Valentine's Celebration

Saturday morning, all the local grandkids came to grandma's home for some fun times. This included playing outside, eating corn dogs, and decorating LOT'S of Valentine's cookies. The table was filled with frosting, LOT's of sprinkles and candies galore! Laughs, creativity, and several tummies were filled that morning. Each cookie was a piece of creative artwork by itself.

Enjoy a small picture presentation of the event.

Of course what would Valentine's Day be without Donny Osmond's "Puppy Love"

2009 - A year of many...

(this blog contains random pictures I have from 2009, in a very random order...)

I have neglected this blog during the past year. There are many reasons for this. Some due to being too sick, no energy, unable to think, concentrate, or not having any words to remotely describe what I was going through. This past year has brought one that allowed me to gain a better understanding of my relationship with myself, my family, community and God.

(benefit concert-April)(decorating PURPLE cupcakes-May)

For those who may not be aware, 2009 was a year of great struggles for me regarding my health. I felt that I had hit rock bottom so many times, only to then say "nope," apparently I could go lower. I felt as though I had no immune system, and would catch every virus that the kids I worked with carried. My body did not have as much strength or ability to fight off the virus' that well. Which would leave these nasty bugs to linger for weeks on end. During this time though I was granted much time to read, learn, study, observe, ponder, and pray. I began to see things in different ways, and learn how to listen understand a bit more how my body communicated. I began to hear the part of me where my instincts were trying communicate regarding what was going on within me. Things that I had sensed were not right within me, yet had been told by countless people that this was not the case, was soon to show that it was a part of the problem.

(Christmas 2009)(My sister teaching me how to use my new camera:) - Dec)

In September everything seemed to just fall into place and I began to see more clearly that throughout my entire life I had been dealing with food intolerances. The more that I studied this, the more I could see what certain foods were doing to me. I began to learn that if you deal with a lot of ear infections as a child, they are generally caused by food intolerances. All those who had ear infections galore as a child, please raise your hand (*ME!!!) Some studies had shown that ear infections, and hearing loss in children could be resolved through elimination of possibly just gluten and dairy.

(Tucson Zoo-May)(Rockin with Aunt-Nov)

I began to see a naturopathic doctor who tested me for foods I was intolerant to. Through this I was placed on a diet of foods to avoid that would help strengthen my body and get rid of toxins and bacteria. In addition, he placed me on a few supplements to add in this support. It took a few months to figure out the right balance of what my body could handle and what it could not. Through this time I began to see how food intolerances manifested in me. It was in different ways that I would never had thought of... sinus problems, extreme fatigue, waking up insanely early, not being able to sleep, low immune system, foggy thinking, digestive problems, anxiety, oh the list could go on... What was a new thought for me as well was seeing how many times it would manifest a few days after consumed (like this past week: added the spice, tumeric, to my food, and couldn't sleep 2 days later). In addition, I have also been learning how my body reacts when things are eaten as certain times (i.e. it does not work well when I eat a large meal at night, especially protein).

(Attempting to make the tallest lego tower)(He let me HOLD him!!!-Dec)

Together, my naturopathic doctor and I have finally found a good combination of things for at this time in my life. It's a very limited diet (6 things, count them - 6: mung beans, asparagus, quinoa, amaranth, blanched almonds and ghee), but it has been the biggest blessing to come to me at this time. It has allowed me to lead a life once again. What's interesting is that my body didn't need any supplements - in fact it repulsed them - what it needed was ghee and blanched almonds. (*ghee is clarified butter - it's a popular with India cooking ) I will need to be on this regimen for a few months to allow myself to heal. Then slowly we will be able to add back in more foods. This won't be as difficult as some may imagine, I have been pleading in my prayers for the ability to have be made whole for many years now. This past year I feel the Lord has been teaching me things regarding what I need to do to allow this to happen, now it's time for me to implement them. Plus for me experiencing 30 seconds (if that) of having something in my mouth that some may feel is the necessity to life is not really worth it at this time.

(Christmas Lights-Dec)(raodtrip! view after Jacob's Lake - June)

Throughout all this, I have also been able to understand more what other things in my environment were doing to me. Over the summer I began to stop in my daily routine using synthetic chemicals, products and fragrances. One night, a few weeks after doing this, I suffered a horrible headache/ body-ache of a detox nature. A few months later, during one of my really low points with my health, I could began to sense more how those items had been affecting me. How it would weaken me more than I thought they could. Most people's systems could tolerate and process these things, but my body had been weakened through many things, that it didn't have the ability to do this.

(UofA Grad- May)(Farewell party-July)

If someone would ask me how I would describe 2009, I would say it was a year of being humbled and learning many things. I feel that I needed to be taken to an extreme of being completely off balance in order for me to see more clearly and to hear and understand answers. Through this I have been able to see and make changes that would be necessary for me to continue towards achieving a healthy life. Do I have all the answers, of course not. But I am excited as it allows me to continually seek out, learn and understand throughout the years.

(farewell party-July)(The Sharp campout-July)(Roadtrip to Sedona-June)

I feel that I am such a different person than when I first moved to Arizona in October 2008. I see the world differently, have different goals and desires, and understand things a bit more. Knowing what I know now, would I have wished that my doctor's would have known about the food intolerances early on to have avoided all those ear infections, harsh drugs, antibiotics, digestive problems, pain and surgeries... no, because I can see, just a tip of the iceberg, wisdom in having me experience those things and learning countless things. I am though grateful for this time now with the ability to gain more understanding and the blessing of working towards becoming more whole.

(Temple open house -Utah-June)(My 2 Valentine's - 2009

In addition, the knowledge gained through my life experiences, I feel I have become a better person.

Plus this adventure has not even come close to ending.... :)

Finally....

... it's up!!! As this season appears to be busier than most, we have finally found the opportunity to put up our Christmas tree. This year we are going for a more simpler, and "Arizona" theme.

The majority of my parent's Christmas items are in the very back of our garage.... in a place that we didn't want to venture to after Thanksgiving. Luckily for us, I had my Christmas possessions within reach. I think my parent's are given the opportunity to see Christmas through with a different view this year...

Yes, we are still trying to keep the "evergreen" tree tradition, as a reminder that spring will soon be here :)

As a lot of our ornaments were packed, we began to get creative with what to put on our tree... oh if only you could see. We were grateful for the beautiful angel ornaments sent to us this year.

Of course, what tree is not complete without a rubber chicken holding the star.

Gingerbread Land

My mom has started a tradition to have the grandkids who are close by at the time to come to her home on a Saturday near Christmas, and decorate their own gingerbread houses. Last Saturday was the great day! Our table was full of candy, frosting and amazingly decorated gingerbread houses. The homes were similar to snowflakes where no 2 were alike. I felt like the homes brought out a bit of their unique personalities as well... Unfortunately I wasn't able to get everyone's finished home with their picture at the end. Enjoy the one's I was able to finagle :)

Autumn Drive

Saturday, my dad and I took a drive up north to see some fall leaves changing color. It was a lot of fun. We explored Payson, AZ, and found a great park. We had lunch at Christopher Creek, and also explored many off the road areas. Through this adventure we discovered Woods Creek Lake, hunted for pine gum sap, heard fun stories, went down memory lane, breathed in beautiful views, and experienced amazing peace.

We may try to go up again in a few weeks to see if we can find more changing of the colors though... perhaps when the weather begins to cool down more :)

Autumn Equinox

Last Tuesday, September 22nd, a friend of mine threw an "Autumnal Equinox" party to celebrate the arrival of Fall. It was a lot of fun, and a great reminder that Fall was finally here (especially when you live in Arizona).

At the party, someone came with many instruments, allowing us to have an amazing drum circle experience. I was in heaven... we explored, talked and played in the Arizona desert. The sky and the weather were absolutely perfect. We were also far enough away from the city to allow us to really watch the stars. Through this, I am really excited for Autumn to finally be here... although we have still been experiencing triple digit weather...

Sunset at the beginning of the party. This is a view from where my friend lives.

The group exploring instruments, and creating a "groove" with one another.

There were a few instruments there that I had not seen before. It was fun to play with new sounds.

Blue Lake Ridge

Something's missing here? Can you see it? Can you see me... no.... it's because I couldn't make it to the reunion :( Life events happened the day we were to travel to Colorado, and I wasn't able to make it to the tri-year family reunion.

I realized though that I REALLY needed to get away and have a break. So the Sharp's and I went camping. My sister located a great spot just north of Strawberry, Arizona (2.5 hours north). We found a great location, and it allowed us to be in a secluded spot. We visited Blue Lake Ridge on Saturday and had a blast in the cooler water and weather. In honor of this celebration break, I created a video of events that took place that weekend.