Why do bad things happen to good people?

I have to admit, that through this trial of Lyme Disease, I have had the thought come to me, "Maybe I am being punished...I should've been a better person....If only I was more perfect." These thoughts aren't constant companions, but in my weak moments...they pop up.

I think the biggest trial for me right now, is having a constant companion of fear...that this disease is never going away. It can get wearing and it's easy to think, is this my life forever? Well, I know it's not. This is but a small moment, and it WILL get better.

I was reading this talk by Elder Eyring. It's called "Mountains to Climb". It was so good! I was reading it because in Young Women's today we are talking about why we have adversity, and that is one of the talks in the lesson. It was so good! I recommend reading it.

While reading, I was reminded that trials are NOT punishments. Yes, certain actions can result in negative consequences, but that is just the law of cause and effect. When I get a trial, like Lyme Disease, it's not because I did something wrong, or that Heavenly Father is punishing me. The fact is, we all have trials of different natures, and they all affect us differently. In fact, I could get the same exact trial as you- but it could be a totally different trial for me because of my life experiences, my body, my brain, etc. That's why it's so important not to judge how others react to their trials, or how they handle them.

I've been reminded a lot lately that the whole point of being a good person, reading scriptures, praying, is so that you can be firmly planted, strong, immovable, when the inevitable storm happens. Because ALL of us face storms. The nature of life is to test us. So the commandments, the talks, the advice from church leaders, all of them aren't to say, "If you do this, your life will be perfect!" It's to say, "If you do this, you will better handle it." It's just the truth. I've come to realize, the less I nourish my soul, the less I focus on good, and God, the less I'm able to handle my trials. I find myself constantly drowning in self-pity, and BARELY keeping it together.

Then...when I turn around and start feeding my spirit, and partaking of the goodness that is on this earth for this very purpose, suddenly life is happier. Life is easier. It is not so heavy. I can handle it.

I'm so grateful that I have that knowledge. I may have to keep relearning it through my life, but at least I keep coming back to it.

God is good...and life is good. Life is HARD. But if I pray, search the scriptures, and have FAITH, it can be good!

Ta ta for now!

Randoms

Well, life has pretty much been work...among other randoms.

Work is of course kinda stressful right now, since it's tax season. It is EXTRA stressful because our software has been having major issues, which has caused us to be way behind...which will probably mean more work for me towards the end of tax season...which stinks. But that's okay. It'll all work out.

This week I majorly did NOT follow diet. My body felt like crap. I was reminded of why I shouldn't eat gluten or sugar, and should focus on putting good things in my body. It's just really clear that what goes in my body affects how I feel!

I haven't been working out for MONTHS. I injured my foot and just stayed off it till it stopped hurting which was basically this week. So in order to work back up to activeness, I walked Dante yesterday and today. Clay joined me today. It is SO BITTER COLD. But it still feels good. My friend has been trying to get me to play basketball with her on Weds nights at the stake center with some other women...but I've always been a bit nervous. I finally decided- I just need to do it! Even if I look like a fool...it's gotta have some benefit! The only crappy part is it's at like...9pm!

I'm feeling a little down lately about babies...but you know...what's new?

We played Settlers of Catan for the first time with our friends and it was SO FUN! Have you ever played that game? Clay and I loved it, we can't wait to play again. It took like...a year to figure out how to get started and how to play and everything- but once we figured it out, it was way fun!

The highlight of my week is Bachelor on Mondays. I know that's pathetic but it's just such a wonderful way to start the week. Mondays suck so bad, so it's just a nice way to get through it. I've decided that if I were to do a pushup or a situp everytime the following happened, I'd be ripped:

1. Sean tells a girl, "I'm crazy about you"
2. Sean tells a girl "You are so special"
3. Someone talks about this journey that they are on
4. Someone talks about someone else not being here for the right reasons
5. Sean and a girl go on an adventurous, scary date and compare it to the trials and journey of love, and if they can overcome this, they can overcome ANYTHING!
6. Tierra gives death eyes to someone
7. Tierra fakes an injury
8. Tierra evil laughs
9. Chris harrison says, "Ladies"
10. Someone cries
11. Sean and a girl ONLY talk about how great of a connection they have and how they feel so good about their relationship....but we never see how that connection could possibly be since this is the only conversation they've ever had...over and over and over
12. Sean says, "This is the hardest decision I've ever had to make yet"
13. Someone says, "This is the perfect place to fall inlove"

I mean really...those things will all happen at least like...6 times. So talk about a great workout! Maybe I'll do it tomorrow and report how many I ended up doing.

That's pretty much all I can think of! Pretty boring. But I figured I better report something. Till next time!

January Goals by Numbers

Well, it's time to roundup my stats for January on my Goals by Numbers.

Play 1000 songs on the piano
I played 60

Read 12 new books
Still working on the Shack. I'm hopeful to finish it this weekend. Cause I'm getting two new books from the library today! One is written by the Dargers, a polygamist family.

Make 52 new recipes
I made NINE! 9 new recipes! Talk about awesome! These are what I made:

1. Sweet bbq chicken stir fry
2. Deviled eggs
3. Quinoa Waffles
4. Beef Veggie Stew
5. Homemade Yogurt
6. Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets
7. Sweet & Sour Chicken
8. Jambalaya
9. Granola

Have 12 memorable dates with Clay
mmmm I honestly can't remember a memorable date, so it must not of happened. Perfect opportunity for February- to have TWO memorable dates :)

Read Genesis through 2 Kings of the Old testament
I've read the first 15 chapters of Genesis. Yikes...I could definitely get going more on that one. Can I tell you something? The Bible is super interesting. Like...I remember growing up hearing about bible stories or talking about them and they seemed to have WAY more details than the bible gives. It's interesting.

Well, I'd say I didn't do TOO bad on my goals but there's defintiely room for improvement! I'm determined to make my numbers by Dec 31st :)

Weeeeeeeell...it's been a while since I've posted on the old bloggy, but there hasn't been too much going on. I've decided a few things though:

1. Prayers work. I feel like I pray all the time in a way that is like...the same prayer all the time. I started realizing that I wasn't putting much effort into my prayers and I really needed some help. So I started putting more effort into being sincere and truly pouring my heart out to Heavenly Father. What do you know? I started feeling more peace, and getting more results! Heavenly Father cares. We just need to really seek him out.

2. Negative degree weather makes people want to die. The end.

3. Fear is Satan. It's important to recognize that. I always tell Clayton that Satan doesn't want us to be happy. In fact, he wants us to be HORRIBLY miserable. So it makes sense he would put fear in our hearts to keep us from doing things that will help us grow, help us be happy. I am continually learning this and trying to rid my life of fear.

4. My life motto, what I am trying to live by, is...Don't worry until you have to. Worry is such a stress. I feel like I am getting much better at this but sometimes I have a bad day and I just worry to death and go crazy pants. Then I re-evaluate (Clay helps a lot with this part) and realize...you know what? There is NO point in worrying about things I can't control and things that haven't even happened yet. So I just try to live my life and not worry. Don't worry, be happy.

In a few days it is going to be February! That's a little mind boggling that it's been a month since the new year. I have a few chapters left on my book that everyone seems to fly through and I just am having the hardest time. I've never taken so long on a book (except les mis...but that is like a bazillion pages). I am determined to finish it in the next few days so I can move on to the books on hold at the library. The book I'm reading is called The Shack. It is very interesting and has some majorly good moments that make light bulbs go off in my head...but it is very slow going and a lot of just like...talking. Nothing much going on at all.

Well, that's all for now! I'll post in a couple days to report my monthly status on my goals by numbers.

Goals by Numbers

This shirt is one of my new favorite shirts. I'm obsessed with it. It's from Old Navy. It has nothing to do with this post. But I have not been posting pictures so I figured I'd put it up. :)

Okay. So I'm going to be straight with you guys.

I have NOT been keeping up on my goals. It's just hard right now. I don't know why.

I was reading this article where someone was talking about how like only 10 percent of people who make resolutions actually keep them. I wasn't surprised at all by that. But what they then shared was a story about a man who had a resolution to run 500 miles last year. And he went a little bit over. What I loved was he didn't make a resolution to "exercise more" or "this many per day" or whatever. Like- it was a quantifiable goal that by the end of the year he could be like, "Yep! I had a great year cause I accomplished my goal". And it just clicked with me. I am SO much more that type of person.

Do you know how many lists I've made because I love looking back and seeing all the items crossed off?!

I am also such a rewards person. Like...all through studying for the CPA exam I'd say- Okay if you study x amount of hours, you can watch greys anatomy for 2 hours. Or something. It's so much easier to do a goal if you can count it. That's my opinion. Much more gratifying too. So I'm COMPLETELY SCRATCHING my past resolutions! And I've thought about this...cause you know the insecure me says, "Danielle...this is embarrassing. You just went all out doing these resolutions and planning and sharing and you're scratching and starting with new goals and isn't that just kinda awkward and embarrassing?" But I've come to the conclusion that this is my life. I change my mind and I roll with it. There REALLY isn't anything wrong with that. And I don't care what people think cause it's my life and this change will better it, I think. We'll see! haha.

Here are my goals by numbers:

Play 1000 songs on the piano
Read 12 new books
Make 52 new recipes
Have 12 memorable dates with Clay
Read Genesis through 2 Kings of the Old testament

Those are my new goals. The fact is- a lot of my other goals I will still be doing cause they are just things I should be doing in general. But these are more quantifiable and exciting for me.

Here are the rules:

Report monthly numbers the last day of each month
Take as much photographic evidence as I can

Well...wish me luck. Maybe I'll keep these goals at least until February and then make a whole other set of goals...lets hope not. Already though since I've been thinking about this I've made 4 new recipes! I am MAJOR ahead of schedule on that one! Hoorah! Hoozah! Oh and I'll clarify the piano one- they don't have to be 1000 new/different songs. Just play 1000 songs on the piano in 2013. It sounds like a lot but its only a few a day.

Oh- and funny sidenote- I totally started out thinking, "I'm going to read the old testament this year!" Then I googled how many verses the old testament has...and it turns out I'd have to read like 77 verses a day or something. Yeah...not happening. I have to be realistic. If I go past that goal, great for me. But I am happy with hopefully achieving 12 books in the old testament this year. Anywho- I'm a crazy pants. I know.


Happy weekend!

Quinoa Waffles

I have received multiple requests for this recipe so I figured I'd post it. I got this recipe from "Quinoa 365" (a cookbook) but I subbed out a few things to fit my diet better.

Quinoa Waffles

2 1/4 cup quinoa flour
4 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tbs sugar (i used coconut sugar)
3/4 tsp salt (omit if using coconut sugar)
2 large eggs, beaten
1 1/4 cup milk (i used almond milk)
1 cup water
1/2 cup vegetable oil (i used coconut oil)
1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine the quinoa flour, baking powder, sugar and salt in large bowl and set aside. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs, milk, water, oil and vanilla. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture, mixing well to make a thin batter. Pour into waffle iron.

Waffles will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and sealed in a container in the freezer for up to 4 weeks. Reheat in a toaster or microwave oven.

Number of thoughts

1. Clay and I have gotten in a rut of just kinda watching tv and that's it. We've made a goal to DO more stuff together. Play games, adventures, spending time with friends, etc. We are young! No kids! Finally feeling a bit better! Time to live.

2. Clay's liver and kidney's are struggling a lot. He's been on a LOT of antibiotics for over 2 years and it seems to have finally caught up with him. We will be doing things to try and help detoxify and help boost them back up but in the meantime, if you are willing to pray for him...it'd be great! He's actually suffering quite a bit with some pain because of it and is unable to take his pills until he's feeling better. So please pray for my husbands liver and kidneys!

3. My sister showed me how to make yogurt, and I made yogurt again, and I'm obsessed. I love it.

4. I've read/heard the President is likely to use his executive power to ban assault rifles and high volume clips among other things. I used to think a lot like many people and though, "GOOD! We don't need those guns! There's no reason!" But then after reading, talking, hearing more thoughts from lots of different people...I thought a lot about it and decided...actually? There was a reason the forefathers made an amendment specifically for the right to bear arms. The government has SO much power. It's getting more each and every day. It's important that we have the ability to protect ourselves from the government. Even though an assault rifle probably wouldn't stand a chance next to all the machinery the government has in its hands. Point is, guns don't kill people and commit crimes. People do. Bottom line. If we take away guns we may as well take away cars, alcohol, knifes, fire, water, hands, poison, and everything else in this life. If someone wants to commit a crime, they will find a way. I also just feel that the PEOPLE should have every right that the GOVERNMENT has. There are too many things happening these days that are taking away rights from the people, and building up the strength of the government. It's not good.

5. Despite lots of craziness, and stresses, life is good. House, food, cars, clothes, water, family, God, Christ, Holy Ghost. What more do you really need?

6. I have basically not done my goals at all. It's okay. I am still hoping to be doing them. But I am definitely re-evaluating what's most important.

7. I made 100% quinoa flour waffles yesterday. They were great! The recipe claimed you can freeze them and then pop them in the toaster later. I'm excited to try it.

8. I am going to try and make more new recipes. I'm hopeful I could make a new recipe per week. But that sounds intimidating. We'll see.

That's all for now! I could also tell you about the time I said in Sunday school that I thought marijuana should be legalized...and how at the relief society activity last night I talked to my table all about the documentary, "The business of being born", and the controversies of epidural, hospitals, etc...but I'm afraid to make even more people think I'm a crazy Oregonian girl. Seriously, I often start talking...and then my brain is like, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING- ABORT! ABORT MISSION!" cause I see the faces on those around me and see that they simply aren't interested and therefore think I'm a bit psycho. I can also get a bit passionate about things...it's in my Arnold blood...and so that sometimes doesn't help the situation!

Ta ta!