Baking Day -- Part One

Baking Day got off to a wonderful start this morning. Truthfully, I had not really been looking forward to it, even though I saw it as a necessary means to catching up. I am nearing the end of my second trimester with this pregnancy and have been feeling tired lately.

However, my heart was lifted as I read the Scriptures this morning. I read Proverbs 15:15: "All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast." I realized that if I approached the day with a defeated attitude, I would surely find trouble. Yet, if I embraced a merry heart, that cheerful perspective would redefine the day with all its "trouble."

Encouraged by these thoughts, I jumped right into my baking plans. I wanted to get things started first thing in the morning so that my grains would have time to "soak." (Soaking grains with yogurt breaks down the phytates, which are difficult to digest and prevent the absorption of grain's bountiful nutrients. For more on that, read here.)

My plans are to make yogurt, Love Muffins (which are wheat-free and do not need to be soaked), Flatbreads, Sweet Potato Muffins, Power Bars (also wheat-free), and Granola.

• First, I started the half gallon of yogurt.
• Then, I washed and started the sweet potatoes baking.
• I milled my wheat for the day.
• I started two batches of granola soaking.
• Then I got a double recipe of flatbread soaking (recipe for this coming tomorrow).

That all took me about an hour. It was not a solid hour though, since my children were waking up and doing their chores and required some help from me from time to time.

A normal day for us means I give my children my undivided attention until about 1:30 or 2:00 when we have a Quiet Hour. In that time, I am online, my older two finish up their schoolwork, Witzy plays quietly in her room, and Tickle naps.

I plan on jumping back into my baking day when everyone starts bustling about again around 3:00. That should give me enough time to make everything. I'll start with the items that didn't need soaking and finish with the granola and flatbreads around supper time.

One note: I got started really early so that things could soak all day long. If I were unable to do this, I would have things soaking overnight.

More on Baking Day later!

In our efforts to be healthy...

In our efforts to be healthy, we also need to keep an eternal perspective. Rather than focusing all our energy, thoughts and plans on what goes into our bodies, let us stop to consider this proverb.

Proverbs 3:7,8
Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh,

And strength to your bones.

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this. How do these words apply to our present health? Please post a comment to share!

In the Meantime...

Today is the first day of school for us! Technically, I am still on a blog break while we settle into this new routine. But in the meantime...


What do you think about these wise words from King Solomon?


Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.


Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart doeth good like medicine: but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.


How much do encouraging words and a cheerful attitude contribute to our health? What are your thoughts on how building an atmosphere of joy effects our children's health? Please comment to share with us your consideration of these verses! I am very curious to hear your thoughts...


With peace and joy,

Dropping the Ball

When our lives get windy, it's easy to be blown off course. That would describe my last eight days. Windy and Off-Course. I have a good, working plan of action in place. But even with my best intentions, "life" can prevent my plans from working out.

I am assuming this happens to you too. Do you get discouraged when you drop the ball... and have to order pizza? Or maybe you never order pizza! Well, the pizza tasted good last night (and so did the organic steamed broccoli), but I also neglected to soak beans or thaw meat for tonight's supper. Yep... I totally dropped the ball.

But there is hope! Think about it this way... if we were to miss a meal, say because we're out or way too busy to stop and eat, we don't skip eating the next meals too. We just get back to our normal meal routine as soon as we're able.

It's the same with our efforts to make healthy meals. There may be a meal that we don't think meets our goals for healthy living, but we don't just quit trying! We get back into our normal routine as soon as we are able. And we accept grace until that time comes.

I've met a lot of mothers. A lot of really, super-productive, energetic mothers. And I have never met one that doesn't sometimes drop the ball. We all do. So we should encourage one another to pick the ball back up, giving grace instead of judgement.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. II Corinthians 12:9

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness comes by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:21

While my purpose in this blog is to share knowledge and tools with moms desiring to create health for their family, grace is an important consideration... a point of both reproof and of comfort. I'll be back in the practical saddle again next time; for now, let us walk (and eat) by grace.

Perspective

While we need to be diligent in honoring the Lord with our bodies, it is equally important to keep a proper perspective. There is a difference between being passionate in following God's ways and fretting or even making nutrition an idol. I love this poem:

Overheard in an Orchard

Said the Robin to the Sparrow:

"I should really like to know

Why these human beings

Rush about and worry so."

Said the Sparrow to the Robin:

"Friend, I think that it must be

That they have no heavenly Father

Such as cares for you and me."

Elizabeth Cheney

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:25,26,32,33

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Don't forget to enter in the Happy Family Baby Food Giveaway here.

Have a great weekend! Next week, I'll be posting about the benefits of Grass-Fed Beef, a super-supper recipe, more simple changes... and who knows what else!

Keeping Perspective

I mentioned last week that Witzy was fighting a cough. She fought a really good battle. (She does everything passionately, which I totally love about her!) Then things took a turn and she felt the full blown effects of a realio, trulio cough. Shortly after, the other three got it as well. So, where does that leave me? For the first time I can remember I am caring for four sick children at the same time. I consider it a privilege to love them though their sickness. I am doing my best to boost their immunities so that their bodies can make antibodies, fight the war, and leave the battlefield stronger for the next would-be-invaders. (I'll post more about these specifics soon.)

And all this reminds me of a conversation I had earlier this fall. The discussion was about God's role versus our role in wellness. I'd like to share some of it here for the sake of keeping proper perspective.

First, when we are doing all that is humanly possible to be well, it is easy to forget that our lives are in God's hands. There is a danger in becoming so proud in our thinking that we put ourselves above God in our ability to make and keep ourselves well. This is a form of idol worship. Health is not a god. Neither is our knowledge of the natural world. Truly He has blessed us with so many health-giving foods and herbs. It is wise to use them. But we must walk humbly with the Lord, knowing that He, for a specific purpose, may take our health away. That would be entirely within His scope of authority.

So should we even try? I have heard the argument... if God can make us well or sick on His whim, why should we do anything for our health? Our lives are a gift. Our health is a gift. By His grace we live and move and have our being. Like the parable of the talents, we have been given a gift that we can bury, squander, or multiply for the service of God. I would rather hear, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Wouldn't you?

I think it is ironic that my children haven't been sick in so long I can't really remember... and that as soon as I start this blog to share with others about health, I have four sick kids. I suppose this could be God's way of prompting me to share about His role in health.

"Lord, make me to know my end,
And what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.
Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my age is as nothing before You;
Certainly every man at his best state is but a vapor. Selah.
... And now, Lord, what do I wait for?
My hope is in You."
Psalm 39:4-7

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a wonderful holiday! I hope that you are enjoying your family today. I am! I have a quick comment about thankfulness. You know, thankfulness does a heart good. Ours and our children's. While we invest our time and our thoughts in laying healthy foundations for our children's future, we also need to invest in their hearts. I encourage you to be thankful. Speak about the things you are grateful for. In doing so, you'll nurture your children's hearts and lift yours up in the process!

Happy Thanksgiving from me...