Rejoice

This is quote from the diary of Sarah DeArmon Rich, February 1846 right after the saints were forced out of their home in Nauvoo (for many a 2nd or even 3rd move from their homes): “To start out on such a journey in the winter . . . would seem like walking into the jaws of death but we had faith . . . [and] we felt to rejoice that the day of our deliverance had come.”

From "The Rock of our Redeemer" by Elder Anderson in April 2010 General Conference

Personal Revelation

"The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life."

Sister Beck, April GC 2010

Elevate

In yoga philosophy, the 39th sutra of Patanjali states, "yathā 'bhimata dhyānād vā". Translated this means that "one retains the undisturbed calm of the mind by focusing on any thought that elevates the mind." What thoughts elevate your mind? I visualize a calm, blissful body of water, a noble individual, an act of kindness, a generous offering, a sweet innocent child. There are numerous thoughts to elevate the mind. When we first focus to bring this elevating thought in steadily, continue to focus on it, with time and discipline, it eventually becomes a part of our nature. The 'mind stuff' is constrained and we become elevated ourselves. It isn't merely a good idea, it is transformation on a cellular level. In yoga classes I encourage students to look inside and find that which is noble, elevating, inspiring; we then experience it in the tantric way by elevating our physical bodies in practice, our arms, our hearts, our legs; allowing ourselves to move from one place to a higher place, literally.

In general conference this April Pres. Boyd K. Packer in "The Power of the Priesthood" spoke about how we who live the gospel of Jesus Christ will have this power of elevating as well. He said "President Joseph Fielding Smith said, “While it may be said . . . that we are but a handful in comparison with . . . the world, yet we may be compared with the leaven of which the Savior spoke, which will eventually leaven [or lift] the whole world.”

I bake cookies almost daily, without a leavening agent I would have very ugly cookies; lifeless, small, and hard. I am certain no one would purchase them, and I am more certain I would not find such joy in creating them. The ratio of leavening agent to other ingredients is relatively small, very small, maybe one teaspoon to maybe 96 teaspoons of flour. Yet without this crucial agent, my cookies would most certainly not elevate.

Similarly, it takes one elevating thought in 96 that pass our minds to elevate our entire soul. Can you imagine 96 thoughts passing your mind without one of them elevating your mind or heart. Wouldn't life be dull? Isn't it the one in 96 that makes all the other thoughts worth thinking? In fact, just like the cookie, the elevating power has the ability to spread into all the other thoughts bringing them all to a higher level. Just one elevating thought to influence 96 others. Powerful is an understatement.

So, I am grateful for elevating thoughts, even if they don't come as frequently as I would like, they elevate the rest of my thoughts that comprise my day. I am grateful for a leavening agent in cookies, without it, just like life, it would be one tough cookie, and nobody likes a tough cookie.

seriously, was that spring?

Umm, ok, I might not be completely accurate, but I believe it was just 7 days ago we woke up to snow, yes, thats correct, snow! Today, mind you 7 days after snowfall, I passed a sign that said in Bold Red lights: 81 degrees. That is correct within a 7 day period we experience snow and 81 degree weather. Only in utah.

"So springtime, are you over, I didn't get much of a chance to experience you before summertime scooted its way in. I feel that you get jipped every year, and for that, well, all I can say is I am very sorry. Just when I was beginning to really enjoy your beautiful tulips, daffodils, and budding trees, so soon you leave. Next year I hope that winter is courteous enough to leave sooner giving you some freedom to express your beauty, and that summer isn't so impatient to begin. I love and cherish you springtime!"

Spring has sprung

Spring, the most wonderful time of the year (well ok, right behind Christmas). Both of them bring trees covered in white! It helps that I get to go on walks in this sunshine with my fabulous neighbors, Julie and Claira. They are the cutest neighbors this side of the mississippi! Sometimes we even play games with them, if they can keep Micah and I from hurting each other.

So here's to springtime, in all it's beauty.

And fabulous walks with cute Claira.

Cherry Blossoms.

Claira walking.

I meant really, really loving to walk.

Life springing up where you least expect it.

Julie and Claira-cute as the budding flowers.

Finally, a season with pink trees!

Take time to stop and smell the flowers!

Yoga Shrine and say goodbye to the Apple Tree

Last weekend was a good weekend. Micah and I went to Park City to help with Sam Granato's US Senate Campaign. If you haven't met Sam you need to. He is a fabulous man, a business owner of an Italian Deli here in SLC, and you should find out more about him!

While Micah helped raise funds, I helped deplete funds by taking a side trip to one of my very favorite stores in the whole World: World Market! Yes I purchased my very first futon/couch there about 5 years ago, lugged it home in a tiny Audi TT, and then shipped it to NYC to adorn my very first studio important. It was, and still is that cool, take a look. Oh how I miss my little studio, wasn't it cute to boot!

I wondered if my days of World Market had passed after moving back to the burb's of Bountiful and confirming my home decor purchases with Micah. Well, as it turns out, I was in desperate need for some adorning of my little yoga space, which quite frankly he has no say over. So here it is, an itty bitty, lovely Yoga Shrine. Thank you, World Market for satisfying my soulful pillow desires, I adore you.

Someday this little shrine will be a large studio, someday.

As if that isn't enough to excite you, it got better with the Saturday afternoon, Micah chopping down the Apple Tree. The best part is I think he is way cuter than George Washington.

This guy was diseased and producing bad apples, or we would have kept him. Regardless, I still mourn for the apples that could have been. I helped cut up all these branches, what a mess.

After, better, all tidy and ready for trash pick-up!

Bye, bye apple tree.

so I like to run, big deal?

So I realized as I was running yesterday that I have been running on a regular basis, averaging 15-20 miles a week since I was 14 years old. That is approximately 17 years, over half my life, which is roughly 13,260 miles + or -. Quite frankly, I am not a fast runner, I never have been, and I don't run to compete races. And in all those years and miles, I don't think I have ever really taken the time to ask, WHY? Yesterday while I had a good 90 minutes run, I took the opportunity to ask WHY? And here is what I have came up with:

1. It allows me to move.

2. It gives me an excuse to be outside.

3. I can appreciate nature.

4. I can see what real estate is for sale in my neighborhood.

5. I become quickly oriented to my new locale while traveling.

6. I can watch people waiting for a bus.

7. I can run as fast or slow as I feel that day.

8. I have time to think before starting my day, planning it in my mind.

9. Its funner than cleaning my house.

10. There is nothing to distract me like there may be if I exercise at home.

11. I like to see my neighbors and wave to them as they leave for work.

12. I like to see the kids walk to school.

13. I like to feel the sun and breeze on my face.

14. It makes me feel alive.

15. I don't have to think about anything or do anything else while I run.

16. If I am upset, I can run away from things. (very healthy, I know)

17. Because I love to exercise and I would hate to spend that much time a gym.

18. It helps me know what the weather will be each day, and plan what to wear.

19. It is annoying and fun to run in snow and rain.

20. I rarely get sick of it or want to quit.

21. It gives me a goal I can complete perfectly each day.

22. It gets me a reason to get out of bed each day.

23. I dream about it.

24. Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I didn't.

25. Bonus, its hard to keep on a lot of extra weight while running regularly.

26. I breathe deeper.

27. It gives me more of a reason to practice yoga.

28. It helps me honor, love, and preserve my precious body.

29. It's just fun.

30. It feels great when you are done.

Opposition

The wisdom of wise men of god; "For it must needs be, there is an ^aopposition in all things." 2 Nephi 2:11

There are moments when I tend to disregard this wisdom, like when I am unloading the car of groceries, it is raining outside, the phone is ringing with no free hands, and I can't find my keys. At those moments feeling like a homeless wet dog, I wonder if this is a time for God to teach me about opposition. Isn't there an easier way to learn? Thoughts surface like: are you sure there has to be opposition? Is it really necessary to teach me right NOW? How about we get through this moment opposition free? Can we just give a try, and if you don't like it we can go back to the old way? Figuratively, the homeless wet dog feeling comes into many other areas of life, when we feel we have been left out in the cold, or we are not sure which direction to turn.

Now aside from my uncomely bartering with God, as if he could change the way the entire way he has created life to work to fit my needs, I recognize that my intellect could never match his understanding and I am his creation. I trust he knows what he's doing, even if I don't.

This humbling process leads me to remember he has all wisdom and understanding. I begin to have a greater conviction of the statement "For it must needs be, there is an ^aopposition in all things." For after all, it is more than simply a statement, it is truth, and wise counsel from a loving father.

The key word of this counsel I have often overlooked, "opposition in ALL things." The means not in some things, not just in things I choose, and not just at times I am ok with it, but in ALL things. The word ALL is inclusive. So where do we go from here? Well, I'm not sure, but I trust my father in heaven, that he will point me in the direction I need to go.

Foodly speaking blog...

Proudly announcing (drumroll please) a brand new blog...Hi friends,

I have decided that I don't blog very often for one main reason, I need a purpose to blog! After some soul searching, pondering, yogaing, and running a few long runs, it has come to me. Inspiration at it's finest! A blog all about my favorite passion: FOOD! Now, I recognize this has been done before, many times, but never has a blog been created about my very own favorite recipes, my favorite restaurants, my obsession with vanilla extract, and my cooking catastrophes. Food fascinates me on so many levels, from growing it, finding it, choosing it, preparing it, feeding others, and eating it, I find great joy in the journey of food. So that's it, a blog all about FOOD!

It will include but not be limited to: lots of recipes featuring gluten free, vegan, everything from main dishes to cookies and baked goods, new food projects (making vanilla extract), local restaurant reviews, product reviews! Check it out at foodlyspeaking.blogspot.com.

Hip Hip Hurray for food!

Vanilla Project

I have dreamed about, thought about, read about it, prepared for it, but I have never as of yet done it! What, you might ask? Make my very own Vanilla Extract, with real vanilla beans, and real alcohol. Homemade has never been so great!

It is so simple:

Vanilla Beans (grade B or better),

Vodka (or 80 proof alcohol)

A bottle

I read lots of different websites and decided upon about 6-7 beans per cup of alcohol, for a 2 fold strength, given 3 beans is FDA standard. I already bake with 2 fold strength, so I would hate to step down. This little experiment became a realization when Vanilla Products USA (ebay) sent me free Vanilla Beans with my purchase of 2 fold strength Madagascar Vanilla Extract (which is fabulous)! Thanks Vanilla Product USA, I highly recommend you to everyone.

So, I sliced the beans down the center with about an inch still in tact at the top, for ease of removal later on. Some websites recommended scraping out the caviar, as it enhanced flavor. It mentioned this if you were trying to produce extract in 6 weeks. Since I have time on my side, 6 months, I opted out of that messy step, trusting these little guys to have plenty of time to seep!

Most places recommend a glass bottle, I got lazy on this step. I had a 32 oz. bottle that formerly housed Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Extract, and deemed that a worthy enough container. I filled it without about 20-22 beans and 3 cups of Vodka, immersing these guys completely.

I gave it a good shake, then I kindly placed the bottle in my cool, dark cupboard, and patiently (key word, patiently) will wait for the vanilla to seep into the alcohol producing a most happy extract. Oh joy, Connie's Cookies can hardly wait for your flavor to enhance, embolden, and empower!