Plain Yogurt Alert!

Until this summer, I don't think I even knew about plain (nonfat) yogurt. Pioneer Woman has discovered its many wonders and decided to share them with us. So, if you are interested in finding many new ways to use it in place of sour cream, mayonnaise, and even butter in your cooking and baking, then check out Pioneer Woman (just look for her entry in the cooking section from September 11th) I'm certainly going to give these a whirl! I could stand to shave some fat and calories for the sake of better health and weight-loss (still have 20 "pregnancy" pounds to lose)!

Recipes

Last night for dinner I made these. They may look simple and boring. But, believe me when I say they are not boring! They were so light, refreshing, and full of flavor. AND, they were super easy to put together! I served them with fresh mango.

Last week I made this and this, which were also a hit. Again, very easy to prepare and really delicious!

I'm really having fun trying new things. It makes cooking dinner a little more exciting because I have something new to look forward to!

Go make some!

P.S. Great pancake recipe here!

Amazing!

Okay, everybody, get out your tissues! You may have already seen this (video is at the end of this post), but it is worth watching again! I sobbed through the whole thing (but in a good way).


"' ...do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is
no path and leave a trail...'

A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?' The father who, despite having a heart condition, said 'Yes'. They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together. One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Iron man
together.' To which, his father said 'Yes'. For those who don't know, Iron man is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180 .2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island.

Father and son went on to complete the race together."

Here's the video!

Computer Trauma

So, this week our computer has almost been out of commission. It would work for a few minutes at a time, then would need to be shut down for several hours. Barry finally backed everything up, wiped the computer clean of everything, then started over installing all the goods. The pictures haven't made it back on yet. So, for now I'll use that as my excuse for not posting all the fun pictures that I want to share with everyone! =)

Can I just say that I have totally become addicted to food blogs?! I have recently discovered that there is an endless supply of wonderful blogs with beautiful pictures and delectable recipes! Who needs another cookbook when you can access any recipe you could possibly ever want (with 200 variations) online for free?!???! So, yes, I love love love to look at recipes. I could do it all day long (when I'm not reading about Mr. Darcy....). In the past I could look at hundreds of recipes and never try anything new (I know it's weird). But, I have made it a new goal to not just look at the recipes, but to actually try them! It's exciting to have new things to eat for dinner. Not just the same ole tacos, meatloaf, and spaghetti (don't get me wrong, I still love those, too)!

Over time (basically, whenever I remember), I will be adding new links to my blog so that you all can see for yourself.

Tah tah for now.

Love

As I was reading in Alma tonight I was really struck by something. In chapter 22 it is talking about king Lamoni's father ( I wonder why they don't tell us his name) and how he was so impressed by the way Ammon behaved when he met up with him and his son, Lamoni. Now the king is being taught by Aaron. The king desires greatly to know more about God and to understand the things he has been feeling since his meeting with Ammon. In verses 17 and 18 it reads, "yea, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth, and cried ^bmightily, saying:

18 O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day. And now when the king had said these words, he was struck ^aas if he were dead."

First of all, i had to look up the words "prostrate" because I really had no clue what it meant (I'm no English major....not even close)! It means "to cast (oneself) face down on the ground in humility, submission, or adoration." So, I'm pretty sure I've never done that. Never felt compelled (or humble) enough.

Second of all, the part that really impressed me was when the king said, "I will give away all my sins to know thee." The thought of giving away my sins is a huge concept for me. I don't know how to explain it well with words. But, I'm thinking that I have sins because I am human, yes, but more because I am selfish. I sin because I am usually more willing to do what I want than to do what God wants me to do. So, the act of giving away those sins, becoming selfless and desiring more than anything (more than to be selfish and to sin, to give in to indulgences) to know God. To be counted among one of His sheep. This gives me a really good idea about how the king must have been feeling at that point.

I want to find some way to feel that way myself! Baby steps, I guess. Barry attended the Stake Priesthood Meeting tonight and after he came home he shared the notes he had taken. One of the things he talked about was what Brother Robinson spoke on. He said that one of main problems (I guess as a stake, if I remember correctly) was that we don't want to do anything that might not be comfortable! Boy did that hit close to home. The first thing that came to my mind is the way that I pray. So often I am too lazy to get on my knees to pray. I will climb into bed and let my thoughts wander to God (while I am nice and cozy under the covers). How pitiful! To think of all the God does for me and all that He has sacrificed on my behalf, that is all I am willing to give to Him most days. I have some repenting to do tonight....

But, I don't want to focus on that. Instead, on the fact that I have a desire to do more. To be a better person. To be a great example of Christlike love to those around me. That will take a lot of effort for me. It is soooo easy to be selfish. I'm really quite good at it. I don't want to be selfish anymore. I want to have such a great desire to know God and to know that I will be with Him again (and to receive the blessings that are promised to me according to my faithfulness) that I am willing to give away my sins and my selfishness.

T.B.A.

Well, I had planned to make a new post loaded with pictures of my cute kids (if you're sick of seeing pictures of my cute kids, then you're definitely on the wrong blog!), but the internet is being super sloooooooow right now. Maybe everyone else in Alabama is online at 11:45 at night. So, it will have to wait. Just know that there is lots of cuteness to come. Brace yourselves!

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MADELYN!!!

Five Best Things To Say If Caught Sleeping At Your Desk

NUMBER 5: 'They told me at the Blood Bank this might happen.'

NUMBER 4 : 'This is just a 15 minute power nap they raved about in the time-management course you had me attend.'

NUMBER 3 : 'Whew! Guess I left the top off the White-out. You probably got here just in time!'

NUMBER 2: 'Did you ever notice sounds coming out of these keyboards when you put your ear down real close?'

And the NUMBER ONE best thing to say if you get caught sleeping at your desk: (Raising your head slowly) 'In Jesus name, Amen'