FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"Even when, from a purely human perspective, perfection can appear an impossible challenge to achieve, I testify that our Father and our Savior have made known to us that it is possible to achieve the impossible. Yes, it is possible to achieve eternal life. Yes, it is possible to be happy now and forever." (Jorge F. Zaballos, "Attempting the Impossible," Ensign, November 2009, 34)

FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--16 Key Principles for Overcoming Obstacles (Courtesy of the 2000 Stripling Warriors)

This morning, I was tempted to read a magazine while I ate breakfast, but the spirit reminded me of my commitment to start each morning off with meaningful scripture study and prayer, so I noshed on some yummy oatmeal while reading in Alma 57 and 58. I read about the stripling warriors--what courage, determination, and faith they had! As I was reading, I started to really see modern-day connections to how we can all deal with adversity and overcome great obstacles. Here is a list of lessons from these two chapters. I highly suggest you grab your scriptures and read along with me. It's pretty powerful stuff. Yup, you heard me. Stop reading this and go get them. I'll wait ...

Are you back? OK. Here's my list:

16 Key Principles for Overcoming Obstacles
(Courtesy of the 2,000 Stripling Warriors)

1. Recognize your desire. (Alma 57:7)
2. Beware of the enemy. (Alma 57:9)
3. Be persistent. (Alma 57:11-12)
4. Unite with others. (Alma 57:13)
5. Fight with all your strength. (Alma 57:19)
6. Live righteously. (Alma 57:21)
7. Thank God for successes. (Alma 57:26)
8. Trust God to show the way and open doors. (Alma 57:27)
9. Be patient. (Alma 58:7)
10. Pray! (Alma 58:10)
11. Take courage. (Alma 58:12)
12. Go forth with all your might. (Alma 8:13)
13. Keep on moving. (Alma 58:26)
14. Be prepared. (Alma 58:29)
15. Recognize God's help. (Alma 58:39)
16. Always remember what God has done. (Alma 58:40)


I hope that I can take these steps and APPLY, APPLY, APPLY! I am so thankful for these valiant men! Like the stripling warriors, if faithful, we may be injured in our many battles in life, but with God on our side, we will not suffer spiritual death. We will win.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"No matter the size of the issue, how we respond can reset the course of our life." (Elder Donald L. Hallstrom, "Turn to the Lord," Ensign, May 2010, 78-80)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"Just do it." --Ezra Taft Benson

FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--It's Time to Change

Tonight I did two things: 1. I visited a ward New Beginnings night (I am in the Stake YW Presidency) and 2. I watched The Biggest Loser.

At the New Beginnings meeting (which was lovely), I noticed three things that upset me. First, my tailbone hurt immensely, second, my posterior end no longer fits comfortably in the standard Relief Society room chairs, and third, because of the pain of my tailbone and the pain of the metal bars of the chair, I had a very hard time paying attention to the meeting. (Mom, please forgive me for the personal and self-degrading nature of this post).

As I watched The Biggest Loser, I noticed a few things as well. I noticed that I cannot sit on the couch comfortably because my tummy feels squished. I cannot sit on the floor comfortably either because I have to lean to one side or the other to avoid putting pressure on my sore tailbone. As I lean to the side, my hips start aching after several minutes. While, watching the show, however, I did NOT have a hard time paying attention. I paid attention to the way the contestants stood and walked and sat. They, too, seemed uncomfortable. They were in physical pain as well. Though most of them outweigh me, I found myself in the same boat. And like them, I want to bail ship!

I love Biggest Loser, not necessarily for the diet and exercise programs exhibited, but for the chance I get to see someone's journey. I love watching the small breakthrough moments, the individual stories and the AHA! moments of each contestant. Today, my not being able to concentrate in the New Beginnings meeting was an AHA! moment. How on earth, can I dedicate myself to serving the Lord in this, and other callings, including motherhood, if I can't even concentrate? How can I give life my best effort if I am uncomfortable and not feeling well? I need to lose this weight. That's all there is to it. I need to start now. I need to be deliberate and to set forth with all the determination I possess. And I need the Lord to help me and guide me allong the way. As Sheri Dew said: "He knows the way because He is the way."

So (now here's the part I'm proud of), following the episode, I calmly went into my room, got my running shoes on, and went downstairs and immediately got to work. I did the elliptical machine for a mile and did some cool down walking. I felt much stronger than I expected I would, and felt that I could have even gone further but I do have a bad cough right now and didn't want to be up all night, so I quit.

Here's the plan: I'm going to keep doing this each night, excluding Sundays. It'll be a little experiment: Can I stick with it? Can I get better at it? Can I see results from it? In addition to exercising, I'm going to return to a specific prompting I received a few weeks ago, to stop eating after 8:30 pm each night. (This is the time I feel most tempted to binge). I'll probably set additional goals down the line, but for now, I'm going to focus on these small steps. In essence, I'll be experimenting, just like Alma taught us to do. I'm having thoughts that these are good things I can do to lose weight, and I'm planting those thoughts, turning them into actions. We'll see if they grow from seeds of thought into plants of results.

I'll keep you posted!

FOOD FOR THE BODY

CHOCOLATE RICOTTA MOUSSE

(from http://www.skinnytaste.com/)

Serves: 6

Points: 4

Points+: 5

2 c. part skim ricotta cheese

3 T. unsweetened cocoa

2 large egg whites, room temperature

1/2 c. sugar

pinch of salt

In food processor or blender, combine ricotta and cocoa powder until completely smooth. Transfer to a large bowl. Place egg whites, sugar and salt in medium heatproof mxing bowl and place bowl on top of a pot of simmering water. Cook and whisk constantly until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is warm, about three minutes.

Remove bowl from heat and beat with an electric mixer on high until stiff peaks form (about 5 minutes).

Using a rubber spatula, gently fold egg whites into cocoa mixture until well-combined. Divide into 6 (6 oz.) ramekins and refrigerate at least 3 hrs.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"When obedience becomes our goal, it is no longer an irritation; instead of a stumbling block, it becomes a building block ... Obedience leads to true freedom. The more we obey revealed truth, the more we become liberated." (James E. Faust, "Obedience: The Path to Freedom," Liahona, May 1999, 45, 47)

FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--Like a Little Child

The scriptures admonish us to become like little children. I have been thinking about that this morning. I think of my own children. They are so full of love for others. They are forgiving. They live life with exuberance and zest. They love to learn. They help each other. They are submissive and (for the most part) obedient. They love to sit with me and hear my voice as I read to them. They love to spend time with each other and with Tyler and I. They love to create things with their own hands. They have so much energy. They live life with passion. They don't think of what they can't achieve, but wonder what they can do.

Am I like a little child? Do I love others as fully as my children do, or do I only see their differences and pick and choose who I will love? Do I readily and humbly forgive those who have offended me? Am I living my life with passion and excitement? My own children can hardly fall asleep at night because they just don't want to miss a single second of life. In the morning, they bounce out of bed, thrilled to face another day of adventure.

One thing about my children is that they love to learn. But they usually like to use a hands-on approach to learning. I think that's the preference for most children. Am I using a hands-on approach to learning gospel principles, helping others, serving my neighbors, and creating beauty all around me, in the same way my children experiment in and out of the classroom?

Kelsey fell down on the playground yesterday and had the wind knocked out of her. She told me about her friend, Ashley, who was there to pick her up and make sure she was ok. She was so grateful that her friend had been there to help her and comfort her. Am I there to help those around me when they fall? Do I offer them my own hand, and comfort them until they can get back on their feet?

Do I truly believe that I have a Father in Heaven and do I obey Him as a child would obey her own father? Do I spend time with Him each day? Do I have a relationship with Him as my children have a relationship with their parents. Do I love to spend time with my own brothers and sisters?

I hope I can learn more from my children. I realize that they can teach me so much about life. I am so grateful for them and for their sweetness and the examples they are to me.

DEAR CRACKLIN' OAT BRAN,

I just want to thank you for giving me something to get out of bed for each morning. I love your cinnamony-coconutty goodness. I love that you stay crunchy in my milk, something which many of your peers struggle with. I love you. I'll see you tomorrow!

Love,
Me

FOOD FOR THE BODY

EASY EASY MARINATED FLANK STEAK

(adapted from http://www.kitchenparade.com/)

Serves: 4
Points: 3

1 lb. flank steak
Japanese soy sauce to cover

Combine steak and soy sauce in a large zip lock bag and refrigerate for 1-4 hours, turning periodically. Heat the grill. Cook on one side for about 10 minutes and the other for about 5 minutes, depending on desired doneness. Cover with foil and let rest for five minutes. Slice on the diagnol and serve with steamed vegetables and a small baked potato. (Adds points)

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"Joseph's question focused not just on what he needed to know, but also on what needed to be done! His prayer was not simply, "What church is right?" His question was, "Which church should I join?" Joseph went to the grove to ask in faith, and he was determined to act." (Elder David A. Bednar, "Ask in Faith," Liahona, May 2008, 94-97)

FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--Hard Things

What a whirlwind my life has been these last few weeks! First, the holidays, which were wonderful, simple and full of joy and love. Then, on New Year's Day, I slipped on the ice on my front porch and re-broke my tailbone. OUCH!

On the next Monday, my boss called me and our office manager into his office and let us know his business is failing. He told us that he would probably go under in the next few months and let us know that if we wanted to try and ride it out with him, we could, but he wasn't sure if he'd have enough money to pay us next month. I went home that night and tried to sleep on it, but I couldn't sleep at all. So, I got up and knelt in the living room for quite a while, searching for direction. I felt as if I should go ahead and quit.

I have mixed feelings about my decision. I am a little nervous about our family making it financially without me working. But, I do feel strangely at peace about the decision. I will be able to stay at home with my kiddos for a while, which I have missed SO much. Each moment home has been a blessing, and though I miss my job and my customers, I am so much happier now. I've been cleaning and helping with homework and decorating and cooking and trying very hard to never take any of these opportunities for granted. I am so blessed to be at this point in life, where I really, truly feel the importance and blessing of each aspect of motherhood. If nothing else, being a working mama teaches you to treasure every moment you're given with your family.

I am also so grateful that I will be more available to help Tyler as he heads back to school this semester. I may have mentioned earlier that he struggles with school as one with dyslexia. I am so excited that we will be more able to study together and that he will not have to worry about taking care of the children while I'm gone, in addition to all his other responsibilities.

So, pretty much the only con, is the whole financial aspect. Tyler called his old boss from several years ago and asked if there is potential to come back to work there, even part-time. He made pretty good money there, so if he could get back, it would be a tremendous relief for our family. He was told that they are short-handed, but not quite ready to hire, but to call back every month or so and check back. They are thinking that possibly they could bring him back on in the Spring.

So as you can see, our life is pretty much nuts. But honestly, we'll take it. It's not cancer. It's not divorce. It's not a loss of faith. It's just financial trials. That, we can deal with. That, we can conquer. Together.

At times like these, I'm so comforted to know that I have a loving Heavenly Father who understands and honors the desires of my heart. As I live righteously and with full purpose, I believe that I can achieve joy.

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before on my blog, but I desperately want to have at least one more baby. Right after Macey was born, while the nurse was in the room washing her up, I had a strong prompting that there was another baby in heaven for me. It was very, very strong. I am so grateful for that prompting, given the financial and physical trials I've had since then, because it's given me something to work towards.

I have three things that are stopping us from trying for another baby now:

1. We have no insurance. (We do now, so this is taken care of)
2. We do not make enough money.
3. I weigh too much to have a healthy pregnancy.

Though I really want to get pregnant NOW, I know that I would be unwise to do so without first overcoming these obstacles. Bloggers, can you please offer a prayer for me? I can't wait too long, because I have PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), which makes it harder to conceive and carry a baby the longer I wait. I've already had four miscarraiges and my risk for more increases with each pound I put on and each year of my life. I need the desire to do something more about my weight. And we need to make more money. I feel a little funny asking for your help, but I do have a testimony of the power of prayer.

Anyway, that's the latest installment in the Walton Family Saga. I love the gospel. I would be lost without its warmth and meaning. I love you all as well. God bless you each in your own endeavors. I'd love to "prayer swap." Please tell me what prayers you are in need of for your own lives. What are you struggling with? What is the desire of your heart?

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"Christ does not need admirers. He needs followers." --M. Russell Ballard

FOOD FOR THE BODY

CINNAMON APPLE SPICED OATMEAL

(adapted from http://www.skinnytaste.com/)

Serves: 1

Points: 5

One bowl prepared oatmeal (not from packets)

1 T. apple butter, swirled in or spread over top

ground cinnamon, to taste

1/4 c. low fat granola

1/4 c. finely diced apple, if desired

YUM!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"The holy scriptures are like letters from home, telling us how we can draw nearer to our Heavenly Father." --Ardeth Kapp

FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--Gratitude for the Scriptures

I have a testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. I just had to start with that. I can't tell you how much I have learned from reading its sacred pages. I truly have a testimony of the fact that these words were intended not only for our day, but for ME. I am so grateful for the depth of each story, each character, and each passage. I love to turn each page, striving to find personal applications to my own life with the gift of personal revelation.

Last week, I had a HORRIBLE day at work. I'm talking, really, really bad and discouraging. That night as I sat on the floor next to my bed with this precious volume in hand, I prayed for a verse or two that would keep me going. And I turned "randomly" to Alma 38. The words therein were like water seeping into a dry, cracked desert dust.

Then this morning, I was thinking again about HOW on earth to receive direction during this time of great uncertainty and copious choices for our family. I felt prompted to read Alma 37, where I was taught the importance of prayer and scripture study. Verse 37 is a perennial favorite of mine:

"Counsel with the Lord in ALL thy doings, and when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that He may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day."

I also love the discussion of faith and righteousness as well as study of the Lord's words serving as a personal, modern-day "Liahona" to each of us. I know from personal experience that without His daily guidance, I DO "tarry in the wilderness, or do not travel a direct course. I am afflicted with hunger and thirst" when I do not choose o study and live His words.

How grateful I am for the scriptures. What would I do without them? What scripture helped you today?

FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--Tough Love and Lessons

Wow! You know, life is really CRAZY sometimes! This month has been chaotic to say the least. Tyler started a new second job this week that we are super excited about. He will be teaching computer aided drafting at the local community high school for about 10 hours each week. It's not much, but the pay is much better than we anticipated, so we are so grateful. Plus, teaching CAD has been his dream job since he was in high school, so this is very fulfilling for him. In addition to that, he received a small raise this week from his full-time job. It's not as big as we would've liked, but most raises have been frozen for quite some time and we're not sure anyone else is even getting raises right now, so we'll take it! And to add the the hectic pace we are living, Tyler is now officially registered for Spring Semester at our local university. Whew! I'm not sure that we're both up to the challenges ahead of us, but we are feeling cautiously optimistic that our situation may be starting an upward trend. (I have another secret, but I won't be able to tell you about that for a long, long time. The excitement is killing me! And no, I'm not expecting.)

Anyway, Tyler and I have discussed these exciting changes this week and we've decided that it is really, really neat how the Lord knows our innermost desires, sometimes even better than we do. He knew that Tyler would love this new position and planted the idea in his mind. Tyler went in to talk to the school's principal, with no inkling that there would even be an interest in his propsed program. There was no help-wanted ad. Tyler simply had an idea (fruits of the spirit) which he acted on. A week and a half later, he is working as a teacher, something he dearly loves.

I take great comfort in the fact that the Lord knows each of us this intimately. Sometimes we feel alone and forgotten, but often in those very hours when we cannot even think of taking another step into the dark, a light shines forth, showing the way.

We were reading scriptures with the kids the other day and my eight-year-old daughter made a profound observation. We were reading about Nephi's family when they were sailing toward the promised land. She mentioned that it was the wind that carried them closer to the shores of peace and safety. In her own words: "Mommy, they never would've gotten there without the wind. It's like when we have hard times. Sometimes they can make us better people."

I'm grateful for the "tough love" of my Heavenly Father. So many times during my trials, I would've loved to have been snatched from my trials and set down in a more comfortable spot. But, as I look back at the past, I see that in the most difficult times, my testimony has grown, I have learned new skills, I have become more compassionate, my humility has increased and I have been made more ready to trust in the Lord. I would never trade these lessons for a comfortable, warm "house on the hill." I know the Lord knows my thoughts and desires. He loves me and will always guide me to the lessons I need most. With that in mind, I need never fear. Only believe.

DEAR FOOD NETWORK,

I want to thank you for hours and hours of inspiration and entertainment. I love to sit before you, on my comfy couch, with pen and notebook in hand, gaining culinary know-how. I love the feeling I get when I make one of your recipes and it turns out wonderfully delicious. Oh, how I love to take all the credit for these morsels. Please forgive me for never sharing my secret. . . you. Thank you for teaching me about panko and double-boilers, fondant and taragon, reductions and most of all, myself. You have brought to my attention a new passion and have taught me to dream big. Thanks to you, all roads lead to my DELICIOUS future!

Love,
Kristen

P.S. My family thanks you as well.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"Sisters, we love you. We pray for you. Be strong and of good courage. You are truly royal spirit daughters of Almighty God. You are princesses, destined to become queens. Your own wondrous story has already begun. Your 'once upon a time' is now." (President Dieter F. Uchdorf, "Your Happily Ever After," Ensign, May 2010)

DEAR KITCHEN CHAIRS,

Thank you kindly for being there for me whenever I need to get something done without the children underfoot. It is so nice of you to line up in the living room and allow the kids to play "train" while I wash the dishes in peace. Oh, how they love to toot and wave out your imaginary windows, whilst I scrub away. You all are truly some of the best friends a mother could have.

Sincerely,

Kristen

FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--Heavenly Father is Awesome

Wow. Have I ever told you that I think the gospel is awesome. And I mean awesome in the more reverent sense of the word. Tonight I headed off to the Worldwide Training Meeting, sort of expecting a somewhat boring presentation of the new church-wide handbooks. But instead, I received a spiritual feast. I bathed in personal revelation from the opening hymn. And the personal revelation applied not just to my Young Women calling, but also to little struggles at home. The restored gospel of Christ is remarkable not only for its depth and scope, but also for its simplicity.

I felt like a bad mom today. For some reason, my kiddos were uber-hyperactive today. And grouchy. And fighting with each other. Non-stop. I had a headache. I was beyond grumpy. As I left the chilies at my wonderful, amazing, soon-to-be-twinkled mom's house to be babysat, I said a prayer that my heart would be prepared for the spirit and that I would have the chance to apologize for my inappropriate anger to the kids later.

During the meeting, which was mainly about how church councils can function effectively and benefit from each member's personal thoughts and revelation, it occurred to me. . . this message translates! My family is a council! My kids are member of the council and I need to include them in the discussions. When we are facing problems, I need to ask them to suggest solutions, offer their input. I also was taught that in order for our family to move forward, improving and growing each day, the spirit will have to be present in these council meetings. Once that happens, we will have more unity as a family.

It was such a breakthrough in thinking for me. In fact, I remember thinking that I felt like I was hooked up to a spiritual computer or something, receiving a spiritual download. And the message, though a shift in past methods, was simple in nature.

And I felt so loved. Heavenly Father heard my prayer and answered me in an understandable, timely, specific way. And that is awesome.

DEAR BLOGGERS,

I recently heard of a fun way to show gratitude. I am going to add a little "thank you" note to my blog from time to time, addressed to the person or thing I'm thankful for. I think this will be a fun exercise and I hope you will feel free to share with me what makes you feel grateful as well. Here's my first thank you note:

Dear Bloggers,

Thank you for reading my words without judging me for my weaknesses. Thank you for your tender, encouraging comments and your prayers. Thank you for your own faith. Knowing women like you makes me feel like part of a sisterhood. I feel stronger each day because of this blog and you have motivated me to pick myself up, dust off and continue in hope. I love you all!

Sincerely,
Kristen

FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT-Viva Las Vegas (or Just Stay Home Next Time!)

Well, we went to Vegas. It was a much-needed break from reality for both of us, but it is SOOOO good to be home. Though exciting and different, downtown Las Vegas was stinky, loud, and a little depressing. Walking around the strip was a fun adventure, but after a few days, the glitz and glam wore off and we were ready to come back to good ole' Utah with its trees and fresh mountain air. But despite "Sin City's" filthiness, we came back with a few lessons about life (and a lot of souvenirs!)

Las Vegas itself is a little like the war between good and evil. The brochures all were so enticing, each promising excitement and entertainment, a respite from reality and a city that never sleeps. The lights and fancy casinos were beautiful and impressive at first. And nothing beats the food. We ate like kings! But after a day or two, we began seeing truth all around us. The brochures said nothing about the smell of cigarettes and alcohol that somehow slipped under the door of our "no-smoking: hotel room. Nor did they mention that about every 10 minutes we could expect to hear the siren of a racing ambulance or police car. We weren't told that the casinos that we would walk through were to be filled with lost, hollow souls numbly staring at flashing screens, which promised false hope of riches. It was fun to see Paris and the Bellagio, the Luxor, the MGM Grand, Excalibur, New York New York, and the Mandalay. The most unsettling experience for both of us was the walking salespeople. Each casino had highly persuasive men walking around looking for sweet, unsuspecting tourists like us. They promised us free tickets to be used at a "show" of our choice and vouchers for free meals. Though we said we were not interested, they persisted, promising us that we would have a good time. And they were everywhere! The funniest part was when we told one man that we were going to the dollar theater in town, so we didn't need tickets. He asked us what show we were going to see. You should have seen the look on his face as my awesome hubby responded, "Nanny McPhee Returns." He pretty much gave up on us at that point, probably guessing that we were Mormons.

Pedestrians in Las Vegas who walked even just a block away from the strip saw an entirely different downtown. There, they saw the sadness of drunken men, out of work and looking desperately for their next fix or drink. And I won't even start about the free pornographic pamphlets everywhere!

Anyway, the point is that Satan enlists the senses to help entice us to do evil. He tries to make sin seem appealing, exciting, flashy and desirable. Sadly, many fall for his lies, truly expecting a free show and a life free of consequences. But while our agency is free, we will never be able to choose our own consequences.

We visited the Las Vegas temple on our last day. What a contrast! As we stepped out of our car and walked around the grounds, we had a new appreciation for the sanctity of the Lord's House. The smells and noise of the city were forgotten. The landscaping was breathtaking and peaceful and we lingered for several hours.

As I have mentioned, I am currently serving in my stake's YW Presidency. I was THRILLED to hear that next year's theme will be the 13th article of faith. I felt that Las Vegas was the perfect visual. Though there are many unsavory sights and place in Las Vegas, anyone who lived there could find uplifting activities and be found in holy places. We were able to go see a very cute, clean movie, go to M&M World, and the chocolate factory, and to the Mormon Fort, as well as enjoy a picnic at a very nice city park. This could serve as an analogy as well. . . we were living in the world, but were trying hard not to be of the world.

Anyway, I know this post is very scattered, but the point to me is this. No matter where we find ourselves in life, or what Satan tempts us with, no matter how unsavory the world around us becomes, we always have the choice to live righteously. And as we do, we will be blessed with peace and security.

10th ANNIVERSARY

We're off! Tyler and I are headed to Vegas for our 10th Anniversary so don't expect any posts for about a week! Thanks all!

FOOD FOR THE BODY

WW PUMPKIN MUFFINS

(from http://www.laloosh.com/)

Serves: 24

Points: 3 (per muffin)

1 (18-oz.) box of spice cake mix

1 (15-oz.) can of pure pumpkin

1/2 c. applesauce

1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Spoon into greased or lined muffin tins. Bake as directed on cake mix box.