Merry Christmas 2012

I haven't been very good about posting this year.  It seems that other things have become much more important - my family!  I've been taking the time to enjoy this experience of being a grandma and still have children to parent.  So, forgive the lack of posts but know that I am enjoying life! 

I want to wish all of my friends and family a wonderful Christmas this year!  I have felt the love of my Savior in my life more this year than in years past.  I am trying more and more to incorporate His admonition to go and do good and I can tell it's making a difference in my life and the life of others.  I have been so blessed by being able to serve others this year. 

In a lesson that was given in our Relief Society meeting (a women's church group) at church yesterday we were admonished to be an influence for good in the world.  To make our presence known by the good we do.  I hope that I can do this more this year and that is one of my goals.  I believe that as Christians we need to show the world the way our Savior would have us live and treat others.  I am also hoping to do more with the genealogy in finding ancestors and learning about them.  I am planning on attending the Temple more so that I can be lead in the things I need to do.  So please forgive me if my posts become less frequent than they already are.  I just feel that these things need to take precedence in my life right now and that they will be a blessing to me and my family and hopefully to you my friends also.

So for now, I am wishing you all a very blessed Christmas and an wonderful New Year!!

Christmas Project of the Day

Today I made myself set down and finally get a project done.  I've been really enjoying this Christmas season.  I haven't really done anything much, I've just enjoyed it all.  So now we are at crunch time and here is what I accomplished today.  I listened to Christmas music and just enjoyed the Spirit of it all while I had fun and relaxed making these cute Aprons.  I'm an apron fanatic.  When I find a pattern I like, I just have to make it.  And these didn't even take a pattern.  So simple and fun!!

(Please pardon the fact that they are tied to one of my bar stools.  I couldn't find anyone to model them.)  I made for my Relief Society Presidency.   I got the idea from (where else) Pinterest.  Here is the Link that will take you to the website where I found them.  I think I will make a few more before Christmas.  I also think they will make a fun auction item for our Family Reunion this summer.

So tomorrow I guess I'm off to begin my shopping.  I am dreading this part and would much rather stay home and make fun projects.  I think my next fun item to make for friends is another idea from Pinterest.  They are these cute necklaces.  I will post pictures when they are done.

This the Season. . . .

Thanksgiving 2012

It's been awhile since I posted last.  I've been trying new things and staying busy.  It seems like on the days I don't plan to have anything to do, I have plenty and on the days I have plans, everything falls through.  So I've decided to just take it a day at a time. 

One of the new things I've been trying for the past 6 weeks is eating a Paleo diet.  I've read a lot about people with Celiac Disease and some studying.  One of the things that I've learned is that even though a person with CD may go off gluten for years, they still don't heal their guts.  So in an attempt to begin the healing, due to some of the research and reading, I decided to go off all dairy, all grain, all sugar that isn't natural, and all oils that aren't natural.  And during the past weeks I have begun to feel better.  My head is much clearer.  I can tell when I get something that I shouldn't.  One day I got some sugar and let me tell you - it wasn't pretty.  I was in tears all the next day.  I haven't had mood swings like this since I had my first child and went through post partum.  It is crazy.  There are days that I still go out with my husband and enjoy a normal gluten-free meal, but I am trying really hard to eat so much healthier.  A typical gluten-free diet, and this I know from experience, is filled with more sugar and starches than a normal healthy person's diet.  It's because of the flours and also companies trying to make things taste better.  And don't we all know that sugar makes everything taste better.  So I've been going through withdrawals.  I have lost 12 pounds and plan on continuing to eat better, but I will also add in exercise to get even healthier.  This is a new lifestyle for me.  And my sweet husband is willing to eat what I cook to support me.  I am one lucky girl!

My children all came up for Thanksgiving and they were all great sports about it.  My daughter brought rolls so I didn't have to have gluten around.  Each daughter brough pies, and I made some Paleo pies (which I must admit the crust I didn't like), the filling was wonderful.  Everything else was pretty much healthy.  I did eat potatoes, but I figure once a year is ok.  It was so wonderful to have everyone hear together.  I just wanted to sit and absorb each and every moment with them. 

I will probably have to do a detox in a month, but it won't be nearly as bad as the first few weeks were, because I plan on not partaking  of sugary sweets.  It was funny I even made it through Halloween without eating any sugar.  It was crazy, but I didn't have any cravings for it.  So if I continue to do this I feel like I should be ok and the first of the year should be a lot easier. 

I will continue to post, though I promise that it won't all be about Paleo, but I might mention it now and then.  I hope all of those who read this had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.