Bye Bye March

This last week has been fun and life changing. An old friend called me up and as we got talking she told me about some documentaries on Netflix that I should watch. She's in her 60's and very wise, I always love what she has to say. I watched "Food Matters" and it changed my life. I  decided to switch grocery stores and go organic. Harmon's is my new favorite grocery store and I don't mind driving so far for good food. We have had so much fun trying new food, new fruits and vegetables. I was so excited when I cam home that I took a picture of all the delicious food I bought. It's just about all made local from right here in Utah - and fresh!

We have enjoyed some delicious meals and my goal is to give my family the best immune systems ever, just from eating fresh organic food. So far, Manuel's sickness that he caught over the weekend quickly went away, my skin cleared up, my pregnancy pains went away and Cambrey's anxieties disappeared. I was told these things would happen once we started eating this better diet and it sure has. Apparently, two handfuls of cashews will do the same thing that one dose of Prozac will do. Cambrey is terrified of wind and had been crying earlier in the day when we had to step out of the car and go into the grocery store into the wind. She cries when she feels a small breeze.

As soon as we got home, I gave her the cashews and suddenly she said, "Mom, I'm so happy!" and she smiled and laughed non-stop. So, we took advantage of her good mood and went to the park. She jumped out of the car with no second thought about the wind and ran straight for the playground. Once there, she climbed to the top and shouted, "I'm not afraid of the wind!"  It was a miracle.

All day today my kids have been so good and very happy. There have been no fights and no problems. They also have a lot of energy. I attribute it to the healthy food we are eating. It really has made a big difference in our lives.

Grandma Bev came up to celebrate Easter with us, since we won't see her on Easter because of the new baby. She came up Friday afternoon and made us a homemade cherry, almond cake in my kitchen while I made a homemade wholewheat pizza. Then Manuel came home and we had pizza night with the kids. I bought apple beers (apple soda) that were made in Utah and are healthy (no corn syrup or artificial ingredients). We also enjoyed fresh garlic bread and salad while the kids watched Toy Story.

Manuel and I went on a quick date to go see the movie, Noah. It was a horrible movie and I don't recommend it to anyone. It was the only movie I have been to, where everyone in the audience walked out loudly complaining and warning the people coming into the theater not to waste their money on it. It was a very dark and depressing movie and a times very slow and boring.

Saturday morning we went out to breakfast at Sill's Cafe. It was our first time eating there, even though it has been around for decades and is a popular place. It was very crowded when we got there and we had to wait a long time for a seat. They are famous for their scones and cinnamon rolls. The cinnamon roll I ordered was the size of a large cake and fed my entire family. It was so big, that it causes a big scene as it made an entrance to our table. The hot chocolate I ordered had eight inches of whipped cream above the cup. We had so much food that we were able to take it home and eat it for breakfast on Sunday.

After breakfast, we went around the corner to the duck park and the kids played. Grandma Bev did an Easter egg hunt for the kids and I contributed some of the treats - jelly beans, pears and juices. My mom and I wrapped oranges and carrots in pretty bags and hid those as well. There were also chocolates and money. She gave Paisley and Cambrey a tea set and Gabe a green shirt that he really loves and some coloring books and chalk.

After that we went home and my mom helped me sort through bags of baby clothes that were given to me. We folded them and put them away and then we got ready to go to General Women's Conference. This was the first year they changed the rules and allowed girls eight years and older to attend. Since Gabe is a boy and Paisley is five, I couldn't bring my kids, but at least I had my mom. We enjoyed a delicious dinner at the stake center and then stayed to watch the conference. The building was full and the messages from the leaders of the church were very inspiring and needed. It was such a beautiful and spiritual night.

To make up for all the treats we had this weekend I have been making power smoothies. The kids love them and we have at least 6-8 fruits and vegetables in them, including almond milk and plain yogurt. We are healthy, happy and ready for the baby to finally come!

The giant cinnamon roll. We had already eaten half of it before we took this picture. The cute bulletin board I decorated this week at church

A cake I invented. It's a vanilla, poppy seed, raisin cake.

This is the poppy seed filling

Here is the trophy the girls won from clogging. Best overall team!

I'm so proud of myself. I made a German torte and the instructions were in German. When Manuel came home from work he was pleasantly surprised. I didn't have any help.

Here are the goods I bought at Harmon's

All made fresh and no preservatives or chemicals.

Yes, that is orange cauliflower and those are yellow beets.

The cherry almond cake my mom made. Manuel was addicted to it.

Getting ready for the hunt!

Go! Poor little Cambrey got a slow start.

She was scared of the breeze

They came home and had a tea party.

Making a power smoothie.

Cambrey transforming into a happy mood while eating cashews.

Reflecting on Life

I am so ready to have this baby! The doctor said he could come at any time now, even though I'm not due until April 12th. To help pass the time my calendar has stayed full of activities such as this cute one below. It was our Relief Society birthday activity at the church. They decorated everything with candy and the theme was "seek the sweet". We had a delicious dinner and desert and got to enjoy some amazing speakers from our own ward. It was a spiritually uplifting night and a nice break from the kids.

This weekend is the General Relief Society Meeting broadcast. I am looking forward to it! Our stake is putting on a dinner this year right before and it's the first time ever the church has invited daughters eight and older to come also. Too bad Paisley is five. My mom is coming up this weekend, so if I haven't had the baby yet and am not in the hospital, we'll be there getting spiritually fed. I love that the meeting is broadcasted world wide on TV, satellite or internet and in all languages.

I am even more excited for General Conference in April. With everything that has been going on in the world - including signs from the scriptures coming to pass and prophecies being fulfilled, I look forward to hearing from our prophet and his counselors just as much as ever. I have been preparing myself and my family over the past few years for the days that are ahead, both temporally and spiritually. We know difficult and scary times are just around the corner (all throughout the world) but it is so comforting to know that we have a living prophet guiding us. With faith, there is no room for fear. I didn't intend for this blog post to be of a spiritual nature today but the Holy Ghost has been prompting me to share these thoughts. I know that the Savior Jesus Christ will be returning soon and if we are prepared it will be a glorious day.

I'm thankful for the gospel and all that it has blessed me and my sweet little family with. I'm thankful for the knowledge I have of where we came from, why we are here and where we are going after we die. I'm thankful for the recent testimony I have received that our life here on Earth isn't about what we gain from the world. We can't take our money, our cars, our house and our status with us when we die. None of that will matter. All that will matter is what we did to serve and help others and how we treated our neighbors and family. We take our love with us and our knowledge with us. The more knowledge we gain in this life and the more time we spend feeding our spirit, the better off we will be in the next life. We will be so much further ahead.

So why do we get distracted in this life with trying to climb the ladder of success? Why do we spend so much time trying to earn more money, receive more praise and recognition, have more things, gain more friends and become more loved by the world? It's a big waste of time. None of this will bring us closer to God or bring us eternal happiness. The more we have and the more we seek to have, the more we become distracted from what's really important and the further we drift away from God.

He wants us to know Him better and to have a relationship with Him. If it means sending storms our way and challenging trials, then that's what He will do to get us to turn to Him. The world has forgotten Him and time is running out.

I have made a big change in my life and I challenge you to do the same. To protect my family from the storms that are coming I have set aside all the things in my life that just aren't important and I have let them go. I focus on praying more with my family, reading the scriptures more with my children and teaching them about God's plan for them. We play together more. I spend more time talking to them and helping them grow more love for their Savior Jesus Christ. They know who their Heavenly Father is and they know who the Savior is. They know that anytime they are troubled, scared or need something they can use the power of prayer to open the heavens and talk to their Heavenly Father. They know who He is and they love Him. He blesses them and they recognize all of their blessings.

My kids are strong, they have amazing faith and they love the gospel. Sometimes I feel like they are older and wiser spirits trapped in tiny bodies. They teach me and my husband so much. I know that they were reserved to come to the Earth at this time where they will have a significant role in building the Lord's kingdom here on Earth. They have amazing talents, gifts and personalities and I am humbled to be their mother.

I am blessed and happy to have a roof over my head, clothes to wear and food to eat. But I am even more blessed to have the knowledge that I do about the gospel and to have the blessings that I receive from the covenants I have made and kept with my Heavenly Father. My family and I are blessed and we share those blessings with others. We give to the Lord and we give to His children. I know that I am nothing without God. Everything I have is a gift from Him. There is nothing that I gain on my own in this life, it all comes from Him - even my ideas. I thank Him everyday for all He gives me. The more I thank Him, the more I am blessed.

We live in a wonderful neighborhood and ward. Everyone is so willing to help and serve each other without being asked. I have over 300 people in less than a one mile radius who I can rely on if I need them. We are a big family. We all take care of each other and love each other. My husband and I are truly happy. We have a wonderful life and so much to be thankful for. I have asked God many times to use us as tools in His hands and He has. With all He does for us, it isn't difficult for me to give my time to Him and to serve Him.

It's amazing to me, how many people visit my blog from all over the world. I felt it was important for me to take the opportunity today and write about the thoughts that are burning in my heart. I hope that you watch General Conference and that you pray to find any answers that you are searching for. I know if you do this, that you will find those answers in the words spoken by the prophet and the apostles and your life will change.

Here is the link for General Conference https://www.lds.org/church/events/watch-april-2014-general-conference?lang=eng   You can select your preferred language at the top of the page.

Jana spoke about trials Brooke spoke about inner beauty

Sherrie spoke about friendship

Some of my friends from the neighborhood/church.

The cute candy table displays

Cambrey likes to spend her time with the tablet. She sneaks into it and hides it all the time. She took out her ponytail and loved the way her hair fell over her shoulder, so she asked me to take a picture of her.

She was so proud of the way that she styled her hair and did her makeup. It reminds me of "Boy George" from the 80's.