Feeling Resolute

New Years, everyone has ways they want to improve and change what they are doing or correct things they have done in the past. As a family we have set a number of goals for the new year. One of those is being more diligent with family scripture reading. We have started reading each morning at breakfast and it has worked out well. Oddly enough I think the day we keep missing is Sunday. I am sure we will figure it out.
A second goal is to change some of our family eating habits by incorporating more fruits and vegetables and fewer processed foods. As a part of this Jonathan and I went through a 5 day detox where we didn't eat any wheat, dairy, processed food, added sugar, or eggs. We gradually added back the healthy foods. Jonathan has been much more stalwart than me with healthy eating but after a month of junk and unhealthy food over the holidays it is hard to adjust. We hope to continue to do well and loose some unwanted weight so far both of us are about 5 lbs thinner than we were on New Year's. This whole thing was in part encouraged by watching the documentary Food Inc. If I can avoid all of the gunk that ends up in processed food I can only imagine how much better for us all that will be.
As a part of this healthy eating I have been wanting to learn to make a few more things from scratch. One of these things is bread. This week I started by making two loaves on to go with our soup and one with cinnamon swirl to go with breakfast. The turned out great and were very delicious. I am anxious to see what I can try out next week.

The Best Christmas Present

The week before Christmas the sister that I work with in the primary presidency offered to meet our family at the Washington D.C. temple and take the children around to see the lights while Jonathan and I went in to do temple work. This was truly an amazing Christmas present of service. The children were able to learn more about the temple and feel the special spirit that is there and Jonathan and I were able to go in and not worry about the children or pay for a babysitter. The kids got to see the Temple grounds lit up for Christmas. It was truly a special evening and we are so grateful for those around us who offer of themselves. We love you Judi!

The kids outside the Temple before their baby brother led them on a hike around the grounds.

The Temple as seen from the visitor's center grounds at night. It seemed magical.