Happy "Fat Loss" Dance!

I just have a minute to write something real quick! I am doing the happy "fat loss" dance this morning! I stepped on the scale and realized that I'd lost 10 lbs since starting the HCG protocol! How in the world is this working? It's amazing! It hasn't been easy by any stretch of the imagination, but it has certainly been worth it!

I have so much more to go. At some point I'll have to come clean about how much I weighed before I started. It's hard to even imagine it myself. I have always had such a good self image despite the weight, so I don't think of myself as weighing that much. When I see photo's of myself, I'm shocked--because I don't think of myself that way. Does that make sense? Oh boy! I'm sharing a lot today.

I think that by being grateful to be alive and living life the best I could when I was so ill, made me focus on my spirit more. I know that our Savior loves me and is mindful of my struggles. How I love Him!

I've had to reach outside this big shell and find joy in my life despite my pain and suffering. It has been something I strive for daily. I've tried to learn from these experiences so I can help others. It's hard and sometimes lonely. But, every season in life brings such blessings.

I'm looking forward to spreading my wings and soaring! After just 10 lbs lost, I feel so much better! So much healthier! I am ready to keep going now! I won't give up!

Pardon me while I go and eat my half a cup of Cheerios and half a cup of milk for breakfast! YUM!

For all of you on the HCG diet, keep going! You can do it if I can do it too!

I start walking today! Yeah, if you live in my neck of the woods and you see a fluffy red faced red headed woman struggling to get up that hill, please cheer her on!

Always Be Yourself....It's a Good Thing!

I found this in my drafts folder and realized how far I've come over the past year. Life continues to amaze me! I hope you enjoy this and continue to read about my journey. Elder Otis has been out for over a year now. I can't wait to speak to him at Christmas!.......This was written a year ago.

Recently, our youngest son entered the Mission Training Center for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is now beginning a two year mission as a full time missionary. We are so happy for him.

I haven't been writing very much here or anywhere for that matter. I'm trying to correct that starting today. I've been caught up in a trial of my heart, and the healing of my body that has been all consuming--The past six months or so deflated my spirits and made me feel very sad. It has be alleviated by getting healthy again and our youngest son entering the MTC and serving a mission. All is well now. I feel like I can move forward at this time. It's wonderful!

I belong to a women's group for missionary moms. I love it! It makes me realize how loved we are by our beloved Heavenly Father. I see their struggles and their faith and my own spirit soars. I'm able to help where I'm needed and that service heals my own spiritual wounds. Service is so key in moving outside ourselves and our pain and suffering. I know it's true.

This week I've conversed with women all over the world whom I have come to love. They cheer me on and I am able to respond in kind. It's a blessing in my life to be able to help in some small way.

We are all so different and yet, so alike in our struggles as Latter-day Saint women! We are really not ever alone. Heavenly Father most often works through others who don't even know they are helping to have our prayers answered.

I've been so blessed with the sweetest daughter in law in the world! We all love her dearly and soon our second son will be marrying an equally amazing woman. Two daughters in one year! Wow! I'm overjoyed to be so blessed! This is a very happy time of my life indeed. Jason and Julie's wedding was last May and Matt and Jelly's wedding will be on December 30Th. I can't wait to see our kids! How I've missed them as they attend college!

A quote really struck me as true this week. "Always be yourself because the people that matter don't mind, and the ones who mind, don't matter!" So true! In my younger years I remember feeling stiff and even superior with excess pride.To my regret, I often judged others.

As my life progressed and I matured, I loosened up and had many life lessons that made me realize that pride was baggage. That is was painful. As I set it aside the blessings began to flow into my life. I learned to love myself and others more fully. How blessed my life became! Those blessings continue as I can see the love in the things others say and do and don't take offense so easily. It's a good thing too.

Catching Up and Counting Blessings

It has been a very long time since I last posted here on my blog. My life has been such a joy in recent months. As you know, our two Elders came home. Matthew arrived in January from Russia and Jason came home from Los Angeles Spanish speaking mission in March. In between we sent Elder Ryan Otis off on his mission to Everett Washington and cheered on our Senior Hunter Otis in his play Les Miserables. It was a whirlwind to say the least.

It is a joy to have our oldest sons home. They have grown to be fine men and so helpful as always. Matthew plans to attend BYU in the fall and is working at his old job making windows for the summer at Anderson Windows. He lives with friends in Cottage Grove during the week and comes home on the weekends to spend time with us. He is also the Ward Mission Leader.

Jason is still seeking employment. Please remember him in your prayers if you can. While he is looking he's helping me in both our gardens and brushing up on his fishing skills. He keeps our freezer full of fish and I couldn't do without him in the garden. He has made the work so much easier. Now that it's planted and the hot wire is up, he can put all his efforts into his job search. He wants to attend BYU in the winter session.

Hunter has his last concert in High School Choir this week. He has his senior recital on Saturday and his Seminary Graduation on Sunday. He finished his Eagle Scout service project on Saturday! Way to go Hunter. He graduates from High School next week! Wow! He plans on going on his mission next February! We are so pleased he has chosen to serve the Lord.

Ryan is serving the Lord in the Everett Washington State Mission. He is serving presently on Camano Island. It is directly accross from his childhood home in Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island. He is doing great!

Terry has nearly fully recovered from his accident last October. WE thank God each day that he is still with us. He just completed his very first solo project at work and I'm so proud of him. He is such a joy to our family and we love him dearly.

I am now the canning manager for our ward. So much to do and so little time I'm finding. I'm prayerful about preparing our ward for hard times ahead. I'm teaching the sisters how to garden, and store food. I am also teaching bread making classes. In July we'll have a cannery class brought to the church to show everyone how to put dried goods in #10 cans for long term storage. I'm excited about this. I pray that all those sisters involved will gain much needed knowledge that month to prepare every needful thing during these trying times at hand.

Well, that's it in a nutshell. I pray that you all are happily gardening and enjoying the warmth of spring. Tomorrow I post pictures of our beautiful garden as it's first budding out. Soon we'll have green beans! Hooray!

Elder Otis in Russia and Update On the Otis Family

"Dear Val!

Your child will arrive tomorrow morning.

So this visa trip will be finished at least. Don't worry.

Love,
Elya"

I've used Elya's nick name instead of her full name for privacy. Elya is my dear friend who works in my sons mission home in Russia. When we first met, I had no idea she worked in the mission home. She has been such a good, dear friend and I am thankful every day for her generosity and her words of comfort. The above was just one more kindness she passed onto me as a missionary mom and friend. Thanks so much Elya!

Yes, Elder Otis is back in Russia tonight! Thank you all for your prayers on his behalf. He is so excited to be able to finish his mission in Russia. He will miss the branch he was Branch President for though. He was there for 7 or 8 months and loves the people of those two cities he served in Russia.

He told me once that he knew he wasn't serving in that area to baptize new members, but to strengthen the Branch and the members who lived there. I think was very successful. He was able to teach them about Home Teaching and Visiting Teaching. They are very important to know in our church. They both help fellowship and strengthen the members and teach families each month.

I think the most wonderful contribution he made while he served there was to teach the members to love one another and fellowship the new members appropriately. I'm sure that they won't soon forget his kind hearted example and his love for each of them as individuals. I know he'll never forget his time serving there.

President Ezra Taft Benson described twelve ways in which we can overcome sorrow disappointment and depression. One of them was that "the fellowship of true friends who can hear you out, share your joys, help your burdens, and correctly counsel you is priceless...we should you seek to become the friend of our Father in heaven and our brothers and Jesus Christ." I know this is needed in Russia just like it is here at home in America.

Now Elder Matthew Otis is off to a new city! He is going to be a senior companion to a younger missionary. His name is Elder Dewey and the city they will be serving in is Kurgan. So, he's off on another adventure, and we are all so excited to hear about it on Monday morning.

Elder Jason Otis in Los Angeles is not being transferred like his brother. He will stay in Malibu and will be a District Leader and a trainer for a newly arriving Elder fresh out of the MTC! We fondly refer to them as "Greenie's". He is hoping to be a good example to this new Greenie on the block. I know he's gonna do just great!

Elder Otis continues to sing in all the wards he attends and has gained so much more confidence in his abilities. We can't wait to hear his angelic tones throughout our house again. Gosh we miss his music!

Our soon to be Elder Ryan Otis has now purchased his two suits! We took him shopping to Mens's Wearhouse the other day. Terry was healthy enough to go along with us and enjoyed watching Ryan looking so dapper. He really does clean up well:) What a handsome guy! He is really getting excited about January 7th when he'll be leaving for the Mission Training Center in Provo Utah. Wow! I still can't believe we'll have three sons serving the Lord at once!

Hunter our youngest will only be an only child for one full week before Matthew in Russia returns and he is absolutely elated! He says he never wants to be an only child. How funny!

Terry continues to improve! Today has to be the best day so far! He is up and around and working through the pain. Yesterday was the first day he didn't take a nap and he slept through the night for the first time. I am so glad he's doing so well.

We all cherish each other so much more since the accident. Life is good. Blessings continue to flow for our family. I am so grateful for the Tender Mercies of the Lord which we recognize daily.

All is well in the Otis household. I pray it is in your homes as well. Have a great day everyone!

Those Who Need Our Prayers

I recently asked my missionary moms group to pray for me this weekend. You see our church has set one Sunday a month aside for a Fast and Testimony Meeting. The entire LDS church fasts for 2 meals (if they choose) and prays for specific needs of those we know and love and for ourselves if needed. The funds that we save from the two meals we do not partake of, are given to the fast offering fund in the church. Those funds are then in turn used to feed others in our church and outside of our church. It is an amazing welfare system world wide.

The benefits of fasting while praying for myself have lead to a deeper understanding of what I need to do in situations I have taken to the Lord. I become more aware of the Holy Ghost as well.

This week I'm looking for answers to my health problems. I have edema. The doctors are scratching their heads. They have tried everything to get this under control--and so have I. So, I've asked my friends to fast and pray for me this Fast Sunday on the first Sunday of the month. I'm so grateful for the prayers being offered on my behalf.

There is also a girl named Rachel that needs our prayers. Her mother has asked us to pray for her as well. Rachel was found taking drugs a year ago by her brother. He told his parents and Rachel has now been clean of drugs, including cocaine for an entire year! I'm so excited for this young girl to have a new start in life. The one difficulty is that she has forgotten her testimony of Jesus Christ due to the drugs. Her family has asked that we remember her in our prayers so that her mind can remember what her soul surely hasn't forgotten. Pray for Rachel and tell your friends to pray for her as well. Bless you for your efforts on her behalf.

In this time of uncertainty in our nation and throughout the world, there is one thing that never changes. That is our love and devotion for our beloved Heavenly Father and in his son Jesus Christ. I am eternally grateful for the love that I feel from them. For the prayers that are answered too.

Recently our son was hurt. He had been riding on the trunk of a car across the parking lot to get to his friends car to come home. The girl that gave them the ride suddenly sped up and my son was thrown from the car. He ended up with a gash in the palm of his hand a bloody hip, ankle and elbow. He was brought home to me, bleeding and in so much pain. This kid has a very high pain tolerance. I was on the phone with a friend when he arrived and had to hang up abruptly. Then I received a call from my husbands Aunt in Ohio right at that second and she was able to walk me through the first aid for his abrasions and lacerations. I was so grateful for the perfect timing involved. Then my Relief Society President called and I calmed down further. I had to say out loud that I was thankful for all the help, and that I was sure someone else could use the help now. Smile. I felt so loved in those moments. Like someone had wrapped their arms around me telling me that all would be well. My husband arrived and took Hunter to the ER. He is fine now and very repentant.

I guess I'm writing this for a few reasons today. One is that we should give of ourselves and our means to help those less fortunate. People are hurting financially and children are going hungry. We need to help when we can. I'm planning a garden and want to give some of our produce to the local food shelf. I know it's not much, but we do what we can to help others.

Another thing is that we need to be aware of those who need our prayers.

Lastly I want moms especially to ask their teens if they are in fact riding on the outside of cars. Specifically in school parking lots. A friend in Florida told me that she knew of a boy who was killed recently, doing what my son was injured doing. Please speak to your teens and tell them what can happen to them. Tell them that doctors ask questions and your car insurance WILL be involved and so will the insurance of the person who was driving. If you can't scare them with the physical outcome of such foolishness, do tell them about the monetary and social outcome. It might save their life. Hunter was horrified to see his life flash before him as he was thrown from the vehicle and flew through the air like a rag doll. He is so lucky to not have broken bones and the doctor told him all that he has seen to set him straight as well. He has told all his friends not to be stupid and to learn from his experience. Kids have influence in their own circle of friends.

Be safe, be prayerful and have a wonderful day!

Horns, or No Horns?

Hi Everyone!

When I was a young girl, we had a sister missionary in our ward who really amazed me. She was in a horrible car crash on the way to a zone meeting. In the accident she was partially (for lack of a better description) scalped. I know, it was horrible. They were able to sew it back on but she had two distinctive scars on either side of her forehead and as her hair grew longer she was able to cover them up. She had some other visible scars on her face that she applied cosmetics to and after a time she looked so much better and got back to work as a missionary in our area again. She was so courageous and I loved her and looked up to her!

One day she was meeting with someone and they made the statement that she couldn't possibly be a Mormon because they had horns that were amputated at birth. They could see that she certainly didn't have horns or any sign of them. The sister just smiled, then she said calmly, " I'm sure we all have horns, because here are my scars (as she lifted her bangs) and I'm a Mormon! So the rumors must be true!"

She had a such a sense of humor! Don't worry, she explained later that she'd been in an accident and they all had a great laugh at how meticulous those silly stories are.

On a more serious note... Many good "Christians" are told by their pastors that Mormons are in fact demons. I have friends who's heads have been rubbed because pastors in town have told their congregations that we have horns! I can only think of one being who would put people up to saying such things and he's not our Savior. Jesus Christ taught us to love one another. Not to preach lies and deception from a pulpit to faithful people seeking the truth. How are people so deceived? It breaks my heart that so many are being mislead.

I'm grateful that in the LDS church, we never and without exception, preach anything negative about any other religion, from our pulpits. I have often taken it for granted in the past. However, there are denominations in the world who waste precious time from their pulpits-- spreading untrue stories about my church.

To them I say, I'm praying for you. Teach about Jesus Christ. Lift up the hands that hang low. Feed those sheep food of the spirit that they need you so desperately to teach. Stop speaking ill of your brother and don't bear false witness from this day forward. Your life and the lives of others will be blessed for your efforts.

I know with a sureness that I am not only a follower of Jesus Christ but a Christian and as such I am so grateful for my belief in Him. I pray that I can teach my sons about Jesus each day and to love their neighbors. I have taught them to give of themselves to their Heavenly Father and to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If there is one thing I've tried with all my heart to do, it's to teach my sons to look for the love our Heavenly Father has for His children and to treat people well.

Our oldest son, a missionary in Los Angeles, is now teaching a young man who has horns tattooed on his forehead, the 'F' word tattooed on his neck and the numbers 666 on his chest. The belief that even the vilest sinner can be saved has been something he has taught me by his example. I'm so proud of my boy and how he speaks to lesbians, trans-gender, gays and gangsters alike and average people as well. He simply loves them and they know it and they do listen! He is fearless as he tries to bring our Heavenly Fathers children back to Him. These are the last days and he never forgets what his parents have taught him. We are all brothers and sisters and we ALL share the same Heavenly Father and He wants us to return to Him.

Keep reaching out to those you meet. Horns or no horns...smile, be kind to each other. Spread hope and peace and gratitude. Live your testimony of Jesus Christ and I know that you will have blessings without number. Always remember that our elder brother, Jesus Christ, loves us all.