Granola Bytes

We started using coconut oil maybe a little over a year ago.  WE LOVE IT!  There are so many uses for coconut oil.  It is important to know the type of coconut oil you are purchasing, because different types of processing effect how coconut oil can be used.  This site has some helpful information and a chart explaining the differences between different oils.  Look here for an explanation on the differences between refined, unrefined and virgin oils.

Coconut oil has so many different uses from cooking to skin and hair care.  We prefer to use Tropical Tradtions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil. It tastes so good!  We use it for everything.  Coconut oil is anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral.  Just a few uses for coconut oil include:

• Skin moisturizer
• Hair conditioner
• Make up remover
• Chapstick
• Massage oil
• Nipple cream for breastfeeding mothers
• Diaper cream
• Healing for wounds, cuts and scrapes
• Bug bites
• Various skin ailments, such as eczema
• Digestion
• Athlete’s foot
• Lice
• Acne

And those are just a few! I encourage you to try some coconut oil for at least a month. You’ll never go back!

Blessings,

Heidi

It has been nearly two months since my last post. Friends, I took some much needed time off from a few things, including the blog.  I broke from school, blogging, and some other internet activity.  I spent time off my feet over the early part of the summer.  I spent a lot of time on the couch with the kids (and it was so hot, I was fine with that!).  I don’t think I have ever really done that like I did, but I really, really needed it.  It occurred to me that we had one heck of a year.  Between moving, getting pregnant again, and various other adjustments — it was a lot! I’m not sure I gave myself enough credit for that – physically or emotionally.  We have experienced some significant changes and I think we all just needed a break.

Now it is August, and I am fully back in the saddle!  Here is a little update.

We have lived in Tennessee for 8 months now.

That seems a little insane to me!  We are enjoying our time here.  We have found a really great church filled with just wonderful families (and lots of homeschoolers, to boot!).  That has been instrumental in feeling “good” about this move.  God really provided us with the support of His children, and I can’t say enough thanks for that.  Our children are making friends, and so are we.  We are extremely thankful for the people who have made us feel welcome.  We are also building a terrific network of organic and natural food sources!!

We have started school!

Our school “year” tends to change depending on our circumstances, which is a really great thing about homeschooling!  This year, since we’ll be having another baby soon, I hoped to get in a solid 2 months before taking a break.  We’re well on our way for that.  Our materials this year come from some of our favorite sources, such as Rod and Staff, Saxon, Singapore, Apologia, Memoria Press, and Cornerstone Curriculum. The children are all excited when a new shipment of books arrives.  It’s like Christmas!  I find it super fun as well.  The first week for us was a little rough this time.  I reached out to another seasoned homeschool mom for some support and advice.  Best. Move. Ever.  She had such wonderful, encouraging words for me.  I’m still so thankful for that conversation J, if you are reading this!  After making some adjustments in how I schedule our day and manage the younger ones, things are running MUCH more smoothly.  Hooray!  We have a 9th grader (high school! Ack!!), two 2nd graders and a kindergartener this year (though, we really don’t “do” anything for kindergarten! But she likes it to be official.  ).

I have reached the 8 months mark in my pregnancy.

32 weeks!  Yay!  I am continually amazed at how God has sustained my body through each pregnancy.  I was very sick this first trimester.  I can also tell a significant difference in my pregnancy this time from, say, a pregnancy in my early 20′s.  Thankfully, all is well. If I am careful with my nutritional choices and see my chiropractor regularly, I feel really good! Thank GOD for my chiropractor – for real.  She has saved me from so much discomfort this time, from severe sciatica to just weird hip discomfort.  She is amazing!  The Lord has also surrounded me with an amazing network of believers from my midwife to my chiropractor.  That is a really cool thing.  We are still working on finding a family doctor.  I hope to maybe settle on that by next week.  We have been on a waiting list for a while and are praying something comes through in that department.  So, so thankful that in our 8 months here, we have yet to need to see a regular physician.  But I don’t want to press my luck by waiting too long!  We have to settle on someone before the birth.  If you don’t mind saying a prayer for us in that regard, it would be much appreciated!

We have experienced a ridiculous amount of van trouble lately.

This is definitely a request for prayer.  We were blessed with a wonderful vacation (first one in six years!!) last month, and while on the way, our van broke down.  Again the Lord provided – we broke down next to an auto parts store while on an unexpected detour! Isn’t that amazing?  A service place in the parking lot was able to fix the van for us.  We almost broke down again before arriving at our destination, from a completely different problem, and had to have the van serviced again the next day.  We had also had it serviced before we left.  All three problems could not have been prevented.  We spent…a depressing amount of money.  Then, a couple of weeks ago, a random act of vandalism left a lot of debris on our street.  Said debris slashed hubby’s tires, and they had to be replaced.  Now, the check engine light is on in our van again.   Sigh.  Our van has 235k miles on it.  Yes, that is a lot…but these vans have been known to last upwards of 300k, and boy, do we ever need THAT to happen!!  So if you don’t mind praying for some things to go our way in the transportation department, we would definitely appreciate that as well.  Car problems stink and NEVER happen at a good time. Amen?

I am looking forward to posting more frequently!

Now that I feel “back on schedule,” I hope to post more frequently, albeit it probably shorter posts.  I need to be better about posting things that “hit me” throughout the day, instead of waiting for some mind-blowing topic to roll around.   Now that we are schooling, that should be easier for me since I’m reading a lot more and have opportunities to pray about more things (read: I face more challenges daily   ).  I thank each of you for taking the time to read.  I hope to gain more followers by posting more often and by continuing to post on various topics! Until next time!

Blessings,

Heidi

Several friends have asked me to discuss how we can afford to “eat organic.”   The topic is fresh in my mind tonight, since I just got home from the grocery store.   There are a few aspects of this topic that go beyond “buying organic food.”  I don’t just go to the store and buy organic “stuff.”  It goes much deeper than that!

“Eating Organic”

This is usually how it is presented to me: “you eat organic?”  “How do you afford to eat organics? Organics are so much more expensive.”  Think about that for a minute.  Is that how you think about eating well?  Sure, most of the food we purchase is “organic” – but not organic cereal bars, chips and cookies.  Do you associate eating “organic” with eating “well?”  There is a stark difference.  Do you associate “organic” with a stereotype?  Think about what “organic” means to you.  It can be different for everyone.  Technically, at the grocery store, “organic” means that what you are eating was not fed or treated with pesticides, herbicides, hormones, or antibiotics, nor was it genetically modified.  The farmers are also required to practice sustainable farming techniques to reduce harmful effects on the environment.

Processed organic foods are VERY expensive.

Because of the organic “fad,” companies are trying to sneak the word “organic” onto their packaging.  If you do not see the official seal from the USDA, what you are purchasing is not certified organic.  Look closely – it may say something like “contains organic ingredients.”  One has to be very careful about this.  Something that contains “organic ingredients” can also contain potentially harmful ingredients.  READ LABELS.  I cannot stress this enough.  A good rule: if you can’t pronounce it, you probably don’t want to be eating it.  Sticking the word “organic” on a package does usually guarantee an increase in price.

If you decide to “eat organic” and stick with the standard American diet, you are going to pay an arm and a leg.  For example: if you switch from regular pop tarts, regular chips, and regular cereal bars to the organic versions, you are going to pay a big time increase.  This is the first symptom that something isn’t right.  Eating well should not cost exponentially more.  We started out this way, albeit slowly.  I couponed like crazy and hunted deals as well, and it was way too much work.  Take it from me: it’s not worth it, and it’s one way to figure out you shouldn’t be eating that stuff anyway.

Certified organic food is more expensive for a reason.

Organic farmers are subject to more scrutiny, inspection and dedication than conventional farmers.  They are even required to keep a pesticide/herbicide-free environment for at least 3 years before becoming certified!  Their paperwork is extensive and time consuming.  I am personal friends with a non-certified “beyond organic” chicken, pork and beef farmer in Indiana.  Trust me, these people aren’t rich.  They are barely making it, but their commitment to quality is unmatched. They actually care about what you eat.  They often barely make enough money to get by.  Larger operations, such as major brands sold in major stores, are still subject to the same requirements of course, but often their employees are guaranteed a fair wage.  That is a bigger deal than you might realize!  Sustainable farming practices take a great deal more time and manpower.  “You get what you pay for.”  Most of the time, it’s true.

So…now what?  My wallet is doomed?

I can’t promise you that you won’t pay a little bit more to improve your lifestyle (notice I did not say “diet”), but the truth is, depending on your family size, location, etc, you may very well not pay a dime more.  It just depends.  But there is a problem in our society when a double cheeseburger is cheaper than a head of lettuce.  Just sayin.’  You do a lot of voting with your wallet, supply and demand, all that. But what I CAN promise you is that what you eat is an investment.  Please read my Real Food article, and let’s start there.

Make an attempt at buying less and less packaged food.  When you run out of cookies, don’t buy anymore.  When you run out of bread, don’t buy anymore.  Yes, bread.  Read the ingredients. You’ll be surprised.  Everything you eat is up for scrutiny, so do it! Read the labels and if it looks scary, it probably is.  I think you get the picture.

Consider that MAKING a change can cost more initially, because you are replacing things from scratch.  Once you get into the groove, things will even out.

Now that you aren’t buying anymore of that stuff, consider eliminating it – all together – instead of trying to make it yourself.

Get to know your produce section.

GO TO A FARMER’S MARKET! You will be shocked by how less expensive it can be.  I pay $1.50 less per dozen for my eggs than from the store. That is a big deal when you go through 5-6 dozen per week!

Try new recipes!

Shop online and try different grocery stores.  I know that I used to buy gluten-free organic oats, and the different between Meijer and Kroger was $3 PER BAG! That is a huge difference for ONE bag of oats.

Stop eating out until you get a good handle on this.

Ask questions!  The blogosphere is alive with nutritional blogs and a simple Google search will yield you plenty of ideas. Oh, or you can ask moi.

And perhaps the biggest thing of all…

Start eating simple.  We really, truly, have a spoiled pallet.  I do a demonstration for others sometimes just taking teaspoons of sugar and putting them in a bowl to show how much sugar is really in that seemingly healthy, whole grain food we all love.  It is truly shocking.  We might consider eating a bowl of cereal “simple.”  The problem is, look at the list of ingredients – it is loooong.  Weird, huh?  It should seem so, because it is.  It is not a good thing for our food to be able to sit on a shelf for years – YEARS – and still be ok to consume.  Yet, it is so for the vast majority of what we eat!  And yet, you are paying more for convenient, packaged foods than you might thing.  Take one meal at a time…read that Real Food post!  Making the changes one meal at a time is one way that we made the biggest change of all in eliminating grains.  Start with breakfast and work your way through the day.  Taking on one meal at a time, you will be less overwhelmed.  And trust me…when you aren’t buying 10 boxes of granola bars, cereal, etc, you will start to see that it does work out in the end!

Evaluate the cost past your grocery bill.

Please read my post on the “Cost of Eating Better.”  There is much more at stake here than your grocery bill.  Initially, we did see some cost increase, but guess what else:  those MRI’s and prescriptions my husband were on?  Gone.  Allergy meds are a thing of the past.  Things have a way of working out beyond your grocery store receipt.

In the end, priorities matter. I can’t promise you that you won’t pay more for better food. I also can’t promise you that you will!  But eventually, we all have a choice to make in what priorities come first, and for all of us, it is an individual decision.  There is no magical formula for eating better food for a great price. There just isn’t! For each of us, it takes time and effort.

Blessings,

Heidi

I can NOT believe I am over halfway through this pregnancy!!  My first trimester seemed to drag on f-o-r-e-v-e-r, but now…oh I just love second trimester! I feel great, sleep better, and I don’t look quite bad.   But I will tell you how I do look: pregnant.  I tend to show very early now…I feel like I need maternity clothes the day after I pee on the stick!  I’m past the point of when you see me, you think, “does she need to lose a few, or….”  There’s no question now that there’s a baby in this belly!  I am feeling a lot more movement now too, which is always super fun and special, no matter how many times you’ve felt it before.

And with this belly…come the questions.  Oh, the questions and the comments.  I have Facebooked (is that a legit word yet?) about them.  We get stopped by everyone – people at the grocery store, restaurants, or at the park.  If we go out as a family, you can literally see older people pointing their fingers and counting the heads of our little ones.  Some people are polite and fun about it.  Other people are not, like the gentleman at the health food store who asked us, in front of the children, if we ever felt like committing suicide.  Or the guy at Kroger who asked me if we were on welfare.  Or the lady at Arby’s who poked fun at what their names must be and made a comment about our finances.  Yup, it really happens. All the time.

Don’t get me wrong.  We do try to respond in grace, and I do believe that most of the time, we do!  I would be lying, though, if I said we haven’t had our moments. It is beyond me, though, the freedom that people feel to make comments about us without any foreknowledge of our situation.  You know?  That people feel the “right,” if you will, to approach you with very personal questions! Very personal!  I think people are skeptical when I say we get these comments, but I assure you: we get them very frequently.

So, I figured why not post some of that information?  Clearly, people want to know, because I’m tired of being asked.   So here goes!

Are these all your children?

No….I tote neighbor kids around just for fun!  We always say something simple, like “yes, they are,” and smile.  That is usually met with a “wow/whoa/holy cow!”  “Better you than me!”  “Wow, you’re brave!”  “Bless your hearts!”  Now that I am pregnant with #7, we seem to get asked this even more often than before.

Don’t you know what causes that?

Ahem.  Yes, we do, and is it our fault that we’re really good at it?  *innocent shrug*

Are you going to have anymore?

How should I know?  I can’t predict the future.  However, God is already there.  He knows the numbers. I do not, and that is ok.

Do you homeschool?

You would probably be surprised how often this question follows the first.  Must come with the territory!  And it is always met with an enthusiastic, “yes, we do!”

How old are they?

14, 7, 7, 5, 3, 20 months, and due in October.  There are 3 boys and 3 girls, and we will not know the sex of this baby until he/she makes the grand entrance.  Everyone is rooting for their tiebreaker!

What does your husband do for a living?

Yes, I get asked that too.  He is a software engineer for a small software company in Tennessee – as if it matters, because it doesn’t.

How do you do it?  or How do you afford it?

It really kind of bothers me how frequently we get asked this question.  In a way, the answer is easy.  I can tell you that where God guides, He provides.  He has created each one of these lives, and He continues to provide for them, through us, in amazing ways.  Does it mean sacrifice?  Sure. There are lots of details.  I would like to do a more detailed post in the future. For now, some basics:

Our van is 14 years old and has 235k miles on it. It is getting rusty, but we hope it lasts to at least 300k!!

I shop consignment sales for children’s clothing and toys (think massive yard sales) and store sizes ahead of time in a tote system we have for up to 2 years ahead of the current size. I also find good maternity clothes at these sales. I rarely, if ever, shop in season.  I also tell very gracious grandparents if we need particular clothing items!

Speaking of shopping…I am very cheap, er, I mean, frugal.  I am guilty of never buying things for myself, but I don’t feel badly about that at all! I shop clearance all year round, just looking for amazing, rare deals. I once scored a decent lot of toddler shorts from a nice department store for less than $1 a pair!  I have found new, nice dress pants for the husband for $1.50.  You never know what you might find on a clearance rack.

We try to only eat out if we have a gift card, good coupon, or there is a “kids eat free” night that is worth it for us (some of them are not, because there is a limit of one free child per adult – not great at this point).

I buy most of our homeschool materials used or discounted.  There are large, used book sales and also discounts offered at homeschool conventions. I also find a surprising amount of paper and things at the $1 store!  Homeschooling does not need to be expensive. That is a terrible myth.

We do not have the luxury of vacationing very often…or really, at all.  We haven’t been anywhere since….well, I guess since the twins were about 18 months old.  I guess that’s been a while, huh!?  But again, it is ok!  There is a time. We are working on something for this year, since the timing is good with pregnancy and other children, but it doesn’t always work out other times for many reasons.  If we are able to do something, you can believe that we’ll be taking a lot of our own food and stuff like that! We do other things throughout the year though, like free parks, museums, aquariums, zoos, and small day trips.  Those times are just as memorable and fun!

Since we homeschool, we stay home.  That sounds insignificant, I know – but it makes a huge difference!  If I am out, I spend money. Whether it be on gas, a snack if we need it and didn’t bring it, or shopping when I didn’t plan to, or what have you – staying home saves money.

I hope you enjoyed reading some of these.  There are many more, but these are the first few that came to mind.  It doesn’t bother me that people notice us, if you are wondering.  Of course, no one likes to hear rude comments, no matter what the comments are about! But we love the opportunity to share that we embrace having a larger family, and that it brings us joy to do so.  We do more than “survive.”  Hopefully, it gives people some hope for themselves or someone they know.  Who knows, right?

Blessings,

Heidi

I read a really interesting article recently that I would encourage you to read.  The article is about the obesity crisis in America, and why we are still failing.  It is ironic because just recently, I was discussing this with the husband.  Think about it: we have every remedy we could ever want at the tips of our fingers.  Diet this and that, sugar-free everything, gluten-free, low-fat, fat-free, everything-free, gym memberships, bariatric surgery, The Biggest Loser and various weight-loss shows, Dr. Oz, before and after school programs….and we’re still fat.  Not only are we still fat, but obesity is still INCREASING – not decreasing!  We still struggle with diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and too many cancers to count.

So, let’s get this straight – we have “better” food available at better prices and we’re working out more…and we’re worse?  That’s right.  That is why I want you to consider – what is food?  What do you think about when you think about food? How much do you think food really affects your life?

Think about this: what is something that you do every single day, multiple times a day, for your entire life?  Eat.  You eat.  Every single day, several times a day, your entire life.  Have you ever stopped to consider how much those choices affect you and your family?  Let’s take this a step further.    How do you feel?  Do you sleep well?  Do you have energy?  Are you mentally alert? Do you have other problems, such as reflux, joint pain or other digestive issues?  You are what you eat is an understatement: I would venture to say that very little else that you do in your life affects you as much as what you eat.  Food is our only source of energy!  What type of energy are you using to fuel your mind and body?  Food either helps or hurts.  Let that sink in….food either helps, or hurts.

And yet, we think we can negate the effects of what we eat by exercising, dieting, cleansing, etc.  Instead of being proactive, we are reactive.  And it’s not working.

I wrote an entry about the “Cost” of Eating Better quite a while ago.  Information is always becoming available, and for years we have been constantly evolving our eating and nutritional choices based on the information we have and learn.  We have taken more steps in recent months to do better for ourselves, and have even eliminated a few things in that blog post.  The focus for us is now, is what we are eating really food?

When you go to the grocery store, what is the majority of what you see?  Stuff in a package, whether it be a can, box, wrap, bag, etc.  Sure, that is stuff we can eat.  But should we?  The produce section is in the corner of the store, taking up what, 25% of the store, maybe?   And maybe 5-10% of that is organic, simply meaning it hasn’t been covered in chemicals or genetically modified. And the meat – ugh! Usually antibiotic or hormone treated meat from animals who were fed pesticide-laden feed that we don’t even realize until we start looking it up.   Same with dairy.  And the rest is all in nicely packaged and pretty colored boxes or cans for our visual enjoyment.  Plus coupons!

Friends, we deserve better than this.  And until we start voicing our opinions with our wallets, things will not change.  Let me assure you – manufacturers do not care about your health.  They care about how much money you spend buying their products – end of story.  Do you coupon, or ever look at the coupon ads?  What are those coupons for?  Packaged, processed foods – every time (not including toiletries/paper products, of course). Ever see coupons for produce or natural foods?  Nope.  Very, very rarely, and if you do get one, it is usually directly from the grocer or from a website.

When you look at the details, it becomes clear to you.  YOU are the only one who is going to be able to affect this change in your life!  That sounds overwhelming, I know.  But you CAN do this.  It seems very complicated, right?  How do I cook without the guidance these packages give me?  All the recipes I use call for packaged ingredients.  If this isn’t food, what is?

Friends, God gave us real food.  God really did give us everything we need.  Say that out loud: “God REALLY DID give us everything we need!”  Another mantra I like to use from time to time is, “if man makes it, I shouldn’t eat it!”  Look at what we have naturally available to us:

•  Animals. God gave us animals for consumption – beef, lamb, chicken, pork (though we choose not to consume very much pork, should write a post about that…), fish, etc.  Healthy animals are very beneficial for us to eat!
• Animal by-products – raw dairy from cows or goats (fermented, such as yogurt, too!), eggs
• Vegetables
• Fruits and Berries
• Nuts
• Oils and Herbs

You will notice that I did not include grains (bread, oats, etc) in this list.  Unfortunately, we have ruined grains.  Wheat has been hybridized and ruined far beyond our control.  I realize “they ate bread/wheat in the Bible!”  This is true.  But those grains were not the same.  They were usually sprouted and/or fermented, and did not consume nearly the amount of the standard diet as they do in our society today.  If you haven’t read that article I linked above, do it now!   As the whole grain movement has hit full stride, our health is still no better and is, in fact, worse. As a general rule, we avoid grains at home, and try to keep them a minimum when we go out.  Still, we aren’t perfect.  Just doing the best we can.

So, back to the list.  That doesn’t seem so bad, does it?  Truly, we do make it complicated.  I have heard much older people say that the way we eat is “complicated.”  We truly have it backwards, don’t we?  To eat well seems complicated.  Making a meal out of a box – or with the assistance of a box – that seems easy!

So what does eating better foods look like?  In our home, a typical day might include:

Breakfast – Eggs, breakfast meats (though we are very careful with our meat selection), homemade cereal using nuts, dried or fresh fruit, coconut oil and honey in raw milk or coconut/almond milk.

Lunch – Fresh vegetables and raw cheese with hummus or guacamole, leftovers, yogurt (soon to be making my own! hooray!) with fresh or frozen berries, apples with almond butter, tuna, or salads.

Dinner – Various meals consisting of various meats and LOTS of veggies!  Our menu this week consisted of things such as baked salmon with steamed vegetables, Asian style beef with broccoli, taco chicken in lettuce wraps, crockpot chicken cacciatore, and stir-fried veggies with fish.

Friends, it can be done.  You do not have to be dependent on big-box companies to feed your family!  And the more of us who choose to demand real food, the more real food will become available.  Start researching. Go to farmer’s markets. Look online!  You do have options, and the more we make better choices, the easier it will become.  Make a simple decision: “once I am out of (insert item here), I’m not going to buy anymore.”  And don’t.

Yes, change can be overwhelming.  But the good news is, once the changing is over, you are no longer overwhelmed!  It has taken time for us to get where we are.  Lots of reading, listening, and time.  Rome wasn’t built in a day. But once you get there, it is normal.  You become accustomed to a different way of life, and the rewards are well worth it!  Take steps today to take control of what you eat and start eating real food.  Your mind, and your body, will thank you.

Blessings,

Heidi

On May 18, 2002, I was 20 years old.  I had a 4-year-old son.  I was a “young” Christian of about a year.  I could tell you a lot of stories you might not expect from one so “young.”  But from that day forward, my stories just got better and better, because that day…

I got married!!!

And when some people say they married their “best friend,” we can sometimes ignore that.  But I mean to tell you that for me, it was true. He really was my best friend.  And he still is today, on…

May 18, 2012.  That’s right, all you math gurus!  Today, we have been married for 10 years.  TEN!  T-E-N!

It hardly seems possible that we have been married for ten years.  I’m sure that I’ll say that every year from now on, as well, like some of you more experienced folk.  But today, ten seems….long.  It really does!  It didn’t hit me until the day before yesterday.  I shed a few tears.  And then again last night.  Pregnancy hormones aren’t helping, because I’m truly not much of a crier!  It sounds long, but it feels so, so very short.  I hardly know where to begin in trying to describe the last 10 years.  I’ll try, but I’m sure it won’t do justice.

Ten years ago, I worked full-time.  John was still in college, working full-time and finishing his degree part-time.  DS1 was in public school.  My dad and oldest brother were still alive.  John’s maternal grandparents were both still alive.  We wanted children, eventually.  Four, to be exact, before we turned 30, so we could stop at 30 and have our children all while we are young!  We had glorious plans. We were so happy.  Everyday we woke up next to each other, it was like heaven, and thankfully, that has continued.  We truly relish being married.

Things change.  People pass away….my dad, brother, and his grandparents.  John graduated, and boy did he do it the hard way! I was so insanely proud of him.  And today, 10 years later….I “work,” all right.   God called me to be a full-time homemaker in 2004, while pregnant with twins.  He called us to begin homeschooling a couple of years later, while pregnant with our fourth child.  And then…we were supposed to be done!  Going to shock a lot of you here with some news: we had decided on a vasectomy while I was pregnant.  Catch your breath yet?  True story.   We thought it would be better to be “safe,” though, and wait until the baby was at least 6 months old.  He was ready; I was ready.  Just needed to grow and have the baby, and then move on to the next phase of our life together.  Four children by age 25! Sounds good to me!

Then something else changed.  The baby came. We were in love.  Life was suddenly…different.  I felt a stirring inside…tried to ignore it.  Tried hard.  But 6 months was approaching.  Fast.  One night, I looked at him…”I don’t know if we should get that vasectomy.”  He looked at me…”I’ve been thinking the same thing.”  Ok, we’re young…we have time to decide this. No rush.  Lots of time to pray. But it was kind of romantic.

Two years later, baby #5.  What about now?  No, not feelin’ it.  18 months later, baby #6.  Move to Tennessee.  3 months later, pregnant with baby #7.  Homeschooling, nutritional changes, and a lot of learning…

And here we are! Ten years, and what will be 7 children.

If you had told me back then what my life would look like today….yeah that would have been funny.  What can I tell you now?  Be open to God’s call in your life.  He will take you places despite yourself, despite your plans, worldly successes and failures.  These places will be more fulfilling than anything you could have planned on your own. Trust His word and His promises.

Husbands, being submissive to the Lord makes it easy for your wife to be submissive to you.  John makes this easy.  That’s right – I said “submission” and “easy” in the same sentence!  Of course it’s not that way 100% of the time, but the vast majority of the time, he really does make it easy.  I know he loves the Lord.  I know he loves the children.  I know he loves me.  Therefore, I know he is likely doing what is best for us.  It really doesn’t behoove me to question all that much.  I have no doubts and a ton of freedom.

Talk.  Often.  Make it happen however you have to make it happen.  Text. Email. Phone calls. Face-to-face, of course. Make it a part of your life that you talk to each other.  And when you talk?  Be honest.  Satan is the father of lies.  God is truth.  Be honest, even when it hurts.  No, especially when it hurts.  And listen, unconditionally.  Don’t make your spouse afraid to talk to you.

Never stop dreaming.  Sounds cliche, I know, but we have a lot of fun discussing our dreams.

Find ways to serve each other.  Always be looking and listening for different ways to serve.

When it doesn’t feel natural to be loving, make a choice to do it anyway.  Your choices will affect your attitude.

*ahem* I hope this is not offensive to anyone, but have sex.  Often.  Could not be more serious.  If you need help, get it.

I could come up with a hundred more, I think.  It’s getting very late.  I have cereal coming out of the oven and a bed calling my name.  So, this has to be it.  Thank you for 10 amazing, thrilling, never-boring-and-always-fulfilling years, honey.  Thank you for leading us in the Lord’s will, despite what the world is telling us.  I love you today more than ever.  Thank you for still being my very best friend. Happy Anniversary!

Blessings to all of you readers,

Heidi

Feelin’ like the blog’s been a bit heavy lately!  I’ll try to lighten it up a bit. Ha!

In our house, we have eliminated pretty much every mainstream cleaning product.  Sounds crunchy and complicated, right?  It’s truly not.  It’s way, way cheaper, and very, very easy!!  Tonight, we’ll talk about vinegar, a main staple in every granola house!

Vinegar has been around for a long time.  The use of vinegar is detailed through the Babylonians, Egyptians, and several nations during Biblical times.  There are many Biblical references to vinegar being used as a beverage, condiment and remedy for infections or wounds.  Thieves used vinegar on their bodies during the black plague to rob the dead.  Soldiers used it during WWI to clean wounds.  In more recent times, vinegar is most commonly used in cooking and cleaning.

For this post, we’ll stick to uses of plain, white distilled vinegar for cleaning purposes.  First of all, vinegar is CHEAP. I buy it by the 2-pack, economy size at Sam’s club for like $4.  I think the last pack I got was about 6 months ago.  You can spend $4 on ONE bottle of household cleaner!  You can find it virtually anywhere, including grocery and “super” stores.  Secondly, your common cleaners have some scary chemicals in them.  Who wants to deal with that? Vinegar can be used *all over* your house and is very safe!!   Let’s go room to room and look where you can use vinegar.

Laundry

Antibacterial and softening rinse.  Add 1/2 cup to your rinse cycle to kill remaining bacteria and soften clothes naturally. This will also eliminate any soap residue.  Oh and kills odors too, and no, your clothes will not smell like salad dressing. Tip – if you are ever guilty of leaving the clothes in the washer too long ( O:-) ), run through a rinse cycle with the vinegar as well.

If you have old clothing that has yellowed, let them soak overnight in a solution of 12 parts warm water to 1 part vinegar, then wash regularly.

Treat blood stains with vinegar at full-strength by soaking the spot for 5-10 minutes, blot with a cloth and then wash.

Treat crayon stains by rubbing them with a toothbrush soaked in vinegar.

Pre-treat perspiration stains with full-strength vinegar and then wash.

Vinegar is generally safe on most normal fabrics for stain removal!

Living Areas

Vinegar is a terrific all-purpose cleaner.  Fill a spray bottle with 2 parts water, 1 part vinegar.  This simple solution works well on glass windows and mirrors, stainless steel, plastic laminate surfaces, and blinds!

To remove water rings on wood furniture (let by wet glasses), mix equal parts of vinegar and olive oil and apply with a soft cloth. Go with the grain of the wood.  Use a separate cloth to shine.

If there is an odd smell, just spritz some of that all-purpose cleaner into the air.  You can also add a few drops of lemon.

To remove stickers stuck to furniture or walls, saturate the stickers with vinegar and gently scrape away.  As you work your way to the middle, if it’s still stuck, continue to saturate until it comes loose.  Wipe dry when finished.

I have seen suggestions of using vinegar directly on sitting room furniture, but I would say to use at your own discretion.

Kitchen

Well of course you want to have vinegar on hand for cooking!  But I cannot live without my vinegar cleaning solution mentioned above for counter tops, windows, the refrigerator, the freezer, oven door, and any other hard surface in my kitchen.   Bonus: it also acts as an insect repellent!  We just had an invasion of pesky ants, so I would know.

For an effective scouring solution for your pots and pans, add equal parts of salt and flour to enough vinegar to make a paste.  Use the gritty paste to scour your cookware.

If you have ceramic tile floors, add 2 cups of vinegar to a bucket of hot water to mop your floor.  Best part: no rinsing needed!  If you have vinyl floors, keep it to 1/2 cup of vinegar.  Another bonus: kills dust mites!

If your cups or glasses have coffee or tea stains, soak them overnight with vinegar.

In your dishwasher, add 1 cup of vinegar to the bottom of the machine and run a light cycle while empty.  This will remove extra soap residue and freshen your dishwasher.  During a regular cycle, you can add 1/4 cup of vinegar as a rinse aid in the rinse aid dispenser.

Deodorize your sink drain by pouring 1/2 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar down the drain.  Let the fizzing subside, and then rinse with hot water.  Wait 5 minutes, and then rinse with cold water.  This is also a good blockage remover!

To clean your microwave, fill a glass bowl with 1/4 cup of vinegar, put it in the microwave and cook for 5 minutes on high.  After the bowl cools down, use the solution applied to a cloth to wipe off any stains or splatters left in the microwave.

Bathroom

Use your all-purpose vinegar solution to clean counter tops, tile, bathtubs, mirrors, faucets and floors.  Seriously, it is a must have solution!

To remove hard water stains in the tub, pour 3 cups of vinegar under hot running water.  Let the water fill above the stains and soak for a couple of hours.  After the water drains, you should be able to scrub off the stains.  For sinks, soak the spots directly with the vinegar and wait a few minutes before scrubbing.

Use full strength vinegar to clean shower doors and tracks.

To unclog shower heads, soak directly in 4 cups of hot water combined with 1/2 cup of vinegar for 10 minutes.

To clean the inside of the toilet bowl, pour in 1 cup of vinegar and let soak for 30 minutes.  Then add 1/2 cup of baking soda and scrub away!

These are some simple, practical ways that we use vinegar to keep our home clean.  There are many other uses for vinegar, unrelated to cleaning, that I will try to outline in a separate post.  There are also more cleaning suggestions for specific cleaning problems, such as silver, copper, brick, etc., if you would like to search the web some of those.  These are just some basic ways to clean the everyday problems in your house.  Simplify your life while also making a healthy choice for your family – try using vinegar to clean your home.  You will have no regrets!

Blessings,

Heidi

This is a tough one for me, but this topic has been weighing on my heart for a couple of weeks.  I’ll admit it at the front: it stings.  So here goes nothing!

I think that, deep down inside, we all want to be liked.  I know plenty of people who seem to have maybe “grown out of” this, and some who act as if they naturally don’t care and never did!  But, deep down in all of us, I think it is there somewhere: a desire to be liked.  I know this is very true for me.  For example, right now, I can tell you that there is at least one person, and maybe more, who is reading this blog, and who I also really feel just does not like me.  And I have to admit, it makes me very sad!  The next logical thought is, well….why?  Why doesn’t so-and-so like me?  Why does he/she seem to always pick on me?  But then, do I really want to know?

It will come as no surprise to most of you that it seems I face the most opposition when I either publish a blog post or a somewhat-political or otherwise opinionated Facebook status.  In fact, those of you who do know me pretty well are probably laughing right now!  I have, after all, been known to cause a stir or two on Facebook. So I should just know better, right?  Well, I can’t say that I always do.  This is mainly because sometimes I post something, and I don’t think for a second that the naysayers are going to flock to my wall!  I don’t mind debating every now and then, so if I do post something anticipating debate, I’m prepared for it mentally and time-wise.  But I will tell you that it has happened plenty of times when I wasn’t prepared.

And it’s not to say that just because someone doesn’t agree with me that they don’t like me.  We have some friends with whom we really don’t see eye-to-eye on much.  Sure, we don’t hang out all the time.  But, we respect one another and can have very civil discussions and just move on.  And when we do see each other, we can have a fine time! That’s not what I’m talking about here. The people to whom I am referring are not ones to merely disagree.  There’s just something…more to it, if you know what I mean.  They want you to doubt yourself.  They want to point out your every flaw and mistake. They want to pat everyone on the back who doesn’t agree with you or is not being very nice to you.  Ringing a bell for anyone in your life?

It stinks. Doesn’t it?  It just gets you right in the gut.  Makes you want to cry, scream, or both.  I think some people might be surprised to find that this type of thing bothers me.  I think social media makes it worse.  It’s very easy to sit behind a computer, argue with and put down someone, and I seem to bring out the worst! Couple in that “like,” feature on Facebook – you know, where people can “like” other people’s comments on your wall?  It’s the naysayer’s way of saying, “yeah, what he said!” without really participating in the conversation.  Except, of course, to let you know that they aren’t on your side.  (Note: I do take this all to heart. I stopped doing that because I realized I was indeed being very rude).  Of course, I am not only referring to social media.  However, in today’s society it certainly requires consideration when you are an active participant, and I am.  It has replaced our phone calls and direct conversations, and has made it even easier to not be very nice to others.

Along those lines, I think it has become easier to get our feelings hurt and to hold grudges.  I am just as guilty of this as much as anyone else.   I had to turn to one of my favorite devotionals and the Scriptures tonight.  Even though these lessons I have read and known, we all need reminding.  Tonight, I need reminding. My heart hurts.  I want to share a few points with you.

“Those who want to kill me set their traps, those who would harm me talk of my ruin; all day long they scheme and lie.  I am like the deaf, who cannot hear, like the mute who cannot speak; I have become like one who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply. LORD, I wait for you; you will answer, LORD my God.”  Psalm 38:12-15

 Do you want to know what people are saying about you?  Stop.  Become deaf and dumb to it.  Take the example Jesus sets for you, responding not to His accusers.  He did not respond threat for threat, and instead put His hope in the LORD.

 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 5:11-12

 No, I am not a prophet or anything of the sort.  The message, however, resonates.  “Blessed are you when people insult you.”  It’s hard to think of being blessed in that moment; isn’t it?  I am going to try doing this more and more.

 “But I say unto you, love your enemies.”  Matthew 5:44

 But, but, buttttt….waaaahhhh.  Ok, ok.  I definitely, surely, certainly, am not very good at this.

 “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.  On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
I Peter 3:8-9

 I certainly do not feel like blessing someone who is persecuting, making fun of, or arguing with me.  Sigh.  But, that is what we should do.  We must do it by faith, not by our feelings. God promises to bless those who bless others. We cannot be blessed when we are trapped in bitterness.

 “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.  On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’  Do not overcome evil with evil, but overcome evil with good.”  Romans 12:19-21

 We cannot let the devil get a foothold in our lives.  Hatred and bitterness is the ideal place for him to begin his nasty work.  He is the enemy.  He is a thief, who seeks to kill and destroy.  GOD is our redeemer.  If Christ lives in us, then we can do these things, even though it is difficult.  Therefore, let us turn to Him.  Let us give it all to Him to make right through us.  It is the only place we can start if we want real results: healing and peace.

Blessings,

Heidi

P.S.  My favorite devotional is 100 Days of Blessing: Devotions for Wives and Mothers by Nancy Campbell.  I relied on excerpts from this devotional as a guide for this post.  I encourage you to visit Above Rubies if you are a wife and mother for encouragement to follow your calling!

It seems like everyone has a “thing.”  Know what I mean?  For some people, it’s education. Or nutrition. Or animals. Or *shudder* politics. Finances. Theology. Etc, etc, etc.  Something they’re really good at, that they tend to focus on. Think about your friends. You know how you can choose which one to call depending on what you need?  That’s what I mean. If I’m sick and we can’t kick it, I know which friend to call. When we’re stuck on something in school and I need some new ideas, I know another a friend to call. When I have a theology or doctrinal question, I have a couple of other friends I can call. Cooking question, another friend.  Animal question, definitely a certain friend. That type of thing.

Personally, I think that’s, well, way cool.  God has given us each unique personalities, strengths, weaknesses, and abilities.  It’s an amazing blessing! I love that about other people.  I find it fascinating to learn about other people’s passions, but even more so, why they have those passions.  It’s a part of their life story, about how God is molding and shaping them.  Way cool, even when I get jealous of other people’s abilities.  Don’t you agree?

If you’ve been a reader since the beginning of this young blog, you know some of my passions.  My passion for nutrition and alternative medicine stems from two diagnoses in my family, one of fibromyalgia and one of Asperger’s Syndrome.  My passion for motherhood stems from nothing less than God molding my heart to love more children than I ever saw myself wanting, let alone having, because He alone opened my womb.  My passion for home birth and midwifery stems even further from my maternal experiences in those children, birthing (ha!) a strong conviction for change in the medical community.  My passion for home education was born from various different sources, but basically lies in the conviction that children need their parents, their parents need the Lord, and the Lord has called and is equipping daily John and me to teach our children under His authority and direction.  Let it be known that I hardly consider myself an expert on any of the above!  I do, however, love to share what I have experienced, what I know, and what I am learning.  I love to help people, and I sure know plenty of things now I wish I had known a long time ago.  I have made so many mistakes.

It can feel good to be “good” at something, which seems harmless enough.  I feel so confident when we are eating well, the school day is good, we’re healthy, etc.  But everyday isn’t like that.  Things happen. Bad things.  Then you start thinking….”wow…is this really worth it?”  A few examples:

• You pride yourself on health and nutrition, and you, or maybe your children, struggle to stay healthy.  This is *so* defeating.
• You’re a homeschool mom, investing way more time than any teacher would have, and yet, you have a child struggling to get the “basics.”  Again, defeating.
• You pride yourself on investing in your children and being the best possible mother.  You’ve read all the books and work sun up until sun down.  Yet, you have a child with abominable behavior.  And you want to cry.
• You have a pregnancy and you do everything “right” – but it doesn’t end “right” at all.  I teared up just typing that.

There is another one I want to discuss in a future post, but we’ll stick with this for now.  It hurts.  Plain and simple.  It hurts to feel like you are failing, that all of your efforts are in vain.  It hurts to feel like you are trying your best, and it’s just not working.  But, there are valuable lessons we can learn here.  First of all, those times you (I) get a little high on your (my) self?  Pride.  Yucky, ugly, sure-to-lead-to-your-fall, p-r-i-d-e:

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.  Proverbs 11:2
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

You get the picture. :/  God doesn’t like pride.  It sneaks up on us.  I know that I usually don’t see it when it’s happening, but rather in retrospect, after God has humbled me.  But before that, I was feeling pretty darn good about myself!  Yet, we have to give credit to God first.

Thank you, Lord, for giving me this answer.
Thank you, Lord, for showing me this remedy.
Thank you, Lord, for revealing this knowledge to me.
Thank you, Lord, for helping me to see my shortcomings.
Thank you, Lord, for the benefits of Your creation.

And so on.  Only after we acknowledge Him should we go further with our sharing.  We are nothing of ourselves.  Without the Lord’s blessing, we can accomplish very little.  He gave us the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the mind to implement the information we process.  Acknowledge Him first.

Secondly, we can learn lessons in God’s sovereignty.  Sometimes, we *have* to go through stuff, for lots of different reasons…some of which we may never know.  But overall, we have to realize that God is sovereign in all things.  Job was a man of God, whom God allowed Satan to torture.  He lost everything – his offspring and livelihood.  Job did not know why.  What was Job’s response to God after he found out his family and flock had been killed?

“He fell to the ground in worship and said:
Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away
may the name of the LORD be praised.”

Job 1:20-21. Then, after all this, God allowed Satan (notice that Satan could do nothing to Job without God’s permission) to inflict Job with painful sores from head to toe.  Job’s wife could not understand Job’s willingness to suffer for the Lord, telling him to just “curse God and die!”  Job’s response to her was:

“He replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’ “

Job 2:10.  But then, Job continued to suffer…and suffer.  It got the best of him, and he became “righteous in his own eyes” (Job 31:1)  Read his tirade.  As you can totally understand, he rather loses it!  He couldn’t understand why God would cause him to suffer so greatly when he was “blameless” before the Lord. After three of Job’s friends plead and try to counsel him, it is clear that Job sees no end to his suffering and no fault of his own, and God Himself ends up speaking to Job.  What a talking-to!  Job ends up realizing the fault of this thinking.

“I know that you can do all things;
no plans of yours can be thwarted.
You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my
counsel without knowledge?’
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.”

Job 42:2-3.  That line has always stuck with me….”things too wonderful for me to know.”  In the end, Job repents, and the Lord forgives him.  He not only forgives Job, but makes him more prosperous than he ever was before, making the rest of his life even better than the first part of it.  He ended up having more livestock than ever, along with ten more children!  But remember…only after *much* suffering, and NOT after he did something wrong.  God always told Satan that he should seek out Job, a man who was “blameless and upright.”

Well….I don’t know about you, but I am not blameless and upright.  So who am I to question when I suffer? You know…when things aren’t working.  God is sovereign.  He sees way beyond my problems.  He knows what is happening – He is allowing it. He cares. He just has a plan, “too wonderful for me to know.”  That is some perspective; isn’t it?

So, dear friends: when something isn’t working, THANK GOD!  Because He is WORKING something in your life.  He has not abandoned you.  He is growing and stretching your faith in ways you cannot fathom.  Acknowledge Him, praise Him, and suffer for Him with thanksgiving.  As if that is easy, right?  I know!!! I struggle with this all the time.  ”Lord, I’m doing the best I can!! Why isn’t it working?” Well, I may not know that answer right now – or ever.  But I do know, from the promises of His Word, that His plans are greater than mine.  He loves my children even more than I do.  So, press on, dear friends.  Don’t give up.  It’s not about giving up!  Keep doing your best, and when it’s not working: it’s about allowing  HIM to work for you.

Blessings,

Heidi

We had next to no food in the house yesterday.  I did not feel very well, either, making me less than prime material for grocery shopping.  But alas, it must be done.  My digestive system was paying *dearly* for 4-ish days of eating out (we were out of town for the homeschool convention), and we desperately needed to get back into the groove.  So, after creating a menu and with my list in hand, off to the store I went.  I went after dinner, ya know, so I wouldn’t be hungry while shopping.  Well, I’ve reached that point in my pregnancy where I’m always hungry.  John dropped me off and took the children to the park while I shopped. When I got out of the van, he asked me if I would like anything while he was out. Isn’t that so considerate of him?  Unfortunately for me, there’s never any shortage of little treats I might like!  I just said, “oh, no thank you, honey,” and went into the store.  Gotta be a good girl!

I started off in the produce section and filled my cart with all sorts of yummies.  At my local grocery, the natural and organic foods are coupled next to the produce aisle, so I typically don’t have much to purchase outside of these sections, other than some other random organics placed in other parts of the store (read: annoying!).  All the while, in the back of my mind, I’m thinking about a snack.  Kinda hungry.  Could ask John to get anything for me. Nope, not gonna do it.  I’m at the grocery store, for pete’s sake!  I halfway decide what really sounds wonderful is some coffee and a doughnut later that night after the children go to bed.  Ooooh….I love doughnuts.  SO granola, right?  We all have our vices!  And let me just tell you, we have a terrific doughnut place here….the bear claw is a sweet, soft, cinnamon-sugary apple-filled pillow of goodness (thanks for the phrase, my friend K!).  Not that I’ve eaten many, of course…but no.  I need to be disciplined.  I do not need a doughnut, I tell myself.  And I try not to drink much coffee at all (even organic decaf!) while pregnant.  I decide that I have tons of hot teas (seriously, a restaurant-style selection) and some ice cream at home.  I’ll be fine.

So, I got through the produce and organic sections, meaning I’m almost finished shopping, when I began to make my way toward the back of the store for something when, low and behold: I am face to face with the Entenmann’s doughnut display.  And they’re on sale.  The chocolate ones.  Cuss.  I look.  I ponder.  You do not need a doughnut, Heidi.  Seriously. Get a hold of yourself.  But they’re on SALE! They are never, ever on sale.  I pick up a box.  I am having a serious internal conflict here.  NO. I am not giving in! I put it down and walk away.  Because, after all, if I buy a BOX of doughnuts, that is WAY more than one doughnut, and the children don’t need doughnuts, either!  Good enough reason for me.

I make my way through the rest of the store.  The doughnuts are calling me back.  I ignore them.  I get all the way to the other side of the store.  I need orange juice, then I’m done.  Home free. I turn the corner to go down the juice aisle, and with what am I faced?  The Krispy Kreme doughnut display.  Ooooooh, Satan I hate you. I am determined to hold out.  I get my juice…I turn around.  Maybe there is a small box…like of 3.  I can eat one the next 3 nights and hide the box.  I get to the KK display.  It’s a no go. Smallest box has 6.  I stand there.  By now, I really want a freaking doughnut.  OH!  Idea.  It’s genius!  I’ll go back to the store bakery and buy ONE doughnut from there!  Win-win! I get my doughnut – my one doughnut, and no one else has to suffer the effects of my weakness!  It’s perfect.  I get back to the bakery to their doughnut cabinet…

No.  You have to be kidding me.  No!  They only had a few doughnuts left, so they packed them all into one box and PUT THEM ON CLEARANCE.  No!!!!!!  NOW how am I supposed to resist 12 doughnuts, baked that morning, for $2.99???  $0.25 per doughnut. I can’t do it. I can’t resist.  I grab the box and run (well, almost run).  I can’t pass it up.  Now the children can all have one tomorrow, and I will get my doughnut tonight AND one tomorrow.

And you know what I did?  I went home, got all of the children to bed, made myself a cup of hot tea and had one, beautiful, soft and delicious doughnut.  The battle was over and I am ashamed to say, the doughnuts won.

I tell you this to show you some of my humanness.  I am a weak, weak person!  I cannot always resist a high fructose corn syrup-laden treat.  But you know, I am over it now.  That was yesterday.  Today, for lunch we had freshly sliced vegetables, slices of raw cheese and homemade roasted red pepper hummus.  For dinner, we had pulled bbq chicken sandwiches on freshly baked rolls and fruit salad.  I drank a lot of water.  And life moves on.  When you do what is right 80% of the time, don’t beat yourself up over the occasional weak moment.  It happens to the best of us (trust me, I know – I have friends way more disciplined than I who can all make similar confessions).  It happens because we are all very imperfect humans.

So, when the doughnuts win, I have my moment and move on.  Tomorrow is a new day, when I can, and will, make good choices again. And the same probably goes for the rest of the entire week!  After all, we do only live once.  What is life without the occasional doughnut?  I often think of what eating will be like in heaven.  New bodies, no sickness…oh, won’t that be a wonderful thing?!

Until next time,

Heidi