Tuesday, December 27, 2011

New Years Resolutions

In 2012 I hope to learn what it means to:
-Be productive throughout my day

Exercise Self-Control

-Exercise PERIOD!
           &
 -Budget my money
                                                                                                
Lately I've been battling with myself on every one of those things >>
And I would just really like to master those weaknesses..
You know like, less computer time, more take care of what needs to be taken care of time..(like right now).
Sticking to a daily exercise routine..
And budgeting..oh budgeting.  I have bad spending habits I've realized.  It's a problem.
And it all goes back to self-control.  I don't have much of that..and especially lately.  So seriously, some major goals for myself are being set for this new year.  If anyone has mastered any of these weaknesses..your advice is very appreciated. Ha. Teach me your tricks.

   

Cade and I are SO excited to head to Boise in a couple days and spend New Years there.  I can't think of a better way to bring in the new year!  We can't wait to see our friends and family!  I'm already thinking about how hard it will be to leave Boise for Utah in a week.  I might throw a small fit.  It's very possible.  I shouldn't think about that part yet though..  And plus---we're moving back to Boise two months after visiting, so I should be ok. :)  

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Posted on 12-22?..totally wrong date. More like 12-27.


  CHRISTMAS EVE PAJAMIES! :)
Cade does a dang good job picking out my PJ's.  I am impressed.  I think I did better this year for him than last year though.  Except for the shirt size...he said he was a large! ?

 We had a really good Christmas.  Woke up at 7 A.M.--(I did hold back the temptation to wake Cade up when I woke up at 3:45). Opened awesome gifts, made breakfast, went to church and then headed to Logan to spend the day with some of the Hansens.  Loved it all.   



And then last night Cade and I met up with my sister Stephanie and her husband Brandon for dinner.  They were in Utah for Christmas so I was happy that we were able to see them for a little bit.  P.S. Steph's hair is so cute. 
Steph and Brandon


Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Happy


I am happy this week.  Mostly.  I think.  It's been a good week.  I have surprisingly had a pretty good attitude for it being just a few days before Christmas and working in retail.  Maybe it's because I keep trying to tell myself this week, "Jesus loves this person...so I should too".  I think one time I thought about that a little too much and asked myself, "...Does he really?"  But anyways...that's a retail rant for another day :)

Something about this year has made for a really special Christmas season.  I don't really know what has made it feel so special but for the first time in a long time I have really felt the "Spirit of Christmas".  Maybe it's because I've put more thought into gifts for others?  Maybe it's because this is the first year I won't be "home" for Christmas but-- will be going home for New Years- (we're soooooo excited), so we will kind of be "home for the holidays" without the s..  Or maybe Utah is just good at putting out a Christmas feel.  I don't know.  I've enjoyed it though.







Sunday night

Two years ago
  My good mood for this week was probably set on Sunday though.  Cade took me for a drive to Salt Lake City to see the lights (again..) (& I would go a third time) and be surprised by my best friend Briceida and her husband James.  It was so fun to see them!  The last time I saw Bric was on her wedding day in May-- I have just missed her!  Her surprise meant so much to me.  It also made me think a lot about the last time we were in Salt Lake City at Temple Square together.  Probably two years ago..just a couple months after her baptism.  So special. 
 














And Cade and I outside--not the best picture but I like it still




















And a couple quirky things about this week:

-Watched two little boys shatter a display at Hobby Lobby.

-Almost followed a man into the ladies restroom at work 
(I quickly pulled a u-turn when I realized he was not going to though).



Random thoughts going through my head:

-So excited that I can put my two weeks notice in at work in less than 7 weeks- Moving back to Boise in about 9-10 weeks. :)

-Finding the past three videos I posted on facebook very similar and special.  I didn't realize until this last one how they all related.   Three singers with very different styles- Alex Boye, Brandon Flowers and David Archuleta -in some form or another sharing the gospel.

-Feeling happy about lessons learned the past year
&
-Excited about a new year coming up


Thursday, December 15, 2011

TWO posts in ONE--




HAIRCUT.  It only took like a week for me to post a picture.  I do not care to take pictures of myself though, especially when my nose looks really huge in all of them.  I took quite a few and this was the best one.  Is it possible that the shorter & bigger hair has brought out the hugeness of my nose?  Hahaha, ok, I'm probably being silly but.. just had to mention it.  I do like the crazy yucky split ends being gone though!  It's been a nice change.  Do I look older??  Ha.  










CHRISTMAS TREE. 
It's fun.  Had to post.  No star or angel up top.  I know.  Last year the star broke and we just never got one this year.
Loving Christmas time.





See my cute itty bitty manger scene?  I have been waiting a year to put that up.



Sunday, December 11, 2011

Drum Roll....

THIRTEEN LBS!  Lupe weighed herself today and in just one week on the Take Shape for Life program has lost 13 lbs.  Unreal.  So happy for her!  She feels great, has great energy and says that the program is so easy for her.  She enjoys the Medifast Meals and really hasn't had any complaints.  She has been so motivated and happy through it all.  She has been so impressive to me.  I have a trip to Boise planned the end of December and am so excited to see her.  I can't wait to hear in upcoming weeks how much she continues to lose and how well she feels through it all.  (P.S. Lupe is not your average case.  Average results are usually 2-5 lbs a week).  Awesome job Lupe!  Keep going! :)   
     

A little from the website about Take Shape for Life:


Section Overview Image



How is Take Shape For Life different?

Take Shape For Life starts with making the decision to get healthy—now.
Achieving a healthy weight is the first step along the path to Optimal Health. The Take Shape For Life program offers you a free personal Health Coach who will guide you as you lose weight on the Medifast 5 & 1 Plan®, by using the clinically proven, doctor-recommended, portion-controlled nutrition of Medifast Meals. Along the way, your Health Coach will share with you the Habits of Health that can help you to make the choices that will allow you take charge of your health for the long term.
Reaching a healthy weight is just the beginning—there is much more to come.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Stoked for Miss Lupe

Day 3 for Lupe- Almost at the end of the hardest part!
Lupe started the Medifast 5&1 plan on Monday the 5th instead of the 4th--I with my business coach (my dad) have been calling her the past two days to check in and see how she has been doing.  I am so amazed at how well she has been doing.  Yesterday, only her second day, she already noticed more energy.  Totally impressed.  She has so much motivation and has been very positive so far.  The first 3-5 days are the hardest and she is making it look easy.  WAY TO GO LUPE!  Keep it up!    I'm excited for her first week weigh in just so that she can see how her motivation and dedication is going to pay off.

Right now since Lupe is just starting on the program her main focus is putting energy into using self-control, also learning and understanding how eating six small low-fat/good-for-you meals a day helps with losing weight (in a healthy and safe way).  Soon she'll learn how maintaining a good healthy weight still involves eating 5-6 small low-fat meals a day but that will be by transitioning other healthy choices into her diet...(That we won't go further into though, she's not in the maintaining or transitioning phase yet).

Last night my Dad and I talked to her about how to have a successful attitude.  If you really want to be healthy, you need to change from having an attitude of "Living to Eat" to "Eating to Live".  I think honestly that is the only way you will be successful with weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight.  Hard.  I'm still working on that attitude but it's possible for sure.

Friday, December 2, 2011

A little of our week so far..




Tuesday: I needed a date night.  Not just a go out to dinner date night or watch a movie-- but something "FUN" kind of date.  So Cade skipped school and we decided on Boondocks :)  (A plus to Cade having a needy wife- he gets to skip school :))  On our way to Boondocks  we headed to Kaysville to drop off a little load of laundry at my Grandma's house first.  Driving there we noticed an awesome light show in the park and had to go check it out.  It was really neat.
Totally loved feeling the Christmas spirit.
So fun.












Continue to Grandma's house---and hello ambulance/firetrucks/landing helicopter....we had to stop and check out the action in Grandma's neighborhood.  It would have been kind of weird of us to stop and snoop if we were the only ones doing it...everyone in the neighborhood was out.  It was kind of fun to see the action of life flight but I also felt sadness for the family who had the accident.  We still don't know what happened, hopefully all is well.















 AND then our date. :)

...Just the two of us.  Yes, that's right- we don't have married friends.  Nine months in Utah and we still don't have friends.  Bummer...I was counting on Cade to bring the "makes friends easily" quality to this marriage.  Hoping that would be one of his strengths to make up for my weakness--Because I have found out in my life that that is not something I am good at, making friends.  I think I can be a good friend....I just don't make friends easily.  ...Shoot, oh well.  Hey, even if we had friends in Utah, haha-it was a Tuesday night...who has date nights on week days?  Answer: US & Quite often actually.

ANYWAYS- It was a super nice, spontaneous and fun night with my husband.  Much needed.   

So..bowling and a few games.  Holy cow.  I am the worlds worst bowler!  Kind of funny but kind of annoying and embarrassing.  Poor Cade, we'll say that my bad bowling rubbed off on him.  Haha.  He didn't play his best either. 




Game One.....oh man.  Hahaha.  Cade won but I got one strike!
Game two---A little better... :)


Already bored with it.  Dang it!
After our bowling we played a few games, won a few tickets and since there really isn't much you can get with 150 tickets--- a prize for our puppy is what we traded our tickets in for.
























Thursday: East winds through Utah.  My Grandma warned me about these winds but I didn't really take her warning serious because the last time she told me we were going to have East winds they were pretty wimpy.  She had reason to warn though--Winds were clocked at 102 MPH is what I heard.  Here in Clearfield it didn't feel too bad, just felt like a windy day.  Walking into work in Layton I noticed a harder wind.  Kind of made me laugh at how funny I probably looked pushing against the breeze.  Cade had class cancelled because of power outage in Kaysville.  We wanted to see what damage had been done so we drove that way after I got off work and the winds had calmed down.  This morning I went back and took a few pictures.  CRAZY. 



I don't remember the Davis Elementary sign looking that cheap....



Grandma's neighbor's house (behind the tree)
Same tree....completely uprooted.
Grandma tree down One
Two
Three

Four

Still Four--trying to leave Grandma's yard for the neighbors.

And number Five

Four and five again

Monday, November 28, 2011

Our first client- Lupe Ballesteros :)


Congratulations and thank you to my friend Lupe for taking such a huge step towards living a healthier life by letting Cade and I coach her on the Take Shape for Life weight loss program.

Our first client.  We are excited.

Yesterday we put in her first months order and I am hoping the product will arrive to her and start her by December 1st
December 4th.  (-So that Lupe can have one last splurge for her Birthday (December 3rd) ).



YES...starting her in December....are we crazy? :)

 Dear FAMILY, friends & co-workers of Lupe----I give you permission to eat any sort of tempting yummy Christmas goodies that come her way. :)  You are my eyes and my support for her when I can't be there.   She'll do great though!  Updates and progress to come...  And thank you Lupe for letting me talk about you and share your progress.

A little bit about Take Shape for Life... Established by Dr. Andersen ten years ago.  It is the coaching arm of Medifast- which has been a proven weight loss product since 1980- recommended by over 20,000 doctors and tested and used at Johns Hopkins in their weight control and obesity clinic.  TSFL is not a diet but is a way to achieving optimal health.  Compared to all those other diets out there--this is where you will get the best results.  The product costs less, is lower in calories, higher in mineral/vitamins & has a plan in place that will set you up for a successful journey to achieving optimal health.

My Dad lost 60 lbs in 5 months, dropped many of his medications, sleeps better and has felt so great since being on the program one year ago.  Let me know if you want more details.  I can send you an 8 minute video about the program and some more information.
Our email: cadebreanna.tsfl@gmail.com
or
Our website: www.brehansen.tsfl.com

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

"Short people aint got no reason to live" ...

I JUST WANT TO LOOK MY AGE.  21.  JUST LOOK 21.

I'm not really an emotional shopper, in the past more of an emotional eater...today I switched my beat though.
After being told TOO many times ALL in like the past month...

I look like a teenager,

I "don't look old enough to work at Sam's Club",

over hearing, "Mom, she looked like she was twelve"

or being told from the YW in my branch, "I'm taller than you" (multiple times) / "My mom thinks you look like a teenager".

I came home from the mutual activity tonight, grabbed my credit card, went to the mall and bought two pairs of high heel boots. :)  Next I plan on chopping my hair off..(as soon as I get the guts to make an appointment).  That will age my look and add enough height right?  Hopefully.  Because, "The older I get the more I do not love hearing how young I look" or how short I am..  I mean, who wants to be 40 and still getting 12 year olds putting their hands above your head while repeating, "I'm taller than you"??
  OH NOOOOOOOOO. 

Not saying I don't appreciate a good short joke once in awhile (one that is original, like Randy Newman's Short People song). But when it comes to being confused with teenagers then I am one sad "little person". 

Sunday, November 13, 2011

SWEET turn out!

So happy to announce that.....MY PUMPKIN CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS turned out AWESOME.  Ok, honestly, they may have not tasted so great had there not been a good amount of chocolate chips in them but I still feel proud of the small changes I made and how they tasted.

My recipe went like this:

Not mine----but looks the same
3 Cups of Flour- (Two cups of whole wheat and One cup of white flour)
2 tspn ground cinnamon
1 tspn salt
1 tspn baking soda
4 eggs
3/4 cup of Agave Natural Sweetner (instead of 2 cups table sugar) YES!
2 cups canned pumpkin
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
And chocolate chips

In a large bowl combine Flour, Cinnamon, Salt and Baking Soda- Mix well
In a second bowl beat eggs, agave, pumpkin and oil.
Stir dry ingredients into the second bowl.  Fold in the chocolate chips.
Basically it.  It's a super easy recipe and we loved them!
Bake at 350 around 30-60 minutes (I don't know, I don't time very well)


Ok, so still not all that healthy for you but I think I made it a bit less unhealthy :) Haha.  If that even made sense.


Thursday, November 10, 2011

Lately especially grateful

This week I have just felt grateful.  I am BLESSED.

I am thankful for....
Emma

Eliza and Zach
FAMILY.  Especially this week for a Sister-in-law that calls my husband to get a hold of me to meet her and her kids for lunch when they are passing through Utah to California.  Thanks Jeanette, made my day!

(They are waving to Cade- pictures I sent him from my phone.)  And how did I forget Owen?? :(


For Employment.  I don't love my cashier job but I'm grateful to have it.  Super grateful.


An AMAZING husband who helps me with the dishes.  Seriously...it came to me one night that God really knew what he was doing by leading me to Cade.  I couldn't have been married to someone who never helped me with the dishes.  Hahaha. :)
(Partly sarcastic.  Partly completely serious.)
This morning I did act my age though by doing them myself.  Sometimes I'm a help.

Veterans!  Grateful for the people who sacrafice their life for my freedom.  Grateful for all those who have served especially in my family.  Cade's Dad and my Grandpa.  Thank you!!!

Thanks Emma!
Socks from the Nike Factory.  Oh my favorite socks!  Haha...random.

Nieces that send colored pictures to me in the mail.  So sweet.

Grateful that we are down to about 15 weeks living here.  I will miss some things about Utah though.  For sure. 

& My brother who I can talk about politics with. :)

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Dear Santa...

So today I found a cooking show that actually held my attention.  It was "Chef Brad- Fusion Grain Cooking", (I think that's what it was called).  He was AWESOME.  I loved his style of cooking.  He was all about cooking healthy but he understood that sometimes it takes something like a little bit of  Unbleached White Flour  to make foods tasty (edible in my case).

He prepared something I've never heard of.  Amaranth? (As well as Teff..and others).  With the Amaranth he put it in a hot pan and it would pop and then he would set it aside and put it into recipes.  He made Whole grain rolls with Amaranth: Whole wheat flour and added a little bit of white flour for taste.  Of course there was more to it but I don't care to go on.  

I thought the coolest thing he made was rice krispy treats though.  He melted butter and marshmellows in a hot pan and then added dried craisens, nuts, rice krispy's and then the popped amaranth.  Making a seriously unhealthy treat just a little bit better.  I LOVED it.  So then I went to his website and found out the things he was using and am now so disappointed in the price of my wants.  Haha.  The ninja blender I discovered from working at Sam's Club though.

 So...

Dear Santa,
For Christmas I want.....

 

 
Sweetest bread/cookie/whatever mixer I've ever seen.  Only $429.99

BLENDER that actually works (so I've heard)..$59.00-159.00

I don't really know what this is....but it looks sweet!  I think it's a grain flour maker...? $259.95




Monday, November 7, 2011

Convention

Saturday Cade went to a Take Shape for Life Convention here in Utah with my Dad and had a really good time.  I had to work but was happy he went anyways.  He was able to go to lunch after the convention with a small group and a really successful Health Coach, Bryan Drollinger, who held the convention.  And now his fire is fueled and he is ready to help others obtain good health.  It really is exciting.  We hope that we can put ourselves out there and find people to coach.

Message me your email and I can send you an 8 minute video about the program if you (or someone you know) is looking to lose weight and most importantly obtain good health.

Lose weight for the Holidays instead of gaining, seriously!  OR... Keep us in mind when you are making that New Years Resolution to lose weight.
Our email is cadebreanna.tsfl@gmail.com
OR if you want to browse around on our website its www.brehansen.tsfl.com

 Look!  Here are my before and after pictures (haha) from when I was on the program.
 Before...am I really posting this picture?
And 7-10 lbs lighter later.  My After.




I still look like a dork but maybe you get the idea.   7-10 lbs lost in 2 weeks.  In a HEALTHY way.



Dad BEFORE













Dad AFTER




















Of course, in case of confusion, I should mention Take Shape for Life is the reason I started making healthier choices BUT is NOT the reason Cade and I have been trying to eat more organic foods and such.  That part of our eating habbits was inspired by The Green Smoothie Girl and book by Elder Widtsoe.  So if a person gets on the TSFL weight loss program and after they have made it to their goal weight and begin introducing more foods to their diet, they will not be expected to eat only whole wheat flour, only organic foods..etc.  TSFL is so much easier than trying to take on the extreme whole foods diet we've been trying (or TRIED).  With that said, TSFL is a good start if you want to eventually eat more organic foods and less processed foods.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

My name is Breanna and I am a recovering Food Addict...

I have really had no thoughts to spill for my blog lately but I think I have something now!

I stopped reading Elder Widtsoe's book about the Word of Wisdom because it was just sad and I think I was just overwhelmed with the don'ts that it talked about.  I picked it up again this week though because I felt like there were good things to learn from it still.  I'm pretty happy with what I have gotten out of it since reading it again.  I still don't know how to cook or put all of this together for a meal but I am not worried.  It will come together with time.  I went through and highlighted what I thought was important to know, read on if you enjoy healthy tips.....

From the section discussing the Six Groups of Food Constituents:
1. "Proteins are the body-building foods, essential for growth and repair.  They are found in meats, eggs, milk, cheese, grains and vegetables.  Indeed, some protein is found in all natural foods.  White of egg is a pure form of protein.  Everyday the body must have its full quota of protein foods, for the cells of the body are being constantly destroyed through the activities of life and must be replaced if health is to continue".
2. "Carbohydrates include the starches and sugars of fruits, vegetables, and cereal grains.  They are the energy or fuel foods which keep up the body temperature, and provide energy for all life processes, and for mental and physical work."
3. "Fats are energy foods like the carbohydrates, but are more concentrated. ... Some of the fatty acids found in natural fats, (as for example in butter) are indispensable to complete health.  They are utilized to produce heat and to supply energy for work.  They have other functions and if absent from the food an intense craving for them exists.  They seem to cushion nerves and nerve-ends against shock for without them great irritability ensues.  Thus they play an important part in the health of the brain and nervous system.  In fact they are necessary for full health and vigor.  'It is by no means tampering with the truth to say that, in it's higher forms, life without fat is impossible'.  The most common used fats are butter, meat and fish fats, and vegetable oils)."
4. "Mineral Salts..."
5. "The Vitamins are essential chemical substances present in minute quantities in all natural foods but in varying amounts. They act as body regulators, and promote reactions without which full nutrition is impossible.  When vitamins are lacking in the diet the body becomes diseased and in time perishes.  Vitamins are partially lacking in foods after storage or even totally lacking in certain refined or preserved or dried foodstuffs".
6. "Water..."
"The essential thought remains, that to abstain from the things forbidden in the Word of Wisdom as injurious to health is not sufficient; it is equally important to partake of foods that build the body properly and meet bodily needs".

"....By stripping cereals of all their outer coats and refining sugar until it is whiter than the whitest snow, we have made a good start on the road to the ruin of human health, for fine milling removes 75 percent of the minerals.  Super-refinement of natural foodstuffs has probably been as successful in promoting American ill-health in the past two generations as the most virulent disease germs."


About Minerals and Psychological Attitudes..
"Psychological as well as physiological effects are conditioned upon the presence or absence of certain minerals in the food.  A study made by Dr. Walter Timme of the Neurological Institute was reported in an address give before the New York Academy of Medicine.  He stated that: 'Crossness, tiredness, misbehavior and all the other symptoms of problem cases, both child and adult, result when the blood has too little calcium.'
When the supply of calcium is reduced:
'There is apparently a disturbing effect on the nerves and subsequent conduct of the individual who then misbehaves, showing inordinate fatigability, irritability of temper and at times even incorrigibility, non-amenability to discipline or even assaultiveness. '"

Source of Minerals....
"Vegetables, grains and fruits form nature's storehouse of food minerals.  If grown on fertile soils all the edible plants and vegetables usually contain, in varying proportions, all the minerals needed in maintaining bodily health.  For example, vegetables rich in calcium are beet greens, cabbage, broccoli, kale.... Those rich in phosphorus are whole grains, corn, peas, soy-beans; those rich in iron are legumes, nuts, and nearly all greens.... All grains and nuts and fruits are rich in minerals, especially in calcium, phosphorus and iron.  Milk and cheese are the richest source of calcium and phosphorus..."
"Food minerals are best obtained from foods, as nature made them, for man's nourishment.  If man eats right, he has no more need of 'Mineral broths' or inorganic 'Mineral pills' than has a cow or any other animal.  Money should be spent for good food rather than for commercial inorganic substances."

Daily supply of Minerals...
"To insure enough minerals in the diet, each adult should have daily, at least one pint of milk which is the richest calcium food (children 1 quart), the liberal use of all vegetables in season, especially leafy ones, eggs or cheese frequently and meat occasionally (but not all of them everyday), the frequent use of seafoods, fresh if possible, or canned,  if in a goiterous region, and the use of whole grain breads and cereals".

Variety Necessary...
"Man should partake in plenty of all edible fruits and vegetables.  It is a mistake for a normal person to say: 'I don't like this vegetable or that', and refuse to eat it.  Children should be taught from the weaning period to eat and enjoy all the different kinds of vegetables (prepared in milk soups at first but later mashed until the child can chew them) so that their bodies may grow in bone strength and nerve tone as well as in size. This practice should be encouraged in adults as well, for all have need of the nutritive value of fruits and vegetables.  One should insist that every vegetable to be found in the market forms some part of the week's food supply." ( Ughhh... : /  Haha. )  "One should be familiar with and help create a demand for all kinds of vegetables.  The farmers will produce what people call for.  It is a great pity for an individual, a family or a nation, to confine its taste to two or more vegetables.  Meat, potatoes and cabbage may make a good meal occasionally, but served everyday they produce a very one-sided diet."


So...pretty intense but some good points made.   I'll just do what I can for now though and it will probably get easier with time.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

A couple good books

 

"I don't want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coiffed, and with long, perfectly manicured fingernails.

I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.


I want to be there with grass stains on my shoes from mowing Sister Schenk's lawn.


I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbor's children.


I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone's garden.


I want to be there with children's sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder.


I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived."

-Sister Hinckley 

I have just been thinking about that quote from Sister Hinckley lately and thought I'd share it.  I think there needs to be more woman in the world like her.  I love the book Glimpses into the Life of Marjorie Hinckley.  Super good read.

-

I have also read a little of the book, Cleansing of America by Dr. W. Cleon Skousen.  I picked up the book while doing laundry at my Grandma's house and really liked it.  It was easy to read and made a lot of sense.  It also made you think.  If you are a little bit nerdy about politics (like me off and on) you will find this very interesting I think.  
A little description: " Dr. W. Cleon Skousen spent the majority of his life researching the gospel, the U.S. Constitution, the founding of America and writing numerous books and articles on the topic, and he is one of the most well-known, respected defenders of America and the gospel the world has ever known. At the time of his passing in 2006, his work was not finished. His book The Cleansing of America, written in 1994 and given into the care and keeping of his sons, is now being brought forth for the first time ever. Included in these pages are the events and stages the Lord has predicted, through his servants, the winding-up scences of this world. It helps the reader understand: the nature of prophecy, the known chronology of prophetic events, and the importance of staying close to the Lord and his prophets during the difficult and challenging years prior to the Second Coming. We are fast approaching those prophetic events. Some are upon us even now. "

-

I've been listening to Conservative Talk Radio today and just thinking about how scary and crazy it is in the world right now and the question of what can anyone do.  I just thought of that quote and the two books and how inspiring they both are, or can be, (in the case of Cleon's book) for these times. 
  

   

Sunday, October 23, 2011

My favorite season




Cade and I like Sunday drives and finding paths to walk, so we were pretty excited when we found the perfect adventure in the mountains today.  (This is one thing that I'll miss about Utah when we move back to Boise).  My cousin had told me about this hike in the mountains to a waterfall but we finally went to find it.  The funny thing is, at the beginning of the Summer Cade and I headed on a different trail in the mountains we had found and on the trail some people stopped to pet our dog and in our conversation let us know they had "made it to the top this time".  I was under a pretty good impression that there was a top to this hike.  As we walked we came across a fork but didn't really realize that's what it was, (I mean, we didn't realize it led anywhere).  We followed the path right, and walked FOREVER.  I kept telling Cade that there was a top to this hike and he didn't think that there was.  So finally after I was tired of looking for the "top" too we turned around and ended our hike 4 hours after beginning.  Today we found this path leading to the waterfall, a different path, but found ourselves at this same fork.  HUH.  Wow.  How did we miss that?  How did we not think to go up the left instead of going right?  The left led to "the top" I was certain there was.  So anyways, this hike was super easy in the beginning and then as we got closer to the waterfall it was crazy.  I found myself almost rock climbing in places.  It was so fun though.  Going on an adventure with Cade, seeing the beautiful fall colors, neat waterfall and all of it in amazing fall weather = PERFECT day.  Well, until I tried cooking dinner.  Haha.  I'm over it though.  Here are some pictures we took on our phone from our hike/mountain climb. :)







Our Chihuahua is a champ.
   It was probably a little bit too much for a peaceful or reverent Sunday activity....but we didn't really realize how much of an exercise it would turn out to be.  I thought it was a good way to spend my Sunday off with Cade though.