Food for thought

Every once in awhile I have one of those defining moments that really stick and give me courage.  This time is was when I realized, as I was walking up the steps in the main lobby of Main Hall, that if I didn't do something soon I would be relegated to the elevator soon. The ache in my knees and hands was getting worse all the time and, even though I had seen several doctors, I was getting nowhere.  A friend of mine had done a raw food diet last year and I watched the pounds fall off her in the 9 weeks she was on it.  I knew that most of my issues were because of my weight and no matter how "good" I was eating things still didn't change.  Even being on a well known weight loss programs hadn't worked as it should.
Before moving into our little cottage I had numerous experiences letting me know this move was important. One of those was a whispering that came to me about 6 months ago that if I moved to this house it would save my life.  I thought that was an odd little tidbit but had tucked it away in my mind. After we had been here just a few days the thought returned to me very strongly and I started contemplating what it meant.  My friend came to my mind.  She and I used to be visiting teaching companions when I was in this ward before and we worked in the SVU women's society together but I had never talked to her about her diet in too much detail.  On my second Sunday here I told her my impression and that I needed her help to make it happen.
She gave me all of her menus and shopping lists and John and I have now been on a raw foods diet for 4 weeks and I have lost 15 lbs and great body fat percentages.  The aching in my hands and knees are greatly improved and I have energy and feel wonderful.  I still sometimes crave a little meat or chips but those times are rare and the results keep me focused.One of the bases for this diet is the book

The website is also very informative:
http://originalfastfoods.com/

A lot of it is based on the story of Daniel and his refusing to eat the Kings food so that he will be stronger.
The diet progresses over the weeks and this week I finally get to have sprouted grain bread!
What is really interesting is that this diet is taking me back to the things we used to do when we owned our health food store,Etta's Herbs and Good Things, back in Woodburn Oregon!
I'm sprouting things again and grinding and making my own flour and yes, Tofu pudding!...I guess we really do circle back in our old age! My freezer is full of fruit we are freezing since it is plentiful now:

Next is adding exercise.  Now that the aches and pains are subsiding I can finally walk and I look forward to a more vigorous future!
God really is mindful of all of us and our needs and I am grateful he wants to save my life!

A very moving experience!

Well, once again we have moved!  Emilie and Logan were able to purchase a larger home in Lexington (which they very much needed!) so we have moved into their little house in BV. We have decided to call it "the cottage" and we are finally all in.  It's funny how your perspective changes with time on things.  I never dreamed we would want to move into a tiny place and truly downsize but here we are and we are quite enjoying it.  There are advantages to not having much to clean and you certainly don't get exhausted walking across the house.  Dad is happy because he has soil to play in and he has already planted peas!  He has a vision of how he wants the yard to be and is making plans on how to accomplish it.  We are looking for new ways to increase space and make our little home more efficient and warmer.  Here are a few before and after pictures:
Kitchen Before:

Kitchen done (sort of still working on placement etc)

Living Room Before:

  

 

 

After:

Study before:

After:

We (John and JJ!) hung The TV on the wall:

Bedroom, not totally done but inhabitable!

 Our new friend- the infrared heater! (sitting on the new carpet so things are warmer)

Here is a picture of the outside from two winters ago but it looks pretty much the same--minus the snow~

 And for those of you who haven't seen her yet, here is Hunny our new little dog.  She is such a delight! She has the sweetest disposition, gets along with the grandkids great and hardly ever barks, she is a great fit! (this was her SPCA picture, that's why it looks like a prison shot!). 

Here I am with Tommy and Hunny.. not the best of me but good of the two of them!

A long time ago John gave Emilie a little plaque that said "Bloom Where You are Planted" and that is exactly what we intend to do!  I am also going to put on my wall "In the Cottage There is Joy..."  The Lord continues to bless us knowing much better our needs than we do!

Memories are made of this PART 2

We traveled down to Newberg to arrive the night before Sarah's 16th birthday.  JJ and Brittany got to have their own little "cottage" out in the camper and Dad and I took up the office.We enjoyed visiting and on Friday John JJ and Brittany went to the Temple while Hope and I did some errands to get ready for Sarah's party.  We snagged a few burgers and shakes at Burgerville (yummy Peppermint chocolate!) since it is a restaurant we truly miss.  Seth and the girls came over for the celebration withan ice cream cake from Baskin Robins!

Sarah opening a gift with Mercedes

Sweet Sixteen

I can't seem to get the video of her blowing out the candles to load so I will suffice it to say that she did an excellent job with only two poofs!  After we had the yummy ice cream cake we went outside for pictures:

On Saturday we went over to the farm and took JJ and Brittanys official "door" picture.  Papa and I decided we should have one too and so we waved goodbye to the property.

 Saturday night we had our Christmas Eve time and Sarah "played" Papa's night before Christmas.
On Christmas morning Sarah awakened us all at 6 AM and we watched as she rejoiced over her CELL PHONE!! It was great to see her so excited...she had gotten and IPOD Touch the day before so she had a great two days. After the present festivities we went to church and were able to see many old friends and listen to a nice Christmas program.

After Church we ate a bite of lunch and then headed for Lincoln City!!!  Here is the view from our house that we rented "The Victorian":

 We had a wonderful time doing the nativity play:

Just talking, playing the family card game and enjoying each others company:

We had great meals, wonderful conversation, fun times and some even actually went on the beach!  Through Hope's magic with her tripod we got wonderful family pictures!

Tara and her Fiance Mike

The Whole Clan

All the Grandchildren

Emilie and Logan's Family

Christy and Ryan's family

Seth and the girls

JJ & Brittany

Hope & John and Sarah

All the children

Children and Spouses

We had such a marvelous time...it is a mothers dream come true to have all of her children and grandchildren around her.  This is our little slice of Heaven to last us for awhile.....sigh

I love my family and am so grateful to Heavenly Father that he made all of this possible!

:

Memories are made of this PART 1

The trip is over and the jet lag is leaving but the memories will always live on! Thanks to the magic of photography, my great Ipad and Hopes photographic skills we have the pictures to make that happen!

We decided back in the summer that we wanted to have our whole family together in Oregon for Christmas this year and with the help of a kind Heavenly Father we were able to do it.

We flew to Seattle with JJ and Brittany, Emilie, Logan, Tommy, Jack and Anna where we got separate cars and headed off for family.  Emilie and Logan to Logan's parents (we love you Connie and Tad!) the rest of us went to Christys arriving at around 3 in the morning (their time!)

After a brief period of sleep and some relaxing we headed into Seattle to show Brittany Pike Street Market. We parked at the bottom of the hill and walked up to the market...enough said! We didn't have a lot of time to look around but had an intriguing lunch called a Hombow  (click here) which we could eat on the run.  We sampled apples and other fruits, chocolate noodles and we watched the fish fly!

We then headed to the IMAX theater so we could see Mission Impossible, 7 stories high, and see the trailer for the new Batman movie (real reason for going to the IMAX) We got there just under the wire as they were ready to close the doors...we ran DOWN into the theater.  Trailer was great (according to JJ) and the movie was OK (got a little airsick in the 130 story hotel in Dubai- way too clear). Boy that Tom Cruise can do amazingly impossible things!

The next day we headed over to Goldendale Washington to visit our friends Pete and Joy and JJ and Brittany headed down to Newberg.

We had a beautiful drive and  a great visit.We had lots to talk about since we have been friends for over 30 years!
A view going across the mountains:

Snoqualmie Pass

 We saw LOTS of Wind Farms.. They make the landscape kind of eerie looking and they are HUGE.

 John with Pete: They have known each other a LONG time.

 After a wonderful nights sleep and a lot more conversation we traveled to Hood River to put flowers on John's parents graves and then hustled down to Newberg for the second leg of our trip...

Such Devoted Sisters

Hope once made the statement that the longest relationship you have is with your siblings so we should always make the effort to be close to our brothers and sisters.  I have often reflected on that statement and it was one of the driving forces that made me want to live on the east coast.  I have been away from my sisters most of my adult life and wanted the chance to get to know each other better and to be able to be with each other on a regular basis.  Since I have come back here we have really sought to get together as often as possible.  It doesn't really matter where you go or what you do as long as you are together and you get to talk!  All of our husbands agree that they don't really "need to be around"( really means don't want to be!) when we are together!
Last year we had a real scare with Kathy and it deepened our appreciation for each other and for the fragility of life and how much we mean to each other.  After she was better we were able to take our vacation to the Greenbrier and had a great time: (you can check out my blog entry of 3/5/2011 if you missed that one)

This summer we were able to see each other on several occasions with the last one being JJ's wedding reception:

 All of us have our own opinions on a whole variety of issues and we try to respect those differences. We have all had ups and downs, triumphs and tragedies that have shaped and molded our lives.  Some we have faced alone and some together but we have always known that we have the love and support of each other. Coming from the same background of kind parents we all have grown to appreciate what we had in our family.  We understand certain traits that we share (therapeutic shopping, the art of a good deal, intense loyalty, strong handshakes!) even when others don't!
 This year we got together to have our sister time and our "cardinal obsession" (we keep saying we will stop!) was taken to new levels!!  We had such fun with our PJ's, robes and slippers:

I thought I would include the first picture of us together as sisters in pajamas.  Oh to be that thin again! Our dad gave us these!

We even cooked together this time..note the cardinal shirts..

I bring along a mayonaise jar with our picture on it that is filled with questions to help us talk about things that matter and to allow us to get caught up on lost years with each other.  Everyone usually groans when I bring it out but it is always so interesting to see how each answers. I love hearing what they feel and to learn of insights I have never had. This time we discussed "who in the family inspired you the most" and "If you could change any decision in your life what would it be". Interesting things to ponder! I'm still thinking on what I would change..so many decisions that could look "wrong" led to so many things that would never have taken place that were good!
Now Connie faces serious health issues but she knows she has the love, support and prayers of her sisters and somehow we will all get through this together. My sisters are precious to me and I see a little of myself in each one and we all see our parents in each other.  What a marvelous blessing Heavenly Father has given us, each other! Treasure your siblings...It is probably the longest relationship you will have.
 For your enjoyment: