Thanksgiving

Since Danielle is all grown up and not around to talk me into buying fun holiday things, I have to go around and open my eyes for a change and talk myself into to buying fun holiday things.  I couldn't resist these two.

The holiday season is going to be different this year.  No chillins and grandbabies.  For Thanksgiving we are having my parents and two of my cousins that I have only met one other time.  One is married and has a 10 year old girl, the other is single.  They are 2 of my Aunt Leona's children.  It should be nice.  I am making all the food and my mom is making all the treats.  Which means we will be doing about the same number of things :-).

I won't be decorating much this year as we are moving back to our "beloved" as Steve would say, Idaho Street home!  Yay!!!  So since I like to decorate big, and that takes a week at least and then a few days taking it all down, I won't be decorating much.  I think maybe the tree and a Santa... or maybe 2?  It will be hard for me, but I have lots to do.  I want to go through every drawer, cupboard, and closet so we don't take what won't fit as well as what we don't need!  I am actually excited about that.  I also am going to paint my sewing room down there before we move and a few other odds and ends.  I have primary to do also and of course everyday life, soooo busy busy busy!  Because of that I think with the exception of Scarlet I will be sending everyone a check for Christmas this year.  Well, that's all for today!  Love you all!! 

Breakfast and Misc Pics

I was exercising on my elliptical this morning and was watching Chef Brad do his Thanksgiving Special from last year, when it popped in my head that I didn't have any cooked grains in my pressure cooker or my fridge. I have had eggs the last two days.   Now years ago if you had asked me my favorite breakfast, I probably would have said eggs and toast or a scone.  Now I still love those, but when I think of breakfast now days I think of whole grains.  I have my favorites- spelt, Kumut, farro, oat groats.  But I make all kinds. I feel like I am treating my body to the healthiest thing I can eat.  So after exercising and being entertained and reminded of how to cook a Turkey the Chef Brad way, I went upstairs sad about breakfast.  Then I thought there has got to be a grain that cooks fast.  By now I am very hungry.  I look on my chart and the first one-Amaranth!  So I made some amaranth.  Now I don't know if it's up there on the top of my list, but it is definitely a good one.  I added mixed berries, my flax, which I have to say after several days without my ground flax I felt all warm and fuzzy when I got it out of the cupboard to grind it up, organic brown sugar, coconut oil and ah... as Chef Brad would say, "perfection!"   I am a happy girl!

This is a tea pot that Rebecca's family got me for my b-day.

 When Rebecca and the girls gave me this I thought it was so beautiful, but I was so tired from babysitting that it didn't occur to me the connection of Alice and the " tea party".  I had to laugh at myself that it took me so long to connect the two of it being a tea party scene and I would be using it for the tea parties!
This year I went to a party with some WW friends on Halloween .

 Last but not least, I had to blog these, my mom made them for me for my b-day!  Fun Fun!!

 
 Well, I need to get busy, so I will post the other presents another day.  Love you all!!!

Grains and Happiness Project

Well, I have lots to blog, but am probably only going to blog a little.  Chef Brad has started again...ahhh love that show.  It motivates me to eat well, and to try to incorporate more grains in my food.  Lizzie got me some GREAT grain cookbooks for my b-day.  They are written like a novel.  I love them.  They really motivate me.  I am hoping to start cooking more things like that.

I have been reading the Happiness Project.  It is really good.  I realized that I don't do things I really love.  One thing I realized is I do like to cook, but I don't do fun new things.  I just cook boring things.  I watch chef brad make these cool breads and I get all excited and want to do them.  It is weird how hard it is for me to do things I love.  I love to paint, but am afraid to do it on my own unless I am taking a class.  So why don't I take a class?  I love to sew for myself- why don't I?  I love to take pictures, now that it's easier to post them, I need to take pics and post them.

I have decided it is about habits and routines.  At WW's this coming year, one of the things they are going to focus on is routines.  I have thought a lot about that.  I got about 8 pounds above goal for the first time in almost a year.  That really threw me and puzzled me.  When I started reading the new focus on routines I really I realized that my routines were interrupted so many times since June that I couldn't seem to get back into my routine.  I stared to think about routines in general.  If doing fun things are not a part of your routine, you won't do them.  So I am going to try to figure out which thing I want to incorporate first and make it happen.

One of my counselors in Primary (Joy King)  told me that she never does her hobbies unless she wants too.  She say's if she makes herself do them it becomes work.  But it was clear, being in her two room craft area that she does do things she loves.  So normally I would go into the sewing room and sew Mach nine with my hair on fire to finish Brighton's quilt.  But when Joy said that I thought I am going to sew when I am in the mood.  It has been so much fun.  I stopped when I was tired.  I have wanted to sew more than I have, but again I seem to cheat myself of fun.  So that is what I am going to work on this year more than the 50 thousand things she does in her book (the happiness project lady)  I am going to start recognizing and doing things I love.  And I am going to remember I am doing it for me and that is a good thing.

I think when you have a big family and you spend so much time serving, it is hard to change gears and say it's okay to do something for me, or something for someone else but take time to enjoy it.  Plan far enough ahead to be able to enjoy the process.  Well, duty is calling.  love you all!

Mixed emotions

Well, I was doing the dishes after watching Fox News for most of the day feeling very depressed.  Thinking this ranks right up there with one of the most depressing things I have ever experienced, Mitt Romney losing the election.  Then my mind thought, no it's not that bad, but still very depressing.  Then for some reason my heart started to feel lighter.  I thought of some of the things that have happened in our family that have been really bad, Amy's cancer, Danielle, Clay, and Scarlet getting Lyme disease.  There are other things more personal.  I can think of nations that suffer tremendously.  Do I think our country is headed down the wrong road?  YES I DO!  But is the gospel still true? YES.  Do I have a family that loves me and each other? YES I DO!  I could go on and on.  

Pres. Monson Said: "We live in a unique time in the world’s history. We are blessed with so very much. And yet it is sometimes difficult to view the problems and permissiveness around us and not become discouraged. I have found that, rather than dwelling on the negative, if we will take a step back and consider the blessings in our lives, including seemingly small, sometimes overlooked blessings, we can find greater happiness.

My brothers and sisters, the Lord is in all of our lives. He loves us. He wants to bless us. He wants us to seek His help. As He guides us and directs us and as He hears and answers our prayers, we will find the happiness here and now that He desires for us. May we be aware of His blessings in our lives

Let us be of good cheer as we go about our lives. Although we live in increasingly perilous times, the Lord loves us and is mindful of us. He is always on our side as we do what is right. He will help us in time of need. Difficulties come into our lives, problems we do not anticipate and which we would never choose. None of us is immune. The purpose of mortality is to learn and to grow to be more like our Father, and it is often during the difficult times that we learn the most, as painful as the lessons may be. Our lives can also be filled with joy as we follow the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Lord admonished, “Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”¹ What great happiness this knowledge should bring to us. He lived for us and He died for us. He paid the price for our sins. May we emulate His example. May we show our great gratitude to Him by accepting His sacrifice and living lives that will qualify us to return and one day live with Him."

The above quotes came from 3 different talks that Pres Monson gave in this last October conference.  It is my prayer that we may all drink deeply of his words.  Let them sink deeply into our hearts and believe our Prophet.  He speaks for the Savior.  I know this to be true.

I love you all!!