Coming home early from my mission.

Well I've been home for 3 months now. Making that decision to serve was hard, but nothing compared to the decision to come home for a while for my health.

I wasn't even going to post my story, but if it will help others who are in the same situation, even if its just a comfort knowing that there are others out in the world with a story much like your own.

So I find myself trying to put into words something I thought was impossible to describe. You can see physical illnesses, but not mental. Its hard.

In my 4th week at the CCM (MTC) in Mexico I was diagnosed with anxiety. A week later I started having stomach problems. I threw everything up, medicine, food, water, everything for 6 days. I was weak, which scared me because I'd always thought I was a strong person. They called my parents and asked if they could put me on medication. Then the next week, I found that I had lost a little over 20 lbs. After a lot of meetings with the CCM president, doctors, and finally a phone call to my parents and the decision was made for me to come back home for a while and regain my health.

Before I knew it I was on a plane heading home. Seeing my family after 5 weeks of Mexico, I was terrified. I felt like I had failed in someway. Like I wasn't good enough to be on a mission.

Then going to the doctors every couple of days to try and find out whats wrong with my stomach.

I now know that anxiety can cause stomach problems, digestion problems, weight loss, panic attacks.
Before I had no idea what it could do to a person. And why was it happening to me!?

I'm still struggling, everyday. I don't know why this happened, but I know that staying positive is essential.

The first month was the hardest. I started getting depressed, couldn't eat or sleep. I tried everything.
I moved in with my sister and brother in law and got a job cutting hair. Hoping that if I just stayed busy all my problems would disappear. I tried filling every moment with something so that I wouldn't have to think about things.

It just seemed to make things worse. I started having even more panic attacks, eventually I took a medical leave at my job. I just stayed home, never really coming out unless I had to.
I started running, for hours outside. I found it gave me time to really think about things. Time to figure out what the next step in my life would be. 
I moved in with my parents and started attending my home branch. I found so much support there.

I changed my diet and started eating more fruit and veggies, I was a vegetarian before the CCM. But I now made the choice to become a vegan.
I started feeling happier, I was getting exercise and eating good things, I wasn't feeling depressed anymore. I felt like I wasn't trapped anymore.

I started going out and being around others. I made a plan to get better and eventually go back out on my mission.

Its been 3 weeks since I started all of that. I know that without my family, friends, and my Heavenly Father, I wouldn't be able to do it.

I had started out keeping everything in and everyone out. But now I know that the only way to make progress is to tell others, to get that support.

I've had only one panic attack in the last 3 weeks. I've been able to laugh and know that everything happen for a reason. That it will all work out in the end.

I talked with my therapist, and I was told that if I keep up my progress that I might be able to go back in January.

Medically returned missionary's have no choice, its not their fault having to come home. We have no control over that. You have not failed, you've done all you can. And that's all you can do.

I know that Heavenly Father has a plan that's unique to each of us. Because each of us is a unique person. He loves us and will always be there to pick us up and carry us when the road gets rough.
We just need to trust Him.
Kimmy

Are you to busy to serve?

Holla me peoples!

So  I only have 2 more weeks here at the CCM and then its out to IDAHO I go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I remember when I got my mission call and everyone making that last minute guess as to where I was going. And then opening it and reading the words "Pocatello Idaho Spanish Speaking" Now you can only imagine my shock and disappointment. But I put on my happy face and celebrated with my family.

It took me months to come to terms with my call. I thought I wasn't good enough to go somewhere like Japan or Argentina. I thought Heavenly Father was disappointed in me or something.

I read a quote from a talk that said "The Lord does not call you to serve in one place. He calls you to serve in place of the Savoir"

I realized it didn't matter where I served or what language I would speak. The Savoir served in small places. He was there to heal the sick, teach them the gospel, and to be there friend. It doesnt matter where you go, or how cool your mission area is. 

You are there to teach in his place. Lose yourself, study His words, teach with the spirit. Be yourself. Someone needs the light you have inside. 

Mosiah 2:17 says "And behold I tell you these things that yes may learn Wisdom that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God"

Are you to busy to serve?? Time for a story!

In his monthly newsletter to his ward a young bishop wrote of a group of religion instructures at a theological seminary who were taking the summer course on the life of the Savior- One focusing particularly on the parables. When Final exam time came, the students arrived at the class room to find a not on the table stating that the exam would be given in another building across campus. The note also said they would only have a 2 hour time period that was starting at that moment..

The students hurried across campus. On the way they passed a little girl crying over a flat tire on her bike, A old man hobbling painfully toward the library with a cane in one hand spilling his books. On a bench by the union building sat a shabbily dressed, bearded man with a sign: "I need money to eat, please help me" 

rushing into the other classroom the students were met by the professor, who announced that they had all failed the final exam. The only true test of whether they understood the Saviors life and teaching, he said was how they treated people in need. Their weeks of study at the feet of a capable professor had taught them a great deal of what Christ had said and done. But nothing they learned in class was as effective as the lesson they learned from the professors exam. 

Take time to help others. You never know who you will help and what life's you will change

Hermana Bell 

 

A minion

Sister missionary selfie

 

Week 4

Things I wish i knew before entering the MTC

Hola Peeps

So Im working on week 4 of the MTC here in Mexico. While I love it and yes you feel like you are in Brazil and a rainforest at the sametime. There are a couple of things I wish I had known before getting here so here goes.......

1) Bring pictures of your family, friends, home, ect. I didnt and I regret it. So make a little photo album.

2) Bring more then one towel. It rains a lot! And who really wants to use the same towel for a week!?

3) Bring some flipflops or slippers. The floors are kinda nasty.

4) When you change your sheets on mandays do not put your blankets in the wash pile. You wont get any back. Lets just say it was a long two cold nights before we finally got some.....

5)Yes you do get a pillow

6)When you first arrive make sure you have your passport, immunizations, ID, and the letter thing they sent you on how to fill out a immigration form on you!

7) The CCM has their own well and they test it regularly. so yes you can brush your teeth with it and even drink it (Not recommended as it kinda taste funky)

8) Bring Hangers!!!!!!!

9) You dont need a set of spanish scriptures. you get a nice set on the first day here.

10) Learn as much spanish as possible before coming here!!!!!!!!

11) Bring your own snacks. you do get a money card with 100 paseos for Elders and 120 paseos for Hermanas but you dont want to spend it all on snakcs!!

12) Make sure to bring a watch!!!

13) Regarding the rumor of ¨;you can weight at the MTC: Its a lie. Just be careful what you eat and how much you eat :)

14) Yes there is indeed a nutella bar!!!

15)Be on time to everything!!!!!!!!!!!!

16) STUDY STUDY STUDY!!! Scriptures, preach my gospel, anything!!! You'll thanks me later!

Quote of the week: Hermana Crone: Im sad lets go spend money!

Scripture: D&C 138:55-56

Love you all!!

Also any questions email me!! kimberly.bell@myldsmail.net

Totes

Hermana Bell XoXoXo

Week Two.

Haha! Karmen has figured out how to change the font on here!! Go her!

Week 2:

Tuesday August 5:

P-day was a emotional roller coaster but all is fine now.

Wednesday August 6:

We found out today that our investigator is a fake (Haha should have known right?) Anyway he becomes our teacher starting Saturday. The struggle here is real Im for real struggling to learn the language and there is now mercy from any of the teachers. Which I guess is a good thing tho becuase then we will learn the language quicker.

Thursday August 7:

The days are blurring together here, I cant remember what the day is let alone the month or year haha. But Classes are going well. The weather is crazy here as well. Like really crazy. It rains so much and Im pretty sure its going to flood.

Friday August 8:

Im still alive and well. Me and my companion Hermana Crone are still teaching our teacher (Haha got me there crafty CCM)

Saturday August 9:

Well we got our new teacher (Our investigator) today so we now have classes all morning and then all afternoon. Oh by the way the picture is me and Hermana Crone. I miss all of you guys like crazy! Hug my mom for me! And just know that I think about all of you all the time!!

Sunday August 10:

Sundays are by far (besides P-days) The best. We have several devotionals and its also our movie night (Woot woot!!) Last week you watched a movie about Christ visiting the americas after his resurecction! Haha talk about drama at its best! This week we got a movie in about a guy from Sweden who found a book of mormon in the trash (Partly burnt) and didnt know what it was (The title page and cover had been burnt off) And read it and knew it was true. But had no idea what church it came from. And he sacrified everything for the book. And eventually when he was 96 finally got baptized after his search!

Monday August 11:

Talk about workouts. So you remember that new teacher i was telling you about? Well today in class he told us to memorize a whole page of bullet points in spanish in order in 5 minutes, but of course me not being able to understand everything he said thought that he said to just read that page in 5 minutes. So he at random picked one of us and asked us to tell him what bullet point 5 was or bullet point 1 and if you got it wrong Elders had to do 10 pushups and Hermans had to do 15 squats. Lets just say that I it hurts to walk now haha!! Note to self, just memorize anything that im reading :-)

Well everyone Ive gotta go!

Love you all and miss you tons!!

Hermana Bell

aka Kimmy XoXoXo

 

 

Sister Bells first email.

Hello everyone! Karmen here updating sister Bells blog!

Aloha Familia!!

So a quick run down of my week since I only have about a hour on here.

Wednesday July 30

So I arrived here to Mexico City after a long 11 hour flight!!! The people here are amazing and so welcoming!! Anyway I finally met my first companion Hermana Crone!! She is amazing and everything that I needed!! She arrived after me and is from Arizona. She to is going to Idaho Pocatello Spanish speaking!! We both will be leaving here on September 9 at 6am (Yay early flights....) Anyway the CCM is like a small little missionary town nestled right here in the middle of Mexico City. Like if I left here I don't think I would be able to make it back!! Pretty sure I would get lost haha!

The food here is amazing as well, oh and guess what dad they have a Nutella bar!!!!! No joke (there will be pictures)

Thursday July 31

We went to our first Spanish class today, and I got to meet my district! They are like my little family away from home. There is me and Hermana Crone, Hermanas Moses and Wilemon, and then we have 8 elders (Bryson, Larson, JeBe Quarkoo, Ostergar, Thomas, Peterson, Christians, Beckstead)
For real we do everything together, and are like a family. They are all going stateside spanish speaking. Anyway they have no mercy here haha They talk in spanish the whole time and refuse to use English!! We all just sort of dived in. And we have to teach our first investigator tomorrow!! Crazy!! But I can at least sort of read in spanish now.... :)

Friday August 1

So I finally had something that was semi american food.... Oatmeal!! And salad (Should I mention that the salad had tufu, pineapple, and blackberrys and ranch?) But it was still pretty good, I don't know if I would have ever have put those things together but you only live once right?? I'm going to try everything here!

Oh our first lesson didn't go as bad as I thought, I was able to bear my testimony and read a couple of scriptures with our awesome Mexican investigator, to which I don't know if he understood me, but I just kept smiling and saying Si!! And He probably thought I was crazy but he asked if we would come back, so over all not to bad for a first time lesson in a language I don't know.

Oh by the way the rainstorms here are crazy!! Me and Hermana Crone got locked in the mess hall when a monsoon came through (Okay that's a little exaggerated, we got 12 inches of rain)  

Saturday August 2

So they keep telling me that the first week is the hardest and I believe them! Right now we are on a 24 hour fast starting from noon today untill 1pm tomorrow. We shall see if I will live.... ;)

So our lesson With Ramiors kinda feel apart. I didn't know what to say and he kept asking us questions that we couldn't answer to to the language  barrier!! Grr gonna go study spanish for the next 15 hours!!!!!! Also I have a bag of mexican cookies in my closet that are screaming at me to eat them, but we our on a fast!! #HardestThingEver

Sunday August 3

I cant even begin to tell you all how much today has been amazing! I so needed this breather!! It was like a breath of fresh air! We attened our church meetings and just studied all day, (No lessons thank goodness!) And just hung out with our little familia District all day. Also I got called as our Districts 14 pianist! So life is good, me and my companion are allowed to go play on the piano for a hour everyday!!!!!! Oh by the way I got to meet Elder Octaviano Tenorio today!! He is a amazing speaker! Go read his talk from the 177 General Conference!! Or watch it on LDS.org

Monday August 4

So good news we were able to answers Ramoirs questions and we also got him committed to reading the book of Mormon, We asked that when he found out these things were true if he would be baptized and he said he would!!!!! And we were able to have a nice visit. Can I just tell you all that I know that prayer works!? I know that you all are praying for me, to be able to learn this language! I will tell you that it is working!!! I'm learning like crazy!

Also Me and Hermana Crone started doing yoga every morning so that might also have something to do with my happiness!! OH!! Guys I can receive letters here, ask my mom for the address!!

Tuesday August 5

Finally My P-day!!!
So today we had a new group of missionary's arrive, they were here from mexico so they had family dropping them off. I am not going to lie that when I saw this one mother hugging her son and crying me and my companion just broke down in tears because we realized how much we missed our own family's!

Well I have to get going as I have to go practice for a show we are doing tonight but I love and miss all of you so much!!

Hermana Bell

The versatile skirt

So I leave in 2 days and only allowed to take only so many clothes with me.

So for those of you out there I'm letting you know now that you don't need 15 skirts and 20 tops to wear a different outfit everyday.

In fact you only truly probably need 6 skirts and maybe 10 tops and 5 jackets/cardigans!

 

So you get the idea, right?!!

totes for now!

Kimmy XoXoXo

5 things maybe you didn't know about me ;-)

So I thought maybe I'd do a get to know me post! Cause I don't even know myself sometimes :-P

So here we go......

1) I'm a hairdresser

Yes that's right peeps! Full fledged fully licensed cosmetologist! Went to Paul Mitchell in February of 2012 to January 2013. Learned a lot, made the Deans list, made a lot of new friends, went to Caper, and broke free of my old life.

I guess you could say it changed my life.

I was starting to go down a path I didn't want to go. With people I didn't want to be friends with.

I freezed my tracks, made some split second decisions, found a apartment, and hit the road to turning my life around! Thank goodness Heavenly Father was always there, even when I didn't realize or had pushed him away!

Number 2!! I have a twin sister!

And I don't mean a friend that is like a twin sister, I mean born 3 minutes apart, identical, opposite personality twin sister.

  
see isn't she the cutest!!

Shes also my best friend!

We have the best of times together!

I love her more than anything!!!!


okay now number 3) I'm a vegetarian.

I used to eat meat. But that year I was at Paul Mitchell I also changed my eating habits.

Cut out all fast food, meat, most candy,  and all caffeine.

I started exercising, eating healthy, and it changed my attitude. I became happy, less moody, a better person so to speak.

Anyways number 4) I play the violin and piano.

Yes its true! My true passion in life is my music! I am giving it up for 18 months of  my life to serve a mission. But its worth it!!

Music is my life!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Number 5) I have a weird personality and strange fashion.

Haha! I've always worn what I wanted to do, danced when I wanted to, sang when ever I felt like it, laughed during the most inappropriate times.

Essentially my life is a living musical! XD

I used to imagine it in black and white tho..........

Or a silent movie XD



So there we have it!

Hope this post wasn't boring or anything :-P

Now I wanna hear from you guys!

Comment below, tell me something I maybe didn't know about you. Cause I wanna hear about it :-D

Kimmy XoXo

 

Connection: Mexico

My life story :-)
I can't wait to get to the CCM. And to serve the people in Idaho!
I know that this gospel is true! That the Savior died for me, so that I could repent and one day go to live with my Heavenly Father!

I only have 5 more days of work left.

I feel like everything is happening so fast!

If I blink I might miss a moment! A moment seeing my mom smiling. A moment laughing and goofing off with my best friend. A moment of being able to work with my dad!

Those moments in the morning where I can just lay there before forcing myself to get up.

I'm ready to embrace the whole missionary life.

Excited really!

Nervous, yes!

Scared, nope!

Prepared, I hope!!

So in 16 days I leave for the biggest adventure of my life yet!

Kimmy XoXoXo

Focus on the why, not the where.

 I've learned a very valuable lesson.
Sometimes we (And I also mean me!) get too caught up in the "Where will I go to serve my mission?" Instead of "Why am I going?"

Its a good question. Every current, future, past sister (and elder) missionary should ask themselves this question.

I did.

It has changed my perspective on everything!

So why am I serving?

Why did I want to go in the first place?

I had sort of pondered serving a mission late last year.

Then after my beautiful sister got married in January, I really put a lot of thought into it.

I talked to my branch President, worked countless hours on my papers, pulled those pesky wisdom teeth, and submitted my papers.

Not even 3 weeks later I had my mission call in my hand!

Now lets all face it, you're first thoughts were "Where am I going!?" (Guilty person here XD)

Family and friends gather in person, via phone or skype.

They all ask the same question... "Where?"

Not once since receiving my call to serve has anyone asked me "Why?"

So I'm asking myself.

And I'm challenging you all to do the same.

Being called to Idaho I had mixed feelings. I felt that I wasn't good enough to go to a foreign mission.

I got to caught up in the where!

"You are not called to serve in a place, you are called to serve in place of the Savior."

Never before has a statement been so true!

Jesus Christ spent his whole life serving others, teaching, healing, comforting, and being the biggest example to all of us.

He said to our Heavenly Father "Not my will but yours be done"

If he could give his whole life, suffering all that pain! For us and for our Heavenly Father.

The least I can do is serve for 18 months.

Trying to be a example like him. To serve the wonderful people in Idaho.

So why am I going??!

Imagine you discovered a beautiful and delicious cake, would you want to hide that cake and keep it all to you're self. Or would you want to share it with all you're family and friends?

The gospel is just like that cake, its beautiful and amazing! I want to share the gospel! I see how much it blesses my own life. I want others to have that same joy, that same blessing! I can't imagine my life without it.

I want to share with every single person in this world! I want them to realize that hey this is the best thing ever!!

Idaho needs missionary's just as much as Argentina  or China.

Just because you get called stateside does not make you less of a missionary!

Heavenly Father knows where we need to be! He knows that I'm needed in Idaho. He knows that I need to learn spanish.

I don't know why, maybe I never will. But I know that its where I need to be.

I leave in 18 days and as each day passes I get more and more excited about going to Idaho to share this wonderful gospel!

Remember its not about where we are going. Its why and what we will be doing that counts :-)

Hey I'm getting better at this blog thing ;-)

Kimmy XoXOXo

2 months!

So I've been horrible about posting on this blog... FAIL!
But getting better (I wrote this post right??)

So tomorrow will be 60 days officially until my mission!

Crazy right?

Excited

Nervous!

But mostly excited!

Tomorrow also is very exciting!!!

Wanna know why??

I'M GOING TO A LINDSEY STIRLING CONCERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm freaking out! I've wanted to go ever since she started touring 3 years ago! Holla!!
And now thanks to my amazing sister and brother in-law I'm going!!!!!!
I'm bringing my phone case so she can sign it! or maybe my jacket.....

Anyway if you don't know who I'm talking about then you need to drop everything right now and head to my one stop for everything... YouTube! And watch her videos!!

Anyway just a quick post today as I'm running like crazy getting ready for Girls camp, getting my Endowments, Mission related stuff, and Family coming!
Also I'm gearing up for several music performances myself :-)
So I probably do need to get off here and practice...... haha!

Kimmy XOXOXO

 

I'mPossible

Music is a different form of words. Its how our hearts connect! I will soon be leaving on a full time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and I will be leaving behind something very dear to my heart; My Music. The one thing that has pulled me out of stupid troubles and told me it was okay. I threw myself into it. Even tho I was a very late starter on both Piano and the Violin. I would practice day and night. Self teaching myself chords, half steps/whole steps, rhythm, etc. Eventually taking a few lessons when I got a job at 16. It was a gift my Heavenly Father gave me and I'm so very thankful to Him for it! I'm thankful to my dad for buying a cheap keyboard out of no where and bringing it home, that first inspired me to really learn music. I'm grateful for my mom's honesty and criticism that pushed me to become better! If you have a dream, don't just put it on a shelf for "next year" Pull it off that shelf everyday, dust it off, polish it till it gleams. Use it! Everyone has a dream. Why shouldn't you have yours. In life we have to take chances, we have to be brave to take that first step out the door and get swept away on a journey, much like Bilbo from the Hobbit. There may be many Gandalf's out there, giving you that shove, even when you're so desperately wanting to stay in you're nice, comfy hobbit hole. But what happened to Bilbo in the story? He became a better hobbit for it! Yes he had trials. But the rain always comes before the rainbow. Everyone has a excuse! Don't think I didn't try using one. I used to say "I'll never be good enough, I started too late. Everyone else was classically trained in music!" I couldn't let that stop me! I could be one of the very few adult prodigies out there today. I may not even get to perform professionally. But I'll get to live my dream. I hope you will take a moment to think about you're dreams. Make a dream board even, or simply write it down. But don't set it aside to do it tomorrow! Do it now. You could be working on little things everyday that will get you closer to you're dreams. And don't let anyone tell you that you're dreams or a waste of time. That you'll never accomplish them! You will if you work on it, you will touch the sky one day! Remember, nothing is Impossible (I'm Possible) They said that women would never be doctors. But today we almost have more women doctors then men. 

By Edgar Albert Guest

Somebody said that it couldn’t be done

      But he with a chuckle replied

That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one

      Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.

So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin

      On his face. If he worried he hid it.

He started to sing as he tackled the thing

      That couldn’t be done, and he did it!

Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;

      At least no one ever has done it;”

But he took off his coat and he took off his hat

      And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.

With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,

      Without any doubting or quitting,

He started to sing as he tackled the thing

      That couldn’t be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,

      There are thousands to prophesy failure,

There are thousands to point out to you one by one,

      The dangers that wait to assail you.

But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,

      Just take off your coat and go to it;

Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing

      That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.

 Today Disney rakes in billions from merchandise, movies and theme parks around the world, but Walt Disney himself had a bit of a rough start. He was fired by a newspaper editor because, “he lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” (In fact that newspaper was the Kansas City Star!!) After that, Disney started a number of businesses that didn’t last too long and ended with bankruptcy and failure. He kept plugging along, however, and eventually found a recipe for success that worked.

 While today he is remembered as one of the greatest leaders of our nation, Abraham Lincoln’s life wasn’t so easy. In his youth he went to war a captain and returned a private (if you’re not familiar with military ranks, just know that private is as low as it goes.) Lincoln didn’t stop failing there, however. He started numerous failed business and was defeated in numerous runs he made for public office.

During her career, Lucille Ball had thirteen Emmy nominations and four wins, also earning the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors. Before starring in I Love Lucy, Ball was widely regarded as a failed actress and a B movie star. Even her drama instructors didn’t feel she could make it, telling her to try another profession. She, of course, proved them all wrong.

J.K. Rowling may be rolling in a lot of Harry Potter dough today, but before she published the series of novels she was nearly penniless, severely depressed, divorced, trying to raise a child on her own while attending school and writing a novel. Rowling went from depending on welfare to survive to being one of the richest women in the world in a span of only five years through her hard work and determination.

 In his formative years, young Beethoven was incredibly awkward on the violin and was often so busy working on his own compositions that he neglected to practice. Despite his love of composing, his teachers felt he was hopeless at it and would never succeed with the violin or in composing. Beethoven kept plugging along, however, and composed some of the best-loved symphonies of all time–five of them while he was completely deaf.

They were told, no they couldn't. But did that stop them? Apparently not! 

Kimmy XoXoXo 

An Experiment in Words part 2

An Experiment in Words

 

 

Words can build us up, can bring us down, start a fire in our hearts, or put it out! You can change the world, by changing you're words! These videos really made me think about how our words really do affect people! We can literally make a huge impact on someones life with just the words we say! Do I really want to make someone else feel like they are dirt? Or they have nothing to live for? I had a scary insight today; How do I affect people? I really hope for the better. I hope I left you in positive light, and not starring down a dark alley! And if I ever did hurt you with words, that I'm sorry! And I hope you would forgive me! Cause words are words, once spoken they can never be taken back. I know what its like to be constantly put down with words, I hated how I felt. I never wanted to make another person feel the way I felt in those times! And honestly where do those negative words go? When I started at Paul Mitchell the very first day, they told me it was a new page in my book. Any past mistakes were to be forgotten. They taught me to not only find the true beauty in others, but in myself. And while I always knew who I was, and that I have more worth then society tells me, they taught me a deeper meaning of it. Change the way you see, not the way you look! I know that I will always be learning and building my character the rest of my life! I'll never be able to take a "spring break" so to speak. So long as I'm breathing, I'm learning. And hopefully when ever we part ways my, friends, family, people I may not even know, that we leave each other better. 
Just take time this week, today even! to just change one word in you're vocabulary. 
I want to change the word - ME to WE. Sometimes I think about myself to much and maybe forget that, hey other people may want to be part of my life! It sounds more inviting. “We” instead of “me” : In my daily interactions with people,  I want to try to infuse more consolidating words like ‘we’, ‘us’, ‘our’ etc . Using these words means you are being a team player and that you are bothered enough about the opposite person to include him/her in your life. On the other hand when you use words like “I”, “me”, “myself” all the time, you come across as self involved and self indulgent. For example instead of saying “I am so busy today, and can’t meet up.” say “Can we meet up another time for coffee?”. When you think about others hearts just like your own, we wont hurt them nor will we hurt ourselves. It expands your heart to include everyone and everything in it.
It all really starts with our thoughts,  Ira Gassen once said "Be careful of your thoughts; they may become words at any moment.” 
Another thing I try and walk away from; Negative conversations. I'm not saying run away. Simply try and change the topic to a more positive topic. Movies and music is a huge thing. We may not even realize what we are putting in our brains. It only takes just one movie, just one song to have it stuck in you're mind. But it takes weeks of putting positive thoughts, listening to good music, interacting with positive people to remove negative thinking.

So just remember, it starts with you're thoughts, and just changing one more at a time. 
Lets make a change in this world and leave it better then we found it!

Kimmy XoXoXo 

 

Boston Cream Pie takes faith!

So its Thursday again, which means..... Food day! A new recipe for you, my charming readers!

Today... BOSTON CREAM PIE.

My brothers birthday is tomorrow and all he wants is,you might have guessed, a Boston cream pie.

By the end, I had a semi good looking cake, a messy kitchen, and a headache. But don't let this stop you from making this, cause it is awesome (Coming from someone who has never had a Boston cream pie)

 

 

 (Preheat oven to 350 degrees) Take 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sifted flour, 2/3 cup sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and mix in a big bowl

Make a well in the center of the mixture...

Add 1/2 cup of milk, 1/4 cup cooking oil, 2 egg yolks (Don't toss the egg whites!), and 1 teaspoon vanilla to the flour mixture.

Beat on low until combined. And then on high for 3 minutes.

Okay so now take those 2 egg whites and 1/4 teaspoon of cream of tartar.

And mix until...

it forms soft peaks (Lift the blender out, the whites should stand on their own but will start falling after a few seconds.)

Gently pour the egg yolk mixture and pour it into the egg whites

You are going to fold these in. Now folding does not mean beat it like a rug on spring cleaning day..

Video credit goes to - Emma Christensen!

So just gently "Fold" until blended

pour into you're 9-inch greased pie pan or cake pan.

And bake for 25 to 30 minutes at 350 degrees It will be done when it springs back when lightly touched!

So then, moving onto the cream part, Take 2 cups milk and 1 teaspoon of vanilla.

And warm it in a saucepan, don't boil it tho. Just get it hot and turn it off.

Okay mix 6 egg yokes and 2/3 cup sugar

Whisk until light and fluffy.

Sift 1/4 cup of cornstarch in..

I say sift because cornstarch is so lumpy!

And whisk until there are no more lumps (I never said that sifting would get rid of all the lumps did I?)

Whisk in 1/4 cup of the hot milk until incorporated

Whisk in the remaining hot milk, don't toss the sauce pan quite yet tho!

Once all that is whisked together, you're going to pour the mixture through a strainer back into the saucepan

Cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, until thickened and slowly boiling.

Remove from heat and add 1 tablespoon of butter and gently mix, DO NOT SCRAPE THE BOTTOM! You never know if you might have burned the bottom lightly. You do not want to scrape up nasty black stuff into you're mixture.

So  wrap the pudding in a bowl and plastic wrap and place in fridge for at least 2 hours, and go look at all the hail outside! Crazy right??

Once the cake is completely cooled cut it in half horizontally

Place the first half on you're cake board or serving dish

And add that cream filling that's been chilling, and smooth it out.

Place the other half on there. And its time to make the Ganache!

Bring to a boil 1 cup of cream.

And add 8 ounces of semi sweet chocolate

I beat mine in the pan with a mixer. Extra smooth ;-)

Pour over the cake....

Perfection!

Now doesn't that look good :-D

Now I'm sure that you're way cleaner then I, and you're kitchen does not look like this by the end! Right???

On a better note, I can open my mouth a little without pain!

Well enjoy,

Kimmy XoXoXo