The cleaners that we use in our homes might be slowly killing us. Okay, I'm being a little dramatic, but did you know that there have been deaths and permanent damage to humans from injesting chemicals in their homes? It makes you wonder why in the world these products are even in our homes. Many of us use the harmful chemicals because we think that we are protecting our family from harmful germs. These products are harming us just as much, if not more than whatever it was that we were trying to clean up. I found this awesome website that laid out some of the most common and most hazardous cleaners that are found in our homes. Here they are:
"AIR FRESHENERS: Air fresheners interfere with your ability to smell by releasing nerve-deadening agents or coating nasal passages with an oil film, usually methoxychlor, a pesticide that accumulates in fat cells. Known toxic chemicals found in an air freshener are formaldehyde, a highly toxic, known carcinogen, and phenol. When phenol touches your skin it can cause it to swell, burn, peel, and break out in hives. "
Wow. This one freaks me out! I remember hearing about this awhile back. I don't use any of those air fresheners any more because we are constantly exposed to them and breathing them all day long.
"AMMONIA: is a very volatile chemical and is very damaging to your eyes, respiratory tract and skin."
I was curious, so I looked up the cleaners that contain ammonia and they are typically window cleaners, floor polishing waxes, drain cleaners, toilet cleaners, bathroom cleaners, multisurface cleaners, oven cleaners and stainless-steel cleaners.
"ANTIBACTERIAL CLEANERS: may contain triclosan, which is absorbed through the skin and can be tied to liver damage."
Almost all of the hand soap now has triclosan in it, including a lot of bar soaps. Look at the labels to find out before you buy this awful stuff.
"BLEACH: is a strong corrosive. It will irritate or burn the skin, eyes and respiratory tract. It may cause pulmonary edema or vomiting and coma if ingested. Never mix bleach with acid toilet bowl cleaners or ammonia. These mixtures may produce fumes which can be DEADLY. "
Seriously, that just sounds awful. Keep it away from me. Coma!
"CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY SHAMPOO: Most formulas are designed to over power the stain itself; they accomplish the task but not without using highly toxic substances. Some include perchlorethylene, a known carcinogen that damages liver, kidney and nervous system damage; and ammonium hydroxide, a corrosive, extremely irritable to eyes, skin and respiratory passages."
Uuuummm, I'll try something else and deal with the urine smell if I have to.
"CHLORINE: The first agent of chemical warfare was chlorine. WWII ended with an abundance of this cheap chemical. In the name of huge profits, it was added to our water supply and many other products. Chlorine is the number one cause of breast cancer and can be lethal. Scientists won't handle chlorine without protective gloves, facemasks, and ventilation, yet it is in most store-brand cleaners, including dishwasher detergents. The harmful effects are intensified when the fumes are heated, as in the shower. It ís in our drinking water, swimming pools, Jacuzzis, and more."
This one has totally ruined swimming pools for me. Good thing I can't swim anyways. The last time I took my kids swimming all I could think about was the horrible chemical they were swimming around in.
"DISHWASHER DETERGENTS: Most products contain chlorine in a dry form that is highly concentrated. The #1 cause of household poisoning is dish detergent. Dishwashing liquids are labeled"harmful if swallowed." Each time you wash your dishes, some residue is left on them, which accumulates with each washing. Your food picks up part of the residue -- especially if your meal is hot when you eat it."
This one has been the hardest for me to change. I have not had a lot of luck with making this at home and the "clean" brands don't work well. If someone knows a good one, shoot me a message please!
"FURNITURE POLISH: contain petroleum distillates, which are highly flammable and can cause skin and lung cancer. They contain nitrobenzene, which is easily absorbed through the skin and extremely toxic."
"LAUNDRY ROOM PRODUCTS: Laundry detergents contain phosphorus, enzymes, ammonia, naphthalene, phenol, sodium nitilotriacetate and countless other chemicals. These substances can cause rashes, itches, allergies, sinus problems and more. The residue left on your clothes, bed sheets, etc. is absorbed through your skin, as is everything else you touch."
"OVEN CLEANER: one of the most toxic products people use. They contain lye and ammonia, which eat the skin, and the fumes linger and affect the respiratory system. Then there ís the residue that ís intensified the next time you turn your oven on. Use sea salt and baking soda instead."
I'm am SO going to try the baking soda and sea salt thing!
"TOILET BOWL CLEANERS: usually contain hydrochloric acid, a highly corrosive irritant to both skin and eyes that damages kidneys and liver; and hypochlorite bleach, a corrosive irritant that can burn eyes, skin and respiratory tract. Toilet bowl cleaners also may cause pulmonary edema, vomiting or coma if ingested. Contact with other chemicals may cause chlorine fumes which may be fatal."
Well, that about sums it up. So...what in the world are you cleaning with?
I will be doing another post about what in the world we CAN clean with that is safe!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Saying goodbye is hard to do.
Very recently, I lost a very special friend. About a year ago I met a very unique and wonderful woman named Neiki. I was volunteering in the nursery at church and we started chatting. Next thing I knew me and the kids were over at her house for the "tour". I got to see all of Neiki's awesome goats and all the other animals and her beautiful home. More importantly, I started a friendship like I had never experienced before. We instantly bonded. It was one of those things that can only be explained with one word...God. Dustin and I started going over to their house for dinner and before we knew it, we were in love with Neiki and her family. Neiki had a husband, Fred and two young kids, Leland and Olivia. My kids loved their kids. The bond was instant. I truly felt like Dustin and I had known the family all our lives. It was amazing and over the past year we have built an amazing bond and friendship.
Fred has an infectious smile and gives the best hugs. Fred is deaf and Neiki signs like an angel. Neiki can tell a joke better than anyone and has a laugh that is unmistakably hers. Fred will surprise you with his sense of humor, although on the outside he seems so straight laced. Neiki is a mother hen who tries to take care of everyone and does a pretty good darn job. Fred is extremely loving and caring and impresses that upon everyone he meets. Am I getting my point across? They are great people.
Fred died recently. It was a great loss. It was a shock. It was deeply sad. It's been amazing to watch the family through this loss. A family coming together to deal with what seems like an impossible situation. Neiki's strength amazes me.
This family means the world to me. I know that they have spread their love to many others as well. I am so thankful for the time that I got to get to know Fred. Fred showed me genuine love. He taught me not to ignore the deaf person in the room, but to learn some sign and try to communicate, no matter how difficult it might be. Fred was a husband, a father, a son, a teacher and a friend and there are many who will miss him. Thankfully, we know where Fred is...
"In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." John 14: 2-4
I look forward to watching this family persevere and honor the memory of this wonderful man. Rest in peace Fred. You will be missed.
Fred has an infectious smile and gives the best hugs. Fred is deaf and Neiki signs like an angel. Neiki can tell a joke better than anyone and has a laugh that is unmistakably hers. Fred will surprise you with his sense of humor, although on the outside he seems so straight laced. Neiki is a mother hen who tries to take care of everyone and does a pretty good darn job. Fred is extremely loving and caring and impresses that upon everyone he meets. Am I getting my point across? They are great people.
Fred died recently. It was a great loss. It was a shock. It was deeply sad. It's been amazing to watch the family through this loss. A family coming together to deal with what seems like an impossible situation. Neiki's strength amazes me.
This family means the world to me. I know that they have spread their love to many others as well. I am so thankful for the time that I got to get to know Fred. Fred showed me genuine love. He taught me not to ignore the deaf person in the room, but to learn some sign and try to communicate, no matter how difficult it might be. Fred was a husband, a father, a son, a teacher and a friend and there are many who will miss him. Thankfully, we know where Fred is...
"In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." John 14: 2-4
I look forward to watching this family persevere and honor the memory of this wonderful man. Rest in peace Fred. You will be missed.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Infertility
This is not a subject that I think about a lot. Thankfully I've never experienced infertility and can't imagine how difficult it would be. I've ran across information in the last couple of years in regards to the toxins that we are exposed to and how those toxins are linked to infertility. I am by no means educated on this subject, I'm just giving some information that I thought someone might want to know.
The truth is, we are exposed to tons of different toxins every day. Toxins are in the air we breathe, the food we eat and the products we put on to our skin. Let's break each one down.
Food. Do you drink out of plastic water bottles? Did you know that those bottles leach the chemical bisphenol A? Just google it and you will find all of the information you need. To sum it up, this chemical is linked to infertility by artificially increasing estrogen levels, making the woman's reproductive system not work the way it's supposed to. We all know about how so many of the foods that we eat are harmful to us. The chemicals that our foods are treated with are harmful to our bodies in more ways that contributing to infertility, but research shows that the pesticides used in treating our food is linked to low sperm count and infertility.
The same toxins that are used on the food we eat, along with the process used to make those harmful plastics I mentioned before cause the air to become polluted with the same toxins. The toxins also end up in our water supply. There isn't a lot we can do about the air we breath, but we do have power over the food we eat and the water we drink. Eat organic, local food and absolutely DO NOT drink bottled water!!!!!! Do your best.
Skin. The products that we put on to our skin are typically loaded with harmful chemicals. I wrote about this before, think it was titled personal hygiene. So if you aren't aware of these chemicals, please read that blog post or do some research on it. The smart people say that there are 3 compounds in skin products that are linked to infertility. They are compounds found in sunscreen, wrinkle creams and heavy duty acne medications. If you are interested, these 3 infertility culprits are called Vitamin A compounds, the benzone family, and the salate family.
I have no idea why I wanted to write about this. Perhaps it might help someone down the line to think about how what they eat and what they put on to their bodies could possibly be affecting their ability to have a child. I know that there are a lot of people that load their bodies with these chemicals and still have children, but each body is different. We all respond differently to these chemicals. Some people live long lives, others might get cancer, other health problems or maybe even infertility. There just might be something to this.
The truth is, we are exposed to tons of different toxins every day. Toxins are in the air we breathe, the food we eat and the products we put on to our skin. Let's break each one down.
Food. Do you drink out of plastic water bottles? Did you know that those bottles leach the chemical bisphenol A? Just google it and you will find all of the information you need. To sum it up, this chemical is linked to infertility by artificially increasing estrogen levels, making the woman's reproductive system not work the way it's supposed to. We all know about how so many of the foods that we eat are harmful to us. The chemicals that our foods are treated with are harmful to our bodies in more ways that contributing to infertility, but research shows that the pesticides used in treating our food is linked to low sperm count and infertility.
The same toxins that are used on the food we eat, along with the process used to make those harmful plastics I mentioned before cause the air to become polluted with the same toxins. The toxins also end up in our water supply. There isn't a lot we can do about the air we breath, but we do have power over the food we eat and the water we drink. Eat organic, local food and absolutely DO NOT drink bottled water!!!!!! Do your best.
Skin. The products that we put on to our skin are typically loaded with harmful chemicals. I wrote about this before, think it was titled personal hygiene. So if you aren't aware of these chemicals, please read that blog post or do some research on it. The smart people say that there are 3 compounds in skin products that are linked to infertility. They are compounds found in sunscreen, wrinkle creams and heavy duty acne medications. If you are interested, these 3 infertility culprits are called Vitamin A compounds, the benzone family, and the salate family.
I have no idea why I wanted to write about this. Perhaps it might help someone down the line to think about how what they eat and what they put on to their bodies could possibly be affecting their ability to have a child. I know that there are a lot of people that load their bodies with these chemicals and still have children, but each body is different. We all respond differently to these chemicals. Some people live long lives, others might get cancer, other health problems or maybe even infertility. There just might be something to this.
B.O.
Body. Odor. Period. Of all the horrible, chemical laden hygiene products, I think deodorant is the worst. The thought of anyone putting the store bought stuff onto their armpits makes me cringe. I'm hoping that you will cringe after you read this. Or you'll just ignore it and pretend everything is ok. It's alright, I've been there.
I got the following info off of the web. This is a list of ingredients spelled out for you that are commonly found in deodorant. There is even a handy little description that tells you exactly why they are harmful:
I got the following info off of the web. This is a list of ingredients spelled out for you that are commonly found in deodorant. There is even a handy little description that tells you exactly why they are harmful:
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
"No panties, no shirt"
Seriously. These were lyrics I heard on the radio about 3 years ago. I couldn't believe my ears. I wouldn't have thought much of it, other than the fact that my son was in the car. It changed everything...having kids that is. I am not far removed from that kind of music and the inappropriate lyrics, music videos and clubs. After I had kids and accepted Jesus Christ as my savior, things changed. In my opinion, they had to. I couldn't be okay with my kids listening to the type of music that I was accustomed to, nor watching the videos(eek!).
Ashley, my sister in law was with me that day. It's still a joke to this day. We sing the lyrics together and laugh. On a serious note...I stopped listening to that music that day. Since then, I have listened to no other music on the radio other than Christian music. I have been so removed from the media that I am like...sheltered I guess. I got a total shock tonight. I was watching American Idol on tape and watched a performance by Lady Gaga. My Mom tapes the show for me okay. I'm addicted to AI, what can I say? The performance was...shocking. There had been performances on the show before that were a little risque, but this took it to a whole other level. This chick was in a leather bikini and playing the piano. Okay, she may just as well have had sexual intercourse with the piano. I was shocked!!! I thought it couldn't get worse. Then, it did. Jordan Rubin(I think that's her name) came on next. If you don't know, she was a cute, sweet, young gal who won American Idol a couple years ago. She got up there, completely grown up and dressed provocatively and sang a song with the lyrics "I am a woman, nobody else can do it like we can".
Okay, after seeing Jordin perform, all I could think about was my own daughter. Watching her made me wonder how I would feel if it were my daughter up there scantily clad, singing a song about women. The song, in my opinion, portrayed women as sexual beings, who were all full of power. What power exactly? Sexual power? So sick and wrong. My daughter deserves so much more than that and has sooo much more to offer than that. My son has something more to gain from a wife than that. Please don't expose your children to this until they find it out for themselves.
It's no wonder why girls and guys for that matter are in such a sad state these days. They are exposed to complete garbage. Get rid of it. They will be exposed to enough as it is. They don't need to see it and hear it all day at home.
Ashley, my sister in law was with me that day. It's still a joke to this day. We sing the lyrics together and laugh. On a serious note...I stopped listening to that music that day. Since then, I have listened to no other music on the radio other than Christian music. I have been so removed from the media that I am like...sheltered I guess. I got a total shock tonight. I was watching American Idol on tape and watched a performance by Lady Gaga. My Mom tapes the show for me okay. I'm addicted to AI, what can I say? The performance was...shocking. There had been performances on the show before that were a little risque, but this took it to a whole other level. This chick was in a leather bikini and playing the piano. Okay, she may just as well have had sexual intercourse with the piano. I was shocked!!! I thought it couldn't get worse. Then, it did. Jordan Rubin(I think that's her name) came on next. If you don't know, she was a cute, sweet, young gal who won American Idol a couple years ago. She got up there, completely grown up and dressed provocatively and sang a song with the lyrics "I am a woman, nobody else can do it like we can".
Okay, after seeing Jordin perform, all I could think about was my own daughter. Watching her made me wonder how I would feel if it were my daughter up there scantily clad, singing a song about women. The song, in my opinion, portrayed women as sexual beings, who were all full of power. What power exactly? Sexual power? So sick and wrong. My daughter deserves so much more than that and has sooo much more to offer than that. My son has something more to gain from a wife than that. Please don't expose your children to this until they find it out for themselves.
It's no wonder why girls and guys for that matter are in such a sad state these days. They are exposed to complete garbage. Get rid of it. They will be exposed to enough as it is. They don't need to see it and hear it all day at home.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Egg Beaters
Eggs. They may seem like just eggs if you don't know any better. I know I didn't know any better until about 5 years ago when we got our first set of chickens. We started getting eggs and have loved having chickens ever since. I have put a lot of time and research in to eggs and why eggs from free range hens are so much healthier than those from caged hens. I was curious, so I found out. I would absolutely love to share that information with you.
First, let's talk about why people could possibly be afraid of eggs. Well, not all too long ago, scientists came up with the idea that eggs weren't good for us because they were high in cholesterol and cholesterol lead to heart attacks. Eggs do contain cholesterol, this is true. But did you know that our body needs cholesterol to maintain cell membrane structure? Sure, too much of it can cause heart disease. In the past decade or so, research has actually shown that cholesterol from food is not the biggest culprit, it's the saturated fats that we eat that do the biggest harm to our hearts. Now, remember my post on fats here....not all saturated fats are bad, within reason. The idea that all cholesterol is bad, lead to the awful creation of products like egg beaters(shivers down my spine). You see, all the cholesterol in an egg is contained in the yolk. Egg beaters were put on the shelves at the grocery store, made of egg whits and no yolks. This made them fat free and you guessed it...cholesterol free. What the egg beater people failed to mention were these ingredients:
My personal favorite is "natural flavor". I mean, what in the heck is that!? You see, they took out the yolk, which has all of the flavor so they had to add all of these other ingredients to make up for the lack of taste. They have to use the gums and the thickeners to add fluff to the eggs since egg whites won't do that on their own. Yep, you need the yolk to do that. They have to fortify the egg beaters with vitamins since they took out all of the natural vitamins when they took the yolk out. Why they had to use the sweetener maltodextrin in there, one will never know. I think you get the point. There are a lot of things in these egg beaters that are more toxic to us, than eating healthy, wholesome EGGS!
Here's the deal. When you eat an egg, you are consuming 10% of your daily allowance of saturated fats(according to those really smart people ;)...right?). Eating an egg whole, without seperating it and filling it up with other substances is so much healthier for you. There are ways that vitamins and nutrients interact with eachother in their natural state(like as in a whole egg) that scientists can't even explain. That means that not altering our food is soooooo much better for us. It's the way God intended it if you ask me.
If you are interested in finding good, healthy eggs, keep reading. It can be very confusing when you go into the grocery store and look at the egg shelf. There are so many different kinds and they all have all of these different labels that say things that sound good, but you don't really know what they mean. Free range, cage free, organic, etc. Here is a breakdown of what those things mean:
Cage free: Chickens are not kept in cages. They may or may not be allowed outside.
Fortified or vitamin enriched: Chicken feed is supplemented with vitamins or flaxseed to increase the eggs' nutritional profile. Flaxseed boosts the eggs' omega-3 content.
Free range: Chickens are given access to the outdoors. But that access can be limited and doesn't guarantee the outdoor area is green pasture. Some industrial farms might provide only one small door for thousands of chickens to use.
Certified Humane: Chickens must be allowed to perform natural behaviors and are therefore not allowed to be kept in cages, but access to outdoors is not required.
Organic: To earn the official organic label, USDA guidelines must be followed, including ensuring that feed is certified organic and that the chickens are not given any synthetics hormones or antibiotics.
Natural, naturally raised: Unregulated, means nothing.
No hormones, no antibiotics: Unregulated, means nothing.
Pasture raised: Chickens are raised with extensive access to the outdoors, and a portion of their diet includes pasture grasses and insects.
So, pretty much nearly all of the labels that you read in the store aren't that great, except for one...pasture raised. Eggs that come from hens that are allowed regular access to outdoors where they can eat grass, weeds and bugs are MUCH healthier than those that are only allowed organic food. Obviously organic food is great, but if they aren't being allowed to be outside in nature the way that it was intended, they are not going to produce an optimum egg. It's common sense if you ask me. If you have chickens, you understand. If you have seen them outside, scratching around eating bugs and grass, you know just how wrong and sickening it is to keep them in a small pen where they never see the light of day. Read the labels carefully people and watch this video while you're at it(PLEASE).
"https://www.youtube.com/embed/TbqyAemRlno?rel=0"
There is a lot of information available out there. I encourage you to research this further. Maybe even get yourself some chickens!! Buy from someone you know and trust. If you can't do that, do the best you can at the store with the information you learned above. Best of luck.
First, let's talk about why people could possibly be afraid of eggs. Well, not all too long ago, scientists came up with the idea that eggs weren't good for us because they were high in cholesterol and cholesterol lead to heart attacks. Eggs do contain cholesterol, this is true. But did you know that our body needs cholesterol to maintain cell membrane structure? Sure, too much of it can cause heart disease. In the past decade or so, research has actually shown that cholesterol from food is not the biggest culprit, it's the saturated fats that we eat that do the biggest harm to our hearts. Now, remember my post on fats here....not all saturated fats are bad, within reason. The idea that all cholesterol is bad, lead to the awful creation of products like egg beaters(shivers down my spine). You see, all the cholesterol in an egg is contained in the yolk. Egg beaters were put on the shelves at the grocery store, made of egg whits and no yolks. This made them fat free and you guessed it...cholesterol free. What the egg beater people failed to mention were these ingredients:
Egg Whites, Less than 1%: Natural Flavor, Color (Includes Beta Carotene), Spices, Salt, Onion Powder, Vegetable Gums (Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum), Maltodextrin. Vitamins and Minerals: Calcium Sulfate, Iron (Ferric Phosphate), Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol Acetate), Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B1 (Thiamine Mononitrate), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Folic Acid, Biotin, Vitamin D3
My personal favorite is "natural flavor". I mean, what in the heck is that!? You see, they took out the yolk, which has all of the flavor so they had to add all of these other ingredients to make up for the lack of taste. They have to use the gums and the thickeners to add fluff to the eggs since egg whites won't do that on their own. Yep, you need the yolk to do that. They have to fortify the egg beaters with vitamins since they took out all of the natural vitamins when they took the yolk out. Why they had to use the sweetener maltodextrin in there, one will never know. I think you get the point. There are a lot of things in these egg beaters that are more toxic to us, than eating healthy, wholesome EGGS!
Here's the deal. When you eat an egg, you are consuming 10% of your daily allowance of saturated fats(according to those really smart people ;)...right?). Eating an egg whole, without seperating it and filling it up with other substances is so much healthier for you. There are ways that vitamins and nutrients interact with eachother in their natural state(like as in a whole egg) that scientists can't even explain. That means that not altering our food is soooooo much better for us. It's the way God intended it if you ask me.
If you are interested in finding good, healthy eggs, keep reading. It can be very confusing when you go into the grocery store and look at the egg shelf. There are so many different kinds and they all have all of these different labels that say things that sound good, but you don't really know what they mean. Free range, cage free, organic, etc. Here is a breakdown of what those things mean:
Cage free: Chickens are not kept in cages. They may or may not be allowed outside.
Fortified or vitamin enriched: Chicken feed is supplemented with vitamins or flaxseed to increase the eggs' nutritional profile. Flaxseed boosts the eggs' omega-3 content.
Free range: Chickens are given access to the outdoors. But that access can be limited and doesn't guarantee the outdoor area is green pasture. Some industrial farms might provide only one small door for thousands of chickens to use.
Certified Humane: Chickens must be allowed to perform natural behaviors and are therefore not allowed to be kept in cages, but access to outdoors is not required.
Organic: To earn the official organic label, USDA guidelines must be followed, including ensuring that feed is certified organic and that the chickens are not given any synthetics hormones or antibiotics.
Natural, naturally raised: Unregulated, means nothing.
No hormones, no antibiotics: Unregulated, means nothing.
Pasture raised: Chickens are raised with extensive access to the outdoors, and a portion of their diet includes pasture grasses and insects.
So, pretty much nearly all of the labels that you read in the store aren't that great, except for one...pasture raised. Eggs that come from hens that are allowed regular access to outdoors where they can eat grass, weeds and bugs are MUCH healthier than those that are only allowed organic food. Obviously organic food is great, but if they aren't being allowed to be outside in nature the way that it was intended, they are not going to produce an optimum egg. It's common sense if you ask me. If you have chickens, you understand. If you have seen them outside, scratching around eating bugs and grass, you know just how wrong and sickening it is to keep them in a small pen where they never see the light of day. Read the labels carefully people and watch this video while you're at it(PLEASE).
"https://www.youtube.com/embed/TbqyAemRlno?rel=0"
There is a lot of information available out there. I encourage you to research this further. Maybe even get yourself some chickens!! Buy from someone you know and trust. If you can't do that, do the best you can at the store with the information you learned above. Best of luck.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
We could all use some Wabi-Sabi
I was reading an article in one of my favorite magazines the other day and ran across Wabi-Sabi. Wabi-Sabi is the Japanese philosophy of appreciating things that are imperfect, primitive and incomplete. This idea got me thinking about people's homes. It made me think about my own home and how much Wabi-Sabi I might have.
My husband and I went to an acquaintances house one time for dinner. The house was enormous, it was beautiful and filled with tons of beautiful and expensive things. I don't think I ever saw a speck of dirt or dust the entire time I was there. There is no doubt that the house was beautiful, but it was....uncomfortable to me. I felt like I was in a museum of all of these "things" that these people had bought from some fancy store. These are very nice people who have a taste for nice things. I'm not knockin' it. It's just not for me. I wondered how much time and money was spent keeping up this beautiful, yet uncomfortable home. To me, it had no Wabi-Sabi. Not to mention I was a complete basket case while I was there because every time I turned around my kids were getting ready to touch or break something that looked incredibly expensive.
My Dad's house is small, very simple and filled with all sorts of interesting things. Some of the things I could do without, but generally speaking, it has a unique sense of style and best of all...comfort. I'm sure all of you have experienced that feeling of comfort before. Maybe you feel that way about your own home. If you do, you are one of the lucky few. Have you even been to someone's house and when you walk in you already feel like you're at home? You're not worried that you might get something dirty or that your kids will touch something that they aren't supposed to. You just feel comfortable enough where you could go sit down on the couch and kick your feet up. To me, that is Wabi-Sabi. For example, in my Dad's house, everything has a story. The story isn't about what store he bought it from. His things are weathered and sometimes shabby. They are ordinary. I think that's what Wabi-Sabi is about, seeing the beauty in ordinary things.
Real people leave their mail on the counter and laundry piled up on the couch. Real people have dust bunnies hiding out somewhere in their house and let their dog sleep on the bed. Wabi-Sabi embraces these flaws. Next time you worry about what your house looks like, just think....it might give off a little bit of Wabi-Sabi to whoever comes to visit!
I want my home to feel Wabi-Sabi-ish. I think that not only is it about seeing the beauty in ordinary things and imperfection, but also for your home to express grace. Isn't that was Jesus has done for us? Given us grace even though we are often times shabby and imperfect? He still finds the beauty in us. After all, aren't our favorite things the one's that we've had forever, like a comfortable sweatshirt or old book? Exhibiting Wabi-sabi and grace to those who come in to your home will leave them with an everlasting impression that you value a relationship with people more than anything else.
My husband and I went to an acquaintances house one time for dinner. The house was enormous, it was beautiful and filled with tons of beautiful and expensive things. I don't think I ever saw a speck of dirt or dust the entire time I was there. There is no doubt that the house was beautiful, but it was....uncomfortable to me. I felt like I was in a museum of all of these "things" that these people had bought from some fancy store. These are very nice people who have a taste for nice things. I'm not knockin' it. It's just not for me. I wondered how much time and money was spent keeping up this beautiful, yet uncomfortable home. To me, it had no Wabi-Sabi. Not to mention I was a complete basket case while I was there because every time I turned around my kids were getting ready to touch or break something that looked incredibly expensive.
My Dad's house is small, very simple and filled with all sorts of interesting things. Some of the things I could do without, but generally speaking, it has a unique sense of style and best of all...comfort. I'm sure all of you have experienced that feeling of comfort before. Maybe you feel that way about your own home. If you do, you are one of the lucky few. Have you even been to someone's house and when you walk in you already feel like you're at home? You're not worried that you might get something dirty or that your kids will touch something that they aren't supposed to. You just feel comfortable enough where you could go sit down on the couch and kick your feet up. To me, that is Wabi-Sabi. For example, in my Dad's house, everything has a story. The story isn't about what store he bought it from. His things are weathered and sometimes shabby. They are ordinary. I think that's what Wabi-Sabi is about, seeing the beauty in ordinary things.
Real people leave their mail on the counter and laundry piled up on the couch. Real people have dust bunnies hiding out somewhere in their house and let their dog sleep on the bed. Wabi-Sabi embraces these flaws. Next time you worry about what your house looks like, just think....it might give off a little bit of Wabi-Sabi to whoever comes to visit!
I want my home to feel Wabi-Sabi-ish. I think that not only is it about seeing the beauty in ordinary things and imperfection, but also for your home to express grace. Isn't that was Jesus has done for us? Given us grace even though we are often times shabby and imperfect? He still finds the beauty in us. After all, aren't our favorite things the one's that we've had forever, like a comfortable sweatshirt or old book? Exhibiting Wabi-sabi and grace to those who come in to your home will leave them with an everlasting impression that you value a relationship with people more than anything else.
Friday, May 13, 2011
My Vitamix, My Beloved.
Oh, where do I even begin. It's a love affair. It began one day when my husband and I were talking with some folks out at a farm store that we frequent here in Dallas. They told us about this amazing machine called a Vitamix. We thought about it for awhile and then started looking around for one. I ended up getting ours at Costco because it was the best price I could find. They are not cheap, but worth EVERY penny.
So, what is so sweet about the Vitamix? Well, lets start in the morning. Every morning for breakfast I have my smoothie. The smoothies are sometimes different, but generally these smoothies consist of the following:
Ok, so are you sold yet? Well, let me explain what this amazing machine does. Not only is the Vitamix a blender, it's like the mack daddy of all blenders. It blends everything into oblivion, creating an amazingly smooth smoothie. Let me elaborate. If you wanted, you could put the apple in to the Vitamix whole and it would chop that baby up so fine you would have no idea you were eating a core and stem. It's that good.
The Vitamix can do a lot more than smoothies. I have done the following with mine:
Seriously, this machine is awesome and I am not being cheesy when I say that it has literally changed our lives. I tell everyone I can about this thing because it rocks. Imagine starting your day with a veggie and fruit packed smoothie and then having it at your disposal to make healthy things to add to your daily diet. Adding yogurt will add those awesome probitiocs into the mix too. If someone in the house is sick we always add in some extra powder Vitamin C, or an orange if we have it on hand. The sorbets are so good and the kids love them. We do orange, strawberry or banana. All you have to have to do it is the fruit, ice and some sweetener(we use stevia) and it's a really good, healthy treat.
The biggest thing about this whole thing is the fact that you are getting raw food, put directly in to your gut. The benefits of this are endless. I encourage you to research this if you haven't already and find out exactly how insanely beneficial this is to your body. I know for me personally, it's hard to eat a lot of fruit and veggies throughout the day. It's a lot easier for me to drink it in one glass, versus eating all of those things seperately....especially raw.
You won't believe it until you try it. If you can afford it, get yourself one. If you still need some convincing, come up to my house and I'll prove it to you. Or you could go see a show they put on at Costco periodically. They really are worth every penny.
So, what is so sweet about the Vitamix? Well, lets start in the morning. Every morning for breakfast I have my smoothie. The smoothies are sometimes different, but generally these smoothies consist of the following:
- carrots
- spinach
- purple cabbage
- banana
- apple
- yogurt
- stevia or honey
- ice
Ok, so are you sold yet? Well, let me explain what this amazing machine does. Not only is the Vitamix a blender, it's like the mack daddy of all blenders. It blends everything into oblivion, creating an amazingly smooth smoothie. Let me elaborate. If you wanted, you could put the apple in to the Vitamix whole and it would chop that baby up so fine you would have no idea you were eating a core and stem. It's that good.
The Vitamix can do a lot more than smoothies. I have done the following with mine:
- peanut butter
- grated cheese
- cole slaw
- apple sauce
- salsa
- chopped vegetables
- soup
- churned butter or whipped cream
- sorbets and ice cream
Seriously, this machine is awesome and I am not being cheesy when I say that it has literally changed our lives. I tell everyone I can about this thing because it rocks. Imagine starting your day with a veggie and fruit packed smoothie and then having it at your disposal to make healthy things to add to your daily diet. Adding yogurt will add those awesome probitiocs into the mix too. If someone in the house is sick we always add in some extra powder Vitamin C, or an orange if we have it on hand. The sorbets are so good and the kids love them. We do orange, strawberry or banana. All you have to have to do it is the fruit, ice and some sweetener(we use stevia) and it's a really good, healthy treat.
The biggest thing about this whole thing is the fact that you are getting raw food, put directly in to your gut. The benefits of this are endless. I encourage you to research this if you haven't already and find out exactly how insanely beneficial this is to your body. I know for me personally, it's hard to eat a lot of fruit and veggies throughout the day. It's a lot easier for me to drink it in one glass, versus eating all of those things seperately....especially raw.
You won't believe it until you try it. If you can afford it, get yourself one. If you still need some convincing, come up to my house and I'll prove it to you. Or you could go see a show they put on at Costco periodically. They really are worth every penny.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
"I can't afford to eat organic."
That statement used to be one I made all the time. A few years ago I started hearing about organic foods and how much better they were for us. I wanted to provide healthy food for my family, but I used the excuse that I couldn't afford it. Now I realize it really was just an excuse. I would buy the cheapest food I could find at the store because I had convinced myself that was the best we could do with our grocery budget. Then I went on my quest for more information. Since then, we have changed our eating habits dramatically.
My husband has a little "intestinal issue". I started researching foods that would help his guts. That is where it all started. I learned so much. I am still learning soooo much. I read a few books and did countless hours of research on the Internet. I consulted a few friends who knew way more than I did about this stuff. I would like to share some of what I learned and how it has affected our family.
First and foremost, I learned that organic food should not be underrated. I have heard a lot of people say that they don't think organic really means a lot, that it's just a marketing ploy. Well, some companies may use their labels to mislead people and make money off of innocent people by claiming to be "natural". Sure, that happens. Now that we have that out of the way, let's get down to business.
Organic food is, well, organic. Not all organic products are created equal, just like anything else we buy. The organic produce I buy from a reputable local farm versus Safeway are very different. The farmer I buy from uses no pesticides, healthy and organic soil and doesn't have to transport the produce long distances before I buy it. Safeway, on the other hand, can call their produce organic however it's not the same. In order for them to be able to call the produce organic they have to omit certain harmful chemicals from their produce, not all of them. More than likely, the produce will not be grown in the healthiest dirt and the produce is going to have to be shipped long distances before it even gets to you. The healthiest we can eat is straight from the vine, untreated and grown in healthy, enriched soil.
Pesticides and chemicals are in so much of what we eat. Just type in pesticides in the google box and you will find more information that you will know what to do with. You will find a long list of pesticides and the horrible things these chemicals do to our bodies from cancer to infertility. I encourage you to do your own research on this if you haven't already. You will be shocked by what you find.
I've also heard this one a lot..."I've eaten that stuff all my life and I'm perfectly fine!". Really? Are you fine? I know that I don't feel fine eating those chemicals. I also feel better when I am eating healthy, organic food. Research will tell you that these chemicals build up in our bodies and weaken our immune system. Some get more sick than others. I personally am not willing to take that risk. I am also not willing to risk my children's health on the hope that they are that one person in a million that can do whatever they want to their bodies and live to a 100 years old.
Don't get me wrong. We are not perfect at this. I still go out to eat with my family and enjoy the occasional chemical laden foods. We don't do it often, but when we do I don't freak out. Although I must say, I can't do McDonald's. Evil!
Eating organic is NOT cheap. It's very expensive. We started eating meat only a few times a week. When we started doing that I thought that my grocery budget would go way down. I was really wrong. It went up because we also started buying organic food and healthy meat. Spendy!! I have found, like with everything in life that I could only make it work if I really wanted it bad enough. I did. I wanted to eat healthy. We have made it work. I have to get crafty and shop smart. I am not a couponer and don't do well at finding sales, so my craftiness is definetely where I save the most money. I make a lot of things at home that I don't have to buy, such as bread, some sauces, food from scratch, etc. There are certain things I have no desire to make myself and we budget those in. It's all about what works for you and your personality and situation.
Some organic is better than none. Research the produce and other foods that are the most important to eat organic and start there. That's what I did. Each month I would find two or three more things that I could put on the organic shopping list. Here is a look of the best and worst of the produce. I found this off of a website:
One of the best ways to eat healthy and cut down on your food budget is to have a garden. You can grow your own fresh produce for cheap. You know where it came from, can eat it fresh and your wallet will thank you. Whether you live in the country, or in town you can have a garden. Whether it be 1 acre plots or planters on your porch, you can do it. Something is better than nothing. I am sooooo excited to start my first real garden this year. I can't wait to see how much produce we are able to grow.
Best of luck on your organic endeavors!
My husband has a little "intestinal issue". I started researching foods that would help his guts. That is where it all started. I learned so much. I am still learning soooo much. I read a few books and did countless hours of research on the Internet. I consulted a few friends who knew way more than I did about this stuff. I would like to share some of what I learned and how it has affected our family.
First and foremost, I learned that organic food should not be underrated. I have heard a lot of people say that they don't think organic really means a lot, that it's just a marketing ploy. Well, some companies may use their labels to mislead people and make money off of innocent people by claiming to be "natural". Sure, that happens. Now that we have that out of the way, let's get down to business.
Organic food is, well, organic. Not all organic products are created equal, just like anything else we buy. The organic produce I buy from a reputable local farm versus Safeway are very different. The farmer I buy from uses no pesticides, healthy and organic soil and doesn't have to transport the produce long distances before I buy it. Safeway, on the other hand, can call their produce organic however it's not the same. In order for them to be able to call the produce organic they have to omit certain harmful chemicals from their produce, not all of them. More than likely, the produce will not be grown in the healthiest dirt and the produce is going to have to be shipped long distances before it even gets to you. The healthiest we can eat is straight from the vine, untreated and grown in healthy, enriched soil.
Pesticides and chemicals are in so much of what we eat. Just type in pesticides in the google box and you will find more information that you will know what to do with. You will find a long list of pesticides and the horrible things these chemicals do to our bodies from cancer to infertility. I encourage you to do your own research on this if you haven't already. You will be shocked by what you find.
I've also heard this one a lot..."I've eaten that stuff all my life and I'm perfectly fine!". Really? Are you fine? I know that I don't feel fine eating those chemicals. I also feel better when I am eating healthy, organic food. Research will tell you that these chemicals build up in our bodies and weaken our immune system. Some get more sick than others. I personally am not willing to take that risk. I am also not willing to risk my children's health on the hope that they are that one person in a million that can do whatever they want to their bodies and live to a 100 years old.
Don't get me wrong. We are not perfect at this. I still go out to eat with my family and enjoy the occasional chemical laden foods. We don't do it often, but when we do I don't freak out. Although I must say, I can't do McDonald's. Evil!
Eating organic is NOT cheap. It's very expensive. We started eating meat only a few times a week. When we started doing that I thought that my grocery budget would go way down. I was really wrong. It went up because we also started buying organic food and healthy meat. Spendy!! I have found, like with everything in life that I could only make it work if I really wanted it bad enough. I did. I wanted to eat healthy. We have made it work. I have to get crafty and shop smart. I am not a couponer and don't do well at finding sales, so my craftiness is definetely where I save the most money. I make a lot of things at home that I don't have to buy, such as bread, some sauces, food from scratch, etc. There are certain things I have no desire to make myself and we budget those in. It's all about what works for you and your personality and situation.
Some organic is better than none. Research the produce and other foods that are the most important to eat organic and start there. That's what I did. Each month I would find two or three more things that I could put on the organic shopping list. Here is a look of the best and worst of the produce. I found this off of a website:
12 Most Contaminated
12 Least Contaminated
|
One of the best ways to eat healthy and cut down on your food budget is to have a garden. You can grow your own fresh produce for cheap. You know where it came from, can eat it fresh and your wallet will thank you. Whether you live in the country, or in town you can have a garden. Whether it be 1 acre plots or planters on your porch, you can do it. Something is better than nothing. I am sooooo excited to start my first real garden this year. I can't wait to see how much produce we are able to grow.
Best of luck on your organic endeavors!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Abortion and Homosexuality--Yikes!
These are hot topics. The reason I want to talk about it is because I have seen so much about it lately. I have strong opinions on abortion and homosexuality and...well...this is my blog. I'm venting! Some of you will agree with me and some of you most certainly will not. I have no desire to argue with anyone on these points.
Several years ago I had a very different view on abortion and homosexuality. In terms of abortion, I wasn't necessarily for it, but wasn't against it either. I thought abortion was okay in certain circumstances. I thought that if a woman was raped, molested or an unfit mother that abortion could be considered a option. I pretty much felt the same way about homosexuality. I personally didn't want anything to do with it, but I thought that it was a person's choice. I also believed that some people were born gay and couldn't really help it.
Well, then I became a mother and a believer in Jesus Christ. My opinions on abortion and homosexuality became more than opinions. They became a part of my values and beliefs, THE TRUTH. I know that not everyone that reads this blog is a believer, but I am. As a Christian, I turn to scripture to reveal the truth about abortion and homosexuality. I am no scholar, but I know how to read. Here are just a few scriptures about the value of human life:
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139:13-16).
I really love this verse. It describes how God has crafted each one of us in the womb. There are so many other scriptures that tell us that God knows each one of us even before we are conceived. To take that away is to take someone's opportunity to have a life, to make a difference in the world, to glorify God. Yes, that child may be born into an unfortunate circumstance or family and/or might live a life of pain and suffering. That might happen. No matter what circumstance a child is born in to, that child should be given a chance to live. How could we possibly know the life that the unborn child would live? How could it possibly be our jobs to put these unborn babies to death?
"If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life." Exodus 21:22-23
Why would God require the death penalty if He didn't consider the unborn child to be a human being?
Proverbs 6:16-17 says that God HATES those who shed innocent blood!
Who could possibly be more innocent that an unborn baby?
In terms of homosexuality, here are a few verses:
"In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion." Romans 1:27
I think that verse is pretty clear...
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God."
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Harsh biblical reality.
It is so easy to get sucked in to this Hollywood idea that "love is all you need". This is not true. Believe me, I tried it and it didn't work. It's not all we need. We need truth. Geez, as I type this I realize how many people I'm probably upsetting. Maybe I shouldn't even post stuff like this. But ya know. I think that even as Christians, we get tied up in the idea that "love is enough" and start to falter in our beliefs and start adapting to what society is telling us is acceptable. The truth tells us loud and clear that homosexuality is not okay just because "times have changed". I will not allow "the times" to skew my judgement and lead me away from the truth. I want my kids to grow up and find their joy through Jesus Christ, something that will only happen if they are following His word and no one elses.
A little side note... My Dad brought a video to my attention awhile back and it is amazing. It's a story of a woman who lived through a failed abortion. The woman's name is Gianna Jessen. Look the videos up on Youtube. Please take the time to watch it, you won't be disappointed.
So yeah, I believe that abortion and homosexuality are wrong. Not just wrong, but sinful. We all sin, it's just too easy! I know I do my fair share of sinning. I don't hate people who have abortions or people who are gay, I disagree with them. Like I said before, I used to have a completely opposite view of the one I have now, so I understand where those with opposing views come from. I want to see them live the life that God intended for them.
I hope no one takes this the wrong way. Wishful thinking I know. It saddens when Christians become hateful and spread their views in the wrong way. That was not my intention and if that is how you are taking this, you are reading through different goggles than mine.
Well, guess I got all that out. Now on to something like...baking bread.
Several years ago I had a very different view on abortion and homosexuality. In terms of abortion, I wasn't necessarily for it, but wasn't against it either. I thought abortion was okay in certain circumstances. I thought that if a woman was raped, molested or an unfit mother that abortion could be considered a option. I pretty much felt the same way about homosexuality. I personally didn't want anything to do with it, but I thought that it was a person's choice. I also believed that some people were born gay and couldn't really help it.
Well, then I became a mother and a believer in Jesus Christ. My opinions on abortion and homosexuality became more than opinions. They became a part of my values and beliefs, THE TRUTH. I know that not everyone that reads this blog is a believer, but I am. As a Christian, I turn to scripture to reveal the truth about abortion and homosexuality. I am no scholar, but I know how to read. Here are just a few scriptures about the value of human life:
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139:13-16).
I really love this verse. It describes how God has crafted each one of us in the womb. There are so many other scriptures that tell us that God knows each one of us even before we are conceived. To take that away is to take someone's opportunity to have a life, to make a difference in the world, to glorify God. Yes, that child may be born into an unfortunate circumstance or family and/or might live a life of pain and suffering. That might happen. No matter what circumstance a child is born in to, that child should be given a chance to live. How could we possibly know the life that the unborn child would live? How could it possibly be our jobs to put these unborn babies to death?
"If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life." Exodus 21:22-23
Why would God require the death penalty if He didn't consider the unborn child to be a human being?
Proverbs 6:16-17 says that God HATES those who shed innocent blood!
Who could possibly be more innocent that an unborn baby?
In terms of homosexuality, here are a few verses:
"In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion." Romans 1:27
I think that verse is pretty clear...
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God."
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Harsh biblical reality.
It is so easy to get sucked in to this Hollywood idea that "love is all you need". This is not true. Believe me, I tried it and it didn't work. It's not all we need. We need truth. Geez, as I type this I realize how many people I'm probably upsetting. Maybe I shouldn't even post stuff like this. But ya know. I think that even as Christians, we get tied up in the idea that "love is enough" and start to falter in our beliefs and start adapting to what society is telling us is acceptable. The truth tells us loud and clear that homosexuality is not okay just because "times have changed". I will not allow "the times" to skew my judgement and lead me away from the truth. I want my kids to grow up and find their joy through Jesus Christ, something that will only happen if they are following His word and no one elses.
A little side note... My Dad brought a video to my attention awhile back and it is amazing. It's a story of a woman who lived through a failed abortion. The woman's name is Gianna Jessen. Look the videos up on Youtube. Please take the time to watch it, you won't be disappointed.
So yeah, I believe that abortion and homosexuality are wrong. Not just wrong, but sinful. We all sin, it's just too easy! I know I do my fair share of sinning. I don't hate people who have abortions or people who are gay, I disagree with them. Like I said before, I used to have a completely opposite view of the one I have now, so I understand where those with opposing views come from. I want to see them live the life that God intended for them.
I hope no one takes this the wrong way. Wishful thinking I know. It saddens when Christians become hateful and spread their views in the wrong way. That was not my intention and if that is how you are taking this, you are reading through different goggles than mine.
Well, guess I got all that out. Now on to something like...baking bread.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Preparedness
I started to think about preparedness in terms of food storage about a year or so ago. I was doing a Bible study on the book of Revelation. It was the first time I had ever read the book of Revelation. I was floored! I must admit, I did start my preparedness efforts from a place of ALL OUT FEAR! Over the past year, however, it has morphed into a peaceful and prayerfully considered journey. I prepare because I yearn to become more self sufficient and independent from others. I don't want the grocery store to determine whether or not I have food. The food system in the US is too fragile in my opinion.
Here's the deal. Let's just imagine some type of disaster happens. Would you be prepared? Would you have enough food to even last three weeks? It could be a severe earthquake or other natural disaster, loss of employment, war, economic collapse or the tribulations before Jesus comes back(weirdo alert). There is a good chance one of these things may happen in your lifetime. Did you know that grocery stores don't have more than just a few days food, if that? Stores operate on demand, they do not have a large stockpile of food in the back. How long do you think it would last in a crisis situation? If you look at examples of crisis that have happened before, even something as minor as a snowstorm, the shelves are empty in a couple of hours. Do you even want to be in the store during a crisis situation? I sure wouldn't. I would want to be comfortable and safe in my own home.
Preparedness for me, is also about finding new ways for our family to become more self sufficient. For example, we have chickens, geese and ducks, which provide us with eggs and occassionally meat. Planting a garden and growing your food is also a very smart choice. Having animals and/or a garden is healthier, plus you are less dependent on other sources for food. It's also very satisfying knowing that you were responsible for producing your own food.
I am not a fear monger, nor do I spend my days worrying about the future. You see, when you become prepared, there is a certain peace you feel. You know that you will be able to feed your family, come what may. Common sense tells me that we should be prepared, that is what people used to do. They preserved their harvest to last them through the winter and beyond. I personally do not want to depend on anyone else, or be a burden to someone else because I failed to be prepared. Food storage also saves money. Buying in bulk is always cheaper and you can stock up when items go on sale. What is the worst that could happen if you got prepared and nothing ever happened? Some extra food.
You can dive as deep as you could imagine in to preparedness. Some people go WAY out there with it and others prepare with enough to ensure food for their family through a crisis. Two great websites to begin with are preparednesspro.com and thesurvivalmom.com. I encourage you to become better prepared if you haven't already made the choice to do so. It's empowering and peaceful.
This kind of thing really makes me feel like a freak. Oh well, there are worse things.
Here's the deal. Let's just imagine some type of disaster happens. Would you be prepared? Would you have enough food to even last three weeks? It could be a severe earthquake or other natural disaster, loss of employment, war, economic collapse or the tribulations before Jesus comes back(weirdo alert). There is a good chance one of these things may happen in your lifetime. Did you know that grocery stores don't have more than just a few days food, if that? Stores operate on demand, they do not have a large stockpile of food in the back. How long do you think it would last in a crisis situation? If you look at examples of crisis that have happened before, even something as minor as a snowstorm, the shelves are empty in a couple of hours. Do you even want to be in the store during a crisis situation? I sure wouldn't. I would want to be comfortable and safe in my own home.
Preparedness for me, is also about finding new ways for our family to become more self sufficient. For example, we have chickens, geese and ducks, which provide us with eggs and occassionally meat. Planting a garden and growing your food is also a very smart choice. Having animals and/or a garden is healthier, plus you are less dependent on other sources for food. It's also very satisfying knowing that you were responsible for producing your own food.
I am not a fear monger, nor do I spend my days worrying about the future. You see, when you become prepared, there is a certain peace you feel. You know that you will be able to feed your family, come what may. Common sense tells me that we should be prepared, that is what people used to do. They preserved their harvest to last them through the winter and beyond. I personally do not want to depend on anyone else, or be a burden to someone else because I failed to be prepared. Food storage also saves money. Buying in bulk is always cheaper and you can stock up when items go on sale. What is the worst that could happen if you got prepared and nothing ever happened? Some extra food.
You can dive as deep as you could imagine in to preparedness. Some people go WAY out there with it and others prepare with enough to ensure food for their family through a crisis. Two great websites to begin with are preparednesspro.com and thesurvivalmom.com. I encourage you to become better prepared if you haven't already made the choice to do so. It's empowering and peaceful.
This kind of thing really makes me feel like a freak. Oh well, there are worse things.
Inappropriate
Alright. So first, I should mention that I actually have a real laptop with real internet service now. It's been a long time and it's a lot better than a cell phone. It's about time Qwest decided to take high speed out to the boonies. I mean....some people live here.
Inappropriate. This word means a lot to me. Before I became a Christian, the word inappropriate meant something totally different. After I had children and then became a believer in Jesus Christ, inappropriate just started surfacing time after time after time after time after time. What I realized was that I needed to define what "inappropriate" meant for my family.
My kids always seem to be the avenue that God uses to make changes in my life. Smart God. He knows how to get to me. My son, Bean started asking about females in movies, asking why they had "bumps". This lead to a discussion about boobs and such. Then, it lead me to thinking about exactly what my kids were watching in their movies. We don't have cable because I think it's evil. Believe me, I want cable, but in a BAD way. Cable has done nothing but bad in our lives, so as a family we have decided to get rid of it. However, the kids still watch a lot of movies and they live in the real world.
When my son started asking me about females and their different "parts", I decided that I wasn't going to try and shelter him from what he was discovering and that I would just be honest with him. Whenever I would see a female on a movie that was not covering herself, I would tell my son, Bean, that that female was "inappropriate". I explained to him that a female should cover herself and not expose her private parts for all to see. I really thought I was doing a good thing. My thought process started to receive questioning when my son started pointing out everyone and everything that was "inappropriate". It was embarrassing at first!!! Now, I am proud. My son and now my daughter are aware of the world and that there are a lot of things that happen in the world that are inappropriate. They know that they are expected to act and dress differently. But above that, they are expected to love the "inappropriate" people and accept them for who they are. I love that. I don't want to hide the world from my kids, but teach them about it.
I went through a period in my life when I was inappropriate. I understand that we all might. I hope we can all think about what we are portraying to others around us who are looking to us to be an example. What is your worth? Mine is in Jesus Christ, but I didn't always have that and I get that! Who do you expect to make an impact on in your life? What kind of impact do you want to make? Is it one of simplicity or grace or self worth? The world tells us so many lies. Don't believe them.
Inappropriate. This word means a lot to me. Before I became a Christian, the word inappropriate meant something totally different. After I had children and then became a believer in Jesus Christ, inappropriate just started surfacing time after time after time after time after time. What I realized was that I needed to define what "inappropriate" meant for my family.
My kids always seem to be the avenue that God uses to make changes in my life. Smart God. He knows how to get to me. My son, Bean started asking about females in movies, asking why they had "bumps". This lead to a discussion about boobs and such. Then, it lead me to thinking about exactly what my kids were watching in their movies. We don't have cable because I think it's evil. Believe me, I want cable, but in a BAD way. Cable has done nothing but bad in our lives, so as a family we have decided to get rid of it. However, the kids still watch a lot of movies and they live in the real world.
When my son started asking me about females and their different "parts", I decided that I wasn't going to try and shelter him from what he was discovering and that I would just be honest with him. Whenever I would see a female on a movie that was not covering herself, I would tell my son, Bean, that that female was "inappropriate". I explained to him that a female should cover herself and not expose her private parts for all to see. I really thought I was doing a good thing. My thought process started to receive questioning when my son started pointing out everyone and everything that was "inappropriate". It was embarrassing at first!!! Now, I am proud. My son and now my daughter are aware of the world and that there are a lot of things that happen in the world that are inappropriate. They know that they are expected to act and dress differently. But above that, they are expected to love the "inappropriate" people and accept them for who they are. I love that. I don't want to hide the world from my kids, but teach them about it.
I went through a period in my life when I was inappropriate. I understand that we all might. I hope we can all think about what we are portraying to others around us who are looking to us to be an example. What is your worth? Mine is in Jesus Christ, but I didn't always have that and I get that! Who do you expect to make an impact on in your life? What kind of impact do you want to make? Is it one of simplicity or grace or self worth? The world tells us so many lies. Don't believe them.
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