Gone Now Back

I have been a bit AWOL and missing out on a lot here at RFR.  My new job has been SO very stressful and it has affected the way I eat.  Some days I couldn't eat because of the knots in my stomach.

Earlier in April I went to a women's retreat sponsored by my church.  I almost didn't go because there was so much work to be done but I needed to go.  Friday night and all Saturday all that went through my mind was what I had forgotten to finish during the week and who I didn't call.  Finally, Saturday night during our worship and prayer time I asked God to help me with my new job.  Help with time management, organization, and all that goes into a supervisor position.

In the middle of this call for help, I heard God very clearly speak to me.  His voice was so clear I actually peeked at the chair beside me!  His word to me was, "I want you home."  Just those four words.  My mind began to race.  "But God!", I said, "You know our finances.  I have to work!"  But His words just raced through my mind.

I asked a friend of mine after prayer time how she would interpret his words.  Was it wishful thinking because my new job was not what I had thought it would be?  Was it because for the past year and a half I have been arguing with God against staying home because we need the money?  (I WANT to stay home, don't get me wrong.  That is my and my husband's heart desire!)

My friend prayed, asking God to protect my mind from the swirling thoughts about work so that I could enjoy the worship and the rest of the weekend.  And He did!  He is so faithful!  I relaxed.  My mind was clear.  No knots in my stomach.  But I still needed to think on His words to me.

As we were leaving the retreat, my roommate (and new friend) said, "Molly, maybe this job is a 2 x 4 for you."  I knew exactly what she meant.

It has taken nearly a month, but I finally came to a decision about my job.  It was a difficult decision because I'm not a quitter and in this field this is a horrible time to leave.  But my health was beginning to suffer and I had a feeling of dread each morning I woke up.  Last Friday I gave my two week's notice.  Oh the peace I have about this decision!  I have missed out on so many opportunities to be God's hands and feet because I was too busy "earning good money".

While the money was VERY good, doing what God wants is even better and I know He's got our back (and front, top, bottom, middle...).  I am nervous but excited at the same time.  Is this how I should feel?  Nervous about one less income but so very excited about the opportunities God will give our family because of obedience in this small area?

Our family will definitely have to lean on the support of God and know that He has nothing but good planned for us.  I am feeling better and working out how I can be the Proverbs 31 wife and am so excited for what God has for our future.

God's Original Intent

God's Original Intent

Fruit and Veggie Jewelry

Can you believe these bracelets are made from fruits and vegetables?  They are just beautiful!  This artist also has a watermelon/radish bracelet and other jewelry and household items!  WOW!
The link is below the photo.  Aren't these just extraordinary?  What imagination. http://www.uncommongoods.com/product/fruit-vegetable-parchment-braceletsh

Am I Focusing On Food Too Much?

Today was the first day of a 28 day raw cleanse.  I did great until dinner time, as usual.  This is a hard time to not eat for me.  I did choose to eat 1 cup of chili and a thick slice of toast with cream cheese.  But that's not my issue with today.

I felt like all I thought about was food.  Healthy raw food, but food none the less.  I don't want to focus on food.  Hopefully as the days go on food will be less of a focus and more of a... I don't even know what to write.  W.W. made me focus on food all day.  Maybe it's because I want to do well that my mind just constantly thinks about food.  I wasn't hungry today because of the delicious juices and salads I ate.  In fact, I probably should not have eaten the salads because I wasn't really hungry, just suffering from cabin fever and boredom.  Tomorrow I'll have another large pitcher of green juice to drink throughout the day and I'll be sure to only eat when my stomach is growly.

My bathroom walls need paint.  Maybe I'll just focus on that instead!

February 28 Day Raw Cleanse

I have signed myself up for something that has me a bit uneasy.  Not because it's something I don't want to do, but because I'm afraid it will be something I fail at.  It's a 28 day cleanse at the Raw Food Rehab mansion.  I have a game plan and I'm thinking if I write down what I plan on eating beforehand it would help keep me honest.  If my food plan is already written I know what needs to be prepared ahead of time and there is less chance for failure.  I am planning on making kale chips to have around.

Update:  Right now I am literally snow/iced in.  I tried to get out to the store for some cucumbers and celery but couldn't get out of the neighborhood.  It's a good thing I already stocked up and have enough to get me through until the roads are safe.

Here are my weekly, month, and long-term goals:

week 1:  mainly green juice with salad lunches
week 2:  mainly green smoothies with salad lunches
weeks 3 & 4:  remain juicy but start adding more salads to my day

month goal:  remove coffee as my morning pick-me-up
                     add exercise to my week, at least three times a week
                     remain 100% raw and juicy for the 28 days

Here is the plan for day one:  green juice, as much as I can afford to make.  I will be able to do carrot juices and I'll throw in green juice to keep my energy up.  During the afternoon, when the munchies attack, I will eat my salad, then more green juice/smoothie in the evening.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011
morning
green juice: collards, pea vine tips, parsley, juice of 1 lemon, 4 <old> apples
hot decaf herbal tea

lunch
green juice: same as morning juice
raw Brussels sprouts salad
hot decaf herbal tea

snack
green smoothie:  Romaine lettuce, 1 banana, 1 cup fresh pineapple
orange

dinner
green smoothie: same as snack
hot decaf herbal tea

Attitude is a Choice

This is just one of those computer forwards, but I really got the message.  Our attitude is a choice.  My reaction to an event or person is a choice... my choice.  Here is the forward.  I hope it clicks with you like it did with me.

John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, 'If I were any better, I would be twins!'

He was a natural motivator.

If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, 'I don't get it!'

'You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?'

He replied, 'Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or...you can choose to be in a bad mood

I choose to be in a good mood.'

Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.

Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or...I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

'Yeah, right, it's not that easy,' I protested.

'Yes, it is,' he said. 'Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood.

You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live your life.'

I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.

After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.

I saw him about six months after the accident.

When I asked him how he was, he replied, 'If I were any better, I'd be twins...Wanna see my scars?'

I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.

'The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter,' he replied. 'Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or...I could choose to die. I chose to live.'

'Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness?' I asked.

He continued, '...the paramedics were great.

They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read 'he's a dead man'. I knew I needed to take action.'

'What did you do?' I asked.

'Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me,' said John. 'She asked if I was allergic to anything 'Yes, I replied.' The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, 'Gravity''

Over their laughter, I told them, 'I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.'

He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude...I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.

Attitude, after all, is everything.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.. Each day has enough trouble of its own.' Matthew 6:34.

After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

Score at the Store - #3

I had another great trip to m favorite Asian market.  The fresh produce there is like nothing I will find at Whole Foods or any other specialty market plus the prices RAWk!  Here is a shot of my score:  On the left

is a 1 lb pkg of jalapeno peppers, large top radish, Enoki mushrooms (these look like thin straws with a little ball on the tip), King Oyster mushrooms, fresh okra, pea vine tips, and four oriental eggplant.  For the King Oyster mushrooms I have some nut cheez ferementing and I plan on stuffing them and then dehydrating to warm them a bit.  I'm not sure if marinating the mushrooms would work for this, but I may do that just to add some extra flavor.

The okra is for an okra tomatoe salad I found in The Kitchen at the RFR.  It sounded so good when I found it a couple months ago but okra season was passed.  Now I can make it!  Mmmm!  The eggplant will be thinly sliced and sprinkled with some spices then dehydrated.  These make great chips.

Now these are interesting!  They are a large bottomed radish.  I have not eaten one yet.  I may just slice them up to taste them before adding them to any recipe.  See what I mean about "specialty"?!  I just love visiting this market because you never know what produce they will have.  If you have an asian market I urge you to check them out.  You will be hooked!