what are you doing

1. Vegan Barbie is having a Pre-Thanksgiving ETL challange. I've taken her challenges before, and I'll do it this time as well. I like her goal of getting stronger. I do pretty well, keeping to ETL, but I need to gain some strength and endurance after finally discovering my grains problem. I am well!!!!!! I also want to increase my skills in the kitchen with this way of eating. Before ETL I was a fantastic cook. Now not so much--not bad but not good enough to tempt my grandma and aunties. I miss entertaining with great food. I must give a disclaimer, I've learned to make lots of great dishes from Appetite for Reduction,  Forks Over Knives, and a few others, but my repertoire is small. Sooooo...my ETL goals are....1. gain strength 2. gain more ETL cooking skills.

2. Yesterday, I hosted a hen party. I love getting together with my Mom, Grandma, Aunties, and Cousins. It was my first time hosting, since we began these get-togethers a couple years ago. After all I didn't live in this state back then. We laugh until we cry. We eat and generally enjoy each other until someone announces they have to get going. I took pictures but none really turned out.

3. I'm trying something new. Each morning as I work in my kitchen, I listen to one specific conference talk for the whole week. I want to focus on and really learn what our modern day prophet and leaders tell me. This week was The Power of Scripture by Richard G. Scott. I plan to use the text of the talk and its accompanying scripture references, as my devotional for Sunday afternoon. I also want to study the Reformation a bit during the rest of this year, since it is the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. Since I was a little girl, the Bible has been my 'stalwart friend...source of power and truth... packet of light that illuminate [my] mind and gives place to guidance and inspiration from on high...a key to open the channel to communion with [my] Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.'

4. Another thing I spend time doing on Sundays is writing a mini-magazine. Since my readership is limited to my 8 grandchildren, I call it Grand Adventures. I've been sending letters, cards, and books for a couple years now and had this idea to expand the letters and cards into a mini-magazine. It's probably the coolest thing I've ever done, since it keeps my love for these little children and their parents in the forefront of my mind.

5. I read Women in the Scriptures, who began this fun 5 for Friday party. She asked about prayer, and this is my answer. Prayer used to be a hard thing for me. I remember the years of being up with my littles, when it was difficult to do anything without a crowd. That's when I began a running conversation in my head with God all the time. Also, part of my devotional each morning is playing hymns (poorly) on my violin. Somehow this little thing brings me closer to God. I think the fact that I quit envisioning myself playing at Carnegie was the key. Anyway somehow singing the words in my mind, as the music flows from my violin brings the Spirit into my day. Then as I go about the day conversing with God, thanking Him for tender mercies, and asking for guidance, I'm reminded of certain memorized scripture or ideas are unfolded in my mind or some such thing. He lovingly guides my paths. Certainly, I get on my knees, but the music and conversation seem to be more meaningful.