GREAT QUOTE!

I just saw this quote on pintrest this morning and it made me choke up. "Your first breath took ours away"

I thought about each one of my boys and their birth. I wasn't awake for Aaron's first breath, but I was for the rest of them. It is so true, they took my breath away! I was in love with my babies from the very beginning and have loved them more and more each day.

I remember how tiny and precious they were....how helpless they were and how much they needed me. They need me still, but are growing up to where they don't need me as much. I am saddened by how quickly time is passing and how fast they are growing. At the same time, I am happy that they are growing and learning and becoming righteous men of honor. I am taking every chance that I can and cherishing every moment that I can with my precious children.

I love them dearly and pray that they will always need me in some way, just as we need our Heavenly Father. I am always here for my children, in good times and bad. I love them no matter what!

Better to look UP

Sunday I taught the lesson in Relief Society. I was asked a few weeks ago to teach for someone who would be out of town. This lesson was on a conference talk by Elder Carl B. Cook "It's better to look up". This talk was one of my favorites from conference!

Elder Cook shares an experience that he had when he was new to his calling. President Monson entered the elevator where Elder Cook was looking down. Pres. Monson asked him what he was looking at....when he responded that he was looking at nothing... President Monson said "It is better to look up." This phrase is so very important. Throughout everything that we do, whenever we are feeling down or overwhelmed, all we need to do is look up.

Look up to our Father in Heaven for strength and comfort. Just as the children of Israel were bitten by the serpents, all they had to do to be healed was to look up....just the same for us...We need to look to our Father in Heaven and our Savior Jesus Christ for redemption and salvation.

Elder Cook shared an experience that he and his wife had while in South Africa. At the Stake Relief Society meeting there, the stake RS President had everyone go outside. There they had a balloon that represented whatever burden, trial or hardship that was holding them back in their lives. On the count of three, they released them. What a relief it is to finally let our burdens go, just as those balloons.

We can have that in our lives always. The atonement makes these blessings possible, to not ever have to be held back by any burden or trial. We can rely fully on the atonement for comfort, forgiveness, salvation and happiness. As we remember our Savior and turn to Him, we will feel His love for us and be strengthened and bouyed up through all of our trials. I am so very grateful for the Savior in my life. For His atoning sacrifice in my behalf and for His constant love for me, even in my weakness. His love is infinite!

I'M GOING TO DO IT!!!!

After long thought and much encouragement from my dear friends, I have decided to join the doTERRA slim&sassy competition! I have not relished in sharing such personal information with others or putting myself totally out there for everyone to see. However, since January 1st when I started using grapefruit and lemon only in my water, I have felt so good and have loved using the oils. On monday when I got my slim & sassy oils in my order, I opened them and have been using my slim & sassy since then! I love it! I feel great! I am not fighting any cravings! I have so much energy and have the desire to get up and keep moving! Before I started using slim & sassy, I would be so tired and drained by noon each day and want to just sit down and take a nap. I don't have that problem anymore with the lack of energy. I can get through my day and actually get so much more done than I have in a long long time.

Since January 1st, I have lost 6 pounds and 1.5 inches in my hips! I have not even begun to exercise, only eating better. I have not had to cut my calories to the starvation levels, only listening more to my body and what it needs. I have desires to eat healthy foods, not sugary or comfort foods.

This competition that I'm doing is about weightloss, lifestyle change, uncovering the real me that has been hiding behind this padded prison cell for more than 17 years. I have set some goals for myself! One goal is that I will be able to ride all of the roller coasters with my kids at Lagoon, without having to suck it in or squeeze or even leave the line because I can't fit in the car :( Another goal is to be able to fly and not have to use a belt extender! I want to fly to share my amazing doTerra experiences with others, therefore I need to be able to buckle with just one belt, no extender :) I also want to drop at least 3 pant sizes :) I want to continue the weight loss so that I am down at least 5 pant sizes by the time my 20th class reunion comes up in July :)

I know that I can accomplish my goals! I have been so blessed to have such wonderful, amazing support from friends and family! I have loved the emotional, spiritual, mental and physical healing and health that the doTERRA oils have brought me so far in my journey.

A-S-P-I-R-E

To have a great ambition or ultimate goal; desire strongly: aspired to stardom.
2. To strive toward an end: aspiring to great knowledge.
3. To soar.

That is my word for 2012! I am going to soar to greater heights with my relationships with my friends, family, and my Father in Heaven and Savior. I am going to learn more about myself and the things that the Lord would have me do. I am aspiring to be His hands more and lift others and help them to soar :)

I have many ultimate goals for which I am aspiring this coming year! I want to show my gratitude each day for my blessings. I want to always be found in favor of my God. I want to always have His spirit with me and share it with others that they may feel His love for them. I want to see others as God sees them and love them as He loves them.

I want to accomplish a major goal that I still won't share on here...this one is most personal importance. I know that I can accomplish this goal with the Lords help.

I am aspiring to greater health for myself and my family. I am going to share this blessing with all that I can, that their families may also be blessed :)

One word

Last year, my word for the year that I decided to focus on was FORTIFY.... I focused my efforts in everything on fortifying myself, my family, my relationships....

The Lord has truly blessed our family this year... I believe that FORTIFY was the perfect word and so much has been fortified, just like a castle :) We have grown closer together as a family and enjoyed so many wonderful, strengthening times.

We have been so blessed to attend the temple regularly, even though, since July, we have been going to Twin Falls temple. The longer drive deffinately takes more determination and faith that everything will be alright. Before the Boise temple closed, we were promised that, if we made it a goal and a point to attend the temple each month, we would financially be able to attend. There have been some months where we prayed to know what to do. We set the date to go and relied on the Lord to make it possible for us. The Lord truly does hear and answer prayers and allows us to accomplish our righteous goals. By attending the temple, we've been able to fortify our relationship with our Father in Heaven, fortify our relationship with one another, and our family.

I am working on my word for next year.... This one will be just right for 2012

A very merry Christmas

What a sweet sweet Christmas this has been! We had sacrament meeting only for church today. The program was so sweet and simple, the spirit was there. We really enjoyed the service!

Before church today, I told the boys that all I want for Christmas is to have a quiet peaceful Christmas with no fighting and arguing :) YAY!!!! It has happened so far :) The boys have all had such good attitudes and have been so helpful :)

After church, we had the opening of the stockings and gifts :) Before Christmas, Kyler had brought home some gifts for everyone from school. As we were opening the gifts that Kyler had "bought" for everyone, he explained to us how he aquired these sweet gifts. Kyler had earned points during school and saved them up. On a particular friday, they had the "point store" where Kyler had the opportunity to spend his points. He told us that he spent his points on buying these gifts for us instead of buying something for himself! How sweet!!!!! It was so touching to hear Kyler's story of love and to see the boys open these gifts that Kyler had thought to get them. He really put a lot of thought into these gifts as well. He knew just what everyone would want. What a blessing Kyler is! He has truly had the Christmas spirit this year :)

The boys also got scarves from their Aunt Sonia :) Blue and gold Middleton vikings colors :) They totally love them :) Kyler has been wearing it since he opened it :)

This Christmas has been so peaceful and so precious! There has been so much love and goodness! I pray that it continues and that the boys have felt the spirit of this Christmas and will desire to have these same feelings throughout the rest of the year and next year :)

Wedding cake!!!

My newest creation!!!! This cake was made for a family friend's daughter :) I just love this family!!!! Joann Perza's sister Kathleen Frazier asked me to make her daughter's wedding cake :) I had so much fun with this one and enjoyed every minute of making and decorating it :)

All of these cake creations could not and would not be possible if it weren't for my Heavenly Father blessing me and my hands!!! I am so thankful for this talent. Everytime I make a wedding cake, I say a prayer and ask that Heavenly Father's love for the bride and groom shine through the cake. I am His hands, and it truly does take a touch of the Master's hands to create such wonderful, beautiful works of art.

Another blog

I decided that I want to blog about all of the things I'm learning and experiencing with doTERRA essential oils. I have added another blog :) The title of the blog is "Adventures in oil" the website for it is.... www.oilsbygina.blogspot.com I have so much in just one short week to share, I can't imagine how much more i will learn and have to share, so I want to make a special blog just for it :) Happy reading and learning :)

A blessing in the making

The other day I was invited by a friend to attend a class. I had been asking about some essential oils that may be able to help Brandon with his blood condition. She was in the area and doing a class on tuesday evening, therefore invited me to attend and learn more about these oils.

The class was wonderful! I learned a lot about these essential oils and the benefits and blessings of these particular oils. doTerra is the name of the company that manufactures these oils...they are harvested from their native origin (lemon in italy, lavendar in france). By harvesting in the native home, you receive the most pure oil that our bodies naturally know how to communicate with. Heavenly Father has blessed this earth with all that we need for our lives and health!

I signed up to try these oils and talked to a few of the ladies at the class. We decided that we needed to try a few different oils on Brandon to see how his body takes to them and how they help him. I bought grapefruit, zendocrine, and recieved a starter kit of lavendar, lemon and peppermint oils. Each of these oils does different things for our body's benefit and health.

Grapefruit helps with cancer, depression, liver disorders, migraines, stress, lymphatic system, and many other things.

Lemon helps with food poisoning, blood pressure, liver problems, arthritis, muscle aches and pains...it cleanses the air, disinfects, helps with colds, fever, infections, white blood cell formation, and many many more things.

Zendocrine helps with organ cleansing, healthy tissue function...this is a combination of clove, grapefruit, rosemary, and geranium

These three are the oils that I've been using for Brandon since tuesday when I got them. I use two drops of each on each foot and massage them onto his feet. I have also put 1-2 drops of lemon in a glass of water for him to drink.

So far, after massaging the oils onto Brandon's feet for 4 days, I have noticed that a rash that he had around his waist and arms is beginning to fade. The rash is almost gone from his waist, and is fading from his arms. His mood level is more positive and he seems to feel overall better :)

I want to document his progress and continue to do more documenting as I obtain more oils for my family and test them out. I am so grateful for the blessing of friends who are inspired and guided to help my family. I pray that I may be able to help others as these friends have done for me. If you are interested in checking out my website, I have made one and will post a link on the blog so you can check it out as often as you would like :)

I look forward to learning more about doTerra essential oils and how I can help my family and friends improve the quality of our lives!

My website is www.mydoterra.com/ginahallam

Happy 13th birthday Josh!!!

13 years ago, we welcomed our third little boy into this world and our hearts! Josh has been such a blessing to our family. He has such a sweet spirit and a kind heart. Josh is so kind to others. He's a good friend to everyone! I just love him to pieces my Joshua Merritt!

Josh got his middle name from my Grandpa Snowberger, he's just like my Grandpa in how good a person he is. One thing that Josh does that just melts my heart is that he comes up and gives me a hug whenever he can. Joshy hugs are sooooo good!!!!

He used to have a nickname of "sunshine committee" He was always a ray of sunshine with his smiles and laughter and loves. One year, when we were going through a miscarriage, we were at a marriage retreat. We came home, my mom was watching the boys, and Josh saw us come through the door...he ran to me and just hugged me. He was extra happy and cheerful for the next few days. What a sweet special blessing it is to have such a wonderful young man in our family.

Josh has loved being in young mens, going to scout camp, APC, and camping. He's grown both physically and spiritually.

Josh also shares his special birthday with his Grandma Cook! Both wonderful, special people in our lives! Here's to you mom and Josh!!!! May you have a very blessed day and know that you are so loved! May this year bring you all that the Father has in store for you!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!