FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--Miracles Still Happen

Whew! Yesterday (Sunday) was a whirlwind, but such a wonderful, uplifting day. First, I was the visiting speaker to another ward in my stake. The other speaker was a high council member and he spoke about the power of prayer and how to recognize answers as we receive them. He made a good point when he noted that many of us pray like we're putting coins into a vending machine. We wait for the answer to instantaneously fall into the tray, like it's a candy bar or something. But usually, prayers come after much study, reflection, and time has passed by. It was an excellent visual and a helpful reminder to me.

Then, I had the opportunity to "visit" my own ward for our ward conference. It was such a spiritual day!

One of our dear ward family members fell into a diabetic coma several months ago and was lifeflighted to Ogden Regional Hospital. There, her family members were told that she likely would not be able to pull through. Still, a week later, she was taken off her ventilator because she was able to breathe on her own. She continued to improve, but was still not expected to live long. After several weeks, she was moved to a nursing home, still in critical, but stable condition. The nurses there all reaffirmed to her family members that it was only a matter of days or weeks until she would be gone. About this time, she received a priesthood blessing from our stake president. He didn't feel prommpted one way or the other about whether or not she would be healed, but after the blessing he looked at her, saw how sick she appeared, and called the relief society president of our ward and told her to expect a funeral in the next few weeks. Miraculously, the next day she woke up. Not only that, but she began talking coherently to the nurses, asking for family members, recognizing visitors. By the end of the day, she was asking for food and able to walk to the bathroom herself. That was about two weeks ago. Yesterday, she walked into sacrament meeting with her husband, who has been inactive for years. As ward members saw her, they could not deny that a true miracle had taken place.

During sacrament meeting, our stake president (who is a member of our ward), told us of yet another miracle that happened during the week. His daughter and son-in-law and their five sweet children have been living with him for about a year because the son-in-law was battling stage four sarcoma. The cancer had already metasticized, and he too, had been dealt a death sentence. Countless doctors had told him that with all the tumors that riddled his insides, there was absolutely no way he would pull through. Still, to buy him as much time with his beautiful family, they commenced with chemotherapy, surgeries, and radiation. At each appointment, with each specialist, he was told the same thing: "Get things in order. Spend as much time with your family as you are able. You will not live long."

At one point, a radiologist looking at his x-rays, said that it looked like there was a "hail storm of tumors" inside his body. There were tens of thousands of them.

Two weeks ago, in one last-ditch attempt to remove some of the largest tumors, he had another major surgery. A day or two later, he and his wife met with their doctor to go over the results of the surgery. The doctor was visibly moved as he tried to explain the unexplainable: according to new tests and scans, the cancer cells were dying. This was medically impossible, but it was still happening. The doctor began crying as he told the couple that a miracle had happened. There was no other word.

So yesterday our stake president announced with tears in his eyes, that his son-in-law is cancer free.

I wish each of you could know this family. They are so sweet and special. They are remarkably strong in the gospel. I've never met a family quite like them. I can't think of anyone more deserving. There was not a dry eye in the congregation.

So my testimony to you is this: miracles still happen. All. The. Time ...

WEIGH-IN RESULTS

It's now been a month since I went back to Weight Watchers and I'm pleased to announce that I hit my 15 pounds mark tonight at my weigh in. I also got my 5% award. I'm so pleased. I haven't had much time to post lately, but I wanted to make sure I thanked my blog readers for your love and support. As always, I also must thank my loving Heavenly Father. With Him, I know nothing is impossible. :)

FOOD FOR THE BODY

BLUEBERRY OAT MUFFINS
(from my own recipe box)

(Sorry, no pictures this time!)

Serves: 12
PointsPlus: 4 (per muffin)

1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. oats
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 egg whites
1/2 c. water
1/3 c. oil (I use canola)
1 c. fresh or frozen, unthawed blueberries or mixed berries

In a bowl, combine firt six ingedients. In another bowl, beat together egg whites, water and oil. Stir into dry ingredients until moistened. Fold in bleberries. Fill paper-lined muffin cups. Bake at 400* for 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. ***These freeze well.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness." --Eleanor Roosevelt

FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT-Inspired and NieNie

My life lately has been AWESOME! I feel renewed, motivated, and InSPiReD like I haven't in months. On the weight loss front, I have been working SO hard ... still doing the elliptical machine six days a week, Zumba twice a week, and sticking to plan with WeightWatchers new PointsPlus system (which is amazing!) I lost ten pounds on my own before heading to WW's and since joining three weeks ago, I've lost another 11.5. Yay! I feel amazing, strong, vibrant, confident, beautiful, and hopeful. I've decided to make the 16 Principles from Alma 57-58 that I mentioned in my last FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT post, my guidelines for this battle against weight. I know I just called it a battle, but truly, I am finding a lot of joy. Who knew I could Zumba for an hour straight or do two miles of elliptical machine training? Who knew I could lose 22 pounds in six weeks? Who knew? I know now that nothing is impossible with God. And I feel him with me. I also can feel angels "round about" me as I work. I pray that God will continue to magnify my efforts and maximize my results.

I am also LOVING being an at-home mommy again. It has been an adjustment though. I think I'd forgotten how much work it is. But such blessed work. I want to share something with you that helps me remember what is means to be a mommy ... my favorite blog. I hope you'll go visit this amazing woman's website and read all about her family and about her life. She has quite the story to tell. Her perspective on motherhood reminds me of its sweetness and meaning. Here is a little quote from one of her posts. I have this passage printed and up on my refrigerator ... just to remind me to have fun with my mommyhood:

"I made dinner. It was calming. I fed my children, fulled their tummies, bathed them, combed hair, rubbed lotion on sweet fingers and cheeks. And we happily cleaned up the kitchen and then I put them in their cozy little beds. I kissed freshly brushed mouths, played their lullabies, and quietly shut the door."

Idyllic? Maybe, but believe me ... there is nothing idyllic about the adversity that Stephanie Nielson has faced in order to gain this perspective. You can visit her blog at http://www.nieniedialogues.com/ Also be sure to check out the video the LDS church made about her experience. It's called "My New Life." You can find it in the side bar on her website or search for it on YouTube. Once you meet this amazing woman, you'll fall in love with her and her family. I know she'll change your life too.