We saw a video of this in church on Sunday. It is incredible! I'm printing it out to use in my Bible Study, and as a love note in John's lunch today. Enjoy!
My Child,
You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up. Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being. Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalms 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is…Will you be my child? John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32
Love, Your Dad.
Almighty God.
'Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications Copyright 1999-2008 www.FathersLoveLetter.com'
How powerful is this! Each line comes from the Bible, His words to us. God has written such an incredible love letter to us, and this just brings you a few verses of it. Any time you are worried, stressed, lonely, feeling unloved, go to this love letter and remember the depth of His love for you! The website has a lot of free downloadables. Check it out.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Menu Mondays
Ok. I totally admit it. I'm taking this idea from someone else. She said she hadn't blogged about Menu Mondays on her blog for a while, and I thought...Hmmmm. What a great idea! (Thanks Sheree!) Our eating patterns are a little different here. I have 4-5 small meals a day and the rest of the family aren't as restricted in what they can eat as I am. So, for now, I'll just post dinners. As I get our menus somewhat regulated, I'll go ahead and start posting the whole week, every meal. I'll try to get that together this week. No promises though. If you want to check out how I eat, and how I'm getting my family to eat, check out Marilu Henner's books, website, or the great article about her in Woman's World. I don't normally read that magazine, but I picked it up just to read the article about her new book. Marilu's new book (in case you missed it before) is called Wear Your Life Well, and it's awesome. Actually, all her books are awesome. I'm working my way through her Total Health Makeover book again. With my many allergies, I find that her program really works and helps me stay on track. The Total Health Makeover really works for anyone. Fresh foods, no dairy, no preservatives, making the right food choices...It just all clicks.
Here's my menu for the week. I only have animal protein a few days a week or I get sick. So, I try not to schedule something with meat two days in a row. This week will be an exception. I'm roasting a turkey today (I can no longer eat sandwich meats. Some chemical in them makes me ill) and will have lots of sandwich meat for the next couple weeks. Hot turkey sandwiches are mandatory the next day, according to John.
Monday: Roasted Turkey, veggies, salad
Tuesday: Hot Turkey Sandwiches (for the gang), salad for all, Spicy Rice and Rye for me
Wednesday: Quinoa Stir Fry, salad
Thursday: Really big salad (we eat a lot of salads. lol) with left over turkey
Friday: Portabella burgers (it's just John and me on the weekends), oven fries
Saturday: leftovers, salad
Sunday: Garlic and Rosemary chicken, and yes, more salad. lol
I have a lot of the stuff already on hand. I do my grocery shopping on Thursdays. The kids are with their other parents on the weekends, so John and I normally have a nice meal on Fridays and then have leftovers on Saturday. I make him a really nice breakfast on Saturdays. We eat a ton of salads here. I mean, almost every day. Everyone has their own favorite toppings, but they know that they get to have as much salad and veggies as they want. I'm going to start doing something all the time that I've tried before with success. I find that if I put out a platter with everything on it, they eat it all. So, I'm wrapping up half the meat for a second meal, and to keep them from eating too much meat, and putting it away before they get to the table. This may sound silly to some of you, but I want my family to eat well. I just have to remember that the quantity is as important as the quality.
I'll talk to you all again tonight.
Here's my menu for the week. I only have animal protein a few days a week or I get sick. So, I try not to schedule something with meat two days in a row. This week will be an exception. I'm roasting a turkey today (I can no longer eat sandwich meats. Some chemical in them makes me ill) and will have lots of sandwich meat for the next couple weeks. Hot turkey sandwiches are mandatory the next day, according to John.
Monday: Roasted Turkey, veggies, salad
Tuesday: Hot Turkey Sandwiches (for the gang), salad for all, Spicy Rice and Rye for me
Wednesday: Quinoa Stir Fry, salad
Thursday: Really big salad (we eat a lot of salads. lol) with left over turkey
Friday: Portabella burgers (it's just John and me on the weekends), oven fries
Saturday: leftovers, salad
Sunday: Garlic and Rosemary chicken, and yes, more salad. lol
I have a lot of the stuff already on hand. I do my grocery shopping on Thursdays. The kids are with their other parents on the weekends, so John and I normally have a nice meal on Fridays and then have leftovers on Saturday. I make him a really nice breakfast on Saturdays. We eat a ton of salads here. I mean, almost every day. Everyone has their own favorite toppings, but they know that they get to have as much salad and veggies as they want. I'm going to start doing something all the time that I've tried before with success. I find that if I put out a platter with everything on it, they eat it all. So, I'm wrapping up half the meat for a second meal, and to keep them from eating too much meat, and putting it away before they get to the table. This may sound silly to some of you, but I want my family to eat well. I just have to remember that the quantity is as important as the quality.
I'll talk to you all again tonight.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Sowing seeds
First of all, sorry I missed a few days. Things have been busy here. We've had something almost every day. This week is going to be much more quiet, but still a challenge. I'm giving up caffeine after today. I've been tapering off and now I'm ready to take the plunge. My BIL has the coffee pot in his room now. I'm a little nervous about it, but I'm ready. I'll keep telling myself that too. Today's message in church started with Pastor praying for the breaking of addictions. The first one he brought up? Caffeine. Talk about getting the message. lol
After the word about quitting caffeine (which is funny since Pastor is self-admittedly a coffee addict), he, another guy and another pastor, talked about the power of words. Words are seeds that you sow in your life and in others. Talk about convicting after this past week. I've been so focused on the problems in my life, and talking about them, and worrying about them, it's been really hard to be postive. I'm going to go on a negativity fast. Yep, you read it right. I'm fasting negative thoughts and words. Today, I'm getting rid of worry to prep myself.
It was an incredible time today in service. We had a Word about the seeds we sow in the next three days are going to be very important. We've been having messages about it getting ready for a new season in our lives. This is now the beginning of the new season. Have you ever thought about the power of words? So many people talk about putting positive thoughts out there, but don't really know what it means. Some think it's a "name it and claim it" deal where you can just say you are going to be rich, or thin, or whatever, and have it fall in your lap just because of those words. Some think it's a big "karma" thing. You put positivity out there and you get positivity back. Isn't there some secret book out there about this? The reality is that you say things that affect (good or bad) God's blessings. Why is He going to bless you if you say that your miracle will never happen? I know I didn't start getting well until I knew that God was going to heal me. I didn't have a spontaneous healing like one moment I'm sick and the next moment all my problems were gone. God gave me specific things to do to get better. Yes, He healed me, but I had to do my part.
Now, I've probably lost some of you but hear me out. I was sick, very sick. The doctors couldn't find anything that would definitively explain what was happening. I finally told people what was happening. I had friends and church members praying for me and over me. At first it didn't work. The problem wasn't that God wasn't listening. The problem was that I didn't want to hear what He had to say and come out of my comfort zone. Then, I started listening to the voice of God. I had heard it before. That voice He has inside us telling me things like "Get in shape, stop eating all the stuff that is making you sick, be proactive about your health". The hard one - "God is under no obligation to heal you if you are going to throw it away." And I was, totally. I'm this sick, and I decide to have dairy (something I already knew I was allergic to) on Christmas Day. I can barely stand up straight, and have such severe pain that it was hard for me to breathe in, and I'm having dairy? COME ON! It wasn't until I wiped out all the stuff I wasn't supposed to be eating and believed I would be healed and followed His word that I started getting healed.
Fast forward four months. My doctor is amazed and pleased with the progress I've made. I'm down 15 pounds since March 1st, and I'm feeling great. All of the Glory goes to God. If I listened to myself, I'd have at least one less internal organ and I'd still be eating myself further into illness. The power of words. I finally said I was going to be healthy, and now I'm on my way. I didn't say I'm going to be sick. I didn't say I'm going to have the surgery. I said I'm going to be healthy. He has placed the tools I need in reach and given me all I need to succeed.
The power of words. I want my husband to be successful. I want my children to be faithful servants of God and fulfill the purpose He has for them. I want my own life to be a testament to Him. I want to be a Proverbs 31 woman. I want my husband to be in health with me. I want all problems and issues to disappear. I want to go through learning the lessons of life that I need to be effective in my witness. I guess I never really thought about the power of words the way we heard it today. I am honestly and prayerfully going to submit to God and start confessing His will for our lives and His plans for our future. I'll share some of them over the course of the next two days. First of all, I know that I have a family of sold out people for Christ. That's my #1 seed. My family!
Feel free to bust me if you catch me talking negatively. I'm not going to cheat. Honest! lol I want to tame this tongue of mine. Proverbs 18:20-21 says
20 From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is filled;
with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Wow! I want the harvest of the seeds of my mouth to be good and just. I want to have my stomach, spiritual, physical and mental, to be filled with good fruit from a good harvest. It's like our garden. We're starting with good seeds, good soil and work. The seeds grow in the good times, like the warm summer with its blessing of sunlight. The food will be harvested and preserved and will carry us through the cold of winter.
Well now, it's getting closer to 10. I'm keeping to my bed at 10 plans this week. Last week, I stayed up late several days, and it really did make a difference. Here's my challenge to you. What are you going to say? What are your thoughts going to be? What kind of seeds are you planting?
After the word about quitting caffeine (which is funny since Pastor is self-admittedly a coffee addict), he, another guy and another pastor, talked about the power of words. Words are seeds that you sow in your life and in others. Talk about convicting after this past week. I've been so focused on the problems in my life, and talking about them, and worrying about them, it's been really hard to be postive. I'm going to go on a negativity fast. Yep, you read it right. I'm fasting negative thoughts and words. Today, I'm getting rid of worry to prep myself.
It was an incredible time today in service. We had a Word about the seeds we sow in the next three days are going to be very important. We've been having messages about it getting ready for a new season in our lives. This is now the beginning of the new season. Have you ever thought about the power of words? So many people talk about putting positive thoughts out there, but don't really know what it means. Some think it's a "name it and claim it" deal where you can just say you are going to be rich, or thin, or whatever, and have it fall in your lap just because of those words. Some think it's a big "karma" thing. You put positivity out there and you get positivity back. Isn't there some secret book out there about this? The reality is that you say things that affect (good or bad) God's blessings. Why is He going to bless you if you say that your miracle will never happen? I know I didn't start getting well until I knew that God was going to heal me. I didn't have a spontaneous healing like one moment I'm sick and the next moment all my problems were gone. God gave me specific things to do to get better. Yes, He healed me, but I had to do my part.
Now, I've probably lost some of you but hear me out. I was sick, very sick. The doctors couldn't find anything that would definitively explain what was happening. I finally told people what was happening. I had friends and church members praying for me and over me. At first it didn't work. The problem wasn't that God wasn't listening. The problem was that I didn't want to hear what He had to say and come out of my comfort zone. Then, I started listening to the voice of God. I had heard it before. That voice He has inside us telling me things like "Get in shape, stop eating all the stuff that is making you sick, be proactive about your health". The hard one - "God is under no obligation to heal you if you are going to throw it away." And I was, totally. I'm this sick, and I decide to have dairy (something I already knew I was allergic to) on Christmas Day. I can barely stand up straight, and have such severe pain that it was hard for me to breathe in, and I'm having dairy? COME ON! It wasn't until I wiped out all the stuff I wasn't supposed to be eating and believed I would be healed and followed His word that I started getting healed.
Fast forward four months. My doctor is amazed and pleased with the progress I've made. I'm down 15 pounds since March 1st, and I'm feeling great. All of the Glory goes to God. If I listened to myself, I'd have at least one less internal organ and I'd still be eating myself further into illness. The power of words. I finally said I was going to be healthy, and now I'm on my way. I didn't say I'm going to be sick. I didn't say I'm going to have the surgery. I said I'm going to be healthy. He has placed the tools I need in reach and given me all I need to succeed.
The power of words. I want my husband to be successful. I want my children to be faithful servants of God and fulfill the purpose He has for them. I want my own life to be a testament to Him. I want to be a Proverbs 31 woman. I want my husband to be in health with me. I want all problems and issues to disappear. I want to go through learning the lessons of life that I need to be effective in my witness. I guess I never really thought about the power of words the way we heard it today. I am honestly and prayerfully going to submit to God and start confessing His will for our lives and His plans for our future. I'll share some of them over the course of the next two days. First of all, I know that I have a family of sold out people for Christ. That's my #1 seed. My family!
Feel free to bust me if you catch me talking negatively. I'm not going to cheat. Honest! lol I want to tame this tongue of mine. Proverbs 18:20-21 says
20 From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is filled;
with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Wow! I want the harvest of the seeds of my mouth to be good and just. I want to have my stomach, spiritual, physical and mental, to be filled with good fruit from a good harvest. It's like our garden. We're starting with good seeds, good soil and work. The seeds grow in the good times, like the warm summer with its blessing of sunlight. The food will be harvested and preserved and will carry us through the cold of winter.
Well now, it's getting closer to 10. I'm keeping to my bed at 10 plans this week. Last week, I stayed up late several days, and it really did make a difference. Here's my challenge to you. What are you going to say? What are your thoughts going to be? What kind of seeds are you planting?
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Not feeling so hot
I think it's because I didn't eat so many fruits and veggies. I mainly ate cooked foods. I find that I feel much better when I have mostly fruits and veggies. Oh well. I let myself get distracted. I'm off to bed in just a little bit. There's a chat with Marilu Henner tonight for members at marilu.com. May I say that I am loving the support and encouragement from the entire group there. They are incredible! It has already been such an experience. I still have a little over 10 months with the 12 month program that I'm in. I can't tell you how much I weigh, since the scale quit working. Last I did check, I was down 11 pounds since March 1st. I really want to take full advantage of everything they are offering me as part of their March Madness. I want to get a few minutes on the chat if I can. John and the kids are telling me I look awful and go to bed. Geesh! How nice. lol
Tomorrow, I'll try to have a much more structured day. Friday, I'll be at school with the kids at the carnival. I'll be there from around noon until 8pm. So, I'll be packing a lunch and eating correctly. I'm working at the chocolate making booth. Imagine that! Craziness! lol I can't really eat any of it.
Well, off to get some more water and take my meds before chat. I'll stay on for at most half an hour before John notices what I'm doing and fuss at me to go to bed. Tomorrow, I'll spend more time with my post. And for that lady who just felt she had to crack on my post-it addiction -- You will be on time out until 9 tomorrow morning! hehehe Man, I miss pranking you all!
Tomorrow, I'll try to have a much more structured day. Friday, I'll be at school with the kids at the carnival. I'll be there from around noon until 8pm. So, I'll be packing a lunch and eating correctly. I'm working at the chocolate making booth. Imagine that! Craziness! lol I can't really eat any of it.
Well, off to get some more water and take my meds before chat. I'll stay on for at most half an hour before John notices what I'm doing and fuss at me to go to bed. Tomorrow, I'll spend more time with my post. And for that lady who just felt she had to crack on my post-it addiction -- You will be on time out until 9 tomorrow morning! hehehe Man, I miss pranking you all!
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
A comment on Earth Day
Happy Earth Day! There have been some great tips and so forth brought out to help people celebrate Earth Day and be better stewards of this Earth we have be given. A lot of them are really helpful and economical. I'm all about learning to be frugal. Having said that, hold on to your britches. I'm about to possibly tick some people off. Just hold on. I want everyone to be open to a new way of thinking. I think that there are some issues with the way people are portraying global warming, and me being me with my big mouth, I have to share.
First of all, I'm not some crazy nut job who sees Jesus in corn flakes. I'm not interested in conspiracy theories, unless it's the conspiracy that my kids are cooking up to prank me. Oh, and they think I don't know!!! hehehe But, I digress. Here's my theory about this whole global warming thing. I remember learning in seventh grade Earth Science, from Mr. Boa, and eighth grade Earth Science, from Mr. Clark, that the earth goes through warming and cooling periods. Remember, ice ages and so forth? Well, I think that's what's happening now. I think that folks forgot how, when I was growing up in the '70s, they were talking about global cooling. Now, before anyone writes me with not so pleasant things to say, I do think that we are not currently being faithful stewards of what God has blessed us with. That's everything from money to the earth we live on. We have so much obesity, disease, poverty, famine, and all the list goes. I do believe that we need to become responsible for our actions.
If you read the Bible, there are laws in the Old Testament that deal with being a faithful steward of your blessings. The Bible talks about how to plant your land, how to treat your animals, the toil you are to give, and how you should leave an inheritance to your children's children. Exodus 23:10-11 talks about letting a field go fallow every seven years, something science has proven true. Proverbs 12:10 says that a righteous man cares for the needs of his animal. Proverbs 13:22 talks about how a good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children. This is wise information from the the wisest book in all history. How does that relate to our times today?
We need to take care of our homes and land. Recycling is good because it is frugal and reduces waste. It's responsible. Using energy efficient light bulbs like compact florescent bulbs is good. Hey, anything that gets this electric bill of ours down is good! I'm a candlemaker. If I was confident our kids wouldn't burn the house down, they'd be burning candles right now. Using reusable grocery bags aren't just good for the environment, they don't rip just when you're almost to the door with a bunch of eggs, tomatoes, or something else fragile. Plus they hold a BUNCH of stuff. lol
Here's where it gets out of control. People are so concentrated on "saving the earth" that they forget about the people living on it. Let's take the current situation with food. Farmers have been growing cash crops - corn and soybeans. Ethanol is a big deal and I see lots of corn fields around here growing seed-type corn for use in ethanol. That would be fine if #1, it was proven that ethanol was good for fuel efficiency and making our cars more eco-friendly. I'm an asthmatic, and I feel the pollution in my lungs. Anything that would get rid of the pollution would be great. Ok, as long as it got rid of the pollution and didn't entail me scooping up horse poop. And #2 - if growing corn for ethanol didn't reduce what could, and should, be grown to feed the people. Have you seen the price of rice, flour, and corn lately? It is a direct result, in my opinion, of growing these crops for just-have-to-have-to-save-the-earth products that is causing the shortage of food in the world. There are stories in the news about riots over food, shortages, and rationing every day. My solution? Grow FOOD! It's that simple. You want to celebrate Earth Day? Celebrate the people on the earth. Make them a priority. I have a feeling that it is starting to come back to bite us in the butt that for too long, we have made people out to be the problem. My faith is in the One who created all this. God is the one who I trust for my provision. Saving the earth should include the people on it.
A few months ago, I noticed our grocery bill was creeping further and further upwards. I also started to read some news stories that on the surface, didn't really have anything to do with food. But, I'm a news junkie, so I read them. The only news I don't compulsively read is sports, but that's cuz I have taste. lol I talked with John about this, and said that I thought maybe we should start stocking up on some stuff. We did, and lo and behold, look at the news today. Ok. The 10 lbs of brown rice (that we've eaten half of already) didn't cause the shortage in Silicone Valley. But, I think that it's prudent to do some things to prepare ourselves for the rising food prices and rising food shortages. I'm not going to horde 1000 lbs of rice and flour. I am going to be sure that my family has enough food to last us for several months at a time (mostly done already) and be ready to help out folks in need that are having trouble making ends meet. I'll be growing a lot of things in our garden and canning/freezing them. Geesh! Don't that just figure. I go mostly vegetarian, start eating a lot of rice, and it goes up in price. Does anyone want to see how this journey plays out for us? Stay tuned!
Seriously, I think that humanity has been taken out of the equation of the environment, unless it's in a negative way. That's just plain wrong. Here's a question. What are you saving the earth for?
That's my two cents for Earth Day. My house? We're going to trust God and act with the wisdom He gave us.
First of all, I'm not some crazy nut job who sees Jesus in corn flakes. I'm not interested in conspiracy theories, unless it's the conspiracy that my kids are cooking up to prank me. Oh, and they think I don't know!!! hehehe But, I digress. Here's my theory about this whole global warming thing. I remember learning in seventh grade Earth Science, from Mr. Boa, and eighth grade Earth Science, from Mr. Clark, that the earth goes through warming and cooling periods. Remember, ice ages and so forth? Well, I think that's what's happening now. I think that folks forgot how, when I was growing up in the '70s, they were talking about global cooling. Now, before anyone writes me with not so pleasant things to say, I do think that we are not currently being faithful stewards of what God has blessed us with. That's everything from money to the earth we live on. We have so much obesity, disease, poverty, famine, and all the list goes. I do believe that we need to become responsible for our actions.
If you read the Bible, there are laws in the Old Testament that deal with being a faithful steward of your blessings. The Bible talks about how to plant your land, how to treat your animals, the toil you are to give, and how you should leave an inheritance to your children's children. Exodus 23:10-11 talks about letting a field go fallow every seven years, something science has proven true. Proverbs 12:10 says that a righteous man cares for the needs of his animal. Proverbs 13:22 talks about how a good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children. This is wise information from the the wisest book in all history. How does that relate to our times today?
We need to take care of our homes and land. Recycling is good because it is frugal and reduces waste. It's responsible. Using energy efficient light bulbs like compact florescent bulbs is good. Hey, anything that gets this electric bill of ours down is good! I'm a candlemaker. If I was confident our kids wouldn't burn the house down, they'd be burning candles right now. Using reusable grocery bags aren't just good for the environment, they don't rip just when you're almost to the door with a bunch of eggs, tomatoes, or something else fragile. Plus they hold a BUNCH of stuff. lol
Here's where it gets out of control. People are so concentrated on "saving the earth" that they forget about the people living on it. Let's take the current situation with food. Farmers have been growing cash crops - corn and soybeans. Ethanol is a big deal and I see lots of corn fields around here growing seed-type corn for use in ethanol. That would be fine if #1, it was proven that ethanol was good for fuel efficiency and making our cars more eco-friendly. I'm an asthmatic, and I feel the pollution in my lungs. Anything that would get rid of the pollution would be great. Ok, as long as it got rid of the pollution and didn't entail me scooping up horse poop. And #2 - if growing corn for ethanol didn't reduce what could, and should, be grown to feed the people. Have you seen the price of rice, flour, and corn lately? It is a direct result, in my opinion, of growing these crops for just-have-to-have-to-save-the-earth products that is causing the shortage of food in the world. There are stories in the news about riots over food, shortages, and rationing every day. My solution? Grow FOOD! It's that simple. You want to celebrate Earth Day? Celebrate the people on the earth. Make them a priority. I have a feeling that it is starting to come back to bite us in the butt that for too long, we have made people out to be the problem. My faith is in the One who created all this. God is the one who I trust for my provision. Saving the earth should include the people on it.
A few months ago, I noticed our grocery bill was creeping further and further upwards. I also started to read some news stories that on the surface, didn't really have anything to do with food. But, I'm a news junkie, so I read them. The only news I don't compulsively read is sports, but that's cuz I have taste. lol I talked with John about this, and said that I thought maybe we should start stocking up on some stuff. We did, and lo and behold, look at the news today. Ok. The 10 lbs of brown rice (that we've eaten half of already) didn't cause the shortage in Silicone Valley. But, I think that it's prudent to do some things to prepare ourselves for the rising food prices and rising food shortages. I'm not going to horde 1000 lbs of rice and flour. I am going to be sure that my family has enough food to last us for several months at a time (mostly done already) and be ready to help out folks in need that are having trouble making ends meet. I'll be growing a lot of things in our garden and canning/freezing them. Geesh! Don't that just figure. I go mostly vegetarian, start eating a lot of rice, and it goes up in price. Does anyone want to see how this journey plays out for us? Stay tuned!
Seriously, I think that humanity has been taken out of the equation of the environment, unless it's in a negative way. That's just plain wrong. Here's a question. What are you saving the earth for?
That's my two cents for Earth Day. My house? We're going to trust God and act with the wisdom He gave us.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Just a few thoughts
I'm only going to say a few things tonight since I'm still trying to get some stuff done today. I'm not getting my schedule done. I had a plan B kind of day. I had a couple unexpected, yet urgent, things come up. John and I made a really hard, but great, decision to get completely out of debt. We're following Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. Well, we started getting some information together and making our plan. I know it will be an adventure. I had a couple other things that needed to do.
It's day three on my total body internal cleanse. I have been soooooo thirsty. I was warned about drinking a lot of water, but I didn't know that I would have this much thirst. ARGH! I think I've had more water today than last week combined. We bought a water cooler a couple months ago. I prepaid 100 gallons of water so the refils are cheap. We go through about 10 gallons a week. I think that was the best purchase we've made in a long time! It's one with the hot and cold water on it. It's sooooo yummy!
Here's a subject I do want to get more into later, but I'm going to throw food for thought out there, pun intended. I read an article about Japan's food mess today. I told John a few months ago that food prices were going up, and maybe we should stock up on some things. Well, let me tell you that seeing stuff like that article make me so glad that I had that forethought. We don't have tons stored up - I know people who have a whole year's food stored up. But, we've made some provident choices that I think are going to get us through what looks to be a difficult time coming up. I'll talk more about it later though. I just wanted to mention it.
Lastly, I'm just going to say good night. I have to go bake a loaf of bread. I made a few loaves worth of dough and froze part and I'm baking part. The easiet way for me to be sure I don't have anything I'm allergic to is to make my own. Plus, it tastes better and is cheaper. lol Nighty Night!
It's day three on my total body internal cleanse. I have been soooooo thirsty. I was warned about drinking a lot of water, but I didn't know that I would have this much thirst. ARGH! I think I've had more water today than last week combined. We bought a water cooler a couple months ago. I prepaid 100 gallons of water so the refils are cheap. We go through about 10 gallons a week. I think that was the best purchase we've made in a long time! It's one with the hot and cold water on it. It's sooooo yummy!
Here's a subject I do want to get more into later, but I'm going to throw food for thought out there, pun intended. I read an article about Japan's food mess today. I told John a few months ago that food prices were going up, and maybe we should stock up on some things. Well, let me tell you that seeing stuff like that article make me so glad that I had that forethought. We don't have tons stored up - I know people who have a whole year's food stored up. But, we've made some provident choices that I think are going to get us through what looks to be a difficult time coming up. I'll talk more about it later though. I just wanted to mention it.
Lastly, I'm just going to say good night. I have to go bake a loaf of bread. I made a few loaves worth of dough and froze part and I'm baking part. The easiet way for me to be sure I don't have anything I'm allergic to is to make my own. Plus, it tastes better and is cheaper. lol Nighty Night!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
A-HA!!!
Today, in church, I had an a-ha moment. Everything started to click, and I'm not so upset about the bumps in my road. I don't say much to folks about it. After all, don't we all have challenges in our lives? And I'm stubborn. It took almost two months of being very ill before I even went to the doctor. That was taking the not complaining a tad too far. lol Even so, the bumps are there. They don't need to be named. They are just there.
We had a guest speaker at church, Andrew Chapman from England. The gist of his message? Life sucks, but God is faithful. It followed a running theme in my life these days. You can't go around the sucky parts of life. It's the going through of problems that makes you grow and helps you learn life lessons. Basically, no pain, no gain. Now, where else have I been hearing about embracing stress? Isn't that a whole chapter in Marilu's book? lol I'm learning how to apply this to my life now. It's been a day for introspection. Several books I've been reading have been about going through the hard times to get the good stuff.
Here's how this works. It's the pain of going through being unhealthy that teaches you how to be healthy. It's the pain of financial issues to help you learn how to be finanically healthy and successful. It's the pain of feeling frustration at the direction your life is going in to make you change things in a better way. Shoot, it's the pain of stubbing your toe that keeps you from walking into the side of the bed again. hehe I can see the light at the end of the tunnel in some areas. Others, I feel like I just got into the tunnel. I see the plan that God has for me, to prosper me and walk with me. I just have to stop listening to that inner brat that keeps telling me to take the short road. It may be easier but it doesn't lead to my goals. It doesn't lead to God's best for me.
One verse the pastor discussed today was Philippians 3:10-14 [amp]
10[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [[b]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
11That if possible I may attain to the [[c]spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].
12Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.
13I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
14I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.
Note the bold part. I put the whole part so you could see the context. But imagine. We sing songs in church and have even created a Christianeese lingo about the refiners fire and coming out purified and like gold. Have we really thought what that means? Too many concentrate on the gold. Hello? There's a fire to go through first. And that's not a cute little fire either. In order for it to get that hot, to burn out all the impurities, you need a roaring hot and consuming fire.
So, how do I handle the fire? How do I handle the refining that I need to have happen in me? I can fight it kicking and screaming, or I can embrace it. Me, I choose to embrace it. In the long run, it will be the easier way. I can go through my lesson and learn and be done with it. Or, I can keep fighting it, I can keep rejecting it. I can keep being hardheaded and say that the lesson isn't really for me. I'm going to meet my challenges with gusto, with excitement. I know that what lies ahead is a much better plan than the one I have for me. It's God's plan. Who should I trust, man's plan or the all seeing, all knowing, all encompassing God who knows everything about me from the number of hairs on my head to the ending of my story? I know who.
Here's a thought. I'm going to look back at this in five years and just be amazed from how far we've come. I'll be healthy in all areas. I'll be debt free, worry free, and making the choices I want to, not the hard choices I need to. How sweet is that! Not only that, I have an awesome family, wonderful home, and food on the table. The rest is just gravy! We put too much store in the problems we have created. But, that's a soapbox for another time. For now, I'm just glad that it's all clicking together in my mind. I'm not saying that I won't still grumble when I have to exercise or can't have the yummy food I miss. lol Hey, I'm human! But I will embrace the journey of making a better me.
We had a guest speaker at church, Andrew Chapman from England. The gist of his message? Life sucks, but God is faithful. It followed a running theme in my life these days. You can't go around the sucky parts of life. It's the going through of problems that makes you grow and helps you learn life lessons. Basically, no pain, no gain. Now, where else have I been hearing about embracing stress? Isn't that a whole chapter in Marilu's book? lol I'm learning how to apply this to my life now. It's been a day for introspection. Several books I've been reading have been about going through the hard times to get the good stuff.
Here's how this works. It's the pain of going through being unhealthy that teaches you how to be healthy. It's the pain of financial issues to help you learn how to be finanically healthy and successful. It's the pain of feeling frustration at the direction your life is going in to make you change things in a better way. Shoot, it's the pain of stubbing your toe that keeps you from walking into the side of the bed again. hehe I can see the light at the end of the tunnel in some areas. Others, I feel like I just got into the tunnel. I see the plan that God has for me, to prosper me and walk with me. I just have to stop listening to that inner brat that keeps telling me to take the short road. It may be easier but it doesn't lead to my goals. It doesn't lead to God's best for me.
One verse the pastor discussed today was Philippians 3:10-14 [amp]
10[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [[b]which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]
11That if possible I may attain to the [[c]spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].
12Not that I have now attained [this ideal], or have already been made perfect, but I press on to lay hold of (grasp) and make my own, that for which Christ Jesus (the Messiah) has laid hold of me and made me His own.
13I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
14I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.
Note the bold part. I put the whole part so you could see the context. But imagine. We sing songs in church and have even created a Christianeese lingo about the refiners fire and coming out purified and like gold. Have we really thought what that means? Too many concentrate on the gold. Hello? There's a fire to go through first. And that's not a cute little fire either. In order for it to get that hot, to burn out all the impurities, you need a roaring hot and consuming fire.
So, how do I handle the fire? How do I handle the refining that I need to have happen in me? I can fight it kicking and screaming, or I can embrace it. Me, I choose to embrace it. In the long run, it will be the easier way. I can go through my lesson and learn and be done with it. Or, I can keep fighting it, I can keep rejecting it. I can keep being hardheaded and say that the lesson isn't really for me. I'm going to meet my challenges with gusto, with excitement. I know that what lies ahead is a much better plan than the one I have for me. It's God's plan. Who should I trust, man's plan or the all seeing, all knowing, all encompassing God who knows everything about me from the number of hairs on my head to the ending of my story? I know who.
Here's a thought. I'm going to look back at this in five years and just be amazed from how far we've come. I'll be healthy in all areas. I'll be debt free, worry free, and making the choices I want to, not the hard choices I need to. How sweet is that! Not only that, I have an awesome family, wonderful home, and food on the table. The rest is just gravy! We put too much store in the problems we have created. But, that's a soapbox for another time. For now, I'm just glad that it's all clicking together in my mind. I'm not saying that I won't still grumble when I have to exercise or can't have the yummy food I miss. lol Hey, I'm human! But I will embrace the journey of making a better me.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Getting back on track
At last! A day with no major issues. I woke up humming "If I were a Rich Man" and giggling to myself that the song was still going through my head. I stayed up until midnight watching the movie. It was awesome! I was incredibly tired today though. I woke up around 7:45 thinking I didn't want to wake John up so I'd just read in bed. When I woke up again around 11, he was up and wondering what happened to me. lol
I had previously spoken about doing a liver cleansing. Yesterday I went to the vitamin store and talked with them about it. I ended up getting a whole body cleanse for first time cleaners. That sounds funny, doesn't it? Well, I started that today. I'll let you know what happens. Not in detail, of course, but how it makes me feel and how it improves my health.
I redid my list of goals. Here are the home ones. The rest are just being bumped to this week, since so much of last week was spent getting myself together from being sick.
Kitchen:
Day 1 - Clear counters
Day 2 - Organize fridge, stove and surrounding cabinets.
Day 3 - Clear table of all non-dining stuff and keep set for meals, reorganize pantry
Day 4 - Section A of cabinets
Day 5 - Section B of cabinets
Day 6 - Section C of cabinets
Day 7 - really scrub floors and glass
Bedroom:
Day 1 - Clear Section A
Day 2 - Clear Section B
Day 3 - Clear Section C
Day 4 - Clear all tops of dressers and so forth and wipe down all furniture
Day 5 - Vacuum and put in shelving units I bought
Day 6 - Clean out armoire
Day 7 - Windows and blinds
Bathroom:
Day 1 - Clear window seat
Day 2 - Sort out toiletries and clear counter
Day 3 - Linen closet cleaned out and orgainzed
Day 4 - Empty closets and hang up our stuff (we have no bedroom closets)
Day 5 - Clean above and below sink area. Nothing on the counters any more except toothbrushes and toothpaste
Day 6 - Normal weekly cleaning
Day 7 - Windows and floors
That's it for the revised goals. I am starting the five day blitz again on Monday too. I have such high hopes for this week! It's going to be another busy one. The school has a carnival on Friday. I'm working in the chocolate booth. How fun is that! However, I will have to be sure to have some non-dairy chocolate on hand for me to eat. I'm not willing to even consider having dairy again.
We had a quiet day today. It felt good to not have to worry about being somewhere on time, or running errands or anything like that. I just kinda vegged and took care of a few things. I didn't get as much done I planned, but I am getting stuff done. I'm thinking bed at 11 tonight. I want to do some reading in the Dave Ramsey book and, ok, I want to watch the end of the NCIS marathon. lol I love that show.
That's about it right now. I don't have too much going on today. I'm enjoying being relaxed and stress free. I have one more day to get myself and my family organized before the craziness starts again. hehehe I love being busy. It sure beats being sick. Plus, I have quite a few things that I'm getting together. I have an idea for the Mother's Day thing at church, but I have to see how many moms we're going to have. I just don't know it we can pull it off. More details later.
Here's today verse:
Proverbs 31:13 [amp]
13She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].
I want to remember that - willing hands. She works with willing hands. I want to work with willing hands, even when I don't feel like it. I want to do everything with GUSTO! I want to greet all tasks, whether they be tickling the kids or taking out the trash, with willing hands. That's going to be my prayer tonight.
I had previously spoken about doing a liver cleansing. Yesterday I went to the vitamin store and talked with them about it. I ended up getting a whole body cleanse for first time cleaners. That sounds funny, doesn't it? Well, I started that today. I'll let you know what happens. Not in detail, of course, but how it makes me feel and how it improves my health.
I redid my list of goals. Here are the home ones. The rest are just being bumped to this week, since so much of last week was spent getting myself together from being sick.
Kitchen:
Day 1 - Clear counters
Day 2 - Organize fridge, stove and surrounding cabinets.
Day 3 - Clear table of all non-dining stuff and keep set for meals, reorganize pantry
Day 4 - Section A of cabinets
Day 5 - Section B of cabinets
Day 6 - Section C of cabinets
Day 7 - really scrub floors and glass
Bedroom:
Day 1 - Clear Section A
Day 2 - Clear Section B
Day 3 - Clear Section C
Day 4 - Clear all tops of dressers and so forth and wipe down all furniture
Day 5 - Vacuum and put in shelving units I bought
Day 6 - Clean out armoire
Day 7 - Windows and blinds
Bathroom:
Day 1 - Clear window seat
Day 2 - Sort out toiletries and clear counter
Day 3 - Linen closet cleaned out and orgainzed
Day 4 - Empty closets and hang up our stuff (we have no bedroom closets)
Day 5 - Clean above and below sink area. Nothing on the counters any more except toothbrushes and toothpaste
Day 6 - Normal weekly cleaning
Day 7 - Windows and floors
That's it for the revised goals. I am starting the five day blitz again on Monday too. I have such high hopes for this week! It's going to be another busy one. The school has a carnival on Friday. I'm working in the chocolate booth. How fun is that! However, I will have to be sure to have some non-dairy chocolate on hand for me to eat. I'm not willing to even consider having dairy again.
We had a quiet day today. It felt good to not have to worry about being somewhere on time, or running errands or anything like that. I just kinda vegged and took care of a few things. I didn't get as much done I planned, but I am getting stuff done. I'm thinking bed at 11 tonight. I want to do some reading in the Dave Ramsey book and, ok, I want to watch the end of the NCIS marathon. lol I love that show.
That's about it right now. I don't have too much going on today. I'm enjoying being relaxed and stress free. I have one more day to get myself and my family organized before the craziness starts again. hehehe I love being busy. It sure beats being sick. Plus, I have quite a few things that I'm getting together. I have an idea for the Mother's Day thing at church, but I have to see how many moms we're going to have. I just don't know it we can pull it off. More details later.
Here's today verse:
Proverbs 31:13 [amp]
13She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].
I want to remember that - willing hands. She works with willing hands. I want to work with willing hands, even when I don't feel like it. I want to do everything with GUSTO! I want to greet all tasks, whether they be tickling the kids or taking out the trash, with willing hands. That's going to be my prayer tonight.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Running out of time!
I'm obviously not making it to bed at my 10pm goal for tonight. I had so much running around to do that I didn't get home until very late. I just finished dinner.
Here's a great memory. Growing up, my father would play albums of opera and musicals and so forth. I played violin from three years old on, so music was always a part of my life. But some of my best memories of my dad are listening to those albums. Sometimes, we'd even travel to NYC and see them on Broadway or wherever. Tonight, on PBS, they are playing Fiddler on the Roof. It is one of my father's favorites. I still remember him singing "If I were a Rich Man". I can't think of this movie without immediately thinking of Daddy. I called him to let him know it was on, but he was already sleeping after a very very busy day. He said he'd have to catch it next time. Fiddler on the Roof and Car Wash - two movies I can never see, hear or think about without thinking of Daddy. Let's see. What others. There's the operas Carmen and Hansel and Gretel. There's the newer version of Carmen called Carmen Jones. Poetry, classical literature, and classical music. My parents really exposed us to so much that has stuck with me. I'm trying to pass some of that along with my children now.
I'm going to cut this short. I'm exhausted and need to get some rest. I spend most of Friday in the car and it takes a lot out of me. I'll do Bible verses and stuff tomorrow. I know, I owe updated goals and I would like to post my menus and stuff. Oh, I had a great dinner tonight. There's a roasted eggplant and pepper pasta dish from marilu.com, and I made that when I got home. It was so good! I did accidently put too much pepper on it, but it cleared my sinuses. And my hand slipped while I was draining the pasta so most ended up in the sink. But, I had plenty for dinner and left overs for lunch tomorrow. I'll have to make more pasta to go with the last of the veggies. What can I say. It's been that kind of day.
Here's a great memory. Growing up, my father would play albums of opera and musicals and so forth. I played violin from three years old on, so music was always a part of my life. But some of my best memories of my dad are listening to those albums. Sometimes, we'd even travel to NYC and see them on Broadway or wherever. Tonight, on PBS, they are playing Fiddler on the Roof. It is one of my father's favorites. I still remember him singing "If I were a Rich Man". I can't think of this movie without immediately thinking of Daddy. I called him to let him know it was on, but he was already sleeping after a very very busy day. He said he'd have to catch it next time. Fiddler on the Roof and Car Wash - two movies I can never see, hear or think about without thinking of Daddy. Let's see. What others. There's the operas Carmen and Hansel and Gretel. There's the newer version of Carmen called Carmen Jones. Poetry, classical literature, and classical music. My parents really exposed us to so much that has stuck with me. I'm trying to pass some of that along with my children now.
I'm going to cut this short. I'm exhausted and need to get some rest. I spend most of Friday in the car and it takes a lot out of me. I'll do Bible verses and stuff tomorrow. I know, I owe updated goals and I would like to post my menus and stuff. Oh, I had a great dinner tonight. There's a roasted eggplant and pepper pasta dish from marilu.com, and I made that when I got home. It was so good! I did accidently put too much pepper on it, but it cleared my sinuses. And my hand slipped while I was draining the pasta so most ended up in the sink. But, I had plenty for dinner and left overs for lunch tomorrow. I'll have to make more pasta to go with the last of the veggies. What can I say. It's been that kind of day.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Don't you wish - picture of me
Don't you wish gas prices were that way again? I just filled up the truck, and I know I do! I'm glad it's a little fuzzy (my son took the picture). That way you can see the body shape, but not my broken out face. I'm getting some stuff out of my system, and I always get really bad breakouts when that happens.
Now I'm outta here. I am working up the courage to tell the folks at marilu.com that I'm ready to share my blog.
P.S. The bag is awesome, isn't it? My mom made it. She is quilter extrodinare! I hope you can see it well enough. I'll have to take a picture of it and post it.
Martha Stewart in Pigpen's world
While I am going this 12 month journey to get healthy at Marilu.com, I want to expand it to get healthy in ALL areas of my life. Physical, spiritual, mental (ok, I hear the jokes already), financially, and in my duties as wife, mom, keeper of the home and keeper of the business. I want to be the Christian Black Martha Stewart. Now for reality. I live more like Pigpen. We're a family of slobs and packrats. I'm not saying we should be on Clean House, or any show like that, but still. We do a major cleaning before we have company and most everything ends up in our bedroom to be hidden. Then I dig out enough room to get into bed, and work around stuff until the next big dump. On second thought, I could use Clean House. Plan on coming to Michigan any time soon? hehehe
So, I'm working on our home. I want to gut out everything and redo it all. It's going to be a multi year plan, but still. I want to just take my time and do everything I've wanted to do. I'm redoing my goals list. I'll post the revised list tomorrow. I'm going to spread out doing the organizing and cleaning of the major rooms up here, including our bedroom, over the next month instead of trying to rush through it. I want to make this home warm, inviting, and welcoming. Ok. I want the floral stuff gone. I'm SOOOOOOOOO not a floral wall paper person. lol Tomorrow (hopefully I'll remember) I'll post the different books I'm reading and working from to get this all done. I will be taking ideas from them all. This will go along with organizing myself better to get everything done. Watch me go from Pigpen to Martha Stewart, but without the unfortunate incarceration. I'd take before pictures, but my mommy may look at this. Hi Mommy! lol
Well, off to get a few more things done before bed. Get this! The kids and John expect CLEAN uniforms every day. hehehe I'm kidding. I make sure they go to school and work appropriately dressed. Remember. Always wear clean underwear in case you're in an accident.
Today's verse:
Proverbs 31:11
The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil. (AMP)
That's what I want in my marriage. I want my John to know that at any time, I have his back. He never has to worry about my actions or behavior. And John knows that.
Good night! I'm going to see if I can find a picture that I took on the field trip to post here today of me. I have a few people waiting to see that. I still don't know what I did with my Christmas pictures of me sick. I probably hid it so no one will ever see!!! That's ok. I know where to get a copy. Wait. I need to just get the negative, then there will be no proof! hehehehe
So, I'm working on our home. I want to gut out everything and redo it all. It's going to be a multi year plan, but still. I want to just take my time and do everything I've wanted to do. I'm redoing my goals list. I'll post the revised list tomorrow. I'm going to spread out doing the organizing and cleaning of the major rooms up here, including our bedroom, over the next month instead of trying to rush through it. I want to make this home warm, inviting, and welcoming. Ok. I want the floral stuff gone. I'm SOOOOOOOOO not a floral wall paper person. lol Tomorrow (hopefully I'll remember) I'll post the different books I'm reading and working from to get this all done. I will be taking ideas from them all. This will go along with organizing myself better to get everything done. Watch me go from Pigpen to Martha Stewart, but without the unfortunate incarceration. I'd take before pictures, but my mommy may look at this. Hi Mommy! lol
Well, off to get a few more things done before bed. Get this! The kids and John expect CLEAN uniforms every day. hehehe I'm kidding. I make sure they go to school and work appropriately dressed. Remember. Always wear clean underwear in case you're in an accident.
Today's verse:
Proverbs 31:11
The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil. (AMP)
That's what I want in my marriage. I want my John to know that at any time, I have his back. He never has to worry about my actions or behavior. And John knows that.
Good night! I'm going to see if I can find a picture that I took on the field trip to post here today of me. I have a few people waiting to see that. I still don't know what I did with my Christmas pictures of me sick. I probably hid it so no one will ever see!!! That's ok. I know where to get a copy. Wait. I need to just get the negative, then there will be no proof! hehehehe
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Way too tired!!!
Hey Everyone, I'm totally cheating. I am copying my entry from the accountability class I'm taking at marilu.com. I'm really tired and going to bed right after dinner. Talk to you all later!!!
Dear Diary,
I am pooped! I had a great day with my son's class on a field trip. We drove two hours, walked for four (there were also lots of stairs involved - 182 just at the state capital building alone) hours and drove home for two hours. Let me tell you. Fourth grade girls can be every bit as gross, if not more, than fourth grade boys! The only thing I didn't like was that the tour guides seem to be rushing us through every thing. I've never been early returning from a field trip before.
Funny story. We got to the state library/museum to start our day, and there was a big problem! The building had been shut down for a ruptured steam pipe in a section under construction! There were fire trucks everywhere, and we couldn't even park in the lot. We had to wait until the all clear was sounded to leave the parking spots we found on the street to get going half an hour later.
One thing I'm learning is to listen to my body. I packed lots of healthy snacks and water for us. However, I think I've been having too much meat lately and too much sugar. I know I'm having too much fat. I'm getting some of the symptoms from when I was really sick, and that's what it normally means. I'm not eating badly, fish or chicken, I don't add refined sugar, and I'm definitely not eating anything fried. However, even on THM, 25 grams of fat adds up quickly. So, tomorrow (I'm passing out after dinner) I will be sitting down and refiguring my menus. I need at least five days without meat to get the inflamation down. If ever there was a time to go vegetarian...
Well, I have a few more hours with the heating pad, and I'm going to bed. My support partner, DH, went to pick up some food. He and the kids went over my selections for me to make sure there was no meat and that it was on my approved list. My family is my biggest support. They saw me at my most ill, and are determined to never see me that sick again. I have another bottle of water to get through tonight too. I'm thinking I might do a liver cleanse, since that's where my health problems are coming from. I got the idea from Marilu's book. That's food for thought and prayer.
Now, if I could just live down DS telling all of his class how I used to burn Barbie dolls and stuff Ken dolls with fireworks...
Dear Diary,
I am pooped! I had a great day with my son's class on a field trip. We drove two hours, walked for four (there were also lots of stairs involved - 182 just at the state capital building alone) hours and drove home for two hours. Let me tell you. Fourth grade girls can be every bit as gross, if not more, than fourth grade boys! The only thing I didn't like was that the tour guides seem to be rushing us through every thing. I've never been early returning from a field trip before.
Funny story. We got to the state library/museum to start our day, and there was a big problem! The building had been shut down for a ruptured steam pipe in a section under construction! There were fire trucks everywhere, and we couldn't even park in the lot. We had to wait until the all clear was sounded to leave the parking spots we found on the street to get going half an hour later.
One thing I'm learning is to listen to my body. I packed lots of healthy snacks and water for us. However, I think I've been having too much meat lately and too much sugar. I know I'm having too much fat. I'm getting some of the symptoms from when I was really sick, and that's what it normally means. I'm not eating badly, fish or chicken, I don't add refined sugar, and I'm definitely not eating anything fried. However, even on THM, 25 grams of fat adds up quickly. So, tomorrow (I'm passing out after dinner) I will be sitting down and refiguring my menus. I need at least five days without meat to get the inflamation down. If ever there was a time to go vegetarian...
Well, I have a few more hours with the heating pad, and I'm going to bed. My support partner, DH, went to pick up some food. He and the kids went over my selections for me to make sure there was no meat and that it was on my approved list. My family is my biggest support. They saw me at my most ill, and are determined to never see me that sick again. I have another bottle of water to get through tonight too. I'm thinking I might do a liver cleanse, since that's where my health problems are coming from. I got the idea from Marilu's book. That's food for thought and prayer.
Now, if I could just live down DS telling all of his class how I used to burn Barbie dolls and stuff Ken dolls with fireworks...
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
ARGH! Plan B again!
We had a crazy day today. I have a field trip with Mikey tomorrow too, so my blog for tonight is going to have to be short. Bedtime at 10 is not happening. I have to take the car to gas up so we can be ready to go at 7:30 tomorrow morning. I still have laundry and a cake to finish. It's a vegan cake for snack in the car. I'm taking that plus apples and water. Mikey's asked for tuna salad for lunch again. We're spending all day in Lansing. It's going to be so much fun!
Anyway, the cake is almost done. I have to run. Busy busy busy. I think I'm taking this weekend and catching up on everything that I haven't done from my list this week!!!!
Smooches!
Today's verse is the start of what I aspire to, the original feminist. Keep in mind while we go through this over the next 21 days that this is woman telling her son what kind of woman he should find to marry.
Proverbs 31:10 (Amplified Bible)
10 A capable, intelligent, and [a]virtuous woman--who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.
Anyway, the cake is almost done. I have to run. Busy busy busy. I think I'm taking this weekend and catching up on everything that I haven't done from my list this week!!!!
Smooches!
Today's verse is the start of what I aspire to, the original feminist. Keep in mind while we go through this over the next 21 days that this is woman telling her son what kind of woman he should find to marry.
Proverbs 31:10 (Amplified Bible)
10 A capable, intelligent, and [a]virtuous woman--who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.
Monday, April 14, 2008
I almost forgot!
I made some awesome vegan chocolate chip cookies tonight with stuff I had on hand. No refined sugar or anything artificial. I think I might start a recipe section. Hmmmmm. I will have to consider that. Any thoughts? Also, I made the garlic and rosemary chicken from Marilu's new book "Wear Your Life Well". GET THE BOOK! Everyone loved it. That and the cookies are "keeper" recipes for my family. I can't reprint that recipe (copyright issues - friends know how I feel about that), but I will do the cookie one tomorrow. I'm running out of time before bedtime.
Plan B Day
Well, I woke up feeling horrible. The cold I've been fighting off was not letting go! I ended up sleeping in for a few hours to get a handle on everything. I'm pretty good now. I did realize that I haven't taken any allergy meds for over a week now, so I'm quite sure that had something to do with it. Anywho, this note will be short and sweet. I promised myself I'd write every day, and here I am. I did start on the kitchen. I wrestled with the old built in coffee maker that leaks badly when you try to use it and I won! It's gone now. I still have to remove the brackets, but the screws are underneath the shelf paper underneath all my spices. I'll get to that tomorrow. I didn't work on my bedroom though.
I'm going to go to bed now. I need some extra rest to get myself together. I'm taking a class on accountability at marilu.com. So, it's important to me to get as much done and stay accountable for what I did - and didn't - do.
Night all! Bible verse tomorrow, I promise!
I'm going to go to bed now. I need some extra rest to get myself together. I'm taking a class on accountability at marilu.com. So, it's important to me to get as much done and stay accountable for what I did - and didn't - do.
Night all! Bible verse tomorrow, I promise!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
This week's goals - 4/13-4/19/08
Let's see. I have a busy week ahead of me. I have quite a few things to get done. Here's the list. I also have plan B in case I have to use it. That's the key, right?
I've decided to start small with my goals while I prayerfully decide on what the big picture should be. I'm only doing a week at a time while I go through that process. I've been categorizing them into big sections, and setting weeking goals in each section.
Faith:
Bible reading and studying every day.
Prayer every day
Memorize one verse of scripture this week
Family:
Pray for John and kids every day
Date night with John on Friday
Field Trip with Michael's class
Work on banquet for kids' school every day
Home:
Clean and organize kitchen Monday and Tuesday
Clean and organize my bedroom Monday and Tuesday
Clean and organize big bathroom Wednesday and Thursday
Set up above three areas to work for us, not us work around them Thursday
Start organizing yard sale - set date for it and fill to boxes of stuff from organizing above three rooms Monday thru Friday
Start seeds indoors Monday for plants that need 8-10 weeks lead time.
Sketch out garden on Saturday and Sunday
Self:
Finish reading Marilu book by Wednesday
Set up organizer to use every day on Monday morning
Start five day blitz on Monday, including exercise every single day.
Bedtime every night at 10 - no exceptions!
Ministry:
Blog every day (I see this as ministry as well as keeping in touch with everyone.)
Business:
All paperwork caught up this week by Tuesday
Make inventory list for Mother's Day show at church on Tuesday
New production schedule set by Wednesday
Restart production on Thursday
Restart website on Thursday
See? Busy week! There is a last category, Fun Stuff, but I have to think long and hard about what I want to do as fun stuff. I'd like to plan a family vacation for sometime in the future. Other than that, who knows. lol
More tomorrow. It's almost 10, and I'm ready for bed!
Today's verse:
Philippians 3:13-14 [Amp]:
13I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
14I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.
Isn't this a great verse for setting goals? I'm after the ultimate goal of living for Christ. These goals help me on my way. I think that this will be my memory verse for this week.
I've decided to start small with my goals while I prayerfully decide on what the big picture should be. I'm only doing a week at a time while I go through that process. I've been categorizing them into big sections, and setting weeking goals in each section.
Faith:
Bible reading and studying every day.
Prayer every day
Memorize one verse of scripture this week
Family:
Pray for John and kids every day
Date night with John on Friday
Field Trip with Michael's class
Work on banquet for kids' school every day
Home:
Clean and organize kitchen Monday and Tuesday
Clean and organize my bedroom Monday and Tuesday
Clean and organize big bathroom Wednesday and Thursday
Set up above three areas to work for us, not us work around them Thursday
Start organizing yard sale - set date for it and fill to boxes of stuff from organizing above three rooms Monday thru Friday
Start seeds indoors Monday for plants that need 8-10 weeks lead time.
Sketch out garden on Saturday and Sunday
Self:
Finish reading Marilu book by Wednesday
Set up organizer to use every day on Monday morning
Start five day blitz on Monday, including exercise every single day.
Bedtime every night at 10 - no exceptions!
Ministry:
Blog every day (I see this as ministry as well as keeping in touch with everyone.)
Business:
All paperwork caught up this week by Tuesday
Make inventory list for Mother's Day show at church on Tuesday
New production schedule set by Wednesday
Restart production on Thursday
Restart website on Thursday
See? Busy week! There is a last category, Fun Stuff, but I have to think long and hard about what I want to do as fun stuff. I'd like to plan a family vacation for sometime in the future. Other than that, who knows. lol
More tomorrow. It's almost 10, and I'm ready for bed!
Today's verse:
Philippians 3:13-14 [Amp]:
13I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
14I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.
Isn't this a great verse for setting goals? I'm after the ultimate goal of living for Christ. These goals help me on my way. I think that this will be my memory verse for this week.
Just a quick note
I will hopefully be posting more tonight, but I wanted to say I'm updating my elements here. I'm home, as I'm extremely congested. So, I'm getting things organized. The book list is going to grow and grow and grow. This is just where I am now. I've already finished my Jane Austen list. One goal I had set for this year was to reread classics I've already read, and read new ones. I have the children working on their own list of classics too. John (DH), Katelyn (DSD) and Michael (DS) and I are voracious readers. I'm buying the Barnes and Nobles versions of the classics. The footnotes and commentaries really help them understand the books. I highly recommend these versions to anyone wanting to expand their reading list. There's one writer that my father introduced me to that I think should be on the list though. Guy de Maupassant is one of the fathers of the short story. The themes of his works can be seen in today's movies and literature and life. I'll be adding that to my list once I get a copy of his short stories with The Necklace in it.
Talk more at ya later.
Talk more at ya later.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
I'm baaaack!!!!
Life got busy, I got sick, and these things happen. lol
Seriously, I didn't think it had been this much time since my last post. I have decided to get serious about blogging. I have a lot going on, and some folks who want to share with me, so here we go. Feel free to email me if you don't see posts on a regular basis. I'm not talking every day here - that's too much pressure - but hopefully more than once a week. I've deleted my other blog, since I wasn't doing much there either.
Let's see. We're settled into country living. The kids are doing awesome in school. DH John is great. He's managed to duck every time I've attempted to use the frying pan on him. lol I was going to delete my old posts and start clean on here, but I like them so they'll stay. The farms around us are starting to green up. They have a little yellow/green look to them. It's awesome! Then again, it's Michigan. We had awesome weather in the 60's yesterday, and it's supposed to snow tonight. Crazy! The water levels are really high in our pond and water table. We needed the water, but now we have to keep an eye out for flooding.
I had a health crisis starting last fall. It started out like the flu, but got worse and worse. I ended up by Christmas not being able to function. I threw up or had bad diarrhea every time I ate. I had extreme bloating and pain. I had gas that could remove paint from the neighbor's house. Bottom line, I was incredibly sick. I slept an average of 15 hours a day. After much medical testing and treatment, I still don't have a clear diagnosis. The doctors did find a growth on my liver, which could possibly be caused by dairy, and think I have early gallbladder disease. With my doctor, we decided to handle it with changes to my diet and getting healthy. I'm limited to 25 grams of fat a day, and nothing I'm allergic to, like dairy.
I have a long list of food allergies that seems to be growing exponentially. "Cheating" and eating those was my habit. John and I decided that since I had done well with this program I was on before, I would go back to that. I signed up to go back to that at the beginning of March. I ended up being in a special program for the first 12 people who signed up in March where we get daily coaching and support. I am now working on this program. What is it, you ask? Ever hear of Marilu Henner? She has a great lifestyle that she advocates. Healthy, comprehensive, and totally doable. Our group has named itself Healthy Inspirations. If I'm still active at the 6 month point, I even get to talk with her. Check out her website at http://www.marilu.com for more information. We have a great coach and I'm so incredibly determined to succeed. After being sick, I'm so determined to not go back to bad health.
So, in addition to my normal ranting and ravings, I'll be charting my progress here for the world to see. I will eventually find the picture of me from Christmas to post as my before picture. It's not pretty. I'm bloated, pasty, in pain and look a hot mess! This weekend, I'll be working on my goals for the next year. I'm not just going to get healthy and look fabulous, I'm going to get my life together and make some other things happen. I'm so excited! I will be posting them on here so you all can keep me honest. hehehe
Hey! If you are looking for a good read, check out any of Marilu's books. She has a new one called "Wear Your Life Well" and it's awesome so far. I'm reading it as I get the time. Coming Monday I will be doing the five day "Booty Camp Blitz" at the end of the book. I just want to kick it up a notch. I started out at 225lbs on March 1st. I'm already down to 218lbs. It was 214lbs, but, um, I had a carb week last week. lol Get the book and follow along! It's going to be a blast! I got my copy at Barnes and Noble.
Well, it's off to bed for me. I've been trying to get the correct amount of sleep now. That means during the week, I'm in bed at 10. I'll be doing that on the weekends soon too. Why stay up late. I just veg on the couch anyway.
Verse for today:
Isaiah 53:5
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities,
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
Nighty Night!
Seriously, I didn't think it had been this much time since my last post. I have decided to get serious about blogging. I have a lot going on, and some folks who want to share with me, so here we go. Feel free to email me if you don't see posts on a regular basis. I'm not talking every day here - that's too much pressure - but hopefully more than once a week. I've deleted my other blog, since I wasn't doing much there either.
Let's see. We're settled into country living. The kids are doing awesome in school. DH John is great. He's managed to duck every time I've attempted to use the frying pan on him. lol I was going to delete my old posts and start clean on here, but I like them so they'll stay. The farms around us are starting to green up. They have a little yellow/green look to them. It's awesome! Then again, it's Michigan. We had awesome weather in the 60's yesterday, and it's supposed to snow tonight. Crazy! The water levels are really high in our pond and water table. We needed the water, but now we have to keep an eye out for flooding.
I had a health crisis starting last fall. It started out like the flu, but got worse and worse. I ended up by Christmas not being able to function. I threw up or had bad diarrhea every time I ate. I had extreme bloating and pain. I had gas that could remove paint from the neighbor's house. Bottom line, I was incredibly sick. I slept an average of 15 hours a day. After much medical testing and treatment, I still don't have a clear diagnosis. The doctors did find a growth on my liver, which could possibly be caused by dairy, and think I have early gallbladder disease. With my doctor, we decided to handle it with changes to my diet and getting healthy. I'm limited to 25 grams of fat a day, and nothing I'm allergic to, like dairy.
I have a long list of food allergies that seems to be growing exponentially. "Cheating" and eating those was my habit. John and I decided that since I had done well with this program I was on before, I would go back to that. I signed up to go back to that at the beginning of March. I ended up being in a special program for the first 12 people who signed up in March where we get daily coaching and support. I am now working on this program. What is it, you ask? Ever hear of Marilu Henner? She has a great lifestyle that she advocates. Healthy, comprehensive, and totally doable. Our group has named itself Healthy Inspirations. If I'm still active at the 6 month point, I even get to talk with her. Check out her website at http://www.marilu.com for more information. We have a great coach and I'm so incredibly determined to succeed. After being sick, I'm so determined to not go back to bad health.
So, in addition to my normal ranting and ravings, I'll be charting my progress here for the world to see. I will eventually find the picture of me from Christmas to post as my before picture. It's not pretty. I'm bloated, pasty, in pain and look a hot mess! This weekend, I'll be working on my goals for the next year. I'm not just going to get healthy and look fabulous, I'm going to get my life together and make some other things happen. I'm so excited! I will be posting them on here so you all can keep me honest. hehehe
Hey! If you are looking for a good read, check out any of Marilu's books. She has a new one called "Wear Your Life Well" and it's awesome so far. I'm reading it as I get the time. Coming Monday I will be doing the five day "Booty Camp Blitz" at the end of the book. I just want to kick it up a notch. I started out at 225lbs on March 1st. I'm already down to 218lbs. It was 214lbs, but, um, I had a carb week last week. lol Get the book and follow along! It's going to be a blast! I got my copy at Barnes and Noble.
Well, it's off to bed for me. I've been trying to get the correct amount of sleep now. That means during the week, I'm in bed at 10. I'll be doing that on the weekends soon too. Why stay up late. I just veg on the couch anyway.
Verse for today:
Isaiah 53:5
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities,
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
Nighty Night!
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