Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Faith as a grain.....

I have to admit I haven't bee stellar at Personal Prayer for a long time.  I think that happens when things don't turn out the way that YOU have planned, then through bad choices you limit the feelings of the
Spirit and your Faith weakens and then Prayer seems to go away too.

I think I wanted what I wanted so badly that I didn't want to know what the Lord wanted me to do I didn't even care.  I had felt like he had let me down. But then it feels like Rock Bottom because you are alone, the Spirit leaves, and it is so easy for anger and Satan to entice you.

There have been other times in my life when I experienced this- I remember living in Hawaii having made a lot of bad choices, being on my own for the first time and wanting to do what ever I wanted. I remember feeling Rock Bottom again.  I had called my Dad and he asked me when was the last time that I had asked the Lord for help in Prayer.  I felt how much my Dad cared and I was reminded how much the Savior cared and wanted to talk to me. The feelings were so strong that remembering it 13 years later still brings all of those feelings back.  As soon as I turned to daily Personal Prayer my life took a turn in a better direction. I felt the Saviors warning and promptings and I chose Faith- faith to follow what He was saying.

The Move out to Arizona took some prayer and faith and LISTENING.  Just finding the right renters- knowing when it was time to leave our house (Robs company was sooo flexible- he had been telecommuting for over 6 months when we chose to leave and they would have given us longer,) and where to live when we came here.


When I first saw the house that Robert has chosen I was in Disgust.  (Pic below of the dirt and my bleach/soapy rag that had cleaned the white line!) I said no and for 2 weeks looked every day for a new place to rent with no success. One day in a prayer of desperation, Heavenly Father told me that the yucky house was to be where we would live and that I could handle it! I was in shock and I asked again but got the same answer. (The second picture is the white wall that I cleaned and then painted! I was so happy!) It took 3 solid days of cleaning and scrubbing to make the place livable. But it fit all of our things and was sooooo cheap. Literally half the price of everything else on the market. I was still trying to have Faith in my Prayer when I went to church for the first time later that week and met so many amazing people. The Spirit confirmed again that we were in the right place.












I cant even tell you what that Decision has done for our marriage and our finances. We were able to get a much needed computer, do tons of repairs on our cars, pay off our moving expenses, save money, save money for our Rental house in Midvale, AND Rob and I didn't need a second job in the evening to be able to have extra money. We've had sooooo much time as a family to do EVERYTHING! We have tried all kinds of fun activities and had more dates and good times with the kids. Our family is soo much stronger.

Over and over again I have been reminded about that ONE choice and I have been filled with Gratitude towards God.  I have turned to him for Prayer again on a regular basis.

Some other examples lately include:

Not wanting to get out of bed being sick of my KIDS, sick of being Pregnant, and tired of the monotony of taking care of a family. I literally had the covers over my face saying a prayer that I could just get out of bed and function for the day.  My friend Nancy texted me that she had extra tickets for Disney on Ice that day and that I would need to leave in an hour to get there on time.  I was going to write back  No Thanks when then Spirit told me that this was the answer to my prayer. I got out of bed and started the shower and within the hour we left. I was trying to be hopeful- not wanting to go do this- but when I saw how happy my kids were my attitude changed. The Day ended up being soooo fun. The tickets started a chain of events and we didn't get home until 9 PM that night. it was such a fun day.

how many other days did I forget to ask the Lord for help?? And If I did ask-- did I have the faith to listen to the answer??

also lately:

Me and Rob got in a big fight. It was about the Sabbath Day and how to observe it. I know stupid right?? Some how it seemed worth it at the time. It is something we have fought a lot about too. I was so heated that I decided to walk to church.  This is no small task seeing that I live 5 miles from church and being pregnant in sandals walking over dirt roads and train tracks- it took an hour and a half. I wanted to turn around a gazillion times, not to go apologize but just to go home and go back to bed. I wanted to stop at Wendy's and grub on some bacon! I wanted to stop at the nail salon I passed by and rest and get a pedicure! But the spirit told me I needed to be at church. I was too stubborn to get a ride form anyone and kept on walking. I sat in the back careful to not sit by Rob.  The speaker started and low and behold started talking about ways to create peace in her home. She talked about her and her spouse having arguments over the Sabbath day. She talked about how a fool is quick to anger and how it is just not worth it to fight over such a small thing. I felt rebuked and repented!!!!!! I was so grateful that I had gone to church instead of staying in bed. What a great lesson I have learned that will stick with my for life and have change the dynamics of my marriage. There were a lot of key things I had heard that day that will stick with me for a long time.

another:

Praying for more faith in our Government. Then seeing tax laws renewed in the final hours of 2010! The tax laws have helped us greatly reduce the loss on our rental!  A miracle.  Trying to be more optimistic about God taking care of me and enjoying the day, the moment, knowing that his ways are true and just and perfect-- so what do I have to worry about??!!! Nothing! He is the ultimate protector and provider.


Reading the latest talk on Faith- Richard G. Edgley from last General Conference- "Faith the Choice is yours" he says that he has not seen Faith move an actual mountain but he has seen Faith move a mountain of despair and doubt and replace it with hope and optimism. I have personally felt this this past year. My marriage that was crumbling has become strong. Our personal Finances have received a boost, My whole Paradigm has changed. My view on life is drastically different.

This has all happened from FAITH. Faith leading me to Personal Prayer, then listening to the Spirits answers after I have prayed and doing what was asked of me even though I didn't know how it would turn out. I have found so much joy in the simple things life brings. I have found joy in listening to the Spirits guidance. It seemed there are a gazillion examples of blessings in my life as a result from faith but this is getting lengthy already so I will spare you!!

I know that no matter how infinite your circumstances seem, your eyes will be opened and you will be led out of your despair and into a better place.

I'm not sure why I wrote all of this but I felt like I should so I did!!!! I hope that it benefits someone out there reading it.

Love April

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

For the Picky Eater


James is such a picky eater!! He wont even eat my smoothies most of the time.  So on my quest to stay healthy I'm always looking for good recipes.  James has always been little for his size being a preemie baby so I've always worried about bulking him up! He makes me want to stock my pantry with processed food(which he loves, fruit snacks, boxed anything, chips, etc...) just so he will eat and get bigger!! But I can't give in!!

Anyway I've talked about my friend Liza's Blog, Greener Eating, before but I'm including a link to her Apple Bars. (and I stole her picture!) They were sooooo EASY and FAST to make and very good! You do need a Food Processor so go and buy one if you haven't because you will need it for a lot of things, but Blenders work relatively well too.

After they cooled and I cut them, James at 3 pieces!!! Little did he know that I put Prunes, Walnuts, Shredded Wheat and Flax in them.  Robert even thought the prunes and apples tasted like cranberries or cherries.  Anyway, they have a Chocolate Cherry version on the blog and a Chocolate Walnut I'm going to make both today. They were easy to cut and store in a container in the fridge.

Best of all they were made with all simple WHOLE ingredients straight from the earth!

I going to post more recipes to come of some fun things we have tried in the last few months!

Good luck to all you moms with picky eaters!!!

( I modified my recipe with what I had: instead of egg replacer powder I used Flax Seed ground up, and instead of Dates I used Prunes.  On the Chocolate Bars I'm going to substitute Raisins for the Dates too. Watch your oven because mine only took 15 minutes instead of 20.)


Apple Cinnamon Snack Bars    (Link)

Do any of you have Picky Eaters and have recipes to pass on?? I'd love to know..

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Playing Outside



I love reading everyones new year posts. It is always good to start a new year and get a fresh start feeling to everything.  We've been cleaning out the house, organizing and dejunking, and cleaning out our bodies.

I realized that the little baby is coming in 3 months! I haven't even attempted much in the area of preparation.  This will keep me busy the next few months.  Also trying to enjoy the outdoors until due date will fill the rest of our time!!

Since it is our "summer" right now Im booking beds for your vacation enjoyment!
-- 2 Full-sized beds a night, first come first serve!