Anna & I raced out to door to our appointment this morning. Anna had to have her yearly physical for her school records. She's in fantastic health, as usual.
Anna went to school and I made a double batch of granola. We've been making homemade granola and we stopped buying storebought cereal. It's nice because I know EXACTLY what is in our cereal, plus it tastes great!
For Halloween, Tyler was a lumberjack, I was a witch, and Anna was, of course, Snow White. For our Halloween dinner, I made meatball sub sandwiches with chips 'n' ranch dip. We had a candlelight dinner and had warm cider to drink. It was really fun! Then we went to visit Maria. Anna went trick-or-treating with Elizabeth. We had a nice time there then came home to hand out candy. We arrived around 8pm and assumed that there would be lots more children coming by...however, we were informed that apparantly (according to our neighbor) our town has trick-or-treating only between 6-8pm. GRRRR! I have SO much candy that I didn't get to hand out. We did have 5 kids stop by, but I bought about $15 worth of candy. I enjoy handing out candy. I bought an extremely cheesy "SCARY SOUNDS" cd just for Halloween. I put a cd player under our porch bench and turn the volume up. For our few kids that came by, they were taken surprise by the spooky sounds! :)
Tyler heard a great idea about Halloween, kids, and candy. On Halloween night, you let the kids eat as much candy as they want. Then the next day, you throw out the rest. That way, they can enjoy it but not drag out the candy over several days...and perhaps incur many cavities. So you should have seen Anna tonight--she was going to TOWN!!!! I like this idea, and it's only one day a year. So Tyler & I put all the extra candy in a bag and he's going to take it to work. I filled the candy jar with peanuts/cashews. What did you do tonight?
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
Caramel Apples
I slept in pretty late this morning, I'm not sure why I was so tired. I've been doing fairly well at getting up around 8 or so...today it was 10:15am! YIKES! Despite my getting up late, I tried to be productive and prayed for productivity in my morning prayer.
Anna & I were busy getting ready for the day until her bus arrived. Off she went and I went to play racquetball with Tyler. I'm definitely getting better at the game, but the harder I play-the more tired I am.
I went to the Post Office, and came home to read my scriptures. When Anna got off the bus, we jumped in the car and went to the store, making it back in one hour to meet the sister missionaries. I gave them some caramels for tomorrow. (they love caramel apples) Then I began to prepare a new recipe from Taste of Home, which were some spiced doughnuts. I've never made doughnuts before and I thought these looked good. However, I realized that they had to be refrigerated 2 hours before cooked and my company was scheduled to arrive in 1 1/2 hours. ARG! So I frantically looked in all my cookbooks and decided to make two different kinds of doughtnuts that I could put together within my time frame.
At 6:30pm, Angela, Scott, and their 3 boys came over for FHE (family home evening). We had a lesson and then did some fun pumpkin carving. Everyone seemed to have a good time.
When it was all over, Tyler gently proposed that I was doing too much and that I was overworking myself. Now that I look back on it, I would have been happier having had caramel apples...
Anna & I were busy getting ready for the day until her bus arrived. Off she went and I went to play racquetball with Tyler. I'm definitely getting better at the game, but the harder I play-the more tired I am.
I went to the Post Office, and came home to read my scriptures. When Anna got off the bus, we jumped in the car and went to the store, making it back in one hour to meet the sister missionaries. I gave them some caramels for tomorrow. (they love caramel apples) Then I began to prepare a new recipe from Taste of Home, which were some spiced doughnuts. I've never made doughnuts before and I thought these looked good. However, I realized that they had to be refrigerated 2 hours before cooked and my company was scheduled to arrive in 1 1/2 hours. ARG! So I frantically looked in all my cookbooks and decided to make two different kinds of doughtnuts that I could put together within my time frame.
At 6:30pm, Angela, Scott, and their 3 boys came over for FHE (family home evening). We had a lesson and then did some fun pumpkin carving. Everyone seemed to have a good time.
When it was all over, Tyler gently proposed that I was doing too much and that I was overworking myself. Now that I look back on it, I would have been happier having had caramel apples...
Sunday, October 29, 2006
What Did You Do With Your Extra Hour?
We went to church today at our normal time of 9am. The Bishop announced that church will begin at 10am starting next sunday. "Hooray!" I thought. Then he announced that the ward choir practice will begin at 9am. "Yea..." So much for having more time in the morning to get to church!
We took a nap after church today and then I began cooking while Tyler cleaned up the house for our company. The Lawson Family came over tonight. They have 5 children! It was a nice to see how busy we will be if we are ever able to have that many children. We ate dinner and then played some games and chatted. They have one daughter who is Anna's age and they played dress-up for most of the evening.
At 7pm, I went to Stake Choir Practice. Our Stake Conference is in 3 weeks and Elder Henry B. Eyering will be there! I am so thrilled! I've only seen one other apostle, President Thomas S. Monson in person, but that was at a regional conference. The music we are singing is quite lovely and even a bit challenging, which is nice.
So, last night we got another hour. How did you spend it? Me? I stayed up late cleaning...I wish it would have been spent on sleeping, but when I awoke this morning-I had a clean house. Very nice!
We took a nap after church today and then I began cooking while Tyler cleaned up the house for our company. The Lawson Family came over tonight. They have 5 children! It was a nice to see how busy we will be if we are ever able to have that many children. We ate dinner and then played some games and chatted. They have one daughter who is Anna's age and they played dress-up for most of the evening.
At 7pm, I went to Stake Choir Practice. Our Stake Conference is in 3 weeks and Elder Henry B. Eyering will be there! I am so thrilled! I've only seen one other apostle, President Thomas S. Monson in person, but that was at a regional conference. The music we are singing is quite lovely and even a bit challenging, which is nice.
So, last night we got another hour. How did you spend it? Me? I stayed up late cleaning...I wish it would have been spent on sleeping, but when I awoke this morning-I had a clean house. Very nice!
Stake Classical Recital
This morning Anna went out to help Tyler rake leaves. It was nice being able to take my time getting ready-I'm usually in such a hurry that I can't just enjoy my morning routine. :) We spent about 5 hours on the C2 room (Craft/Computer). It's not done, but you can walk in it without having to hop over things!
Tonight was the Stake Classical Recital. I sang "O Divine Redeemer." I recorded this piece 2 years ago. Afterwards I vowed that I wouldn't sing it in public because it was pretty difficult for me. Then when I was in Oklahoma this past summer, my Dad requested me to sing it for his Ward Conference. I was nervous, but it went very well. Despite that, I was still nervous to sing it this evening. I prayed that I would be able to sing with the Spirit and that I would mean the words in the song. As I sang that last phrase, "Help Me, My Savior," my eyes teared up. It's really not professional to think about the words that you are singing because you could cry. However, how can you sing about needing your Savior without becoming emotional? Having the Spirit there was enough for me. :)
Tonight was the Stake Classical Recital. I sang "O Divine Redeemer." I recorded this piece 2 years ago. Afterwards I vowed that I wouldn't sing it in public because it was pretty difficult for me. Then when I was in Oklahoma this past summer, my Dad requested me to sing it for his Ward Conference. I was nervous, but it went very well. Despite that, I was still nervous to sing it this evening. I prayed that I would be able to sing with the Spirit and that I would mean the words in the song. As I sang that last phrase, "Help Me, My Savior," my eyes teared up. It's really not professional to think about the words that you are singing because you could cry. However, how can you sing about needing your Savior without becoming emotional? Having the Spirit there was enough for me. :)
Friday, October 27, 2006
Rain, Rain, Here To Stay
It rained all day long...not that I really minded it--I was inside until the evening. Tyler & I stayed up until 3am, yes 3am, watching/finishing MIDDLEMARCH. It was really good, but we should have done it on the weekend as opposed to thursday night when Tyler had to be up early to go to work. Poor guy. But he took an hour & a half nap today, which helped him feel better.
I did some cleaning today and laundry. Anna & I played some games, which was fun. She's such a cutie and loves to do things with Tyler & I. We were discussing how hard it will be when she won't want to spend time with us...I'm certainly not ready for that! I'll probably be the mom who has a hard time being an empty nester...
My friend Maria invited Anna & I to come to Elizabeth's school halloween party. It was held at a Catholic Church-where Elizabeth goes to school. I felt a bit out of place being there--growing up LDS I didn't visit many other churches. Tyler made a good point, though, that that must be how others feel when they come to our church--a bit out of place because it's unfamiliar to them. It was still raining when we came home. Anna got out of the car and said, "Be careful, it's really slippy out here!" So cute. :)
I did some cleaning today and laundry. Anna & I played some games, which was fun. She's such a cutie and loves to do things with Tyler & I. We were discussing how hard it will be when she won't want to spend time with us...I'm certainly not ready for that! I'll probably be the mom who has a hard time being an empty nester...
My friend Maria invited Anna & I to come to Elizabeth's school halloween party. It was held at a Catholic Church-where Elizabeth goes to school. I felt a bit out of place being there--growing up LDS I didn't visit many other churches. Tyler made a good point, though, that that must be how others feel when they come to our church--a bit out of place because it's unfamiliar to them. It was still raining when we came home. Anna got out of the car and said, "Be careful, it's really slippy out here!" So cute. :)
Thursday, October 26, 2006
338
Tyler asked me to make him breakfast this morning. I am quite grateful for that, because it got me up & going and I was able to accomplish a lot this morning. Our bedroom is now clean and organized, not to mention decorated. It's amazing what you can do when you're awake in the morning, isn't it?
Anna went to school and I met Tyler to play racquetball. The first two games I played terribly. I was quite upset and frustrated with myself because I knew that I could play better than I was playing. We started the third game and I still continued playing badly. I silently prayed to God and told him my frustration with my body. I asked, "Show me what my body can do." My very next serve was incredible. Tyler couldn't even get to it. I continued to play amazingly well through the rest of the game and I beat Tyler by 2 points. It was another confirmation that God hears my prayers. :)
Well, you might be wondering why I weigh 338 after 2 weeks of eating healthy and exercising. Last week I did a liver cleanse and didn't exercise the 2nd day of the cleanse (tuesday), the following day I was busy packing so I didn't get to exercise, thursday we left early for Nauvoo and were there until sunday. So basically I didn't exercise last week. And then on the trip in Nauvoo I ate smores, the first sugar that I've had in over a month. And yesterday, we had our Trunk-Or-Treat at the church. I don't know what came over me, but I really really really wanted some halloween candy. So I had some...and it tasted terrible! But I kept thinking that I "wanted" it, but even my body disagreed. It's funny how even when you change your eating habits, it takes longer to convince your mind that you don't like it. So, I had sugar and didn't exercise. It's no wonder I didn't lose more than one pound in 2 weeks. HOWEVER! I didn't gain and I didn't stay the same weight. I still have lost a pound. Now is the time for you all to tell me all kinds of positive reasons why I only lost one pound...something like muscle weighs more than fat or that I've probably lost inches and the scale will show it soon...you can be creative.
Tyler & I have determined that he will begin an MBA program at OSU (Ohio State University) beginning this next spring. You may wonder why he would choose an MBA instead of a technical degree. We feel that perhaps the Air Force will not be our life-long career, and an MBA will help him secure a good job after he finishes up in the AF. The future is still uncertain, but this decision feels right. The only 2 downsides are that he has to commute to Columbus, OH, which is an hour away. The other thing is that it will cost something like $30,000. YIKES! The AF does help us pay for a small percentage of the cost, but it doesn't even cover half of it. I'm not looking forward to seeing Tyler less, but I am happy to know that we're doing what God would have us do and I feel the Spirit whisper to me that we will be alright and everything will work out. That's enough for me. :)
Tyler is on a youth temple trip tonight. He's such a great person, helping out where he can. We're still waiting to receive our callings! I'm excited to see where our next stewardship will be.
Anna went to school and I met Tyler to play racquetball. The first two games I played terribly. I was quite upset and frustrated with myself because I knew that I could play better than I was playing. We started the third game and I still continued playing badly. I silently prayed to God and told him my frustration with my body. I asked, "Show me what my body can do." My very next serve was incredible. Tyler couldn't even get to it. I continued to play amazingly well through the rest of the game and I beat Tyler by 2 points. It was another confirmation that God hears my prayers. :)
Well, you might be wondering why I weigh 338 after 2 weeks of eating healthy and exercising. Last week I did a liver cleanse and didn't exercise the 2nd day of the cleanse (tuesday), the following day I was busy packing so I didn't get to exercise, thursday we left early for Nauvoo and were there until sunday. So basically I didn't exercise last week. And then on the trip in Nauvoo I ate smores, the first sugar that I've had in over a month. And yesterday, we had our Trunk-Or-Treat at the church. I don't know what came over me, but I really really really wanted some halloween candy. So I had some...and it tasted terrible! But I kept thinking that I "wanted" it, but even my body disagreed. It's funny how even when you change your eating habits, it takes longer to convince your mind that you don't like it. So, I had sugar and didn't exercise. It's no wonder I didn't lose more than one pound in 2 weeks. HOWEVER! I didn't gain and I didn't stay the same weight. I still have lost a pound. Now is the time for you all to tell me all kinds of positive reasons why I only lost one pound...something like muscle weighs more than fat or that I've probably lost inches and the scale will show it soon...you can be creative.
Tyler & I have determined that he will begin an MBA program at OSU (Ohio State University) beginning this next spring. You may wonder why he would choose an MBA instead of a technical degree. We feel that perhaps the Air Force will not be our life-long career, and an MBA will help him secure a good job after he finishes up in the AF. The future is still uncertain, but this decision feels right. The only 2 downsides are that he has to commute to Columbus, OH, which is an hour away. The other thing is that it will cost something like $30,000. YIKES! The AF does help us pay for a small percentage of the cost, but it doesn't even cover half of it. I'm not looking forward to seeing Tyler less, but I am happy to know that we're doing what God would have us do and I feel the Spirit whisper to me that we will be alright and everything will work out. That's enough for me. :)
Tyler is on a youth temple trip tonight. He's such a great person, helping out where he can. We're still waiting to receive our callings! I'm excited to see where our next stewardship will be.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Trunk-Or-Treat
This morning our big tree in the backyard was taken down and reduced to firewood. There's so much more space in the backyard now and our neighbor should be happy that it is gone, since he pretty much told Tyler to do it. (which made him not want to do it at all) That tree was leaning over our neighbor's house, and so I can understand him wanting it to be removed, however, he wouldn't go in on the cost of it. *sigh* There goes another $400...
Sweet little Anna. One of her joys each day is to sit on the porch bench with her mama, waiting for the bus to come to take her to school. Today is had warmed up, so we were able to sit outside. She is such a sweet girl. I am so blessed to be her mama.
I exercised today--I have been exercising regularly, except for during our Nauvoo trip. Tyler went to Columbus, OH. He is looking to begin an MBA program at Ohio State University. It will cost a lot, but feels right for us. While he was gone, I picked up my new friend, Maria, and her 4-year-old daughter, Elizabeth. We went to the Trunk-Or-Treat at the church. Both Anna & Elizabeth were princesses. They had a wonderful time, as did Maria & I. Some people talked with her in spanish, which helped. Maria is from the Dominican Republic. I met her at a park a few weeks ago. Afterwards, we went back to her place to chat. She's a nice person.
I sold 3 books on half.com, hooray! It feels good to be bringing in some money for our family. I have also been selling items at the consignment shop. I've made about $100 so far! :)
Sweet little Anna. One of her joys each day is to sit on the porch bench with her mama, waiting for the bus to come to take her to school. Today is had warmed up, so we were able to sit outside. She is such a sweet girl. I am so blessed to be her mama.
I exercised today--I have been exercising regularly, except for during our Nauvoo trip. Tyler went to Columbus, OH. He is looking to begin an MBA program at Ohio State University. It will cost a lot, but feels right for us. While he was gone, I picked up my new friend, Maria, and her 4-year-old daughter, Elizabeth. We went to the Trunk-Or-Treat at the church. Both Anna & Elizabeth were princesses. They had a wonderful time, as did Maria & I. Some people talked with her in spanish, which helped. Maria is from the Dominican Republic. I met her at a park a few weeks ago. Afterwards, we went back to her place to chat. She's a nice person.
I sold 3 books on half.com, hooray! It feels good to be bringing in some money for our family. I have also been selling items at the consignment shop. I've made about $100 so far! :)
Terrific Husband
I have a terrific husband! He is so good to me. When he got home from work, he took me to Lowe's where we looked at some dishwashers. We are planning to purchase one! After we left, I mentioned how I'd been to 2 grocery stores in the past two days and had forgotten to buy whipping cream. Being the wonderful person that he is--he immediately pulled over to a Kroger and took Anna inside--leaving me to rest in the car--and went in to purchase some cream. Then, and you thought it couldn't get any better, after he brought me home and put Anna to bed after scriptures...he took me by the hand and led me to the tv room and had me watch more of MIDDLEMARCH while he did the dishes. I was overwhelmed! He is such a wonderful husband!! (How did I ever get so lucky!?) That is all I wish to write today, I'm practically speechless over my husband's kindess and thoughtfulness towards me. :)
Monday, October 23, 2006
Nauvoo Trip
Hello all! Yes, we are back after a wonderful vacation to Nauvoo, IL. My mom, stepdad Kent, sister Heather and her husband Yury, brother Coulter & sister Rachel all were in attendance. We stayed in a house right on the side of the Mississippi River just a few miles south of Nauvoo. It was really nice--it had a kitchen and plenty of space...however, it only had 1 bathroom. Try imagining how that went with 9 people!!! (That was the only not-so-great aspect of the trip)
We arrived in Nauvoo on thursday night and relaxed/unpacked. On friday we went to Nauvoo and went to see several of the sights there, including a wagon ride which took us on a tour of many of the houses of former pioneers. The spirit in Nauvoo is very sweet. I felt part of those pioneers when I learned what they went through. We owe them so much. On saturday it rained, which affected how much we were able to see. We went to see Carthage Jail and also watched the new "Joseph Smith, Prophet Of The Restoration" video in Nauvoo. What a remarkable film. It is very moving, I highly recommend it. Despite the rain, Tyler, Yury, & Coulter were determined to build a fire outside and we made smores. On Sunday, we went to sacrament in the Nauvoo Missionaries' ward. It was so wonderful. I felt the spirit as strongly in the one meeting as I had during the whole Nauvoo experience. How wonderful to be a missionary and be able to serve there. I am eager to serve a mission with my husband someday.
On sunday, we drove the 7 hours back to Ohio, and arrived at the church just in time for the missionary fireside. I love missionary work and it was a motivating fireside. We came home and were exhausted from the trip. Today (monday) I spent the morning trying to recover. It was a slow morning, but when Anna got on the bus, things began to pick up. I went to play racquetball with Tyler on-base and we walked afterwards. I'm getting better at racquetball, meaning I'm able to not lose as badly to my husband. :)
After that I went grocery shopping (leaving for 5 days leaves you with nothing to eat). I came home and made homemade chicken noodle soup, cracked wheat bread, and deep dish apple pie--made with honey instead of sugar. We had a nice dinner and then had FHE on safety.
We installed smoke alarms and talked with Anna about many types of danger. We discussed how to cross the street, to stay away from hot pans while Mama cooks, what to do if the smoke alarms go off, and lastly, how to deal with strangers. This was the most difficult thing to teach. She didn't really understand and we tried to explain it in many ways. I hope she will learn this, because I don't want to lose my girl. It is such a huge responsibility to keep Anna safe and teach her all that she needs to know. It can be overwhelming sometimes. Any thoughts on how to teach about avoiding strangers?
We arrived in Nauvoo on thursday night and relaxed/unpacked. On friday we went to Nauvoo and went to see several of the sights there, including a wagon ride which took us on a tour of many of the houses of former pioneers. The spirit in Nauvoo is very sweet. I felt part of those pioneers when I learned what they went through. We owe them so much. On saturday it rained, which affected how much we were able to see. We went to see Carthage Jail and also watched the new "Joseph Smith, Prophet Of The Restoration" video in Nauvoo. What a remarkable film. It is very moving, I highly recommend it. Despite the rain, Tyler, Yury, & Coulter were determined to build a fire outside and we made smores. On Sunday, we went to sacrament in the Nauvoo Missionaries' ward. It was so wonderful. I felt the spirit as strongly in the one meeting as I had during the whole Nauvoo experience. How wonderful to be a missionary and be able to serve there. I am eager to serve a mission with my husband someday.
On sunday, we drove the 7 hours back to Ohio, and arrived at the church just in time for the missionary fireside. I love missionary work and it was a motivating fireside. We came home and were exhausted from the trip. Today (monday) I spent the morning trying to recover. It was a slow morning, but when Anna got on the bus, things began to pick up. I went to play racquetball with Tyler on-base and we walked afterwards. I'm getting better at racquetball, meaning I'm able to not lose as badly to my husband. :)
After that I went grocery shopping (leaving for 5 days leaves you with nothing to eat). I came home and made homemade chicken noodle soup, cracked wheat bread, and deep dish apple pie--made with honey instead of sugar. We had a nice dinner and then had FHE on safety.
We installed smoke alarms and talked with Anna about many types of danger. We discussed how to cross the street, to stay away from hot pans while Mama cooks, what to do if the smoke alarms go off, and lastly, how to deal with strangers. This was the most difficult thing to teach. She didn't really understand and we tried to explain it in many ways. I hope she will learn this, because I don't want to lose my girl. It is such a huge responsibility to keep Anna safe and teach her all that she needs to know. It can be overwhelming sometimes. Any thoughts on how to teach about avoiding strangers?
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
No Rest For The Busy??
We got up and went to the consignment shop to sell some items, then to the library to pick up some books/cds/movies, then went to my friend's house to practice for the stake classical recital (she was busy, too, so we didn't get to practice), then I fed Anna lunch and put her on the bus after my visiting teacher arrived. She stayed and we chatted for about an hour & a half, and then I had to get dinner going. I made the "Party Beef Casserole," which takes about 2 1/2 hours to make, but it is so yummy it's worth it! Then I made wheat rolls and for dessert I made Apple Dumplings! It was a very filling meal! We had the elders over and Tyler invited a friend from work. We ate and then had a nice religious discussion afterwards. He is interested in meeting again, which is exciting. He lives in Bellbrook which means that if the missionaries teach him--it will have to be the elders from that area. Oh well, as long as he gets to hear about the gospel it doesn't matter who does it, right? After they all left we had scriptures and put Anna to bed. We're going to Nauvoo, IL, tomorrow and won't be back until Sunday. I won't be posting on here until then, so for all of my devoted readers---know that I will be back on sunday to share all the wonderful experiences that I'll have in Nauvoo. This is my 4th visit to Nauvoo, I really enjoy all the church sites. That's it for today, I have some packing to do! Until we meet again! :)
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Rainy Day
Well, I woke up at 6am to finish my liver cleanse. It was quite successful! Yea! I'll probably do it again in another 2 weeks, if I can stand the epsom salts. (gag)
Today I stayed at home all day, which was lovely! I was finishing up my cleanse, so I didn't get out to exercise--but it was raining anyhow. I made homemade granola and honey oatmeal cookies. It was a perfect day to bake. We had fhe tonight, since I was in my cleanse mode last night. Then we played the memory game with Anna-she's really good! Tyler & I try to just keep up!!!
I went to the "Craft & Chat" at the church. We did some etching on glass. It was much easier than I thought it would be! It was nice to chat with some of the ladies from church. I like the ward here. Everyone is so friendly and there aren't any clicks. (sp?)
I talked with Amanda, Brett's wife. Ashton passed away yesterday and the funeral is scheduled for this friday. She was only 10 weeks old. My heart is very heavy. My only comfort is that they will get to see her again in the millenium, and raise her.
Today I stayed at home all day, which was lovely! I was finishing up my cleanse, so I didn't get out to exercise--but it was raining anyhow. I made homemade granola and honey oatmeal cookies. It was a perfect day to bake. We had fhe tonight, since I was in my cleanse mode last night. Then we played the memory game with Anna-she's really good! Tyler & I try to just keep up!!!
I went to the "Craft & Chat" at the church. We did some etching on glass. It was much easier than I thought it would be! It was nice to chat with some of the ladies from church. I like the ward here. Everyone is so friendly and there aren't any clicks. (sp?)
I talked with Amanda, Brett's wife. Ashton passed away yesterday and the funeral is scheduled for this friday. She was only 10 weeks old. My heart is very heavy. My only comfort is that they will get to see her again in the millenium, and raise her.
Monday, October 16, 2006
A Gagging Good Time
I went visiting teaching with Sarah this morning. It went really well. Anna was able to play with Leia at her house while we went.
Tyler & I played racquetball and then walked around the track in the fitness center. I really enjoy being active, once I get in the habit of it.
Yes, I started my cleanse today--it's a two day cleanse. I eat only fat-free foods until 2pm, then stop eating & drinking. At 6pm I had to drink a concoction of water and epsom salts. At 8pm I drank another one...which I gagged on. YUCK! In another 20 minutes I will drink a concoction of olive oil & freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, then lie down & go to bed. I know, I know, you all want a copy of this cleanse so YOU can do it too, right?? All for today.
Tyler & I played racquetball and then walked around the track in the fitness center. I really enjoy being active, once I get in the habit of it.
Yes, I started my cleanse today--it's a two day cleanse. I eat only fat-free foods until 2pm, then stop eating & drinking. At 6pm I had to drink a concoction of water and epsom salts. At 8pm I drank another one...which I gagged on. YUCK! In another 20 minutes I will drink a concoction of olive oil & freshly squeezed grapefruit juice, then lie down & go to bed. I know, I know, you all want a copy of this cleanse so YOU can do it too, right?? All for today.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Favorite Day Of The Week
I love sundays, they are so calm and wonderful. We went to church and I really felt the Spirit while I was there. Everyone has been so kind and friendly to me. I feel so welcome in our new ward.
After lunch we went to visit two families in our ward. It was nice to become better acquainted with them. One family said that they were so happy to have company and that they didn't have it very often. It seems to me that as we move further into advancing technology that we forget to fellowship with one another. Any thoughts?
Tomorrow I'm going to do a Liver Cleanse. It clears up my allergies for about 6 months. It's been over 2 years since I did it. I avoid this particular cleanse because it involves drinking epsom salts. GAG! Anyhow, tomorrow is my cleansing day...hip hip hooray!
After lunch we went to visit two families in our ward. It was nice to become better acquainted with them. One family said that they were so happy to have company and that they didn't have it very often. It seems to me that as we move further into advancing technology that we forget to fellowship with one another. Any thoughts?
Tomorrow I'm going to do a Liver Cleanse. It clears up my allergies for about 6 months. It's been over 2 years since I did it. I avoid this particular cleanse because it involves drinking epsom salts. GAG! Anyhow, tomorrow is my cleansing day...hip hip hooray!
Volleyball Anyone?
This morning I went to our stake women's volleyball tournament. We victoriously lost both of our games, including one game where we played with 6 and they only have 5 people...they still won. Pretty sad, isn't it? Alas, I had a wonderful time. I enjoy sports.
Tyler, Anna, & I went to "Pumpkinfest" here in town. Anna wore her princess costume and rode some rides. We had a good time because she had a good time. :) There is something about watching your child enjoy themself that is priceless.
I spent the afternoon cooking/baking. My friend, Sarah & her family came over for dinner. It was quite lovely and they enjoyed what I made, which is always nice. I also attempted a new recipe for dessert: Apple Dumplings. They have no sugar in them, only honey as a sweetener. Quite tasty! Anna especially enjoyed playing with Leia. They are so cute together. Tyler seems to get along with Gary quite well. Tyler is usually such a reserved person but they have a lot in common, which is nice. And of course, I think that Sarah is way fun. We all had a super time tonight.
There isn't really an update on Brett & Amanda's daugther, Ashton. The prognosis still isn't good. I hope they will have the strength to accept what will come. I can't imagine being in their situation...my heart aches for them.
I watched some of "Middlemarch," a movie that Sarah lent me. It is good so far, I haven't even finished the first vhs tape and there are 3! My sweet husband cleaned up all the dishes and let me watch it. He's so wonderful! All for today, I'm a happy girl.
Tyler, Anna, & I went to "Pumpkinfest" here in town. Anna wore her princess costume and rode some rides. We had a good time because she had a good time. :) There is something about watching your child enjoy themself that is priceless.
I spent the afternoon cooking/baking. My friend, Sarah & her family came over for dinner. It was quite lovely and they enjoyed what I made, which is always nice. I also attempted a new recipe for dessert: Apple Dumplings. They have no sugar in them, only honey as a sweetener. Quite tasty! Anna especially enjoyed playing with Leia. They are so cute together. Tyler seems to get along with Gary quite well. Tyler is usually such a reserved person but they have a lot in common, which is nice. And of course, I think that Sarah is way fun. We all had a super time tonight.
There isn't really an update on Brett & Amanda's daugther, Ashton. The prognosis still isn't good. I hope they will have the strength to accept what will come. I can't imagine being in their situation...my heart aches for them.
I watched some of "Middlemarch," a movie that Sarah lent me. It is good so far, I haven't even finished the first vhs tape and there are 3! My sweet husband cleaned up all the dishes and let me watch it. He's so wonderful! All for today, I'm a happy girl.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
First Field Trip
This morning I went visiting teaching for the first time in Ohio. My companion is Sarah. We went to visit two sisters in our ward. It was nice talking with them both and I think that our kids enjoyed playing too. We even got to wash some dishes!
Anna & I hurried home to eat lunch and then off we went to the Fulton Farm to go on a hayride and pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. It was a family activity for Anna's pre-k class. One girl, Kristen, from her class was there and Anna's teacher told me that Kristen was Anna's best buddy at school. Kristen's parents also came. We went on a hayride and were squished in togesther, which is always fun. We got to the patch and Anna wanted to follow Kristen around instead of look for a pumpkin. I finally was able to get her back to the task at hand and we found 2 smaller pumpkins. Why small pumpkins, you ask? Well, we were given 2 plastic bags to put our pumpkins in and I realized that I would have to lug them around for the rest of the trip. We opted for the small pumpkins. :) I guess this is my first field trip with Anna...they just get them started earlier & earlier every year. She is 4 years old and she gets a field trip. I think my first field trip was in 4th or 5th grade. Anyhow, after the hayride back from the pumpkin patch, Anna & Kristen played on some slides while I spoke with her mom, Rae. We talked about several things and ended up on religion. She said that she is looking for a church to attend. I invited her to church sometime and she said she'd like that. It's amazing how easy it is to invite someone to church. I think it becomes easier when you are in the habit of doing it often. I hope that I will have many more opportunities to do so.
We came home and I began cooking for the ward social. My friend Daisy was supposed to attend but that fell through. I missed Emily's recital so I could bring Daisy to the social, but she didn't come. :( I hope the recital went well.
I heard some bad news tonight. Friends of mine in OK, Brett & Amanda took their 2 month old daughter, Ashton, to the hospital tonight. Apparantly she stopped breathing. The prognosis doesn't look good. I am so sad for them. I cannot imagine what they are going through. After I heard the news, I cried like a baby. I'm so grateful for the gospel. It helps me get through my trials. Brett is a member, less active now and his wife isn't a member. My heart goes out to them.
Anna & I hurried home to eat lunch and then off we went to the Fulton Farm to go on a hayride and pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch. It was a family activity for Anna's pre-k class. One girl, Kristen, from her class was there and Anna's teacher told me that Kristen was Anna's best buddy at school. Kristen's parents also came. We went on a hayride and were squished in togesther, which is always fun. We got to the patch and Anna wanted to follow Kristen around instead of look for a pumpkin. I finally was able to get her back to the task at hand and we found 2 smaller pumpkins. Why small pumpkins, you ask? Well, we were given 2 plastic bags to put our pumpkins in and I realized that I would have to lug them around for the rest of the trip. We opted for the small pumpkins. :) I guess this is my first field trip with Anna...they just get them started earlier & earlier every year. She is 4 years old and she gets a field trip. I think my first field trip was in 4th or 5th grade. Anyhow, after the hayride back from the pumpkin patch, Anna & Kristen played on some slides while I spoke with her mom, Rae. We talked about several things and ended up on religion. She said that she is looking for a church to attend. I invited her to church sometime and she said she'd like that. It's amazing how easy it is to invite someone to church. I think it becomes easier when you are in the habit of doing it often. I hope that I will have many more opportunities to do so.
We came home and I began cooking for the ward social. My friend Daisy was supposed to attend but that fell through. I missed Emily's recital so I could bring Daisy to the social, but she didn't come. :( I hope the recital went well.
I heard some bad news tonight. Friends of mine in OK, Brett & Amanda took their 2 month old daughter, Ashton, to the hospital tonight. Apparantly she stopped breathing. The prognosis doesn't look good. I am so sad for them. I cannot imagine what they are going through. After I heard the news, I cried like a baby. I'm so grateful for the gospel. It helps me get through my trials. Brett is a member, less active now and his wife isn't a member. My heart goes out to them.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
339
This morning Anna & headed to the church for playgroup. When we arrived the parking lot was empty. I must have misunderstood the date/time. Then we dropped in at my friend Sarah's house. Anna really enjoys playing with her 3 kids, and I enjoy just chatting with Sarah. She is from England and has a neat accent.
We made it home just in time to heat up some chicken noodle soup and have Anna eat before the bus came. I met Tyler at the fitness center on-base. We played raquetball and walked around the track. I have come to a decision. I want to walk in the half marathon next summer. I know, I know, you're supposed to "Run" a marathon. Well, I can't run, but I can walk. Right now I'm walking 2 miles every day. I think I will add one mile each month and I should be up to 10 miles by next summer. I am excited at this goal and hope you can all support me in it. I have decided to keep track of my weight as I continue on this exercise regiment. And yes, I weigh 339. I know that probably sounds crazy to many of you. I have been overweight my whole life and I think that now I will be able to make this weakness strong. Please lend me your support as I continue in this endeavor.
Tomorrow a friend of mine will be singing in a classical recital. I am unable to attend because of a missionary opportunity with Daisy. I feel terrible that I can't be there. I emailed her that I wouldn't be coming, then Tyler suggested that I call and explain to her. I called her and she seemed upset that I won't be there. I simply feel awful about it. I wish that I could do everything and not ever upset anyone. Emily, if you read this-I am sorry. Good luck tomorrow!
We made it home just in time to heat up some chicken noodle soup and have Anna eat before the bus came. I met Tyler at the fitness center on-base. We played raquetball and walked around the track. I have come to a decision. I want to walk in the half marathon next summer. I know, I know, you're supposed to "Run" a marathon. Well, I can't run, but I can walk. Right now I'm walking 2 miles every day. I think I will add one mile each month and I should be up to 10 miles by next summer. I am excited at this goal and hope you can all support me in it. I have decided to keep track of my weight as I continue on this exercise regiment. And yes, I weigh 339. I know that probably sounds crazy to many of you. I have been overweight my whole life and I think that now I will be able to make this weakness strong. Please lend me your support as I continue in this endeavor.
Tomorrow a friend of mine will be singing in a classical recital. I am unable to attend because of a missionary opportunity with Daisy. I feel terrible that I can't be there. I emailed her that I wouldn't be coming, then Tyler suggested that I call and explain to her. I called her and she seemed upset that I won't be there. I simply feel awful about it. I wish that I could do everything and not ever upset anyone. Emily, if you read this-I am sorry. Good luck tomorrow!
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Missionary Moment
As you may know, I love missionary work. I met a filipina woman at the library on-base. I kept bumping into her at other places, too. From talking with her, we realized that she lives in the same town that I do. I had scheduled the sister missionaries over for dinner tonight and also invited my friend, Daisy. I was pleased to find out that Daisy is looking for spiritual guidance. We gave her an english Book of Mormon and "The Restoration" DVD. She may come to church on sunday. I'm very excited! Missionary work makes you feel so good and helps you reflect more on the gospel during the week. I love it.
Today Anna & I went to the consignment shop to deliver more items. I found out that with the items I listed last week, I earned $62.00!!! Hooray! Then Anna & I went to the library to check out more book, movies, & cds. Anna went to school and I tidied up the house and exercised. Life is great!
Today Anna & I went to the consignment shop to deliver more items. I found out that with the items I listed last week, I earned $62.00!!! Hooray! Then Anna & I went to the library to check out more book, movies, & cds. Anna went to school and I tidied up the house and exercised. Life is great!
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
A New Beginning
Today I got up around 8:30am which felt quite late. What am I becoming? 10am used to be when I wanted to get up and anything earlier than that was too early. Now I want to be up at 8am or earlier. I have a new friend here, Sarah, who is inspiring me to get up earlier. I feel better when I'm up earlier-but it seems like sleeping in would make me feel better...but it doesn't. I have some habits that I need to overcome, but it's difficult changing my mentality. Make sense?
Anna went to school and I did some things around the house and then went walking at the park. I'm so proud of my commitment to walking everyday. I feel good when I do it and I can even see some physical changes after just 6 days of exercise. :) Tyler talked with our neighbor behind us. We were thinking to do some major yard work--cutting down a tree and removing a cement wall, building a new retaining wall and building a fence--in our back yard. It would benefit both our neighbor + us. We figured out the total cost and proposed going 50/50 with him. He thought about it and declined. It's kind of frustrating because I really wanted a fence, but we won't be in this house forever, so I guess it's not too bad of a loss + we get to keep the $1500 that we were going to put into it all! :)
Tonight was the Book Club for women in the RS. I've never been in a book club before. I've never really read books before. This is a new beginning for me. I want to teach myself to enjoy reading. Tonight we discussed a book that they read last month, called "The Robe." It looked like a huge reading for just one month. I was pleased to see that this next month's reading will be "Sense and Sensibility." I love Jane Austen and own the movie. I have actually read "Pride and Prejudice" which I really enjoyed. This will be my second novel that I will read out of pure desire. (Pride and Prejudice was the first) I am excited to broaden my mind with books. It seems like a worthy thing to spend my time on...I remember my parents trying to bribe me to read books when I was young. For some reason, I just didn't enjoy it. I only read what I had to and then I would read my scriptures. To be very honest, I struggle reading the scriptures. Once I make time to sit down and read them, I enjoy it. I guess I need to be better about setting time aside. Yeah, that sounds like my main problem...it's not that I don't like to read, I just don't make time for it. Now that I know my problem, let's see if I can fix it. Any suggestions???
Anna went to school and I did some things around the house and then went walking at the park. I'm so proud of my commitment to walking everyday. I feel good when I do it and I can even see some physical changes after just 6 days of exercise. :) Tyler talked with our neighbor behind us. We were thinking to do some major yard work--cutting down a tree and removing a cement wall, building a new retaining wall and building a fence--in our back yard. It would benefit both our neighbor + us. We figured out the total cost and proposed going 50/50 with him. He thought about it and declined. It's kind of frustrating because I really wanted a fence, but we won't be in this house forever, so I guess it's not too bad of a loss + we get to keep the $1500 that we were going to put into it all! :)
Tonight was the Book Club for women in the RS. I've never been in a book club before. I've never really read books before. This is a new beginning for me. I want to teach myself to enjoy reading. Tonight we discussed a book that they read last month, called "The Robe." It looked like a huge reading for just one month. I was pleased to see that this next month's reading will be "Sense and Sensibility." I love Jane Austen and own the movie. I have actually read "Pride and Prejudice" which I really enjoyed. This will be my second novel that I will read out of pure desire. (Pride and Prejudice was the first) I am excited to broaden my mind with books. It seems like a worthy thing to spend my time on...I remember my parents trying to bribe me to read books when I was young. For some reason, I just didn't enjoy it. I only read what I had to and then I would read my scriptures. To be very honest, I struggle reading the scriptures. Once I make time to sit down and read them, I enjoy it. I guess I need to be better about setting time aside. Yeah, that sounds like my main problem...it's not that I don't like to read, I just don't make time for it. Now that I know my problem, let's see if I can fix it. Any suggestions???
Monday, October 09, 2006
Planting A Seed Today Gives Hope For Tomorrow
Today is Columbus Day and so Tyler was given the day off. I was able to get up early and head to the park to walk. It was so nice walking in the morning as opposed to while Anna is in her afternoon pre-k, when it's warmer outside. We did some tidying up and organizing of all our books in the house. We listed a bunch on half.com (82 books!) and hopefully we'll be able to sell them all.
After Anna got on her bus, Tyler & I had 3 hours to spend together which was so NICE! We went to a Garden place called KNOLLWOOD in Beavercreek. We purchased a Japanese Maple Tree and some Irises for our flower garden. We came home and planted most of them. It's amazing how a few flowers and a small tree can add so much beauty to our yard! I'll try to post some photos...sometime.
A family in our ward invited us over for FHE tonight. We had a wonderful lesson on the 3 witnesses of the Book of Mormon and then carved pumpkins. It was really enjoyable and they have a girl Anna's age to play with who is in her class in primary. PERFECT! They are really, really nice. It's so wonderful to make some friends here. :)
After Anna got on her bus, Tyler & I had 3 hours to spend together which was so NICE! We went to a Garden place called KNOLLWOOD in Beavercreek. We purchased a Japanese Maple Tree and some Irises for our flower garden. We came home and planted most of them. It's amazing how a few flowers and a small tree can add so much beauty to our yard! I'll try to post some photos...sometime.
A family in our ward invited us over for FHE tonight. We had a wonderful lesson on the 3 witnesses of the Book of Mormon and then carved pumpkins. It was really enjoyable and they have a girl Anna's age to play with who is in her class in primary. PERFECT! They are really, really nice. It's so wonderful to make some friends here. :)
Sunday, October 08, 2006
To Cook What I've Never Cooked Before
Today I made homemade spaghetti sauce. From real tomatoes. Yes, I was given tons of homegrown tomatoes yesterday and today I blended them, added spices, and cooked it on the stove. And guess what...it actually tasted really good! I was quite thrilled. :) And then, since I was on a roll (no pun intended), I made some whole wheat cinnamon rolls. I put butter, cinnamon, & honey in the middle before rolling them up. When they came out of the oven, I put honey butter (1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup softened REAL butter) over the top. It was SO YUMMY!!! We're trying to use more natural ingredients like real tomatoes instead of Ragu and whole wheat flour & honey instead of only white flour & sugar. We were pleasantly surprised at how good everything tasted!
Tomorrow is Columbus Day, so Tyler gets the day off. We have big plans to clean/organize the garage, plant some iris & rose bushes in our flower garden, and go grocery shopping! Should be a fun day and I'm so happy to be with my husband again. We have been apart so much this past year, it's nice to be together. :)
Lately, Anna has been reluctant to pray. We were worried about her not wanting to pray and tried to make it a positive experience and not one involving discipline. Today when Anna was in primary, she got to be the "leader" in her class and so she said the closing prayer and then promptly received a sticker. She was so excited about it! And to our joy, when Tyler asked her to say our family prayer this evening, she did without any hesitation!!! Hooray! Now I understand how invaluable primary is for our children. Sometimes other people can better teach our children things, such as prayer in our case.
Tomorrow is Columbus Day, so Tyler gets the day off. We have big plans to clean/organize the garage, plant some iris & rose bushes in our flower garden, and go grocery shopping! Should be a fun day and I'm so happy to be with my husband again. We have been apart so much this past year, it's nice to be together. :)
Lately, Anna has been reluctant to pray. We were worried about her not wanting to pray and tried to make it a positive experience and not one involving discipline. Today when Anna was in primary, she got to be the "leader" in her class and so she said the closing prayer and then promptly received a sticker. She was so excited about it! And to our joy, when Tyler asked her to say our family prayer this evening, she did without any hesitation!!! Hooray! Now I understand how invaluable primary is for our children. Sometimes other people can better teach our children things, such as prayer in our case.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Busy Busy Busy!
Today was non-stop! We woke up & went to a local park where the Elders Quorum plays soccer every saturday. Tyler played soccer while Anna watched and I walked my 2 miles. Afterwards, we went to a quaint shop called "Once upon a child" where we bought Anna some jeans and long sleeved shirts. Yesterday I looked in Anna's closet and realized that all her pants were size 4--she's now a 5/6. YIKES! After shopping we went home and ate lunch. Then we went to our friend's house, the Ahlstrom's, where they gave us some wonderful hostas + 2 bags of fresh tomatoes! We came home and planted the hostas while our friends, Emily Rodriguez and her 2 daughters came over to visit. The girls played with Anna while Emily & I chatted and watched my sweet husband plant our new hostas. After they left, we did some organizing downstairs until the Johnson's came over to drop off their two kids. They watched Anna last night while we went to the symphony and we watched their kids so they could go to it tonight. It's now almost midnight...and we're exhausted!!! I'm so happy that tomorrow is Sunday, my favorite day of the week--I get to be with my family and go to church. :)
Friday, October 06, 2006
A Night At The Symphony
No, I'm not kidding. Tyler actually took me on a date to see the Dayton Philharmonic Symphony!!! They were having a 9/11 remembrance theme. There were two soloists who participated, a Soprano and a Baritone. It was so neat to hear a professional opera singer perform. It also made me wish I was up there doing it too...*sigh* I want to do something with my singing, but I don't know what to do! My sister suggested that I get out and do "gigs." The only thing is--opera singers don't do "gigs," they sing in operas...I feel so lost...any thoughts?
Anyhow, I got off track, my husband planned the whole date to see the symphony, he even found a babysitter for Anna. I was very impressed and it was a memorable evening. :)
Today I mostly did some organizing of my kitchen and office area. We still have the two downstairs bedrooms to organize + the garage. Once they are done, our house will be officially unpacked. HOORAY!
I didn't get to exercise today. Anna goes to school mondays-thursdays in the afternoons. She began school this week on tuesday, so I walked that day and on wednesday & thursday. However, today is friday & Anna was with me all day and then we left early to drop Anna off with some friends and go out to eat and then off to the symphony. There just wasn't time. It's a nice feeling that I now have an exercise plan, and even though I won't be able to do it everyday--I'm just doing the best I can. :)
Anyhow, I got off track, my husband planned the whole date to see the symphony, he even found a babysitter for Anna. I was very impressed and it was a memorable evening. :)
Today I mostly did some organizing of my kitchen and office area. We still have the two downstairs bedrooms to organize + the garage. Once they are done, our house will be officially unpacked. HOORAY!
I didn't get to exercise today. Anna goes to school mondays-thursdays in the afternoons. She began school this week on tuesday, so I walked that day and on wednesday & thursday. However, today is friday & Anna was with me all day and then we left early to drop Anna off with some friends and go out to eat and then off to the symphony. There just wasn't time. It's a nice feeling that I now have an exercise plan, and even though I won't be able to do it everyday--I'm just doing the best I can. :)
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Prepare For Halloween
Anna is getting ready for Halloween. She wants to be Snow White. She asked me what I was going to be...I guess now I am going to have to "be" something!!! She told Tyler that he should be BATMAN this year. Okay. Do they even make Batman costumes for adult men? We shall see. I bought a witches hat at the consignment shop on base. It shouldn't be too difficult to dress up as a witch, should it? Any suggestions on what to wear with my witch's hat? I've never been a witch before...I don't want to mess it up. ha ha ha!
The ward here is having a trunk-or-treat a week before Halloween, which is really nice. I'd rather spend the actual Halloween night together as a family at home. I think we're going to take Anna up & down our street and then play some games at home, perhaps eat some caramel apples. What are your Halloween plans??
The ward here is having a trunk-or-treat a week before Halloween, which is really nice. I'd rather spend the actual Halloween night together as a family at home. I think we're going to take Anna up & down our street and then play some games at home, perhaps eat some caramel apples. What are your Halloween plans??
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Back To School
All morning Anna was asking when the bus would arrive. It felt like the bus would never come...but it did, around 12:30pm. Anna was so ecstatic! Tyler gave her an AF backpack (adult size, no less) and it was about as big as she is! I put her name on the back in metallic stickers--looks pretty cool I must say--and she had about 10 items to bring to school. It's pre-k and I spent about $25 on supplies. WOW! I took some pictures and if I can figure out how to load them on this blog, I'll do it.
Today I began my exercise routine. I walked two miles in about 45 minutes. That may seem slow to all of you, but I haven't exercised in about a year. And it felt so good!!! I plan to walk everyday but sunday. Exercise has always been the least thing on my mind in losing weight; I'm trying to make it more of a focus.
Tonight we went to the park across the street from the stake center. Some people from our ward play soccer every tuesday night. Anna played in a park next to the soccer fields. I met a woman from the Dominican Republic. We spoke in spanish and it was nice to see that I haven't lost my ability to communicate in spanish. She has a 4 year-old, Elizabeth, who got along quite well with Anna. I'm thinking I may invite her to play group.
On the drive home, it was dark out and Anna was asking Tyler why the sun went down. He launched into the spiel about how the sun didn't move, but the earth is a globe that spins on an axis, etc. Quite funny to see Anna looking so confused at his response to her question. Poor little thing. She has so much to learn and her engineer father will only explain things in such a textbook format.
Today I began my exercise routine. I walked two miles in about 45 minutes. That may seem slow to all of you, but I haven't exercised in about a year. And it felt so good!!! I plan to walk everyday but sunday. Exercise has always been the least thing on my mind in losing weight; I'm trying to make it more of a focus.
Tonight we went to the park across the street from the stake center. Some people from our ward play soccer every tuesday night. Anna played in a park next to the soccer fields. I met a woman from the Dominican Republic. We spoke in spanish and it was nice to see that I haven't lost my ability to communicate in spanish. She has a 4 year-old, Elizabeth, who got along quite well with Anna. I'm thinking I may invite her to play group.
On the drive home, it was dark out and Anna was asking Tyler why the sun went down. He launched into the spiel about how the sun didn't move, but the earth is a globe that spins on an axis, etc. Quite funny to see Anna looking so confused at his response to her question. Poor little thing. She has so much to learn and her engineer father will only explain things in such a textbook format.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Forgiveness
Today was quite busy! I had many things to do in preparation of Anna going to school tomorrow. There is endless paperwork just to enroll your child in pre-k, it's incredible!!!
We had FHE on gratitude tonight. I used my new little lesson book and it went quite well--wasn't too long to hold Anna's attention. We also had blessings to begin this school year. Mine talked about having a forgiving heart. And that without forgiving others it can impede our spiritual growth. This was such a surprise for me to hear, because I think of myself as someone who easily forgives. Then it probed me to look deeper inside and conjure up any hurt feelings from my past. I could remember some events that still bother me. I think I'm going to make a list of any incident that has offended me and then I plan to pray that I can forgive each one. Then, perhaps, my spiritual growth will not be hindered any further. I'm so grateful for the priesthood and how it blesses my life. I'm such a blessed person.
We had FHE on gratitude tonight. I used my new little lesson book and it went quite well--wasn't too long to hold Anna's attention. We also had blessings to begin this school year. Mine talked about having a forgiving heart. And that without forgiving others it can impede our spiritual growth. This was such a surprise for me to hear, because I think of myself as someone who easily forgives. Then it probed me to look deeper inside and conjure up any hurt feelings from my past. I could remember some events that still bother me. I think I'm going to make a list of any incident that has offended me and then I plan to pray that I can forgive each one. Then, perhaps, my spiritual growth will not be hindered any further. I'm so grateful for the priesthood and how it blesses my life. I'm such a blessed person.
Conference Sunday
We went to the "morning" session at the church building. I say "morning" because it began at noon here. We live in the eastern time zone here in Ohio and the local people say this is the mid-west. I thought Oklahoma was in the mid-west...this feels pretty EAST to me!!! So the session was wonderful, of course. Although, Anna struggled with having to be quiet for 2 hours in a dark chapel. Poor girl. However, she enjoyed seeing the prophet. We decided to listen to the last session at home, which was nice, but I prefer to see the speakers.
For dinner, I was brave and made pork chops with homemade gravy. I was thrilled that my first attempt to make homemade gravy was excellent!! One of Tyler's favorite meals is fried chicken with homemade gravy. I watched both Kent, my stepdad, and Melanie, my MIL each make fried chicken with homemade gravy in Oklahoma, in hopes to learn the ropes. I guess I did! Hooray!
I recently ordered a book called "52 weeks of family night: fast & easy lessons for young families." It is an excellent resource! I don't know about any of you, but it's difficult to get through a lengthy lesson with a 4-year-old! However, these lessons are only a few paragraphs long! I bought it on ldsliving.com for anyone who's interested in it. Well that's it for now!
For dinner, I was brave and made pork chops with homemade gravy. I was thrilled that my first attempt to make homemade gravy was excellent!! One of Tyler's favorite meals is fried chicken with homemade gravy. I watched both Kent, my stepdad, and Melanie, my MIL each make fried chicken with homemade gravy in Oklahoma, in hopes to learn the ropes. I guess I did! Hooray!
I recently ordered a book called "52 weeks of family night: fast & easy lessons for young families." It is an excellent resource! I don't know about any of you, but it's difficult to get through a lengthy lesson with a 4-year-old! However, these lessons are only a few paragraphs long! I bought it on ldsliving.com for anyone who's interested in it. Well that's it for now!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)