Have an Attitude of Gratitude!

I was so grateful to be feeling better from this sinus infection and being able to go to church this morning. I missed church last week because I was ill. It is amazing how much I miss it when I am not there. I especially love being able and worthy to partake of the emblems of the sacrament. They are a blessing in my life and being able to renew those each sunday. I really enjoyed Relief Society this morning. The lesson was on Gratitude. It gave me a lot to think about and the things that were talked about and shared during the lesson really affected me and made me think of how I can do better at showing my gratitude to my Heavenly Father and my family.

Gratitude is one of the most powerful emotions you can use to bring all-good into your life in absolute abundance. No matter who you are, no matter where you are, or whatever you are going through, gratitude can dissolve all negativity in your life, no matter what form it has taken.

When you focus your thoughts and feelings on gratitude you are turning toward all the good that is being permanently offered to you. But when you complain, blame, criticize, feel resentment, jealousy, or any negative emotion, you are turning away from all that is good.

As each of us think, speak, and feel gratitude, we are transforming our energy - remember a universal law - "you get what you focus on". Focus on being grateful each and every minute of your day, say thank you, thank you, thank you as many times as you can and watch your life transform before your eyes!

I am going to write down 50 things I am grateful for today. Take the time to really think about it. I am going to start a Gratitude Journal for next year and write in it each day all the things I am truly thankful for and blessed with. I hope my family might join me in this and we will all be alot happier. I love you all!

Merry Christmas!

We hope all of our family near and far had a wonderful Christmas! We had a wonderful day with our children and grandchildren. I am grateful to celebrate the Savior's birth and grateful for all that he has done for me. I am looking forward to the New Year and hope that I can set some goals for myself and make some good improvements in my life in the coming year. I love you all.

It is almost Christmas and I am under the weather!

Well, Christmas is almost here. Thank goodness all my gifts are bought and wrapped and most of them are under the tree. I started getting sick on Thursday. By Saturday morning I was not feeling well at all. Lyndon said to get my behind into insta-care that morning and so I did. I have a heavy duty sinus infection going on. It feels like it too! I have a headache, the bones in my face hurt to even touch them. I am coughing, because of drainage and constantly blowing my poor, sore little nose. Poor thing is all red. The doctor put me on a powerful dose of amoxicillian. It seems to be doing the trick. I am staying home from church and just resting my tired sick body today. I want to be well for Christmas and with the anti-biotics in me I should be good as new for the holidays. Thank goodness for medicine!

I have been getting sick for the last several months and we couldn't figure out why. Well, the paint in our bedroom in one corner has been peeling off since August. Friday, Lyndon peeled more paint off and found that the sheet rock is mouldy and so is the insulation. We found that the brick outside has some places in it that is not sealed and the water from the sprinklers on that side of the house has been soaking into the insulation and sheet rock. I talked to the doctor about my being sick so often and she said that that very well could be some of the cause of my being sick so often. So yesterday as I was resting, Lyndon removed furniture from our room and tore that wall, sheet rock and insulation out. It was pretty bad. We found that the walls didn't even have two by fours under the sheet rock, just firring strips. Duh! So we have to take down the sheet rock where the other window is, because it is done the same way. We will probably have to do all the bedrooms this winter and get them fixed. So guess what we are getting each other for Christmas? A newly done bedroom. I guess it is time, we were just going to wait until spring, but we are starting it early. It has been 15 years since we last painted, so it is time. I am excited to get it done, just didn't expect to have all this extra work to do, but it must be done.

Well life goes on and we have been richly blessed this past year. I am grateful for all my many blessings and for such a wonderful family that I love. I hope all of you reading this has a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year! We love you all!

Oh Christmas Tree and Decor!

These are our decorations! Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

I am so happy!

During the months of September and October, I went on a sugar and candy binge. I am ashamed to say it, but I am a sugaraholic! I had gained ten pounds back and I was frustrated with my self. I needed to find something to get me off of sugar. I was at the library and found this book, "The Belly Fat Cure", by Jorge Cruise. I took the book home and read through it and decided I wanted to give it a try for one week. I was a little doubtful that it would really work, but I tried it anyway. I ate really good all week and I didn't feel any sugar cravings. I liked what I was eating and I felt better than I had in a long time. I got on the scale this morning and had lost 8 pounds! I was amazed! It all has to do with eating too much sugar and carbs. I am going to keep this habit in my eating lifestyle. It makes me feel good to be off so much sugar and to not crave it and carbs. If you are curious yourself, get the book and give it a week and you too will be amazed. I have 10 more pounds that I want to lose. I think I will get there now that I understand how bad sugar is for our bodies and that eating it and carbs in the right amounts is the ticket to good health and weight loss! Praises for the Belly Fat Cure and Jorge Cruise!

First Snowfall of the Season! Whoo! Hooo!

I couldn't believe all the snow this morning!

This is my rose bush covered in white stuff.

The back yard looks like ole man winter visted there!

This picture shows the depth of the snow. We measured 8 1/2 inches. WOW!

Sorry the tree is a bit blurry.

Nice picture of the mountains above us. Beautiful!

Another picture of how deep the snow really was this morning.

Our tree out front has been kissed by the North wind. Quite pretty! I think winter is finally here!

New digital pics of the grandkids!

Little Spooks and Haunts up at This is the Place Heritage Park

Little Emma riding a pony.

Delphia enjoying a pony ride too!

Look at Chloe enjoying her ride on the pony also.

Chloe, Delphia, Emma and Ruby just hanging out and having fun!

Ashley, Eli and her beloved cast. Meg and baby Braxton. They were hanging out while Erin and I took the four other grand-daughters on a train ride. So much fun!

Here we are on the train. Little Emma in her princess costumn and smiley little Delphia. Delphia is going to be an elephant for Halloween, but we took off her costumn because it was too hot to wear.

Chloe and Ruby dressed for Halloween too. Chloe is going to be a witch for Halloween and Ruby is going to be Jessie from Toy Story.

Erin and Josie and another cute little girl going for a ride on the train.

Our train conductor.

I just love all these little girls. They are my sweet little angels and they make me just want to smile!

Here is a silly picture of them not cooperating too well!

We had a fun day together and I was glad we could all go up there together last Thursday. I love my daughters and my daughter in law, Meg is really like one of my daughters though. We all have a great time together. Little Braxton slept most of the time we were there and Eli and Josie were really good too. They had trick or treating for the kids and train rides and pony rides and just alot of good old fun up there for the kids. I think they all really had a good time. I know that I did. I know also that I was really tired by the time I came home. So if I was tired, I know that my grand-daughters were tired too! We had a fun day!

Pineapple-Gingerbread Upside-Down Cake!

I found this recipe and it is sooooo delicious! I absolutely love the way the spice cake contrasts with the sweetness of the pineapple. I thought I would share pictures and the recipe. I hope you will all try it. So good with a small scoop of vanilla ice cream! YUM!

PINEAPPLE-GINGERBREAD UPSIDE-DOWN CAKE

FOR THE TOPPING:

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter

2/3 cup packed light brown sugar

1 can 20 ounces pineapple tidbits,

drained and patted dry with paper

towels.

FOR THE CAKE:

3/4 cup boiling water

1/2 cup dark molasses

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, softened

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

1 large egg yolk

MAKE THE TOPPING:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 inch round nonstick cake pan and dust with flour.

2. Heat the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat until foaming. Stir in the brown sugar, turn the heat to low, and cook, whisking, for 2 minutes. Scrape the mixture into the prepared cake pan and tilt the pan back and forth to cover. Arrange the pineapple tidbits around the top of the sugar mixture. Set aside.

MAKE THE CAKE:

1. Pour the boiling water into a glass measureing cup and stir in the molasses andbaking soda. Set aside to cool. Combine the flour, baking powder, salt, ginger, and cinnamon in a medium bowl.

2. Combine the butter and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl and cream with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and beat until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice as necessary. Beat in half the molasses mixture on medium speed and then half the flour mixture. Scrape down the bowl and repeat with the remaining molasses mixture and the remaining flour mixture.

3. Pour the batter over the pineapple, gently spreading it into an even layer. Bake until the cake is set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let stand for 5 minutes.

4. Holding the pan and a plate together firmly with oven mitts, invert the cake onto the plate. If necessary, replace any fruit stuck to the pan. Let the cake cool for 20 minutes and serve warm or at room temperature. Store uneaten cake in a cake keeper, or wrap loosely in plastic and store at room temperature for up to 2 days.

ENJOY! I LOVE IT. IT IS A KEEPER OF A RECIPE! PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK IF YOU TRY IT.