DIY Maternity Tank

Today I get to bring you a lil DIY maternity top tutorial. Having been disappointed with numerous maternity styles out there, I decided that I'd try and get a bit more creative with this pregnancy's wardrobe. Yesterday, Olivia and I made a stop into our local Target to have a look around. As I'm always on the hunt for a bargain, we perused the aisles and I ended up finding a few hidden and nicely marked down gems. This Junior's tank top was marked down to $2.40. I loved the fun pattern, as well as the extra-long tank that I could play around with for my project.



In order to transform this top into something a little more belly-flattering, I whipped out some elastic thread and headed for my sewing machine. I've played around with elastic thread before and thought it would do a nice job of gathering up some of the length (that awkwardly and completely covered my tush before sewing!). Comparing another already-gathered maternity shirt to my tank, I figured out where I wanted the gathers to start (just below bust level), and started sewing!



With my machine setting on the widest stitch distance, I used the ole "stitch in the ditch" technique, with a similar colored thread to hide my top stitching. I ended up going over each side twice because I wanted it to be a bit more gathered. Once my sewing was done, threads were trimmed, and knowing that heat makes the elastic thread shrink, I headed to the bathroom. Yes, you read that right. Off to the bathroom! Since we're living in "ready to flee the house" mode around here, I didn't want to drag out my ironing board and iron. My next-best, and easily put away solution was the melt-your-face-off heat setting on my hair dryer. I hung up the shirt and set the hair dryer to "Stun". The little elastic threads didn't stand a chance...nor did I, when towards the end of my shrinking trick, the dryer began to catch on fire! We're talking little blue sparks sporadically popping from the end of the cylinder! R.I.P. hair dryer that's served me so well since college. You'll be missed. But anyway...the shrinkage was finally completed with the help of the actually clothes dryer. See how nicely it gathered?



The last step of my project was to take a couple of dreadfully grainy photos with my camera phone to share the end result with all of you. I knew you'd appreciate it.



And here's one more of just the belly. This baby popped out a LOT faster than Olivia did (and I've given up sucking it in a few weeks ago), so here's the bump at almost 17 weeks. My bracelet was a mother's day present from my honey, a creation from my friend Monica's Etsy shop "Trim Go Trix". Go check it out! (http://www.etsy.com/shop/TrimGoTrix)



So there you go, a cute and comfortable maternity top for under $3!
Tune in next time for another DIY project that will hopefully exclude the threat of starting an electrical fire!

Spring Happenings

The day after Olivia turned 2, and we made the announcement about our coming little one, Andrew also received some news. His company offered him a new position, which if accepted, would mean our family would be heading back to TEXAS! Our hearts have always longed to return to "the home country", so when the offer was made, he and I were thrilled. It's been bittersweet as our excitement is also weighted down by our sadness to leave some dear friends, this home we've come to love, and the church where we've been so greatly blessed by the Word.

It's been over 3 weeks since Andrew accepted his new job, and the time since then has been a complete whirlwind. Just within that short period of time, we've made several trips to Texas for work, had company stay for 5 days, spent an ungodly number of hours searching for a new home, have pared belongings down for showing, and I specifically have entered an intense regimen of house cleaning. Oh yes, and in that mix we've had several days of bad weather, two of which produced some deadly tornadoes, and forced us to take cover. I have a feeling that my adrenaline will eventually resume normal and I'll either have a hysterical fit, or just sleep for a day or two. Sleep sounds nice.

Not to toot my own horn, but making the house ready for pictures and showing, while being pregnant and having an active little person has been no small feat. I always thought I kept a pretty clean house, but quickly realized how much more needed to be done. Something about the idea of strangers peeking in closets and under cabinets has taken my organization, daily routines, and elbow grease to a whole new level. We're talking spotless, y'all. As in, "Hey friend, you can eat off my floors" kinda clean. The house is beautiful, and maintaining it has been very time consuming. And exhausting. I'm plumb worn out. On the bright side, this new routine has made for a decent exercise program. ;)

Right now we're in a hurry-up-and-wait mode until our house sells. We can't seriously look for a new place down south until this one is sold, or at least under contract. The sign is FINALLY in the yard, so at least people can begin looking, and hopefully start the showings. I'm not super excited about being under the gun to flee my home at any given moment, but we'll do whatever it takes. Renting was so much easier, but we've loved making this place our own and improving as we've seen fit.

Especially after Friday's tornadoes, I wasn't sure I could take any more excitement. With this in mind, please imagine my utter horror when yesterday at lunch, I look across the table to see Olivia up-chucking her food. She let out a big belch and out it flowed. I sprung towards her and grabbed her bib in time to help direct the flow onto her plate and highchair tray. At least it would be contained, right? Andrew ran in the opposite direction to the sink to grab a bowl. Upon his return, he witnessed Olivia hurl some more and began gagging and doubling over himself. One or two more waves of regurgitated food was expelled before it was all over, but by the time I was able to turn to Andrew, it appeared he might be the one in need of the bowl. I couldn't help but laugh. Andrew is such a strong man, able to handle so many things, but have him witness a vomiting episode, and it's the pregnant lady with the sensitive nose that has to come to the rescue! Recounting this has me laughing pretty hard. To his credit, Andrew gladly ushered Olivia to the bath to get her cleaned up, and then later mentioned that this was quite the story for my blog. He may have a weak stomach, but at least he's got a sense of humor!

You will all be relieved when I tell you Olivia does not have the flu. She perked right up after it all and went about as her normal cheery self. My best guess is that she had a really big air bubble in her tummy that wouldn't be set free without a show. I'll take a rogue air bubble over the flu any day! Especially with my hubby having to be away some days, and needing to keep the house clean. That kind of sickness if something this pregnant lady can do without!

The only other current news I have to share is that we suspect one of our newer hens may be starting to lay. Last week I found a very small egg in the bottom run and was nerdily excited to see it wasn't from one of the other hens eggs! In case I haven't said it before, yes, it is possible to distinguish which egg comes from which chicken. It takes a bit of snooping, and research to know what breed lays what size and color, but this lil' pearl wasn't from Milk Toast or the Dread Pirate Roberts. Hooray for more huevos!

Well friends, it's on this note that I will sign off. Many thanks in advance for your prayers for the quick sale of our home! This is another opportunity to remember that God is sovereign over everything and will bring about the sale in His good timing. I just pray it's sooner than later!

#2!!!

The word is officially out...we're expecting baby #2 in November!

Baby is now the size of a peach (or a lemon depending on which pregnancy app you look at), and true to the fruit, this week baby is developing some peach-fuzzy hair and eyebrows. I've been feeling the occasional kick for the past couple of weeks and it's just delightful. I've been asked if I'm really just experiencing stomach gurgles or the like, but there's really no mistaking the feeling once you've felt it before. This is a sweet time because as the Lord wills, before too long it'll be round-house kicks to my ribs. ;)

The beginning of this pregnancy left me feeling a bit more queasy than I remember feeling with Olivia. I had read on one of the blogs I frequent (cheeseslave.com), that morning sickness is primarily the result of magnesium deficiency. Our water sources have been stripped, and our food is generally depleted of minerals, so she recommended using either magnesium baths, or the spray. I gave it a try and despite feeling a bit sandy, could tell that it helped out a great deal. Between daily doses of that and red raspberry leaf tea, I made it through the 1st trimester remarkably well. The only time I genuinely felt like throwing up was one night when Andrew and I were watching a movie and he busted out the (normally delicious) roasted wasabi seaweed snacks. **gulp** I couldn't take it and the blessed man sat nearly on the other side of the room to keep the smell away from me.

Olivia seems rather clueless as to what we mean when we say there's a baby in Mommy's belly. Her first, and memorable reaction when asked if she wanted a baby was to think for a second before informing us: "Olivia no-like a baby!". Perhaps she believes this new child will attempt to depose her from her throne?? She has since warmed up to our discussing this new addition, and will occasionally ask to "see" the baby. This usually means sticking her finger in my belly button and say "Hello baby!". There is still plenty of time for her to get used to the idea, but as we stand today, I believe she will be a loving sister and a big help.

Cravings: I was in denial about having any until I realized what I most want is...fat. Lest your minds wander, I'm not talking about wanting to devour chunks of marbled steak. Rather, my love for yellow, grass-fed butter, our hens fresh eggs, whole milk yogurt, raw cheese, coconut milk/oil, and ice cream have reached deeper levels. Despite upping my good food intake (and true to Sally Fallon's "Eat Fat, Lose Fat"), I'm now three months along and have only gained a couple of pounds. My midwife gave me a great report and I'm feeling quite well and extremely blessed.

I'm off now to go finish making some deviled eggs to go with supper...and devour whatever egg-yolk filling is left!

The Little Red Hen

As many of you know, shortly after starting this blog, the hubby and I decided to enter the world of chicken farming. I was a full 7 months pregnant with Olivia when we went to Mr. Ford's chicken farm and handpicked our first four chicks. They were affectionately named: Red, Jemimah, Ethel, and Henrietta. They were only a day old when we got them, and had the privilege of raising our hens into maturity...that is until two of them sprouted tail feathers, spurs and started crowing. Back to Mr. Ford to swap out Henrietta and Ethel for females!

Several chickens have come and gone since that time, but the one original that has remained is Red. She has always been our favorite. She survived the drought, remained #1 alpha hen of the coop no matter how many others came and went, made a move with us across state lines, was the most social, and our only original.

Sometime last month, as Olivia and I were playing in the yard, I noticed that Red looked a bit funny. I'm not quite sure how to explain it, except to say that once you're familiar with your hens, you know when something is off. Red wasn't acting as robust or sassy as usual, and was even resting on the ground. She was so chill in fact that she even let Olivia walk over and pet her on the back several times. Seeing this unusual behavior, I knew something was wrong.

Olivia went down for her nap and I returned outdoors to inspect my hen. She looked like she was in pain and felt like a football when I picked her up. The words "egg bound" came to mind. I wasn't entirely sure where I'd heard the term, but I immediately searched her symptoms online (as do many urban chicken farmers, I'm sure) and the term fit her to a "t". Sadly, and unbeknownst to me, our poor little red hen was in her last moments on earth. Knowing only that I felt a deep obligation to help her, I followed the only suggested protocol to help an egg bound hen.

The first step was to give her a warm bath, in hopes that she'd relax (and unpucker) enough to allow her egg to pass. So, I found myself sitting on our back patio, a large tub of warm water in front of me, bathing a chicken, petting her and saying sweet things to try and get her to relax. I was relieved to see her settle into the water and even bow her head and close her eyes as she experienced some relief.

The next part of the protocol was the most unpleasant, but by golly, I was going to do what I had to. Equipped with a glove and a prep bowl of olive oil, I had to go where no finger wants to go. The idea is that massaging inside the vent where the egg drops will soften the area enough to make way for the egg to come out. Although I was able to gently preform this procedure, Red was too plugged for recovery. Upon the completion of her treatments, she promptly flopped out of my arms, had a seizure, and died.

Watching this horrific sight, I had an out-of-my-mind illusion that if I could get her to stand, then she would be able to run around, lay her egg, and live forever. This sounds absurd, I know, but in a panicked moment, that's where my mind went. Her seizure stopped and when I saw our beloved hen was gone, I cried. And when I say cried, I really mean that I bawled. It was awful.

Only a few minutes before, I had shot Andrew a text, teasingly asking him to send up a prayer for me before I played chicken doctor. It was a sad day for our household. Andrew had spoken to a vet and based on what he told her, she said it sounded like Red was a day or two into being egg bound, and at that point, there was nothing to be done. Most chicken keepers simply discover their hen already gone, before knowing whats wrong.

It may sound silly, but we still miss our Red. She will go down in our family's history as a favorite pet. She laid beautiful brown eggs almost on a daily basis, and had quite a spunky personality. For a chicken that is.



We have since replenished our dwindling flock, and added a red sex-link, and two buff orphingtons. We got them at 7 weeks old, already past their awkward teenage stage, and have integrated them into the flock with Milk Toast and the Dread Pirate Roberts (DPR). D.P.R. has established herself as the bossy alpha female, and the little hens know to make way when she comes around.

As of this moment, all is well in the coop. Everybody is getting along (for the most part), two hens are laying, with the little ones just a month or two away from beginning their laying. Our only possible, foreseeable problem...is that one of the hens...is starting to look like a dude. Time will tell, but the memory of one hen in-particular will live on.


A grainy, quick-snapped sighting of a large and unusual bird that once graced our bird bath. :)

Springishness

Sunshine pouring down, warming face and hair,
it feels good to be outside, renewing energy, breathing fresh air.

Ladybugs dancing atop the chamomile flowers,
little girl eating radishes, could stay in the garden for hours.

Lettuce tops ever reaching, the sweet peas are in bloom,
reminding me of coming things, a harvest will be soon.

Dirt, sun, air, and water, all things being fed,
an image of my need to eat His daily bread.

6 Ideas to Help Refocus your Cleaning Efforts

I don't know about the rest of you, but there are days I get stuck in a rut. I'll have grand intentions of getting er' dun, but end up feeling completely incapable of doing anything productive. I've noticed that I more easily fall into this rut after I've been perusing those oh-so-perfect pictures I see on Pinterest. The saying is true: "Comparison is the thief of joy."

In order to combat any spirit of discontent, I've compiled a few tips to move me beyond what my eyes see, to what I most need to do. These suggestions have come from various sermons, wisdom from older women, and blogs I've read for inspiration. Some of these things seem like no-brainers, but as I've taken time to practice them, I've found my load a bit lighter, my conscience clearer for having done what I need to do, and a greater sense of contentment with the things and home the Lord has given me to care for.

Without further ado:

1) Do the hardest thing first.
If you're a list maker like me, once you've neatly compiled your tasks for the day, it should be pretty obvious which item you're most dreading. I encourage you not to put it off, but attack it straight away. By doing this, you've conquered something early on, and everything else you have to do will seem like a walk in the park.

2) Always make your bed.
WHY is this simple task such a difficult one to complete? Well...at least it has been for me. Not long ago, I committed to making the bed before I left the room, and it made a surprising difference in my day. Call me crazy, but my thought is that when the bed is made, the rest of the house seems a bit cleaner. **Andrew, if you're reading this, I know I've slacked off on this one recently, and intend to recommit starting today.** ;)

3) Never leave a room empty handed.
This helpful tip came from a list defining highly organized people. With a little one around making messes...urr...memories, I've found this to be a good reminder since there is always something out of place. It's easy to pick up little things, so the more frequently I grab something on my way out of a room, the cleaner my home gets without huge effort.

4) Clean one room at a time.
I usually pick a room where we end up spending the most time. Cleaning one space helps me keep focused and encouraged as I can see the progress moving quickly.

5) Set a timer.
It can be so easy once Olivia is down for a nap, for me to get lost in something unproductive. Time on the computer can turn from a quick 5 minutes into 30 before I know it! Egg timers are a perfect little accountability partner if you're trying to stay on task. Something about the constant ticking is enough of a reminder for me to hurry along with what I'm doing.

Lastly:
6) Turn off (or silent) your computer or phone.
This one has recently been a big conviction of mine. With the advent of smart phones, perusing the internet, email, social media etc have never been easier. With all of these things literally at our fingertips, it's so easy to be regularly distracted. Yesterday I gave the computer a break and turned it off. I set my phone away from me, remembering I'm not a 911 dispatcher in need of immediately responding to whatever call or text I received. I made my list of things to do, followed most of the above ideas, and at the end of the day, had more time on my hands, and a cleaner home to show for it.

My home may not ever be featured in a Pinterest photo, but when it's neat and tidy, there's no place I'd rather be!
If there are there any tips, hints, bits of wisdom that help you refocus, I'd love to hear them!

"Fire Engine Red"

Yesterday was a glorious, warm, sunshiny day. Once the munchkin was worn out from playing in the yard and down for her nap, I decided to attend to a few plants in need of re-potting. I've tried growing a few things from seed this season and to my surprise, I am capable of "starting" things indoors without killing them. This of course is only possible as I have remembered to bring things in out of the cold/freezing night temperatures, and consistently apply water. Go figure.

So, I was at my potting table with the fence gate open (as if to say: "Welcome warm weather!"), I had a perfect view of all the goings on of the neighborhood. Cars came and went by and I kept busy at my work. That is until a car, unfamiliar to me, stopped unusually long at the stop sign. I looked up and noticed it's passengers waving at me. Not wanting to seem unfriendly I waved back while quickly doing a mental search of all of the people I know in our area who might stop and wave. The driver, a robust lady with curly hair, rolled down her window and yelled out to me: "We used to live here!". I walked over and we began to chat.

I've heard of this woman before. SHE was the one who slathered the kitchen in "Fire Engine Red" paint! Her bold color was well remembered by the neighbors who mentioned it several times when we moved in. Having recently repainted the kitchen and seen remnants of paint from previous tenants, I confirmed it was her by asking "What color was the kitchen when you lived here?". She proudly stated "That beautiful red!", still obviously proud of her color choice. To each his own. ;)

Before she drove off, she mentioned that she was also the one to paint the rock fireplace. She said "It was a poopy brown color" before she got to it. I thanked her (for surely if she hadn't painted it, I would!), said she'd done a great job, and after a few niceties, she was off.

Back at my potting table, the thought struck me how odd it was that she lived in my home. It's our place now, and it felt so strange to picture anyone else living in it, having a history here besides us. Her mention of being the one to paint the fireplace made me wonder what mark I will have made on this home if we ever move. Maybe one day I'll be the lady in the car and will say that we were the ones to put in the garden, and paint the kitchen cabinets. Regardless, the main thought that sunk into my mind was how temporary things are. Circumstances change, people move, walls are painted over. Although this house is temporary, it's still got fingerprints of it's previous owners.

While fire engine red paint might not be my current choice of color, it left it's mark. I saw splatters of it above the cabinets when I repainted. It was also behind the refrigerator where no one cared to do a complete painting job. To carry on this image of the leftovers of bright paint, I wonder what things I'll be remembered for. I'm not speaking merely in terms of being a home owner, but what I'll be remembered best for as a person. Life is short and I won't be around forever, and I will leave my mark in some way or another. There are things that uniquely mark us as individuals; be it a certain skill, character trait, hobby, or passion. My Great Grandma was known for her chuckle of a laugh, her quiet nature, good cooking, and in her later years, her "bingo wings" that would flap as she rolled out dough on her counter.

I certainly have my quirks and may be remembered for things I'd rather be forgotten, but the greatest thing I could be remembered for is being a woman who loved the Lord. Though I don't know exactly what kind of mark I will leave, I'm grateful for the reminder that I'm currently forming a legacy. Today is shaping tomorrow. Everything adds up. It makes the seemingly little choices I make today hold greater weight and value. My prayer is that when I'm gone, there will be a fire engine red paint from my life worthy to be noted by future generations. That my children and grandchildren will remember a bright and bold godly character. That it won't be a shade to be painted over or forgotten, but one that shines timelessly to honor the Lord. Let us all seek to make changes that won't soon fade.

Whole30/Paleo Results

Well, I did it! 30 days of the most limited, careful eating of my life!

I learned that baby carrots make excellent "chips" when eating guacamole, that I can live without coffee, my love for tea has been renewed, and that I feel the best when I consume fresh, unprocessed food!

Here are some of the meals I ate during the 30 days.

Breakfast looked like:
2 eggs with saute' onions, peppers, and greens
Frozen blueberries with a drizzle of coconut milk and ground flax
A banana with almond butter, raisins and ground flax or chopped nuts

Lunch:
Guacamole (Lg. avocado, cilantro, onions, lime juice) with baby carrots
2 slices of turkey (g-free, no additives), an apple, and slice of *raw cheese (*not Whole30 but on my "okay" list)
A salad, run through the garden (chopped onions, cilantro, carrots, bell peppers, olives) with chopped chicken breast

Snacks:
Organic Fuji apple w/ almond butter
Roasted seaweed
Trail mix: cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and raisins

Dinner:
Cauliflower rice with grilled chicken and greens
Venison w/ tomatoes over steamed squash
Roasted root vegetables with grilled chicken

A few of my "cheats" were a square of dark chocolate, glass of red wine, and paleo almond bread. My goal wasn't to make it through the entire month without cheating as much as it was to avoid the grains, sugars, soy and legumes, and see if my health would improve.

Now that I've made it past the 30 days, I can report my results:

~ I've lost 7 pounds, and several inches all over. The most dramatic change was losing 3 inches off my waist! Whoop!
~ My clothes fit better and I feel better in them.
~ Somewhere during the month, I realized my hypoglycemia went away. I used to get shaky if I didn't eat at regular intervals...no more! This is a very exciting development!
~ My headaches and brain fog are gone. Nuff said.
~ I no longer feel bloated/puffy (umm...eww...TMI?).
~ I have more energy. Wha? Really? YES!
~ Increased happiness/confidence/clarity. I credit this one to not being full of hormone swaying, chemically-laden processed food.
~ The idea of eating poorly isn't all that tempting because I know it'll just make me feel icky.
~ Being careful with what I've eaten has developed a greater level of self control which has bled into other areas of my health; being consistent in taking my vitamins/CLO and drinking more water.

Going off of all that I did for a month was totally worth it. Whole30 is super strict, so while I want to keep eating like this, the guidelines for the Paleo diet are looser and for me, a lot more doable long term. Because of my few cheats, I can't declare that I did the entire Whole30, but am very happy with where my version has gotten me. Huge kudos to the people who have eaten a totally, untainted Whole30 approved diet!

Budgetary note: Eating healthy meat, fruit and veggies did cost a bit more than our regular monthly food budget. However, as the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It was totally worth spending a little more upfront for all of the good things I've gained.

If any of you want to take the plunge and see how you feel on just the good stuff, please let me know! It was through the recommendation of a friend on Whole30 and later Paleo that sparked my interest. It took a year for me to decide to give it a try, but I'm really glad I did. Give me a holler if I can encourage you in any way! I'll offer a "Cheers" and raise a mug of green tea in your direction!

The bounty from a Whole30 inspired grocery shopping trip!
**Fear not, all the meat to go with these goodies was in the freezer** ;)

New Year, New Choices, No Cheetos

It's a new year, and time to shake the dust off of my blog.
My absence can be explained by a few things. In December the fam and I were able to get away and enjoy a wonderful Christmas with our families in God's country, Texas. Thus far, January has held two notable events which I will now go into.

Starting with the order of most painful...I have just recently recovered from a two week long cold/raging sinus infection. I have had sinus troubles in the past, but this year I was absolutely determined to let my body do it's thing, and work everything out without prescription meds. With great thanks to a friend's online recommendation, a magic little pill called Super Quercetin came in and round-house kicked the snot out of my sinus infection. I do mean this in the most literal sense. I'm 100% certain that without this herbal concoction, I would have ended up in the dr's office.

Previous to taking "Super Q", I was boosting my immune system with vitamins, minerals, and yes, even vegetables. However, these things were not enough. I was slipping past the point of no healthy return. I grew so desperate at one point that I put grapefruit seed extract into the netipot and snizzled that sucker through my sinuses.
Worst. idea. ever.
In my defense, GSE is a powerful antimicrobial and antioxidant. I just neglected to read under the recommended usage that putting even diluted amounts of it up your nose will bring about great suffering and agony. For the sake of summary, next time you get the sinus-junkies all up in your bid'ness, take Super Q, and leave the grapefruit seed extract safely in it's container. If you fail to heed my advice, I will be gracious and take your phone call to comfort you...as you lay on your floor...writing in misery...sinuses aflame.

The second notable event of this month was my starting the Whole30/Paleo diet on January 1st. This decision came as the result of:
1) Years of growing into a health nerd.
2) Finding my gluten free diet to be lacking; still feeling tired, bloated (eww gross, right?!), brain-foggy, and brain foggy. Or did I say that already?
3) Watching numerous documentaries about food, where it comes from, what it does to our bodies, the corruption of food suppliers, contamination of that food, etc.
And finally,
4) My growing desire to pursue better health, have more energy, and maybe even lose some weight.

All of this lined up with starting a new year, so I decided to go for it. As I've studied, I realize I'm following more of a Paleo diet plan, but to give you an idea of what I'm talking about, here's a list of what I can and cannot eat.

What I can eat:
Meat (from health sources: organic, grass-fed)
Fish
Vegetables
Fruit
Roots, nuts and seeds

Not allowed:
Sugar
Grains
Dairy
Legumes (beans, soy, peanuts)

That's right, y'all...no Cheetos, no peanut butter, no gluten free cupcakes! And I thought going off of gluten was a stretch!!! For my specific diet, I decided to modify the "no dairy" and allow raw, unpasteurized cheese, in moderation. Other qualifications were that my family would not go hungry while I was eating foods different from them. One night was a "fail" as Andrew wanted a snack after dinner and sweetly approached me, asking if there was any "real" food left in the house. I love him. The other qualification was that I wouldn't feel like a failure if at some point I felt like it was absolutely necessary to put a bit of honey in my tea, or have a square of dark chocolate. No legalism. I would rather allow a small cheat, enjoy it, and keep going than completely fall off the turnip truck. I must stick with great changes, but still be gracious.

A few days before the 1st, I made a huge list of food and meals I could prepare, then set off for the grocery store. I filled my cart with mostly vegetables; things I could easily wash and slice. Pre-calculating what would be involved in eating this way was an enormous help in getting started, and sticking to it when the first few days were rough. Up through around Day 4 or 5, I had a nagging headache, brain fog like nobody's business, and was making frequent trips to the bathroom. I was miserable. My body was detoxing pretty quickly, and my increased fiber intake was carrying away the remnants of...well, probably Cheetos. As a carb-lover, I didn't know if I would be able to stick to my new diet plan. The great thing is that once a few days had passed, my headache went away and along with it, my deep craving for the junk.

I have now reached Day 23, and especially with my sinus troubles out of the picture, I can testify to greater clarity of mind and ability to focus, more energy, a lighter spirit, and if that isn't enough...my clothes fit better! I don't plan to step on the scale or take measurements until the end of the month, but I can definitely tell there is already less of me to love! The other day I had to change out of a pair of jeans because I was constantly pulling them up. This is an awesome feeling!

Whenever I've read health or fitness testimonials my train of thought is usually: "Whatever...that kind of experience can only happen when you're at a resort, are fed rabbit food, and are being whipped into shape 6 hours a day by a trainer." We'll, I'm not going to say I'm any kind of incredible shrinking woman just yet, but as a Mom who's had a harder-time-than-some reclaiming her pre-baby body, this is exciting stuff. I'm being good to my body, am feeding it what it needs to be healthy, doing light-moderate exercise, and feel more comfortable in my own skin than anytime I can remember.

As of right now, going onto this "diet" has been one of the best things I've done for myself in a long time. I'm excited to be over half-way done and look forward to having 30 days of "clean eating" under my belt. Furthermore, going beyond 30 days has never seemed more doable. I'll let you know how things go as I approach the end goal of Day 30, and how things look after that. Day 31's menu just might include a completely guilt-free square of 72% dark chocolate, but dare I say it??? I do believe I can live a full and happy life without Cheetos.

The Harvest

As many of you loyal readers know, this fall we had quite the drama revolving around squirrels and pecans. You also know how hard we Andrew worked all summer long to water our pecan tree and give it the right nutrients it needed to produce fruit. Or is it nuts? Well, it's actually both. Anyway, I am happy to declare that our harvest has come!

As soon as cooler weather set in, the pecans started to drop. I may have mentioned in a previous post how we grew anxious and prematurely pulled green pecans off of the branches. Yeah, not a good idea. **Greedy, greedy, green-pecan farmers!** In the end, it wasn't worth it. Despite the fabulous drying system Andrew created, the pecans just weren't ready. The green shells dried and shriveled up in the sun. Instead of opening, they entombed the little nuts into a rock-hard sphere worthy of the trash.

With Andrew having done the legwork upfront, it was time for us girls to pull our weight with the harvesting part of the pecan farming bid'ness. Yes, I will readily admit to enlisting my child into pecan picking labor, but she loved it. She was also paid handsomely with as many nuts as she wanted to eat. The school teacher in me would like to further note that aside from a belly full of pecans, she garnered lessons about botany, hard work and reward, not to mention attaining some mad sorting skills.

Depending on the day and how windy it was, we'd pick for a good 15 minutes each afternoon. Some days were more fruitful than others, but even when there wasn't much, there'd still be something to pick up. Having quickly grown tired of the bend-down-pick-up method, I got creative and turned picking into a workout. Yes, I did. No joke. For reals.

So far, I've picked pecans doing squats and lunges all across the yard, in the downward dog yoga pose, and in a one-handed plank. I can assure you that it's no exercise to sneeze at. Furthermore, I can give you a testimony to the benefits of my "Pecan Picking Workout" program. Aside from looking like an idiot in front of your child, you will gain better glutes, toned arms and abs, not to mention a bucket full of pecans. It's all about the multitasking here people. But back to my story...

Last night we had a cold front blow in which knocked pecans from the tree. I know this because it took me forever to fall asleep, and I could hear what sounded like hail being pummeled at our roof. Today after lunch, Olivia and I bundled up and headed for the backyard. I've had a feeling that our pecan picking days have been coming to a close (both because I'm getting tired of picking and because there has been less and less to gather), so I didn't know what to expect.

What to my wondering eyes should appear?! Pecans! EVERYWHERE! There were nuts covering almost every inch of our backyard! I was overwhelmed! I still am! I grabbed a big basket and we started picking like mad. I tried a few of my yoga-picking poses but there were just too many pecans to gather in. There were so many in fact that I plain old got down on my knees and started grabbing as many as I could with both hands. I knew the pecans weren't going anywhere, but I felt an urgency due to the cold wind and the overwhelming amount of pecans there were to collect.

Olivia was having a blast and I could hear her singing "Crack em!" as she dropped pecans into the basket. As silly as it may sound, my adrenaline picked up as I was literally grabbing handfuls of pecans each time I reached down. A harvest this great was beyond what we'd imagined. Absolutely unreal...almost epic compared to what we'd expected to get.

As I gathered in this great harvest, a parallel came rushing to my mind. In the past couple of years, a few of my girlfriends, godly women who have waited patiently and faithfully for "Mr. Right", have met their man. Some have married, some are now married with munchkins, and some will soon be "Mrs". They have spent years cultivating godly character, put in the time to establish a good name, and been faithful to pray and wait for the fruit. These things have not come easily, nor without a fight, but they're reaping the blessings of their obedience.

The idea of waiting for "the harvest" applies to so many areas of our lives. We're all waiting for something. And God, in His perfect timing, knows exactly when to bring the increase. When He does, the joy of gathering in His goodness is so full and filling, it can almost be nauseating. You may think you've experienced His blessing, but you look around and there's more to be found. The previous struggles you experienced are made nothing in light of the abundance at hand.

"And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9