Life in Paradise Park

Personal Health and Fitness Goals

2012-02-08T12:23:00.000-07:00

I know that some people spend much of their time in this area (they are kind of what would be termed "fanatics") while others don't spend any time in taking steps to improve their physical health.

I have to admit that I love sweets, especially chocolate! So when I'm faced with a decision whether to eat it or not, especially in a social setting, I lose all of my will power and indulge. It is also very hard for me to only have just one little piece.

My goal is to have more will power and only limit my intake of sweets all year around. Some months are more difficult than other months, like February (Valentine's Day), March (Birthdays), October (Halloween), November (Thanksgiving), and December (Christmas and New Year's Eve).

Ger and I did much better this past Christmas season, and had very little sweets. We do attribute our getting sick the first half of January because of eating sweets or overeating food -- the immune system gets compromised.

We bought a Jack LaLanne Juicer that grinds down vegetables and fruit to pulp. We drink the juice -- it is delicious! Our recipe is: some whole carrots, a Granny Smith apple, a pear, cucumber (half), a couple slices of fresh pineapple and Whalaa! It is fast to prepare! It is easy to clean up! We put whole foods into our bodies that give us the nutrients for building healthy cells.

Posted by Christy Larsen

Humanitarian Goals

2012-02-07T21:36:00.000-07:00

My humanitarian goal is to help someone, who has a need, who is less fortunate than I am at least once-a-week. Sometimes the things to do take several hours while others take only a few minutes.

Today, I taught a neighbor how to sew a bag out of some leftover cotton fabric print that I had on hand. The inside of the bag is made from a coordinating color to match the outside. The bottom of the bag is shaped like a box so that it holds more. We sewed two pockets on the lining for her to store pens and pencils. The bag has handles on it, long enough for shoulder straps. When we got done, she was so tickled! I'm the one who benefited because it was worth doing something for someone and it made them genuinely happy!

My neighbor and I also cut out and sewed some flannel burp cloths for a special humanitarian project. These burp cloths are going to be shipped to Church Service Missionaries serving at BYU-Hawaii. They need 100! My friend and I made a total of 8.
Posted by Christy Larsen

One of My Goals for 2012

2012-02-06T09:03:00.000-07:00

I would like to become more spiritual in nature. What I mean by that is I would like to be more aware of the spiritual side of life. To be more in tune and to be more aware of the promptings and teachings from the Holy Ghost.

How might I do this?

Get up early each morning
Read the scriptures more deeply
Pray more often
Be more specific in the prayers I utter
Attend the temple on a weekly basis
Read the Ensign Magazine
Read the lessons for Relief Society
Read the lessons for Sunday School
Write in this blog daily about my goals and aspirations

Scripture Power

WORDS AND MUSIC BY CLIVE ROMNEY

1. Because I want to be like the Savior, and I can,
I’m reading His instructions, I’m following His plan.
Because I want the power His word will give to me,
I’m changing how I live, I’m changing what I’ll be.

2. I’ll find the sword of truth in each scripture that I learn.
I’ll take the shield of faith from these pages that I turn.
I’ll wear each vital part of the armor of the Lord,
And fight my daily battles, and win a great reward.

[Chorus]
Scripture power keeps me safe from sin.
Scripture power is the power to win.
Scripture power! Ev’ryday I need
The power that I get each time I read.

Posted by Christy Larsen

Telling a Story

2011-08-26T10:39:00.000-06:00

Orem Utah is the home of the famous "Timpanogos Storytelling Festival" during Labor Day Weekend, September 1-3, 2011.

I read an article published in the Orem Public Library Newsletter & Calendar for July/August 2011. It is entitled "Stories: A Way of Life" by Eliot Wilcox

It starts out with a poem by I.B. Singer, Naftali the Storyteller and His Horse

When a day passes it is no longer there. What remains of it? Nothing more than a story. If stories weren't told or books weren't written, man would live like beasts--only for the day.

Today, we live, but tomorrow today will be a story. The whole world, all human life, is one long story.

Excerpts from the article are as follows:

Human beings are naturally storytellers and story receivers. We use stories to define who we are. For example, are there certain stories you tell people when you are getting to know them so they can understand you better? Or, are there particular stores you use frequently to explain why you believe in something? Think of the "I learned this when" stories or the "my parents taught me" moments you tell other people to help them understand why you believe what you do on a particular subject.

Essayist Joan Didion describes the phenomenon of telling stories about who we are in this fashion:

We tell ourselves stories in order to live . . . .We interpret what we see, [and] select the most workable of all the multiple choices.

Excerpts by Eliot Wilcox continue . . .

". . . Have you ever talked about [a memorable family event, perhaps a vacation] with a sibling or parent? Did you notice how their memories differed from your own? . . . Why do those differences exist? After all, didn't everyone in your family experience the same event?"

"Although everyone did experience the same event, the versions of the stories we used to interpret the event are very individual. This is true about many things throughout our lives. Thus, in a very real sense, our stories do make up who we are."

"We do tell stories in order to live. Stories are, in the end, the way we do respond to and understand what happens around us."

With all that being said, have you felt and spoken passionately about some experience in your life to someone, 'only to fall on dead ears' or you can tell that they are only half listening or they are busy doing something else?

How do you overcome that? Where do you find the right audience that will listen to your stories? How do you fill in the gaps in your life? How do you feel fulfillment?

There are a number of excuses that people will give you:

I'm busy
I've got to run errands
I have a lot on my mind
I don't have time
And so on . . .

May you find attentive listeners and readers when you tell stories! Happy writing or storytelling!

Posted by Christy Larsen

How to Break a Bad Habit

2011-07-26T10:51:00.001-06:00

What are some common excuses you use to keep making the same mistakes or doing the same bad habits, and not getting the results you really want?

When eating out, there are a lot of tempting appetizers, entrees', and desserts (BIG ONE!)
You eat with extended family or friends who don't really care about what they eat
You're too tired to cook or fix a nutritious meal for yourself or your family
You give up too easily on eating the right foods
You're stressed to the max so you tend to unconsciously overeat
Someone brings you a plate of delicious looking cookies, brownies, or fudge and you can't resist
It's someone's birthday celebration and they are only serving cake and ice cream so you indulge
You're too busy to exercise
You go on vacation and find it hard to get back on track
You feel guilty about the pounds you gain so you jump ship
And so forth!

WHAT ARE THE RESULTS YOU REALLY WANT?

HEALTH!

VITALITY!

FITNESS!

LIVE LONGER!

LIVE HAPPIER!

TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR, AND ACTUALLY SEE THE IMAGE OF A SLENDER PERSON -- NOT A MIRAGE!

A BRIGHT MIND!

Quotes from the Experts:

The truth is you don't break a bad habit, you replace it with a good one."

~ Dennis Watley

"When you do the wrong thing, knowing it is wrong, you do so because you haven't developed the habit of effectively controlling or neutralizing strong inner urges that tempt you, or because you have established the wrong habits and don't know how to eliminate them effectively."

~ W. Clement Stone

"Good habits are as addictive as bad habits, and a lot more rewarding."

~ Harvey Mackay

Being miserable is a habit; being happy is a habit; and the choice is yours."

~ Tom Hopkins

How to Combat the Nasty Sweet Tooth

Many times cravings are an indication that you are not eating your meals in the right combination or in the right proportions+ (This, of course, is an individual matter)
Cut up some fresh fruit and put a teaspoon of a natural sweetener on them. Naturally Prepared® Stevia Like No Other® (All Natural Table Top Sweeetner Enhanced with PreBiotics) This product can be obtained through Healthy Life Institute by calling Gerry at 801-893-1190 for pricing and shipping information.
Spread almond or peanut butter (Made without hydrogenated oils) on organic apple slices (wash thoroughly before slicing to get rid of any bacteria)
Spread almond or peanut butter on a stalk of celery
Eat 1/4th cup of raw, unprocessed, unsalted, whole nuts such as almonds or pecans
Between meals mix up a serving of Naturally Prepared® 30 Second Meal in 8 ounces of water and use a shaker bottle to mix water and powder together. It comes in chocolate or vanilla. Again, call Gerry at Healthy Life Institute for more information on this product or for ordering)
Drink filtered water anytime you feel hunger pangs because this may be more about dehydration than actually being hungry. (1/2 ounce of water per pound of body weight ~ no substitutions)
Sleep 5 - 7 hours each night for your body to rejuvenate itself.
Get adequate exercise such as a walk, bicycle ride, swimming, climbing stairs, etc. (Over-exerting yourself with hour long or more aerobics exercise or equivalent makes a person think they are so hungry ~ makes them eat more than is necessary.) That is what the fat cells communicate with the brain to eat because 'you cannot starve your fat cells'*. They put up a good fight especially in women!

+Isabel De Los Rios, "How to Combat a Nasty Sweet Tooth," IsabelDeLosRios@beyonddiet.com, accessed July 2011.
*Debra Waterhouse, M.P.H., R.D., Outsmarting the Female Fat Cell, Warner Books, A Time Warner Company, New York, 1993.

Posted by Christy Larsen

The "All-You-Possibly-Can" Philosophy

2011-07-08T10:32:00.000-06:00

Have you ever considered how industrious the insect kingdom is?

I like "The Ant Philosophy" by Jim Rohn

"I think everybody should study ants. They have an amazing four-part philosophy. Here is the first part: ants never quit. That's a good philosophy. If they're headed somewhere and you try to stop them, they'll look for another way. They'll climb over, they'll climb under, they'll climb around. They keep looking for another way. What a neat philosophy, to never quit looking for a way to get where you're supposed to go."

Second, ants think winter all summer. That's an important perspective. You can't be so naive as to think summer will last forever. So ants are gathering their winter food in the middle of summer.

The third part of the ant philosophy is that ants think summer all winter. That is so important. During the winter, ants remind themselves, "This won't last long--we'll soon be out of here." And the first warm day, the ants are out. If it turns cold again, they'll dive back down, but then they come out the first warm day. They can't wait to get out.

And here's the last part of the ant philosophy. How much will an ant gather during the summer to prepare for the winter? All he possibly can. What an incredible philosophy, the "all-you-possibly-can" philosophy."

What a great philosophy!

"Never give up, look ahead, stay positive, and do all you can!"

This is a great philosophy -- whether you are trying to lose unwanted pounds, get into shape, get out of debt, get more educated, train for a better job, etc.

Posted by Christy Larsen

What You Become!

2011-06-06T10:47:00.001-06:00

My Dream Vacation -- Hawaii!

I am following Jim Rohn's Newsletter. Today's topic is entitled, The Miracle of Personal Development.

A mentor of Jim's advised him, ". . . , if you want to be wealthy and happy, learn this lesson well: Learn to work harder on yourself than you do on your job." So, what Jim decided to do is work on his own personal development. That is, also, what I am deciding to do, starting today!

Jim admitted that it had been the most challenging assignment of all . . . it lasts a lifetime.

He said, "You see, what you become is far more important than what you get. The important question to ask on the job [or in a marriage] is not, 'What am I getting?' Instead, you should ask, 'What am I becoming?' Getting and becoming are like Siamese twins: What you become directly influences what you get."

More advice from Jim, "Most of what you have today you have attracted by becoming the person you are today."

Advice about income: ". . . income rarely exceeds personal development. Sometimes income takes a lucky jump, but unless you learn to handle the responsibilities that come with it, it will usually shrink back to the amount you can handle."

A Million Dollars: "If someone handed you a million dollars, you'd better hurry up and become a millionaire. A very rich man once said, 'If you took all the money in the world and divided it equally among everybody, it would soon be back in the same pockets it was before.' "

Personal Development: "It is hard to keep that which has not been obtained through personal development."

The Great Axiom of life:

"To have more than you've got, become more than you are."

Otherwise, if you don't change:

"Unless you change how you are, you'll always have what you've got."

Posted by Christy Larsen

What is Your Calling in Life?

2011-05-30T12:43:00.001-06:00

The final episode of Oprah's show -- after 25 years -- she gives some sage advice! Watch her video clip on "What Oprah Knows for Sure".

She basically said that everyone of us has a calling in life. Not everyone is famous. It is where you are, whether you are a mother or a teacher, etc. Everyone has their own stage! Everyone has their own "Circle of Influence" whether it is your family, your extended family, your classroom, etc.

I personally did not agree with everything she has said on her shows. I don't support certain things that she supports. I believe that everyone has some good in them. I believe it is important to work hard. It is important to find your passion and live it.

A quote from the show: "Start embracing the life that is calling you and use your calling to serve the world."

Posted by Christy Larsen

Conference Talk Given By Elder Bruce R. McConkie April 6, 1985

2011-04-19T11:48:00.000-06:00

The Purifying Power of Gethsemane

Elder McConkie gave his last General Conference talk and bore his Testimony on April 6, 1985. That is just 1 month after our son, Douglas, was born. I remember what an impact his message had on my soul at that time. We are fortunate that Ensign Magazine has reprinted it for us in the April 2011 issue.

". . . the most important doctrine I can declare, and the most powerful testimony I can bear, is of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. His atonement is the most transcendent event that ever has or ever will occur from Creation's dawn through all the ages of a never-ending eternity. It is the supreme act of goodness and grace that only a god could perform. Through it, all of the terms and conditions of the Father's eternal plan of salvation became operative. Through it are brought to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Through it, all men are saved from death, hell, the devil, and endless torment. And through it, all who believe and obey the glorious gospel of God, all who are true and faithful and overcome the world, all who suffer for Christ and His word, all who are chastened and scourged in the cause of Him whose we are--all shall become as their Maker and sit with Him on His throne and reign with Him forever in everlasting glory." [Italics added for emphasis].

"[The Garden of Gethsemane], like Eden where Adam dwelt, like Sinai from whence Jehovah gave His law, like Calvary where the Son of God gave His life a ransom for many, this holy ground is where the sinless Son of the Everlasting Father took upon Himself the sins of all men on condition of repentance."

". . . no mortal mind can conceive the full import of what Christ did in Gethsemane. We know He sweat great gouts of blood from every pore as He drained the dregs of that bitter cup His Father had given Him. We know he suffered, both body and spirit, more than it is possible for man to suffer, except it be unto death. We know . . . His suffering satisfied the demands of justice, ransomed penitent souls from the pains and penalties of sin, and made mercy available to those who believe in His holy name. We know that . . . the pains and agonies of an infinite burden caused Him to tremble and would that He might not drink the bitter cup. We know that an angel came from the courts of glory to strengthen Him in His ordeal, and we suppose it was mighty Michael, who foremost fell that mortal man might be."

"Many died from scourging alone [multi-thonged whip into whose leather strand sharp bones and cutting metals were woven], but He arose from the sufferings of the scourge that He might die an ignominious [humiliating] death upon the cruel cross of Calvary. Then He carried His own cross until He collapsed from the weight and pain and mounting agony of it all."

" . . . on a hill called Calvary . . . while helpless disciples looked on and felt the agonies of near death in their own bodies, the Roman soldiers laid Him upon the cross. With great mallets they drove spikes of iron through His feet and hands and wrists. Truly He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. Then the cross was raised that all might see and gape and curse and deride . . . for three hours from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Then the heavens grew black. Darkness covered the land for the space of three hours, as it did among the Nephites. There was a mighty storm, as though the very God of nature was in agony. And truly He was, for while He was hanging on the cross for another three hours, from noon to 3:00 p.m., all the infinite agonies and merciless pains of Gethsemane recurred."

"And, finally, when the atoning agonies had taken their toll--when the victory had been won, when the Son of God had fulfilled the will of His Father in all things--then He said, "it is finished" (John 19:30), and He voluntarily gave up the ghost."

"As the peace and comfort of a merciful death freed Him from the pains and sorrows of mortality, He entered the paradise of God."

"Then, in a way incomprehensible to us, He took up that body which had not yet seen corruption and arose in that glorious immortality which made Him like His resurrected Father. He then received all power in heaven and on earth, obtained eternal exaltation, appeared unto Mary Magdalene and many others, and ascended into heaven, there to sit down on the right hand of God the Father Almighty and to reign forever in eternal glory."

"His rising from death on the third day crowned the Atonement. . . . the effects of His Resurrection pass upon all men so that all shall rise from the grave. As Adam brought death, so Christ brought life; as Adam is the father of mortality, so Christ is the father of immortality. And without both, mortality and immortality, man cannot work out his salvation and ascend to those heights beyond the skies where gods and angels dwell forever in eternal glory."

Elder McConkie asks us to have faith like Enoch and Elijah--"we must believe what they believed, know what they knew, and live as they lived." He also asked us to join with him "in gaining a sound and sure knowledge of the Atonement"; to "cast aside the philosophies of men and the wisdom of the wise and hearken to that Spirit which is given to us to guide us into all truth."

Elder McConkie also said, "We must search the scriptures, accepting them as the mind and will and voice of the Lord and the very power of God unto salvation."

He also said, " . . . Creation is father to the Fall; and by the Fall came mortality and death; and by Christ came immortality and eternal life. If there had been no Fall of Adam, by which cometh death, there could have been no Atonement of Christ, by which cometh life."

Elder McConkie's testimony continues, "And now, as pertaining to this perfect Atonement, wrought by the shedding of the blood of God--I testify that it took place in Gethsemane and at Golgotha, and as pertaining to Jesus Christ, I testify that He is the Son of the living God and was crucified for the sins of the world. He is our Lord, our God, and our King. This I know of myself, independent of any other person. I am one of His witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in His hands and in His feet and shall wet His feet with my tears. But I shall not know any better then than I know now that He is God's Almighty Son, that He is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through His atoning blood and in no other way. God grant that all of us may walk in the light, as God our Father is in the light, so that, according to the promises, the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, will cleanse us from all sin."

What a personal and powerful testimony!
Elder McConkie died on April 19, 1985 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Posted by Christy Larsen

Acquiring the Language of the Spirit

2011-03-28T13:16:00.001-06:00

We had Ward Conference on Sunday. The theme of our conference was Acquire the "Language of the Spirit".

"Acquire the language of the Spirit. It is not learned from textbooks written by men of letters, nor is it acquired through reading and memorization. The language of the Spirit comes to him who seeks with all his heart to know God and keep His divine commandments. Proficiency in this 'language' permits one to breach barriers, overcome obstacles, and touch the human heart."

Some points that were brought out that need reflection and work are:

Stop critical thoughts so that the Spirit can speak to our hearts;
Having the Spirit changes us from telestial into celestial bodies;
Our prophets, have told us and keep telling us, we are operating far below our level;
How our homes invite the Spirit is important:
        * Pictures of the Savior;
        * Pictures of the Temple;
        * Special quotes like, "Return with Honor" posted above the front door when we exit;
        * Special quotes around the home that remind us about who we are;
        * Pictures of Family;
        * Uplifting music playing;
        * Habit of reading (studying) the scriptures daily;
        * Uplifting, kind, and compassionate conversations going on;
        * Uplifting movies or programs being watched;
        * And much more . . .

What to avoid:
        * Course or foul language
        * Disrespect for others
        * Disrespect for other people's property
        * And much more

We attended the temple this past week, and the prayer that was said in our session was very fitting for the circumstances surrounding our great granddaughter. There have been, and will continue to be, a lot of prayers expressed in her behalf. These prayers expressed are the kind that require our faith in our Savior Jesus Christ. It is our faith, prayers, and fasting that will get our sweet little angel through her trials. It will hopefully be a help and a strength for her devoted parents.

Posted by Christy Larsen

ROOTSTECH CONFERENCE

2011-02-14T09:28:00.000-07:00

The weekend of February 10th - 12th was so worth the effort of going to the RootsTech Conference. It was a conference that brought genealogy buffs, family history consultants, Technology Users, and Technology Creaters together. The classes were many and varied. Because of my interest in genealogy and using the modern technology was the reason for my going to it. I learned more about: 1. Publishing my genealogy either on the internet or in a book; 2. RootsMagic Software Program for doing genealogy; 3. Using Google for genealogy research; 4. Creating a one-page website for genealogy; 5. Finding manuscript sources from the internet for genealogy research, and so much more. The "Night at the Clarke Planetarium" was a worthwhile event. There were shows to see in 3-d and food -- all of it free! I went to 2 shows: The Hubble 3 & The Black Holes.Late Night at the Family History Library with extended hours until Midnight. I had been saving up a pile of book references to look up & copied tons of material for only 5 cents a copy. It was well worth the time! They also had food!There were drawings for free software and technology tools everywhere, even at the Family History Library. Next Year the dates for the RootsTech Event will be held February 2-4th 2012. Be sure and mark this in your calendar to attend next year!Posted by Christy Larsen

GENEALOGY-TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE

2011-02-09T15:05:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow will be the first day of the conference at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City. I can't believe it is here already. I've signed up for workshops, keynote addresses, and even evening events such as a night at the planetarium with dinner, and a late night at the Salt Lake Family History Center. One class is about how to use my android phone to take pictures of genealogy documents; another is about using RootsMagic for Genealogy; and another is about building one-step webpages; and so on . . .A total of about 2,000 people will be attending this conference. It is the first of its kind. I'm excited that I get to go!Posted by Christy Larsen

Have You Taken Your Vitamin D3 Today?

2011-01-08T15:59:00.000-07:00

Because of the lack of sunlight exposure during the harsh winter months, everyone [including seniors and people suffering from SAD -- Seasonal Affect Disorder] need to take Vitamin D daily. If a person is deficient in vitamin D, they can be twice as likely to develop heart failure; 78% more likely to have a stroke; twice as likely to hav diabetes; and more likely to have high blood pressure. Vitamin D plays a major role in protecting the brain, according to Dr. Russell Blaylock, a board-certfied neurosurgeon and advisor at Life Extension Foundation. Vitamin D: *increases neuron glutathione levels to protect the brain; *helps to reduce inflammation that may lead to Alzheimer's; *is a powerful antioxidant; and *reduces harmful levels of nitric oxide, which can form a brain- destroying free radical called peroxynitrite.Posted by Christy Larsen

Counting Blessings Instead of Sheep

2010-12-23T10:47:00.000-07:00

When I'm worried and I can't sleep I count my blessings instead of sheep And I fall asleep counting my blessings When my bankroll is getting small I think of when I had none at all And I fall asleep counting my blessings I think about a nursery and I picture curly heads And one by one I count them as they slumber in their beds If you're worried and you can't sleep Just count your blessings instead of sheep And you'll fall asleep counting your blessings (1954)From the film "White Christmas" with Danny Kaye, Vera Ellen and Rosemary Clooney I'm counting my blessings one-by-one:1. Getting up in the morning for a fresh start with no mistakes in it yet.2. Health and strength3. Keen intellect4. Roof overhead5. Clothes for the winter6. Nutritious Food to eat7. Work8. Snow9. RainMost important: "I'm Thankful for you!"Posted by Christy Larsen

Labor Day Weekend

2010-09-07T11:40:00.000-06:00

Labor Day Weekend was busy for the two of us. Friday morning, we weeded all around the yard. All day Saturday, we emptied out the closet under the stairs, and cleared away most of the furniture and stuff from the walls in the basement and the garage, and sprayed for bugs. Then, we did our Fall Cleaning throughout the whole house. In addition, we did inventory of our 72-hour kits, our non-food items for year, and our food storage for year. On Sunday, we went to all of our meetings, and visited Mom for an hour. On Monday, while hubby was completing a two-year old honey-dew project (sanding and painting a doorway), I bought tomatoes and canned 12 quarts to go into our year's supply of food storage. Busy -- Busy -- Busy, but Happy to get these things accomplished!
Posted by Christy Larsen

Do You Know the Truth About What You Are Eating?

2010-08-27T11:27:00.000-06:00

Posted by Christy Larsen

Blessings of Gardening

2010-08-17T11:43:00.000-06:00

Posted by Christy Larsen1. Once the vegetable plants are bigger, they either hide the weeds or they (the weeds) cannot grow.2. Sharing the extra vegetables with neighbors who don't have a garden.3. It's great therapy to dig in the dirt and plant things.4. Just thinking about sun-rippened tomatoes makes my mouth water. They are sooooo yummy!

This is What I Want To Buy!!!

2010-03-30T11:47:00.000-06:00

Posted by Christy Larsen

The Tender Mercies of the Lord

2010-03-08T13:53:00.000-07:00

The Tender Mercies of the Lord

CHANGE

2010-02-11T07:41:00.000-07:00

Posted by Christy Larsen

Yoga for Beginners (Part 1)

2010-01-25T11:38:00.000-07:00

Posted by Christy Larsen

Important Stuff vs. Unimportant Stuff

2010-01-20T13:57:00.000-07:00

Posted by Christy Larsen

From a movie, on the Hallmark Channel, was about 3 housewives who came from different walks of life and various problems. They got together and completed a housing project. They put up the house for sale and the proceeds from the sale went to a homeless shelter.

One of the wives had a husband who was diagnosed with cancer and only had a short time to live. He had a lot of wisdom that he shared with his wife. They were an older couple and did not have any children.

This husband loved to grow a garden, and it didn't matter if it was a flower garden or vegetable garden. He was concerned for his wife and wanted to share with her an analogy. He took her into the garden where they stood on the dirt, and he said, "Just brush off all the little, insignificant problems that you are facing. Brush them off of your arms and your legs into the dirt. And forget about them."

Another Example:
A Latter-day Saint German woman, who experienced horrible trials, was asked the question, "How did you keep your testimony during all of the trials you went through?"

The German woman replied, "Oh, I didn't keep a testimony, my testimony kept me."

RED LETTER DAY!

2010-01-13T17:50:00.000-07:00

You might ask: Why is today a 'Red Letter Day'? I am excited about a new adventure!

I registered for and attended my first ICAPGen Mentoring Workshop in Provo on Tuesday, January 12th 2010. These classes are held monthly and they are for people who are preparing to become Accredited Genealogists. I would like to be ready to take the Preliminary Exam by the end of 2010.

I have had an interest in genealogy or family history ever since I was a young adult. I listened in on conversations my father had with his mother about relations in a photo album that belonged to her.

I am no stranger to either a Family History Center or Library. I've been a patron of these repositories ever since I graduated from high school. I am familiar with microfilm and microfiche, census records, family records, vital records, family bibles, and computer programs and software, etc.

I am serving most recently as a family history consultant to members of the congregation of my church in the area where I live. I have also served as a family history consultant at the BYU Family History Center in recent years. While living in another area, I served as a family history coordinator at the family history center, and held training classes for family history consultants. When my family lived in Montrose Colorado, I served at the family history center as a family history librarian.

In serving, I have met all kinds of people who have similar interests in family history or genealogy that I do.

I have selected the New England Region of the United States to concentrate my focus and do research. I need to account for 1,000+ hours which includes, not only research, but family history classes, workshops, volunteering, serving others, writing histories and biographies, and much more.
Posted by Christy Larsen

Temple Square in 3D with Christmas Lights

2010-01-01T13:35:00.000-07:00

Posted by Christy LarsenTemple Square in Salt Lake City

The Meaning of Christmas

2009-12-25T12:40:00.000-07:00

Posted by Christy Larsen

One Nation Under God

2009-12-24T12:54:00.000-07:00

Posted by Christy Larsen

Join Art Contest

2009-12-18T12:29:00.000-07:00

Posted by Christy Larsen

My nephew, Shaun Ellsworth, is painting 100 paintings before the end of December 31, 2009. If you will go to his blog and click on his gallery for this, you will be able to view all of the paintings he has done so far. Then if you want a painting click on the "Twitter" Link in the top right-hand corner of his home page. If you land on his Twitter page which is "shaunartist" click on the "follow" button right under his picture. Then, you can leave a post and tell what your favorite painting is. You will then be entered into a drawing for a free painting of his. Good luck!

What To Give At Christmastime?

2009-12-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

1.    Give a smile to someone lonely
2.    Bake cookies to give away
3.    Bake sweet rolls to give away
4.    Visit residents in an elderly care center
5.    Go caroling around neighborhood
6.    Write your personal history to give to family this Christmas
7.    Decorate graves of loved ones for Christmas
8.    Give family members coupons to redeem of your services
9.    Read some heart-warming Christmas stories to family
10. Knit scarves or hats for loved ones or needy people
11. Make turkey-vegetable soup and take to a lonely neighbor
12. Take pictures of family members to give to loved ones
13.  Make hand prints of your children on fabric blocks to give to Grandparents
14. Many, many more things to give that cost little or no money

We Are Taking Back America in 2010

2009-11-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T11:43:00.002-06:00

These two pumpkins were the only survivors in our little Pumpkin Patch for 2009. There were several others that grew, but then they shrunk and we don't know why. It was a fun experiment! Maybe we will try it again next year. What do you think?

Beauty of a Tree

2009-10-31T11:37:00.000-06:00

Here is a close-up of the brightly-colored leaves on same tree. This tree has given us shade, beauty and potential. We as children of God have a lot of potential to do our best, just like this tree.

Our Red Maple Tree

2009-10-31T11:29:00.001-06:00

This tree is in the front yard of our home. It has grown 4 times the size that it was when we moved into this home about 4 years ago. As people, we can grow, maybe not taller, but we have the ability to grow in knowledge and understanding of God and of showing respect and kindness toward others.

How Old Is Your Corning Ware?

2009-10-23T14:24:00.001-06:00

Got any new Pyrex dishes in your cooking utensils? This is a must read.

About 5:30 PM there was a loud bang from the oven. Sylvia opened the oven door and the Pyrex dish had shattered into a million pieces. The roast beef (our first in many months) was peppered with small shards of very sharp glass. Normally,I am quick to inform Sylvia she did something stupid. However,this time she was nowhere near the stove when it blew. I shoveled the glass and the now mashed potatoes into a bucket with two putty knives. I then sucked the remains with the shop vac. I let everything cool down and then scrubbed the oven with Simple Green and some hot soapy water. It took over an hour to clean up the goo. Upon completion I ran the oven empty to see if the temperature controller was working okay. I suspected the oven got too hot and the dish simply blew. This was not the case however. The oven came up to temperature and cycled normally. We threw a disgusting frozen pizza in the oven and it cooked okay."
What is going on? I Googled exploding Pyrex dishes and got ten million hits. Exploding Pyrex is very common.

Here is the story:
"A long, long time ago in a country we all know and love was a company named Corning. They made Pryex dishes. The material they used is called borosilicate glass. This stuf f is indestructible.

But like everything else, the Bottom Liners had a great idea: sell the technology to another company. The Chinese discovered that using soda lime glass was almost as good as borosilicate glass and a lot cheaper.. Today, Wal-Mart is the largest distributor of Pryex products. Corning not only sold the technology to a company called World Kitchen, they also sold the rights to the original Pyrex logo. Seamless. The consumer will never know.

Now it seems people are getting hurt using soda lime Pyrex. We were lucky because the dish broke while the oven was closed and the damage was limited to the oven cavity. Others have been less fortunate.. Some dishes explode when they are lifted from the heating rack in the oven with devastating results. Some people are heavily scarred. World Kitchen is in denial. They say that the dishes are another brand, not theirs. Contrary to their denials the victims usually have more than one of these dishes and the Pryex logo is clearly visible.
If you buy a Pryex dish beware. The label on the front says oven safe, freezer safe, microwave safe.. The instructions on the back tell another story. You cannot move a soda lime Pyrex dish from the freezer to the oven and expect it to survive. The fine print goes on and on about what you are not allowed to do with the Pyrex dish. The fine print has prevented World Kitchen from being sued becaus e they have warned the consumer that their Pyrex dishes are junk from the get go. And they are the same price as the original Corning dishes. What a bunch of losers we all are for buying this crap.

What to do?
If you own borosilicate Pryex dishes no fear. They have to be more than 25 years old to be sure they are indeed Corning dishes. I am not sure if the old Pryex dishes have anything stamped in them that indicates they are made by Corning. You may continue to use the soda lime dishes for holding stuff. Just do not attempt to roast or microwave with them as the hazard is very clear.
The reason the soda lime dishes let go is that over time they develop micro-cracks. Once a few micro-cracks are present and once some liquid finds its way into the cracks you have the bomb situation. The liquid is like shoving a crowbar in the dish and pulling it apart Super heated liquids expand rapidly and it is the super heated liquids that force the soda lime glass to shatter into tens of thousands of shards.

Since Corning no longer makes Pyrex and Sylvia proudly holds a large collection of the soda lime Pyrex, we decided that one bomb in the kitchen is enough.. The Pyrex dishes will go bye-bye in this week’s trash. I do not know what we will use for cake and pie dishes going forward . If you have some suggestions we are listening.

I strongly urge you not to use the s oda lime Pyrex for the oven, stovetop or microwave. The slightest invisible crack is all it takes to have a mess and a possible injury.

As to World Kitchen: them and their cheap dishes. In case you are wondering: World Kitchen is NOT a U.S.A. company."

Chicken Florentine Artichoke Bake Recipe

2009-10-23T13:47:00.011-06:00

Ingredients

8 oz. dried bow tie pasta

1 small onion, chopped
1 Tbsp. butter
2 eggs
1-1/4 cups milk
1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1/4 to 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper (optional)
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese (8 oz.)
1 14-oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
1 10-oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
1/2 cup oil-packed dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
1/2 tsp. paprika
1 Tbsp. butter, melted

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain. In medium skillet cook onion in 1 tablespoon butter over medium heat about 5 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; set aside.

2. In bowl whisk together eggs, milk, seasoning, 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. black pepper, and crushed red pepper. Stir in chicken, Monterey Jack cheese, artichokes, spinach, tomatoes, half of the Parmesan, cooked pasta, and onion. Transfer to a 13x9x2-inch baking dish or 3-quart rectangular casserole.

3. Bake, covered, 20 minutes. In small bowl combine remaining Parmesan, bread crumbs, paprika, and melted butter. Sprinkle mixture over pasta. Bake, uncovered, 10 minutes more or until golden. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 531, Total Fat (g) 24, Saturated Fat (g) 13, Monounsaturated Fat (g) 8, Polyunsaturated Fat (g) 2, Cholesterol (mg) 163, Sodium (mg) 897, Carbohydrate (g) 41, Total Sugar (g) 6, Fiber (g) 5, Protein (g) 36, Vitamin A (DV%) 0, Vitamin C (DV%) 25, Calcium (DV%) 47, Iron (DV%) 26, Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Charity is the Pure Love of Christ

2009-10-19T18:08:00.000-06:00

In 1 Corinthians 13, we read about what Charity really means. And if we replace the word "Charity" with "Jesus", we read it in a different light, as follows:

"Jesus suffereth long, and is kind; envieth not; vaunteth not himself, is not puffed up,"

"Jesus doth not behave himself unseemly, seeketh not his own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;"

"Jesus rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;"

"Jesus beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."

"Jesus never faileth;"

Painting Studio

2009-10-16T18:45:00.005-06:00

My nephew Shaun inspired me to get back to painting since I viewed his new blog and what he is doing with his creative abilities.

One picture is of the studio and the other is my first painting in a l - o - n- n - n - g time!

Blessings of Gardening

2009-09-23T13:32:00.004-06:00

I've been unable to keep currenlty posting new information on our site since April because I had an extremely bad frozen shoulder. Through much therapy and many kinds of treatments plus exercise, I've just about got full use of my shoulder. It is great to be back!

What do you do when you have a plentiful supply of zucchini?

This year, I grated several pounds of zucchini and stored them in my freezer in 2 cup proportions each. Then, I tried some recipes. The two kinds of chocolate-zucchini cakes were not as successful as my Chocolate-Zucchini-Cherry Nut Cookies. Recipe below:

1/2 cup butter (I only use butter--not margarine)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup Agave Nectar (this replaces white granulated sugar and is even better than an Apple on the Glycemic Index, with lower points--that is good!)

Cream Butter and Sugars together.

1 egg

Beat it into the creamed mixture.

1 cup finely grated raw zucchini (I leave the skin on)

Add zucchini to creamed mixture.

Sift the following dry ingredients together and then add to Creamed mixture:
2 cups sifted flour (I milled my own White Wheat Flour)
1 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves

Stir in 1 cup dried Cherries* (reconstitute Cherries in hot water and set aside)
Stir in 1/2 cup chopped pecans (I prefer pecans to walnuts)
Stir in 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Drop the cookie dough by tablespoons on to greased cookie sheets. Bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Makes 3 dozen soft cookies.

*Raisins can be used.

Note: My husband, his partner, and our neighbors The Yokotas raved about these cookies.

Try them and enjoy!

Britain's Susan Boyle -- Her Amazing Voice

2009-04-27T12:07:00.000-06:00

Temples in the Latter Days

2009-03-24T17:35:00.002-06:00

Autism in the 21st Century

2009-03-20T19:10:00.005-06:00

The first time I heard about Neurotransmitters was when, my son, Jason had been diagnosed with a mental illness over twenty years ago. The diagnosis was “high-functioning autistic”. There were a few books or articles written about autism, and to me, they seemed to be only theories. Some reasons were: 1) food coloring placed in certain foods; 2) allergies to preservatives; and 3) not enough nurturing took place in the child’s life by the mother.
Jason was one of 10,000 diagnosed. Today, Autism occurs in 1 in every 500 births and in a rate of 5 boys to every girl. Autism currently affects over 400,000 people in the U.S. Autism is the third most common developmental disability following mental retardation and cerebral palsy. Autism is more common than multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis or childhood cancer. Autism receives as little as 5% of the research funding as other less common diseases.
Neurons are the “building blocks” of the brain. Neurons do the work of the brain by sending messages using chemicals called “neurotransmitters”. Neurotransmitters travel from one neuron to the next across a little space called a synapse. Neurotransmitters are an important part of our thought processes/our emotions. In a person that does not have normal brain function, and they are not on some kind of medication, the neurotransmitters travel much slower than normal, which causes their thinking process to be delayed as well as their inability to articulate to others what they are thinking in an understandable/normal fashion.
Because of Jason’s health issues, I’ve come up with some theories of my own as to what happened to him. 1.) He was born two weeks early and forceps were used in the delivery. 2.) He wouldn’t nurse from my breast so he wasn’t able to build up his immune system. 3.) When Jason was around 9 months old, we took a trip and stayed in a motel for the night. It was a restless night for us. Jason’s father was bad tempered and took Jason and threw him on the bed in our room. Jason was frightened by the action his father took. I was hysterical! We left the motel and continued to our destination. It was an awful time! 4.) At 4 months old, he had his first immunizations: #1 DPT and #1 Polio. 5.) At 6 months, he received more shots. The doctor wrote that he had a possible reaction to DPT—fever, nasal congestion, coughing; he was put on antibiotics. 6.) At 3 years old, in addition to having flu-like symptoms, the doctor noted that he had mental stress. 7.) At 5 years old, school officials came to the preschool to observe the children before placing them into Kindergarten. They requested an examination for Spasticity and soft neuro signs, and clumsiness. The doctor made these observations: Poor tandem walking, cannot skip, poor balance, follows direction poorly. 8.) By the time he started school, his speech pattern was poorly developed. He only felt comfortable around people he knew very well, like his mother, grandparents, some teachers, etc. 9.) By 7 years old, the school system wanted to move him from Developmentally-Delayed class to Emotionally-Disturbed Class because of behavioral difficulties.

His early development was normal: At 2 months: he smiled and cooed, grasped objects with his hand, raised his head, rolled from stomach to back. At 4 months, he smiled in mirror, turned his head toward voices. At his well-baby checkup, he weighed 15 lbs. 10 oz. and his height was 25 ¾”. The doctor wrote: He was a happy, alert, well-nourished child. At 6 months, he sat up. At 10 months, he crawled. At one year, he spoke single words. At 15 months, he walked. At 2 ½ years, he was potty trained. He was a mild, happy child. He loved being held.

By the time Jason was 9 years old, the doctor tried him on various kinds of medications—one of those being ‘Ritalin’, and it had the effect of making him lethargic during school and wakeful at night. Another type was tried on him, and the doctor said it would help him to become more aware of what’s going on around him—to help him socially. This was the year that Jason and I moved far away from his father. I started working full-time, and Jason was placed in a new school.

Some things I learned about Jason were that he did not do well with change, the trauma in his life, or crowds (this made him nervous).

Jason had to be on various types of medication for his mental illness for 22 years of his 31 years of life. The diagnoses changed as the years passed. By the time he was 18 years old, he had been diagnosed with ‘schizo-effective disorder’. What this meant was more medications for him to take, plus medications for the side effects of the primary medications. He was on high doses of Lithium in the mental hospital. Other meds came along to replace the high dosage of lithium—all of these medications were experimental to see what effect they would have on him. What might work on one individual, might not work on another. After about 2 ½ years, Jason was ‘stabilized’ enough so that he could be placed in a group home setting, where there were caretakers 24 hours around the clock. He was later diagnosed with ‘Bipolar Disorder’.

Another trauma Jason was faced with was Testicular Cancer when he was 21 years, and had to undergo surgery and then receive 5 months of highly aggressive and toxic amounts of chemotherapy. He was afraid of dying; however, after seven years he became a cancer survivor.

What were some of the side-effects Jason experienced as a result of the medications for his mental illness? He experienced lethargy, thirst, hand tremors, increased urination, extreme weight gain, acne, high blood pressure, chronic diarrhea.
Why is there a tremendous increase in recent years of such mental illnesses as autism, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia, depression, etc., among so many people in the United States?
As a mother of a son with a mental disability, it is my desire to let as many healthcare professionals be aware of my concern for the mental as well as the physical well-being and health of other mother’s children. I wish for these mothers to have a better understanding of the major role they play in their children’s lives.
What are people saying in our society today? “I don’t have enough time to prepare nutritious meals for my family? I don’t have any energy, so how can I get adequate exercise? There is too much going on everyday—I get up early in the morning and don’t get finished with my chores until late at night. How can I get adequate sleep?” These kinds of people have no real purpose. They stay up most of the night. They eat convenient, pre-packaged foods that have all kinds of preservatives and addictive ingredients in them. They sit in front of the television and become stressed. They don’t have any energy to do anything else. Is it any wonder that a lot of people are in a constant state of depression?

It is going to take time to create awareness in people so that there is a paradigm shift for the improvement of health, wellness, and energy. This is an age where people can become better educated about their health. What they can do for themselves? What they can do for their unborn children as well as setting the example for the children they already have, and so on.
Here are some recommendations that I have incorporated into my own life, and they may help to alleviate or lessen the malfunction of neurotransmitters in the brain:

1. It is crucial that a person, especially children, receives enough sleep each night. If they lay awake worrying about something that has already happened or is about to happen, their outlook on life will be a little distorted and they have not acquired the skills to sort these things out in a logical manner. If a young child has suffered some kind of trauma, and we tell them ‘Oh, don’t be silly’ or ‘that’s nothing, go back to sleep’, we are not helping them. They will be afraid to come to their parents, if their fears are overlooked.

2. Adequate exercise is needed in our stressful lives. Stress has become quite an issue in our modern technological/information age. Stress depletes our nutrients. Stress causes us to have sleepless, worrisome nights. Stress zaps our energy level. To rid our minds as well as our bodies from this stress that is created because of the expectations we place on ourselves or others place on us, we need to exercise in some fashion that:
a. gets our hearts pumping to move the blood;
b. moves the carbon monoxide out and oxygen into our lungs/brains;
c. removes excess calories or pounds;
d. and receive much needed sunshine to brighten our souls.

3. The need for proper nutrition is an important step in maintaining the renewal of cell tissues on a daily basis. With our soil depleted of many nutrients, it is important now, more than ever, to add supplements to our diet. Grow our own fruits and vegetables or buy the organic varieties. Fruits and vegetables are necessary for fiber, for vitamins and minerals, for energy, etc.

What changes could people make when they or a loved one is faced with some type of mental illness:

1. If you insist upon having your children receive vaccinations, read about the pros and cons. If your child is susceptible to every illness that comes around, or have a low immune system, wait at least until they are two years old.
2. Eating a proper diet while pregnant and breast-feeding your newborn babies. Breast-feeding gives your newborn the extra boost of immunities.
3. If your child is experiencing some kind of trauma, try to find out what is bothering him, and remove the child from the problem early in their life.
4. Change eating habits and sleeping patterns, especially if there is already a diagnosis of a mental illness.
5. Become a member of the support group NAMI.
6. Read up on current material on your child’s illness.
7. Understand that people with a mental dysfunction may look normal, but they are unable to reason, unless things are explained to them in the simplest way possible.
8. Work with a holistic doctor to help your child have as healthy of a life as possible.
9. Be patient with them, but firm, and have a healthy sense of humor.

I have written this article in memory of Jason, who died in his sleep on April 6, 2005, due to medical complications days following a root-canal procedure. The medical examiner in Salt Lake City said that the pain medication that was still in his system at the time of his death might possibly have been the cause. He also made mention that Jason had an enlarged heart. Special Note: his heart probably became enlarged due to his sudden increase of weight over the past two years due to the side effects of the medications, and his diet. Because of his extreme weight, he had sleep apnea, and had passed out once or twice at the day treatment center where Jason went during the week. He did use a C Pap machine to help this problem at night for more restful sleep.

Do You Know?

2009-02-26T14:22:00.004-07:00

Recently I was reading something in the book by Bruce R. McConkie, entitled "The Millennial Messiah," and it referenced this -- JS-M 1

Do you know what that is? Do you know where to find it? I didn't until just today. Interesting!

I love immersing myself in the scriptures! I hope you do, too! It can be an uplifting experience if we let it. It is more than just reading through scriptures to keep up with the lesson assignments. It helps me to understand the Lord better. I am truly feasting in the scriptures and I have the most wonderful Stake Relief Society Presidency. They are an inspiration to me and encourage me to study because of their examples.

For now, we live in the Telestial Realm! I need to remember to have Hope, Faith & Charity for All People to get me through. To stand strong and immovable in being obedient and keeping God's Commandments.

It is my desire to have family and friends enjoy the blessings of the restored gospel as I do. I know that my joy is not complete until after the Second Coming of our Savior and Redeemer, when my joy and your joy is full. {See D & C 101:22-36]

Love,
Christy

Do You Know?

2009-02-26T14:22:00.000-07:00

Recently I was reading something in the book by Bruce R. McConkie, entitled "The Millennial Messiah"

2009-02-20T17:56:00.004-07:00

"The greatest of faults is to be conscious of none," said Thomas Carlyle.

“…Pride is like bad breath, it is obvious to everyone but the offender.” Pride keeps us from seeing our own faults. Only the humble are teachable. I loved Carlyle's quote, and used it for several years and then came across the story, which perhaps inspired the quote. Listen to his story:

Thomas Carlyle lived from 1795 until 1881. He was a Scot essayist and historian. During his lifetime, he became one of the world's greatest writers. However, he was a human, and humans make mistakes.

On October 17, 1826, Carlyle married his secretary Jane Welsh. She was an intelligent, attractive, and somewhat temperamental daughter of a well-to-do doctor. They had their quarrels and misunderstandings, but still loved each other dearly. After their marriage, Jane continued to serve as his secretary. After several years of marriage, Jane became ill. Being a hard worker, Carlyle became so absorbed in his writings that he let Jane continue working for several weeks after she became ill. She had cancer, and it was one of the slow growing kind. Finally, she became confined to her bed. Although Carlyle loved her dearly, he very seldom found time to stay with her long. He was busy with his work.

When Jane died they carried her to the cemetery for the service. The day was a miserable day. It was raining hard, and the mud was deep. Following the funeral Carlyle went back to his home. He was taking it pretty hard. He went up the stairs to Jane's room and sat down in the chair next to her bed. He sat there thinking about how little time he had spent with her and wishing so much he had a chance to do it differently. Noticing her diary on a table beside the bed, he picked it up and began to read in it.

Suddenly he seemed shocked. He saw it. There, on one page, she had written a single line. "Yesterday he spent an hour with me and it was like heaven; I love him so." Something dawned on him that he had not noticed before. He had been too busy to notice that he meant so much to her. He thought of all the times he had gone about his work without thinking about and noticing her.

Then Carlyle turned the page in the diary. There he noticed written some words that broke his heart. "I have listened all day to hear his steps in the hall, but now it is late and I guess he won't come today." Carlyle read a little more in the book. Then he threw it down and ran out of the house. Some of his friends found him at the grave, his face buried in the mud. His eyes were red from weeping. Tears continued to roll down his cheeks. He kept repeating over and over again, "If I had only known, if I had only known." But it was too late for Carlyle. She was dead.

Perhaps, it was this experience that motivated Thomas Carlyle to write the phrase, "The greatest of faults is to be conscious of none." We would, indeed, be foolish if we saw no need to improve ourselves to strengthen our marriages. Finding Your Sweetheart, by Elder Lynn G. Robbins, Brigham Young University-Idaho Devotional, February 12, 2002

The Fulness of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ

2009-02-18T11:22:00.006-07:00

We are living in the last dispensation of the fulness of times. We have more blessings spread among more people in more parts of the world than ever before in the story of the human family.

To have had the gospel restored in our time, for our benefit and that of our children and our grandchildren, is the greatest of all the blessings of "our time." We have so much to share.

Elder Holland spoke at Women's Conference at BYU May 2007, and he had this to say, "We are the people in the eternal scheme of things who must prepare the Church of the Lamb for the arrival of the Lamb. No earlier people in ancient days ever had that assignment. What a tremendous responsibility! This means that before this is over we have to look like His Church members would look and act like His Church members would act. This will require all of us to move closer and closer to the heart of the gospel, to true principles of discipleship and faith, qualities of the heart and spirit. In short it means we have to live and be, to actually demonstrate, what it is we are always so quick to say we "know" in our testimony meetings. Eventually that has to mean not so much of programs or external schedules and certainly not so much of temporal things or the distractions the world puts before us. As a people we must increasingly strive for inner qualities, striving for profound faith and deep spirituality, striving to live as disciples of Christ would live. That is the task for us and for our families in this time of "dispensational hastening."

Grandchildren that Live Far, Far Away!

2009-02-17T11:24:00.003-07:00

Matthew nd Abbigail live with their parents in another state. Their daddy is finishing his schooling. We are so proud of their supportive, and loving parents. We miss them terribly!

Grandmothering

2009-02-09T13:57:00.004-07:00

I absolutely adore my one-year-old grandson! He is so sweet. He is amazing to me.

When my grandson and his parents came over, I greeted them at the door. I looked at each member of this family, and when my gs and I connected, a great big smile appeared on his face along with his happily waiving hands. It warmed me from the top of my head to the soles of my feet.

What really made my heart take flight and soar was when my gs came up very close to me and we hugged. He apparently came to me for a little comfort and love. Again, that night he came over and sat down on my lap when I was sitting on the floor. I love him so much!

My gs's father, my son, was a very loving and affectionate baby and young child to me. He loved being held! He loved to touch the skin on my face! He loved having his back rubbed to soothe him to sleep. As a young child, he also loved my singing to him or reading stories to him. He was a fun and easy child to raise.

Picture of Firewalk October 2008

2009-01-18T15:18:00.016-07:00

This is Trent our instructor!

These are the hot coals!

This shows how dark it was the night of the firewalk!

These pictures show how high, bright and hot the bonfire got!

Here is Larry and his wife!

Here is a close-up of the logs on fire!

Here Trent is getting ready to light the fire!

Request for Christmas 2009

2009-01-07T13:28:00.002-07:00

I would like to start a new tradition with our grandchildren and when the great grandchildren come along!

For Christmas 2009, I would like a hand print on a plain white/off-white cotton square fabric (10 x 10 inches square). I need everyone's cooperation, so please pass the word on. It would be neat to receive these hand prints no later than October 2009, so that Grandma (that's me) can put a quilt together for you-know-who! Let me know what color(s) you will use for your hand print so that I can color coordinate the fabric between these hand print blocks. It doesn't matter if you are already graduated from high school or not living at home any more. I still want your hand print.

For Christmas 2010, I would like to start another tradition! That is, I want to start having a grandchildren tree for every year from now on. What this means is, that you can make Grandpa and Grandma Larsen an ornament to hang on this very special tree. Matthew made one for us this year! We will treasure it always! It was made out of beads and string.

Love you all!
Grandma Larsen

Company for the Holidays

2009-01-07T10:49:00.003-07:00

Burke and his family (Mandi, Matthew and Abbi) left from Delta Utah this morning. Mandi's parents live there (Rod and Connie Hansen). They did stay with us for about a week (from Sunday, Dec 28th until Friday, the 2nd of January, and then again from Sat. the 3rd until Monday the 5th) while they ran around and visited friends and family. It was great to visit with them in person, which has only been about once a year. We have talked to Burke more often and seen him on a quick trip or two.

On the last day that they stayed with us, Burke, Mandi & Abbi ran a few last-minute errands while Matthew was down for a nap. He slept for 2 hours. When he awoke, he wanted his mommie. So, Matthew and grandma played ball and other games. Then, he was hungry and had some snacks. He ate well! Then, he helped grandma load the washing machine to do laundry. He handed me a few items of clothes, and I said 'Thank You." He is such a good & willing little helper. When Burke and his family were getting ready to get in their car and drive away, Matthew gave grandma, and then, grandpa a big hug. We shall miss them!

The First One!

2008-12-28T21:58:00.000-07:00

This is the first post on my blogspot. This is exciting for me because I'm learning something new. I love to share information with others and this is a good way to do it. I'm making 2009 a great year!