Goings on

at 04/11/13 6:13PM
This is going to be random and short lived and disorganized and badly written. Sleep has eluded us this week. Both my girls showed up with ear infections and one of them had a raging one. It was infected all the way down the canal and into the ear drum. This resulted in a whole lot of weeping and gnashing of teeth...mostly hers, but some of mine, too. I was up with the second instance of ear problems last night. MUCH of the night. If you couple that with a snoring buzz saw in the house, well--I just didn't sleep.

I came across a few strange people today. One of them was driving a low riding truck that had a purple bumper, a tan tailgate, and a blue body. The most notable thing about him, though, was his fancy stenciled sticker in his back window. "Who farted?" it said. Well. I don't know, fella. I'm gonna guess you. Maybe less crass talk and more driving faster than 35.

Then I saw a dude running in a green t-shirt with an ipod strapped to his arm. Why is that strange? Because people don't jog in the country. They just don't. They walk with gas cans. They smoke on their porches. But they don't jog with ipods. So I found that worth noting.

I am trying to sell my OLD van right now on Craigslist. Some fella named Manny called me with absolutely no command of English. As it turned out, he wasn't interested in my car. He was interested in HELPING me SELL my car. But he was unable to describe what he could do for me. If you can't speak English or spell my name, I'm not likely to ask for your help in selling my car. Thanks anyway.

I am finally back to memorizing in the New Testament again. I have been so weak and tired and stupid and undisciplined. So I found my old, favored new testament and began to refresh the chapters I used to know. I felt peaceful today as I recited Romans 12 over and over to myself, trying to get it back. I also was amazed at the extreme language Paul uses. ABHOR what is evil. CLING TO what is good. He doesn't say avoid evil and mosey toward good. His language is strong. And I am going to learn and grow from it.

Boom.
  • marmee
    The guy that farted (did I really say that?) probably lives on Who Dat Road ... the ipod guy couldn't have been his "uppity" neighbor, could he have? We have someone trying to buy a portable AC unit we're trying to sell and his command in texting tells me that English isn't his first language ... and no, we're not driving to downtown Dallas to sell this to you ... even for an extra $30. City driving ... gives me shivers. ;) And I'm not the actual driver.

    Blessings on the memory work. I have enough memory work just getting through the day these days. But I so love to feast on the Word ... and it's amazing how the more I do that, the more I remember where to find the passages I'm looking for at various times. Abhorring and clinging ... I'm trying to do it! The Spirit does intercede ...

    Nice to hear from you here. Blessings, friend.
    by marmee at 04/11/13 7:25PM
  • mjintexas
    Sigh. Oh, Craigslist. Truly a common area where people of all IQ levels congregate.
    by mjintexas at 04/12/13 3:19PM

Mount Sinus Sufferings

at 03/12/13 11:07PM
If you offered to shoot me in the face right now, I probably wouldn't let you, but I'd have to think about it hard first. My sinuses have only hurt me this bad one other time in my life and it was right before Jenna was born. I remember going to the OB and begging her to give me something. I had tried every homemade thing on the planet. I had been sleeping BOLT upright in a chair for many days. My teeth were aching. If you can't give me medicine, I said, then kill me and take the baby alive. Name her Jenna. Call her father. Tell them all I love them. Oh, now, Missy. Settle down. I can give you something better than death. I loved Patti that day. Almost enough to name Jenna, Patti. But not quite.

Now, I am in the mountains, mostly suffering. The scenery is gorgeous and the people are great. But more than half of us feel horrid and we've done virtually nothing since we got here. What can you do when the mom has a demon sinus infection and the two youngest kids have been vomiting? You pray a lot, which is good. But memories have to be made in moments that you snatch as they go by. We've done pretty well. Today, we drove up to Newfound Gap to play in a few leftover snow piles in the parking lot. Gross, dirty, icy, snow. But we live in Florida. Floridians aren't picky about their snow.

While I don't really see the humor in this week's situation quite yet, I can tell you there are details that others would find funny. And when I'm not feeling so much like having you shoot me, I will tell those.

For tonight, I shall sleep.

And as for last night, this morning I took my girl's hands and told her that Mommy had acted like a pretty big baby last night. Throwing my own little temper tantrum. I told her I had asked God's forgiveness and I wanted to ask hers, too. She had no trouble offering it and the day went on...
  • justg
    So sorry you are dealing with the icks. May they clear before the first shot is fired.
    by justg at 03/13/13 6:32AM
  • marmee
    Are you feeling better? Glad all is well with little girl. :)
    by marmee at 03/13/13 10:03PM
  • mjintexas
    Eek, I hope you feel better soon! Or, by now, since this is a little old.
    by mjintexas at 03/20/13 11:13AM

Guilt

at 03/11/13 9:46PM
I think God gives us guilt for a reason. To keep us in check. To remind us in a painfully tangible way of the lessons we learn in a moment. These reminders last longer than the moment. And sometimes mine are painful.

Sometimes I wish for super powers. The two I want more than anything are the power to teleport and the power to turn back the clock. If only we got the power to live the bad moments, learn from them, and then IMMEDIATELY relive them, how great would we be as people.

Tonight I am just as sad as I can be about my complete overreaction to a situation caused by my 6 year old. I am on a trip with the kids and my parents. Apparently I am somewhat on edge, because my fuse was shorter than the situation deserved. I was bound and determined to get them all in bed on time because they've been up way too late 3 nights in a row. We've come through vomit and I have a sinus infection. So I wanted them in bed. The 6 year old was goofing off more than she was supposed to be and in the course of the goofing off, she lost control of a stuffed Pooh Bear, which hit a nearby glass of water and knocked it over. It spilled into the the warm dry bed and made it cold and wet. It spilled on her sister's head. In my mind, it ruined bedtime. And I was mad.

I let her know it, too. All too clearly. I smacked her on the leg, which I regret. I said too many things. I don't even remember the all, but I bet she will. I had to strip the bed, dry the pillow cases, dry the sheets (only one set), etc.

It did delay bedtime, that's for sure. But my tirade did not speed the process up any.
She was being a kid.
We're on vacation.
And I feel like she'll remember this night for the wrong reasons forever.

Sigh.
I apologized for being too harsh.
We made up.

And now I am sitting in the Smoky Mountains under a blanket of guilt, relearning the lessons, reliving the moments, wishing for that time machine super power, and longing to start over with her tomorrow.

I need to make this lesson stick. The only time machine I have is one that goes forward. If I steer it right, this can still work out the way I want it to...
  • marmee
    I'm sorry. Some moments in time are harder than others, aren't they? Children are SO forgiving ... and she'll forget. Enjoy the mountains!! As Anne of Green Gables says ... "Tomorrow's a new day with no mistakes in it!" (or something like that!)
    by marmee at 03/11/13 9:52PM
  • elizabethk
    HUGS! I can totally relate to this post and wish for the same super powers. At the end of the day (and mroe often then not, during the day) I reflect on what has occured and am often filled with guilt for my over reactions. I apologize shortly after my 'faults' and we move forward, but I always wonder what will he remember. It's hard, but I try to tell myself I can't reflect on hindsight, I just have to try and do better the next time. Enjoy your time in the beautiful mountains!!
    by elizabethk at 03/11/13 10:18PM
  • ceoltoir
    Every parent and every child will always make mistakes. Apologizing was perhaps a more memorable lesson to your child than anything else. She only has a perfect Father. But she sees a mother who is trying and correcting and trying some more.
    by ceoltoir at 03/12/13 12:24AM
  • curlie
    HUGS
    by curlie at 03/12/13 2:28AM

Observations from the Ledge of Starvation

at 02/26/13 10:38PM
Ha.
Not really.
15 days ago I started the 506th diet of the last 7 years. All of the previous 505 failed due to lack of emotional fortitude on my part. I just didn't make myself do it. I got close a couple of times and sort of lost a little baby weight. But I gave up halfway in and that was that. Years went by. I found the pounds I had lost and they brought friends home. Soon, I was seeing a man weight on my scale.

So I started the Paleo diet. And I was staunchly dedicated to it. But everytime I went to their websites, I wanted to punch them. Their tone was so elitist and smarmy. So smug. So "HOW COULD YOU EAT A TWINKIE or EVER VISIT CHICK-FIL-A"? Ick. But still we forge on. They are mostly right about many things. About a few things, after some research, I have decided they should step off and let me have my flax again. Good grief. And while a white potato is not nutritionally dense, it also will not kill me. So, come on, people.

So, yesterday I ate a couple of millet and flax chips that have brown rice flour in them (dead Paleo people are rolling in their graves and trying to hit me with petrified biscuits) and tonight I had a potato cooked with my paleo roast. Mmm.

A couple of you asked how I was doing this with a family. Well, the husband is completely on board, so there's no problem there. We just work out recipes that work for both the diet and the kids. My kids eat practically all meats except fish. And we force the veggies on them, at least in small doses. Occasionally, they eat trashy foods and we eat salads on our own, but mostly it isn't interrupting the family table at all.

I've been off sugar and caffeine for 15 days. I only miss them in concept and when I catch a whiff of something really great. I've been off refined flours and grains and dairy for 15 days, too. When my 30 days is up, I'll add back in some good yogurt, no doubt. And I'll add back in whole grain bread NO DOUBT. Man, I miss sandwiches.

I have lost 8.5 pounds and found 8.5 pounds of energy. I have less joint pain and my jeans don't look so ridiculous.

Here's to making this a lifestyle change...not just a diet.

But to all the elitists in the world, I will say: take it down a notch. We're trying. :)
  • mjintexas
    I like it! Thanks for the encouraging update!
    by mjintexas at 02/27/13 12:17AM
  • textilet
    Good for you, Missy! Thanks for not being an elitist snob about the Paleo thing! I'm getting the results today from my "hormone doctor." He will likely recommend something similar. I need to do something!
    by textilet at 02/27/13 7:24AM
  • marmee
    Some 'diets' just help us see what really needs to be done for our health. I think you are on just the right track. It's lifestyle ... blessings as you continue to work on this and see results.
    by marmee at 02/27/13 10:19AM
  • ceoltoir
    Changing eating habits is one of the hardest things IN. THE. WORLD. for me. I'm impressed with your stick-to-itiveness. I hope you enjoy wonderful benefits without becoming an elitist snob. ;-P
    by ceoltoir at 02/27/13 12:01PM
  • crazy_mama
    Good for you! You know I am a potato girl through and through. I don't like them with cheese and sour cream and butter and all that. I just like a plain potato with pepper. What can be so bad about that? NOTHING! In fact I had one today and loved it!!!! SO I say eat on and enjoy your potatoes!!!
    by crazy_mama at 02/27/13 11:09PM
  • melissakae
    Yay! Congratulations!!!!

    I did really well the first week, got food poisoning the second week and went on a crackers only diet for a few days and then did really well the third week and this week have struggled a lot with it.

    I struggle a lot more when my groceries get low and I actually have to MAKE something to eat instead of just throwing some chicken and brown rice in a container. :-D

    I feel a lot better as well - I've lost 10 lbs in four weeks and am enjoying my clothing fitting a little less snug through the middle.

    I'm hoping to keep it all up... but I'm OK with taking it down a notch as well. :-D

    Good work - you can do it!
    by melissakae at 03/01/13 12:56PM
  • melissakae
    I like cauliflower! How do you make it??
    by melissakae at 03/05/13 9:16AM

You are what you eat?

at 02/14/13 9:58PM
Well.
I kinda think so now. I never really put a lot of stock into this. But back in the day, I had a lot of time on my hands and I exercised rigorously and daily. I did 5ks regularly and sprint triathlons when I could. Then I had my 3rd child, followed rather immediately by my 4th. The weight stayed on. Extra time was out the door.

About 152 diets have come and gone in the last 6 years. Occasionally, I would have a smidge of luck and I'd drop 6 or 8 pounds. But then, I'd gain it back and it brought friends. I needed to lose 12 pounds. Then 20. Now 25. It was starting to freak me out a little.

Besides the fact that I was outgrowing clothes I liked, I really felt strongly that my slovenly lifestyle was dragging me down spiritually as well. I couldn't prove it, but I felt sure they were linked.

Then my sister-in-law joined me up with a few of her friends online and encouraged all of us to get into better fitness. I joined the group, not really yet motivated. But when I saw a post from one of her friends about a 30 day diet challenge, I read up on it and decided it sound interesting. Everyone who talked about it claimed it would change my life. The reviews were all good. And the best part was that it wasn't a gimmick or a big money making scheme. It was real food, minus some biggies. The diet is called the Paleo diet (short for Paleolithic) and encourages people to eat like they did YEARS ago, before white breads and rices, etc.

Here's what I can't have:
No sugar in ANY form. None of it.
No artificial sweeteners
No dairy
No grains...breads and rices
No beans, except green beans.
No caffeine.

I sat there and looked at that list and contemplated that it was 30 days. I can do anything for 30 days, right?

Well, we shall see. Today was Day 4 and i have to say, I DO believe it is changing my life. I feel better. The weight is dropping off. I have more energy. I had a 3 day Diet Mtn Dew withdrawal headache that I had to get past, but today I woke up pain-free. Drinking water is spectacular.

Mostly, I feel free. Free from the junk. SO MUCH junk I was eating.

After 30 days, i will probably add some degree of dairy back in to see what happens. Gradually I will add things. I will never go back to the junk.

Not surprising, I have found myself in the Word more this week.

I think big changes are coming. Big changes, smaller jeans? I hope...
  • marmee
    And ... what can you eat? ;)
    by marmee at 02/14/13 11:25PM
  • jenn
    I like the Paleo diet in principle - but I do think you need to be careful to make sure you're getting enough healthy fats. Avocados, nuts, etc are good, but I think there is argument to be made for good dairy products. Grass-fed organic butter, good yogurt, organic/low-processed full-fat dairy...

    And good for you for kicking the Diet Mtn Dew! Now I need to work on my coffee habit. It's decaf! I use organic cream! It has to be good for me! (exclamation points make me feel better, apparently)
    by jenn at 02/14/13 11:49PM
  • crazy_mama
    I totally know what you mean about getting rid of all the junk and it changing your life. I lived for most of my life eating whatever I wanted. Whatever was fast, easy, looked good, smelled good...I ate it. I lived for eating too. Eating wasn't to keep my body going but it was for enjoyment.

    I started getting very sick and I knew exactly why and I knew I needed to change. I did pretty much what you are doing but with a few differences and it changed my life. I don't do sugar and sweeteners and dairy and bread and caffeine either. I have more energy and I can serve my famliy so much better when I feel like I can actually get out of bed in the morning! You will feel so much better and you will have done something that not so many people will do. Self control is a fruit of the spirit and God expects us to have it. Not too many people want to think about self control in regards to our eating habits but I am convinced that it is something we need to take seriously and control ourselves with our eating habits. The weight loss will surprise you. You will be amazed how much better you feel not carrying around all those extra pounds.

    Stay strong and know that you can do anything for a month!! I hope you do well!!
    by crazy_mama at 02/15/13 12:37AM
  • justg
    Definitely going BACK to Rome...I do love Italy, especially Rome and Florence. You know...I made that promise at the fountain to return to Rome. Keeping it!
    by justg at 02/15/13 8:14AM
  • mjintexas
    Jenn coffee is chock full of antioxidants, and research is showing it lowers risks of all kinds of diseases! So yes, keep drinking your coffee! ;)

    I really need to make some dietary changes too. With all the craziness in my life over the past couple of months, I've let things get pretty out of hand. /hangs head in shame
    by mjintexas at 02/15/13 12:24PM
  • ceoltoir
    I've been trying to improve my health on several fronts lately too. Why is it so hard? Stay strong. The results will be worth the 30 days of whatever.
    by ceoltoir at 02/15/13 12:34PM
  • curlie
    Coffee is also hard on the adrenals. I still drink it, but I have definitely cut back. No more afternoon java for me on days when I drink it in the morning.

    I recommend looking into adrenal fatigue. In my opinion, the reason the no flours/sugars works so well especially with moms is that it's finally an adrenal-supporting lifestyle.

    I agree with Jenn about grass-fed dairy; I haven't totally cut out dairy, but I am definitely more selective than I used to be and sub coconut oil for butter a lot.
    by curlie at 02/15/13 1:21PM
  • nthnswmn
    I've done no sugar, but no dairy seems like it would be incredibly hard to do. Is your family doing this with you? If so, what are you feeding your kids?
    by nthnswmn at 02/15/13 3:07PM
  • textilet
    I just saw a doctor that took my blood to measure various hormone levels, I go back next week to see what I'll be giving up. I think I should start cutting back on sugar, white flour and caffeine so my energy crash and headache doesn't last for 2 weeks like it did last time. I think I could manage 30 days on the paleo diet, but no more! My other doctor has been a stickler for 3 servings of dairy a day for the osteoporosis that runs in my family. I already know my body really doesn't go for wheat. hmmmm.
    by textilet at 02/17/13 6:50AM
  • textilet
    Oh, I remember seeing a chicken coup and "barnyard" that was covered in chicken wire. I never thought of that being done to keep the predatory birds out, but I'm sure it helps.
    by textilet at 02/17/13 6:51AM
  • melissakae
    I'm doing a diet of my own very much like that right now. Lots of veggies and fruits. Lots of chicken, turkey and fish. Some nuts and brown rice. It's actually not been too hard.

    But I've discovered more and more that I am an emotional eater. Last Friday we lost a game pretty badly and on the way home I just had an impulse and stopped for some fried foods.... I'm working on it!

    You can do it!
    by melissakae at 02/21/13 1:52PM