Life is Good!

This week has been a good week in so many ways. LOTS of changes going on and many of them are good ones.

This week I had the opportunity to talk with exercise expert, Susan Powter on the phone. What an amazing woman! She's so inspiring and encouraging to help you get on your journey "to fit". She has helped get me on a different way of life with exercise and eating and thinking. I can't wait to see the changes. And the hardest thing? I'm not allowed to step ONE FOOT on my scale for the next 90 days. Yikes! You wouldn't think that to be hard, but it really is. Especially when you see your body changing (for the good) and want to see how much weight you've lost. But she told me that if I do, I could destroy ANY progress I've made. So that's my promise, I will NOT step on the scale for the next 90 days.

At this same time, I started an online class called "Help! I don't know where to begin!" from Simplify 101. This class have helped me learn how to move from feeling overwhelmed to feeling motivated, inspired and empowered to get organized and to learn a simple approach for decluttering your home. And you know what? It's working!!! I am SO feeling empowered and dedicated to getting my house in order and KEEP it there. LOTS and LOTS of bags going in the trash or being donated. It's wonderful.

Getting the kids ready for the start of school next week. Picked up their schedules (already knew Amber's. I'm very please with David's classes and teachers. It should be a good year for him.

Friday we had an unexpected house guest for the night. Tabitha!! Josh was off at a Cub Scout overnight campout so Tabitha came and played with us, ate our food, jumped on our bed, chatted into the wee hours of the morning (1 am-ish) with Amber and David being the typical 12 year old brother. It was just too fun :D

Then Church today was just amazing! The kind where you are so filled. Where your Spirit is rejuvenated and guided to know how the Lord wants you to be and act and do. So I just have to share some video's that sink into my soul today.

This first one has many memories with it. Especially of one amazing piano player (Robert) that does this piano run the best.



And this next one goes along with what our Bishop shared with us today. Having our offerings to the Lord being a "broken heart and contrite spirit". This song just went along so well with his message. (Thanks Tabitha)



Please remember how blessed we all are, no matter our struggles and difficulties. Our lives are in God's hands.

We are all loved and Life is Good!

Renegade Video :D

Please excuse the wobble of the camera. It's not the best footage but we didn't know until later that we weren't supposed to take video. Oops! If you ever have the opportunity to see Foreigner, TAKE IT!!! They are outstanding. They are in the top 5 of favorite concerts.

Here are a few photos we snatched too.



He came down in the audience and I didn't have a chance to change my camera setting. He was way to quick and my camera too slow.

Photo Shoot - Utah Style

There are way too many pics to show you from our photo shoot in July. But here are just a few of my personal favorites taken by the AMAZING Cassie of CLG Photography.









Of course there are a couple I'm keeping locked up "in the vault" because we just may use them for our Christmas cards. Anytime I have ALL my kiddos together for a picture is the best!

Here are some funny and cute out takes.

SO David!

Cassie said "Time for a cheesy grin" and that's what she got!


Sillies!


Lizzie kept wanting to play peek-a-boo!


Lizzie attacking her Daddy while the rest of us have no idea what's going on in the back.


Someone getting the "Whatever!"

Would you?

Not me! But Rob did!!

It makes me dizzy just looking at it!

At the Sears Tower in Chicago.

He also went to visit The Bean sculpture. Pretty awesome!



LOVE the hustle and bustle of the city


And what's an Art Institute or museum without matching lions in the front?


Rob had a rough time getting home as his airplane, and the entire airport for that matter, was shut down because of thunderstorms. I looked online and it was more than just a simple thunderstorm. It was TORNADOES!!!!! YIKES! We are grateful he made it back to Seattle in time to catch the last flight out to Bellingham. The joys of traveling for business.

It's Apple Picking time!!

And what fun we had! My friend Kay, has 4 trees that were just overloaded with apples.



So we came to help ease her load. Tabitha and her mother-in-law, Mary came too.


A little tree climbing involved to get the "sun kissed" ones.



Just ignore that crazy person in the back! She was just jealous that I got the PERFECT apple. And I even climbed (a step ladder) to get it too. It was promptly devoured in the car. Pure, fresh picked yummy-ness!!


My helpers!


Amber was the main apple core/peel/slicers person for the apple pie filling. Yes, that is 9:00 at night!

THE FINAL RESULTS

15 quarts of apple sauce
11 pints of apples sauce
22 quarts of apple pie filling

The only thing about doing this is a new project has been created. I have to find a place in the pantry for them!

Next? PEACHES!!!

It's YOUR Birthday!!!

The BEST son

The BEST Brother

We love you!
We miss you!
We are SO proud of you!!

And you never fail to put a smile on our face.

Hint, Hint!

So David and I went to weed the pumpkin patch and look what we found!!






Yup! Those are 3 separate pumpkin "balls". So don't forget to enter your guess over here because it's looking pretty hopeful that we'll get more than one pumpkin.

http://nwandersonfamily.blogspot.com/2009/07/first-seed-and-then-vine.html

A guarantee that makes you go hmmmm.....

Actually Amber and I laughed out loud in the store. Yes, you now know what we were shopping for. Just getting a few last minute items for Amber's pioneer trek she's going on tomorrow morning. Perish the thought of having to show proof that you need your money back!!

Yes! It's the great Wedgie Free undies guarantee!!!

Tis the Season!

And we're not talking Christmas. We are talking

RASPBERRIES!!!!

Oh, sweet, delicious, raspberry goodness!! The smell! Aaaaahhh! We LOVE this time of year when the fruit is so fresh. We can get a flat of raspberries for under $15! Niceness!!!! One of our favorite things to make is a recipe that was printed years and years ago in the Lynden Tribune (our small town paper) that came from the Lynden Dutch Bakery. It is the BESTEST ever!!

So here you go.

VERY RASPBERRY PIE

6 cups fresh raspberries

Topping:
1 cup sugar
3 Tbsp cornstarch
1/2 cup water

Cream Filling:
1 pkg. 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup cool whip
1 cup powdered suger

Crust:
Originally calls for a store bought graham cracker crust or shortbread crust. But we have a "secret" recipe that we discovered in a funny way (that will be told people in private conversations only). But I'll give you that recipe since it's not a "secret recipe" since Kim found it on AllRecipes.com.

1 pound butter
8 oz. cream cheese
3 3/4 cup flour

1. Blend together softened cream cheese and butter. Combine with flour in mixer on low. Divide into 6 equal portions. Wrap the ones that will not be used with plastic wrap and freeze. Chill portions that will be used in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.

2. After chilling, roll out on a lightly floured surface and form into pie pans. For pre-baked crusts (like this one), prick fork holes all over crust and cook at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until golden.

Topping:
Mash 2 cups of raspberries to measure one cup. Place in sauce pan. Add sugar, cornstarch and water. Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Cook and sir two minutes longer. Cool to room temperature.

Cream Filling:
Beat cream cheese, cool whip and powdered sugar. Spread on bottom of cooled crust/ Pool cooled raspberry sauce over the top. Refrigerate until set ~ about 3 hours.

Whipping Cream:
1 cup heavy whipping cream, chilled
1/4 cup unsifted powder sugar
1 tsp. vanilla


Combine all ingredients and mix until fluffy.

FINAL PRODUCT:

We used small ramekin cups which were the perfect size. And since David & Rob both ate a pint EACH before I started making the pie.


Enjoy! As you can tell, we did!


PS - The recipe also works wonderfully for fresh peaches!