Book Review - Deep Nutrition, Why Your Genes Need Traditional Food

I am not entirely sure if this is the right venue to do a book review; however, I think this book, or at least the information contained inside it cover, is important enough to risk crossing the line. If you love nutrition, eating, being healthy, having babies, medicine, healthy children, or anything of the like, read on!

Amazingly enough, this book, Deep Nutrition - Why Your Genes Need Traditional Foods, was recommended to me by Amazon! I always take a peek at the books they think I would like and after reading a few reviews on this one, I made an impulse buy.  One of the Amazon reviews was by a cardiologist who said that he read it once then a second time immediately after finishing it the first time. He now gives it to all his patients!

It is written by a medical doctor, Catherine Shanahan, who practices in Hawaii, and her husband, Luke Shanahan. She had medical issues of her own which prompted her to look past prescriptions and surgery as those were not working in her case. In this book she unfolds her research, her findings, her new approach to treating patients, her success stories and large amounts of scientific information to back it all up.

Honestly, I found it hard to read at points due to the words I could neither pronounce nor understand. Despite all that, the underlying message is clear and vitally important! I don’t want to even attempt to give away the central themes of the book as I would not do it justice. (I should probably read it a few more times before doing this review!) But, I will say that her basis for health lies in nutrition - traditional nutrition. That is the primary weapon with which she arms the reader to succeed against health ailments large and small.

In the beginning of the book she goes to great length describing genetics and how we can affect the quality of the genes we pass on to the next generation as well as the genes that were passed on to us. She talks about intentionally working towards beautiful babies. This may sound funny, but it is truly fascinating when you read about it! Towards the end of the book she goes into great depth on particular ailments from diabetes to dry skin and from heart attacks to sunburns. She covers hormones, allergies, weight, fertility, cellulite, bone structure, wrinkles, and mental awareness to name a few. She explains what is happening under the surface and how you can change the potential outcome.

So, I highly recommend this book! As with all books, I don’t entirely agree, however, I think this may be as close as you can get to an all-in-one health encyclopedia and from the other research and reading that I have done paired with the effects of diet in my own family, I think she is mostly accurate in her findings. Happy reading!

Un-Multitasking

Have you ever sat back and carefully weighed the pros and cons of multitasking? I have always been so proud of my multitasking abilities and have worn them as a badge of womanly skill and motherly achievement. Multitasking seems like something I cannot avoid or, at the very least, should not want to avoid. I have at least one part of me busy all the time so why not occupy all the vacant spots if at all possible and check off the to-do list even faster... or maybe it isn’t faster!

Here is how this thought of un-multitasking came to mind...

I have spent the last few months living out of bags in various temporary homes. Feeling homeless has naturally given me a strong desire to do everything in my power to speed the finding of a more permanent home. However, I also have other duties vying for my time such as feeding my family, homeschooling the older three children, being a joyful, loving wife for my husband and mother for the children, and on and on the list could go. Until a couple of weeks ago, I was doing a fabulous job of multitasking and managing to juggling it all, or so I thought.

If my life were a house, I would say that most of it was filled with the multitasking, outwardly successful Shannon who could check off a list in record time and present a dizzying array of finished tasks by the end of the day. Not all the rooms in my house, however, were so delightful. Just as I was feeling great success in home finding, home dreaming, home planning and everything home I also found myself worrying about one of my little ones. I was having difficulty connecting and the result of my unsuccessful attempts were glaringly obvious. The spark had disappeared from the little blue eyes. Obedience still happened but with obvious reserve and little to no joy. Sibling relationships were strained. I caught myself playing this little life in fast forward and was scared by where it seemed to be leading yet I didn’t know how to get it back. Well, that isn’t entirely true. I did have some ideas of how, ones that come highly recommended; I was equipped but I didn’t feel that I could do it.

One particularly overwhelming morning, I knew I was missing something and missing it bad. For all my house success I was still feeling as though my feet had no ground on which to stand, as though I was going it alone. I knew I needed to get alone with God but I wasn’t sure where to start. I recalled Paul’s ability to be content in any situation and decided that was just the place to start since I was obviously discontent with my current housing situation and running myself ragged trying to fix it..

“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame - who set their mind on earthly things. 

Philippians 3:18-19 

“Let your gentleness be know to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7 

I read through Philippians 3 and 4 and was stuck by the fact that in my desire to satisfy my homemaker desires I had truly set my mind on things of this world. I had allowed earthly things to take precedence over heavenly things. I began to consider what in my life is truly worth my time, what will last and have value in eternity, and decided to focus on setting my best time and attention on those things - namely, my children.

It was only then that I realized my multitasking success was also my greatest enemy! I thought it was no big deal to teach my little man how to read while I texted the real estate agent to pass along some “urgent” information in the purchase of our earthly home. After all, it was truly important and there was a time constraint attached, right? I realized I was not fully giving my attention to either task and, more often than not, the earthly cares and duties which could ring on my phone, beep on my computer, simmer on the stove, spin in the washing machine, and otherwise demand my attention were winning over the quiet little man struggling to learn and longing for my undivided attention.

In light of what I had read and my fresh understanding of the faults of multitasking I decided it was time to stop. We do school in 15 minute increments with a 5-10 minute break in between and that break would have to be my “work” time while I would train myself to set all work aside while I sat with my son. Not only that, but I also decided to do school with him while all the others were playing in the basement. This way, I would be completely focused on him.

That very morning, I set my new plan in motion. It didn’t take but a moment for me to realize the importance of a paper to-do list that I could scritch and scratch all over and update with an old fashioned pen, the electronic lists being on the same screen with my inbox, Facebook and every other enticing thing. So, list started and many things left entirely untouched other than the thought that put them there, I sat down for our time together, just me and him. Oh how hard it was to just sit there! I asked him to write his name on the top of the page and instantly thought of something I could do while he wrote it out. No! That was not the plan, I had to just sit. I watched him carefully, obviously doing nothing but watching and giving my undivided attention to his valiant efforts. His school proceeded oh so slow and more times than I care to confess I had to reign in my multitasking thoughts and set them aside.

Before that day of school was over I noticed he was emerging from his quiet self and excitedly telling me all the answers and everything he was thinking as he made his way thought the challenges I set before him. He wasn’t always correct but his response to errors was entirely different. Previously he would have holed up and despaired at a mistake as I brushed past and told him he was wrong. Now he was joyously declaring how silly that mistake was an fixing it quickly. The blue eyes were dancing, the smile was ready and willing, and my heart was singing with joy! The transformation wasn’t limited to the school table but came and surprised me all day long. I was rolling out tortillas for dinner when he came up and asked with a huge smile what he could do to help me in the kitchen. He proceeded to make the balls of dough until all the tortillas were rolled then asked me if he could flip them which he did a very good job at!

As I said before, I have been equipped with ideas on how to truly touch the heart of my son but I failed to use them in my overly busy, unfocused world. In sitting with him at school, I am able to present him with tasks that he sees are truly valuable (things that his older siblings do and that will give him skills he dearly longs to have) and also praise his success - success that he knows he has achieved. I am respecting him as a valuable asset to the home and as a growing young man and he LOVES it! It was truly evident in his desire to work with me in the kitchen. He did the task I gave him and then picked a challenge (flipping the tortillas in hot pan that had the ability to burn him) and begged for the honor of yet again achieving success at something valuable.

So, this is how my journey to un-multitasking began. It is still a work in progress but one that I hope I never abandon! It has been a couple of weeks since the day I wrote about and already I have failed time and time again at giving my undivided attention when it is needed; however, I have also delighted in the successful moments when I capture the heart of my children and make their eyes sparkle. As for those earthy cares, believe it or not, they got done better and more efficiently in much less time!

Farm Fresh Milk

Oh the things that make me smile!

Today was a wonderful day.  We went to Valley Forge with the kids which was wonderful, beautiful and educational.  That, however, was not the event that put the huge smile on my face.  After our cold trek through the hills of Valley Forge we ventured into the Pennsylvania countryside to a small amish farm in the middle of rolling green hills.  There was a small herd of jersey cows frolicking in the distance... yes, they were truly frolicking!  The driveway looked worn showing that others, like myself, had come and gone leaving our mark at this otherwise simple home. We had found the home we were seeking and all my research, anticipation and driving was about to be fully rewarded.  I couldn't wait!

Katie brought me to the barn and began taking gallons of milk from the cooler - a large, covered, metal tub full of milk jugs sitting in a bath of cold water.  It didn't take more than a second for me to notice how different this milk was from any I had ever had before.  It was in clear jugs just as you would find it at the grocery store, however, its color was markedly different.  It wasn't white at all but was a rich creamy color.  I have done some reading on the value of milk and was so excited.  The creamy color in the milk is an indication of great nutrients and vitamins and can only be attained by feeding the cows on green grass.  We, Nathan and I, mentioned how excited we were with the color of the milk only to find out from Katie that the creamy color we were seeing was nothing to the milk that comes in the spring.  Well, now I can't wait for spring to come!

We brought the milk home and had to give it a taste test for dinner.  It was amazingly rich and delicious, almost like drinking cream!  I don't think I can ever appreciate white milk again! We had a carton of store-bought milk in the fridge and I couldn't resist the urge to put it side-by-side with the farm fresh milk and see what the difference really was.

In case you are wondering, the milk is not pasteurized nor will it be.  We are excited to drink it full of the naturally occurring good bacteria which helps us to digest it, gives it a much better taste, keeps bad bacteria away and allows it to sour into yogurt rather than the unpalatable sour that occurs to pasteurized milk (that is if there is any left long enough to go sour).  It isn't homogenized either so we will have to shake it each morning to keep the milk fat mixed in.  Did you know that when milk is homogenized the fat molecules are exploded so that they no longer rise to the surface? Our body cannot recognize nor can it use the exploded fat molecules.

We are so excited to have such a wonderful source of such a wonderful, healthful food!

If you happen to have an interest in reading more about milk, I highly recommend the book "The Untold Story of Milk".  It is very educational and fun to read!   

If You Send a Mommy to Get the Mail

For those days when Mommies need a smile.  This is my ode to motherhood and the "fun" it brings!

If You Send a Mommy to Get the Mail...

If you send a mommy to get the mail, the first thing she will do is step out the front door and notice a lovely curtain, or perhaps not so lovely curtain, of cobwebs just waiting to meet the next guest who comes to visit.

This will compel her to hurry back inside in search of a broom with which to sweep them away.

As she is hurrying to the utility closet to find the broom, she walks passes by the washing machine just in time to hear the spin cycle finish and the tub settle to still and quiet. Knowing it is her duty and fully aware that her baby’s favorite blanket is sitting wet in the just spun tub, she stops to empty the contents of the washer into the dryer.

As she is moving the items of clothing, she pulls out a Onesie that was nearly destroyed by a leaky diaper the day before. Knowing it is a gift from her mother and bears those wonderful words “Grandma Love Me” she feel compelled to make sure the mess is gone. Unfortunately she finds the stain is still there and begins to search in the cabinet for the spot treatment.

As she is looking for the spot treatment her hands accidentally brush against a particular bottle of cleaning solution that she hasn’t used in who knows how long. Yes, Windex has a purpose and she knows three months is a bit too long to put it off so she pulls it out and heads to the windows that are overly smudged from three feet down.

As she gets the paper towel in her hand and attempts to capture the drips running onto the carpet, she glances out the window and her eye is met by drooping flowers in the blazing sun just begging for a drink. She collects her strength and heads out in the blazing heat with a precious pot of water for those thirsty flowers.

As she bends down to pluck some of the wilted blooms, her hand brushes against a cobweb so carefully placed there overnight by some industrious spider. The cobweb reminds her of the ones she swept at her front door and suddenly she remembers she was supposed to get the mail.

She heads back to the mail box but our story doesn’t end there. It only keeps going for before she arrives at the mail box she trips over the empty trash cans and who knows what is in store for the rest of her day!

Welcome to My Home, Lord...

This evening was spooling up to be "one of those".  The day itself had gone okay although I noticed my little baby's runny nose getting increasingly worse and feelings were threatening to overwhelm me.  I wasn't too concerned until dinner time began to roll around...

I was feeling lonely here in Delaware, Nate being somewhere in Europe, my family almost as far away in Alaska, and all my Californian friends three time zones away in California.  I was on the phone with my sister getting some much-needed encouragement when it all came tumbling down.  The noise level rose, the crying began, and, as usually happens with me when my baby cries, I began to feel overwhelmed.  Our symphony was in discord.  I begged for silence but I don't think I was heard.  I silently pleaded within myself but that didn't help my baby who was now rubbing his face ferociously and apparently using dinner to paint his eyes red.  Oh dear!

I decided it was important for me to eat and after giving up on feeding the little one, I began to pretend I didn't hear the crying as I spooned dinner into my mouth.  That attempt being entirely unfruitful, I washed him up and held him close.  He was unconsolable and I was quickly having visions of spending most of the night walking around with him as he endlessly expressed his sadness and pain.

I began to sing a song that has always seemed to calm him: Be Still and Know that I Am God.  As I sang, I realized I felt something like a desert inside my soul; a thirsty desert needing to be refreshed.  Dinner was still sitting on the table begging me to eat so I turned on my computer and bid it sing for us.  I scrolled through the list of songs Nate so kindly set up for me and picked my all-time favorite: Holy Roar with Christy Nockels.  This is my song!  It overwhelms me with God's love for me and my heart song sings its response to the King of Kings.  I began to dance slowly to the music and was almost immediately joined by two of my little ones.  We sang, we danced, we enjoyed worshiping our God.  My baby was instantly silent and watched with a smile.  He did his best to dance in his seat and seemed almost instantly to be filled with peace. From that moment, there has been peace in our home... from the moment we said "Welcome to our home, Lord".  Oh, I am so thankful He is aways there, always ready to help in my time of need, always ready to tell me of His love for me!  

"Be still and know that I am God; 

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!"

Psalm 46:10 NKJV

HAIR CARE... Watered Down (Part 2)

So now that you know that I don’t use shampoo and conditioner on my hair, I will let you know what techniques I use to keep it healthy and nice. I am far from being a scientist so I can’t vouch for the accuracy of everything I am about to share here; however, this is the knowledge with which I have developed my hair care process so I think it must be true at least in part. Also, one very important fact about this process is that the beginning months are frustrating so if you want to try it (and I know it isn’t for everyone) have lots of patience! 

As I was transitioning my hair from shampoo to water, I did a little research on shampoo. I found that the word shampoo is derived from an ancient word meaning “to massage” and only in the 1860s was it applied to washing hair. Shampoo as we know it today was not commercially available until the early 1900s! We all come from a long, long line of people who didn’t use shampoo! Surprise!

Now for a little information on what is happening on your scalp. The substance that we generally call “oil” in our hair is sebum. Its tendency is to stay close to the scalp and build up creating what we might call dandruff. If you gently massage your scalp for a while you will notice that the massaging softens the sebum and leaves a whitish film on your finger. This sebum is actually helpful to your hair yet, left unattended, it can be quite unsightly! Commercial shampoo would attach to this sebum and wash it away from the hair shaft leaving a “sebum-free” hair follicle which is also now non-oily and prone to dryness. Enter conditioner! Now that the hair shaft is stripped of its natural conditioner, we need to add a commercial conditioner to restore the softness of our hair. With traditional shampooing, i.e. massaging, I use hot water and my fingers to soften the sebum and spread it down the hair shaft thereby conditioning the whole length of hair. It takes a little bit of patience but achieves the same result: conditioned, clean hair and scalp.

I have also found there to be a few extremely helpful tools in my hair care. They are wide tooth combs and round boar brushes (flat for the boys). Before I wash my hair in the morning, I carefully brush it, piece by piece, with a boar bristle brush. The brushing helps to bring the sebum all the way to the end of the hair shaft. Have you ever watched an old movie where the young lady is obediently counting the brush strokes: ninety-five, ninety-six, ninety-seven... one hundred? I don’t count strokes but I do make sure that each bit of hair has been brushed. Now, since I am am not using shampoo to strip the sebum off of my hair shaft some of it does collect on my combs and brushes. I was at a loss for how to properly clean them initially and tried everything from ammonia to hand soap. I finally settled on using a basic dish soap in hot water. That worked well most of the time. Lately, in a effort to have the least amount of soap residue, I have simply been washing the brushes in hot water and using a toothbrush to do the fine cleaning on the combs.

I have learned so much more than just hair care in the process of eliminating shampoo. I have always known that our skin is integral in releasing unwanted materials from our bodies. That has been extremely evident in my hair! I generally try to eat whole foods and eliminate sugar from my day-to-day diet. I discovered that when I eat processed foods, i.e. anything that is white and not in its whole form, I would have trouble with my hair for a couple of days afterward! The sebum would be troublesome and come in greater quantities making the whole water washing frustrating. Now I know to watch for it and understand that if I enjoy those sweet things which I love I will just have to be patient with my hair for a day or so.

I don’t know how well this process works with heat styling as I haven’t used a curling iron in some time. I also allow my hair to drip dry. I often think of the saying “water off the back of a duck” as it seems so suitable for my hair now. The water doesn’t seem to be inside the hair shaft but rather on the surface resulting in a much shorter drying time.

So this is the basics of how I tend my shampoo-free hair. I love it!

Breath of Heaven

I love to be inspired... I love the outdoors, fall time, cool air...

Today is Sunday and instead of going to church with the rest of my family, I stayed home to care for the two smallest members of our orchestra who were not well enough to go. On a suggestion from Nathan, we ventured out for a walk. The walk was wonderful; it was full of inspiration, smiles and delight! If my life is a symphony then what shall I call it? A sonatina, perhaps?

As I walked out of the door, I began to see and hear the world around me. The sun was gently hugging me with the perfect warmth while the cool wind danced friskily through the tree tops and over the grasses. Here and there a crispy leaf was skittering across my path. The sky was a vibrant blue etched occasionally with contrails and the airy brushstrokes of horsetails. Ahhhh.....

“How could I say there is no God, 

When all around creation calls...” 

Creation Calls by Brian Doerksen 

Just as the wind was singing its song through the trees and the grasses, my two musicians were making their own music through their smiles and conversation. Their music ebbed and flowed just as the tide and I had to bring my own thoughts back from the beauty of the world around me in order to hear their chatter and respond to their faithful questions. I realized their world was so much more fun for them if I would only take the pains to be a part of it too.

I watched my three-year-old walking in a world of his own imagination. First he was a saber wielding warrior riding his metal steed across the park. Next he was a giggling little boy swinging through the air in a swing. As we walked on he was a lover of leaves and giver of gifts, giving sticks to us all with which we were to “hit every tree with leaves” so as to tempt the leaves from their branches and watch them fall to the ground. At one point he exclaimed at the site of a particular weed and, picking it, declared it was basil. He then asked me to wear it in my hair as “it would be so pretty”. A few steps later he found a wilted flower and, seeing its mysterious beauty, decided it would be a much better adornment for my hair. The “basil” was then taken to a small mountain of dirt where it was to be planted if only he had a rake to soften the soil. As it turned out, the “basil” found its way home with us.

My littlest one, bless his heart, was feeling rather sore today. His normal chatter was cut off my the raspy voice that sounded every time he tried to talk. Despite it all, he smiled in the sunshine and enjoyed a quiet ride in the swing. He watched the world go by as we walked and the relaxation it was passing out at every turn gently soothed him to sleep. He arrived back at home, a resting little bundle.

If I could only capture the sights, smells, sounds and peace of this morning and bottle it for days when the sun doesn’t shine or my work pulls me too far from the simple world in which trees sing, breezes dance and children live and thrive. Although I can’t bottle it and keep it forever, I am forever thankful that God wrapped me in just such a gift of His love this morning!

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead so that they are without excuse...” 

Romans 1:20

HAIR CARE... Watered Down (Part 1)

Oh, how to begin! I have been blessed with lots of hair... It grows well and thick which makes for quite a challenge when taking care of it. For most of my early years, I wore it long and braided in a effort to manage what seemed almost unmanageable. As a young adult I experimented with almost every hair cut from long and layered to pixie styles. Right along with the hair cuts I also experimented with almost every shampoo and conditioner on the market from Redken to Pert Plus. I was seeking that perfect combination that would gift me with easily managed, lovely, sleek, stylish hair. To sum up the results of all those experiments, I didn’t quite succeed! 

One of the things that seemed to be a trend with me was a sort of flirtation with shampoos. I would see one, consider it, read the back of the bottle over and over, want it and finally buy it. I would love it! Magically my hair would be wonderful! It was manageable and silky. Until... a few weeks went by. Then, oh, the sadness as I noticed my hair became just that again... my old, unmanageable hair. The infatuation was over just in time for me to finish reading the claims on the back of the next bottle of shampoo. I would impatiently quicken the end of the bottle I no longer loved only to start the process all over again... and again... and again.

About three years ago I began to seriously consider the problem. It seemed to me that any shampoo was lovable at the beginning as it initially washed out any reside left from the previous shampoo/conditioner combination. However, each shampoo eventually left its own residue leading to unmanageable hair once again. Naturally I began to wonder if there was a way to clean my hair without the residue issue. After much research I decided I should try not using shampoo or conditioner at all! I knew it was crazy and I couldn’t find any great success stories on the internet apart from those whose fancy tended in the direction of dreads. That was certainly not my desire! Despite feeling like I was venturing into a potential disaster, I began.

I started out with some clean combs, (which almost instantly became filthy combs) some baking soda, and some apple cider vinegar. Why? Because that was supposed to be the best “no poo” method. I found it, however, to be a bad idea. The baking soda didn’t like to wash out and the vinegar was a bit overboard. So... after a few weeks of playing with the baking soda and vinegar, I put them back in the kitchen and tried water only. It seemed absolutely disastrous at first but I was prepared for a transition period and toughed it out. It helped that I had a partner in crime who was daily encouraging me and laughing with me at the horrid condition of our hair.

By this time, our hair condition required that we discreetly bow out of the local hair salon . Thankfully I was growing my hair out and I could do a semi-decent job cutting Nate’s hair so it didn’t matter too much.

To make the long and difficult story much shorter, we struggled daily to figure out the best way to handle our watered down hair care and finally met with true and happy success about nine months later. It has now been three years since I have used anything but water on my hair. I rarely have a bad hair day anymore and for the first time in my life I honestly can say that I like my hair! It has come with a huge learning curve, some of which I will share later, and lots of patience! Now the secret is out and yes, it is still safe to come and visit! (Smile!) Watch for future posts with more of the “how” details to our watered down hair care!

Memory Verse Hot Potatoes...

I was doing memory verses with the kiddos this morning and found a fun and engaging way to help them listen and learn.  I would say a part of the verse, pass it on the the child who was on my right who would then pass it on to their right and so on.  I was so fun and each of them paid close attention with a smile as they listened to the verse go around and around the circle!  I was able to capture their complete attention in a fun way while they were hearing and saying the memory verse over and over again!  

A new year...

Today I turn 32!  I can't believe I am in my 30s much less 32!  Sometimes it seems that I am aging and passing years faster than those around me.  Is that how it seems to everyone?  It is hard to remember that although I am older than my children, for example, I am not "getting" older any faster than they are.  Just a birthday thought.

So, on to the birthday fun!  Our family has some birthday traditions that we try to observe each year.  First off, we begin the morning with a "Happy Birthday" wake-up serenade followed closely by our traditional birthday breakfast of Giant Pancakes or Dutch Puffs.  Presents abound at this point... many small gifts with large quantities of thoughtfulness and heart tucked in the wrapping... Many of my gifts today were still bearing the tell-tale tag that signified a small person with a small budget did the shopping but who wouldn't love an apple cider candle, a pumpkin spice candle and a spoon rest? It wasn't in the gifts that I took the greatest pleasure but in the red cheeks on the smiling faces that watched me open their gifts.

Now that the morning is rolling along behind schedule and usually slow, we move on to a rather normal day.  The evening brings our other family tradition.  It is date night!  We have decided to teach our sons and daughters the art of either escorting a lady (for our sons) or being escorted (our daughter) on a date to a nice dinner.  Since our boys were about 4, Nathan has dressed them in a nice button up shirt and slacks, placed a couple of $20 bills in their pocket, educated them on how to ask for "a seat for two" and how to pay for the meal then he sends them off as my escort to a restaurant of their choice.  Likewise, I have helped our daughter get dressed fancy with a special hair-do and sent her off with her daddy for a special dinner on her birthdays.

All said, I thank God for the years I have had and all the gifts that have come my way!  I am excited about what this coming year will bring and hope I can say that I learned some good lessons, had lots of fun, loved my family, enjoyed every day as much a possible, grew in my relationship with God and loved and helped my husband to the very best of my ability when this special day rolls around next year!