Thank You For Your Help In Kenya

At the end of December a good friend of mine requested some much needed help with a project. Her sister was leaving for Africa on the 28th of December and was in need of clothing.  Her sister's in-laws, who are presently serving as mission presidents in Kenya, had arranged for them to visit an orphanage that is run by a church member. It is in the slums, which is an area where death, illness, violence, starvation, unsanitary living, and homelessness plague everyone. 

A man there by the name of Stephen, is caring for approximately 150 children in a very small and suffering facility. Church service missionaries are working with him to build his foundation and ability to support these children there.  Recently another couple who also had been serving in that same LDS mission, flew Stephen to America where he was interviewed about his project. 

Here is the link to his story if you'd like to read about it: Man funds makeshift orphanage through woodcarvings

Afer recieving this plea for some help and reading this story, I put a request on facebook for clothing that would fit kids from 0 to 18 years of age. I was amazed at the response! People just instantainously answered that call for help and suddenly clothes started appearing on my doorstep. Well I wanted you all to see what your efforts accomplished!

Today in my email inbox I recieved a heart felt thankyou, along with some photos. I couldn't look at the photos with out tears running everywhere. Can I just say... WE HAVE SO MUCH! Maybe even TOO much! And I fear some day we will have to answer for our greediness. After reading the letter and viewing the photos, I felt I needed to pass this THANK YOU along, To all of you who gave so quickly and so freely, THANK YOU.

"Dear friends and family! We have returned from our trip to Africa and are so grateful for the experiences and relationships we developed there!!  Visiting the school and orphanage was a priceless opportunity and privilege for our entire family.  Steven was so happy, humbled, and grateful to receive the clothing so generously donated by YOU!  I was amazed at what we were able to collect in such a little amount of time.  We boxed up and packed over 250 pounds of clothing with us and delivered it to Steven.  Thank you so much in providing help and comfort to his efforts in helping give these children a better life and future!  Below I have attached many pictures through SkyDrive.  If you have trouble viewing them, please let me know.  There are many story's behind all those beautiful eyes.  The school and orphanage are located in a smaller slum in Nairobi called Soweto.  We were able to visit the school first where the children performed a program of singing and dancing.  We then taught the students the tuti-tot, watly-acha, and then gave them each a paper doll to write their names on, decorate, and hang on a line we strung over their classroom.   It was very fun and they giggled the entire time.  We then visited the orphanage.  They currently have 36 girls and 24 boys living at the orphanage.  There are two rooms, one for boys and one for girls, that each have three bunk beds and that is where they sleep.  They had more children at one time but Steven has successfully been able to place some of them with "guardians" that can help care for the children. The last picture is of a little girl sleeping that just barely came to the orphanage.  She was found wandering in Nairobi and someone brought her to Steven to care for her.  He normally doesn't take children so young but he says, "some just touch your heart and you can't turn them away."  There is also a picture of my daughter, Ellie, standing next to a little girl named Grace and her mother. Grace is a sweet little 12 year old girl that attends the school. She lives with her mom and two aunts in a small room about 6 feet by 8 feet. It has dirt floors and they cook over a small coal stove. Steven is helping Grace and her mom get the appropriate documents needed for her to have surgery. When Grace was 5 she was raped and severely injured and has had to live with a colostomy bag and line since then. He is hoping that they will be able to move her family out of the slum into something more sanitary for her to come home to once she is able to have the surgery. These kids are beautiful and if I could have I would have packed them up and brought them home.  So from the bottom of my heart, thank you for providing clothing that will cover their little body's and provide them some comfort and make them feel loved from all of us."   Here are a few of the photos she shared. As I finished reading the above letter and looked through the photos, I realized one thing. I wish I could adopt every one of these kids. My prayers are with these sweet beautiful children!

Planning For My 2013 Tea Party

I can't wait! Since my addiction to loose leaf herbal tea I found something so cute. Isn't it cute? Oh, I'm in LoVe! Here is what we will be making at the Crow's 2013 Tea Party! Now to find a pattern for that cute rose I need to cross stitch for all my girls!




I had better get going!

Inspiration At It's Finest!

Every once in a while something comes along to inspire your soul to new degrees you never thought possible. Want an inspirational read? Here ya go! 
So thrilled to know Julie all my life. Her family has always been an amazing family. Their kids have been friends with my kids for as long as I can remember. Her parents, Candice and Loyd are the salt of the earth... you couldn't find finer people! It's nice to see Julie's little girl, Nina, is carrying on her mother's family A W E S O M E gene! 
This is one great article! It was hard to read while balling my eyes out, but ohhhh so inspirational! Thanks Julie for raising such an amazing kid! Just love every Beutler ever born. hahaha

READ all about it! Wounded Warriors Take The Field

Don't Get Your Panties All In A Bunch!

This is it. This is what drew me in.

This is what hooked me pole, line and sinker!

I was in the mall. I was shopping with my cute girls. They were giggling and having a great time looking at everything from bright colored sweaters to fashionable headbands. I was feeling old, and a little disappointed that fashion designers do not necessarily cater to the older rounder more mature woman, you know, like me. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would find shopping a little disappointing, that's about the moment I passed a store I hadn't seen before. Teavana was printed in big letters on the front of the entrance. "Hum," I thought, "Tea .....who drinks tea?"

I'm a Mormon. I belong to the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. WE ARE NOT A CULT! I'll be chanting that mantra till I die. What is with people? Our entire religion is centered around Jesus Christ! He is the supreme pinnacle of our faith! We follow Jesus Christ. We learn of Jesus Christ. WE ARE CHRISTIANS! We strive to emulate Jesus Christ. We try to be like Him in every way. We try hard. We fail miserably some days, but we keep at it! Well, at least I do. Ok, so now, hopefully this gives you an idea of our religion if you happen to drop by here and wonder, what's a Mormon. Go to Mormon.Org. for more info. or LDS.org. I am not writing about religion today. I'm not writing to sway anyone over to Mormonism, although I would if I could. After all, it's the truest religion on the planet. Ok, you can say I'm biased, but it's true, on both accounts!

Now back to the task at hand, me, standing in front of Teavana. And the next thing I know, I'm tasting tea. YIKES! Now don't get your panties all in a bunch, let me explain. Mormons can't drink tea right? Or so you thought. Ok, so this is where I have to say it, Mormons can be morons. hahahaha well, it's true. Actually all people of all faith's can in deed be morons, so I don't know if the Mormon morons I know are exceptional to my faith or just part of a larger whole. Just know there are a wide variety of annoying people in all faiths and I know some.

During the beginning of our faith, in it's earliest days, the Prophet Joseph Smith was issued a revelation. It was concerning our health. It is called, "The Word of Wisdom." It is found in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 89. I guess you could safely refer to it as the Mormon church's law of health." It's a good law. I could go on and on here about doctors, their recommendations and the health priorities they encourage us to live by, the Mormon law of health is no different. It's a good law that leads us in the direction of good health. You can even do research as to how Mormons live longer because they follow it, ten years longer in fact. That is not my point today. My point is, we are asked to abstain from alcohol and hot drinks. We are further advised against the use of any beverage that contains ingredients that would be harmful to the body. If we follow the counsel of the Word of Wisdom, we are promised physical health, wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, the ability to run and not be weary and walk and not faint, and protections from influences on this earth that would seek to destroy us.

I think it's safe to say here the use of alcohol is self explanatory, as it is addictive and can cause numerous health problems, including liver failure. As a lover of herbs though I have long been interested in the Mormon's dilemma over tea. The Word of Wisdom states no "hot drinks." "Hot drinks" were officially defined as tea and coffee in a general conference in the very early days of the Church. Elder John A. Widtsoe, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reported the following:

"The Word of Wisdom contains certain very important warnings. It declares that alcohol, tobacco, tea and coffee are not good for the body. The revelation says hot drinks," but before the revelation was a year old, "hot drinks" were defined to include tea and coffee" (Elder John A. Widtsoe, Conference Report, April 1926).

And Victor L. Ludlow has further clarified that the "hot drinks" referred to in the Word of Wisdom do not apply to the herbal teas.

"The Word of Wisdom counsels against drinking "hot drinks," which have been identified by early Church leaders as coffee and tea. "Tea" refers to the standard tea derived from the tea plant, sometimes called black tea or green tea. The Word of Wisdom has not been interpreted as proscribing herbal teas, stating that "all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man (D&C 89:10)" (Victor L. Ludlow, Principles and Practices of the Restored Gospel, p. 434).

Here is where I'm going to clarify even further. Tea, being from the "Tea Plant" or Camellia sinensis, is partially fermented in oolong tea and fully fermented in black tea. In white tea and green tea it is not fermented. All tea is made from the tea plant. Both coffee and tea (from the Tea plant) stimulate the body and cause a warming effect. Both Coffee and Tea are not only addicting, but have a high concentration of Tannic acids that are very harmful to the body, (unless your are a new nursing mom, then a used steeped black tea bag refrigerated is great as a pack on your very sore areola and nipples.) Tannic acid in tea and coffee is known to block iron absorption and inhibits the absorption of calcium and the B vitamins. It can cause heart burn, indigestion, and acid reflux, which in turn cause Ulcers. It can cause intestinal damage, stain teeth, and it interacts with a wide range of medications, reducing their effectiveness. It does not matter whether tea or coffee is caffeinated or decaffeinated, its origin is from the tea plant which contains the harmful addictive properties.

Further research shows that the "Tea" name has been used improperly for decades, as it is used to describe a form of plant and water. The name "Tea" belongs only to the "Tea Plant", while other Herbal drinks, or the plant and water, technically are called "Infusions," "Cecoctions," or "Tinsanes". Oh hallelujah! Now I can have my herbal tinsane and not go insane! Theoretically, herbal tea isn't herbal tea at all, it's called herbal infusions. If you don't believe me check out Teavana.com

We are also told in the Word of Wisdom that all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man. I don't look at the Word of Wisdom as a list of what I can and cannot eat or drink. I look at it as a recipe for a good diet that leads to good health. As I have come to understand the benefits of abstaining from Alcohol, Coffee, Tea, and Tobacco..... and taking into my body more Fruits, Herbs, Vegetables, Grains, and little meat..... I have also come to enjoy a healthier life.

Wisdom goes beyond the letter of the law. Generally when we speak of the Word of Wisdom, we are talking about exercising wisdom in what we take into our bodies. I quote from a letter from the secretary to the First Presidency,

'But the spirit of the Word of Wisdom would be violated by the drinking or eating of anything that contained a habit-forming drug.' (The teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p 202)

I can tell you the only thing habit forming about my morning or evening herbal infusion is taking a moment to sit down, relax, ponder, and enjoy the chance to meditate a little over the blessings of the day. Taking a little quiet time to myself, that is what is truly addicting.

This is where I come back again to me standing in the Teavana Tea shop sampling such subtle, sweet, fruity combinations like Blueberry Bliss and Kona Pop. The sample I tasted that day was aromatically sweet smelling and put me at ease the second I held it in my hand. I stood there and sipped on it and fell in love. It truly was an infusion of goodness. The mixture I was drinking is actually an infusion of two infusions, but inside me they were one in purpose. Well, it made my heart go POP and my wallet too! It was so delicious. By the time I walked out of Teavana I had spent nearly a 100 smack-olas. I was shaking my head and thinking to myself, "What in the world have I done?" When I walked into that shop I felt like a sinner from hell. I was thinking, "Some Mormon is going to see me in an evil tea shop and condemn me. I could hear their chanting, "You're going to hell for even entering." Awe, but I came out feeling like I had died and returned to my heavenly roots. I felt like Angels themselves were going to sit down and have a cuppa with me! I felt wholesome and healthy. My herbal infusions along with my German rock sugar tucked in my sack made me want to drive straight home. Who cares about my pin-headed Mormon friends. The word "TEA" gives herbal tea a bad rap on the Mormon spectrum. That's why I went to town researching every ounce of material I could on herbal teas being OK for straight edged Mormon like me. I did this for my Mormon moron friends. Hahahaha so I can prove, "No, I'm not going to hell for drinking herbal tea which is actually a herbal infusion, thank you!"

Last week I went shopping with my girls. I told them the only place I wanted to go was to the Teavana tea shop. Yes, they looked at me like I had turned into a heathen. I told them of my new found research and love. While in Teavana, I stumbled on a new herbal infusion, or herbal tea, whichever. It's called Tulsi Dosha. BE STILL MY HEART!!! The girl working there made me a cuppa. I gave my girls each a lengthy taste. They sipped on it and kept returning to my cup for more. That was the moment in time I had some real parental entertainment. I thought about my first visit to Teavana. I thought about my shocking crazy expenditure on warm herbal cup of serenity, a hundred dollars. Then I proceeded to watch my girls step up to the counter and each drop 80 bucks. I laughed until my sides hurt. Now we are all herbaly infused!

My daughter sent me a funny text message this morning. It said, "Thanks a lot mom for ruining my cheap crappy herbal raspberry bagged tea that comes out of a  cardboard box. Now I've tasted Teavana loose leaf tea I'm hooked and I had to throw it all away." As you can see, Teavana is not cheap. The great thing about that however is, it doesn't taste cheap either! When you pull the lid off your air tight, light tight canister, you see large chunks of fresh dried fruit. It's amazing and it's true, nothing about it is cheap, especially the taste.

This morning I made me a cuppa Tulsi Dosha. I bought some Almond milk on the recommendation from my daughter. I added that along with my German Rock Sugar, a little Vanilla and honey. Then I sat down in my fuzzy warm slippers and watched the sun come up over the Wasatch mountains and thought about my day. It was a quiet serene moment. It was a blessed moment. It was a chance to reflect on my life, where I've been and where I'm going. It was a chance to breath a little deeper, feel a little warmer, and focus on the important aspects of living. There are many words of wisdom from my maker, one of which is life is to be lived fully, enjoyed wholly, and savored immensely. God wants us to take heart in this life. He wants us to live soulfully! I did that this morning. I caught the infusion of sitting down and taking a moment to steep in life!

15 Simple Rules For Easy Fat Loss

Follow these simple tips from registered dietitian Jayson Hunter, the Head of Research and Development for Prograde Nutrition, for a lean and healthy body. 

1. Eat 4-6 small meals day a day instead of the usual 2-3 large meals. Eating frequently will help regulate and boost your metabolism to burn more calories.
   
2. Consume whole foods that are high in fiber and low in sugar, such as lean protein sources (lean beef, chicken, fish, and whey protein), fruits & vegetables (oranges, apples, strawberries, blueberries, broccoli, peppers, asparagus, carrots, nuts (almonds, cashews, & walnuts), and whole grains.
   
3. Eat low-glycemic carbohydrates such as vegetables, whole-wheat products and oatmeal instead of refined processed carbohydrates which usually come in a box or a bag.
   
4. Consume 25-35 grams of fiber per day. Fiber will help satisfy hunger pangs as well as control insulin and blood sugar levels which tend to promote fat storage.
   
5. Eat some type of lean protein at each meal. Protein helps to satisfy hunger and provide the necessary building blocks to maintain lean body mass while losing body fat.
   
6. Consume adequate amounts of healthy fat foods such as olive oil, walnuts, almonds, Omega-3 fortified eggs, or other Omega-3 products.  Healthy fats are great antioxidants as well as help with brain function and many other essential processes that take place in the body on a daily basis. Essential Fatty Acids, according to clinical studies, could also help prevent certain diseases. To guarantee you’re consuming enough Omega-3supplement your diet with EFA Icon.
   
7. Eat 5-10 servings of fruit and vegetables a day to meet your micronutrient needs.  Vegetables also contain a good amount of fiber and help to control appetites and curb hunger. Additionally, VGF25+ provides the power-packed nutrition of 25 whole vegetables, greens, and fruits in a convenient “super pill.”
   
8. Consume Green Tea or Water instead of calorie-filled drinks such as soft drinks.  Green Tea has many health benefits and you should be drinking 1ml of non-caffeinated fluid for every calorie that you consume. This works out between (8-12) 8oz glasses of Green Tea or Water a day.
   
9. Balance your fat intake for the day.  One-third should come from saturated fats, 1/3 from monounsaturated fats, and 1/3 from polyunsaturated fats. Again, ensure you’re consuming antioxidant-rich Omega-3 Essential Fatty Acids by incorporating EFA Icon into your nutritional plan.
   
10. Consistent fat loss requires good habits. If you want to create good habits, then you need plan. Therefore, map out your meals every day and follow them. If you follow your plan everyday for 2-3 weeks, you will form habits that become part of your daily routine and part of your life.
    
11. Incorporate “superfoods” into your meal plan on a daily basis. Some examples are salmon, low-fat plain yogurt, tomatoes, spinach, mixed berries, whole oats, mixed nuts, olive oil, flax seeds(or flax meal), green tea, and various beans. Many of the super nutrition found in these “superfoods” are also found in VGF25+.
    
12. Keep total fat intake under 30% for the day.  This can easily be accomplished by avoiding “extra” fats such as butter, sour cream, mayonnaise… This doesn’t mean you have to completely eliminate these items, just use them sparingly and avoid adding them to foods whenever possible.
    
13. EXERCISE! Yes, you can lose weight just by changing your eating habits. But very few people succeed long-term - and it takes much longer to lose fat - when they don’t exercise. And something most people don’t realize is, just how critical ingesting the research-proven Protein to Carbohydrate ratio is to optimizing the results of your workout efforts.
    
14. Record what you eat and drink. You will be amazed by what you find. Keeping a food journal is critical to your success because you need it to evaluate and analyze your current eating patterns. If your fat loss efforts are stagnant, the answer can usually be found in your food journal.
    
15. Follow the 90% rule. If you can follow your plan 90% of the time, you will soon see unwanted fat melt off your body. However, if you find yourself breaking these rules more than 90% of the time, your chances of failing increase significantly.