Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving!!



Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

I love Thanksgiving, it is one holiday that has not turned commercial.

I love that the Friday after Thanksgiving is called Family day.

What a blessing that we can have a great long weekend being with family & friends.

We have time to think of the abundance of blessings in our lives!



"Gratitude is a mark of a noble soul and a refined character. We like to be around those who are grateful. They tend to brighten all around them. They make others feel better about themselves. They tend to be more humble, more joyful, more likable."
Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Live in Thanksgiving Daily,"

Sam went to the doctor..

Today Sam went to the doctor, it is part of our quest for Factor V carriers.

I thought since he was 18, he did not need me to go with him.

Wrong!

He told me if I would go all the way to Vienna to take Katie to the doctor.

I could go with him to Charleston Drive. Such a cute boy.



New Church Calling...




I have a new church calling... I was gone for a Sunday and got a new calling. It really was not quite that bad, Mike did run it past me. So I am Cub Scout Committee Chair, whatever that is. At the first meeting they gave me this box of stuff. I was sorting thru and came upon a list of Ten Tips for Tackling the Tears. It made me a little nervous about the new calling. Well anyway I thought it was a pretty good list that we can all use in this stressful world.
My favorite of course is #10, More benefits then I knew of.

Ten Tips for Tackling the Tears
1. Make Time to Relax
Find ways of relaxing. Learn how to meditate or use relaxation exercises. Listen to soothing music. Take a bath. Do whatever helps you relax.
2. Maintain a Normal Routine
As much as possible, try to stick to a normal daily routine. Limit additional responsibilities. Learn to say “No.”
3. Eat a Healthy Diet
Focus on whole grains, fruits & vegetables. Avoid excessive sugar, fatty foods and caffeine.
4. Include Exercise as Part of Your Day
Participating in some kind of moderate exercise activity for at least 30 minutes of most days helps relieve stress, boost energy levels, aid sleep and improve mood.
5. Keep a Positive Attitude
Holding positive thoughts, rather than succumbing to a negative one can help in maintaining a positive attitude. Think positive about yourself. Surrounding yourself with positive and inspiring people can help elevate your mood.
6. Participate in Activities you Enjoy
Make time for hobbies and other interests. Read a good book. Garden, knit, be part of a sports team. Keep a journal. Work on crafts. Volunteer your services.
7. Get Enough Sleep
Getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night will make it easier to cope with stress. A well rested person is more alert and quick thinking and less irritable, grouchy and tense.
8. Talk with a Trusted Person
Talking with someone about intense feelings when stressed can be helpful. Share feelings with a trusted friend, family member, healthcare professional, or clergy. Sharing the distress helps to lessen the feelings of distress.
9. Learn to Adapt Instead of Control
Accept that there will be situations, events and people that throughout life that you are unable to control. Learning to be flexible, to roll with the punches and ride the waves can help in reducing stress.
10. Remember to Laugh!!
Laughter is one of the best medicines; it releases chemicals into the brain that promote relaxation. People who are able to find humor in life and are happier tend to be more productive, live longer and have less physical problems. Maybe a good laugh a day will help keep the stressors away.





Monday, November 24, 2008

The tests have begun...

Today I had my blood drawn, they took 3 of these little vials.
Mike goes on Wednesday to have his blood drawn.
It is the quest to see who is the carrier of Factor V Leiden.
The doctor said whoever is the carrier will need their family to be tested.
For simplicity sake I hope Mike is the carrier,
there are alot less people in his family that would need to be tested.
They have to "send the blood out" (I am not sure where they are sending it)
so it will take two weeks for the results.
I will keep you posted.
as the world turns....

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Thanksgiving Tradition...

One of our Thanksgiving Traditions is to have Pumpkin Waffles for breakfast. When we first started making them, the kids were leary. But now they all love them enough to have them once a year. I have hauled my waffle iron to St. George, Salt Lake & even Breckenridge, Colorado.
The syrup is divine.
Pumpkin Waffles
Mix Together:
2 cup flour
2 Tbsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1 Tbsp. sugar
½ tsp. nutmeg
¼ tsp. ground coriander
¼ tsp. salt
Add:
4 egg yolks
1 c. pumpkin
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1 ½ cup milk
¾ cup margarine melted
Beat 4 egg whites till stiff peaks and fold into batter

Buttermilk syrup:
½ cube butter (not margarine)
½ cup buttermilk
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. light corn syrup
Bring to a boil and take off heat.
Add 1 tsp baking soda and 1 tsp. vanilla.
It will bubble up quite a bit, so make sure you use a large enough pan to allow for this.
Stir it until it settles.
Enjoy!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Off to a Retreat!

Katie and I are heading to St. George for a weekend with the women in my family.
We will laugh, shop, eat, laugh, make crafts, go to the Temple, and have a fabulous time together.

Here is a picture from last year of some of us at the Tai Pan store.

This Girl's Retreat is an annual event, I have been gone alot this year, but I can't miss this.

I am leaving the boys to fend for themselves once again, but we have stocked up on cereal and frozen pizza... they will be fine.


Sunday, November 9, 2008

Family...Life..etc.

It is a great weekend when all my family is home together.

We have Stake Conference this Weekend.
The visiting Authority is Elder Kikuchi.
We went to the Saturday night meeting.
You know you are in a different stage of life when 2 of your 3 children are adults.
Well all 3 kids ended up going to the meeting with us and it was wonderful.


Mike reported that in the afternoon Leadership Meeting. Elder Kikuchi said we all need "our own Sacred Grove". That 6 days a week (sleep in Saturday) we should get up 15 minutes earlier, get ready for the day (shower etc). Find a secluded place, have a prayer, and read a chapter in the Book of Mormon.

It made me think about what I do when I first get up...
How much time do I spend reading blogs as to
how much time reading the Scriptures?
Just something to ponder on this Sunday morning.



Sunday, November 2, 2008

Riley & Soccer


Woo Hoo!! The season is over and Centennial is undefeated in regular season games!

Riley's most loyal fans!! We are glad Katie came back for some games.

Mike is also a loyal fan... he took the picture!

Cute Riley #13 our lucky number!
Good Luck in Regionals this week!