Things Are Getting Worse

A few weeks ago I read this report from the FBI that reported that mass shootings in the US have gone up 40% in the last 13 years. I've definitely noticed and felt a difference in the world around me. Tragedies are becoming more and more commonplace and I hate it.

Today as I returned from the grocery store with Taylor, I saw helicopters circling our neighborhood. When I pulled into the driveway I noticed a motorcycle cop driving down our street. The helicopters continued to fly over, and neighbors started coming out of their homes to see what was going on. It turns out that yet another murder-suicide tragedy has happened, this time 1/4 mile from where Devin and I are raising our 3 little kids.

This summer there was a murder-suicide a few houses down from where our good friends live, just 3 miles south of us. A few weeks before that there was a murder-suicide involving 2 teenagers a few miles east of us. These types of things are happening in good areas, bad areas, everywhere.

We have been told in the scriptures that things are going to get bad. I know that these are the "winding up" scenes and that our Savior will be returning soon. I know that these things are happening for a reason, but it is still unsettling to be around it.

I also know that your "home can be a heaven on earth" even when turmoil is happening on either side. I know that God has not left us alone.

I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was restored to the earth at this time for a specific purpose: to prepare for the return of the Savior.

In a few weeks we will have a temple opening a few miles from our home. Wherever a temple is built on the earth, it pushes back darkness. I cannot wait to feel the peace inside our new temple.

Our church is worth checking out. It is the same church Jesus formed when he was on the earth 2,000 years ago. It has been restored just in time. I invite you to come to the Phoenix temple open house with me in the next few weeks. I am not asking you to become Mormon here. I am inviting you to come into the house of God to feel of his spirit, and of his peace. Because in this crazy world, only our Heavenly Father can bring us true peace.

Watch this.

Congratulations and Reunions

My Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw's 11th great-grandchild was born today. Grayson was scheduled to be born on Maw-Maw's birthday. Although she didn't get to meet him in this life, because of Him I know that we will all be reunited with her again someday.

Maw-Maw with baby Mollie back in 2011

Wannabe Vegan

I have been fired up about nutrition since I started the Maker's Diet (basically just whole foods, nothing processed) back in 2009. After recently seeing Netflix films like "Vegucated," and "Forks Over Knives," I am starting to steer away from meat and dairy also. The Word of Wisdom does tell us to only eat meat when we have to, and that we should mostly just stick to grains and fruits and vegetables. Anyhoo, today the kids and I decorated dairy-free, sugar-free Valetine's cookies. They weren't beautiful, but the kids actually liked them! They tasted like chocolate Pop Tarts(aka Heaven) to me.

Cookies:
1 and 1/2 cups soaked, chopped dates
1 and 1/4 whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 C unsweetened cocoa powder
One huge swig of honey

Mix together dry ingredients and set aside. Blend the dates, cocoa powder, and honey together in blender until smooth. Add the blended mixture and the dry mixture together to create your cookie dough. We rolled the dough out and used cookie cutters. Bake cookies for 9 minutes at 350 degrees.


Frosting:
1 C raisins
1/2 C chopped walnuts
2 TBSP cocoa powder
Another huge swig of honey
1/4 C Almond milk

Blend together all ingredients until smooth. Spread onto cooled cookies and enjoy the wonderful taste of Pop Tarts minus carcinogens :)