Kelly's DAY FORTY!!!

WE DID IT!

WE DID IT!!

WE DID IT!!!

Okay, so I have to explain to you my day FORTY!

I woke up and had some apple sauce and finished off my SEVENTH gallon of Orange Juice in the last forty days and (obviously!) had some scoops of my FIFTH jar of Peanut Butter in the last forty days!  For lunch, I ate my LAST avocado.

THEN...it got tough.  Dallas and I purchase Brian Regan tickets back in January.  BIG date night last night, and I wanted to ditch the fast at dinner time on day forty.  I wanted a normal dinner!  We were driving to DC, for cryin' out loud!!!  Do you KNOW the culinary delights we could have indulged in in THAT city?!!!  Some of the cupcake shops from those cupcake shows you see on Food Network were within arms REACH!  I passed THREE Starbucks in a two block walk!  PASSED them being the main word there.  People all over the theater were enjoying their wine.  Not ME!  We simply enjoyed Brian Regan at his best:

All in all, it was STILL a wonderful night!  We laughed until we cried, and I knew that I would wake up this morning and declare VICTORY!!!  ...and I DID!  WE DID IT!!!

This morning, I woke up, jumped out of bed and ate my first bowl of Raisin Bran and milk in forty days!  NO SUGAR NEEDED!  I just enjoyed it in all its glory!  

My friend, Lori, invited me to a tea party this morning about twenty days ago, and I have been dreaming of this day for twenty days!  So, I had two pots of tea and all the delights that come with a tea party for lunch.  (I have to admit, I'm a little nervous about what this shock will do to my body)  

And, I'm about to go get a bottle of wine.

Tonight will be fine...

Have a great weekend, everyone!!!

WE DID IT!

Kristin's Day 39 and 40!

So here we are. A LOT has happened the last forty days. If you would've asked me say, fourty four days ago if I could've done this...I would've laughed! I love Kelly pitching the idea of the fast and the blog. I don't think I could've done this alone. There really is strength in numbers ( :

God has taught me quite and few things over the last forty days:

• I feel like it was His idea to open our eyes wide to the 'food world'. I mean, seriously? He created the natural things we eat...we should know a few things about the real stuff, ya know?
• I rarely watch TV anymore. My remote is not my, ahem, inappropriate partner any longer
• I know that I need to be careful with coffee in my life. It is a gift from God, not a crutch for me to depend on more than I depend on Him
• I am still working on the approval thing, but I recognize my need for it and I'm praying that God will continue to change me

We have pretty much eaten or donated everything in the pantry/freezer that has crazy stuff in it. I am still working on how to eat a more real and healthy diet without breaking the bank.  More on that in my new blog...shopping will commence tomorrow or Sunday.

I have been baking our bread for a couple weeks now...I cannot wait to try it tomorrow!

Tomorrow I plan to eat eggs for breakfast with a cup of coffee, banana, and a slice of bread.

Lunch? We have some of that lasange in the fridge...wonder if it's still good, LOL? I guess I'll find out.

Dinner - it's date night and I have no idea what the hubs has planned

It's been real everyone! I might post again on Monday to let you know how it's going. Thank you all so much for your prayers and support during this thing. You might not know it, but it means the world to us. We appreciate you <3

Kelly's DAY 39

~I remember day one of this fast.  I was thinking, "What have I DONE?!" 
~I remember day seven, when I thought, "Wow!  I did a whole week!  And, I'm not shaking so much!  Maybe I CAN do this!"
~I remember when we hit the halfway mark and thinking, "YAY...oh wait, that's only HALF way."
~I remember day thirty, when I thought, "Ugh.  TEN...more days."
~I remember last Saturday when I thought, "This is REALLY getting old.  We've already done this for a MONTH...isn't that enough?!"

Today, we have finished 39 days of this. 
TODAY...is day FORTY!
THIS DAY is the LAST DAY!

My thinking is returning to: "How do I return to 'normal' (whatever that is now)?"

I know several things:
1~Our MEAT will be different:  Grass fed, hormone and antibiotic free
2~Our MILK will be different: Grass fed, hormone free, low pasteurization.  Speaking of cheeses and butter, I will try to buy those organic (when possible).
3~Our VEGETABLES will be different:  Locally grown (because I know my farmers and agree with their practices) when possible, or organic when I can't get it local.  Also, I'm going to try to buy in season as much as possible.
4~Our GRAINS will be different: My wheat grinder just came in the mail the other day.  My bread machine is on the way, and my Mamma will be teaching me how to make my own breads when I'm in Texas in June!  I haven't exactly figured out rices and pastas etc yet.  I'm sure I'll have to compromise a bit because, after all, this IS America, and we don't know WHAT is in our food.
5~My SUGAR intake will be different:  I usually cake sugar onto my "healthy" cereal in the morning.  I'm so over that!  I also usually cake sugar on top of...STRAWBERRIES.  Yes, STRAWBERRIES, folks.  NO MORE!  I'm finished doing that to my body!

See, this has to be FEASABLE!  Otherwise, I'll just run back to my old ways.  I can't drive half an hour to get organic cheddar every time I'm making enchiladas!  We just don't have the resources for this new way of living to be convenient in my small Pennsylvania town.  So, I will try to plan ahead when possible, and if I decide last minute to make enchiladas and don't have any organic cheddar, then by golly, I'll run out to Martins and buy the regular stuff!  I've been eating "conventional" foods this long, and eating it once here or there won't kill us! 

On eating out:  Pretty much all bets are off...since you KNOW we're not buying organic, and you can bet your bottom dollar your Outback Steakhouse steak is NOT grass fed and antibiotic and hormone free!  Again, I'm not going to stop eating out.  It's not going to kill me to have a steak in a restaurant every so often.

So, it's day forty today!
Tomorrow, I can have cereal!
Tomorrow, I can have a cup of tea!
...a Subway sandwich!
...a cookie!
...a glass of wine!
Tomorrow, Tomorrow, the sun'll come out, tomorrow!
...you're ONLY
...a DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY
...AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
...WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!

Kelly's DAY 38-POO, What comes next, and cookies!

Well, I know Kristin wasn't tipsy when she posted that she doesn't want to fart so much anymore since we're only drinking water and 100% juice, but apparently we're goin' there, so if you don't want to talk about POO...just keep scrollin', my friends!

I've been hesitant to post this from the very beginning because I love y'all, I really do, but let's face it...POO...isn't very girlie.  But, since everyone poops, I'm gonna go there.  Heck, there's even a book about it!  AND, if you "google" it, there are now tshirts, too!

So, the first week of this fast, my body went absolutely BEZERK!  I'm talkin', I had the shakes, sleepless nights, no energy, too much energy, and essentially...the runs.  I "went" probably five times a day, and it was loose...and orange.  After about 4 days, I sucked up my pride enough to make a desperate phone call to Kristin, which went something like this: "KRISTIN!  My (whisper) 'POO'...is really loose, and orange, and I'm going all the time!  At what point should I go to the doctor?"  Thankfully, on day five or six, my poo became normal again. 

I've had maybe six people ask me what happens on day 41.  Well, to answer you, I've been a little bit nervous about day 41.  In my head, I wake up, eat a bowl of cereal caked in sugar, run to Starbucks for two or three VENTI Nonfat Peppermint Mochas (with whipped cream), stop at Subway for my specialized Turkey Sandwich, come home, make chocolate chip cookies, throw some veggies in there at dinnertime, add a couple cups of tea, and carry on like Day 0, but the things I've learned while on this fast are telling me, "Don't douse your cereal with sugar anymore!  See what it actually TASTES like!" and "Remember the orange poo?  Don't do that to your body again!"  So, I've been praying about how to reintegrate food into my life, but I just don't know how to do that!  Do I add dairy back first?  Carbs?  Meats?  By the way, I STILL don't really miss meat (except that perfect Turkey Sandwich the Sandwich Artists craft for me at Subway), but I now know what my body does withOUT meat, and I don't like it.  So, I'm still going to continue blogging my food journey back to reality for a little bit when this is officially "over," since y'all have expressed interest in knowing how this all pans out.

I was so stressed out and angry and sad and "WAAAAAH!" yesterday that I went for a run.  It's what I do.  I haven't run in probably two weeks because it wasn't fun anymore because my muscles don't seem to know what to do without protein, so my run yesterday just blew.  It was hard and horrible, and I manpowered through it.  I can't wait for running to be fun again.  I seriously can't.

Yesterday, I also made a batch of chocolate chip cookies.  Usually, I just eat the dough when I make them, but I didn't do that, so when they were finished, I wanted one somethin' fierce.  I saved myself a few for Saturday.  The following conversation took place while I was lovingly stirring the chocolate chips in to the homemade dough:

My son: "Mom, Dad makes really good cookies, too!" 
Me: (Going to the freezer and pulling out the premade, frozen cookies that I bought from the neighbor girl for her track fundraiser)  "You mean, these frozen cookie patties?!!!" 
My son: "Well, they still taste good!" 
What a man. 
Wouldn't know a homemade cookie if it hit him in the face.

Day 38...CHECK!
TWO MORE!!

Kristin's Days 37 & 38

WHOA! The last two days have be CRAZY!! Sorry about not posting yesterday.

I am just: Hungry. I am looking forward to some food that will fill me up without giving me an abundance of gas. Yep. Gas. Farting. WAY TOO MUCH!

Breakfast: Banana/PB and celery
Lunch: Amy's Curried Lentil and a OJ/rasberry/mango smoothie
Dinner: Spinach, tomato, mushroom, avocado salad with olive oil and basalmic vingear
Dessert: popcorn with olive oil and salt.

More tomorrow (:

Kelly's DAY 37!

WHOA!!!
THREE...
MORE...
DAYS!!!

We're at the "I MUST have a COOKIE...but WHY would I do that?  I only have THREE MORE DAYS!" stage now.  Three...long...days.

Actually, despite the fact that I've eaten 3+ jars of peanut butter BY MYSELF since this whole thing began, I am fairly certain that I will continue my new yummy snack!  I also think my new love, hummus, will not fade.  That's a REALLY great snack, folks!  I also think I'm officially a BIG fan of OJ (surprise, surprise, right?)!

So, I was paying a little closer attention to prices in the grocery store today than I normally do.  I compared the organic brand to the brands that I normally buy.  When you're talking produce, you MAY spend a dollar or so more for the organic food (ie. my organic blueberries were $4.99 today, whereas the conventionally grown blueberries were $3.99).  The organic spaghetti sauce I bought was somewhere around $3.50, and the normal Hunts canned sauce I buy (to doctor up) is somewhere around $2.  But, some things, like beans, for instance, were only maybe 40 cents more expensive for organic.  I know meats and dairy are somewhat more expensive, but the way I see it is that I'm buying what's healthy and good and WHOLE for my family.  And, if it costs me, say, 50-100 more bucks each week, then that's what I'm going to pay.  I'm not putting a price tag on my family's health.

Anyhow, I'm sorta bummed that our last day of this fast is Friday for this reason:  My husband and I have had tickets to see Brian Regan in Baltimore since January.  We have this whole date planned, and it's in Baltimore, where food abounds!  OH!  It's sort of a dilemma for me right now.  Jesus fasted for forty days AND forty nights!
 
A~I'm not Jesus.
B~Jesus did not eat AT ALL for 40 days and 40 nights.
C~I'm not Jesus.

I'm a little bit torn...

Kristin's Day 36 - Smoothie LOVE

I blended up a mango, strawberries, peaches, and orange juice last night for dinner. If you think that sounds awesome? You're right. It was DELICIOUS!!!

Breakfast: This morning I had the leftover orange juice blended with peaches. I am SO continuing the blending orange juice with fruit thang. I swear my blend tasted like those crazy expensive Bolthouse creations. Cheaper/homemade is definitely better and if it's just as tasty? TOUCHDOWN! oh...and a banana.

Lunch: Amy's Organic Southwestern Soup...yum!

Mid Afternoon: a small portion of Tostitos with a bigger portion of mushrooms and hummus

Dinner: Corn and peas with PB and celery

Dessert: Air popped yellow corn with a drizzle of olive oil and salt (:

Just in case you didn't see it today, I started a spin off blog, lol. I want to incorporate some of education I've received on this fast into our regular diet. Here's the thing...we only spend $140 on food/household items/diapers & wipes per week. Can eat a more real diet on a budget? If you wanna see if it can be done, check out: Real Food on a Budget.

Only four more posts to go...WOW!

Kelly's DAY 36---NEEDS

“What if God’s will for our life is found wherever someone’s need and our ability intersect?” ~unknown

I was reading God's Littlest Angels Orphanage website today. GLA is an orphanage in Haiti that is run by Americans.  I read Tom's (one of the orphanage founders) blog for a little bit.  Almost everything he wrote challenged me.  Actually, GLA's website in its entirety challenges me.  

James 1: 27 says this: "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..."  For years, I blew through that verse, not giving it a second thought.  Then, my eyes were slowly opened as I became aware of the orphan crisis around the world.  I prayed and prayed, "God, WHAT?  God, HOW?"  How can I care for orphans from way over here in the FIRST WORLD?! And, then I began to question, "God, are you calling US to ADOPT?  What will our parents think?  Our house has lost value, and you want us to spend our money on an adoption?  We could pay off our car!  We only have a four bedroom home (not counting the guest bedroom in the basement)!  Our kids would have to (GASP! Sit down, now!)  SHARE...A...ROOM!  What would our over-the-top family vacations look like if we had FIVE kids?  I mean, our trip to Disney World in '09, our trip to Hawaii in '10?  Could we still afford things like that if we had FIVE kids?"  I questioned almost everything...how many times a week we could eat out with five kids, how much clothes would cost with five kids, sports fees, backpacks each fall and winter coats, could we handle all the homework?  I seriously questioned it all, and I almost came back thinking, "Nope!  We have enough kids!  I'll cut someone a check!  THAT, after all, is the EASIEST way to 'care for orphans'. (you know, cutting a check and not ACTUALLY having to CARE)"   That's when God pulled the rug out from under me using the REST of James 1:27, which says: "...and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  

Oh...

...dear

...me.

Repent.

I HAD ALLOWED MYSELF TO BE POLLUTED BY THE WORLD!!!

My guess is that you have, too...on some level.

This fast has opened my eyes to my wants, my desires, my needs, and to others who live CONSTANTLY with these SAME wants, desires, and needs.  These others, however, have NO ACCESS to these things, whereas mine are sitting right there in my pantry and in my refrigerator, and in my deep freezer in the basement.  MY kids will NEVER know what an empty stomach REALLY feels like, and neither will I, while most of the rest of the world will NEVER know what a FULL stomach feels like.  

You may have heard that there are 146,000,000 (or, ONE HUNDRED FORTY-SIX MILLION) orphans in the world.  I just read today that if we eradicated poverty, there would be TWENTY-NINE thousand orphans.  You heard that right, 29,000 orphans.  That means that 117,000,000 orphans are orphans ONLY because their mommies and daddies couldn't AFFORD TO FEED THEM.  

So, I apologize for complaining about "only" eating fruits and vegetables for the last thirty-six days. How very prideful of me.

"I repent, and I praise You, Father, for providing SO abundantly the foods I am able to serve my family, and for LAVISHING upon us this house and all the things inside it, and for our health!  May ALL honor and glory be Yours, Father!  YOU are the Giver of life!  Amen, Amen."

WHAT DAY ARE WE ON?!

KRISTIN:  WHAT DAY ARE WE ON?  I JUST READ MY DAY 33, WHERE IT SAYS I HAD MY TB TEST READ.  I DID THAT ON SATURDAY.  ALL I KNOW IS THAT THIS PARTY IS OVER THIS SATURDAY!!!

Kristin's Day 34 & 35

Sorry bout yesterday. I said goodbye to my sis and parents about 11:30pm and didn't even remember that we had a blog until I was in bed and turing off the light. I love blogging, but not enough to get out of my bed after a LONG day, lol.

Day 34: I got up, took care of the kids for just a little while, then Andy wisked them off for a 2nd breakfast and soccer. I scooted off to the Drs to get my TB test read. (I really couldn't tell you why Kelly and I happened to have our TB test readings on the same day - it's bizzare frankly, lol.) Then off to help a friend move. Then I get home, sit down for 45min, clean, shower, throw some potatoes in the oven, and welcome my family for dinner.

My sister had this great idea of doing a Mother's Day dinner on Saturday evening so that we wouldn't have to run around like crazy people on Sunday. She's brilliant. I love her.

She made haddock, broccoli, asparagus, and these amazing looking chocolate peanut butter cupcakes. I made baked potatoes, ahem. Anyways...dinner was amazing, well...looked and smelled amazing. Janelle promised to make me some of these cupcakes after the fast is over. Again. I LOVE HER <3

Then my sis, parents and I watched The Vow. Some people hate that movie, but I like it.

Day 35: Mother's Day. I am treated so well by my husband. Every Sunday he lets me sleep until 8am and gets the kids ready for the most part. So, today was really no different than any other day.

BUT I felt like a horrible person when he told me what he wanted to get me for Mother's Day...

After dinner, he tells me that we wants to get the carpets cleaned for me. I didn't know what to say, but I wasn't exactly happy and I was a tad ungrateful.

You see, I have been complaining about my carpets FOR YEARS. Kelly can attest to this fact. There are many, many, and may I add MANY small stains from juice, moutain dew, chocolate, pee, grease, puke, well...there are a lot of small stains.

We put the house up for sale the end of March and even though the carpets don't look horrible by any means, the small stains embarrass me.

It is expensive to get carpets professionally cleaned. Andy did some research to know what method is best to get stains out and everything. I mean, he really wanted to fulfill this dirty carpet need I had.

Alas, before Andy heads up to bed, I say something to the effect of..."I really wish we could've cleaned the carpets last year so I could've enjoyed them. At this point, we're basically getting the carpets cleaned for the people who will buy the house. That's great for them, I guess."

Andy just kinda shrugged and said something to the effect of 'I thought that was something you really wanted. You talk about how dirty the carpets are all the time.'

Ugh. I am so...so...I just don't know.  I'm still struggling to be grateful for this gift. What is wrong with me?

I keep a pretty clean house. So much so, that most people that come to visit comment about how clean it is. I need to get over this. You live in a house, the carpets get dirty, it happens. I love that Andy wants to get the carpets cleaned for me, but honestly...I need to stop constantly complaining about trivial ridiculous things.

Proverbs 19:13b - a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping.

Andy and I hardly if ever fight, but I complain about stupid stuff ALL THE TIME. I bet it is like a constant dripping. Lord, help me turn this faucet off, please.

Kelly's DAY 34 & 35

So, yesterday was a blur. 

All I can remember is that I went to Subway for lunch and took my own Israeli salad, and that I made a steak and potato dinner for "the guys," and I had this black bean/corn/salsa/avocado concoction.

Onto Mother's Day...
Mother's Day in my house usually means breakfast in bed.  My husband will lovingly craft heart shaped pancakes, make me the perfect cup of tea, and bring flowers up.  We discussed this ahead of time, because I feel like him bringing me fruit salad in bed would just be depressing.  So, this year, no breakfast in bed.  I think I'll get one next Saturday, though!  WHOOP!  So, I had a fruit salad for breakfast, Chipotle for lunch, and some peanut butter, applesauce and an avocado for dinner.

And, speaking of Chipotle for lunch, I looked over, and WHO should I see eating lunch, but Farmer Matt and Farmer Mary with their kids!  Mary asked me last week if I wanted to bring the kids strawberry picking, and I definitely wanted to, but when I was free, it was raining.  So, when Matt and Mary told me they were picking strawberries, I asked, "Can we come pick with you?"  We got the go ahead, so we ran out there this afternoon!

Matt gave us a quick "Which Strawberries To Pick" lesson, and we were on our way!

The great thing about Matt and Mary's job is that they can work and reload at the same time!

 

These are some well loved strawberries!  

 

Their strawberry "bushes?" were just teeming with BRIGHT RED BERRIES!

 

We picked all the way up one side of this line, but their farmhands were LIGHTNING fast!  It was amazing to watch them go!

 

Our favorite farmers: Matt and Mary!

We picked about five baskets of strawberries, and we took two home!  Then, Mary took us into their deep cooler, where the sweetest apples you ever did taste were being stored since last fall!  She sent us home with two boxes of apples and a quart of their homemade apple cider!

 

Apples!

 When Kristin and I first visited Matt and Mary's farm, they had probably a hundred beehives, but those bees left for California recently (no, I'm not kidding).  These bees were left behind to tend to the farm (actually, I don't know why they're still here, but they are)!  

So, that was my Mother's Day in a nutshell!  I can't believe this fast is quickly coming to a close!  

I should start planning my first dinner now!

Kelly's DAY 33!

Heya, Folks!

Yesterday was a blur...allergies, AND...I was all over that day like white on rice!

Anyhow, life's busy...BUSY...right now!  More "stuff" keeps piling on the BIG stuff we already have going on, and honestly, if I wasn't in the homestretch right now, I think I'd be a big ball of crazy.  Thank God!  He is sustaining me through ALL THIS!  :)

Dinner last night was my daughter's Girl Scout banquet.  Whenever I hear about things like BANQUETS and TEAS, and BRUNCHES, I get nervous now.  I had a HUGE plate of fruit salad and some veggies.  Someone said to me, "LOOK at ALL THAT FRUIT!"  haha.  I just kept eating.

I am thankful that, at our neighborhood BUNCO, my sweet friend, Donna, actually thought of ME when she made all the delectable snacks!!!  Thanks you so much, Donna!  You are too sweet!

This morning, I'm off to get my Tb time test read and cheer my kids on in their soccer game and help a friend pack her house up for her move across town.  We've had three house guests in two days, and we have another one tonight.  I also just remembered I was supposed to bring snack to the soccer game.  Have to run! 
Have a good one, everybody!

Kristin's Day 33 - This is Day 33, right?

Okay, one week to go. The race is getting shorter...amen, HALLELUJAH!

So, if you'd follwing me on FB, last night I dreamt I ate a pumpkin flavored donut slathered in white frosting with chocolate drizzle. I could smell it. It smelled so sweet. I could taste it and it was SO good. I don't really dig donuts in real life, but since this is night two of dreams with eating? I sense God is giving me a foodie blessing and I am ever so grateful. Thank you Lord for letting me indulge via dreams <3

I just finished a book called 'The Christian Atheist' by Craig Groeschel. I was a fast read and very similar to another book I've read recently called 'Not a Fan' by Kyle Idleman. I highlighted this section of the book and thought I'd share it with you. As I read it today, I was reminded how blessed we are and how we don't realize the abundance we have.

" Recently, I traveled to Tegucigalpa, Honduras, with our church to help build homes for people in need. Our translator took our leaders into the home of a single mom. To call it a home is really a gross overstatement; it was barely a shack, built mostly from cardboard. Five people lived in a space about the size of our master bedroom closet. It had dirt floors, no running water, and a hole in the back yard to take care of business. It was so dirty that it made me nervous when the sweet lady served us lunch.
     With a warm smile and more hugs than I'm used to, she placed some form of meat in front of me. Not wanting to insult her, I ate the meatlike substance, praying with each bite for God's protection. When we finished our sparse meal, my translator asked if I noticed that no one else had meat.
     Once he mentioned it, the truth hit me - every other plate had been covered in beans and tortillas. He explained that she had been told how much I like meat. Tears started to roll down my cheeks as he explained that she never enjoyed meat herself, and that she had saved her money for months to bless me with meat.
     We Christian Atheists are slaves. This Hounduran woman is truly free."

He's right. We have so much and think that we have so little. We are always trying, striving, and fighting to get more. A kind woman in a cardboard shack brought this America pastor to his knees.

God, I want to not care about 'stuff'. Lord, please help me remember how blessed I am and use what I have to love/help/serve/bless/provide those around me in your name.

Kelly's DAY 32

It's Day 32...no biggie.

The thing about this fast is this:  I can talk spiritual things, because that is why I did this to begin with (ie. how God is working in and through me through this fast), and I can talk to people about the information I'm learning (ie. my conversation with my hairdresser last night)!

Funny thing that I've realized since we began is this:  If you ALLOW yourself to surrender to God's plan, and if you OBEY His calling, life will NOT get any EASIER!!! I REPEAT:  It will not get easier!!!  You would think it would work like that, right?  Disobey~life gets hard.  Obey~life is easy breezy!  Not how it works, folks!  If you actually surrender...if you ACTUALLY obey, you will undoubtedly experience some SERIOUS trials and/or temptations!  I mean, take Jesus' life, for instance!

"[Jesus] Who, being in very nature God, 

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing, 

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man, 

he humbled himself and became obedient to death-

even death on a cross!"

Philippians 2: 6-8

Jesus obediently came to Earth to fulfill the Prophecy!  He had a job to do, and He did it.  Life down here wasn't EASIER for Him just because He obeyed!  It was HARD!  Remember, He knew what was coming in the Garden of Gethsemane, and He was so stressed out that he was sweating drops of BLOOD (read Luke 22: 39-46 for the whole scene)  He got absolutely PUMMELED the night before He went to the cross!  "...his [Jesus'] appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness-" Isaiah 52: 14  THAT doesn't sound EASY, does it?!  It sounds GROSS!  Can you imagine the outcry that would rise up NOWADAYS if someone was beaten "BEYOND HUMAN LIKENESS"?!!  Jesus' obedience was HARD!!

Come to think of it, Jesus NEVER had it EASY!  As SOON as He entered into ministry full-time, things got hard!  "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil." Matt 4: 1  He was TEMPTED when He was FASTING for forty days and forty nights! 

I think I entered into this fast thinking it would clear my head, help me to focus on God, and hoping I could get answers to some of the questions I'd thrown out there into the atmosphere.  I was sort of taken aback when I came to some "crises" where I actually had to make physical progress forward in faith while wanting desperately to take back control of the situation.  I was taken aback when temptation crept up to the doorways of my heart.  WHY?!  Scripture's clear on this matter!  I SHOULD HAVE EXPECTED this!  Thankfully, Hebrews 2: 18 tells us "Because he himself [Jesus] suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted."  

I could go on and on talking about this subject.  There is SO MUCH in the Bible concerning this topic, but hopefully I have made my two points clear:  

1~If you act in obedience to God...if you surrender to His will, life may not get easier!  In fact, it MAY get HARDER!!!  There will be trials!

2~If you obey God, you will LIKELY encounter some major temptations in nearly every area of your life!

Why would I think it would go any differently for ME than it did for JESUS?!  

Hebrews 2: 17 tells us 

"...he had to be made like his brothers in every way, 

in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, 

and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people."  

 Jesus experienced EVERY temptation or trial we would go through.  He can relate!  I'm so thankful that He knows what we're going through!  The fact that He's "removing the dross" even as He refines ME into pure silver is humbling.

EVEN THOUGH it's gotten hard...

EVEN THOUGH I struggle through temptation...

He is MY Advocate!

Praise Jesus!

Kristin's Day 32

I had the CRAZIEST dream last night. I was at the table eating and talking with YL folks.

Let me back up. We have dinner for the YL campaigner crowd every Wednesday night. Last night's menu was The Best Lasanga. Ever. by the Pioneer Woman. If you'd like to try it, here ya go: The Best Lasagna. Ever. Recipe. As I was making it yesterday I was savoring the smells. If it was as delicious as it smelled? It's ballin.

Ok, so back to my dream. I was at the table eating and talking with YL folks...eating...LASAGNA!!! The weird part was that it was crunchy. Part of me wonders if I was chomping on my molars in reality during this dream.

This is my life right now. This is freakin hilarious.

Eh, I don't really have much else to say. Have a great one everybody...tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!

My daughter said I'm "WEIRD."

My son internalizes a lot of stuff and never really speaks his mind.  He knows what I'm up to with this fast, though, which he made clear when he proudly declared, "Hey, everyone!  Look at what my MOM is eating for lunch!" yesterday on the bus. 

My daughter, much the opposite of her big brother, will NOT stop talking.  It's amazing the conversations you can have in the car with your kids when you turn the radio down (don't get me wrong, I totally blare the radio sometimes when I've had enough and want to hide)! 

"Mommy?  When are you finished with your fast?  I want you to be done already!"
Me: "Why?"
Daughter: "Because it's WEIRD!"
Me: "WEIRD?  Why do you think it's weird?!"
Daughter:  "Because you make us dinner, and you don't even eat it!"
Me: "Well, do you want to eat only vegetables and fruits?"
Daughter: "Blech!  NO!"
Me: "Well, then, I have to make y'all dinner."
End of conversation.
Yes, that was an abrupt end. 
Abrupt ends happen when you're talking to 6-year-olds.


Onto another story:
I had my adoption physical today.  There's a box that says "DIET" for the doctor to fill out. 
Doctor: "How's your diet?"
Me: (deer in the headlights look)  "Well, right NOW, I'm only eating fruits and vegetables."
Doctor: "But, you're not vegan, or anything?"
Me: (hmm...)  "OH, No!  Not vegan!" (Vegans eat BREAD, for cryin' out loud!)

My daughter thinks I'm weird.
I'm pretty sure my doctor concurs.
~Kelly

Kristin's Day 31

Breakfast: OJ, Banana, Kiwi, PB and celery

Lunch: Amy's Organic Black Bean Soup and corn chips

Mid-Afternoon: Carrots and Hummus

Dinner: Brussel Sprouts with unsweetened ketchup

Dessert: undecided

SO, I had to go up to Chambersburg to get fingerprinted and since we were so close, we stopped by Trickling Springs Creamery. I picked up a gallon of their Farm Friend Skim Milk and a 1/2 Gallon of their Creamline non-homogenized Milk. I would tell you what it tastes like, but I'm not drinking milk right now, lol.

I stopped by Kline's grocery on the way home. They have some really good meat specials. I usually get their 10lb bulk specials on ground beef and chicken. Now that I'm starting to care about where my meat comes from, I'm in a dilemna. I go in the store to find that 10lb chicken is $1.69 per pound and 10lb ground chuck is $2.79 per pound. A month ago I would've bought 10lbs of each and froze it in in 1lb packages.

Not today. Today I went in and looked at the chicken. It's from Delaware. The breasts are bigger than my own boobs. Then, I ask the lady behind the counter where the beef comes from. They say Maine. What? All this time, I thought Kline's meat came from local sources? Should I care? I walked out of the store empty handed.

Help me. Should I care where my meat comes from? Should I care that the dairy cow is treated with TLC and grass fed? True, I do not want hormones in my meat, but most packages claim that no hormones were used...??

And for that matter - this is a terribly slippery slope cause then I should probably care about how my clothes were made and how my jewelry is made? What about cleaning products/toxins? MAKE IT STOP!

I ask: HOW NOW SHALL I LIVE? I feel like I'm in a fog. 

I am changing the subject. I'll keep praying and trying to figure this out. 

My husband is going to join me for this last leg of the fast (: I love him. 

PS - I still do not like Brussel Sprouts. I roasted them in the oven in olive oil, salt and pepper and I guess they were ok, but amazing? Nope. 

Kelly's DAY 31!

Single digits!
WHASSUP?!

Anyhow, I just read Kristin's DAY THIRTY post.  LOVED IT.  I would add an "Amen, Amen" to the end of that!  She and I talked the other day because someone she knows did a 21 day "true" Daniel fast without telling anyone!  There's truth in that!  I love that this lovely lady did that!  :)  I totally understand why God asks us to do some things in privacy!  I also love that several of my own friends have been spurred on to fast since we began our fast!  "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another!" Proverbs 27:17  :)

This was FIELD TRIP DAY!!!  I helped chaperone the third grade field trip to the Baltimore Aquarium.  Wake up time? 5:40.  I had to have my kids up, dressed and fed by 6:45 so my oldest and I could make it to school an hour early, and so our babysitter didn't have to get my schoolgirl AND my toddler ready.  Coffee would have been nice.  Tea, too.  OJ did it's job relatively well.  I grossed out the boys I was with on the bus when I drank my Naked "Green Machine."  None of them would try it.  !)  I just have to tell you: I'm TOTALLY BEAT right now!  We saw the ENTIRE Aquarium...THREE...TIMES!!!  I'm sure that taking a group of GIRLS would have been MUCH different than the boys I had with me.  I'd catch up to them, try to figure out what fish on the fish chart they were pointing to in order to tell them a little bit about it, and by the time I figured out what to tell them, they were off to the next tank!  PHEW!  I mean, we even got a one-on-one Q&A session with the Marine Scientist who keeps the stingrays.  We raced up the cool flat elevators, we went to the dolphin show, the boys enjoyed the mist in the rainforest...THREE...TIMES (except the dolphin show...only saw that once).  But, really...who can say that they were in a rainforest AND Australia three times in one day?  Answer: Me.

We ate lunch on the bus ride home.  I carefully packed my lunch at 11pm last night when I got home.  I chose to take chips and guacamole, which I ate as a snack before we got there at 9am (remember, I'd been up for 3+ hours at this point, so I might as well eat a lunchtime snack), red bell pepper, celery and carrots with hummus, and pistachios (can I just say this lunch was somewhat difficult to eat on a bus?)!  My son proudly pointed out what I was eating to his buddies.  They were all taken aback.  One of the dads even declared, "GREAT!  Now I feel guilty for what I'm eating!"  I just smiled.  One of them asked me for some celery, which I absolutely obliged!  Then, I brought out the pistachios, and surprisingly enough, they ALL went to TOWN on the salted, shelled goodness!

For dinner, I had some steamed soybeans.  So...about soybeans...I'm pretty sure you burn as many calories that you take in when you have to shell all those stinkin' little beans.   And, I don't love them so much that I'm going to waste my time shelling them again soon.  I'm going to give them one thumb up for flavor and one thumb down for "prep effort."

That's all I have to say about today.  I'm dog tired.
OH!  Guess how many gallon sized OJ bottles we have in our recycle bin!
 Four.
Yeah...

Kristin's Day 30

I think, YES! I actually can see the light at the end of this cheeseless, coffeeless, eggless TUNNEL!!! Home stretch, here we come (:

I am inspired right now. There are so many people who tell me that they have started a fast or want to fast. I can say, from personal experience...it is SO worth it. If you're thinking about it, do it.

What did Jesus teach his disciples about fasting??

Matthew 6:16-18
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. "

1. When you fast...I do not think Jesus thought for a second that his disciples wouldn't fast, do you? When you fast tells me that fasting is just is part of this surrendered life thing. When you fast tells me that this will be one of many fasts I will do in my life.

2. Don't make it look like you're in pain or mourning or...or...yeah. Sure, I miss cheese and coffee, but I don't bawl like a baby in front of the deli counter or tell everyone I come in contact with that I would be a kinder person with some coffee. I look like a normal chick, going about her day...they have no idea, lol.

3. Done in secret? Well, Kelly...I think we stretched this one, but I don't know about you...this blog has been awesome. A lot of people say 'I don't know how you're doing this' but - read, know, try it!

Bottom line? You should totally fast. Media fast? Do it. Coffee fast? Do it. We live in a culture that is slathered with indulgence and the motto: You Deserve It. How can God chip away at us, work on us, speak to us if we never deny ourselves anything? Wait...another verse comes to mind.

Matthew 16:24
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."

Do we deny ourselves? I mean...do we? I am so glad Kelly suggested this and we're doing this. After this is over, I will need to fast from coffee regularly, so that I will not get hooked again.

I need to deny myself coffee, TV, and probably other things God will reveal on a consistent basis so that I will not worship them again. Fasting is needed. Fasting is necessary. Fasting is SO worth it.

Kelly's DAY THIRTY!!! TEN...MORE...DAYS!!!

This morning, I had three scoops of peanut butter and...dum, da-da-DUM...OJ...again.

Lunch was this weird smorgasboard (NO, I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SPELL THAT!  I came in SECOND place in my school's spelling bee in second grade, not FIRST!  And, a SIXTH GRADER BEAT ME, thank you very much!  And, NO!  I'm not bitter!  I'm actually quite PROUD of myself for coming in SECOND in SECOND GRADE!  REGARDLESS, I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SPELL THAT!  GET OFF MY CASE!!! SHEESH!).  I had some olives, some chips and guacamole, some carrots, more OJ, a couple bites of celery, and some pistachios (told you it was a smorgas...weird mix of eats).

I passed two Starbucks today, and I didn't even bat an eyelash at the first one, but the second one...OH...the second one...I SO VERY MUCH wanted to stop and indulge.  At this point in our little "marathon" we have goin' on, though, I'm wondering what sugar and/or caffeine would actually DO to me!  I mean, the baking aisle now smells TOO sweet to me!  Yeah...for those of you that know me...there can NEVER be enough SUGAR or CHOCOLATE and/or PEANUT BUTTER-n-CHOCOLATEY THINGS...EVER!!!  How is it even POSSIBLE that something smells "too sweet"?!

So, my husband and I are in this weird "WAIT on the Lord" but also "RUSH AROUND TO COMPILE TONS OF STUFF WHILE YOU WAIT" phase right now.  Today, I had a LOT of stuff to do.  I ran over to our church, ran to get my FBI fingerprints updated (for our adoption, although I wish I could just tell you that I was getting them done and leave you wondering if I'm an FBI agent or not), ran back to church, ran to the post office, and ran down to the Frederick County Courthouse in Maryland.  I got pulled over on the way to get fingerprinted.  Don't know why, or how, but the police officer let me off.  He actually just walked up to me and told me how fast he thought I was going.  I told him how fast I thought I was going.  Then, I admitted I had no clue what the speed limit was on that road.  He told me he was just going to give me a warning before he even saw my license! 
God bless America! 
God bless that officer! 
God bless ALL the men in blue, for that matter! 
Just...God bless everyone! 
And, when he came back to my car with my warning, he actually said, "Good luck with your adoption!"  HUH?  WHO ARE YOU, and WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM?! 

On my trip through the torrential downpour to the courthouse, I finally made it there to find their computers are down today.  Their excuse?  "There's a train wreck."  HUH?  As in, a choo-choo train? 

Anyhow, it's been a LONG day.  And, speaking of "LONG days."  I never have quite understood that saying.  It's not like today had even one more minute than YESTERDAY!

I had sauteed chickpeas for dinner-olive oil, salt and pepper, and chickpeas.  Yep.  Dinner of Champions, right there, baby! 

I will likely drink a couple more cups of OJ as well.
I'm beat, but I still have to walk with my preggo friend so we can get her baby out and I can claim that I helped get her out, and watch Kristin's kids for their last Young Life Club tonight.

In honor of the Frederick County Courthouse's computer system (downed by a train?  Sorry...I'm skeptical), I would like to recite to you the words that will get me through this evening...because we all know coffee or tea or those ice cold cans of coke screaming "DRINK ME" from my 'fridgerator door every time I open it won't get me through:

I think I can...
I think I can...
I think I can...
I know I can...

Kelly's DAY 29

I slept horribly last night.
I was up for two hours while a diesel truck was idling on our road (yeah...between 2am and 4am).
I'm a super light sleeper.
That makes for a fail-of-a-day when you can't have coffee or tea.

I cannot remember what I ate yesterday, but I know I added OLIVES to my repertoire.  Good life decision?  We'll see.

I've also been on antibiotics since Wednesday.  Right now, I'd be pumping myself full of yogurt, but since it's on the DO NOT EAT list, who knows what is happening all up in these parts!

Kristin brought me our newest experiment yesterday.  A cookbook that was recommended to us by our friends, Matt and Mary (our favorite local farmers).  It's a book that teaches you how to cook by the seasons so you can enjoy and make the most of the fresh, local produce!  If you're in a CSA, or if you are planning to buy your produce from Matt and Mary (like I am), then this cookbook is a MUST HAVE!!!  It's called, "Simply in Season."  They told me that this week they have STRAWBERRIES, "Lots and lots of strawberries," to be exact.  THAT'S what I like to hear!  Oh, strawberries, you have bewitched me, body and soul (shout out to Mr. Darcy-Pride and Prejudice-you are a true man, worthy of any woman's heart)  He also told me they'd have rhubarb, which makes me chuckle, because every time he talks about rhubarb, I think of Veggie Tales and yell out (in my head, but sometimes out loud), "RHUBARBARIANS!"  Anyhow, that's what they have this week.

Okay, so that was my day 29.
Eleven days doesn't seem so daunting!
We gon' DO THIS THANG!

Kristin's Day 29

It has been a really long week, oh...wait...it's only Monday.

I have my hands in a few too many things right now and it's starting to take a toll on me. How do you balance what you want to do with what you need to do? Tough question. I'm working on it.

Back in my BC (before Christ) days, it's was SUPER hard to say no to anyone...I mean...what if they didn't like me if I said 'no'? Yep. I was that insecure. My insecurities still creep up from time to time like an annoying old friend that you really just don't want to see anyone but - there they come anyway.

Now, I really contemplate before committing to something. I've stepped back from quite a few things actually. I used to dance with the ladies at Otterbein...I used to teach the children's dance at Otterbein...I used to help in the nursery once a month...I used to participate in Girl's Night Out...I used to run a daycare out of my home...I used to work out (wait, I should rethink that one) the list goes on. I am learning to say no, but I still have a ways to go.

So, today - admist all of the other things I was doing - errands, preschool running, household chores, finding a rci week for a YL girl and I, figuring a game plan for selling our house, catching up with the builder of the condo, Nate/Peyton/Nastassja, returning emails, calls, and texts, finalizing the workshop outline for the Haiti trip, working on the club powerpoint for tomorrow...

I decide that I needed to rearrange the furniture.

Again.

I am a rearrange the furnitureaholic. 

Normally, I look at a room...see my already exsisting furniture, envision a change, and do it. I do this about once every month or so. I move things that no woman my size or stature should move. I should videotape myself, it would be hysterical.

The front of the house was the target today. I wanted to have a great first impression for buyers. Good thought, right? Well, the rearranging included two large club chairs, two bookcases stocked with books, and two corner units. I am not eating the way I normally do. THIS WAS DUMB.

I was about halfway through and realized that I was completely exhausted. I moved one of the corner units up the stairs and into the guest room. It was an impressive feat. Good thing Nate was sleeping. The problem was that I didn't like it in the guest room and I was bone tired. I manpowered through the rest and...and...I still don't know what to do with the corner units. There are like no good corners in this huge house. I hope my sister wants them.

I'm done. Sorry for the long post. It's late, I'm long winded.

Breakfast - OJ, celery and PB

Lunch - My potato, artichoke, fire roasted tomato, bean, spinach, corn, herb concoction with refried beans on top (next time I'll leave out the artichoke)

Mid-Afternoon - corn chips

Dinner - More concoction

Dessert - PB

Kristin's Day 28

COMMUNION
So, I took communion today. Kelly and I completely differed on opinion with this one. As soon as I walked into the sanctuary, I saw the table with the communion stuff on it. Should I do it? I felt like I should.

This fast has taught me that I don't fill my voids with food, but with coffee, TV, and approval seeking. I'm sure there's a ton of other things God will be bringing to my attention, lol.

Today, I loved that the only bread and grape juice that have touched my lips the last 27 days was in rememberance of what He has done for me and for you.

MILK
I promised that I would write about milk today. I FINALLY finished the book: What the Bible says About Healthy Living today. Phew. There was a lot of good stuff in it, but dang was it a slow read for me.

Anyways...milk. At this point, I am completely against any growth hormone in my milk. Interestingly enough, the milk at Sam's Club and Walmart claim that no hormones are used. Huh, that's a step in the right direction. I know for a fact those cows are milk machines and don't get to enjoy being cows. It's like I'm buying slave milk or something.

So, let's chat moo juice.

Pasteurization heats the milk to kill any bacteria or disease causing thing in the milk. It sounds really smart, I don't want cow poo in my milk. There are a couple different processes to choose from, but the jist is that they heat it up and then cool it down really fast.

Homogenzied Milk. What's that? Well, lemme tell ya. Milk - even after pasteurization has pretty large fat molecules that seperate and cause the cream to rise to the top. You have to shake the milk before you drink it so the cream distributes evenly again.

Homogenzied Milk shakes things up and makes the fat molecules become smaller so you don't have to shake it. Again, sounds cool and smart, right?

Well, according to my book, the bigger fat molecules pass through your system really great, but the small fat molecules go directly to your blood stream and can raise your triglyceride and cholesterol levels unnecessarily.

Also from wikipedia:
Fans of raw milk (meaning milk that has not been pasteurized or homogenized) credit it with having more beneficial bacteria and enzymes than its processed counterpart. However, raw milk cannot be preserved for a long time and its disadvantages may exceed its benefits. In fact, raw milk is far more likely to contain harmful microbial contaminants, and pasteurization is the only effective way of killing most pathogen bacteria. On the other hand, raw milk does contain antimicrobial properties, which are destroyed with the heat of pasteurization, along with many of the vitamins within the milk itself. Raw milk consumption has also been shown to positively influence the immune system's resistance to the development of asthma, hay fever, and atopic sensitization, although the mechanism is not entirely understood. 

I'm still VERY skeptical of raw milk, but at least I know a little more about it. The Family Cow in Chambersburg makes it and sells it. Paul's Country Market also sells raw milk.

I'm pretty sure that Misty Meadows and Trickling Springs pasteurize, but do not homogenize their milk. I've bought both at this point, but they do not sell it in Gallon quantities at Misty Meadows and it's never in stock at Paul's. We go through moo juice QUICK round here.

Also, Misty Meadows only sells whole milk, which is great for Nate but the rest of the family drinks skim.  So, sadly...I am still buying milk at Walmart until I figure out my food budget (more on that later, ugh) and how to get it in gallons without paying a delivery service.

Kelly's DAY 28

This morning I had applesauce and some OJ.

Lunch for me was an avocado and some black beans with salsa.

Dinner: A bunch of raw carrots.

I also have several glasses of OJ, and I'm about to go get another one...whatcha gonna do about it, foo?!

!)

That's about all I have to say tonight. 
Let's have a great week!
~k

Kelly's Holy Dilemma

Got up and went to church this morning.

At our church, we take communion on the first Sunday of the Month...as in, TODAY.  I wasn't exactly prepared for this dilemma to creep up, but as soon as the pastor said they were going to pass the bread around, I started freaking out (and praying).  WHAT TO DO?!  I mean, it's COMMUNION!!!  SURELY it's okay to take COMMUNION!!!  But, I felt Jesus gently remind me, "I am the bread of life." I think He wanted me to fore-go half of communion to leave me in want.  It's sort of a metaphor for what's going on in life right now.  I have a definite void (FOOD), but REALLY...is my void REALLY just...FOOD?  Or is it more?  Today, as I took half of communion, I felt like Jesus was revealing to me that He WILL fill the void, but that He wants me to FEEL the void (taking 1/2 of communion) so that I would be reminded of His body, being sacrificed for ME.  So I would be reminded not to live as a hypocrite, slapping Jesus in the face with the same 'ole sins I continually commit, and then running to church and prostituting communion.  Would I choose to obey?

Yes.

I know there is a LOT of discrepancy in God's Church regarding communion.  I realize that to some, my choice may come across as extreme legalism.  I also know the Scriptures regarding food etc that are probably streaming between the temples of your head.  For the record, YES!  I do realize that our communion bread is unleavened!  :)  Even my Catholic brothers and sisters in Christ are probably slightly annoyed that I am not capitalizing the "C" in communion.  I know all that.  HOWEVER, I'm not here to please YOU, but GOD.  I don't want to be like Moses, who went against what God commanded of him, and was never able to cross into the Promised Land!

I said it once.  I'll say it again.
HE is MY bread.

Kristin's Day 27

I have blog writer's block today. I really don't know what to say.

Oh! There was one cool thing that happened. Love when YL kids call me with news about how God is working through them to reach their friends...definite highlight (:

Andy's camping with Peyton tonight. They planned on roasting marshmallows, bet Peyton loved it.

Breakfast: Banana, grapefruit juice and PB
Lunch: salad at Cafe Del Sol minus the feta, changed out the dressing
Mid afternoon: avocado, PB, and corn chips
Dinner: strawberries
Dessert: I haven't decided yet...

I'm reading about milk in my book right now. Some interesting stuff indeed...more on that tomorrow!

Kelly DAY 27

Are we there yet?
No.
Are we there yet?
NO.
Are we there yet?
NO!  Do NOT ask me again!  We're HOURS AWAY from where we're going!!!
That's how I feel right now.
It's like a flashback to circa 1989 when we were moving to Spain from Texas, but we drove to Utah to visit family and then to New York LaGuardia via CANADA!
THAT...is how I feel right now.
Stuck in a perpetual vegetable and fruit medley with days and days and days to go.
THAT...is how I feel right now.

Breakfast: Applesauce and two glasses of OJ
Lunch:  The family had this fantastic BBQ made by Michael the Mennonite.  I ate an avocado and steamed sugar snap peas when we got home.
Snack:  Two HUGE glasses of OJ.
Dinner:  The family had baked lasagna, homemade garlic bread I bought from our Mennonite Market, and asparagus.  I...had a plate full of asparagus.

I also made cookies, hot fudge sundaes, and muffins for our small group tomorrow.  Yep.  It's kinda like that.  Hours in the kitchen.  I end up steaming some steam-in-a-bag veggies for myself. 

It's all good.  I'm the one who said, "YES" to this, right?  I'm still trying to figure out WHY, exactly.  Maybe it's a lesson in self control?  Maybe it's just to see if I'd say "YES" and then obey?  Maybe I had a momentary lapse of sanity?  Regardless of the reason, I'm sorta feeling like God's far away today.  I feel like I've been BUSTIN' MY CHOPS...all alone. 

Adoption paperwork just might be the death of me.  I can't STAND all this PAPERWORK!!!  I'm DROWNING IN IT!! LITERALLY DROWNING IN PAPERWORK!!!  I don't even know what to do next, what I just did, what needs to be notarized, what doesn't, if my social worker even exists anymore!  I WANT OUT!!  Can I please HIRE SOMEONE ELSE to REDO OUR DOSSIER?!!!  Any takers?!!!  I'll put your children through college, pay to have your house cleaned weekly until you DIE, wash your car DAILY (including vacuuming the inside and windex-ing the windows), do all your laundry every week for five years, be on-call to babysit your children...and your children's children until the day I die, just DON'T MAKE ME DO ANY MORE PAPERWORK!!! 
NO MORE! 
NO MORE! 
GOD~WILL YOU MAKE A WAY?!!!
DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR PROMISE?!!!
IS ANYBODY OUT THERE?!!!

I need more orange juice.

Kristin's Day 26

Breakfast - Banana, grapefruit juice, and PB
Lunch - Raw Mushrooms and Carrots with hummus, corn chips, strawberries
Dinner - Greek salad from Waynesburger minus feta and pita...add hummus
Dessert - PB and strawberries

I read Kelly's post and I am right there with her. I feel like I eat so much and then I'm hungry like 45 minutes later.

Nate (my 19 month old son) got a mushroom out of the container and tried to dip it in the hummus like Mommy during lunch. Awh, so cute. He wants to be like me...alas...FAIL.

1. He does not like mushrooms or hummus
2. He got a ton of hummus all over his hands
3. He wiped his hands all over the table

Peyton is liking his blueberry/applejuice honey yogurt now.

Nastassja told Andy that she wants to fast. Huh, we need to think about that one. Fasting from sweets would be a major thing for her, but I would want her to really understand what/why she would do that. More on that later as it unfolds (:

Kelly's DAY 26

This'll be short and sweet since it's Friday, and I'm tired and am about to watch a movie with the hubs.

I ate a LOT of food today...all APPROVED food, but a lot of it.
Turns out, I think my body is craving meat...literally CRAVING protein.
As much as I eat, it is not exactly satisfying this hunger.
I need to remember to run to God instead of Chipotle...since I still cannot eat meat when I'm at Chipotle, and Chipotle is only sort of satisfying my need for food.

Been busy, busy, busy this week!

Kelly's fun facts from today:
~Had blood work done this morning, and I'm interested to see the outcome since my drastic dietary changes have taken place.
~I'm pretty much to the bottom of my THIRD JAR of peanut butter in the last 26 days (no, I didn't share the PB)
~Adoption paperwork is RIDIC.

Peace out, friends!

Wall Street Journal Reports

"Opponents of genetically modified foods are making headway in California with a proposed ballot initiative that would require food companies to label many products containing such ingredients." 

Okay, so here on the East Coast, we tend to think "Left Coasters" are a little bit waack.  I'm probably generalizing big time here.  I LOVE California.  I also LOVE Californians (shout out to Chico, Mariah and Sebi and Jen and Cam!)!  But, in general, I think we think of them as "out there hippies."  Look what they have been up to, though!  This is pretty awesome!  Apparently Californians have been very busy collecting signatures of organically minded people in order to include this proposal in their November 6th elections!  They turned in millions of signatures of people who signed a petition, and by so doing, they have made their voices known.  WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S IN OUR FOOD!!!  They are seeking transparency in our food industry!  I'm with you, CALI!  We on the "Right Coast" tip our hats to YOU! KUDOS!

The Wall Street Journal reports that lawmakers in 20 states in the past year have pushed forward proposals that would require GMO enhanced products to be broadcast on the label.  Apparently none of these bills have become law yet, but it's in the running!  I have been wondering this for YEARS!  WHY won't you tell me what I'm EATING?!!!

Get this:  According to The Journal, the European Union, Japan, Australia, Brazil among other countries require GMO foods be labelled!  What Cali (and these other 20 states) are trying to push forward is NOT "out there hippie" talk!  It's what's called "NORMAL" in all these other countries!

The USDA, of course, says genetically engineered foods are no less safe than conventional foods.  How did this even come up for DEBATE?!  And, for the record, Kristin and I have been primarily focusing on vegetables to date, but it gets REALLY UGLY when you start talking about meat and dairy products!

Anyhow, Cali is up against some BIG DOGS....ever heard of Monsanto (the company that has the patent on the Round Up Ready Corn and was featured on the documentary FOOD INC)?  Dupont?  The Grocery Manufacturers Association, which includes 300 members, including Coca-Cola, and Kellogs, also are opponents of labeling GMO foods.  Remember that Coke and Kellogs are just a member of this Association, they may or may not back labeling GMO foods.  And, recently, I found that Coke and Kellogs actually alter their recipes to comply with laws and desires of other countries (Ever wondered why coke tastes different elsewhere?). 

So, I'm cheering you on from PA, CALI!!!  Go get 'em!  And, thank you, Ian Berry, of the Wall Street Journal, for your insightful article!  For the entire Wall Street Journal article, click HERE.

Kelly's DAY 24? 25?

What is going on here, Kristin? 

I think we lost count!  You posted day 24 yesterday, but I failed to post at all, and you posted day 24, which I posted two days ago!  I'm confused.  Did we accidentally just tack a day on to this bad boy?

Anyhow, Hey.

 My yesterday was CA-RAZY!  I ran out to grab some strawberries from Matt and Mary's farm stand.  When I got there, they looked so good that I bought 3 quarts! 

I went out to Paul's Country Market to buy their locally famous pretzels that are only sold on Thursday.  I scored the last bag of Cinnamon-Sugar Pretzels.  For those of you nonlocals, these are pretzels made by Mennonite women.  They are better than Auntie Anne's.  This was really hard, and as we speak, there are still four in my kitchen.

I ran to Kmart to get some envelopes, when I stumbled upon a display.  I took at picture on my phone, but my technologically slow self cannot figure out how to get it on this post!  What I saw was something called "STRAWMALLOWS."  Yes, strawmallows...doesn't that just sound appetizing?!  Anyhow, they are "marshmallows" that are pink and are in the shape of strawberries.  What a contrast I had in my morning.  I went to get farm fresh strawberries, then I walk into a store and found rock hard strawmallows.  That pretty much explains the American food supply at this point, so I won't go on about this and risk becoming redundant.  !)

I ran to pick my daughter up from Kindergarten and then went to my doctor's appointment.  After that, we ran to pick up my friend, Kari, for our lunch date.  I was more than relieved that she was game for Chipotle for lunch (therefore, I could actually eat on our lunch date).  Then, we went to Starbucks so the girls could have dessert (I had a Naked OJ).  Starbucks is offering their "Frappucino Happy Hour" coming up May 4-13 from 3-5pm for 1/2 priced Frappucinos.  Guess I'll totally miss that opportunity this year. 

I had a baked sweet potato and strawberries for dinner.

I read an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal that I will try to post on later today!

Sorry my posts have been "surface level" in the last couple of days.  I've been REALLY busy with some MAJOR stuff, and will probably be able to tell you about it in the next week or so! 
Have a great day!
Go out and buy some fresh, local strawberries today!
They have officially ushered summertime into my home!

Kristin's Day 25

So, I'm just gonna say it. It bothers me when people say - I heard from God or God was talking to me the other day. I admit. I judge them and most times, I shrug them off like yeah, right, okay. Don't get me wrong, I believe God speaks to us, but in like a conversation? I had my doubts, especially when someone said they had a word from God like every other day. Hey, I know I have issues.

With that being said, I feel like I heard from God today, LOL!

Since about January, I feel like there are parts of my life that have been sliced off, paired down, stripped, exposed, re-filled and rearranged. You name it, that part of my life has probably been called into question and dealt with and there will always be more to do.

Here's a glimpse into my thoughts this afternoon while driving...

I watch House Hunters International and I would always think it was weird that most overseas countries had mini-fridges in the kitchen. How could they live like that? Lately I've been thinking about keeping our food supply at a minimum. Why do I have enough food for a month?
Then I thought about my upcoming trip to Haiti. I bet they don't have pantries or food cupboards there.
Then I thought about us selling our house and moving into a smaller one so that we didn't have a mortgage anymore, could spend the money as God sees fit, and could literally pick up and go whenever or do whatever He called us to.

Then...I'm crying as I type this out...I hear this voice in my head saying 'I am preparing you for something and you wouldn't be ready for it if we didn't get rid of, change, and rearrange some things.' I had more thoughts of Haiti and possible things He could be preparing me for, I still have no idea...but I don't care. It'll be alright. I got a bit misty eyed as I drove and I felt like God was chuckling at me. Nice, God...you're right...this is kinda funny. I smile (: I love Him. He made my day.

Kristin's Day 24

Shopping today was traumatizing. First of all, I can't hold a conherent thought in my head. I felt like a ping pong ball in the store. I had to go back to this aisle cause I forgot cheese or wait, let me go back six aisles to get the sandwich bags. Ridic.

So, I get to the cereal aisle. This is the first time I am buying cereal since this whole food adventure began. I am picking up boxes, reading ingredients, and then putting boxes back, shaking my head. Even the organic cereals had a paragraph of ingredients. GV Bran flakes had a paragraph of ingredients. I just don't get it. I think I spent twenty minutes just in this aisle.

 The winners for Friedman cereal this time are:

1. Rice Krispies: Rice, sugar, less than 2% salt, malt flavor 4g sugar per serving

2. Mom's Best Natural Sweetened Wheatfuls: Whole grain wheat, evaporated milled sugar, gelatin, vitamin E for freshness 11g sugar per serving

3. Alf's Nautral Nutrition Puffed Brown Rice: Whole Brown Rice (we'll drizzle some agave or honey over it) 0g sugar per serving

Yeah, yeah I know...the sweetened wheatfuls have a lot of sugar and what is malt? I'm getting there, friends. We just finished the box of FRUIT LOOPS I bought last time, ok? I hope the kids like the puffed brown rice. It was $1 for 6oz which is pretty cheap and we can control the sugar we add.

My poor kids. I bought plain yogurt with the hopes of mixing some fruit in. I get home take a bag of frozen bluberries (that I froze last year) and put them in the blender with 100% apple juice. I add the mixture to the yogurt and serve it with dinner. They did not like it. I got some sweet toothed kids. I put a little honey in it and they liked it! I guess they need to sugar detox too. It's out of control, really.

PS - I attempted apple chips today. FAIL. They cooked for 2hrs at 200 and were not crisp, but I ate them. It might take some tweaking, but I will perfect it.

Breakfast - PB
Lunch - Apple, carrots, hummus
Mid Afternoon - Banana
Dinner - Avocado, chewy apple chips, mushrooms and hummus
Dessert - Cup of the blueberry apple juice mixture (tasted sweet to me, lol) and PB

Kelly's DAY 24!

Breakfast: Some peanut butter

Lunch: Lentil Soup

Dinner: An avocado that wasn't ripe, some peanut butter and corn salad (that corn salad is FINALLY gone!)

Snacks: Couple cups of OJ

Run: 4 painful miles

My friend, Maria, who is doing a similar fast to ours right now (GO, MARIA!!!) told me about her experience at our local Martin's grocery store.  At the checkout, the checkout lady asked her, "Are these [apples] the bubble gum flavored ones?"  Maria: "Um, NO.  I want my kids to like APPLE FLAVORED APPLES!"  (That was me paraphrasing Maria's explanation about their conversation)  Well, I looked a little further into these so-called "FLAVORED APPLES."  I mean, SERIOUSLY?!  I'm appalled.  The website for Crazy Apples says that they are "GMO free, 100% natural, no added sugars or preservatives" but they also say, "We can't tell you exactly how we do it, but we can tell you that magic doesn't compromise a Crazy Apple's wholesome start as a crisp, fresh apple."  Thanks, "Crazy Apple," but until you tell me what you're putting in that thing and how it becomes a "bubblegum apple," my kids are going nowhere near one! 

The scary thing is that schools around the country are offering these apples in the school lunches!  Check out what's new foods were offered at the School Nutrition Association's national convention held in Sin City (coincidence?) in 2009. Jerusha Klemperer, of The Slow Food USA Blog, says, "My personal favorite from the show was the Crazy Apple. In an attempt to get kids to eat more fruit, this company has developed apples that taste like bubble gum, cotton candy and tropical blast. Candy-flavored apples????? Next thing you know, they’ll be making bacon-flavored hamburger patties. Oh wait, they already do that…"  Jerusha, you are my new best friend! 

Folks, I don't know where this tangled food web ends.  I don't even know how to get to the bottom of this!  I could probably study apples for a YEAR and still not understand before I moved onto, oh, strawberries!  This is RIDICULOUS!  At what point did we become a country where we have every inalienable right...except for the right to know what's in our foods and how they process them?!  This same country, then, decided to tell us all that we're fat and require that we give our children chemically cleaned, freeze dried, sandblasted apple slices in our happy meals (that is OBVIOUSLY a gross exaggeration on my part...I'm relatively sure they don't sandblast their apple slices)!  So much for the "happy" in the meal!  Maybe they should rename them (Mystery Meals, anyone?).

Kelly reports: McDonald's "Apple" Dippers

WHAT do they PUT on the apple dippers?!!!
Am I the only one who has ever wondered this?
You bite into them. They are the TEXTURE of apples.
They are not at ALL showing signs of browning.
They taste NOTHING like APPLES!
WHAT CHEMICALS are they putting on those things?
Furthermore, can we even call them apples if they don't look like an apple is supposed to look after having been sliced, and they don't smell or taste like an apple is supposed to smell or taste?
 I tried to research this further, but the McDonald's website has little to no information on their "apples."

An article written by Melanie Warner and published in the New York Times states this:

"Each day, 50,000 shiny, fire-engine-red Gala apples work their way through a sprawling factory in Swedesboro, N.J. Inside, 26 machines wash them, core them, peel them, seed them, slice them and chill them. At the end of the line, they are dunked in a solution of calcium ascorbate and then deposited into little green bags featuring a jogging Ronald McDonald.

From there, the bags make their way in refrigerated trucks to refrigerated containers in cavernous distribution centers, and then to thousands of McDonald's restaurants up and down the Eastern Seaboard. No more than 14 days after leaving the plant, the fruit will take the place of French fries in some child's Happy Meal."

 Do you mean to tell me that whatever you put on these apples will keep them looking this "fresh" for FOURTEEN DAYS?!  I think I'll go slice and apple now and show you what IT looks like in FOURTEEN DAYS...then YOU can decide for YOURSELVES whether or not they are a good alternative to FRIES!  

 

Thanks, McDonald's, but I think I'll stick to the french fries!

Kristin's Day 23

Anyhow...I'm slowly getting through this Rex Russell book: What the Bible says about Healthy Living. Before this book, I was cranking through books like a PRO. This one? Yeah, not so much. It's a little...well...boring, but it's good info so I'm gonna plow through.

So, today...I was reading about oils and meats. I'm not gonna focus on the oils cause my head hurts too much to think about it, but I'll let you in on the meat thing. The Old Testament law set up rules on what meats to eat - some were 'clean' and some were 'unclean'.

PIGS - unclean (I knew that one)
BAT - unclean (Do you know anyone who eats bat?)
VULTURE - unclean (ummm, duh)
Then this is what got me...
Crabs, lobster, shrimp, scallops - UNCLEAN?

Yeah, in the Old Testament Jews couldn't eat shrimp! I didn't know that. Thankfully, Peter got that whole vision thing about God making all meat 'clean' in the New Testament. If you wanna read about that...read Acts 11

So Rex Russell breaks down why he thinks God set those rules Old Testament rules up. Turns out, pigs...eat ANYTHING. By anything, I mean dead things, trash, poop, you name it - they eat it and they don't know when to quit. Now, I'm sure pig farmers feed the pigs we eat good stuff, right? Well, I think I want to find out cause I love me some bacon, but if the pig ate poo? I might rethink that, well...maybe.

Shellfish are bottom feeders. They take the toxins out of the water and make it clean. They eat what all the other fish near the surface of the water leave behind...get the point? They are dirty little creatures, but boy! Do they taste good!

Trust me, Rex Russell had a WHOLE lot to say that I will not regurgetate here, but I don't really think about what I'm eating like that. Before I crack open a crab, I do not comtemplate what it had to eat before it came on my plate. Thanks Rex Russell...I'm not sure where I'm gonna go from here, but I won't think of eating crabs the same. I will still eat them, though...lol.

Breakfast - Potatoes and unsweetened ketchup w/ a spoonful of PB and grapefruit juice
Lunch - Avocado with corn chips
Mid Afternoon - Apple and PB
Dinner - Carrots and Hummus (no, I did not ask Kelly what she was having...see her post. We had the same dinner, lol)
Dessert - Popcorn

PS (follow-up from yesterday) I have not looked at my number of post hits today (:

Kelly's DAY 23

Breakfast: Cantaloupe and OJ

Lunch: Corn salad and Chickpeas

Dinner:  Carrots and Hummus

I would call myself a "runner."  I mean, I have some friends who are "RUNNERS!"  I'm just a "runner."  As in, I run 5 miles or more 3-4 times a week.  I've completed two half marathons (with times I was happy with) and numerous 5Ks.  I don't train for 5Ks; I just do them to do them to waste $20+ and get another running t-shirt.  I wondered what this fast would do to my running.  I totally thought it would do GOOD things, but it turns out that I think my body actually NEEDS meat to do things like...RUN....and...THINK...and...complete a SENTENCE (Is it even feasible that I've gotten DUMBER in the last 23 days?)!  Anyhow, I ran five miles tonight...five...hard...miles.  Actually, running instantaneously got harder on day one (I fully acknowledge that this could be purely mental.  Running, after all, is probably about 90% mental).

During my run today, I sucked in a bug.  This has happened on numerous occasions in the past.  If you're a "runner" or a "RUNNER," then you, too, have sucked in a bug.  Usually when that happens, I cough and hack and gasp and nearly die (you get the picture).  Then, I spend a good two minutes spitting...to make sure I don't have remnant bug in my being.  Today, I simply swallowed.  I knew I was delirious when I caught myself thinking "Hmm...I wonder if I got any protein outta that."  (For all you squeamish people out there, it was a very small bug)  !)

So, I'm sorry that I haven't had any new information on our food supply or even too much godly insight into what's going on inside spiritually speaking the last couple of days.  I'm focusing on some big things that I will be able to tell you about next week sometime.

Anyhow, I'm going to call this a day, pour myself another large glass of OJ, and watch some tv.  Have a good night!