Food Month

I was so excited to write about food month. I was going to write a blog entry everyday.  But then life happened. So I guess the first and last day will have to suffice.

This month was a lot like parenting.  It was hard but I loved it. I think I prayed very intentionally this month. Everyday I thought about how I could make this day not just about not eating 7 foods. It always came back to being intentional.  Food is very easy. I can have any type of food pretty much whenever I want. Taking some foods away and saying I'm giving this up so that I can live simply and allow God to move in me, led me to become more focused. Even in the midst of parenting, I was able to take a minute to talk to God or encourage someone, or pray.

One of the best things I learned is that fasting is feasting. You can't have one without the other. When you fast from 7 foods, God will fill you with His feast. 

When I thought about the last day of this month 3 weeks I ago, I thought that I would be so eager for this to be over. But I feel refreshed. Don't get me wrong, I'm making a big pot of coffee Sunday morning, but I'm not done. I'm already planning to restart this after the next 6 fasts are over.  

On Sunday, we move on to "clothes" month. We will be wearing only 7 items for the whole month. I'm excited to see what God does here. 

One week

It's been a little over a week since I started 7. This is hard. I'm still trying to figure out how to make this about more than just not eating certain foods. I've had some good prayer mainly for peace. In the book Jen talks about how the purpose of empty is to fill yourself up. So maybe God will speak more after this month is over. I am hungry for Him.

7

"As you walk close to me, saturating your mind with Scripture, I will show you how to spend your time and energy. My word is a lamp to your feet; My presence is a Light for your path." From Jesus Calling

I can get really excited about things.  From small things like shaved ice to big things like having a baby, I may burst at any moment.  My newest excitement is called 7 an experimental mutiny against excess. A friend thought I would love it and she was right!  Thanks Jenna!

So for the next 7 months, I will be riding my life of excess, by fasting from 7 different areas. And even more exciting is that I'm not doing it alone. We have formed a community.  I love community!

We decided to start on the 7th of each month.  This month we are fasting from food.  In the book, Jen Hatmaker(author), only eats 7 foods for a month.  I really wanted to do this but I'm still nursing and my little kids need variety.  So we changed to getting rid of 7 foods for this month.  Here is my list:  Cereal, Gluten, Chocolate, Red Meat, Sweets, Cheese, and Coffee.

The point of this exercise is to fill your self with Jesus.  It's a time to listen and a time to have faith that God will provide.  I'm excited to see what God will show me this month.  I want to saturate myself with God and know that He is enough.



Here is a list of what else we will be fasting from:

Clothing- next month I will only be wearing 7 items of clothing
Possesions- everyday for a month I will be giving away 7 items a day.
Media- I will stop using 7 forms of media for the month
Waste- we will recycle and find ways to not waste the blessing we have
Spending- only 7 places will get our money
Stress- we will stop a busy life and instead partake in 7 spiritual pauses.

A while back I wrote a post about a young mother who was struggling.  She has 4 kids and no water in her house.   Her house was more than unsafe for children, much less her.  She had no income and was struggling in more ways than you can imagine.

Nathan and I tried to help her in anyway we could.  The first thought that came to mind was to give her money.  But if she had won the lottery it still would not be what she needed.  She needed hope.  She needed to feel cared for and loved.  She is a single mother who is struggling so much that her children didn't have water.  All I could think of doing was to suffer with her as much as I could and in the mean time find help.  I prayed with her and for her and just felt completely helpless.

But God is good and bigger than we think.

Nathan got in contact with her son's school social worker.  This lady was caring and able to help us understand a life that we cannot imagine.  She had so many connections that helped our friend.

Our mom is now in a home that takes battered women and children in.  So I have not been able to talk or see her for a while.  But while she has been there she has a chance to live a better life. We were told yesterday that she is a different lady. Most of that is due to Hope which she now has.  She is going to get a place to live and childcare.  She is interviewing for a job and we are praying hard that she gets it.  Her family is thriving and healthy just because they have water now.

God is good.

I can't stop praising God today.  This mom is coming out of an impossible situation. Her life will not be cake now, but she is getting a chance and she is gaining hope.

Thank you for praying for her.  There will be more updates soon!

Happy Birthday Hudson!

One Day Old

One Month Old

Two Months Old

Three Months Old

Four Months Old

Five Months Old

Six Months Old

Seven Months Old

Eight Months Old

Nine Months Old

Ten Months Old

Eleven Months Old

Twelve Months Old


Happy Birthday to our sweet boy!  We love you!

Easter thoughts

Nathan, Hudson and I spent yesterday morning at the Community Cafe with our Church.  I have so much on my mind from yesterday.  It was one of the first Easter's that I've had where God is was there confusing me in a very good way.  

Since Hudson has come into our lives, I've really struggled with how to celebrate Holidays.  I want him to know that Christmas is about giving.  God gave us the best gift ever on Christmas, Jesus.  I want him to celebrate giving to other's, but mainly giving of needs. When thinking about Easter this past week I kept trying to think of ways to celebrate but again, not get suffocated in the consumerism that seems to have gotten a tight hold of most Holidays.  I'm not against egg hunts, and pretty dresses, and baskets, I just want him to know that their is more behind these Holidays.

We have been going to the Cafe for a while now and have really gotten to know most of the people there.  I love getting there and asking how people's weeks were and watching them light up when Hudson gives a smile.  I love cooking with them and cutting up.  I love seeing them play and hold Hudson.  I love how God is working in this Church.  Yesterday we had maybe a little more than 30 people and most of them where regulars who invited their friends.  We had communion with them and it was one of the most beautiful Easters I've had.

For the past couple of weeks a lady named Becky has been coming with her 4 children.  They are 9, 2, and twin 1 year olds.  Becky is only 25.  Last week she came with her husband and after they left he was arrested for something about not paying child support(I'm not sure exactly what he did).  Also last week her water was shut off.  She hasn't had electricity in a year.  And now she is alone.  

Becky's kids love Hudson and will ask many times to play with Hudson.  He gets body slammed a lot form the little girls trying to pick him up.  They will play with his toys and are all learning about sharing right now.  While we were talking about her week she asked me if we had anything to give her for her kids for Easter.  I found some fruit snacks and granola bars.  The kids were all so grateful and laid everything out to see what they got.  

I asked her about her income right now.  She can't afford day care so getting a job has been really tough. She was given a valcher to help turn the water back on but that is only half of what she needs.  Her mom came by the day before to give the kids a bunch of Easter gifts but she had to return them for diapers and food.  She told me that she has to hide her sippy cups from the kids so that they don't drink too much and go through too many diapers.  The twins had really bad diaper rashes most likely from drinking juice for the past week instead of water.  

My heart broke for her.  She is a good mom and trying hard to survive with her kids.  I felt helpless not knowing what to do for her.  I prayed with her and tried to encourage her.  I know that prayer is powerful but I keep thinking, she has children and no water.  

So how do I teach my son to celebrate these holidays?  How do I teach him that the most important part of yesterday was not the egg hunt with his cousins, it was not the gifts he received from loving family members, but playing with his friends and giving out smiles to the least of these was the best part?  How do I not let all of the consumerism of Holidays be a part of our family?  What do I do to make sure that he knows that Easter is not about plastic eggs but about our Savior laying down his life for him and for all of those people at the Cafe? 

Nathan and I talked about this a lot yesterday.  We don't have any answers yet.  We do know that there are thousands of Becky's out there without water and without hope.  Nathan said it hurts more now because we know her name.  After we left the Cafe we went to Nathan's sisters house to eat lots of good food and all I could think about was how Becky and her family ate more at the Cafe than they had all week.  Then Hudson did his egg hunt and all I think about was how Becky had nothing to give her kids.  We came home and Hudson was fed again, and then we gave him a bath.  I kept thinking, Becky has no water. 

I can't wrap my head around this.  I have great solutions but they are so far out there that I'm afraid she will have to suffer.  I keep thinking about day care and how there are plenty of churches that sit there during the week with amazing nursery's.  Why don't we us them and provide child care for struggling moms?  Then I looked at facebook and saw so many posts about gifts and Easter dresses and egg hunts.  Why can't we spend a little less and us it for a mom like Becky who doesn't have water?  Again, all of that stuff is not horrible, it just seems like we CAN help the least of these.  

Please pray for Becky this week.  Pray that she can feel God's unending love.  Pray that she can be encouraged even a little bit.  

Let me know if anyone can think of ways we can help the Becky's that live in our community.  

11 months

Hudson is now 11 months old!

This kid just keeps getting better....

-Hudson can sign "more," "all done," "no," and "yes"

-he can wave bye-bye, hello, and blow kisses

-he is very bright and loves to play.  I often watch him trying to figure out how something works or putting things together.  he still loves legos and really likes to shake things and stir things.

-this kid loves the outdoors.  we go on walks or swing or just play in the yard.  he will look out the window for long periods of time.

-hudson loves to see his dad come home.  he will stand up at the door and bang on it and laugh.  he then follows nathan into his room and stays with him while he changes into "play" clothes.  it is very sweet.

-hudson is also getting an attitude.  he will pout and cry when he doesn't get what he wants.  it's really kinda cute.

-hudson is still a good eater. he loves fruits and veggies.  i'm doing some more finger foods but I still make his food and spoon feed him.

-hudson is sleeping so well. he goes to bed around 7 and wakes up between 5:30 and 6:00.  his naps are still sporadic but that's ok.

-hudson can stand on his own and is so close to walking. he took one step the other day.  I'm sure any minute now he will take off in a sprint.

we love this kid more and more everyday.  i can't believe he is almost 1!  I am looking forward to seeing him grow even more in the next month!