Food For Thought Friday

Food 4 Thought Friday! 

A little feast without the calories!! 

Feel free to play along for some yummy fun! Go HERE to JOIN IN!!! 

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Breakfast ~ Post the last picture you took on your phone.

Macie girl is loaded with personality!  I took a lot of pictures of the grands the last few days.

Lunch ~ What needs fixing in your life right now?  My hands...they are still driving me crazy with because they itch and peel.  

Dinner ~ Who has been on your mind this week and why? My kids.  There is always something going on with them and they are always in my thoughts and prayers.

Midnight Snack ~ Did you set any New Year's Resolutions?  If so, how are you doing with them? I'm not one that makes New Year's Resolutions.  I just want to be a little better each year and so I just try really hard to follow the promptings I get from the Holy Ghost.  For years I have made a conscious effort to be happier and make fun happen.

Recipe for the Week ~ (instead of your recipe for life, what is it just for the week?) Slow Down and Enjoy the Journey!  Everything doesn't have to be perfect to be enjoyable.

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First Aid Tips

For our Special Needs Activity tonight we had a speaker come and talk to the girls about first aid.  I think the gal did a good job and the girls seemed to like it.

During it I was talking to our Production Specialist about the production and parts and shirt sizes for the girls.  These girls are happy to announce and tell us they are a 2x or 3x ... no shame at all which I thought was really cool.  It is what it is and that's that.

Some how we got talking about our ages and Channel was teasing me and said I looked like I was 88.  I hope that when I am 88 if I make it that long I look like I do now.  Lizz had my back and said I looked more like 35.  Ahhh.....these girls.....they make me smile and laugh out loud!

WooHoo Jared's about through!

This morning I got up and went to the Temple with Lisea and Cindy.  We do sealings and today one of the Sealers, Bro Van Orton shared some thoughts that he had earlier in the morning.  Bro. Van Orton was at the alter in an earlier session and had the thoughts of how much Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us.  He has provided a way for each of us to return to him through the blessings of the Temple.  Even those who have passed on are given the time without being rushed for their sealing.  Each couple is promised wonderful blessings and are sealed together in a beautiful environment that each of us get to help pay for.  While he was sharing his thoughts the spirit overwhelmed me.  Our ancestors marked the path for us and we in return get to help them by going to the Temple and doing their work and paying our tithing so we can have such elegant Temples all around the world.  It was an awesome thought that touched my spirit and I'm thankful that he shared with us.

A few of the women's names were rather interesting today.  Three that I remember are Morning, Delight, and Content.  I leaned over to Lisea when Delight was mentioned and said that it would be hard to get too mad at someone you had named Delight. ☺  Today when I woke up the word Delight/Delightful was the word on my mind.  I had to smile.  ☺  It was a wonderful morning!

The rest of the day I helped Jared with his Eagle Scout Project which was a Blood Drive.  He had friends over last night that helped him call everyone that had signed up and those who have donated before.  It was enjoyable having teenagers in our home for a few hours.  Jared has worked hard for his Eagle and so has Larry.  Larry has been more involved with Jared with his scouting than the other kids and I guess that is because we are older and take more time.  (it might also be because I told him he needed to take a turn since I was the one so involved with the other kids)

We had a few of our kids come and support Jared by giving blood.  I love that our family is so supportive.  I have to say that Braxton wanted to fill his bag faster than I filled mine which was under 5 minutes.  Braxton won but winning had a price.....he almost passed out. ☺ I won't lie....I got light headed when I was through but no one could tell.  We all knew Braxton wasn't well by the color of his face.  (I thought he looked green and others said he was grey) So for the books....competing isn't always a good thing.

Jared had a goal of getting 60 pints of blood.  He was a little shy of that but he did better than the last blood drive.  The gym the blood drive was held at was busy the whole time and so I consider that a success.

Now Jared just needs to schedule a Board of Review and submit everything and have his Court of Honor!  Woo Hoo!

An Extra Day...Some Extra Kindness

Today is Leap Day...We get one more day of the year and so I decided I would take advantage of my extra day by showing some extra kindness. A few days ago I took my "chocolate money" that I save in my chocolate fund bank and bought lots of chocolate.  Like $58 worth of chocolate.  I just have to say...I share!  I put an assortment of chocolate in a few cute bags and made a little card for them.

One was a thank you for always being so thoughtful and kind to me.  The other was to brighten a friends day that has been going through a rough time.  The bag had "bigger" chocolate and was for a friend that is always there for me and others.  I also took a little gift to another friend who's mom passed away.  This gal always has lots of candy and chocolate around her house so I didn't take her more. I did take some of hers with me after we visited when I was leaving. ☺

The kindness and chocolate might have brightened those friends days but it for sure brightened mine.  Kindness is kind of like preparing a lesson in church.  The giver gets a lot more out of it.

Talented Kids

My niece started a photography business about a year ago.  Randee is very talented and I have loved the pictures she has done of my kids and grands. Randee puts a lot of thought into her sessions and the results are fabulous!

Braxton is an adventurous kid and likes to do fun things.  He built this awesome airplane for his cute Sadie.  I think they both love it!  Braxton is talented and likes creating fun! No wonder Sadie is such a happy little girl!

The Circle of Life

As I started this post the thought "Out with the Old...In with the New" popped into my head.  It fits...that's kind of how the day went.

Maxine Muir Van Rensselaer (Grandma Lowe's Sister) was put to rest this morning.  She lived in California along with her two children for many years and so they had her funeral services there and then brought her body to Ogden as her resting spot.  I always admired Maxine and thought she was so classy.  She was happy and wonderful and as I listened to her kids, Francine and Bob speak of her I smiled because we are similar in a few ways.  Maxine had different groups of friends that she liked going to lunch with.  She was a lover of friends and family....they are most important to her.  I liked her white casket and told Larry that I would prefer one just like that.  The graveside service was short and sweet.  Maxine was always concerned about others being hungry and so after the service upon her request everyone went to lunch.  (we left and went to Behr's blessing)

It's always nice seeing extended family and it was that way today.  I really love Larry's relatives and appreciate the little opportunities every now and then to say Hi to them and get a hug.

Behrenger Scott Barrow was blessed today by his Grandpa Ropelato.  It was an honor for Larry to give this cutie a blessing.  It was awesome to see the love and support of both families.  This happened on a Saturday because a lot of TJ's family had to drive far and it just worked out better for them.  It was nice and we had a yummy lunch afterwards at the church too.

Jaydan didn't realize Behr's blessing was on a Saturday and so he missed it. (darn)  The rest of our family was there and my mom came too. (actually Braxton and Kelsi brought her)  It's always a wonderful day when our family is together.

I met more of TJ's family and they are really nice.  It was fun to watch TJ.  He is such a proud daddy.

Later in the day Larry took me to our friends (the Hunters) for a baby shower.  It was fun visiting with the Hunter family.  We use to go with them boating when our kids were little and it was easier to schedule things.  Now we hardly see them but we will forever love them.

Stress...we all get it

My hands are still itching and peeling but not quite as bad as they were months ago but every day I'm reminded that things aren't quite right as I scratch the dickens out of my hands.  I wish I could scratch the stress out of them.  My hands have been this way for over 6 months and so I am getting use to them but it still bugs me.  I thinks it's related to stress.  I had a very vivid thought while I was at Bear Lake with my friends that "things were out of my hands".

I can't control or fix or change a lot of things and I guess some of that stresses me out. I can't make everyone better, or pray hard enough for trials not to come our way, or keep everyone safe, or make sure everyone learns what they are being taught, or control who gets our loved ones attention, or have my kids meet the right people, or make sure that people we love and care about don't delete us from their lives.  I worry like I'm sure we all do.  I tuck those feelings deep down and put on my happy face and think positive and have faith that everything will be okay.  But...those feelings are real and they are there and no matter how hard I try not to be bothered by them...my body knows and lets me know.  The doctor put me on high blood pressure medicine a few weeks ago too and that ticks me off.  I have enjoyed not having to take medicines.  I loved being healthy and always having good check ups. I was happy that I didn't have to depend on taking medicines to keep me healthy.

I'm not sure how to free myself from the stress.  Do we ever really free ourselves from it all?  I don't think it's possible but I am hoping that I will figure out a way to ease what's going on inside me.  I seriously don't think that things are bothering me and I don't feel stressed but my body and especially my hands and blood pressure tell me different.  I'm amazed at our bodies...they are pretty darn smart.

Today I met my cute friend Jodi to go see our friend Robin.  I was close to the hospital and was planning on going and checking on Robin while we were up that way. I was glad that Jodi text to see if I wanted to go with her.  I was watching Behr while Kimleighel got her teeth cleaned and checked and the timing was just about right and so we met.  I loved seeing Jodi hold my cute grand and love on him.  It makes my heart do amazing things.  Carla, Jodi and Mallory all like holding my grands if they're around when I have them.  That makes me happy. ☺  Robin was doing pretty good even though we woke her to visit with her.  I hope that this experience will help her to change some things in her life.  I want her around for a long time!

***Sunday in church I received a few thoughts that I think will help me with my stress.  I am preparing to teach about the Atonement in a few weeks and the atonement is the answer.  I need to trust in the Atonement and give my stress to Christ.  I think a Priesthood Blessing would help too.  It's crazy how I immediately think of having others get them but I'm not so good at asking for one myself.  

In Relief Society our lesson fit right in and I know it is an answer to my problem.  I took a picture of the board so I could remember better.

Recently I had heard we should meditate every day and I did it for a few days and then forgot.  I really think that will help a ton.  I know I also need to ponder and let my feelings be acknowledged and then give them up.  I am always trying to improve my scripture study and I really liked the advice that was brought up today.  *Set a time to read every day.  I know when I write things down I am more apt to do them.  *Start small...even just holding the scriptures..don't make it harder than it should be.  *Find out what works for me. * Reward yourself....I'm thinking about having chocolate while I study the scriptures. *Write down questions I need answers to.  *Use the study guide.  

I do know that we find answers to our problems in the scriptures....truthfully I didn't realize I had such a problem.  It's time to wake up and do something different.  I also think a walk to the corner every day will help clear my mind and refresh my soul.