Cooking! and a smoothie.

Cooking! and a smoothie.

Cooking is a fun, creative exercise for me.  I'm always trying something funky; the only requirement is that it sounds yummy.  I love playing with spices and ingredients, and changing things up each time to try to make it better.

So.....  today's discovery:

Awesome, and Probably Healthier, Triple-berry Orange Julius

1 cup frozen berry medley (raz, black, and blue-berries)

1.5 bananas

3 Tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate

1 cup milk

optional: a tablespoon ground almonds

blend and serve.  super creamy and delicious!

I love to use ground almonds in any smoothie that has berries in it.  They add a natural sweetness that pairs really well with the berry flavor.  (I just pop a cup of them in my nutribullet and pulse it a few times until it's a coarse powder, then store in a little container with a lid in the fridge for a month or longer)

p.s. a couple tips on smoothies:  I find that if I: 1, try to match the fruits by volume, and 2, try not to mix too many flavors, it usually turns out tasty.

1. Match the fruits by volume.  I'll often use a banana as a gauge.  If I put 

1 banana in, then I try to put some berries that would make up the same volume. A cup of juice would be pretty close in volume to either of those ingredients.  (exception: I usually do less with veggies so my kids taste more of the fruity flavor).

2. Don't mix too many flavors.  Mango is yummy with pineapple.  Berries are also yummy with pineapple.  Orange can taste great with berries.  BUT mango, pineapple, berries, and orange would probably be a huge conglomeration of conflicting flavors, and wouldn't taste very good.

One more random tip--making a julius.  The basis of a julius is combining frozen orange juice concentrate and milk in the same proportion that you'd combine the concentrate with water to make juice (1 part concentrate to 3 parts milk).  Then you can play around with adding other things to make different kinds of orange juliuses.

Make some yummy smoothies, and share!  or just share a favorite smoothie recipe!

The Greatest Gift

This post has been in my heart for some months.  I hope that it may be helpful to someone, and that, more importantly, we may all be inspired when it comes to this issue to seek guidance from that God who gives us life.

The Greatest Gift

I am full of gratitude for God, the Heavenly Father of us all.  He loves each one of us more than we can possibly comprehend.  He hopes for our ultimate happiness.  In this gift of life, He has given us the most perfect way to grow and become like Him, and to learn to experience joy.  We each have eyes to see and the ability to touch, smell, and appreciate countless wonders in nature that He created for us! 

Heavenly Father desires all of us to enjoy the great blessings that life has to offer. Sadly, some of God’s children are cut off from the joy of living even in the womb.  This is because of a commonly promoted idea that if an unborn child is unwanted, it is permissible to take his or her life.  As stated by an apostle of Christ, Elder Russell M. Nelson, on this subject, “Human reasoning has twisted and transformed absolute truth into sound-bite slogans that promote a practice that is consummately wrong.”1  The practice of abortion for convenience breaks the heart of our Father in Heaven who created all human beings, born and yet unborn, and instituted life as an important experience and part of our eternal progression.

A woman’s right to make choices for herself should never be ignored.  However, in the issue of abortion, this must be considered with wisdom and caution along with two other sacred and unchanging truths.  The first unalterable and sacred truth Elder Nelson illustrates clearly, “When the controversies about abortion are debated, ‘individual right of choice’ is invoked as though it were the one supreme virtue. That could only be true if but one person were involved. The rights of any one individual do not allow the rights of another individual to be abused. In or out of marriage, abortion is not solely an individual matter. Terminating the life of a developing baby involves two individuals with separate bodies, brains, and hearts.  A woman’s choice for her own body does not include the right to deprive her baby of life—and a lifetime of choices that her child would make.”1  Indeed, the sacred right of any child to live must not be cast aside for the sake of another’s convenience.

Secondly, freedom of choice is not without parameters.  “We are free to think.  We are free to plan.  And we are free to do.  But once an action has been taken, we are never free from its consequences.”1  We are each bound to the consequences which come from our choices.  

Abortion is often associated with very real personal heartache, and there are tragic cases where pregnancy is not the result of a woman's choice.  For this reason, Heavenly Father has not left us alone to try to understand what is right and what is wrong regarding abortion.  The following is a statement by God's prophet, his counselors, and the Twelve Apostles, under the direction of God Himself: “In view of the widespread public interest in the issue of abortion, we reaffirm that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has consistently opposed elective abortion.  More than a century ago, the First Presidency of the Church warned against this evil.  We have repeatedly counseled people everywhere to turn from the devastating practice of abortion for personal or social convenience.  

“The Church recognizes that there may be rare cases in which abortion may be justified—cases involving pregnancy by incest or rape; when the life or health of the woman is adjudged by competent medical authority to be in serious jeopardy; or when the fetus is known by competent medical authority to have severe defects that will not allow the baby to survive beyond birth.  But these are not automatic reasons for abortion.  Even in these cases, the couple should consider abortion only after consulting with each other, and their bishop, and receiving divine confirmation through prayer.  The practice of elective abortion is fundamentally contrary to the Lord’s injunction, ‘Thou shalt not steal; neither commit adultery, nor kill, nor do anything like unto it.’ (D&C 59:6.) We urge all to preserve the sanctity of human life and thereby realize the happiness promised to those who keep the commandments of the Lord.”2

 In cases where pregnancy is the result of incest or rape, Heavenly Father is deeply pained to see any of His beloved daughters suffer pain or heartache because of the wicked actions of another.  He will comfort, guide, and heal each one as they seek His help in the difficult decisions they must face.

Heavenly Father’s love for His daughters exceeds human comprehension.  He has entrusted us with a distinctively sacred role in bringing life to His spirit children.  There are two wonderful ways to fulfill that role in the face of an unexpected pregnancy.  Marriage and raising a child is an ideal solution when it is right for the individuals concerned.  Creating a family is an incomparable experience of partnership with God.  It has brought a level of meaning and happiness to my life I could not have previously imagined.  My children are full of innocence and happiness—qualities which have lifted me closer to our Creator in many moments, both simple and powerful. 

When marriage is not the best option, adoption is a beautiful way to turn a trying situation into an unspeakable gift, a blessing that reaches out to touch the lives of many.  Adoption has played a significant role in my life.  Several of my dear adopted relatives have brought wholeness and immeasurable joy to their mothers and fathers.  They are here because their birth mothers in very difficult circumstances considered carefully the gift and responsibility bestowed on them to be a giver of life.  Their parents are now filled with love and gratitude that cannot be adequately expressed.

To those faced with difficult decisions surrounding an unexpected pregnancy, if you seek God’s help you will not be left alone.  For all of us who make mistakes, large and small, He freely forgives us as we sincerely and properly repent.  Though challenges will come, Heavenly Father will guide you and grant you the peace and joy that come only from Him.  Our lives will be greatly blessed as we choose to safeguard life as a sacred gift to all.  At this season, let us honor Him who granted us life and whose incomparable sacrifice opened our way to eternal life!

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee;
and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee”
(Jeremiah 1:5)

Notes

1. “Abortion: An Assault on the Defenseless”, Elder Russell M. Nelson, October 2008 General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

2. Church issues statement on abortion (statement made January 11, 1991).

Painting: Carl Bloch, The Birth of Jesus.

"All things denote there is a God."

Today I share a scripture that perfectly expresses the feelings of my heart.  Here,  a Prophet of God named Alma is speaking to a man who is trying to destroy the religion of God.  Alma speaks pure truth.
"I say unto you, I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come.
"...behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true..."
"...all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator." (The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Alma 30:39-44)

I know that God is real and is living.  He is our Father, and He is ever-present in each of our lives.  He watches over us and lovingly hopes we will make those choices which will keep us pure and bring us back safely to Him.  He sorrows when we are in pain, and he grieves when we disobey and wander away from Him.  I know His love for us is beyond human comprehension.  Mankind in large part does not understand or accept the great love Heavenly Father has for them individually, and this prevents us from trusting Him enough to take His hand and obediently follow His loving commandments.  Only as we do this will we have true and complete happiness.  I love Him, and I am grateful for the feelings of the Holy Spirit which have made this knowledge very real and deeply meaningful and precious to me.

Grandpa Kelly

Grandpa

I miss my Grandpa Kelly today.

Grandpa was a cattle rancher.  He drove an old yellow truck and herded cattle.  My grandparents lived in a simple and lovely home next to the land they farmed.
Grandpa seemed to me to be a stern man.  He didn't talk a lot on our visits, and at times seemed a bit gruff.  But he had a tender side.  I loved to see him smile.  At times he would gather us children around and tell us a story or recite a poem from memory.  On special days, he would hand out silver dollars to us.  I treasured them, and still have a few.
The only time I remember seeing Grandpa get teary-eyed was when I came to say good-bye before heading to Russia.  I was twelve years old, and would be taking this trip with my sister and her husband.  Grandpa was worried about me, heading across the world to a country whose safety he mistrusted.  His eyes filled with tears for a moment and he told me to be careful.  He then took out a little wallet, and with his shaky hand, put a hundred dollar bill in it and gave it to me.  What a beautiful sacrifice that was, and I will never forget how poignantly I felt his love that day.
I love you, Grandpa!