Candy worth celebrating!

When our kids were little, they were sick alot with colds and ear infections. After trying every different antibiotics that the Dr could perscribe for us and after all the other things he asked us to do, we decided to go another route...a healthier route. At first, I don't think the kids were on board with it, but I think they did enjoy feeling better, instead of SICK all the time. The first thing we gave up was dairy, then sugar and next red meat. We had lots of smoothies ... which the kids loved. We had carrot juice, veggies from our garden and even made treats sweetened with juice. I made homemade granola, fruit roll ups etc.
I thought about this whole experience today when I saw a flyer from a natural food store. On the front of one page it had cute little kids Trick or Treating, and under it said.... Candy worth celebrating. Then it had this something like this written under it... Halloween just got sweeter thanks to organic lollipops and gummy bears. These lollipops are made with real fruit extract and contains no chemical colors , artificial flavors or high frutose corn syrup. Our gummy bears and spooky gummy spiders have natural flavors and 100 percent Vitamin C per serving.
I am not sure why this made me smile, but it did. I think it is because now the kids will tell you all the horror stories about how different they felt when I brought in natural treats while everyone else ate junk. Even when I write that... I want to say " wasn't that a good thing that I did or was at least trying to do? " Weird, just when you think you are doing your best as a Mother...you find out different. Well, I still believe that some day when all my kids are parents, that they too might see the wisdom in being very cautious about what they put in their kids little bodies! It may not seem like a big deal when you are young but when you are the Mother and Father... things look a bit more serious and important when you realize  you are the ones teaching them healthy or not so healthy food habits. Motherhood is really much harder than it looks!
So this Halloween, try and explain to your kids why you are giving them the more natural candy... then say "it's candy worth celebrating! "  They  may even look at you like this photo below ... but that is ok, you are just trying to do what is best for them!  Good night dear friends!

"Foods high in bad fats, sugar and chemicals are directly linked to many negative emotions, whereas whole, natural foods rich in nutrients - foods such as fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes - contribute to greater energy and positive emotions."  ~Marilu Henner

"When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child." -Sophia Loren

Candy Store

Sunday was a busy day and I remember doing a short post because I was too tired. I did however want to share with you something that I learned at church. One of the talks was about change, and how vital that is in our lives. The speaker then told this story by Hugh B. Brown, which was the perfect lesson for all.

No one can make us change, but there are those LIGHTBULB MOMENTS that seem to remind us that we need to change and do it now. I hope this story is one of those MOMENTS for each of us... to look at our lives and our behaviors then, decide to make the necessary changes that we need in our lives. Remember "LIFE IS A PROCESS"

The Kid in the Candy Store

One day a teenaged boy went into a Candy store. He approached the Proprietor and asked for 3 boxes of chocolates 1 one-pound of chocolates, 1 two-pound box of chocolates, and 1 three-pound box of chocolates.

The owner complied and began to fill the young man’s order and asked, “may I ask you why need 3 boxes of chocolates”?

The young man said:

“I am going to a dance with a girl that I don’t know very well but I like her a lot. If we go to the dance and she is shy and quite, and perhaps we dance a few dances I will give her that 1-pound box of chocolates. If we go to the dance and she is fun and we dance a lot and she holds my hand, I will give here that 2-pound box of chocolates. If we go to the dance and we dance close all night long, hold hands and as the end of the night she gives me a kiss, I will give her the 3-pound box of chocolates.

The owner smiled, wished him good luck and rang the young man up for his order.

The night of the dance arrived and the young man went to the house to retrieve his date for the evening. Her parents invited him inside and they waited for her to come downstairs. When she was finally ready she came down and said she was ready to leave.

The young man said:

“Do you mind if we read some scriptures together with your parents before we go”?

She thought this was a strange request but allowed it.

After completing some verses she again resounded she was ready to leave.

The young man said:

“Before we go can we kneel down together and have a family prayer”?

She again thought this to be strange but figured it would help her to get to the dance so she allowed it.

After the prayer she asked the young man again if they could leave, and he finally agreed.

They said goodbye to the parents and left.

As they were walking to his car the young woman said”

I have to be honest with you… I had no idea you were so spiritual”

The young man replied:

“To be honest… I had no idea your father owned a Candy Store”.

The moral of the story:

"A change in understanding can lead to a change in behavior"