Beautiful

For those of you who don't know, I have an allergy to sugar and chocolate.  My two favorite things in the world.  When ever I eat them, I sneeze a lot, and in general don't feel very well.  Knowing that it makes me sick, I still eat them.  Well after driving to and from Boise with ears that would not clear, and sneezing over everything, I decided that I would just cut them out of my diet, and I would exercise more so that I can have one of those awesome bodies like on the magazine covers.  I have always had self esteem issues, and the last 2 years I have put on more weight than I am comfortable with.  I look at the magazines covers in the check out line, and the pins on pinterest and all these women have the "fantastic" bodies that I want. 

Last Monday after dropping  Kaleb off for scout camp I came home and told everyone that I was going to stay in bed all day and not do a thing.  I was a little depressed to come home from a beautiful warm weekend in Boise, to a cold and grey day.  (It was 59 degrees that day, I had to turn on the heat) I was checking my email and there was one from Jenny Phillips, an LDS Singer/song writer/author.  I don't remember exactly what it said, but it got me out of bed, and doing things with the kids.  It also talked about her new book "Beautiful"  I ordered it that day.  I got it today and read it to Mia.  I sobbed at the end.  I was trying really hard to not let my emotions take over, but it got to the point I couldn't read the end for a few minutes. It is an amazing book.  I would recommend it to every woman and girl out there. Here is the link to order the book.  Jenny Phillips

"Beautiful" is a Parable about 2 girls who have to decide whether or not to follow the King's training program or to follow the Scholar's way to become beautiful.  I love Jenny's reflections at the end.  Basically she says that after having her 2nd child and not being able to fit into her clothes she once wore, she was going through the mail and saw a girl on the back of a catalog who was very beautiful.  Perfect skin, long dark hair, beautiful eyes.  She tore the picture out and set it by her computer to help give her motivation to exercise and eat healthy.  Well it didn't give her motivation, it made her miserable.  (I have done this and have felt the same way, it didn't modivate me, it made me feel worse about myself because I didn't have enought self-control to stay away from all the treats or get down on myself when I didn't workout that day.)  She then read a scripture that said "What is it that ye shall hope for?"  (Moroni 7:41)  She then took down the picture and threw it in the trash.  She realized that she needed to focus on gaining attributes of charity and began to understand beauty in the way God understands it.  She says:

"If we exercise, groom ourselves well, and practice self-control with what we eat, not to conform to a certain worldly image, but in order to be healthy, to be a good steward of our body, to work hard, to rejoice in truth, and suffer long, we will feel good about ourselves regardless of our resulting shape, size, or apperance.
     There is a massive misconception in our world today of what a woman's size and shape should look like.  Most women, if they participate in a non-excessive exercise and eat sensibly, will still not be the world's ideal size or shape.  And we must remember that we didn't come to this earth to waste our days worrying, fretting, and over focusing on the shape or look of our bodies.
     Exercising, healthy eating, and grooming and dressing ourselves well are important and do impact our happiness.  But in reality, that is only a very small part of what we are supposed to do during this critical mortal probation.  In the end how skinny you were in this life will mean nothing.  But whether you developed the ten traits of charity will mean everything."

So what are the 10 traits you ask?

1.  Suffereth Long
2.  Is kind
3.  Envy Not
4.  Is not Puffed Up
5.  Seek Not her Own
6.  Is not Easily Provoked
7.  Think No Evil
8.  Rejoice in Truth
9.  Bear and Endure all things
10. Believe and Hope all Things

This book was a real eye opener for me.  I need to not get down on myself and learn to love myself, I am trying to eat healthy and I usually do some sort of exercise each day. I know I am not perfect, but if I try my best each day to do better, I will beautiful inside and out. So here to developing the ten traits of Charity, and not focusing on the worldly view of beautiful.

I'm Back, for a few days anyways

Wow it has been a long time since I posted anything on the blog.  Sorry Scott and Emily,  I know you two love reading my crazy stories!

So much has happened in the last two weeks.  The kids, my friend Shannon and all drove down to Boise for the "Daniels" family reunion.  I really wanted to fly to Italy and spend time with Scott, but Mark (Scott's brother) decided to buy our car and taking it down that weekend seemed to work the best.  Scott said he would definitely take me to Italy when he didn't have to be there working, I am holding him to that promise! 

The Family reunion was great.  Jalene did an excellent job hosting, and I have to say that the "Ship to Shore" game was my favorite. Every time I watch the video I bust up laughing. The kids have been playing it here since we have been home, it is awesome! Now if I could just figure out how to get the video on the computer.  I think it may be time for a new computer, I have been having a lot of problems with the one I have, or it may be that I am not computer literate.  Hehehe

Katelyn and Ethan look so excited to be here!

This water fountain was a hit!

 
 

Last Monday the 23rd, Kaleb had to be up bright and early to head off to scout camp.  His first year.  He was so excited to go, I was so not excited for him to go.  He looks to little to be going off to camp for a week.  On Thursday I received a phone from his Scout leader.  I started to panic, why was he calling me, was something wrong, what happened.  Well everything was fine.  There was a Family BBQ the next night that we were invited to and Kaleb had told him that 2 adults and 3 kids were going from our family.  He was just calling to make sure that was correct because he knew that Scott was gone.  I informed him that is was correct, that I have a roommate/house-sitter/friend that would be attending also.  When we arrived at the BBQ, we saw Kaleb and he was as happy as could be with the biggest smile on his face.  He wasn't home sick and was having the time of his life.  He completed 3 merit badges; First Aid, Swimming, Environmental Science, and he is almost done with fishing.  (he just has to actually catch a fish and gut it.)  I am so happy that he had such a good time, and was able to accomplish so much. 

Saturday was a date day.  Since we were in Boise, Emmi didn't get her date, and Mia really wanted her date.  So Emmi and I went go-cart racing.  It was a blast.  I totally got something in my eye, but still beat out Emmi all 3 times!  Emmi had a great time too, you should have seen the huge smile on her face afterwards.   Mia really wanted to go to the dollar store, so off we went.  She came home with bubble gum, a jump rope and 2 puzzles.  She was super happy, what more could a girl ask for.  I had suggested that we just go on a date with just the  girls, but Mia did not want that to happen.  She said she just really enjoys just the two of us.  I have to admit, I do to and I am sure Emmi enjoy it just being us.

Today I dropped Emmi off at girls camp.  I can't believe that she is a third year already.  Time flies.  She has been so excited to go, I hope that she has a really good time.  I will be picking her up on Friday to start our month long road trip.  The kids are super excited and counting down the days, and I am starting to dread it.  It wouldn't be so bad if I had another adult going with me, but the thought of driving over 6000 miles by myself is very daunting. It is a good thing I love my kids and don't want to disappoint them, so off we go for another adventure!

A day in Taormina, Italy

One of the churches at the city center

 The center at the upper peak, near Castlemola

 The castle in Mota, a nearby town where go to eat dinner quite often

 The sun setting behind the mountains

 The shopping district

 A view from the edge of the square near Castelmola.  The closest knoll has the Taormina Castle, the next has the Greek Theatre ruins, and the last is the island in the water as seen in the beach picture.

 Another shopping street

 The Greek theater ruins

 A view of the bay from the Taormina Castle

 Our group...Scott, Nick, myself, and Dan (left to right)

 The beach...notice the island with the house on it

 Some decent sized boats in the blue water

 Entrance to the shopping district

 The crew again with Nick's wife Ashley

Lunch near Castelmola.  Mount Etna in the background

Pictures from Italy

Here's a pictures I took on base here in Italy.  Tomorrow I have the day off, so I 'm going sight seeing...more pictures to follow.

Good Times

Yesterday the kids and I were able to head across the mountains to a place called Ensign Ranch.  Scott's Aunt Shayla and Uncle Owen are serving a mission there.  They invited us to come over to go and ride horses.  The kids were so excited.  When we first got there Owen took us around the park and we had some golf cart races, he won.  Mia decided she would try and drive one while no one was looking.  Not a good idea, but the Mia and the cart came out fine.  We found a rope swing, and Owen spoiled us with ice cream.  After that we were able to take the horses out.  It was a lot of fun to see the smiles and panic on the kids faces. We just went on a trail ride that lasted almost an hour.  I am glad it wasn't any longer, I don't think I would have been able to walk.  As is was I had a hard time standing.  I think the stirrups were a little to short and my knees were killing me.  It was worth it for the smiles on the kids faces.  Thanks Owen and Shayla for the great time!

On a side note.  We have a friend interested in Scott's motorcycle.   Well before Scott left he didn't have time to take the gas tank to get it all cleaned out.  It had a ton of gunk in the bottom of the tank that kept clogging up the carburetors.  Well I was finally able to get it done and put back together with some help for an awesome guy in our ward.  Well Dustin (the friend)  came over to take it for a test ride.  I hadn't put gas in the tank yet so he did, and all the gas came out and spilled on the ground in the garage.  Come to find out one of the gas lines had come off.  So Dustin went to get a new gas line and clips and put it on.  He goes to put gas in it again, and gas comes pouring out the side again!  I now have 2 gallons of gas on the garage floor and a headache to boot. One of the gaskets was missing from the bottom of the tank. I could not find the gasket anywhere.  To get a new one cost $80, guess what I found tonight after already ordering a new one. Yep the dang gasket.  It makes me wish that Scott was here to put his bike back together because the 3 of us who were working on it have no skills.

 

 

After speaking with Scott on Skype and showing him the gasket I found, it was the wrong one.  Sheesh

I love some business trips:

 On approach in to the airport I took this picture.  Yes, the mountain is smoking because it is an active volcano.

 I would love to explore these coastal villages on the Mediterranean Sea.

 Dinner was amazing and well worth the price of 20 euros.  We basically had to waddle out of the restaurant due to the amount of good food.

I have indoor plumbing again!!!  I took a nice long shower the other evening, I might have been in there ten minutes.  I didn't even have to walk through the gravel to go use the bathroom, instead we were walking down cobblestone streets.  

 The castle was impressive.  This is only one outbuilding.  The main castle is getting a face lift.

A view from the castle grounds.

Keeping super busy

So much has happened the last two weeks.  Where to start. 

For the 4th of July I took the kids down to Oregon to spend it with our friends the Burgi's.  While we were there, we saw another friend, Nicole that we hadn't seen since Mia was 9 months old.  It was so good to spend time with all of them.  We had great weather, great friends, great food, and great adventures.  Who could ask for anything more?  (Ok maybe me, I would have loved if Scott were able to be there, but a man has gotta do what a man has gotta do.) 

 

 
 
 
 

 After returning from Oregon we have been busy hanging out with friends, working in the yard, piano lessons, tumbling classes, and Twilight Scout camp for Brody.

On Monday, a friend had a Doctors appointment and asked if her 4 kids could come play.  They came over and then I received two texts from friends asking if I wanted to join them at a local pizza place.  So what is a girl to do except load 8 kids in the van and head over to the Pizza Place for lunch.  I am pretty sure I am crazy.  Scott tells me all the time, it is starting to sink in.  I heard a saying once that went something like, "your kids will prove you right"  I am just proving Scott right.  (Although I am not his kid, I feel like it fits) 

Mia started a tumbling class.  She loves it!  She wants to do tumbling now instead of soccer.  I am totally fine with that, as long as she has fun.

Brody started his twilight Scout camp.  It is every night this week from 5-9.  He has made a sun dial, a tool box, archery and BB gun shooting, even making a bulls eye!  I am happy he is having such a good time.

Yesterday was my Birthday, and it was pretty good.  I woke up at 6:30 and went running/walking with friends.  When I came downstairs, I saw that someone had decorated the house.  Come to find out Emmi woke up at 5:15 to decorate so that it would be done when I got up to go workout.  She also made the most amazing cake ever!  I told her she can cook from now on.  I have gotten in my deployment funk where I just don't feel like cooking anything.  I feel a little bad for my kids (but not bad enough yet to cook) because the usually get some good healthy dinners, now they have been eating yucky food.  Cup o noodles, mac and cheese, corn dogs, pizza, you get the idea.  Emmi did say she would cook the rest of the summer if I cooked when school started again.  I suppose I can do that.  She is in the process of making her menu and shopping list.  Amazing girl.



So Scott sent me a birthday present.  It arrived in a huge box that was delivered to my neighbors house, and the boys had to go get.  It took both of them to carry it home.  It wasn't very heavy, just 13 pounds.  When I saw it, I had a pretty good idea of what it might have been.  You see after Scott left, I had gone to Costco and saw a huge teddy bear, I put in it my cart thinking it would be a good thing to cuddle with.  I put it back because I thought it was just silly,  I didn't need a big teddy bear, I am a big girl.  Well I had mentioned this to Scott.  He remembered and when I opened the box, there was a giant teddy bear.  It sure brought a smile to my face, all the kids were wanting it and offered to trade their toys for it.  I took a nap with it, but it gave me a kink in my neck, and took to much room on the bed, so now Mister Teddy Bear is sitting in the corner of my room.