October

I am loving this time of year. This year seems particularly beautiful to me. I am starting to feel much better, and so I think I am able to see things more clearly. The colors of Autumn seem more vibrant, and the sky seems more blue. I am so grateful to be regaining strength and clarity. It is not a fast process, but I am doing my part, and I have felt and seen much progress, so I will rejoice in progress!

This month has been a fun one so far. I have felt this desire to go all out for Halloween this year. In the past I have been more minimalist for Halloween, and I go overboard for Christmas. I gained some steam last year with our first Halloween tree. But this year, I have decided to embrace the Halloween season, and the fun of Halloween decor, and we have really gone for it, and it has been FUN!

Gathering as a family, and creating together felt so good. So often we are running to and fro to different activities, so working together to create as a family was really a fantastic time. I think a lot of that creative fun has been replaced by other things in our generation (technology, etc.). But there was something special about finding things around the house, making ghosts, pulling spider web across the yard, and creating together -- it was just awesome!

I will use the pictures to help tell the story of the happenings around here... of course, it is super random, as is life.

Here is Henry, he was very happy about the note I made him. He wanted to wear it on his face.

This is also Henry, he is telling me how he feels about my rice crackers. His assessment of the taste and texture is spot on. (I do not eat them often, only if I am desperate for something.) And I do not eat them after they have been in Henry's toes.

 We have gone on a bunch of walks to enjoy the weather and hunt for Halloween.

We often stop at "The wishing place." It is a tradition we made a long time ago, when we first moved here. We stop and throw a rock in the creek and make a wish.

 Me and Sammi out on a walk.

 We like to stop at the church parking lot sometimes and just run around.

 A couple of cuties in a tree.

 Sammi is a monkey.

 Just taking a rest.

 My parents sent me a food spiral cutter thing. It is way fun.

I have been sticking to my health plan for a month now. I have been staying in my calorie count daily, and I focus on purposefully eating more healthy and WAY less sugar. I do indulge in some chocolate 90% cacao (dirt chocolate) and slow churn ice-cream, but that is preplanned into my calorie count. I know if I do not have some sort of treat, I will never stick to it over time.

So far, it has been working great! I feel so much better mentally and physically, and I am so grateful! I read labels, and watch for hidden sugars. I have started eating things like wheat, quinoa, and I use spaghetti squash a lot in place of pasta. I eat a ton of veggies and fruit, and I use chicken, ground turkey, eggs, beans and other sources of protein. The biggest change is in watching for sugars in everything, and trying to avoid it. (I eat fruit, I am trying to avoid the refined junk food crud.) I try to get the most out of my calories so I do not feel deprived. I exercise daily, but only for an hour, or less -- most of the time around 30-40 minutes. The exercise is meant to compliment my eating healthy, rather than trying to exercise to the extreme to try and burn off all the excess sugar and calories I was eating before.

So, do I miss baking? Yes, I do. But I am trying to enjoy cooking more now. I have done pretty good so far, but at the end of the day, I am most interested in staying in my calories. It is hard, but I am learning. I have known how to do things right for a long time, I just have not wanted to. Isn't that so weird? I am giving the Word of Wisdom a chance in my life, to see if I can enjoy the blessing promised from living it. I am doing it for my body, but even more so for my mind. My mind had become so clouded with a sugar fog, and I did not even realize it.

The results in my head have been the best results of taking care of my body.

Heavenly Father is in the details. 

I decided to go to a Widow and Widowers temple session. It was part of a conference that was held in Idaho. I thought the temple sounded like a safe place to start and see who might be there. (A man, maybe?) My children prayed that something special would happen for me while I was at the temple. As I suspected, I felt really out of place, surrounded by people not in my age group. It was still sweet to be there with my fellow widows and widowers, but I will admit, the reason I went was to maybe, potentially, meet someone (a widower). But that was certainly not happening. 

However, I happened to be seated next to a woman who was full of life and sparkle. She turned to me at the beginning of the session and said something like, "I am sorry my stomach will be talking." And I replied with something like, "Well, then our stomachs can have a conversation." Part way into the session, she whispered a question about something, and then she asked how I knew it was a Widow/Widowers conference. I replied with, "I am one."

After the session was over, I saw the lady outside the dressing room, and went up to chat with her. She was so easy to talk to, and very sincere and sweet. Her friend -- who had been separated from her in the seating arrangements -- joined us in the hallway, and we quietly chatted our way outside. We then started a real conversation about life once we were outside, and there was an instant connection for all of us. Somehow, almost immediately, I brought up how I am currently working on my health, and regaining my "Sparkle" after losing Charles.

We talked about running, and marathons, and health, and working with the youth, and just a lot of things in a short time. The lady I sat next to, Angela, said she owns a fitness center called "Shine Fitness." Click HERE for more. She told me about her mission statement, and she talked about "Choosing to Shine." Do you know how much I love that concept? Angela and Lexy work together and have an amazing story of how they met.

Anyway, we exchanged contact information, and we met again for a walk by the river to get to know each other better. We do not know why we met exactly, but we know we were meant to, and we will find the reason. (Or make the reason.) They did ask me to maybe come and speak sometime, because they are more than just a fitness center. Who knows? We shall see! I will be checking out the Shine studio, likely sometime next week.

I just think it is not a coincidence that my health goal is to "Sparkle" and I run into the "Shine" ladies!

I mean, really? 

They were not going to go to the temple that day, and I went just while making a last minute decision to actually go.

They were my "something special" that my kids prayed for. I went looking for a man, and I found two spunky, sparkling, women instead.

Heavenly Father is in the details.

(Of course, we had to take a picture.)

The Fall weather has been beautiful and the trees this year are glorious.

 I love marshmallow clouds.

Another example of dinner... I found a low calorie spinach tortilla, and low sugar sauce. You could throw anything on there, lots of veggies would be good.

We did a Family Home Evening and talked about our life priorities. This was William's list. I love it because, in the past, William was determined not to love music. He wanted to be unique, and do something else -- not the same thing Sammi and Daniel are doing. But he started playing the trumpet, he has a really good teacher, and now... well, it looks like it is a life priority. So cute.

 A day at the park.

 I love going outside and breathing fresh air!

When I go out, the only problem is I stop a lot for pictures! I can't help it when I see something beautiful!

 Check out this pumpkin patch in front of this beautiful house. I am kind of in love with the house.

Another food example... I mixed spaghetti squash in with ground turkey and taco mix. Yum! I LOVE spaghetti squash, it is a favorite. There are 31 calories in 1 cup of squash. Let's compare that to regular spaghetti noodles at 220 calories a cup. Hooray for spaghetti squash!!

 Halloween socks.

 William made a tie-dye shirt at school, he was super excited about it.

 Making ghosts.

 We were inspired by the Disneyland Holiday Haunted Mansion...

 We all worked together as a family. I LOVED watching the kids have ideas and then make them happen.

 I made costumes for my scarecrows.

 We brought out a black gate from our backyard and decked it out.

Disneyland inspired the Haunted Clock...

This was Sammi's pride and joy.

 It looks the best at night. I love it, the kids love it. It is just fun! We often have to do repair work if the wind blows though... the wind is not kind to ghosts and webs.

 The colors!

 The leaf was stuck on a web.

 The apples were blocking my path, but they were so pretty too.

 Autumn is just the best!

We went for a night walk and took along a friend. Henry wanted to hold Kaleb's hand the whole time. After the walk we went for a drive, and the moon was full and HUGE just coming up over the hills. We played the Holiday Haunted Mansion soundtrack, along with the Pirates of the Caribbean ride soundtrack. My van has some serious bass, and I blast it all the way up! We are all transported to Disneyland as we drive around in the dark, listening to music. It is moments like these that the kids will remember. And these simple moments, they take some effort, and the effort is worth it!

Check out the moon! So spooky and awesome!

Just Henry and his Henry face.

I shared this picture and message on Facebook.

Just Sammi trying to stay warm in the morning. She sits by the fireplace and reads her scriptures.

I think I would change this sign now to something like, "Fight for Happiness."

This is true. And a blessing I had said that new opportunities and doors would open to me. Also, that I would be in the right place, at the right time. 

Sammi's friend, Katie, had fun doing her hair. 

This tree is in my backyard! I feel so blessed. I LOVE looking at it!

I just cannot believe how gorgeous it is when the sun shines on it.

And on the other side of the yard...

Henry jumping for joy!

This is Sammi and her friend, Ashley, from choir. They sat together during the big concert last night. 

It was a combined school concert for choir, band, and orchestra. Daniel is in choir and band. This is his last year of band, because next year he will be focusing more on choir. His true passion is singing.

It was a nice concert, though Henry was a little restless. Daniel got to represent his school as a choir soloist in the group of soloist from all the schools. This is his last year in junior high and so he is getting sentimental about his time left there -- he will especially miss his choir teacher. Though he is looking forward to high school!

A big hug after the concert. (That is Sammi.) Apparently, 3 different girls asked for Daniel's phone number, but luckily, he doesn't have one. The girls are bold in choir, I guess?

William enjoyed the band part of the concert. He has been enjoying the trumpet and his teacher said he is doing great! These boys sometimes have a hard time communicating with each other (age difference), but when it comes down to it, there is a deep love there, and they both know it. If anyone messes with William, Daniel will be there. And if anyone messes with Daniel... well, no one messes with Daniel.

 And my final thoughts for the day... :)