FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--Prayers for the Rassmussens

This week has been a doozy!  Last weekend, we had the fantastic opportunity to spend three days camping with Tyler's mom and siblings at the annual Walton family reunion.  We spent some much-needed time away from our hectic lives and reacquainted ourselves with the idea of relaxation.  It was wonderful.  On Friday we went swimming at the city pool, where the kids enjoyed going down the big slide again and again and again!  Right as we were leaving, Matthew ran, nose first, into a metal railing and managed to produce the bloodiest bloody nose I've ever seen!  When we got back to camp, he fell asleep in a camping chair, completely exhausted from his unfortunate experience.  Poor guy!  On Saturday, we broke up camp, came home and got showered and primped, then headed off to the open house for the Brigham City Temple!  I have been waiting for this moment for over two years and I have to tell you...it did not disappoint!  I was so moved, that I basically cried my way through the tour.  I was also so grateful to have my own four children with me so they could see how beautiful the temple is on the inside. I may sound biased, but I am positive that the interior of the temple is the finest, most breathtaking interior I have seen in any of the temples I have visited.  It was a blessed, blessed experience and I am counting the days until the dedication of the building.  I can't wait to go do a session, or a million!  We also had the opportunity to direct traffic in one of the shuttle parking lots for the open house for a whopping five hours in the blazing sun!  Would you be surprised if I told you that even that was a spiritual experience.  It just felt so good to be a part of the experience and to help out.  Our tiny community has been swarmed with visitors from all over the nation, and even from several different countries.  It is such an exciting time and I am so grateful to witness it!  I

Yesterday was a hard day for our family.  In the last two years, we have become dear friends with the Rasmussen family.  Our friend, Trent, has been battling cancer with all his might, and yesterday his fight ended and he returned (with honor) to his Heavenly Father's presence.  It has a been a rough day and a half.  I have such mixed emotions.  I am heartbroken for his sweet family.  He is survived by his wife, Holly, and their five children, ranging from ages three to 15.  I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of the Atonement and of the eternal nature of the family.  I am also so happy for Trent.  I know that now he is free of pain and sorrow and that he is serving as a missionary on the other side.  He was such a good person and he and Holly have changed me and many others forever.  I have learned much about myself and my own priorities in life.  Tyler and I have a better marriage because of the example they have set.  Theirs is a beautiful love story...the real deal. I have been so honored to know them and have them in my life.  If you would like to read Holly's story, her blog address is www.lookingupandkneelingdown.blogspot.com..  Get a box of tissues.  I know you'll be changed forever too. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

“Ask yourself, 'How did God bless me today?' If you do that long enough and with faith, you will find yourself remembering blessings. And sometimes, you will have gifts brought to your mind which you failed to notice during the day, but which you will then know were a touch of God’s hand in your life.” –Henry B. Eyring

FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT--This is Nuts!

Whew!  You know, life is CRAZY!  Work, clean house, cook dinner, exercise, sleep, repeat.  I can't believe how quickly this Summer is going by.  I really, really can't believe that I am going to be sending all FOUR of my chickies off to school this year!  Kelsey is going to be a mighty fifth-grader...her last year in elementary school (!).  Katie will be a third grader, Matthew will be in first grade and my little Macey will be in preschool.  And don't forget about Tyler, who will be a college senior...AGAIN!  5/6 of my family members are students.  This is nuts, folks!  But life really is good.  So, so good.  Through the comfort of the gospel, I really am feeling much better about things.  We'll just keep taking things one day at a time.  The Lord will bless us each day as we are anxiously engaged in this business of becoming self-reliant again and getting Tyler through school.  I pray that he will also bless my efforts with the children.  Being as overextended as I am, sometimes the energy I am able to offer my poor kidlets feels a little like the "mommy's mite".  I hope that He will magnify my efforts and that they will somehow turn out all right!  (I'm being too hard on myself.  I am a good mom.  Just a very tired good mom!)

Anyway, I am doing better with tracking my food and being on plan.  I have decided to stop avoiding meetings and start facing the music.  Last week I saw what I knew was going to be a significant gain, but this week has been much, much better and I feel like I have my drive back.  I am looking forward to a good loss tomorrow night.  I am so grateful for the program and for God's help with each choice I make.  I am learning more and more to just take things one choice at a time and to not get overwhelmed or distracted.  And it seems to be working.  My energy is coming back and I'm feeling better already.  I can totally do this!!!