES Fireside

I loved this quote from President Thomas S. Monson! Simple but STRONG words! Enjoy!

Daily Gems

I love the inspirational quotes I get every day from LDS Gems. I think it is a great way to prime your mind at the beginning of the day with a little bit of positive, insightful thoughts and stories. Go to http://www.gems.lds.org/ and subscribe with your email.