Anniversary

Twenty-nine years ago today I married my best friend.  We have had a lot of different experiences since that wonderful day.  It's crazy, the day we went to get married in the Logan Temple it was crazy foggy.  So I didn't take my veil or flowers or anything because I figured it was too foggy to take any pictures.  We didn't have a photographer or anything, so what are the odds.  When we came out of the Temple it was beautiful sunshine!

 

We had the reception in our church building. There were lots of friends and family that came and celebrated that day with us.

My dad was so excited that he jumped for joy that day!  We have this picture and it makes me laugh!  What wonderful memories I have of these times.  We have had ups and downs and crazy times, but through it all it's been a real adventure!

Fun Times and Changing Times

So for the last couple of days I've been able to spend some special time with this little guy!

It has been a fun time being with this little guy.  We live a ways away from him and so I don't get to spend too much time with him.  He has been such a joy.  He has been such a happy baby, and he's growing so incredibly fast.  It has been a blessing having him in our family.  He's a great little sleeper and such a joy.

On the other hand, we found out tonight that changes are happening on the work front.  I have been doing loan processing for a company out of Roy, Utah.  My boss came over today and told us that we will be making changes and that I will now be working for him, through another company.  I hope that this makes things easier.  One thing I will say for my boss,  he went to bat for all of his loan officers so that none of us would lose our jobs.  What a great guy.  I will write more when I find out how this will impact me.

And last but not least, tonight I made an incredible recipe.  It's called Roasted Cauliflower and Mushroom Soup.  Even my husband ate 2 bowls of it.  And he's not a mushroom soup guy.  So I guess the recipe is a keeper.  I got it from this website here.  It was easy to make and made the house smell so good.  Here is the recipe I hope you enjoy!

Creamy Roasted Cauliflower and Mushroom Soup

Ingredients

• 1 head of cauliflower, cut into pieces
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 2-3 pieces of bacon (optional)
• 2 tbsp bacon grease, butter or coconut oil
• 1/4-1/2 cup white onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp fresh thyme or 3 tsp dried
• 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 3 cups homemade chicken broth (or canned) 3/4 cup full fat coconut milk 2 tbsp grass-fed butter (optional) sea salt and pepper

Cooking Steps

Place the pieces of cauliflower in a bowl and coat with the 2 tablespoons of coconut oil. Place single layer on a parchment lined cookie sheet and sprinkle with salt and pepper and roast at 400 for 25-30 minutes
Cook the bacon in a skillet, reserve the grease, cut the bacon into pieces and set aside
Place the bacon grease, coconut oil or butter in a large sauce pan with the onion. Saute the onions until slightly browned
Add the garlic, thyme and mushrooms. Saute until the mushrooms are tender, about 5-10 minutes
Add the white wine and de-glaze the pan
Add the chicken broth and cauliflower and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer for 5 minutes
Place the soup, coconut milk and optional butter in a food processor or blender and combine until desired consistency
Salt and pepper to taste
Sprinkle the bacon pieces on top (optional)

Confessions ~ Taking Control of Life

Oh, I can't believe we're already half way through the month of January and I'm having to confess that I need to get back on the wagon. 

During the holidays I went off my Primal diet figuring that it wouldn't be that hard getting back on after.  Oh how wrong I was!!  I have struggled trying to get back off sugar since then. I can't believe how addicted I am to the stuff.  I had my husband hide the chocolate covered asai berries that were in my food storage and I've tried to throw out the other goodies in the house.  I do okay for a day, but then I get the headaches (dye off symptoms) and my heck I give right back in.  Yesterday I even searched the house for chocolate chips.  I felt so like a child and out of control of my life.  So as of this moment I am taking my life back and will not go back. 

I felt so good prior to the holidays.  I lost 15 pounds.  My sinuses were clear.  My skin looked beautiful and I felt good.  I had energy.  Now I'm reduced to a slug-type existence and I refuse to live like this anymore.  I want to be happy and healthy and feel wonderful.  I may not be model thin, but I can live with that as long as I have energy and know that the things I'm putting in my body are healthy and won't hurt me any longer. 

On a better note, I have been using coconut oil as my moisturizer.  I've made my own oil cleanser and my skin is looking good.  I am even going to try to make my own mascara later this week.  I will post later if this works. 

Have a wonderful week and remember ~ It's a beautiful day, life is good!

Looking Forward ~ 2013

So there are some things that I am looking forward to this year.  You'd think I was already wishing my year away - but I'm really not.  I'm just looking forward to these things happening.  As this year began, I wasn't sure about a couple of them but have made some decisions and now I feel a bit more centered. 

First off, I will be starting 2 beehives in our backyard.  I'm really excited to do this.  My sister has had a beehive in her yard and you can't believe her garden and plants.  Her yard is beautiful and she gets the benefit of having honey at the end of the summer.  I can't wait for this also, because I'm trying to get us a little more self-reliant and also off sugar.  So honey will be a great alternative.

Secondly, we are looking forward to our daughter putting in her mission papers in March or April.  She will turn 19 in July and can put her papers in 120 days prior to her birthday.  She has had this goal for years and it will be fun to see her determination pay off.  She is determined to take the love of our Savior out to the world and share.  I think this will be a wonderful opportunity for her to grown and learn how to love many people as well as have her testimony and faith grow.

Thirdly, I will be doing more work with our church on Family History.  I've been trying to make the decision to go back to work or do something where I can be more involved with people.  We live so far out that I was really considering starting a new business just to have something to do.  However, as I considered doing this, the feeling that I needed to focus on my own family kept creeping back on me.  And would I have the time to be the mom, wife and grandmother that I wanted to be starting a company?  Would it be all consuming? (I think it would have been).  Knowing my personality I would have put 110% into it and everything else would have suffered.  So now, I will do family history and temple work a couple days a week (that way I will see people) and on the other days I will continue to do mortgage loans for people and that will give me time to be a mom and grandma too.  My income isn't as important as my husbands, so I figure I can afford to do this.  I think it will be fun learning about who my ancestors were and what they were like.  I can't wait to start this.

So it is starting out to be a wonderful year with many new things to look forward to.  Life, what an adventure!!