Kristin's Day 4 - Put away, pile up, and PB

Andy is a pile up person. Books, papers, clothes, you name it - it usually piles up somewhere.

Unfortunately, I am a put away-er. I enjoy clean, clear, and uncluttered.

Some days, I feel like we're in an all-out war. The dresser, the night stand, the desk, the kitchen island/table, and butler's pantry all get piled up and it DRIVES ME NUTS.

Over the years, I've learned that I need to be very careful when I move Andy's stuff. We have gotten in our worst fights over this very issue.

Today, while cleaning, I started to self-talk in the Mommy Martyr kinda way. You know...

'I am the only one who switches out the empty tissue boxes.'

'I am the only one who refills the toilet paper'

'I am the only one who...(you fill in the blank)'

It all started with the Andy piles in our room. There were approximately 5. Look, I already told you it sets me off. I started the Mommy Martyr talk and then a light bulb went off. WHY are those piles there?

Andy and I have been running like chickens with our heads cut off between kids, work, and ministry. Andy seriously does not have the time to take care of these piles and I do. My negative thoughts stopped and I went about my day.

Most of the time my negative thinking just stays in my head and then converts into a bad attitude/mood. I don't talk about it. I just get snippy, unfriendly, and just plain unhappy. Palm to forehead. Ridiculous.

This scripture comes to mind...

Romans 12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Humble Service in the Body of Christ

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 

THAT HIT LIKE A BRICK. I was conforming to the pattern of the world today and this scripture and God's love brought me to the truth. Humble? Please, I was far from it, but His loving kindness corrected me.

In food news. I ate A LOT today. This morning I was operating in what I like to call 'fast' fog. You seriously feel like liquid lead. It's pretty terrible. So, I took a nap and forced myself to eat more.

I'm feeling much better now.

Breakfast: Cinnamon tea, avacado, and a mango smoothie

Snack: Raisins

Lunch: leftover Bean Thread stuff and an apple with PB

Dinner: Chicken, peas, and a potato

Snack: Raisins and a handful of cashews

I am pleased to say that I actually feel full right now, for the first time in four days.

A note on PB - Peanuts are naturally oily, but many manufacturers add oils, molasses, sugar, and more to peanut butter. As a result, it is easier to spread and swallow (say if you eat tablespoons at a time or something. ahem).  During the fast, I get peanut butter that's just peanuts and salt. Once I tried it without salt. GROSS. It's tough to eat, but as close the natural form as I can get without grinding my own. 

What are your thoughts on how our food has evolved over the years? I didn't used to care, like AT ALL. Since starting these fasts, I've become more educated about what we eat and I still haven't settled on where we stand as a family. We use coconut oil to cook with and still eat Kraft Mac n Cheese...eh, it's a process.