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.