Check this out!

I'm not sure if this is going to show up correctly....but I'll give it a try anyway. If it doesn't make sense the way you see it - check out this website: www.transformation.com.

This challenge is amazing. The woman in the pictures - Leslie Groft - is one of my dear friends and is actually the woman I'm blessed to have as my personal trainer. She is helping me to change my life in many ways. I love this gal and I love that she's helping me find my happy self again.

This health challenge is FREE, life changing, uplifting and amazing. Oh yeah - did I mention FREE. Bill Phillips, the founder of Transformation has changed so many lives and he is making his tools available to all of us for FREE! The neat thing to me is that his challenge and his program isn't just about loosing weight. It's SO much deeper than that - it is about transforming yourself into a better version of yourself. The weight loss is just a side effect of that :). There are assignments, support groups, radio programs, recipes, workout ideas and even more on the website.

By participating in the challenge you are also given the chance to win a bunch of $ - but the draw to the program for me is that I'm becoming happier. I haven't actually even officially registered for the chance to win the $ - I've just been working on becoming the person I know I'm meant to be. I'm focusing on becoming the daughter I know my Heavenly Father sent me here to become. I am reminding myself of the stewardship He gave me over this body and I'm trying to do what I can to return to Him one day and not be ashamed for destroying the beautiful creation he sent me with.

Overall the reason I know this program works - I'm feeling hope again. I'm finding myself wanting to make plans for the future. I'm doing things I wouldn't have done before (ran a 5K on Saturday - pictures to come soon). I'm feeling like there is something to work towards and that I'm doing something that helps me physically, spiritually and mentally. I'm remembering happier times in my life and excited for those again. I'm not feeling the depression and despair I was struggling with before starting this.

Yes, it's hard. Yes, there are days I don't want to keep working out every morning or when I really just want to cheat and eat junk food all day. But I'm learning that I deserve better than that. My family deserves better than that. I can be a better wife, friend, mother, daughter and a better ME by taking care of my body and mind.

So I thought I'd put this out there for any of you who could use a little more clarity in your life. Anyone who has tried other things and it hasn't worked - or to anyone who might even just want to work towards $50,000. As one of my friends said - what's the worse thing that could happen if you didn't win the money - at least you have a healthier body and mind - you definetly won't be a "looser" in any respect.

Good luck to all of the challengers and CONGRATS to Leslie for showing all of us that it's possible!

Last Chance! Sign Up Now... the Deadline is Feb. 15th!!! Chris Rile lost over 100 pounds of bodyfat while gaining strength and energy. He also started the first of January last year. You Too Can Better Your Life and Health with Bill Phillips' All-New Transformation Challenge 2010 Plus, You Could be Awarded $50,000 for Your Success! If you could transform your body in as little as 18 weeks so you would look and feel better with actual improvements in your health, would you accept the challenge? If you could improve your mental clarity and enjoy greater peace of mind during those 18 weeks, would you be interested? If it were possible to also improve your emotional and spiritual well-being and achieve a deeper level of fulfillment and happiness, would you? If the answer to any of these questions is, "Yes," then you owe it to yourself to give Bill Phillips' all-new Transformation Challenge 2010 a try. It's the first program ever that combines a scientifically safe and sound nutrition and exercise plan with 18 weekly lessons and challenging action steps which have been proven to help people develop a positive mindset, uplift their energy and emotions as well as expand spiritual awareness. Bill's teachings come alive in a way no book or magazine alone could allow. With weekly videos, audios and written information, he guides you step-by-step through the entire process. At this time, it's FREE and, not only that, if you accept the challenge and truly give it all you've got and stick with it from start to finish, Bill Phillips may pay you $50,000 to help spread the good word to others who might want and need to make healthy changes in their lives too. If that all sounds fair enough, click here now to sign up for the challenge today and plan on making the new year your best and brightest, happiest and healthiest ever! Leslie Groft, a 34 year-old mother of six transformed her body and life by beginning the challenge at the first of January 2009. Now it's your turn! Click here to learn more and sign up for the FREE Transformation Challenge 2010 today! To unsubscribe click here © Copyright 2010 Transformation Ventures, Inc. 10100 Santa Monica Blvd. Suite 1300, Los Angeles, CA 90067

Book of Mormon Reading Chart

Ok - I have this awesome friend who is a fantastic graphic designer - Jessica Kopp. She just knows how to make things go together perfectly - I think she's one of my idols or something :). Anyway, she has created this awesome Book of Mormon reading chart that she posted on her blog. Check it out here. She has a download link and everything - so be sure to check it out. Mine is printing out on my computer as we speak. Thanks Jess!

Digi Scrapping Pages

The boys were lucky enough to spend a few days up at their Grandma & Grandpa Ellis this week. They had a great time and I enjoyed some time scrapping while they were gone. Here's some of my pages - I included the credits for the layouts in the comments of this post.

Keep going - you can do it!

"That which we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly,"
(---Thomas Paine)

If something is hard to do - a lot of times it's because it's worth it. Things that come too easy often times don't end up meaning as much to us over time. So if it's tough - keep at it - you can do it!!!

NEW Kits by The Ettes

The Ettes have done it again - they've just realeased 2 AWESOME digi scrapping kits. Heart Throb & Love Shack. You can also get a discount by buying BOTH kits - so check that out! Oh - and don't forget to check out the AWESOME valentine cards and coupon book they have offered too. ADOREABLE stuff!!!

Here are a couple of layouts I did with them.

Owie!

I took the boys to the small local library to pick up some new books. We had only been there for a couple minutes (not even enough time to pick out new books) and Hunter climbed up on a little table and chairs they have for kids (books, puzzles, toys, etc). He slipped, bumped his face and then there was blood. Lots of blood. Poor little guy had fallen, bit his lip and also hit the gum on the top of his mouth - which also bled and gave him a bruise. The poor little guy had a fat lip almost instantly. I felt so sad for the little guy when he kept wimpering, "Owie Mommy - my wip hoots".

When we got home I got worried when I noticed the bruise on his gums - but the teeth involved weren't loose and the bruise cleared up 2 days later. It's sure hard to see our kids hurt though - isn't it? When it's these "flesh wounds" right now it's tough - it makes me nervous for the coming years as I know there will be all kind of bumps, bruises, gashes, etc - both emotional and physical. I hope that Mommy's kisses will always be able to take away at least some of the sting.

Coloring Kids

Gabe is a VERY vocal child. He's constantly talking, he's always saying things that make us laugh and has had the vocabulary of an adult since he was about 2 1/2. He's such a smarty pants! But there have been times when I worry about his writing and coloring. He doesn't enjoy it and he would rather do many things other than writing or coloring. But just lately he's really improved his coloring and works harder on his projects than he has in the past. The other day he and Hunter worked for a big part of the afternoon coloring Lego pictures. There was marker everywhere (including in my carpet! Luckily it came out with carpet cleaner) - but they enjoyed it. They ended up coloring their projects to give to some friends and they were so excited to take them to them. I was almost sad to give Gabe's away - it was some of his best coloring. So I had to take some pictures to remember his vibrant colored picture.

I sure love seeing them do things well and being proud of their creations - makes me so happy.

Layouts

I've been having a great time scrapping lately. I don't know if I say it enough - but I'm so grateful for hobbies and creative outlets! So grateful that I get to spend some of my time creating memories with my family and that I get to then go on and preserve those memories in scrapbook pages.

Products by Libby Weifenbach, Connie Prince, Bella Gypsy

Sledding Fun!

We have had a few snow storms skip right over us this week and then 2 nights when we got a bit. Today was such a gorgeous day that we didn't want to pass up on enjoying some of the fresh powder. I wanted to go to the Jr. High hills, and Cory wanted to take the ranger around our neighborhood and pull the kids behind it. I thought his idea didn't even sound fun and so I threw a little fit (because that's what I do every Saturday - it's tradition) and went anyway. He said to the boys, "Don't you want to do something I used to do as a kid? This is what we did for fun and I want to take you to see how fun it is." I rolled my eyes and figured we'd end up 10 minutes later hopping in the car and going into town to try the hill I wanted....Well 3 hours later and we were still pulling the kids behind the ranger. I had a great time even sledding myself - so much so that I had Cory go pick up our friends the Wrays to go with us. The empty roads out past our house were the perfect place to enjoy it. Hunter even got worn out enough to fall asleep. We all had a great time - thanks Cory!

(I'm having issues with blogger right now. When I figure them out I'll post the pictures....)