i like food

...it's true. perhaps I like it more because of the way I feel after eating. my body does this crazy thing where it gets super cranky at me when I haven't eaten in a few hours. and I mean like can't walk, can't think, head pounding, no energy, weakness and numbness everywhere. i feel SO much better after I eat. it's really annoying sometimes. but it's my body and it's the only one I've got so I've leaned to deal with it. sometimes I feel bad that it affects others but through this I've learned about those who truly care about me and about allowing others the opportunity to serve me. 

so back to eating....it makes my body super happy so I like doing it. and I like eating a variety of things. I love Latino food, indian food, thai food, italian food, steak, pizza, fruit, sandwiches, avocado, hamburgers, ice cream, French fries, bread, bacon, chocolate, zucchini, tacos....the list could go on!

 I frequently see people engaging in fad diets such as carb-free, lean-protein, dairy-free, sugar-free, etc. every year there's a new diet. every year there's a new theory on health and nutrition.  

if you look at the list of my fav foods you might think that I eat crappy, but ask my family and they think I eat über healthy. I wouldn't say I eat super healthy or poorly, but that I eat everything in moderation. I don't think God gave us the need to consume protein to avoid enjoying a good burger every now and then. I don't think he made carbs the building blocks of our cells and then have us not eat them. our bodies need nourishment found in food. that is how they were created and who am I to mess with the creator of all things?

according to some standards of beauty and health Im not considered thin, and many people have told me I should lose some weight. but I am happy and I feel good about my body and how it feels. my body needs nourishment and my heart likes chocolate so I don't feel bad about not eating a salad or fat free yoghurt for lunch every day. in fact I find it almost silly that women are expected to eat that way. sometimes my female coworkers think me strange for not ordering a salad when we go out to lunch. first of all, this body of mine needs certain nutrients at each meal that are not found in most salads, second I get bored eating the same thing every day, third I like enjoying what I eat! 

yes eating healthy and balanced meals is important, but I don't think eating pizza one night or ice cream every now and then is going to kill you prematurely or make you unhealthily obese. 

instead of counting calories or starving to shed 2 pounds, let's focus on being happy with who we are and what we have. lets teach kids to eat when they're hungry and not when they aren't. lets remember that our bodies aren't machines but are like ecosystems that require certain inputs and balances to thrive. lets focus on caring for these amazing gifts that God gave us to experience life, instead of punishing them for certain natural tendencies or cultural norms. every body is mortal and has its own weaknesses and deficiencies as well as unique strengths and characteristics. 

your body is a gift from God and you will live with it forever in the next life. learn to love it and care for it and you will be so much happier now and forever. 

selfless acts

beauty I saw today that couldn't be captured in picture form:

a big, tough looking, tattooed man dressed in construction gear carrying a bouquet of flowers on the metro...you know he didn't buy those for himself. 

an adorable mom singing 'if you're happy and you know it' as loud and excited as can be with her little girl so she wouldn't notice how miserable it could be to wait for the bus in unbearable heat...you know she could've done a million other things to keep herself occupied during the wait. 

the Book of Mormon

Today I felt the need to share my thoughts and feelings on the Book of Mormon. I love this book! 

Every time I read it it's like I'm reading it for the first time for all the new ways I am able to apply its teachings to my current life as well as the vibrant spirit that always accompanies a reading of it; yet at the same time I remember all the things I have learned and felt through it and my experience is deepened even more. It is so incredibly powerful; one verse can help me feel more peace and enlightenment than all the "enlightened" or meditation books in the world. 

Every chapter and page teaches about Jesus Christ. It's words teach about His purpose, His nature, His gospel, and His identity. It teaches about God's plan for us, his children, and the purpose of this plan. 

It can guide anyone to answer any question in life. It is universal in its application and scope. It can teach anyone the truth of all things. 

This book contains the words of God, spoken to ancient prophets. And they are as true and applicable today as they were 2000 years ago. 

I have read this book many times and have asked God if it is a true book. And he answered me. Through his divine messenger, the Holy Ghost, I knew in my heart that the Book of Mormon contains the words of God. And I continue to recieve this affirmative answer every time I read it. Anyone can know this too if they will read it and ask God in prayer. It's simple. 

God loves us and knew that we would need help and guidance in our lives, so he gave us the Book of Mormon. 

I love this book and have seen for myself the truth of the promise by the prophet Joseph Smith that anyone will get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than any other book. 

I invite you to read it if you are having challenges in your life- I promise you it will give you peace; if you have questions about anything-it will give you answers; if you are feeling confused- it will give you direction and vision. I know because it has happened for me. 

To read it: 

http://mormon.org/beliefs/book-of-mormon

www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm

carving chips off the block

it's funny how I think the lord prompts me to learn things by me realizing I need to work on something and setting goals to improve in that area, and then he really teaches me through the experiences in life. ok so maybe it's both but lately I have realized the more I try to handle things-- not in a prideful controlling way, but just making things happen in my life--the more god just takes me and shapes my life and molds me in his own way. perhaps as I try to do it on my own he sees I'm willing to progress and takes that opportunity to help me learn other things while I'm willing and ready to receive it....or maybe that's just the times I actually notice this process happening. 

either way I'm surprised and grateful for the ways he polishes me, chipping away at my rough edges. 

sometimes i feel like it never ends. and frequently, funny enough, like he's found all my rough edges to chip at all at once. but that's what is the great thing about this life! if we give up our stubbornness, our Heavenly Father will constantly make us better, into who he wants us to be. and really we just have to give in. he kinda does the rest. and yeah that's like the hardest part...cuz we're human and like to control things, but once you give that up its easy! 

so right now he's teaching me to give up my independentness and rely on others. and not only that but to be humble enough to not feel bad about it or indebted. but just allow others the opportunity to serve me. I know this sounds like an easy and obvious task but I'm used to being the server, not the servee, as i very much enjoy serving people, and additionally i was taught to take care of myself and work hard so that i could serve others. and then all of a sudden you find yourself as the servee with no idea how to be the server except to accept their service with humility and gratitude. 

I think this is one of the beautiful parts of relationships with others and, most especially, the savior in this life. sometimes we just have to allow them to do things for us, whether we can do them for ourselves or not.

these are a few of my favorite things

adorable commercials

military homecomings

families

watching little kids play or run

trees

flowers

happy movies

fountains 

brightly colored buildings

a child's laughter

sunshine

a baby's smile

thunderstorms

evening walks

red doors

big windows

walking barefoot

warm breezes 

feeling sand between your toes

the sound of water

lighthouses

bridges

transportation

today I am extremely grateful for bus drivers and metro drivers. especially happy ones. public transportation is great. maybe it's not perfect, but when I'm exhausted after a long day of work and class I am more than happy to let  someone else take me where I need to go...namely home. and that it is accessible. thank you Washington metro area transit authority. 

and thanks to Heavenly Father for pointing me in the direction of teaching. I taught a lesson in my class today on maps (we got to choose the topic) and I was in heaven! seriously who knew that anyone could get excited over teaching about maps of Africa....cuz I was like giddy. I didn't want to stop. I was having fun...teaching a lesson...on maps. yep found my calling. Life is good 

summertime

you know summer is here when you see corn on the cob at the grocery store...funny cuz I'm pretty sure that corn is harvested in the fall, but it's become the must have at summer BBQs. so when rach and I saw corn on the cob got excited and just had to get it. so here was last nights dinner: BBQ chicken, baked potatoes, and corn on the cob.mmmmmmm

and now I am SO excited summer is here cuz that means hikes, bikes rides, tubing in the river, BBQs, fresh fruit...and me turning another year older in 26 days. crazy how time flies. and crazy how much I love summer! :)