Nanna or Granny?

Just in the nick of time I arrived to welcome my first grandson to this world, August 14 at 12:31 am. His mommy went completely natural 3 weeks early. At 6lb 3oz and 19 inches this baby is perfect. Luckily his Daddy returned from Connecticut just that morning. He is healthy and well and has completely "wowed" his parents.

We had our 4 generations. I couldn't help but wish for Grandma G. Times like this I miss her.

It took a couple of days to figure out his name. We practiced cutie, sweetheart, sweetie, little one . . .

Hospital visitors included the new aunts and uncles. They were so pleased with their nephew.

Poor Gramps was sick and had to keep his distance. We tried to keep a mask on him but he is a little rebellious.

After meeting all the requirements the new little family came home to lots of help. Granny and two aunts.

We had fun getting ready for him and wanted to welcome him with all the Jack stuff we could.

Home is a great place full of peace and beauty. I think the best part is this baby. His parents keep staring at him, holding him, and commenting on how cute he is, how perfect he is and every little thing he does. They are anxious to provide a home of peace and love and happen to be very good at it already.

The nursing is coming along and he has lost little weight.

More visitors on Sunday including Grandma and Grandpa Great.

The baby is a bit jaundice and it has been hard to lay him down under the bili lights but is already doing better and will be fine.

With such loving, attentive parents he has everything he needs.

challenge 7 less flesh

This is an adjustment but not too hard. This weeks challenge is to eat less meat. Really if we are wise we will eat meat sparingly. It might take some creative adjusting to not plan each meal, especially dinner around the meat dish. It has become tradition but is not really necessary. It might work to choose one day a week to go meatless. It also works to make the meat a side dish and put your focus on another portion of the meal. There are lots of recipes were you just add some meat like casseroles, soups, etc. It is easy and economical to add less meat than is called for or explore meat substitutes. Here are some fun recipes where zucchini becomes the main ingredient.

Grilled Zucchini sandwiches
1. slice zucchini the long way with ends cut off, red or green peppers cut in half or thirds and spread flat, red onions and brush with olive oil. Then salt and grill until edges of the vegetables start to blacken or is slightly tender.
2. Toast bread or bun (whole grain preferably) and then spread on mustard and pesto. Add a nice slice of cheese (if you are still eating dairy).
Assemble your sandwich and enjoy.

Here is a recipe for a meatless lasagna. You won't even miss the meat. As you find more ways to enjoy your food minus the meat you will feel better and will truly be eating meat sparingly. I hope you have access to lots of fresh veggies this time of year and can fill up on them instead. Wraps filled with veggies, a little of your favorite salad dressing and maybe some cheese make a yummy meal also.

I'm still learning

Some times Mr. O irritates me. He is stubborn and stuck in his own opinions. I have been irritated for some time now and last night it came to a little bit of a head. I try not to fight in front of my children, especially when we are all together enjoying homemade ice cream before bed. So I held it in but I still felt it. Bed time was awkward. I chose to do dishes and cut hair rather than go to bed. I woke up still thinking my bad thoughts. And the trouble is that once I let things surface I think of the other things that have been bothering me and pretty soon I don't much care for Mr. O.

I wake up early. I was tempted to vent to my journal but thought I better put first things first. I prayed. I don't like my bad feelings so I prayed for him and eventually I prayed for me. It's interesting how I hang on to feelings sometimes that just are not blessing me. Then I began preparing my nursery lesson. It happens to be on saying I'm sorry. The first scripture was James 5:16. It is occurring to me that I need to recognize my own faults and admit them. Then I need to pray for him that I may be healed. I felt the inklings of peace. There is also the great advice found in 2 Nephi 12:23-24.

He is not perfect yet. I don't know if he even understands my frustration but I can still have peace. I can still strengthen my own realtionship with my Heavenly Father and I can take my concerns to Him so that He can heal me in my relationships. I'm so grateful that God is aware of me and provides learning experiences for me, even in my nursery class, that bless me in my grown up challenges. True principles teach us at every age.

a little excitement

My boys got in a session of swimming lessons and passed their course.

and then one day before lunch we heard some really loud noise. It sounded like a helicopter but we were convinced it had to be a truck. Finally we had to see this noisy truck and found a helicopter had landed in the ball field at the park. Very cool.

Apparently Utah Fast Pass chose our city to visit for lunch. They are about 20 or more really nice sports cars and race cars that all parked on the grass, letting us wander, peek, and ask questions and passed out free red t-shirts. The city served the drivers lunch and an hour or so later they all left. The Sherriff's department sponsers the drive, they pay to participate, are allowed to speed, and the proceeds are given to the cities they visit.

Pete also got new sun glasses and a hair cut. Excitement for everyone.

Doodle was helping cut out cookies. She has to be continually reminded to stay off the counter. Sunshine was reminding her, again, to keep her bum off the counter. She came back with "Don't talk about bums!"

challenge 6, now some fun

We get to move forward with something I like to eat, fat. There are a lot of good fats that our bodies need. My favortie would be avocados. I love home made gaucamole. Just mash an avocado with some salt, garlic, lime juic if you have it. I love it at this point but you can get creative. You can add some tomatoes or salsa, maybe a little pineapple or mango, onion. I love lots of avocado. In the summer I love mashed avocado on toast with tomato and cucumber slices. My garden is producing some small tomatoes and our first cucumbers. I add a little salt and pepper. You could add sprouts, lettuce, peppers, anything. Heaven and no guilt.

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Other good oils include olive oil, coconut oil, nut oils. For more information on fats and which ones to avoid or use sparingly see simple, health, taste. Additional sites include general oil information, smoking point for cooking oils. Ideally look for cold pressed and really it is probably best to choose foods in their whole state when getting you fats - such as avocados and nuts.

My sandwich model is Elise. She is due to have her baby in 4 weeks. I am so excited. I'm going to be a grandma. I'm also trying to feed her well so she will start right with her family. Life is good.

speaking of youth

I want to share this video. We do have great youth with great potential. Lets teach them, love them, support them, and trust them. They are facing difficult challenges that they can get through, overcome and be stronger, able to face the future as modern stripling warriors for God