25 November 2014
It is early Tuesday morning and I can't sleep!
Having read Emily's Blog it occurred to me that I have a Blog too! Hum, what to post?
It has been 22 months since I last published a post. Hum, have I been busy???
Not really, I think I have been hibernating or something.
The Holiday Season has begun! I love this time of year, everyone focuses on their blessings and extends more love and kindness to those around them. The earth is going through another cycle of life as well, one of renewal and new beginnings.
We all go through different seasons or cycles in our lives as well. I have certainly had time to reflect this past 15 months on my many blessings and the miracles that have occurred to help and protect me.
I found this as a draft and decided to publish it as is, for what it is worth.
Saturday, January 10, 2015
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Green Smoothie Girl
It was my Dad who first told me about the Green Smoothie Girl. He learned about her, I think he even met her, when he bought a Blendtec blender at Costco a couple of years ago. Having spent a lot of time helping with my mother I spent a lot of time using his Blendtec and learning for myself what a great machine it was it became my plan to buy one for my own home. Well after Mom died my Dad decided that he wanted to give me the Blendtec because of all the sacrifice of my time in helping them during a very difficult time. It was more than generous of him and sometimes I think that I should give it back to him because he needs to be using it. We shall see.
Anyway I have been checking out the greensmoothiegirl.com website and learning more about how to make a more varied smoothie. I had my standard protein drink but I wanted to do more. Come to find out the Green Smoothie Girl was coming to Boise and we went to her class on February 7th. It was great, we learned a lot and want to continue learning more. It was fasinating to learn what drove her to drinking green. Her son and his health was the foundational concern and it has grown from her blog about what she was doing to now being the third most popular health food blog out there. Wish I had paid more attention sooner but now is the right time for us because we are doing it now. It is Good Stuff!
Anyway I have been checking out the greensmoothiegirl.com website and learning more about how to make a more varied smoothie. I had my standard protein drink but I wanted to do more. Come to find out the Green Smoothie Girl was coming to Boise and we went to her class on February 7th. It was great, we learned a lot and want to continue learning more. It was fasinating to learn what drove her to drinking green. Her son and his health was the foundational concern and it has grown from her blog about what she was doing to now being the third most popular health food blog out there. Wish I had paid more attention sooner but now is the right time for us because we are doing it now. It is Good Stuff!
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Tea Party for Two
Valentine's Day 3:00 p.m. Tea Party for two birthday girls! It was so much fun! It was Penny Nelson's birthday and Sister Tonuu's birthday was the coming Sunday. Couldn't think of a better reason to have a tea party and this time for adults!
It was a great event! The table was lovely, the guests all arrived on time, Sister Martinez and Sister Tonuu had come early to help and to plate up the Flan, Sister Martinez had made for the party. They helped with cutting up the fresh fruit also because I had left that to the last minute so it would be fresh.
There were gifts for the birthday girls and wonderful conversation! What a delightful afternoon!
It was a great event! The table was lovely, the guests all arrived on time, Sister Martinez and Sister Tonuu had come early to help and to plate up the Flan, Sister Martinez had made for the party. They helped with cutting up the fresh fruit also because I had left that to the last minute so it would be fresh.
A New Beginning
Or should I say another day another diet? Oh well, it is what it is. Since my mother died, almost a year ago, I have gained back 40+ pounds and as you can imagine have very little to wear because I was very good at getting rid of all my "big" clothes as I lost weight earlier. Purchasing new "big" clothes is not an option that I want to exercise either. So, today is the first day of another forty day round of hcg. It seems to be the most effective method of taking the weight off for me.
I have been exercising at the local gym nearly every day for several months now and have two hour long personal trainer sessions each week and have been following a plan of 4 small meals and 3 snacks while eating NO SUGAR or FLOUR and I was still not losing. So back to what I know works for me.
My husband and I started eating a plant based diet last summer and we were both enjoying that but still no measurable weight loss. Then I saw "The Shred" diet on Dr. Oz and decided to change it up and followed that for six weeks with no measurable weight loss again. What to do, what to do? So I am combining the hcg protocol with my green smoothie addiction to make sure I get more nutrients while on the restricted calorie count. We shall see how it goes.
During the hcg two day loading period I ate a lot of sugar and white flour and boy do I feel bad! What was I thinking? How many times do I have to do this to know that I feel terrible when I eat sugar and white flour? It is like the addiction takes over, the mind goes to sleep and nothing else matters but the wonderful taste of something I once loved to eat, until the body starts to have to deal with it and the inevitable negative effects begin to overpower my body. Ugh, now for three days to pass to clear the poisons out of my body.
So I have decided to blog about my experience and hopefully it will help me to stay focused and achieve my goal to get this 40 pounds off again and then move onto my goal of even greater weight loss to finally attain my projected healthy weight which is about 100 pounds to lose in total. A worthy goal to say the least!
Working out at the local gym and having a personal trainer has been such a tremendous blessing to me. When I first started working out I had very little muscle strength throughout my body. Now I am doing things that were impossible in the beginning. I am so very grateful for Carole for getting me started and Karen for keeping me going when it seemed impossible to do so! And of course my husband for his continued support in what ever I am doing!
I have been exercising at the local gym nearly every day for several months now and have two hour long personal trainer sessions each week and have been following a plan of 4 small meals and 3 snacks while eating NO SUGAR or FLOUR and I was still not losing. So back to what I know works for me.
My husband and I started eating a plant based diet last summer and we were both enjoying that but still no measurable weight loss. Then I saw "The Shred" diet on Dr. Oz and decided to change it up and followed that for six weeks with no measurable weight loss again. What to do, what to do? So I am combining the hcg protocol with my green smoothie addiction to make sure I get more nutrients while on the restricted calorie count. We shall see how it goes.
During the hcg two day loading period I ate a lot of sugar and white flour and boy do I feel bad! What was I thinking? How many times do I have to do this to know that I feel terrible when I eat sugar and white flour? It is like the addiction takes over, the mind goes to sleep and nothing else matters but the wonderful taste of something I once loved to eat, until the body starts to have to deal with it and the inevitable negative effects begin to overpower my body. Ugh, now for three days to pass to clear the poisons out of my body.
So I have decided to blog about my experience and hopefully it will help me to stay focused and achieve my goal to get this 40 pounds off again and then move onto my goal of even greater weight loss to finally attain my projected healthy weight which is about 100 pounds to lose in total. A worthy goal to say the least!
Working out at the local gym and having a personal trainer has been such a tremendous blessing to me. When I first started working out I had very little muscle strength throughout my body. Now I am doing things that were impossible in the beginning. I am so very grateful for Carole for getting me started and Karen for keeping me going when it seemed impossible to do so! And of course my husband for his continued support in what ever I am doing!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Fear God Not Man
I am so glad that it is behind me now but I am even more grateful for the privilege and opportunity to sing the solo part for the choir number we did last Sunday, "As I Have Loved You".
At first I was really nervous to do it but our choir director, Troy Miller, was wonderful to work with and I got to practice with Ann Danes a couple of times as well to help me learn the song. Somewhere in the middle of my preparations I realized that my fears were of the judgments of man. Would I be able to do good enough? What would people think? What if I made a mess of it? I then realized that the Lord had asked me to do this and that He would qualify me to do that which He had asked. In my fears I was only thinking of myself. I determined to turn it all over to Him. I would do what I could to prepare and then do the best I could. But most importantly I needed to fear God not man!
I felt good about the performance. I felt strength that was not my own. I was grateful that Catherine was able to join our little ward choir and was there singing with me which made it an even more special event. I could see her smiling at me out of the corner of my eye in the tenor section.
I believe the message of the Lord was delivered for the Spirit in the meeting was strong, the children were quiet and reverent. The speakers delivered amazing talks. It was wonderful!!!
I love how the Lord moves in mysterious ways! As I sat here reflecting about the Sacrament meeting and the speakers I felt prompted to call Brother Mease to tell him that I really appreciated his talk on Sunday. I was really touched by the Spirit and knew that he was talking by the Spirit that he had left his own agenda behind and spoke what the Lord wanted him to. So now in my calling him and telling him that I really appreciated his talk he reminded me of my testimony of two months ago about having someone "Check On Me". He said that at the end of the meeting no one acknowledged him. He said: "You know how no one wants to be noticed and everyone wants to be acknowledged?" So he told me of his preparations and prayers and that he really wanted to be lead by the Spirit. I told him of my preparations for singing the solo part for the choir's song and he said "Oh, was that you? It was beautiful, I wondered who it was that was singing. I should have turned around to look." Then he told me of the discussions that had gone on to have the choir number changed and have Sister Wilson, our full time missionary, sing but she had said no to the request. Then he made the comment about all the angels that must have been attending us to have that song be sung in that meeting because he wasn't scheduled to talk (he is the Ward Mission Leader) until the end of the month and it had been moved up to the Sunday that the choir was scheduled to sing "As I Have Loved You". I know that I was attended to by angels in my preparation and performance and that angels sang with me and the choir. Now I am even more grateful because I could be the Lord's messenger again as I was asked to make a simple phone call to thank Brother Mease for his talk. He needed to be acknowledged just like when I needed to be "Checked In On" two months ago when Sherry Krull was the Lord's messenger and called me.
I hope this all makes sense because I am beginning to feel like I am rambling. So I pray that the Spirit of the Lord will be upon you as you read this posting and feel the true meaning of it all!
At first I was really nervous to do it but our choir director, Troy Miller, was wonderful to work with and I got to practice with Ann Danes a couple of times as well to help me learn the song. Somewhere in the middle of my preparations I realized that my fears were of the judgments of man. Would I be able to do good enough? What would people think? What if I made a mess of it? I then realized that the Lord had asked me to do this and that He would qualify me to do that which He had asked. In my fears I was only thinking of myself. I determined to turn it all over to Him. I would do what I could to prepare and then do the best I could. But most importantly I needed to fear God not man!
I felt good about the performance. I felt strength that was not my own. I was grateful that Catherine was able to join our little ward choir and was there singing with me which made it an even more special event. I could see her smiling at me out of the corner of my eye in the tenor section.
I believe the message of the Lord was delivered for the Spirit in the meeting was strong, the children were quiet and reverent. The speakers delivered amazing talks. It was wonderful!!!
I love how the Lord moves in mysterious ways! As I sat here reflecting about the Sacrament meeting and the speakers I felt prompted to call Brother Mease to tell him that I really appreciated his talk on Sunday. I was really touched by the Spirit and knew that he was talking by the Spirit that he had left his own agenda behind and spoke what the Lord wanted him to. So now in my calling him and telling him that I really appreciated his talk he reminded me of my testimony of two months ago about having someone "Check On Me". He said that at the end of the meeting no one acknowledged him. He said: "You know how no one wants to be noticed and everyone wants to be acknowledged?" So he told me of his preparations and prayers and that he really wanted to be lead by the Spirit. I told him of my preparations for singing the solo part for the choir's song and he said "Oh, was that you? It was beautiful, I wondered who it was that was singing. I should have turned around to look." Then he told me of the discussions that had gone on to have the choir number changed and have Sister Wilson, our full time missionary, sing but she had said no to the request. Then he made the comment about all the angels that must have been attending us to have that song be sung in that meeting because he wasn't scheduled to talk (he is the Ward Mission Leader) until the end of the month and it had been moved up to the Sunday that the choir was scheduled to sing "As I Have Loved You". I know that I was attended to by angels in my preparation and performance and that angels sang with me and the choir. Now I am even more grateful because I could be the Lord's messenger again as I was asked to make a simple phone call to thank Brother Mease for his talk. He needed to be acknowledged just like when I needed to be "Checked In On" two months ago when Sherry Krull was the Lord's messenger and called me.
I hope this all makes sense because I am beginning to feel like I am rambling. So I pray that the Spirit of the Lord will be upon you as you read this posting and feel the true meaning of it all!
Friday, February 18, 2011
If you're happy and you know it......
My, "If you're happy and you know it..." would be "...sing a song". Because, if I am happy I will be singing who knows what, just singing. Sometimes I will start singing and usually church hymns start coming out of my mouth. Or sometimes I just make up songs or new music to old lyrics, just whatever comes into my head comes out my mouth. And I would sing in the ward choir from time to time. Well you know how they say, "If you don't use it you will lose it." well it is true. I lost my voice for a couple of years. Just could not make the pipes work for me. I couldn't sing anything and that was truly sad for me. I think it was allergies or something but for whatever reason it didn't work.
Then a couple of years ago we got a new ward choir director, Brother Troy, and after being asked to join the choir several times I realized that I actually had a voice again and began to sing with our choir (missed a lot of preformances because of traveling so much last year, lol!). Choir practice is at 11:00 Sunday mornings and we were supposed to sing a new arrangement of As I Have Loved You. When Brother Troy handed out the music he asked for a volunteer for the solo part. I thought I should offer to sing it because I have sung that song before in Sacrament meeting but being unsure of my ability to do a good job I kept quiet. Sister Penni, being a great soprano, was voluntold. We were supposed to sing it last Sunday. I kept feeling that I was supposed to sing it and actually went to Brother Troy's house on Wednesday before our last practice to tell him that I thought that I was supposed to sing the solo. But he wasn't home and then I forgot about it and I figured that it was too late to get help practicing so I didn't say anything more. However, when we got to choir practice we were told that the plans for our singing that song were changed to the last Sunday of the month. It was then that Sister Penni announced that she was having knee surgery and would not be able to sing that week. I wispered to her that I would talk to Brother Troy about my singing it. So what does she do but announce it to the whole choir. Ah swell! So after choir practice, Brother Troy came over and asked me if I would like some help practicing and we set up practice time on Fridays at 3:00 p.m.
Today at 3:00 p.m. I went to his house and found out that I was going to have two months of singing lessons. Oh my goodness! That is way more than I had expected. He checked my range, which was two and one half octaves. He checked my breathing by having me take in a deep breath and then releasing air with an S sound and he timed me as to how long I could sustain the sound, 47 seconds. He said that that was very good and that my range was very good. But with practice I would be able to hold my note out for over a full minute and that my range should increase by 8 notes. Again, that was way more than I had expected. So we practiced the solo part several times and he gave me suggestions on improving my diction and a couple of other things. He is so sweet! He didn't want to overwhelm me with his critiquing and I just felt really comfortable and tried to do what he asked of me. What a blessing! Perhaps this will give me the confidence I need to be able to sing the songs in my heart that will bear testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that Heavenly Father wants me to sing and this will help me do that!!!
Then a couple of years ago we got a new ward choir director, Brother Troy, and after being asked to join the choir several times I realized that I actually had a voice again and began to sing with our choir (missed a lot of preformances because of traveling so much last year, lol!). Choir practice is at 11:00 Sunday mornings and we were supposed to sing a new arrangement of As I Have Loved You. When Brother Troy handed out the music he asked for a volunteer for the solo part. I thought I should offer to sing it because I have sung that song before in Sacrament meeting but being unsure of my ability to do a good job I kept quiet. Sister Penni, being a great soprano, was voluntold. We were supposed to sing it last Sunday. I kept feeling that I was supposed to sing it and actually went to Brother Troy's house on Wednesday before our last practice to tell him that I thought that I was supposed to sing the solo. But he wasn't home and then I forgot about it and I figured that it was too late to get help practicing so I didn't say anything more. However, when we got to choir practice we were told that the plans for our singing that song were changed to the last Sunday of the month. It was then that Sister Penni announced that she was having knee surgery and would not be able to sing that week. I wispered to her that I would talk to Brother Troy about my singing it. So what does she do but announce it to the whole choir. Ah swell! So after choir practice, Brother Troy came over and asked me if I would like some help practicing and we set up practice time on Fridays at 3:00 p.m.
Today at 3:00 p.m. I went to his house and found out that I was going to have two months of singing lessons. Oh my goodness! That is way more than I had expected. He checked my range, which was two and one half octaves. He checked my breathing by having me take in a deep breath and then releasing air with an S sound and he timed me as to how long I could sustain the sound, 47 seconds. He said that that was very good and that my range was very good. But with practice I would be able to hold my note out for over a full minute and that my range should increase by 8 notes. Again, that was way more than I had expected. So we practiced the solo part several times and he gave me suggestions on improving my diction and a couple of other things. He is so sweet! He didn't want to overwhelm me with his critiquing and I just felt really comfortable and tried to do what he asked of me. What a blessing! Perhaps this will give me the confidence I need to be able to sing the songs in my heart that will bear testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that Heavenly Father wants me to sing and this will help me do that!!!
Friday, February 11, 2011
Mom's Weekly Planner
I was at my FAVORITE store (any one know what that would be?) the other day and found a new calendar for 2011 (July 2010-December 2011) cute red leatherett spiral bound Mom's Weekly Planner with an elastic band to keep it closed. So for $5.99 it became mine, sweet huh?! It has a month-at-a-glance and then a week-at-a-glance. Lots of room for notes, etc. As I was entering my already planned events I noticed that each month on the month-at-a-glance page there is a quote in the bottom right hand corner of the two-page spread under the notes area. So I thought I would share them. Enjoy!
MARY KAY ASH: No matter how busy you are, you must take time to make the other person feel important.
AMBROSE BIERCE: sweater, n: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly.
LUCILLE BALL: If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. The more things you do, the more you can do.
ELIZABETH CADY STANTON: I am always busy, which is perhaps the chief reason why I am always well.
GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON: Your world is as big as you make it.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON: This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.
EMILY KIMBROUGH: Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That's why it's a comfort to go hand in hand.
LOUIS L'AMOUR: There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.
ANDREW JACKSON: Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON: The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.
MARCELENE COX: Parenthood: That state of being better chaperoned than you were before marriage.
PHYLLIS DILLER: Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.
BUDDY HACKETT: As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices: take it, or leave it.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN: The trouble with being a parent is that by the time you are experienced, you are unemployed.
MICHAEL J. FOX: Family is not an important thing; it's everything. (This is my favorite quote!)
RALPH WALDO EMERSON: Progress is the activity of today and the assurance of tomorrow.
BILL COSBY: Even though your kids will consistently do the exact opposite of what you're telling them to do, you have to keep loving them just as much. (So true!)
MARCUS AURELIUS: When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive --to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. (Our days would be much better if we started each one with this thought!)
MARY KAY ASH: No matter how busy you are, you must take time to make the other person feel important.
AMBROSE BIERCE: sweater, n: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly.
LUCILLE BALL: If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it. The more things you do, the more you can do.
ELIZABETH CADY STANTON: I am always busy, which is perhaps the chief reason why I am always well.
GEORGIA DOUGLAS JOHNSON: Your world is as big as you make it.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON: This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.
EMILY KIMBROUGH: Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That's why it's a comfort to go hand in hand.
LOUIS L'AMOUR: There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.
ANDREW JACKSON: Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.
RALPH WALDO EMERSON: The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.
MARCELENE COX: Parenthood: That state of being better chaperoned than you were before marriage.
PHYLLIS DILLER: Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.
BUDDY HACKETT: As a child my family's menu consisted of two choices: take it, or leave it.
AUTHOR UNKNOWN: The trouble with being a parent is that by the time you are experienced, you are unemployed.
MICHAEL J. FOX: Family is not an important thing; it's everything. (This is my favorite quote!)
RALPH WALDO EMERSON: Progress is the activity of today and the assurance of tomorrow.
BILL COSBY: Even though your kids will consistently do the exact opposite of what you're telling them to do, you have to keep loving them just as much. (So true!)
MARCUS AURELIUS: When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive --to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. (Our days would be much better if we started each one with this thought!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)