BigFatOofta

WEEK 1 So, we are successfully 6 days into our eating experiment (which you can read about  here  ) and so far we have not suffered too much.  ;) Quick update and then some of the recipes we have really enjoyed: Joshua and I both have been "cleaning out" a bit more and both of us have felt less of a post meal "crash," especially Joshua.  While energy isn't up (which, we have two littles who don't really help in the energy dept anyway), it isn't worsening after a meal as it was before with carb/refined/sugar/dairy heavy foods.  I have gotten hives for several days in a row now, but I noticed it was after I started eating peanut butter in one of our recipes (which I will post).  I have been tested positive in the past for a peanut allergy.  I also noticed some of the scalp pain after the peanut butter was incorporated, so I'm keeping an eye on that.  Other than some cravings, both Joshua and myself have found it quite manageable to eat this w...

We are doing it. For a month.  Sweet deprivation    Clean food indulgence.  Did I mention for a month? Starting April 21st.  Let me explain. Joshua and I have been learning more and more about nutrition and how the food that we eat can drastically help or hurt our bodies and also just how modified almost all of the food we eat is (GMO).  After much research and some experimentation in the past, we have come to the conclusion that almost everything we eat almost is killing us somehow and we should go into a deep depression about it.  That was sarcasm, a bit of dry humor (ha ha?)...but for real...minus the depression part.  I won't go into all the science that we have learned but I will jump to the experiment we are going to do as a result of our learning.   GOALS for the experiment:  OUR HEALTH: Joshua and I both have been suffering from some really debilitating health issues (which I will list below) that we want to track as...

my hunger is insatiable, the root of it is traceable, all the way back to the lie that i, cannot have grace.    i know it's a lie, i've KNOWN it's a lie, yet somehow, i've been serving up it's soup, hoping that one day, it'll come back around to me, set me free, free from the bonds of trying.  i'm TRYING TO BE AN INVISIBLE SINNER.   love brings my sin to light, but in defensive flurry my eyes get blurry, and i start shooting a 12 gauge.  I KNOW I'M GUILTY BUT I MAKE LIGHT OF IT B/C I DON'T KNOW GRACE.   i can't feel grace, i can't see grace, so there must be no grace, right?   wrong. right?   my desire for grace is strong, but until the iron grip of the lie of a graceless life is removed, my pain will be plenty.   God, help me. I've been working overtime on earning my grace, trying to set up my future glory. a good deed here, right heart there, investing in my salvation as if i believe in pu...

Friends.  It's been a whirlwind.  We are now four weeks into having two children and it has been a ride. I am not going to lie...it's been hard.  Very hard.  But...also, very very good. Between pregnancy complications, adjusting to a 2 year old and an infant, trying to figure out how to do life...I have been overwhelmed.  Scared. Fatigued. Wrestling with my heart. Feeling...stuck.  Also, I have been overwhelmed by God's goodness. Grace. Provision. Nearness.   Here's the thing.  I am now a parent of two.  That comes with certain difficulties but it also comes with many opportunities and reasons to rejoice.  I have been reminding myself to "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again, I say rejoice"  (Phil 4:4).  That the "Steadfast love of the Lord never ceases and his mercies never come to an end" (Lam 3:22).  So.  I have my role and my blessed gift of children to parent, therefore, I am in this thing for keeps. ...

There seems to be a never ending flow of information, especially by way of social media, about people's lives.  With just a few clicks of a button, we can see what someone has been up to for the last five years, discover who they hang out with, and what sorts of new toys and items have been purchased and enjoyed.  With Instagram and Facebook, we can see anything from how amazing someone's husband is to what someone fed their cat for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and how said cat reacted (the latter sort of information I choose to "hide"). ;) I can go on and on about all the "novelties" we can view on social media, but chances are, if you are reading this blog, you already are quite familiar. What I have been challenged in lately is to think about what I don't  see.  What I am not (usually) seeing on Instagram and Facebook are people's hearts. While people can post a scripture verse, something they are thankful for, a struggle, or even a vent, th...

Well, I was not doing so well last night, nor was I so hot this morning.  I was/am struggling.  Wrestling with good desires tainted with idolatry and self-sufficiency.   I had a meltdown that turned almost to despair as I allowed myself to dwell on my desires of being pursued the way I want to be pursued and finding those desires not always being met.  Dwelling on hurt. Pain. Loss.  Misery.  Feeling crushed by life as a mom.  My wiring...it feels like it was intended to be wired for a different "job"...I feel like if I could just take a break here and there and completely disconnect from the world of mom, I could handle it better.  But instead of trusting in the Lord's strength and grace to help me, looking for the joy in the hard times, I found myself feeling buried and wanting to just give up.  Everything else in our little family's world right now is full of waiting and praying and hoping and seeking ....and waiting....and waiting...and t...

Dear Jericho Maliyah, You just woke me up kicking around inside of me (you are about 6 months in baking).  I love that you did, because I now have a whole heart that is welled up in love for you, and thoughts that I have for you and want to share with you. There is a lot of talk and letters written to this Hollywood girl named Miley Cyrus as of late.  Letters from men, women, and also, some concerned and saddened mothers.  She has recently debuted herself to the public in a way that has both disturbed and broken hearts, mine included.  Here, I see a girl who needed/could still greatly benefit from her own family sharing her importance, worth, truth about her identity, and love for her. I don't know how old you will be or where technology will be when you read this (this whole blogging thing could be for the stone ages for all I know!) but I want to take a moment to "pen" out my heart for you, my little Jericho. The world is an enticing place, and if you ...