Your Path Can Be Bright

The words of Dieter F. Uchtdorf are better than mine.

"My dear sisters, I was grateful to speak with you this evening at the general women's session of #LDSconf.  Wherever you are through the world, I hope that the Spirit touched you with new insights.  

In this painting, a pioneer girl is skipping along a bright blue path.  She has endured many dark and dreary days, but she has a spring in her step and looks optimistic, happy, and hopeful.  

As you walk through life, I hope you will feel a spring in your step as you trust the Lord and continue on your own bright path of discipleship.  Faith will lead you to open your eyes to the things Heavenly Father has in store for you.  Love for God and His children will continue to brighten your path, even on dark and cloudy days."

Know that the choice is yours to be optimistic, happy, and hopeful.  Take each day one step at a time.  Discover faith in your life, it will lead you to hope and love.

It's Good For You

If you haven't learned this about me yet, I have a deep LOVE for fitness.
It makes me so happy and I feel so good when I am at the gym pushing through something that at one time in my life seemed near impossible.  Whether it be lifting weights, cycling, or running...they all make me feel great!
For those of you that are skeptical of lifting, just take a few minutes and watch this video.  Now, more than ever, I understand why I love and might have a slight addiction to lifting.

To share with you a little more about fitness and the importance of fitness in others lives, I have asked some friends to share with me their fitness stories.  Keep an eye out as I share their stories here.  Maybe it will give you some ideas, maybe it'll be someone you want to connect with.  Whatever it does, I hope that it makes you happy and keeps you healthy and strong.  

Notice His Hands

I'm keeping it short, sweet, and to the point today. 

All I ask is for you to take a moment during your busy day, and slow down. During this moment try and see God's hands in your life. 

Ask yourself, "Have I seen the hand of God reaching out to us or our children or our family today?"  Henry B. Eyring would ask himself this question for years and write down the answer to this question in a journal for years.  His gratitude grew, his testimony grew, and he became even more certain that God hears and answer our prayers.  

I know He is there. Everyday of your life He is there. He does hear and answer our prayers.  I've seen His hands in my life, and I know you can too. Just take that moment to slow down and notice Him for yourself. 

"From Flat to All That"

Calling all ladies and gentlemen looking for a great workout to keep you going for the next few months!

Jamie Eason's "From Flat to All That"

I plan on starting this workout plan Monday, September 21st and will go all the way through December 18th. Perfect to keep you going right up to the holidays! Then, I'll get a new one starting right after this one ends.

To do these workout you will need a basic gym that can provide the equipment needed, or if you have all the free weights and other machines at home...you are SO LUCKY!

The link above will give you all the information specifically about this plan, but for a quick over view, here is why I chose this plan.
Not going to the gym for the last 4 weeks has been so hard for me, but at some times pretty easy because of the pain.  Anyways, I feel like I have lost quite a bit of muscle and definition that I had been working so hard to get.  Jamie explains that she created and started this workout plan when she hadn't been going to the gym regularly and wasn't at her best.  So, I feel like we have both started this workout plan at about the same point.  However, Jamie has an incredible body and I only dream to one day look somewhat like her.

Along with doing this new workout plan, I am also eating healthier and it feels so good! I have been sticking to a no gluten, no dairy, and no sugar.  The first few days were so hard, but now after doing it for my 2nd week, I see the benefits and am feeling so much better! I'm not saying you have to do everything that I'm doing, but if you are interested, try it out.

Here is a small sample of the workout I'll be doing.  I am using Google Sheets to keep track of the workouts, sets, and reps for this so I can keep records of what I actually do.  If you want me to e-mail it to you, just send me your e-mail address and you can do the same.

Happy lifting!

Life is Hard...sometimes

Let's be honest.  Life is HARD!
Sure we all make our lives look pretty fabulous on social media, and because of that our lives look like they are super easy and fun.  Let me tell you, I don't blame you for making your life look fabulous...I probably do the same.  Do we really want everyone to know what hard things we are going through, all the time?!
Mmmm...probably not.
We all struggle and go through hard times, more than once in our lives.
We each live a life that is different from everyone else.  Our lives take us on different paths, and they might be what we planned and expected, or they might not.
Do I have moments of weakness? Do I break down and cry on my husbands shoulder? Do I worry about my health? Do I worry about money? Do I worry about the future?
Yes, yes, and YES!
Do not be ashamed of the hard things that you go through in your life.  They give you experience.  They teach you how to make better decisions next time, if you need to.  They allow you to help others that go through similar hard times.  Most importantly, they make you, YOU!
"And if men come unto me I will show them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." (Ether 12:27)
What a great lesson to learn.  Know that our loving Heavenly Father does care for us and love us so much! Yes, he allows struggles in our lives, but just as we learn from that scripture, our weaknesses become strengths when we have faith in Him.
Will life get hard? Yes.  Do we need to give up? No.
Take this advice, as I have learned that it works wonders...

Sharing Strength

For those of you wondering why I am sharing with you something that most people wouldn't...this is why.  I hope that in some way I can touch the lives of others that are also going through struggles like me.  I know that I am not the only one that has gone through this, is currently going through this, or will go through this in the future.  We all have struggles in our lives, and when we join with others with similar struggles, we gain strength.  I hope to do just that.  Give strength to others and find others to gain greater strength from.

Well my friends, I finally had my post-op. appointment today.
I woke up this morning and was nervous about the news I would get, whether it be good or bad.  I was anxious to go and find out, but at the same time I wanted to keep putting it off.  Then, the time finally came, and I made my way out the door, in the car, and driving there.
First, let me remind you that I have never seen this doctor except for when I was in the ER or my recovery room.  Also, I wasn't really quite myself in either of those places due to the pain I was in, or the pain killers I was on.  From the first time I met my doctor, I knew that he was wonderful in his profession and completely trusted him.
When I saw him today, he was still the same wonderful doctor I remembered.  He was friendly and professional all at the same time.  He was honest and shared with me that he had shared my case with his colleagues, because it was a somewhat rare case due to the enlargement of my ovary and the bleeding.  They discussed what would be best for me, and in my opinion, it was a humble decision.
They suggested that I go to a specialist from here on out, that is until I'm pregnant.  They determined that the clomid is what caused my ovary to become so enlarged and bleeding, meaning it needed to be removed.
By going to a specialist, I will be a more carefully watched through the process of becoming pregnant.  They will regularly check my ovary to make sure that the medications I take are doing what they're supposed to and not causing my other ovary to need to be removed too.
With only one ovary, my body should still function normally, and the doctor even said that if all goes well, I will be able to have as many kids as I wanted.  I pray daily and my body is regaining its health and strength and that this is true.

p.s. I have been on a strict diet to help my body.  I have done research and have friends that have the same condition who have also done research.  Being on a strict diet of dairy, gluten, and sugar free can be a bit difficult, but totally worth it. I have already seen results and am going to keep sticking to it to see future results too.

Love is Spelled Time

I think we all need to live by this sweet and simple quote from Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Love is spelled TIME."  How true is that? 

What really matters most in life, is those that we love.  And just in case you guys are questioning who I love...it's my incredible husband, my parents, my sisters, my in-laws, and my friends.  I truly love all of these people and don't know how my life could go on without them.  

And really, how can you come to love someone without spending time with them.  Can you love someone if you're hiding behind a screen, whether it be your phone, computer or the TV?  Can you love someone if you don't spend time with them?  The answer is NO! 

Memories are made when you spend TIME, and might I add, quality TIME, with those that you care about and love.  Take the TIME to go on an adventure, make a puzzle, go for a hike, go pick apples, work in your yard or house, the list can go on and on.  

If you find it difficult to find TIME, then you meed to make TIME for those that you love.  Dieter F. Uchtdorf said it best when he shared, "If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a good time to refocus on what matters most."  

When it's hard to find the TIME, take a step back and reflect on your life.  See what you can do to better your life - and your family and friends lives too.  

Taking the TIME for those you love it totally worth it, just try it out and see for yourself!

p.s. If you want to read all of what Dieter F. Uchtdorf talked about you can find it in his talk "Of Things That Matter Most" - Enjoy!

Just Craftin' Over Here

Well, well, well, the time has hit and I am getting bored.  I'm starting to feel better, which might I add feels ah-mazing!  I'm not getting back into working out or anything too active until I am given the go ahead by my doctor.
Anyways, I braved it and headed down to Hobby Lobby and grabbed a few things.  I have been itching to make a fall wreath, so I got some ideas from the wonderful land of Pinterest.  My goodness there are so many ideas, but I got an idea of what I was going to do.
So, I went on my way and Hobby Lobby had ALL their fall stuff 40% off!  (I might've done a happy dance, inside, because I really can't move like that quite yet.)  I gathered the few things I needed, and it was hard not to get more...I could seriously drop a good chunk of money there!

Here are the things I picked up to create my fall wreath.

I made the burlap wreath last year and it has lasted the whole time! I have used this every month for more than the past year, and all I do is change a ribbon or decoration on the wreath to match the season.  This time around, I added a little more and am so happy with how it turned out.  

Here is the final product!

Here is an up-close look at the flower decor I added onto the wreath.

Also, I couldn't help but grab these few things to throw in a touch of fall inside the house too.  

Thanks for stopping by and being super excited about fall with me...I can't help but love this time of year!

Bloglovin'

Head over to Bloglovin and start following me :)

Trying to get out there for more people to keep updated with the happenings in my life...and all the others I am so blessed to call my family and friends!

Happiness is a Choice

Did you ever realize that you determine your happiness?  That's right...YOU!
When you wake up every morning, you choose the outcome of that day.  Not only do you choose if you are going to get up and out of bed (choose to get out of bed), you choose if you are going to be happy, sad, grumpy, mean..whatever feeling you may have.

There will be times when life gets really hard.  I totally feel ya if you want to get down in the dumps.  Just don't do it! I've done it before and guess what...my day was miserable, awful, double thumbs down!  Did I choose for it to go that way? Sure did.  Then, because of that I had to suffer through that whole day because of that one choice I made.

So, what do you do to wake up happy and stay happy?

I'll give you a few ideas of what I do.

One.  Get enough SLEEP.
Oh my goodness..I don't think I can emphasize this enough! You need your sleep, it's a necessity.  Not only for your health, but for a happy life.  When you don't get enough sleep, man oh man, just go back to bed...it'll make everyone else's day better too.

Two.  Exercise as regularly as you can.
I know that your lives can be so busy and it's hard to find time to exercise, but make the time.  You won't regret it.  If you only have time for a walk around the block, you go! I try to stay as active as I can and try to get to the gym or go for a run 4 days a week.  Do I have to sacrifice some time to do this? Yes, but it is totally worth it!

Three.  Do something that makes you happy.
We all have different hobbies and interests, and I sure hope that we make time to enjoy those!  If you like crafting, sewing, reading, painting, baking, running...make time for it.  When you do something that makes you happy, you live a happier life.

So there you have it.  If you just start with those few things I know that you will live a happier life.  Also, try to wake up with a positive attitude.  I know it can be hard some days, but try to find one thing to be happy about, or one thing that to look forward to that will make your day.

I hope you all have a happy day and don't forget YOU choose to be happy.