Re-post from Single Dad Laughing: I'm Christian, unless you're gay

http://www.danoah.com/2011/11/im-christian-unless-youre-gay.html

Please read this beautiful post with the somewhat misleading title.  Then link over to the responses. Bring tissues, there will be tears. <3  Thank you Dan for this eye-opening post. <3

Christmas and the Plastic

*limps in off the retail battlefield*  "I think my plastic melted!"  Srsly  my credit card got a major workout this weekend.  Why, oh why, did we wander into Moore's? It's not like Don Cherry was in there! But they had this SALE sign, and I needed to get something nice for my dad for Christmas... somehow he always seems to be about the last person I buy for ... *sigh* .  Okay, here's where I nearly wrote what I bought, then realized who reads this blog O_o   hah!

How was your shopping?

Raw and Amazed! :D

WOW is all I can say.  I started Eating for Energy Thursday. That meant I went from pesca-ovo-lacto vegetarian to vegan RAW.  Except for my downfall, Tostitos Scoops made with corn, I have been raw.

I have not been hungry. After the first day, in fact, I cut the recipes down to 80-75 % because I was STUFFED!  I have been walk/running with the dog for 1/2 hour each morning.  I feel great, I get up without problems (usually, I am a 'snoozer', hitting the snooze button about 3 times).

Best news: this is only Monday and I am down at least 3 pounds.  I did not weigh myself in between (I don't believe in micromanaging weight loss). Loose 3 pounds, no cravings, no hunger? What planet am I on?  I am on the raw planet, and I am so happy.  Really. I have a grin on my face.

When I started this way of eating (I will NOT call it A Diet), I looked in the mirror at my stomach and said, "BYE BYE! You won't be here very much longer! Pack up and git goin' 'cuz yer not welcome here anymore."

Now the mechanics of it: Yuri explains VERY simply how to soak and how to sprout, so that you can easily do these methods of food prep.  I started by sprouting quinoa (was i ever excited to find little sprouts coming out!), now I am on red lentils.  If I don't have an item, I try to substitute (no point getting hung up).  I made a fantastic dressing from olive oil, dijon mustard and pomegranate juice for hubby's spinach salad. He approved.  Naturally, not everyone has the same taste, so I like some recipes better than others. I am not crazy fond of cilantro and put a bit too much in the spinach soup recipe, so did not finish that one. Most of my food is fabulous and delicious and colourful.

Yuri's e-book (also available in hard copy for extra $$) provides 12 weeks of recipes, you get daily cheerleader emails from Yuri, and a bunch of extra stuff. I paid $51 Canadian for this and it has already been worth it.

When I am making food for my omnivorous and constantly grazing husband, I tell myself 'that's not what you eat anymore'. I have the same mindset as when I feed the dog. Would you be tempted to eat your dog's kibble and canned meat? Me neither.   I had already stopped eating chocolate, but I even was not fazed by chocolate covered cheesecake.  A-MAZing!

Details: Yuri Elkaim can be found online at his site or on facebook: Yuri Elkaim   (he's the guy in the red shirt)

f-f-f--f-freezing

boiler at work is OFF, rads are COLD, office is cooler than my fridge, my fingers are pruny and I had to put gloves on (hard to type).   I want to eat more raw foods, but all I want now is SOUP! :'(

Request to fellow soldiers

Promise you'll catch my mother dear
If she falls when  words are spoken
When she sees soldiers she has feared
As the dreadful news is broken.

As she learns we've had our last embrace
Never hear my voice nor yet my laugh
No more to gaze upon my face
Except in aging photograph.

Promise me on her you'll call
And talk of how we worked and played
How we gave our best to all
That if I could, I would have stayed.

Go to the Cenotaph each year
Stand, tall and silent, at her side
Yes, please hold my mother dear
As she mourns and as she cries.

Be to her the child she lost
And let her cover you in love
Her soldier left at such a cost
And waits for trumpets from above

For when is heard that silver sound
Bugling our Saviour's return in light
At last all that was lost is found
And love makes all eyes shine so bright.

~N Fairweather 2011 -11 -11

No schedule, no progress

Remember I was not Nano-ing because I would be editing? Guess what? :(  No schedule, no progress!  In Nano, there is an intense deadline that must be met or the participant falls almost hopelessly behind.  That's part of the fun and part of the usefulness of Nano- it drives you forward.
My editing has not started and we are officially in Week 2 of Nano! It has been a busy first week of November, but still... not a word edited.  I'm just looking around my desk area, and in fact, the manuscript isn't even down here. It's still up in my room. So I am myself subject to the very advice I gave my college going son: make a schedule and stick to it. Doh! *facepalm*


Now, let's turn to positive things, like completing the dog's walk before the rain started, and drinking a lovely pink smoothie for breakfast. It had soaked raw almonds, 1/2 c rice milk, 1 banana, 1 pear, pieces of 1 clementine, 2 big strawberries, 1 c honeydew melon, 1/4 c wheat bran and 1/4 c raw pecans. I ran it on Grate for a while 'til everything looked mixed, then buzzed it through on Liquefy til it looked smooth.  Picture will be up later today. Very fresh and light, just like its light pink colour promises.


Moral of the day: Even when we 'mess up', God is not mad at us.  He lovingly encourages us to keep at it, not in our own strength, but in His awesome strength and unlimited provision. God hates sin, but ALL sin was paid for at the Cross. Past, present and future! That's why as Believers, we are Ministers of Reconciliation.  Guilt is gone when you trade places with Jesus - and that's what He is willing to do for us! O! Awesome Love! The debt is paid, the feud is over, it's safe to come home! Run home to Father's open arms. He has a plan for your success, the resources to see it happen, and He longs to shower us with blessings. This offer is open to everyone.

Happy Birthday to me! @->---

Happy my birthday, everybody! It has been a wonderful year full of growth and learning, which is exactly what I want for this year too. Strangely, I am currently editing a document that deals with continuous learning.

Fortunately for me, I got to delay my university experience until I was somewhat older and more appreciative. This made the experience richer for me - I appreciated getting to know people from other countries, learning with people of all ages, and goofing off with my hubby playing pool. Well, don't shake your heads - that was learning too! I was learning geometry and physics while poking that little ball across the table.
On the down side of a later experience in university, I was married so did not get to enjoy life in residence. I had to grit my teeth to keep from knocking 18 yr old heads together when they complained of their heavy schedule (18-24 hrs/wk). On the up side, my hubby kept my study habits in line, and I never had to wonder if I had a date for Saturday night... a sitter maybe, but not a date :)

This year has been a foray into eating a higher percentage of raw foods, and moving further along the scale from pesca-ovo-lacto vegetarian to vegan.  I'm a long way off yet, but I am finding things out and it's exciting!
Weight is still not under control, but I have been faithfully walking my dog each day.

I am now a newsletter editor for our club. :D Press badge please...
And I  have seen some changes in lives I have been praying for.

So overall, thanks God!