Not just a salad.

by Sweet Basil

My dinner tonight was a green salad, but not just any green salad. It was made of romaine, spinach, green and yellow pepper, a handful of peas, and tomato. Then I sauteed, in a little apple juice and brags liquid aminos, half an onion, 2 garlic cloves (love garlic), a few chopped walnuts, and a good bunch of mushrooms. This I put right on top of my salad hot and steamy (don't knock it till you try it). It coats the salad and makes a great healthy dressing.

When I listed my plan I failed to make clear that the veggies and fruit and the quarter cup of nuts is all I am eating at this point. I have made a few exceptions like the liquid aminos, some better than bullion (no msgs), and a few peas (frozen and warmed up in a little hot water.)

I really want to reset my body. I am paying really close attention to the way I feel by keeping a journal. The journal really helps. I record how I am feeling, if I am stressed out, feeling sick, hungry, what I am eating and how I made it. Especially if it was good because then I can make it again.

Like my oriental soup I made last night. And my family loved it! I was going to wait to share it but it was so good you are going to want to go get the stuff and make it ASAP.

The recipe came from The Original Fast Foods but I had to tweak it a bit because that is what I do. And I didn't have all the ingredients. And as you will see I don't measure all the time. Sorry.

10 cups of water or so

some chicken bullion, (What kind of vegetable is that you ask? The only kind I have at the moment. Next time I will try it with vegetable bullion to see if there is a difference.)

1 onion diced

1 cup of chopped celery

1/2 head of cabbage, chopped

Cook just this much for a bit.

2 cups of broccoli

2 zucchini, diced

a bunch of mushrooms, sliced

1 tsp of dry ginger

Cook that up but not too much because mushy broccoli is gross.

Then you put some frozen peas in the bottom of the bowls and I added a little cooked brown rice for everyone else but myself (but only for now.) Add the soup. The best part, I think, was the cayenne pepper that I added to mine and the Mr's and it was GOOOOOOD! Let me know if you try it and what you think.

We Aren't Ever Really Starting Over

...Just Continuing Our Journey.

By Sweet Basil

I was reading some of the old posts and came across one written by yours truly and it was interesting to see where I was a year ago. I had started a challenge that I was not truly committed to. (Time and a season for everything.) I also had the reasons why I wanted to do this particular challenge but I really didn't know why why and how to do it. There was a will and not until this last summer did I find the way.

A little background...

I grew up in a home that was fairly health conscience. We had fruit trees and a huge garden. Most of my memories of home was spent outside. Climbing trees and having a snack, learning times tables while picking raspberries, eating zucchini straight from the plant. Sunny, snowy, rainy, it didn't matter. I loved it! Boy, did I take that for granted.

It has been nearly 16 years since I lived there. When I left home I started eating more and more convenience foods. Carl's Jr. became a favorite and I would sometimes go there two times a day. I didn't know then at all the damage I was doing and how hard it would be to break those seriously bad habits. Food can be so seductive.

It has taken me years to recognize the addictions, physical and emotional. These last few months I have learned more about my body than ever before. I came to realize I was just feeding my family healthy most of the time because that is what I had learned from my parents. Then last summer I was introduced to a few books: The Original Fast Foods ( which most of my studying is from now) and Eat to Live. Last summer I read through the books quickly, applied a lot of the recommendations, lost a bunch of weight, got rid of my constant tummy aches and headaches, felt really good and was a lot calmer and more patient with my kids.

Problem was, I missed some key steps because I had hurried and hadn't taken the time to really study. Pretty soon, I was back where I had started only this time some healing had taken place and I no longer suffer from pain. But the weight was coming back. I had learned a lot but didn't understand the body systems and what was happening inside of me as a result of my food choices.

After buying my own book (cause you shouldn't mark up a friends) and really studying I am coming to understand. I am internalizing it and teaching it to anyone interested. It is EMPOWERING! I have real desire now and am learning to overcome my weaknesses.

It is not always easy to find time to study but I thought the same thing with exercise. I am on day 31 with a challenging exercise program. I haven't missed a day. Six days a week. Never thought that was possible. It has been hard but really rewarding. I feel stronger and proud that I have stuck with it. I know Heavenly Father is pleased with my efforts because he has helped me on those days that I just didn't have it in me. I still struggle sometimes but more often I look forward to my workouts.

Next step... learning a new way to eat. As I learn more I will share.

The plan:
Eat many many more fruits and veggies(leafy green, solid green, and non-starchy vegetables). I ate a green salad for breakfast with fruit the other day. I was not hungry until lunch. Surprised? I was.

A quarter cup of nuts or seeds. That 's it.

Simple, huh?

Sound extreme? It is, but for a great purpose right now. I want a body that repairs, rebuilds, cleanses, and works properly. I want vitality and mental clarity. And to continue this journey of health. I know the way I was eating last summer helped. I healed me and I also learned some great ways to eat veggies. I have eaten more veggies since June last year than the last 16 years put together, I think.

So, I will continue this way, not until I can't stand it any longer, but until I feel free of addiction, and feel it is time to add something else.

I am excited to share this part of my journey and hopefully I can inspire you to do the same.

Heavenly Father wants a powerful people and our bodies are the vessel for our spirits. If the vessel is weak mentally, or physically by our own doing then our spirits can not thrive. Can we do that if we don't understand the most awesome creation on earth? And how to take care of the temple Father has given us?

So, lets continue the journey...

Reasons I Do What I Do

I have been thinking a lot about Embers post "Why?" There are many little reasons why but it really comes down to my faith and my testimony in my Savior and the Plan of Redemption. I want to return to live with my Savior. I want to be together forever with my family. My family is my rock and my strength and my reason for living. They are the motivation that keeps me going, and helps me to improve myself. Times are tough right now but I know with out a doubt that they would be even harder with out the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost helping me know I am on the right path and helping me overcome my weaknesses. I know that everything I do to help my family to be strong spiritually, emotionally, physically, & mentally will bless us. The Lord needs us to be as strong as we possibly can be in every way possible. I know that some of our trials we face are physical ones-- either due to our own past or current neglect of our bodies or because of the negative changes man has made to our environment, or due to nothing in our control. I do believe one tactic Satan uses is to use "food" that is messed with that it no longer provides nutrition and causes dis-ease in our bodies. Satan does this to make us physically and mentally weak. When we are weak we can't truly perform our missions we were sent here to do. I know that there should be balance in all things and that building us up spiritually should be first and foremost.

I have really enjoyed the talk by Sherri Dew that Sweet Basil shared with us here. I read it one Sunday night, and the following night (Monday) I gave a FHE lesson on it. That following Saturday I sang in the woman's stake choir for our Stake Women's Conference where we were blessed to hear from Sherri Dew. She talked about the same thing but she has added so much more to it. The spirit bore witness to me that yes indeed, I was saved (and so were you!) for these, the last days. He has confidence in me and I need to have more confidence in myself. One thing she said is that when she was a teenager some one told her that "you can have a spiritual experience everyday". She said it changed her life. How amazing is that! We are truly God's children. He loves us. The promise and covenant of Baptism and the Sacrament is true! We can have a spiritual experience EVERY DAY! But it won't happen unless we want it and do what we know we need to do in order to be worthy of the Spirit.

I feel it is vitally important to teach our children about the Spirit. How to recognise it, what it feels like, and how to seek and receive personal revelation. You can't teach something like this with out knowing for yourself how to do these things. But, this is life long learning process-- something that grows as our relationship grows with our Savior. You don't need to feel as if you are perfect at it in order to teach it. As long as you are personally striving for and working on this, you can teach it.

I believe in the power of natural health care. I am NOT saying that I don't see the need for traditional western medicine. It is necessary at times. I believe, because of personal experience, that Chiropractic works. Yes, my husband is a Chiropractor and I will, in a future post tell you of my personal conversion to Chiropractic as a primary form of health care-- not just a way to take care of a bad back. I believe in whole food nutrition. I know that it can and does heal our bodies. My husband has been blessed with the knowledge of how to use whole food nutrition to heal and strengthen our bodies. I love being in charge of my health care! One scripture that I like is found in Alma 46:40

"And there were some who died with fevers, which at some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land--but not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases, to which men were subject by the nature of the climate--"

How powerful is that?! I know our loving Heavenly Father planned the earth so well that he gave us natural answers and cures to remove the causes of disease with in us! No matter where we live or what we suffer from, we can be healed by the plants and herbs found here in the earth. I have learned and seen for myself the damage that man made chemicals that we can be exposed to on a daily basis can cause many health problems and conditions, and therefore I try to avoid as many chemicals as I can. Alternatives that I have found that have been tried and true for my family I like to share here on this blog with you.

I do what I do because I believe in strengthening my family in every way possible so that we can live to do what we were sent here to do-- to help prepare the way for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If we get to be the lucky ones to be alive when He comes what an amazing blessing that will be. But if not, I know that what I am able to teach my family and others, will be passed on to future generations to help bless their lives as well.

Seeing His hand

As we get closer to the last days I am struck at how very close He is and how much His hands are in our lives. This post is about being grateful.

I attended the adult session of our stake conference not too long ago. A sister got up to talk about adversity. I am guessing she is in her mid thirties and I am pretty sure she has 4 or 5 kiddos at home. With few tears, she proceeds to tell us how the temple is and was a necessity in her life. Three years ago her husband was diagnosed with lung cancer and lost his battle just this last September. She stood up there and was grateful for her time with her hubby. She was especially grateful for the temple and the blessings therein. I can't get her out of my mind. I am amazed at her strength in such a sad and difficult time. She could have turned bitter and angry but instead she choose to see His hand in her life and in his death. She is truly an example of the believers.

My cup runneth over and I dont know how else to say the things in my heart so I will make a short list of the things that I am grateful for. Please understand that He is responsible for all of them. It is His tender mercies that I want to give thanks for.

• temples
• quick trips to visit family
• good roads across Wyoming
• paychecks
• honest and trustworthy employees
• my Bishop
• working with the young women
• going to girls camp
• a husband who gets up and goes to work everyday
• a teen who get up and goes to 5:30am seminary without fuss or complaint
• drawings/love notes from my babies
• 10 second tidies
• good examples
• family who have become my friends
• getting prepared
• food storage
• rain
• thunderstorms
• heating blanket
• texting and skype
• good friends
• prayer
• shoulders broad enough to bare my burdens

This list is not in any order but things that came to mind. I try to be a grateful person and I know that this list is short but I hope that it will give you ideas of things to be grateful for in your own lives. You dont have to look hard or far to see His hand. He is right there infront of you. He is standing there with His arms strechted wide open waiting for you to enter. Its up to you. Times are going to get harder do you really want to face them without Him. I don't!

Sassafrass