Apple Oatmeal

I love oatmeal for breakfast, I usually make it just plain because that's what I have time for. But when there is time this is the oatmeal I like to make.  

2 ½ cups water

1/4 tsp. salt

1 ¼  cup quick oats

½ of an apple, peeled and chopped

1 tsp. vanilla

¾ tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. nutmeg

2 Tbls. brown sugar

Bring water and salt to a boil in a medium sauce pan.  Add oats and chopped apple, then bring to a simmer and simmer 3-5 minutes or until the oatmeal has thickened.  Add in the rest of the ingredients and stir.  Makes 5 half cup servings

*My kids like to add in more brown sugar.  I usually pour milk over my oatmeal, unless I have vanilla creamer then  I treat myself to that.

Food for Thought:

Life has been weighing me down this week.  Every day I had a lot that I needed to accomplish and I have a lot to accomplish in the near future, and I might be at my breaking point.  Because of this I have had a heavy heart, a distracted mind and I have not been mentally with my family because I am worrying about the hundred things that are going to be coming at me.  Does anyone else feel this way? And honestly I didn’t know that this was how I felt until yesterday, I was in a Relief Society* Presidency meeting when my dear friend said our opening prayer and it went something like this, “Father we come to Thee burdened downed”.  Not until then did I realize that this is how I was feeling, and the tears flowed freely.  I finally recognized that I was feeling a heavy burden.

I came across two scriptures when was I looking for something else on lds.org this morning,

Mathew 11:28-30

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Mosiah 24:15
And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

I had one of those ah-ha moments.  When I am burdened down with all that I have going in my life, why am I not asking Him to help carry my load? Why am I not following His council, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me?”  He promised me that He would give me peace.  Isn’t that what I needed this week?  I needed my burden lightened and I needed peace

I like the scripture in Mosiah because it gives me hope that if I will follow the council of the Lord that I too can be strengthened and will be able to bear my burden with ease.