A Giant Among Men

On Sunday, January 27th around 7:00 pm, our beloved prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley passed to the next world. He was 97 years old. I shed a few tears for him but only a few for my heart rejoiced in the fact that he was now reunited with his sweet wife Marjorie. These two had such a love, a love to pattern our own after. He had the utmost love and respect for her and it often brought me to tears just watching them. I think I cried harder when she died because I knew they would be separated for a time.

President Hinckley was a giant among men. He was constant. He never deviated from truth. I will always remember him and the things I have learned from him. Here are a few of my favorite things he said:

"You are good. But it is not enough just to be good. You must be good for something. You must contribute good to the world. The world must be a better place for your presence. And the good that is in you must be spread to others."

""If you will live the gospel, nearly everything else will eventually take care of itself."

And last but not least, something his father said to him, "Forget yourself and get to work."

I know that his spirit will live on and on and that he is continuing the journey somewhere else.

Happy Birthday To ME!

Today is my birthday. I am the ripe old age of 34. What is weird to me is that inside I still feel like I am 18. It's sad to look in the mirror and see some woman with wrinkles! Argh! Oh well. It's all good. I am happier in my 30's than I have ever been in my life. I have the perfect family, the perfect life.
And, I am totally still cool. Despite what my children think.

You Want Me To Eat What?

One of the MAJOR problems I have in life is that I love food. Not just any food, good food. That usually consists of anything fatty, high in sugar, everything that makes all the nutritionists out there wince in pain.
Since I decided to do the Biggest Loser challenge though, I knew that I needed to change that in a big way. I found a cookbook my Grandma Stahle gave me for my birthday years ago. It's called Low Fat, Low Calorie, Low Cholesterol, Light Cooking. I have been amazed and pleasantly surprised how good the recipes are in there. It is a thick book too so you are sure not to run out of options anytime soon. BTW, if you mouse over the name of the book, it is a link to view it.

The Biggest Loser

This title applies to me in so many ways! I can't believe it has been so long since I have blogged. I have been busy but not overly so. Anywho, to update, I have been doing a Biggest Loser challenge with my sister, my mom and some of my sister's work-related friends. I have been working out like a mad woman and I have totally revamped the way I eat. So far it has been going great for me. I have not seen a whole lot of weight come off (yet!) but my inches are going down and I am really starting to see the definition in my arms and legs. Plus I feel so much better on the days I work out and eat right. I have an admission of guilt though; the other night, I not only fell off the no sugar wagon but I pretty much blew the wagon up! We have had no sweets at all in this house since New Years. Well Ross and I were watching a movie the other night and it was like I was having a nicotine fit or something! I was freaking shaking and I could not get chocolate off of my mind. I came upstairs to look for something, anything but there was nothing. I ended up making a batch of chocolate chip cookie dough and eating way too much. I was so sick to my stomach! I figure, even the strong fall sometimes, right? (I built a new wagon the following morning and I am happy to say have been back on ever since.)
We have had a ton of snow lately. We have been snowboarding a few times. It has been a total riot. I really feel that I have stepped up my boarding skills this season which really makes me, and Ross!, happy. It's nice to know that I am only getting better with age.

Resolutions

I am one of those people out there who actually keeps most of my resolutions. Some think New Year's resolutions are a joke; I think it's a great time to re-visit your life and see what needs to be changed and start fresh. Especially since none of us are perfect. Here are my resolutions:

1) Attend the temple diligently. (at least twice a month)
2) Get better at studying my scriptures.
3) Believe in me and who I am.
4) On a daily basis, find a way to connect with and show love to, my husband and children.
5) Run the Ogden Half Marathon in 2 hours and 30 minutes. (last year, I did it in 2:55)
6) Eat clean so I can be a smokin' hot babe!
7) Pray. Often.


Here's to being a better me!