Spring Is Here...

Well, the CALENDAR tells me...it is now...SPRING! In between the little snow flurries and frost on the ground...I have seen signs of SPRING! (actually...for Montana...it is showing itself EARLIER this year) (smile)

LOTS of multi-colored birds greeting me each morning with their various melodies...Little tiny buds are trying to peek through their winter shelters...and I am getting itchy fingers to try my hand at gardening...even when it is only in the 30's and 40's...(smile)

I am feeling very energized these days...LOSING WEIGHT has been part of that "energized" attitude...! I have nearly lost 21 pounds...and of course...Garvin...who has jumped WAY AHEAD OF ME...has now lost 55 pounds...

It is amazing to me...how much losing excess poundage...has done to my "outlook" on life! I WANT to get out of bed...EARLY...Take on the day with more "enthusiasm"...Indeed...there is a "healthier" inner peace...

Hope you are all realizing your goals as well...

NEWNESS of LIFE!

The celebration of Easter is not that far away...NEW BIRTH...NEW LIFE!!!! The RESURRECTION of our Lord and Savior...SPRING!!! NEW BEGINNINGS!!!

It is truly a BEAUTIFUL time of the YEAR!!! A RENEWAL OF HOPE!!!

As I ponder over the adversity that comes into our lives...I marvel that there is always a LIGHT intertwined in that challenge...For example...Facing Garvin's cancer has brought us the REALITY...that we are truly "mortal"...and that we really do NOT live forever here on earth...that one day...it will be "my turn" to RETURN HOME...back to the presence of our Father in Heaven...IT TRULY IS GOING TO HAPPEN!!! It is the WHEN...that most of us have NO CLUE......But, the fact is...IT WILL!

In the meantime...HOW and WHAT QUALITY of LIFE we have...certainly falls upon our OWN SHOULDERS...WHAT WE EAT...certainly reflects the QUALITY our BODIES will have during this "mortal probationary period"...

I am THRILLED at the RESULTS of our EFFORTS to turn to the "Word of Wisdom" in our daily walk through LIFE! You will chuckle...at an interview Garvin recently had with our Bishop and Stake President...when being interviewed for the renewal of his temple recommend...The question..."Do you live the 'Word of Wisdom"...came up...and Garvin blurts out..."I do NOW!!!" (smile)

We are both continuing to LOSE...I am feeling STRONGER every day...Garvin...is able to FUNCTION BETTER...since we changed his diet...He has lost over 32 pounds and I have lost 16...Though, starting MONDAY...Garvin will begin his CHEMO therapy...he will STAY on his NEW LIFESTYLE diet...He will never go back...to what he was doing PRIOR...to this "challenge" he is currently working through...YES...THERE IS A "LIGHT" in every trial...Living the "Word of Wisdom"...is that GUIDING LIGHT for our "physical well being". In turn...it DOES AFFECT our "SPIRITUAL" side of our nature! It is TRULY A BLESSING of WISDOM!!!!

The "Lymphoma Diet"

The title of this post is a bit disturbing, I know...but, that is what Garvin is currently calling his new lifestyle of eating...I, personally, would rather think of it in terms of the "Word of Wisdom" lifestyle...

"WISDOM"...As I begin to digest the concepts in the "Word of Wisdom"...I am marveling over Father's LOVE for us...in giving us HIS "counsel" on how to keep our bodies "healthy"...and "strong"...to "walk and not be weary"...

For instance...ever ponder over the idea of "eating in the SEASON, thereof"? Ever think about the CYCLE of our "gardens"? What kind of plants (food) come off in the SPRING? What kind of plants (food) come off in the SUMMER? What kind of plants (food) come off in the FALL? WISDOM....long "created" in cycles before we ever "entered this life"...

I am LOVING my new LIFESTYLE...though, I find I still CRAVE "CHICKEN" every day! GO FIGURE!!!! (smile)

Garvin has now lost "32" pounds...and I am shy of "15"...YES!!!!

New Additions to the Blog...HEALTH BLOGS and SITES

In recent weeks, I have been studying and researching Health blogs and Health sites that might be helpful in our quest for better health habits and tools to make our new lifestyle easier...

I have added a few for your consideration....and information...

If any of you...have more IMPUT...that would be GRAND!!!!

Made a MAJOR GOAL!!!

I may be losing weight...but, I am also losing my "mind"...in the process!!! (smile) I posted on our FAMILY BLOG this week's post meant for THIS BLOG...Here it is:

It took me TWO MONTHS...to get to the weight I was LAST JANUARY 2009...when I first started this BLOG...(smile) I am THRILLED! I had to lose 13 pounds to get to that point...Now, I have to reach ANOTHER GOAL...the weight I had LOST in 2009...before...everything came UNDONE...by the middle of the year...when I regained those "11" pounds...and THEN another "15" on top of that....

But, this time...I am NOT DIETING...I have simply changed "lifestyle"...and that I am "Eating to LIVE" and NOT "Living to EAT"... WHAT A MAJOR DIFFERENCE!!!!

Garvin has now lost 27 pounds...

Angel, who is now on this blog...began her goal to LOSE weight...now that she has had her little "LILLIE ANNA" on February 16th...She had gained "45" pounds with this baby...Lost 20 some odd of it afterward the birth...but, then we set her "ticker"...and she has taken off a little over 2 pounds...

LAST YEAR...our FAMILY champions were HOLLY and ABRAHAM....Abe lost over 50-60 pounds...and Holly was over 40 pounds...(can't remember exact totals at the moment)

Anyway...been a GREAT week...and enjoying the BENEFITS...of this NEW LIFESTYLE...Has been AWESOME!!! Will be adding a POST on BLENDER foods...Sandee Spencer inspired me...along with my son-in-law, Jared...to RESEARCH....and we made a decision...YESTERDAY...and began our "blender" foods...Will explain more later...

My New Secret Weapon...

I have a new secret weapon...in helping me lose weight...He is two years old...height is about to my navel...diapered...and VERY active...My secret weapon even has a name..."Nathan"...

Since, my daughter, Angel, had her 2nd child...my "13th" grandchild... on February 16th...I flew that day to Utah...Our little Lillie has been in the "intensive care unit" until YESTERDAY...She was just moved from the NICU to a regular unit for newborns and prayerfully will be home MONDAY NIGHT...

In the meantime...I have had the incredible blessing of being a part of a two year old's world...and that little world is in CONSTANT MOTION...(smile)

I have lost an additional 2 pounds...ONE MORE POUND...and I will be at the beginning of LAST YEAR's WEIGHT...when I began this BLOG...I am VERY EXCITED...

Garvin in the meantime...is doing AWESOME...Has now lost 25 pounds...Continuing his STRICT regime and is feeling for the first time in MONTHS...more like a human being...Is getting more energy, has truly found a new way to LIVE...

Been a great week for both of us...

Men seem to lose faster than women...A double standard?

Why is it...that men seem to lose weight faster than women? Garvin is now down 23 pounds...and I am nearly 10....I can understand the situation...of why Garvin would lose faster than me this time...however, it seems that it is a general rule...men lose faster than women....Is there is a double standard...even in the weight department????...(smile)

Actually, I am thrilled over Garvin's current success...Anytime our bodies are OUT OF TUNE...eating RAW foods is a great way...to help it back to being "healthy"....

In our experimenting with JUICING...Sandee Spencer sent me a site...that refers to the DANIEL DIET..."Old Testament Daniel"... http://ldshealth.ning.com - This site has some GREAT RECIPES for a healthier lifestyle of eating...

I tried one of their recipes for juicing:
APPLES - (# of apples depends on size and amount of juice you get from apples - I used generally 2-3 apples)
1 peeled lemon
approx. 1 inch raw ginger root

I juiced these together...The ginger gives it a PUNCH....Besides...the nutritional value of the drink....it is not a "boring" drink...(smile)