sugar, budgeting, meal planning, organizing

Today I had a pile of things to put away. My arms were full of random stuff and....guess what? I knew exactly where to put every single thing I was carrying. This has NEVER happened to me before. oh it's a New Year miracle. 

Another gift to the Savior this year: get it together April. Get rid of it. Get with it. Get on it. Get organized. The last 2 weeks I have been slowly going through all of my stuff and de-junking and finding a place for everything else left. 

Wow things really function better when everything has a place. who knew?

It's a fascination of mine to be organized- I have never been able to figure it out- but that can't be my lame excuse.

 LAME. 

I hate it when people already make up their minds about themselves. "Oh, I'm not a runner" "I can't cook" or "I can't stand on my head".

what a way to rob an opportunity- just say "yes" ( I love that song by Snow Patrol) 

I am not giving up...and to those of who have seen my house, know I always have a pile of something... somewhere- NO MORE PILES.

Another resolution this year: Budget and meal planning. 

oh this picture makes me laugh...love the satire. Do you ever feel like this sometimes??? AHHHHH

One thing I learned this month: Just because I don't like to do it, doesn't mean I shouldn't. 

It is more important that I budget so we can get out of debt quicker and teach my kids about money than to choose not to do it. Even though I'm not the best at it and it kind of gets me in a bad mood sometimes, I will do it. It's that important. Even though I am not a huge fan of cooking dinner every night, it is more important that my children help me and learn to cook in the kitchen and that we gather around the table as a family. So yes, even though I feel strongly that some homemaker duties drive me insane at times, I do them anyway. For the greater good...for my family. But "be patient" oh family of mine- remember your Mom is trying her best and she will lose her cool from time to time, alright? 

The so-far outcome? AMAZING.

I have disciplined myself to make a meal plan to last a whole pay period. We have a new rule: NO EATING OUT!!! We have saved a lot of money. I use my food storage more and we are eating very well! Extremely well. The only downside is how messy my kitchen gets now...oh how I hate doing the dishes. 

Budgeting: Right now in my life I have the little goal to NOT LEAVE THE HOUSE on crazy impulses. I live in a perfect little area...quiet and residential yet 5 minutes away is Costco and a huge thrift store...oh and TJ Maxx and Ross. Oh dear me. I am interesting- to where I will literally talk myself into getting something I don't need. My mind will flirt with the idea of how I need something right away at that very moment and then I will get in the car and go shopping for that one thing I really don't need. Then I end up buying things I don't need. Sound familiar anyone? Plus, my house is usually overwhelming to me so escaping and leaving the house is usually fun and a breath of fresh air....

Well, I am starting to like my house... since I've been organizing and it's funny- with a house of order and peace, I feel less inclined to leave the house and get something I really don't need. (because I probably found 5 of that one thing when I started cleaning and organizing :)   

look what I just designed. I am so proud of myself.  Hmmm. I should put this in my KITCHEN. 

Sugar: 

Have you ever had the chocolate dipped roasted almond ice cream bars at Costco? I had one tonight. 

That's alright. I'm still special. 

The goal was to just keep trying and not get discouraged and go crazy wild with poop food. 

Back on tomorrow. I decided to be gentle with myself and have one serving of dinner each night chucked with huge vegetables on the side- but to continue to eat alkalined throughout the day until dinner. 

I have a hard time slaving over a meal and not being able to eat it. Someday I may get that strength...someday. 

I am truly blessed. I am surrounded by the good life. 

temple

The sugar thing is going just as planned. I feel alive. Still have a headache but I feel clear in the head and I like to play with my kids again...a huge indicator the yucky stuff is leaving my system.

The weather has been like May around here. What the heck??? BEAUTIFUL. Thank you Thank you Thank you!!! I will take this sunshine on any WINTER day. Riding bikes and going to the park in January?? Um, yes. Lovely in every way. I love SUN. 

I love Chay too. 

The Temple. I also love the Temple. I can't explain it. I walk in the doors and I feel instantly at peace. Heaven and earth are joined together and it is truly an escape from the world. I can not deny the blessings that come from doing temple work and...everything makes sense in the temple.- oh and those sweet old men and lady workers who greet you at the door? LOVE THEM. They are half the reason why I want to go.   

Another one of my Gifts to the Savior this year: Attend the temple monthly! Sounds so easy but it's actually not.  We seem to have a really hard time finding time to go. We always came up with excuses for not having babysitters or being too busy doing other non-important things. 

Yesterday I set up a plan. Figured out a way to share babysitting with other couples who want to go...and just like that- it's on the calendar. Now why that took me 5 years to figure out don't ask me- 

I've decided that nothing will get in the way of this monthly goal. NOTHING. Well, ok, maybe some things... like a child losing a leg the day we're supposed to go, that would be a somewhat acceptable excuse I suppose :)  

Ju Ju wearing the Clark wig. 

Day 3

Much much better.

Went to bed around 7:30-8 last night. I was miserable.

Today I woke up with more energy and motivated.

I want to wear a shirt that says "I don't eat sugar so I can be a better mom."

Now that I am on the upswing (hopefully) I will start to concentrate on my other gifts to the Savior.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me." Philippians 4:13

Isn't it interesting that God is all-giving...and when we try to serve Him he turns around and gives us strength to serve Him better. He fortifies our efforts to be more like Him. Amazing.

"And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him. And secondly, he doth require that you should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever." Mosiah 2:23.24

withdrawal

Day 2: massive headache, nauseous, extreme fatigue, a little moody, achy, strong hunger even though I've been eating all day- this is called "Sugar Withdrawal". I crave bread and anything sweet. I think I will be kind to myself today and take an Ibuprofen.

upside: feel like yeast infection is clearing up already.

Focus on the positive...this should only last a couple days if that...

this is hard...really hard.

Celery, sprouted tortilla shells, almond butter, sunflower seeds, green drink, kale, onions, olive oil, sprouts

No dairy, meat, sugar, wheat (flour), white rice, fruit...on we go.     

The road less traveled

Saturday morning I could hardly get out of bed. Once I finally did every joint in my body was on fire. My eyes were swollen and I couldn't get my wedding ring on my finger. I was slow moving. I was experiencing my 5th yeast infection in the last 4 months. My head pounded. I knew I had to get out of bed and get on with the day. Luckily we were visiting Chay's mom's house and I could relax a little with being a Mom. I didn't get out of bed until 10:30. I could have slept another 4 hours easily.

About 2 months ago my joint pain returned with a vengeance. My left and right jugular veins have started to hurt and I can feel blood pumping through them. I have also had quite a few dizzy spells.

I do all I can to just ignore it. I think my veins might be closing up again??? I don't know. I still feel stronger and more energetic than I used to feel...and like always, I go forward with HOPE.

Funny thing, about 2 months ago before MS symptoms started sneaking back into my life, I wrote a big blog post titled "I'm a walking miracle". In this post I went off about how great I feel and how I feel "healed" from MS and feel like a whole new person. I am glad I didn't click "publish".

Well what do you know...

Day one: Today I ate broccoli, some almonds, red bell peppers, celery and my green drink and some supplements...and I have sworn off sugar. Sugar, man what a swear word. Get the "sugar" out of here.

As hard as it is and I'm sure I will fail at some point, but I will just try again...I have to take the road less traveled when it comes to what I put in my body and in the end, it will have made all the difference. :)

just listen April! Keep listening. Listen to what the Spirit has told you. Don't get upset if you fail but just keep trying April!!!

It is late, but just one day and I feel already optimistic about my health...and yes I still hurt, but it's all uphill from here on out and...that's a good thing. Nothing in life worth having comes easy.

But trust me, I do feel like this quite often:

 **write tomorrow about other gifts to the Savior.