Eat Less Stupid

During Easter dinner Samuel said we should start a Fuller Family Biggest Looser. That same day, or weekend I was thinking we should organize some kind of reporting system to report our weight loss goals with each other every few days.
I know everybody wants to be healthy and look good so lets do it! Today!
I am back on my eat less stupid diet, I only eat 3 times a day 8:00 am 1:00pm 6:00pm (or about then). During meal time I eat a modest meal and drink a lot of water during the day. On days when I feel like I have not gotten my heart rate up enough times I walk at night. So that is my plan.
My goal is to fit onto my clothes, feel comfortable and look good, I am not sure yet about how much weight I want to loose. To help me reach my goal I am going to
1. tell lots of people my goal
2. Hypnoses for weight loss (kinda hokey I know but it works for me)
3. Expect a phone call from one of you to check to see of I am sticking to my goals.
4. Positive affirmations. (I say to Brian something like, "I am sticking to my goals." "I notice change everyday." I look great wearing my______" )

That is my outline. What is yours?
What are your ideas on a Biggest Looser competition? Maybe a prize pool?
What do you think of are porting system like Charmaine calls Me every few days I call Jenny she calls Samuel he calls Clarissa. That is obviously just the Fuller kids but it doesn't have to be, Do any Brother in Laws want to join the phone tree, or Mommy and Daddy. Does anybody not want to be called?

What are your thoughts?!

Some articles I like mental strategies to weight loss are:
8 Ways To Think Your Self Thin
Family Education Think Yourself Thin

Horay it is 1:04 I am gonna got eat lunch!

Easter

Sorry I didn't get a picture of Jack or Hugo, the one I took of Jack he was crying.. and well Hugo just wasn't there.

Request and thoughts.

Dear wonderful kids,

How are you all doing? Thank you all for your birthday notes to Grandaddy. He really loved them all. I have several things I wanted to share with you. First, I was asked to give a presentation in High Council meeting last week on a recent CES Fireside talk by Elder Bednar. Apparently, the topic is something the Church may have as a lesson for Priesthood/ Relief Society later this year. I wanted to share it with all of you to read and consider. It has to do with using the internet. It can apply to us, but also, as you raise your kids, it can be really important to understand and follow his counsel. Here is the link fo the talk:

lhttp://lds.org/library/display/0,4945,538-1-4830-1,00.htm

The reason I think we all need to review it is because he issues, as he puts it, “an apostolic warning” and he then gives 4 or 5 detailed warnings. I would like to get any feedback or comments any of you may have and maybe we could share them. I don’t know the best way to share our comments– my home evening blog, or through emails or what... I think there are many good things on the internet, and what you girls are doing with your blogs is great. The video cams are a great way to keep up relationships, too. And you boys must have the internet for your school and work. Elder Bednar addresses a problem he perceives and warns us, but he adds often that the internet can be used for so many good things. I would like to see a way for the boys to also be able to share with all of us some of your going ons and keep us all up to date on events, happenings, and maybe things we all could help pray for when those things come up, although you girls do somewhat help keep us guys informed about your husbands. Well, that is the first thing I wanted to share with you. The next will be in an upcoming email shortly. Anyway, I know Brian and Chantal are going to need to move real quick and with the baby coming that should be a real trick. And then throw in Brian looking for a job... Randal has his hands full with Phd work. Samuel is thinking about going back to school. Shawn and Logan are back in school. And I’m trying to keep my head above the water. Mommy and I are going to Alaska on the last of our free cruises in 1 week. That should be fun. We sure love you all, and I am so proud of all you are doing and all you are becoming. Love, Daddy.

Isn't Daddy handsom! (Statement from Mommy)

Dear Family,

Here’s an idea that may be of use for all of us study the scriptures! Actually, we need to do this if we want to get anywhere or obtain anything. Without it we are stuck in the mud with nothing. And we need to do it now. Because the Lord is waiting on us

– He has these things He wants to give us and help us with

– He has lots of good things for us but He’s been waiting for us to do this one thing

– Here’s just a sampling of what He has in store:

– answers to our prayers

– solutions to our problems

– power to overcome every obstacle in our life

– comfort in our distress

– elimination of stress in our daily life

– peace in our homes

– wisdom in our work

– calmness in our minds

– more love in our relationships

– really happy hearts

– and the Spirit with us everywhere

This is just a small list of what’s waiting for us. So, open up those scriptures and study, in whatever way you like, but do it diligently and thoroughly and daily.

Here’s some ideas of how to succeed:

– write down what you’re learning

– organize your gospel testimony

– keep a gospel journal

– write little talks or lessons as you go

– use a study guide from Sunday School or an institute class

– pick a time each day

– listen to the scriptures online or on tape/CD

– make a blog of it

So, go to it and get your blessings TODAY!

Love,Daddy

Brian and Chantal's Talks: Tithing & Fast Offerings and the Spiritual Blessings From Paying Tithing

This is just my talk (chantal's) I will post Brian's Later. I pretty much wrote out EVERYTHING so its long, hopefully not too boring :). Enjoy!

“Payment of tithing has very little to do with money. Tithing has to do with faith.” (A. Theodore Tuttle, in Conference Report, Apr. 1970, p. 86; or Improvement Era, June 1970, p. 80.)

I have learned that; The money I have been given is not mine it is the Lords, Malachi 3: 8 ¶ aWill a man brob God? … Wherein have we robbed thee? In ctithes and offerings

It takes faith to pay tithing. The Lord has given us responsibility for our blessings, or money, and asks for 10% back. As a trial of our faith.

D.C. 132: 5 says: For all who will have a ablessing at my hands shall abide the blaw which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world.
That says that for every Law here is a blessing appointed to it.

And in Malachi 3:10-12 it we find the blessing of paying tithing,
10:Bring ye all the atithes into the storehouse, that there may be bmeat in mine house, and cprove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not dopen you the ewindows of heaven, and pour you out a fblessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will arebuke the bdevourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.

This scripture is full of the blessing of paying tithing, but no money is mentioned.

The windows of heaven are opened, and the blessings are poured out, more then we are able to receive it, this does not necessicarily mean overflowing with money. It may mean we are overwhelmed with joy, peace, love, satisfaction, wish is more important then money.
In the 11th verse it says, I will arebuke the bdevourer for your sakes,”
the devourer may not just be physical; health, or poverty but also emotional, mental, and spiritual. We will be freed from, stress, sadness, and other things may try devour us, by paying our tithing.
The 11th verse goes on, “He shall not destroy the fruits of your ground,” the fruits we grow, or what we care for plant and wach grow, the seeds of harmony and love we plant in our homes. The seeds of education for a future career,
Again in the 11th verse, “And neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time on the field.” Time is an important word there. If a fruit grows on a plant to soon in the season it may get burned by the sun.
We are blessed that the fruit will not grow until the time is right, or best for us. We will not receive the fruit of our labors until the time is right. Also like the fruit of the vine, things will grow, ripen and get better, sweeter, and more delightful.
The greatest blessings we receive from paying tithing are spiritual. Our faith grows stronger each time we choose to obey the law of tithing. In my life I have felt my faith grow stronger according to my obedience.
There has been lots of encouragement to get involved with the Proposition 8 campaign; to preserve the sanctity of marriage. The prophet asked we get involved, or stake president and the bishop has asked we get involved and donate. My family has donated of our time. These past few weeks that we have been serving I have had more success in my efforts to complete a big sewing project. I have felt the spirit guide me and prompt me more clearly the past few weeks. I know these blessing are as a result of tithing, reading my scriptures daily, praying often and making the Lords work a priority.
This week after I committed to do a few more pages of calling I put it off an neglected, in the end I did not finish. I was feeling so good a few weeks ago, I stopped reading and praying earnestly and regularly this week.
I know when I don’t read my scriptures, pray, and when I put off paying tithing, and other commandments we have been given, I struggle, I don’t have the spirit with me, I can’t work effectively, my trials seem greater. Satins plans to devour me are stronger, and as a result we I am unhappy.
The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it.” (History of the Church, 5:134.) And the path that lead to it is rightenouss. I know this is true.
Simply the blessing of obedience is happiness.
Elder William R. Bradford shared the scripture story of the widows mite;
One of the most humbling and powerful stories from the life of the Savior is that of the widow’s mite. Jesus’ words on this occasion leave us with much to ponder as we measure our generosity, and I would add faith, against that of a “certain poor widow.”
While Jesus sat teaching in the outer court of the temple, He noticed a lone, destitute woman as she approached one of the 13 trumpet-shaped receptacles provided for the voluntary deposit of contributions by worshipers. It was Passover time, and the temple court was crowded with people from all walks of life. Just ahead of her had been several rich people who had thrown large amounts of money into the basins. As the woman approached, Jesus discerned the hearts of those in the line and called to His disciples. He pointed to the woman and said, “This poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury” (Mark 12:43). But she had only given two mites, the smallest coins then in circulation in Palestine! Jesus then explained the mystery: “For all the rich did cast in of their abundance; but she, notwithstanding her want did cast in all that she had, yea, even all her living” (Joseph Smith Translation, Mark 12:44).
Earlier this year, In the Ensign an article by Elder Sheldon F Child was published called, The Greatest Investment; referring to tithing
He says, “In 1936, at the height of the Great Depression in the United States, when people were struggling to make ends meet, Elder John A. Widtsoe admonished the Saints to pay their tithing because of the spiritual blessings they would receive. He said:
“Obedience to the law of tithing … brings a deep, inward joy … that can be won in no other way. … The principles of truth become clearer. … Prayer becomes easier. … The spiritual sense is sharpened [and] … man becomes more like his Father in Heaven.”5
A mother in West Africa shared her testimony about tithing. She was a trader in a marketplace. Every day she would come home, count out her tithing, and put it in a special place. Then on Sunday she would faithfully take it to her bishop. She shared with us how her business had grown and how her family had been blessed with health and strength and enough food to eat. Then with tears in her eyes she said, “But the greatest blessings of all are that my children love the Lord and we are a forever family.”
This humble mother understood that one of the great blessings of being a full-tithe payer is the privilege of entering the house of the Lord and participating in the sacred ordinances that enable families to be together forever.
She had come to know of the deep, inward joy of paying tithing. He continues
As we faithfully pay our tithes, the Lord will indeed open the windows of heaven and pour us out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. He states, “I want each of you to know, …that if you always pay an honest tithing, the Lord will bless you. It will be the best investment you will ever make. Of this I testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”
I would like to add with my testimony,
Prayer becomes easier. When I am obedient to the Lords commandants of tithing, prayer, scribture study, and when I put the Lord first I am reminded more often during the day to pray. To thank the lord when something goes right for me, and to plead with the lord for the blessings I need.
James E Foust shares a story of a Mother; Sister Yaeko Seki experienced part of this precious promise. She writes:
“My family and I were spending a day at the Japan Alps National Park. … I was pregnant with our fourth child and was feeling rather tired, so I lay down under the trees. … I began thinking about our financial problems. My heart became overwhelmed, and I burst into tears. ‘Lord, we are full-tithe payers. We have sacrificed so much. When will the windows of heaven open unto us and our burdens be lightened?’
“I prayed with all my heart. Then I turned to watch my husband and children playing and laughing together. … Suddenly, the Spirit testified to me that my blessings were abundant and that my family was the greatest blessing Heavenly Father could give me.” 11
Many of us have had the windows of heaven open up for us, We can not look upon tithing as a sacrifice but rather a blessing and even a privilege.

Lessons from Nauvoo, the Beautiful

Hey Family,

I wanted to share some thoughts about Nauvoo and the early saints. Mommy and I went to visit Randal and Charmaine in Ames at the end of July. It was a wonderful trip!

We really enjoyed our stay with them. For part of the trip we went to Nauvoo for 3 days.

And that was great. We saw the Nauvoo Pageant and went through the Temple and had fun walking around the old town and just shopping.

The Nauvoo Pageant highlights the saints in Nauvoo and their efforts in building the Temple

In the pageant they talked about the Prophet Joseph being martyred and then the saints being forced to leave their beautiful Nauvoo. It was a great pageant. It brought out something new that I had not fully realized before, and that was that their life there was quite centered on building the temple. They really were enthused about the whole thing. We talked about how in the pageant, King Follett was one of the main characters. He died in Nauvoo towards the end of the temple building and just months before the Prophet was killed. His funeral sermon was one of the Prophet’s finest. He explained so much about the eternal nature of man and the nature of God and His plan of Salvation. It was an inspired sermon, not only for the doctrine, but I’m sure it helped them to more fully understand and appreciate the temple and provide a real motivation and inspiration for the saints to finish the temple. And it also served as a preparation for the saints to give them comfort when their beloved prophet would be killed.

After the prophet and Hyrum were martyred, the persecution become more intense, and again, they were looking at having to leave. But they did not want to leave until their temple was done. So they stepped up the work on it. A little over a year after the Prophet had died, they knew they were going to have to leave real soon, and with the temple almost done they hurried to finish it so that they could perform the ordinances. They finished it just a short time before they were finally forced to leave. It was in the middle of the winter. They put off leaving as long as they could and as the time drew near, they were going to the temple day and night. They knew that the ordinances in the temple would bind them here and in heaven – now and throughout eternity. And they perhaps knew that they would need that assurance for the trials that would lie ahead as they went west.

And so, as we would go shopping, there was a picture of Nauvoo I kept seeing with their beautiful place with the temple, and I have to admit, I kind of did not like it. I felt bad.

They were forced to leave under threats again to their life and loss of their property – forced from their temple they had just built and in the middle of a fierce winter. They never really had a life of living with their beautiful temple and peaceful summer scenes. They were driven out in winter with the mob right on their heels.

Then I would see this picture and others about their exodus and felt that this was a more accurate depiction of their life:

But then I got to thinking, especially after we went through the Temple (and talk about beautiful -- it really is) that, in one sense, they really did complete their beautiful city. They had a wonderful city of houses and their temple on the hill. They had lives of harmony and love and they achieved their Zion in Nauvoo. The pageant would use the phrase, "when you’re here, we’re here" – meaning, when we visit there, we can feel of the sprits of those saints and appreciate them and their faith. And I felt that perhaps those Nauvoo saints would want us to remember them, not just for their hardship and persecutions, but to remember that they did succeed in finishing their beautiful Nauvoo and the temple– not just physically, but what they finished building spiritually. They would want us to see how beautiful they had made it and remember that. And they would have us see how their life there was very beautiful and among themselves they did achieve a peaceful society. And so as we were leaving the city I realized that both were accurate and I really felt good and uplifted about the picture of beautiful Nauvoo.

Then, in our testimony meeting this month, it really sank in deep in my heart, that the things they really built were not temporary. The Temple may have been torn down and most of the building and houses were also destroyed or worn down, but the true city – the kingdom – the spiritual city and the foundation of faith and their houses of faith and love – the spiritual kingdom of God on the earth – those things they built have never been even slightly damaged or worn in any way. It just kept getting better and brighter and more beautiful. They built lives and legacies for each of us and what we are adding to that and what we are building and adding on to that now can truly last forever. And physically now, the church has "restored" their houses and the Temple and so even in the temporal sense, they will have lost nothing. It really is symbolic of our life and what we are trying to doing in our families and wards and stakes and in the church. We are building something of an eternal nature and it will last forever.
The temple ordinances and especially the sealing power of the priesthood not only binds our family relationships, but enables our efforts now to be recorded and sealed for our good – our efforts in building good and loving relationships and our efforts to build righteous homes and peaceful and loving lives with each other will be sealed so that this work we do now is building things that will last forever – and that will just keep getting better. Yes, there will be persecutions and hardships in all our lives, but we are building something beautiful.
If we were to see in a physical sense the building and city what we are really building, it would be the largest, the most beautiful, the most awesome structures in the world. It would be the only structures that would last throughout time. The city and the kingdom of the families and the people would be glorious to look at even though today, the quiet, humble, faithful and obedient seem to be the least noticed, and at times, the most criticized and looked down upon. But in reality, they will shine and radiate as the most glorious people in the next life.
So, thanks to each of you. Thank you for your lives and examples. Each of you have unique and different talents and gifts and strengths. I think back on our cruise and how each of you seemed to be so kind and loving and happy with each other. We’re getting there! (And maybe we just need to do more cruises!)

Now a little PS – I say we need to work like those of old and go through our own trials the way they did, but... here’s a little something else about our trip to the temple. My going to the temple involved no struggle, no sacrifice, nor any discomfort in any way, but rather, it was quite "comfortable" for me. Randal forgot his shoes, so I let him borrow mine and I wore my slippers! Wearing slippers to the temple, now that was like heaven for me!

I love you all!

Daddy

A Tribute to the most wonderful Daddy

I know its a little past Fathers day, but I was out of town, so I'm doing my Fathers day post now! I love Daddy for so many reasons... but mostly because he is the best example of Christ-like love and charity. Daddy is selfless and always puts Mommy and his family before himself. He is smart and knows more about the gospel than I ever could. I am constantly learning from him by his lessons, the way he lives his life. Daddy has a special way of making everyone feel so special and loved in their own way. He has always given me confidenece and made me feel like I could do anything I wanted. He is always telling me I am spunky and a peacemaker, and a lot of the times I think I am that way just because I want to live up to what Daddy thinks I already am! He is always giving and never complaining or asking for anything in return. We can all learn and from Daddy's example! He is also so fun. He is constanly being goofy and making everyone around him happy! He is so light-hearted and fun to be around. I know I can always be my goofy self around daddy and he will jump right on the band-wagon with me! He is the glue that holds this family together! I love him... He is the best G-Pa in the world! Our kids are soooo blessed to have such wonderful grandparents. He is the best Daddy we could ever ask for. He is obviously an amazing Husband, and I lean so much from him watching him with Mommy. And he is such a good friend. He is always there to lend an open ear or even to listen to me cry. I love daddy so much and know he loves me too. Happy Fathers Day!!!