I love to eat. So, that hasn't changed. There are many things that have, however. Well, maybe not SO many. The reality of what I am capable of. Today we studied the Israelites and the Tabernacle and so we provided Smore's as the snack. (Since the Israelites were "camping" for 40 years) and the helper tried to pass me some chocolate and I said, "Oh, I wish I could, but..." I didn't feel compelled to take it simply because someone offered it to me. It's such a social thing. Not wanting to hurt someone's feelings. So, there is victory! I'm thankful for that.
On a strangely related note, I saw an old friend tonight and it really impacted me. See, this fast has helped soften my heart. Although it isn't a "spiritual" fast, it is very much turning into one. I realized that I've never not eaten for this long. I've been a believer for 16 years. The Lord has kept me near his wounded side for 16 years and I can't bear the thought of missing a meal. Yet, the thought of slimming down my waistline is good reason to go 10 days without eating. Now, the difference is that I am consuming food, just not in solid form, yet tonight I was convicted and saddened at how little I value the spilled blood. So, where did this come from? My senior year in high school I worked at a daycare here in town. I worked in the after-school room from 3-6:30. I wasn't alone. I worked with a college Sophomore named Stephen. He knew the Lord and he was FUN! I was so surprised during that year that being a Christian could look like the way his life looked. He laughed and sang and was kind. He shared the Gospel with me I'm sure, but more than anything it was his life. Fast forward a few months after my graduation and I came to faith on January 16, 1997. I wanted anything that had to do with Jesus. I would go to Bible studies and weekly meetings, Sunday School and church not to mention any conference! So, Missions conference (at the church where I am currently a member ) rolled around and several folks from my school went and I got to run into Stephen! What a joy! His face looked rather confused and he practically screamed, "What are you doing here!" With great delight I answered right back, "I became a Christian!" He was thrilled. When I went to South Africa I received a support check from him for $73.25. One of my teammates said he was just trying to balance his checkbook, but I knew him better than that. He was reminding me to fix my eyes on Jesus. I may have seen him once or twice after that, always with a sweet brother and sister friendship. He was called to China, I wasn't, so I didn't run into him. He's been home for 6 weeks and shared at church tonight. Isn't that crazy that I go to the church that raised him up! Anyway, seeing him reminded me that I was once lost. Seeing a person that watched me in the wilderness and prayed for me and shared their life with me, it was humbling. I forget, so quickly that I wasn't always here. I didn't always memorize scripture and find solace in knowing that Jesus paid a debt He didn't owe. I take it for granted. I judge very quickly forgetting that it is grace that I know Him and that I recognize His voice. It was good to see Stephen to be reminded that I was lost, and now I'm not.
So, I'm aware, and it's good. I'm grateful that this is doing a greater work in me than simply helping me get to a more desirable weight. So, the third day wasn't hard, necessarily. I asked if I seemed more grumpy than usual and Mike said, "not really." Which I wasn't sure how to take. I wouldn't say that I was overly grumpy, just sinful, really. I was irritated that I had to be in the kitchen while everyone else got to play and it was Sunday and it wasn't fair...just regular toddler stuff. We went to my mother's for the afternoon and took our juices with us and we were pretty glad for the way it worked out. Again, learning how to do this when you aren't always home. They keep for a bit (recommended for up to 2 days, 3 is stretching it) when stored properly. So, we had our snack at Mom's and our supper on the way to church. Now, we are enjoying our dessert. We were supposed to have a carrot something and I vetoed that idea because I wanted a treat. I am thankful to have a "treat." That's something I need to work on and if anyone reading this has an easy healthy treat that satisfies that treat (too bad there isn't a pronoun for treat...I keep using it) craving, please pass it on. I know I'll need some good ideas when this is over and the real part begins! I do feel a little bloated or gassy. I'm just being honest! I've tried to make sure that I have plenty of water, but they say that can happen. So, it is. So, day 3 is supposed to be the worst which is why we started this on a Friday so we could have the weekend together to be miserable, and we weren't so much. I will say that Mike got a pretty intense migraine yesterday that landed him in bed at 7:30 last night. To be fair, I think the real problem was dehydration more than anything because he didn't drink a ton of water and he worked in the jungle that is our yard. So, I think it was coming. I'm glad he was home and could get the rest that he needed. He feels fine today and has, of course, lost more weight than me. He doesn't mind this either, except he was almost willing to eat a plastic french fry that my nephew was serving up! We both agreed that we don't want anything "bad" but rather something fresh and full of flavor. I served the children a pasta salad with sundried tomatoes, olives and feta and almost licked the spoon.
So, now it is time to find my way into bed after this 3rd day of victory. This day of remembrance (sweet that the Lord's Supper was served today, that's a meal I won't miss...unless I'm in sin of course) of how the Lord pulled me out of the mud and mire and put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of of Praise to Him. He can do that for you, too, ya know. It doesn't take much. Admit you can't do it...and that you often times don't want to, and He will rescue you, too. Then everything that you do will be an act of gratitude to the One to whom you owe your very life. So, if this is the life He gave me, I'd like to enjoy it...healthy style.
Thanks for checking in! I'll talk to ya tomorrow at the end of another successful day and maybe I'll even have some pictures!
Sweet Dreams!
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Day 2!
So, this isn't as hard as I thought it would be in some respect, and then in some I think, "Wow, 10 days is a good bit of time." Here is how it's not hard. The making of a juice. There isn't a recipe per se with spices and ovens and timers. You grab what you need and you dump it in. Ta Da! Juice. At least with the juicer I am using. It's a Breville of some sort. (Some awesome sort!) So, that's what I was worried about and it's much breezier than anticipated. The other easy part is that the taste is more than bearable. In fact, after 10 of these, I am enjoying some of them. Today the Sport Spice was a bit much, but I drank it and was glad when it was over. Mike informed me that he just purchased a bunch of beets so I had better acquire a taste! The children counted to see which one of us could drink it longer. The coconut water was good after that. So, those things that I thought would be really difficult, are not. What is hard is not eating. I sure do LOVE to eat. I love the flavors and the textures and the escape that I get from eating. I'll tell you what, this has been extremely revealing. I don't necessarily eat to live. I don't eat for my body, I eat for me. To take a break, or treat myself, I'm sure this does not sound foreign to anyone. So, I've seen where I need to repent of running to food rather than Jesus. I'm not surprised, just a little sad. I'm a social eater. We, most of us anyway, are. Here in America if you are invited to someone's home you ask, "What can I bring?" Honestly, I always want to bring dessert because I'm so very disappointed when it's not there...or it's not chocolate! People break out some sort of berry something...um....take that back and bring out the REAL dessert cause' that looks an awful lot like a healthy snack! To prove this point, I'll tell you a little story.
Once upon a time, in a world almost forgotten, there lived a young and vibrant college student with very few responsibilities, although she believed she was very busy. She had an incredible opportunity to travel to a far and somewhat exotic continent where she would live for the summer and tell other college students about the wondrous love of Christ. I'll skip the middle...although the middle is always the best part (OREOS!) and go to the end where this spoiled rotten, very carefree college student spent about 4 days in the Kalahari Dessert. It was in a small village that found it strange that these Americans would use their water to wash their dishes. The students didn't know any better and hopefully didn't do too much harm. So, the students ate their food outside, for there were no Chick-Fil-A's in Botswana. At last their adventure came to and end and they packed up and left for a beautiful resort type place where they were going to evaluate their summer and rest. The first meal that this American ate was delicious, but disappointment came in the form of oranges for dessert. She contemplated throwing the oranges at anyone or screaming at the top of her lungs. She chose to eat the oranges and confess her sin. She had seen the starving children of Africa...and she was to be pitied above all for her thankless and foul heart.
So, I like dessert. However, today I saw a side of myself that I haven't seen in a while and it was good. I went to a baby shower. Y'all, there was FRIED CHICKEN at this baby shower. I brought pigs in a blanket (not food...but OH SO GOOD) and meatballs. There was pasta salad and chips and dip and the table was just laid out beautifully. However, thinking ahead I brought my "Garden Variety" with me and sipped on that while all others supped on the yummy goodness that is baby shower food. I did it. I walked in and I walked out and I didn't consume a thing. I think the victory is that I didn't think I "needed" or "deserved" the food. I could just believe that I was doing my body a favor and I sipped my drink and chatted with those around me. Now, if I quit before this is up, then that was completely wasted. I'll tell you what I realized from that. It feels good to be self-controlled. This evening I finished cleaning the kitchen and wiped off the table rather than leaving a few things for tomorrow. I can truly rest tomorrow. Exercising self-control, or follow-through is a struggle. I've seen, through this, that I can do it. It's not just for other people that are "better" than me. It's a fruit of the Spirit...the Spirit that I have. So, it's been strange what I've picked up along the way...even in just two days. I'm thankful for that. I don't think a fast is usually about the food...especially not in this country. There is always something else, a sneaky sin lurking hoping not to be found. Well, as much as I hate to see my sin...I'm glad to shine a light on it and clean house!
The other hard part is simply being prepared. It's not like just grabbing an apple so that I don't get hungry, although I will probably do that in the future. It's doing the math and figuring where I'll be and where my blood sugar will be. I'll tell you this, I was at Wal-Mart today and wasn't prepared. That place works my nerves when I am not hungry...I was ready to scream. For real. They do have self-check outs now, which is awesome since the other 2 lines that were open were flooded with folks taking advantage of tax free weekend. (Why only 2 lines, Wal-Mart? Why?) So, that was hard, but I hit the coconut water pretty hard when I came home and then Mike juiced me a "Garden Variety." Ohhh weeee! So, it's just not as portable as food. It will keep in the fridge, but there is no room in my fridge for anything else! So, I'm sure I'll figure it out, but once this week starts we'll be home anyway, so that will be better.
I think that's it. It feels empowering. The one thing that I would like to work on is a menu for when this is over. I need to start preparing my list for new meals. I have a collection of "clean" meals, that my family likes, I just want to move forward. This is not a "lose it fast" fix. This is a jumpstart to a healthier life and body that I feel a little better in.
Which reminds me of the conversation I had with my best friend who started her juice fast today. Her concern was, "Is this the beginning of yo-yo dieting." We talked about it and felt like it doesn't have to be because this is pretty simple to incorporate. We've tasted many different juices and can choose some favorites and can replace breakfast or any meal with a healthy jolt of veggies. I look back on the women that I watched growing up and they usually did what everyone was doing, at least for a time. We did lowfat, fat free, (I still remember the green Snackwell's box that was Mom's) we did fake eggs, low carbs...and it usually came back to real food. Sensible meals with little to no white stuff. I don't feel like there is a ton of guess work. My uncle is a juice fan and he just goes and buys what looks good and juices it. It's not that hard. I don't feel like it's a matter of money or time, but my heart. What does Ali want? What do I think I need? Maybe my "break" is I get to read for 15 minutes...to myself! I just need to find something to replace those old treats. I really think that's the bottom of it. What do I use food for? Or does it use me? So, I will keep on going and start doing some research because I don't want the end of this fast to be the end...but rather a beginning.
Oh, I almost forgot. I do feel pretty good. I am hungry right now, but I need to go to bed anyway. It'll be like college, drink water and go to bed. I haven't experienced any major discomfort or irritability that isn't connected with my flesh. I'm excited to keep going...and right now...going to bed!
Thank you for stopping by!!!
Once upon a time, in a world almost forgotten, there lived a young and vibrant college student with very few responsibilities, although she believed she was very busy. She had an incredible opportunity to travel to a far and somewhat exotic continent where she would live for the summer and tell other college students about the wondrous love of Christ. I'll skip the middle...although the middle is always the best part (OREOS!) and go to the end where this spoiled rotten, very carefree college student spent about 4 days in the Kalahari Dessert. It was in a small village that found it strange that these Americans would use their water to wash their dishes. The students didn't know any better and hopefully didn't do too much harm. So, the students ate their food outside, for there were no Chick-Fil-A's in Botswana. At last their adventure came to and end and they packed up and left for a beautiful resort type place where they were going to evaluate their summer and rest. The first meal that this American ate was delicious, but disappointment came in the form of oranges for dessert. She contemplated throwing the oranges at anyone or screaming at the top of her lungs. She chose to eat the oranges and confess her sin. She had seen the starving children of Africa...and she was to be pitied above all for her thankless and foul heart.
So, I like dessert. However, today I saw a side of myself that I haven't seen in a while and it was good. I went to a baby shower. Y'all, there was FRIED CHICKEN at this baby shower. I brought pigs in a blanket (not food...but OH SO GOOD) and meatballs. There was pasta salad and chips and dip and the table was just laid out beautifully. However, thinking ahead I brought my "Garden Variety" with me and sipped on that while all others supped on the yummy goodness that is baby shower food. I did it. I walked in and I walked out and I didn't consume a thing. I think the victory is that I didn't think I "needed" or "deserved" the food. I could just believe that I was doing my body a favor and I sipped my drink and chatted with those around me. Now, if I quit before this is up, then that was completely wasted. I'll tell you what I realized from that. It feels good to be self-controlled. This evening I finished cleaning the kitchen and wiped off the table rather than leaving a few things for tomorrow. I can truly rest tomorrow. Exercising self-control, or follow-through is a struggle. I've seen, through this, that I can do it. It's not just for other people that are "better" than me. It's a fruit of the Spirit...the Spirit that I have. So, it's been strange what I've picked up along the way...even in just two days. I'm thankful for that. I don't think a fast is usually about the food...especially not in this country. There is always something else, a sneaky sin lurking hoping not to be found. Well, as much as I hate to see my sin...I'm glad to shine a light on it and clean house!
The other hard part is simply being prepared. It's not like just grabbing an apple so that I don't get hungry, although I will probably do that in the future. It's doing the math and figuring where I'll be and where my blood sugar will be. I'll tell you this, I was at Wal-Mart today and wasn't prepared. That place works my nerves when I am not hungry...I was ready to scream. For real. They do have self-check outs now, which is awesome since the other 2 lines that were open were flooded with folks taking advantage of tax free weekend. (Why only 2 lines, Wal-Mart? Why?) So, that was hard, but I hit the coconut water pretty hard when I came home and then Mike juiced me a "Garden Variety." Ohhh weeee! So, it's just not as portable as food. It will keep in the fridge, but there is no room in my fridge for anything else! So, I'm sure I'll figure it out, but once this week starts we'll be home anyway, so that will be better.
I think that's it. It feels empowering. The one thing that I would like to work on is a menu for when this is over. I need to start preparing my list for new meals. I have a collection of "clean" meals, that my family likes, I just want to move forward. This is not a "lose it fast" fix. This is a jumpstart to a healthier life and body that I feel a little better in.
Which reminds me of the conversation I had with my best friend who started her juice fast today. Her concern was, "Is this the beginning of yo-yo dieting." We talked about it and felt like it doesn't have to be because this is pretty simple to incorporate. We've tasted many different juices and can choose some favorites and can replace breakfast or any meal with a healthy jolt of veggies. I look back on the women that I watched growing up and they usually did what everyone was doing, at least for a time. We did lowfat, fat free, (I still remember the green Snackwell's box that was Mom's) we did fake eggs, low carbs...and it usually came back to real food. Sensible meals with little to no white stuff. I don't feel like there is a ton of guess work. My uncle is a juice fan and he just goes and buys what looks good and juices it. It's not that hard. I don't feel like it's a matter of money or time, but my heart. What does Ali want? What do I think I need? Maybe my "break" is I get to read for 15 minutes...to myself! I just need to find something to replace those old treats. I really think that's the bottom of it. What do I use food for? Or does it use me? So, I will keep on going and start doing some research because I don't want the end of this fast to be the end...but rather a beginning.
Oh, I almost forgot. I do feel pretty good. I am hungry right now, but I need to go to bed anyway. It'll be like college, drink water and go to bed. I haven't experienced any major discomfort or irritability that isn't connected with my flesh. I'm excited to keep going...and right now...going to bed!
Thank you for stopping by!!!
Friday, August 9, 2013
Day Uno
So, this wasn't all that bad. It was a pretty normal day except that we drank our meals. Mike had to make two of his before he left for work so he had his "to go" and I made mine fresh. Or rather, Anson made mine fresh. What is it with boys and things that plug in? He just wanted to "play" I'm sure! I did, however, get my meals made for me, so that was GREAT! Alright...so what was the line-up? Well, I sort of charted our course (or courses...HA) so that we would have a different juice each meal. This is how it went down:
Breakfast: Apple, carrot, lemon
Snack: 16 oz of unflavored coconut water
Lunch: A "Garden Variety" it was Kale, cucumber, parsley, and apples
Snack: "Sporty Spice" Beets, lemon, orange, celery, carrot, and basil
Supper: "Mean Green" cucumber, celery, apples, kale, ginger, lemon
I am supposed to have "dessert" but Mike isn't back from the store, and I'm actually not feeling like eating. I think I might be hungry, but I can't drink these fast. It's strange. With most any other drink (like my favorite Coca Cola!) I can just guzzle them down, but not these. I put them in a glass with a straw and end up sipping on them. I don't mind the flavor of them at all, I just can't "eat" so much food so fast. Which makes me wonder why I'm able to guzzle a Coke in a minute. Probably because it's not real. (Just real good! :) ) It took me an hour and a half to get the 16 oz of Coconut Water down. It was strange. So, day one was fine. I heard that many people have horrible days, usually day 2 or 3 and I'm just not anticipating that. I know that my body is in need of a reboot, but I haven't been out lately and had already started to clean things up a teeny tiny bit. So, I'm hoping for a somewhat uneventful weekend as far as that goes. I did tell my children today that if I seem grumpy, I'll excuse myself to my room until it passes. I didn't need a nap (I'm not a huge napper, but I feel like I want one) and I was not groggy or ill tempered. I took the opportunity to read to my boy. He's so great. So, now Mike is home and we're going to top the day off with a "peach pie" there will be no flaky crust, but there are peaches so we've got that going for us! What else, I'm finding I feel fine and don't need to eat, but I'm a constant eater. For instance, I caught myself SEVERAL times today NOT putting my hand in my mouth. Like handing Caroline some Mini Wheats, I'm a "one for you, 2 for Mommy" kinda gal. That was all day. NOT taking a spoonful of peanut butter when it was out or a Cheez-It at a friends house, or Caroline's crust...that's a lot of random food...or calories anyway that I don't "need" I just put stuff in my mouth. HOLY COW I'm a toddler!!!! That's seriously what happens. I just wander around putting things in my mouth. That's the hardest part, really. Also, my teeth feel really dirty. Is that normal? Like, I need to brush more often. Hmm. Caroline LOVES the mean green. She kept asking for a "sip" and then it cleared things up just before bed time if you know what I mean. The rest of the children all like the "orange" and "red" drinks, but Julia likes the green juices as well. I'm thankful because we will be incorporating this into our daily diet...somehow.
In other news...a short blog...a "blogella"
My children are like Mary Poppins' carpet bag. They carry random stuff with them all over the place. Every place we go. It's books, and little animals and legos...if they can put it in their pocket, they have it with them. I am constantly asking them to leave it "in the house." Mostly, I insist on this because it will inevitably end up in the van and it's a mess. Well, last night on our big night out Anson lost his altoids box. I know, right, why an altoids box? Well, apparently you can store some pretty awesome things in this little treasure box, and when it gets lost, it's a super big downer to a 10 year old boy. So, I humored him and walked back through Kroger and looked through all of the bags...no altoids box. The real treasure is what was in the box...a "custom" Lego figure. It's actually Anson as a college graduate. I promise that's what he said it was! So, he was downtrodden and I went ahead with the speech anyway, "I hate to say it, but this is why Daddy and I ask you to keep things in blah, blah...." so we got home and put the large quantities of food away and he showered. Well, while Mike, whom we all refer to as "Eagle Eyes" was emptying the van, he found the treasure! Mostly, he found it because he looked for it. Anson's little face (well, not so little anymore...he's growing up so fast) lit up. We'd already talked about the parable of the lost sheep and how we can understand how the shepherd rejoices, how Christ rejoices, when that one lamb is found. So, when his treasure was returned we remembered that the angels rejoice. It's a big deal when a wandering soul finds rest in the One who left the 99 to find him. I pray that my children know how the Lord celebrates over them. You know who else I want to know that? Me. God loves me. He thinks that I have a treasure in my fragile clay vessel. I do, too. His Spirit. Leading, guiding, changing...keeping me close to the One who sought me when I was astray and using His merciful right arm pulled me back into the green pasture that is His. There was much rejoicing over the altoid box...and much more over the truth that resonates with us all regarding that Amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost and now I'm found...rejoice, my friend...you are in good company when you sing His praise!
So, back to the juice. Mike just served up a super tasty treat! It's peaches, blueberries, 1 apple, a sweet potato and a dash of cinnamon.
The verdict after day 1? I'm looking forward to Day 2. My belly already feels less bloated and I'm glad for the opportunity to change.
Breakfast: Apple, carrot, lemon
Snack: 16 oz of unflavored coconut water
Lunch: A "Garden Variety" it was Kale, cucumber, parsley, and apples
Snack: "Sporty Spice" Beets, lemon, orange, celery, carrot, and basil
Supper: "Mean Green" cucumber, celery, apples, kale, ginger, lemon
I am supposed to have "dessert" but Mike isn't back from the store, and I'm actually not feeling like eating. I think I might be hungry, but I can't drink these fast. It's strange. With most any other drink (like my favorite Coca Cola!) I can just guzzle them down, but not these. I put them in a glass with a straw and end up sipping on them. I don't mind the flavor of them at all, I just can't "eat" so much food so fast. Which makes me wonder why I'm able to guzzle a Coke in a minute. Probably because it's not real. (Just real good! :) ) It took me an hour and a half to get the 16 oz of Coconut Water down. It was strange. So, day one was fine. I heard that many people have horrible days, usually day 2 or 3 and I'm just not anticipating that. I know that my body is in need of a reboot, but I haven't been out lately and had already started to clean things up a teeny tiny bit. So, I'm hoping for a somewhat uneventful weekend as far as that goes. I did tell my children today that if I seem grumpy, I'll excuse myself to my room until it passes. I didn't need a nap (I'm not a huge napper, but I feel like I want one) and I was not groggy or ill tempered. I took the opportunity to read to my boy. He's so great. So, now Mike is home and we're going to top the day off with a "peach pie" there will be no flaky crust, but there are peaches so we've got that going for us! What else, I'm finding I feel fine and don't need to eat, but I'm a constant eater. For instance, I caught myself SEVERAL times today NOT putting my hand in my mouth. Like handing Caroline some Mini Wheats, I'm a "one for you, 2 for Mommy" kinda gal. That was all day. NOT taking a spoonful of peanut butter when it was out or a Cheez-It at a friends house, or Caroline's crust...that's a lot of random food...or calories anyway that I don't "need" I just put stuff in my mouth. HOLY COW I'm a toddler!!!! That's seriously what happens. I just wander around putting things in my mouth. That's the hardest part, really. Also, my teeth feel really dirty. Is that normal? Like, I need to brush more often. Hmm. Caroline LOVES the mean green. She kept asking for a "sip" and then it cleared things up just before bed time if you know what I mean. The rest of the children all like the "orange" and "red" drinks, but Julia likes the green juices as well. I'm thankful because we will be incorporating this into our daily diet...somehow.
In other news...a short blog...a "blogella"
My children are like Mary Poppins' carpet bag. They carry random stuff with them all over the place. Every place we go. It's books, and little animals and legos...if they can put it in their pocket, they have it with them. I am constantly asking them to leave it "in the house." Mostly, I insist on this because it will inevitably end up in the van and it's a mess. Well, last night on our big night out Anson lost his altoids box. I know, right, why an altoids box? Well, apparently you can store some pretty awesome things in this little treasure box, and when it gets lost, it's a super big downer to a 10 year old boy. So, I humored him and walked back through Kroger and looked through all of the bags...no altoids box. The real treasure is what was in the box...a "custom" Lego figure. It's actually Anson as a college graduate. I promise that's what he said it was! So, he was downtrodden and I went ahead with the speech anyway, "I hate to say it, but this is why Daddy and I ask you to keep things in blah, blah...." so we got home and put the large quantities of food away and he showered. Well, while Mike, whom we all refer to as "Eagle Eyes" was emptying the van, he found the treasure! Mostly, he found it because he looked for it. Anson's little face (well, not so little anymore...he's growing up so fast) lit up. We'd already talked about the parable of the lost sheep and how we can understand how the shepherd rejoices, how Christ rejoices, when that one lamb is found. So, when his treasure was returned we remembered that the angels rejoice. It's a big deal when a wandering soul finds rest in the One who left the 99 to find him. I pray that my children know how the Lord celebrates over them. You know who else I want to know that? Me. God loves me. He thinks that I have a treasure in my fragile clay vessel. I do, too. His Spirit. Leading, guiding, changing...keeping me close to the One who sought me when I was astray and using His merciful right arm pulled me back into the green pasture that is His. There was much rejoicing over the altoid box...and much more over the truth that resonates with us all regarding that Amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost and now I'm found...rejoice, my friend...you are in good company when you sing His praise!
So, back to the juice. Mike just served up a super tasty treat! It's peaches, blueberries, 1 apple, a sweet potato and a dash of cinnamon.
The verdict after day 1? I'm looking forward to Day 2. My belly already feels less bloated and I'm glad for the opportunity to change.
This is breakfast.
This is the breakfast maker. He was able to make 4 juices total in very little time thanks to this awesome juicer on loan!
These are not juices. :) They are excited to try everything and I'm thankful that they want to be in the kitchen...but were on the other side at this particular time. It gets CRAMPED!
So, we are juicing, not the children. They made their own lunches because Caroline was with my Mom. There's my "Garden Variety" amidst the variety! This is lunch.
This face is sort of honest. It wasn't horrible, but the cucumber is pretty strong. I'm sure it's an acquired taste.
Also sort of honest...it's really not bad.
Here's my Sporty Spice for my snack. It's weird that they are all the same size. There is no "snack size." I liked this one.
This is what went into supper. This is the Mean Green. The lemons were huge! Even though we cut them in half it was still pretty tart, but a nice change from the Garden Variety.
Now this is TASTY! Caroline just harassed Mike for "more, more, more" from her bed! This is the peach pie dessert. I think we'll sip these and then call it a night. Thanks for checking in!
Thursday, August 8, 2013
We're Totally Doing It!!!
So, we've been home from camp for not even two weeks. In that time I have planned and started school and Mike and I caught a documentary this week that has inspired us! I know that beauty isn't what's on the outside. I'm totally for that. With 3 girls, I try to keep my personal critiques to myself, but let me say that Camp Marannook serves some AWESOME desserts...and sometimes they show up twice a day. Now, I didn't want to miss out on any of them...so I didn't. So, um...anyway...I don't feel well. I feel bloated at the end of the day and just plain blah. I am NOT BLAMING MARANNOOK! They didn't make me eat them. So, I love Camp and it didn't make me feel blah. Promise! Also, Ella has been complaining of chronic headaches and we feel like it's time to do something. She does have an appointment early September, so I wanted to try to see some improvements before we went a medical route. So, the documentary that we watched? Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. The quick and dirty is that Joe Cross was just that, Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead. He went on a 60 day juice fast and is currently living a happy and healthy life pain and medication free. It makes sense. If you put good things in, your body will function properly. We've not been fabulous about putting great things in. So, after the documentary we both looked at each other and said, "Let's do it!" That was Wednesday! So, we are borrowing a juicer (Thanks, Marti! You're next!!!) and just took all four children on the grocery run and are now having, um, Peanut Buster before we go to bed! Don't judge me!!! I'm afraid I won't want it when this is over, so I'm enjoying it now. (Funny thing, it's a Marannook recipe!) In the quiet of the night. So, I thought since I hadn't blogged in a long time, I'd do my own little documentary right here. That will be a stretch for me, but I want to share this little adventure, hoping maybe someone else will get up the courage to "reboot." So, I was going to blog this and then publish it when it was over so that if I crashed and burned no one would know. I think that's part of the adventure...so welcome! I'll be back tomorrow with the verdict on Day 1. If you are interested you can watch Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead for free with Amazon Prime, or I think you can pull it up in pieces on youtube. Also, the website where you can get details on a juice fast and even a pretty planned out day to help with the level of success! So, here's to loving the Lord with my heart, mind, soul and strength!!!
We have a bit of a "storage issue" so food that doesn't need to be refrigerated...lives here.
I cannot tell you how thankful I am that Mike's brain doesn't work the same as mine. I told him I'd do bedtime if he'd organize the food! I totally got the better end of that deal! Except I did end up washing the dishes from the leftovers. But the fridge...
Looks great! Doesn't it. Look at all that Kale! What the Kale? HA
This should get us through the first 6 days. The milk is for the children, that's not part of the fast.
So here is the frontal view. Mike was sad that it's not a typical "before" picture.
He said I should take my jewelry off and not smile. You know, like they always do in those makeovers. Also, if you are looking close you'll notice there are no floors in my bedroom. One thing at a time around here! :)
Some people look like this when they've just found out the gender of their baby!!! I'm NOT pregnant (I wouldn't mind...but that's not a baby!)
It's weird seeing my bedroom on here.
So, that's all for now, folks. I'm really putting myself out there. What if I look the same in my after pictures! Even if I still have the same clothes on? Maybe I'll wear the same clothes so that we can see a difference. It'll be a surprise! Well, I'll be glad that we gave it a shot. And I don't think it can hurt!!! Thanks for stopping by!
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Camp, Camp, Camp It Up!!!
So, I got my children back last night. I think they were all on the brink of tears, even though we live here. I think they were insanely tired, and really sad that their experience is over. Y'all. I'm a fan. I certainly have an advantage over other parents who are SCARED TO DEATH to send their children to camp because I practically interviewed all of the counselors over the last few weeks. For every meal we have the privilege of dining with these incredible young people. So, I've talked with them and told jokes and laughed and even cried a little. I trust them. I was glad that my children got to spend a week with them. I'm sad that they can't spend a week with every. single. one. of. them. Because they are just that incredible. Let me tell you what they have to agree to in order to come here and learn about Jesus.
First of all, this is a position that they are "sponsored" for. The training staff is just that...trained. They have some of the most incredible tools at their fingertips and will spend at least 100 hours studying the Word. This is not a paid position. They are not making any money being here. And, they keep. coming. back. They WANT to be here. They GET to be here. They get it. Jesus is worth investing in.
Second they have standards. Have you ever seen a full group of 20 somethings with their shirts tucked in and belts on? The girls wear clothing that covers all the stuff that needs to be covered and the guys wear shirts and ties to church. It's NOT legalistic, it's refreshing. All of the girls have said how much they have enjoyed the standard. They said that they are far more comfortable and glad that they don't have to worry with their clothes. They agree to this. They buy clothes to come here.
They have a schedule. Their days are scripted with work that needs to be done. They have bedtimes and chores and they SMILE. They love being at Marannook, which means God's Resting Place.
They turn in their electronics. They have their phones at certain times during the summer and have a place to make calls when they have time. Many of them didn't want their phones back. They are glad to be unplugged. Because they have all found that unplugging from one thing means they can plug into the Main Thing...the Lord.
They spend HOURS making daily action plans, or DAP's, so that every minute that they have with these children is planned and points to Jesus. They wrote their own tract to share the Gospel in an age appropriate manner. They came up with their idea, based on Romans, and colored and laminated and presented these treasures to their sweet campers. They work really hard. Really.
Why would I tell you these things about the counselors? I feel like these days this is a lot for some young people. The fact that these folks are willing to submit to these reasonable, but uncommon requests speaks volumes about their willingness to seek the Lord while He may be found. They are giddy with excitement when it's time for campers and last night one counselors who had 5 little guys said, "I miss them already. I had to walk over here alone." They want to share the Gospel. By the time they get campers they have spent so much time with the Lord that they are excited to tell these children the Great News. They have been captivated by His love. It makes Marannook what it is. A place where we know God and make Him known through the vehicle of camping.
So, my children said that they wanted to read 1 and 2nd Samuel because they loved hearing "the rest of the story" of David and Goliath. I thought I taught my children. We read and discuss, but we don't typically spend an entire week on a few chapters. I asked Anson what he'd like to "take home" and he said, "Private Worship." Really? Well, probably because the waterslide into the lake isn't an option! Every thing that they did pointed to Jesus as our Savior. For an example, they had a mud fight with water and mud (how else would we get mud...it conveniently rained for 3 days...so that got us some mud!) and they wore trash bags. The mud represented sin and the trash bags were to prove that no matter how hard we try, we cannot keep ourselves clean. We need Jesus to cleanse our sins. They had AAA time which Anson loved. That's "analogy and application time" where you try to see how your activity connects to the Gospel. Anson said it was like a puzzle to see how it fits. They saw, this week, that it all fits. It is all Jesus.
So, I need to read a book to them all and enjoy this quiet, but I just wanted to let you all know what camp was like. I was hoping to update more often, but there is really a lot that goes into this sort of awesomeness...and I only play a small role. (Well, small if you think groceries that come on a truck is small! :) ) I know that this blog is a place where I write what I'm learning and how I see the Lord in all things, but I thank you for letting me take a little bit of time to tell you what THEY are learning and how Marannook is coming alongside us and fitting them for the kingdom.
More to come on how Marannook has been fitting ME for the kingdom....
Oh, if you are on Facebook (or like me know someone with a password that you can use) you can find Marannook on facebook and see pictures from the week. If you know a Wessner, you'll see their sweet faces! Not my face, though...I was making sure those faces had food to eat! And boy do campers eat!!!
First of all, this is a position that they are "sponsored" for. The training staff is just that...trained. They have some of the most incredible tools at their fingertips and will spend at least 100 hours studying the Word. This is not a paid position. They are not making any money being here. And, they keep. coming. back. They WANT to be here. They GET to be here. They get it. Jesus is worth investing in.
Second they have standards. Have you ever seen a full group of 20 somethings with their shirts tucked in and belts on? The girls wear clothing that covers all the stuff that needs to be covered and the guys wear shirts and ties to church. It's NOT legalistic, it's refreshing. All of the girls have said how much they have enjoyed the standard. They said that they are far more comfortable and glad that they don't have to worry with their clothes. They agree to this. They buy clothes to come here.
They have a schedule. Their days are scripted with work that needs to be done. They have bedtimes and chores and they SMILE. They love being at Marannook, which means God's Resting Place.
They turn in their electronics. They have their phones at certain times during the summer and have a place to make calls when they have time. Many of them didn't want their phones back. They are glad to be unplugged. Because they have all found that unplugging from one thing means they can plug into the Main Thing...the Lord.
They spend HOURS making daily action plans, or DAP's, so that every minute that they have with these children is planned and points to Jesus. They wrote their own tract to share the Gospel in an age appropriate manner. They came up with their idea, based on Romans, and colored and laminated and presented these treasures to their sweet campers. They work really hard. Really.
Why would I tell you these things about the counselors? I feel like these days this is a lot for some young people. The fact that these folks are willing to submit to these reasonable, but uncommon requests speaks volumes about their willingness to seek the Lord while He may be found. They are giddy with excitement when it's time for campers and last night one counselors who had 5 little guys said, "I miss them already. I had to walk over here alone." They want to share the Gospel. By the time they get campers they have spent so much time with the Lord that they are excited to tell these children the Great News. They have been captivated by His love. It makes Marannook what it is. A place where we know God and make Him known through the vehicle of camping.
So, my children said that they wanted to read 1 and 2nd Samuel because they loved hearing "the rest of the story" of David and Goliath. I thought I taught my children. We read and discuss, but we don't typically spend an entire week on a few chapters. I asked Anson what he'd like to "take home" and he said, "Private Worship." Really? Well, probably because the waterslide into the lake isn't an option! Every thing that they did pointed to Jesus as our Savior. For an example, they had a mud fight with water and mud (how else would we get mud...it conveniently rained for 3 days...so that got us some mud!) and they wore trash bags. The mud represented sin and the trash bags were to prove that no matter how hard we try, we cannot keep ourselves clean. We need Jesus to cleanse our sins. They had AAA time which Anson loved. That's "analogy and application time" where you try to see how your activity connects to the Gospel. Anson said it was like a puzzle to see how it fits. They saw, this week, that it all fits. It is all Jesus.
So, I need to read a book to them all and enjoy this quiet, but I just wanted to let you all know what camp was like. I was hoping to update more often, but there is really a lot that goes into this sort of awesomeness...and I only play a small role. (Well, small if you think groceries that come on a truck is small! :) ) I know that this blog is a place where I write what I'm learning and how I see the Lord in all things, but I thank you for letting me take a little bit of time to tell you what THEY are learning and how Marannook is coming alongside us and fitting them for the kingdom.
More to come on how Marannook has been fitting ME for the kingdom....
Oh, if you are on Facebook (or like me know someone with a password that you can use) you can find Marannook on facebook and see pictures from the week. If you know a Wessner, you'll see their sweet faces! Not my face, though...I was making sure those faces had food to eat! And boy do campers eat!!!
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Poor Vision?
I don't remember ever seeing clearly. We think it was caused from an accident when I was very young. I started seeing double and we called it a "lazy eye" and some pretty intense far-sightedness. I suppose I get along just fine these days. Thankfully the years of my ENORMOUS, red, Sally Jesse Raphael glasses are over! My parents invested in some contacts when I was 15 and I was a new gal! However, since arriving at Camp Marannook, I've noticed that my vision isn't what I thought it was. My children's vision is WAY better than mine. Sort of frustrating.
For instance, today at "The Rock," our favorite after dinner hang-out to catch tadpoles and frogs, Julia mentioned that there were, "a million" tadpoles swimming in one certain area. I went to look and didn't see one. Then, tonight, the girls asked to go catch lightening bugs, of course I said yes. I finished up my Amazon order (I love my free Prime trial membership!) and headed outside. They said that they could see them all over the place. Me? Notsomuch. I have forgotten. It's like in Hook when Peter Pan is confronted with the cold hard facts about growing up. He forgot how to imagine. I think my vision has failed because I stopped using it. I stopped looking.
So, tonight I looked. In fact, I did look pretty hard for those tadpoles, I think she scared them away and they were hiding under the algae. But I was looking for the fireflies. Shoes off, age aside, I was running after them. I haven't caught one, but it's a victory to see them, isn't it? Then, after we had spun each other around until we fell down giggling into the wet grass (that is SO AWESOME...even more AWESOME is that the maintenance men from camp cut it! Those of you who know us know what an ENORMOUS deal that is!!!) we lay there watching the stars come out one by one. I saw them. At first I could only see 2, but as the night wore on and my eyes adjusted I could see them appear. It was like we showed up for one of God's daily wonders that we have ignored for quite some time. I almost wanted to clap and sing, "Again, again...do it again Jesus!" I didn't sing or clap because Anson was going on and on about the stars fitting into other stars and galaxies and blah blah blah :) that finally I said we should just be still and listen to the night. As the night got darker, my sight got clearer. Probably just another miracle, huh?
Something I have noticed as I've been here almost 4 weeks, is how nervous I get of time. I think I have trained my children to enjoy down time, but I don't like having "little" to do. I think as adults we might schedule our children for our own sakes, not theirs. They are happy laying in the grass...are we? I'm finding that being here is giving me what I say I want, time with my children, and it's an adjustment. It's easy to be with my children and never really speak to them...or listen to them. (although Mike just took them to Camp to listen to Mr. Charles read to the staff, they just finished The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe and have started the Magicians Nephew...he reads to them for 30 minutes before they go to bed) I'm enjoying the QUIET!
So, I think I'm going to read my new book, Exploring the World of Mathematics, but I just wanted to encourage those of you who read this (I think it's neat that you do) to have your vision checked. Go to the Great Physician and find out if you are seeing things clearly, or at all. I'll tell you what, if you aren't seeing things clearly, you are missing out. Lay a blanket in the yard, spin your kids around until they can't walk straight, my best friend counted how many times they saw fireflies light up in a minute...that's counting God's glory! Imagine...counting God's glory...did I just make that up? I think I did, but what a great idea! Look for it, listen for it, His word promises that if we seek Him, we WILL find Him, if we seek Him with all our heart. So, I guess I can't remember seeing clearly, until tonight.
For instance, today at "The Rock," our favorite after dinner hang-out to catch tadpoles and frogs, Julia mentioned that there were, "a million" tadpoles swimming in one certain area. I went to look and didn't see one. Then, tonight, the girls asked to go catch lightening bugs, of course I said yes. I finished up my Amazon order (I love my free Prime trial membership!) and headed outside. They said that they could see them all over the place. Me? Notsomuch. I have forgotten. It's like in Hook when Peter Pan is confronted with the cold hard facts about growing up. He forgot how to imagine. I think my vision has failed because I stopped using it. I stopped looking.
So, tonight I looked. In fact, I did look pretty hard for those tadpoles, I think she scared them away and they were hiding under the algae. But I was looking for the fireflies. Shoes off, age aside, I was running after them. I haven't caught one, but it's a victory to see them, isn't it? Then, after we had spun each other around until we fell down giggling into the wet grass (that is SO AWESOME...even more AWESOME is that the maintenance men from camp cut it! Those of you who know us know what an ENORMOUS deal that is!!!) we lay there watching the stars come out one by one. I saw them. At first I could only see 2, but as the night wore on and my eyes adjusted I could see them appear. It was like we showed up for one of God's daily wonders that we have ignored for quite some time. I almost wanted to clap and sing, "Again, again...do it again Jesus!" I didn't sing or clap because Anson was going on and on about the stars fitting into other stars and galaxies and blah blah blah :) that finally I said we should just be still and listen to the night. As the night got darker, my sight got clearer. Probably just another miracle, huh?
Something I have noticed as I've been here almost 4 weeks, is how nervous I get of time. I think I have trained my children to enjoy down time, but I don't like having "little" to do. I think as adults we might schedule our children for our own sakes, not theirs. They are happy laying in the grass...are we? I'm finding that being here is giving me what I say I want, time with my children, and it's an adjustment. It's easy to be with my children and never really speak to them...or listen to them. (although Mike just took them to Camp to listen to Mr. Charles read to the staff, they just finished The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe and have started the Magicians Nephew...he reads to them for 30 minutes before they go to bed) I'm enjoying the QUIET!
So, I think I'm going to read my new book, Exploring the World of Mathematics, but I just wanted to encourage those of you who read this (I think it's neat that you do) to have your vision checked. Go to the Great Physician and find out if you are seeing things clearly, or at all. I'll tell you what, if you aren't seeing things clearly, you are missing out. Lay a blanket in the yard, spin your kids around until they can't walk straight, my best friend counted how many times they saw fireflies light up in a minute...that's counting God's glory! Imagine...counting God's glory...did I just make that up? I think I did, but what a great idea! Look for it, listen for it, His word promises that if we seek Him, we WILL find Him, if we seek Him with all our heart. So, I guess I can't remember seeing clearly, until tonight.
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Camp by me, Love
I love that movie with the adolescent Patrick Dempsey doing the wild ant eater dance! Only it's, "Can't by me love." Well, this summer I'm putting a little spin on it as we are settled in a small town in Alabama at a camp with a big heart for a Huge Savior.
The sad thing is that, as usual, there will be no pictures. I hate that about my blog and yet I do nothing about it! At some point there will be some. I need to check with the CEO to find out what can be posted and what should not be posted...so until then, my words will have to do. This will not satisfy family, I'm sure...but I'm doing the best I can. Onward!!!
For several YEARS Mike has battled with the Spirit as to what he is supposed to be doing and where. We've taken the Perspectives on World Missions course, and that confirmed that we are not headed overseas, we've looked into teaching abroad...still nothing...and then we spoke with a friend about camp ministry. After a few years of struggling I finally said, "Alright, if you could do ANYTHING what would it be?" His response, "I love camp. I'd love to raise our family at camp." Alright, I thought, now we are getting someplace. So, last year we sent out a few applications to camps and again...nothing. So, we moved into our house. You remember my new countertops and the bookshelves. Well, an opportunity popped up for us to spend a summer at camp sort of investigating if this was for us. So, here we are. Our summer adventure at Camp Marannook. I think I can put the name of the camp, in fact, if you are looking for a top-notch camp to send your children to, look no further! So, I wanted to give everyone sort of an update as to what we are doing and what our days look like.
Every day is different, yet they have elements that remain the same. We wake to Secret Worship. That's a time where we read our chapters for the day before we "begin" our day. We are reading through Romans and Acts, all of Psalms and some of the Epistles...I think, I'd have to check my schedule. Then we get everyone ready and head out the door a mile down the road to have breakfast at Manna. We arrive only a few minutes early and the Training Staff trickles in to start their day as well. The Training Staff are college students from as far as Indiana and as close as Auburn who have come here to study the word (over 100 hours total for the summer) and share the gospel through the camping experience. These students are AWESOME! They are intelligent and funny and passionate about knowing Jesus and making Him known. So, we circle up (picture roughly 57 people holding hands on an open air deck) to thank Jesus for our food and the day. After a clap confirming it's time to eat we start through the line. The high school girls, "kitchies" as they are aptly named, provide service with a smile. We eat GOOD! We find our places at our picnic tables and enjoy some sweet food and sweeter fellowship. Roughly 45 minutes into breakfast a deep voice with a charming southern drawl belts out the first line of scripture signaling to everyone to stop their conversation and listen to what Spurgeon has to say from "Morning and Evening" sometimes we read the Word, "On the Rocks" that's straight up! Once the reading is finished we get the plan for the day and within minutes the deck is cleared and everyone is off to their business. Our children find sticks and rocks to play with the other children who are family staff (their Dad is the maintenance director). I might meet with the Kitchen Director to finalize the menu/grocery list, maybe we'll take a walk with our neighbors (the maintenance family) around the lake and hit the low ropes course. Perhaps we'll catch some frogs or tadpoles at "The Rock." Some mornings I leave to grocery shop with sweet, Mrs. B, while a kitchie babysits my children. Either way, we're back at 12:30 to circle up again and to fill our bellies with food while the Spirit nourishes our souls as we talk and share. You see, we have many "traditions" here at Camp and 2 major traditions are, "No gossiping and No complaining." Do you know how pleasant an atmosphere is when those things are not tolerated. Like, seriously, not tolerated. After lunch it looks a little like after breakfast, only naps are pretty strictly enforced. My children are EXHAUSTED and they haven't even had their week of camp yet! I suppose it's all of the fresh air and good food! So, an afternoon of rest, sometimes this is where I grocery shop, and then it's back to Manna (our cafeteria) for dinner. We listen to reading after every meal and no one is excused until it's over. It's INCREDIBLE. Sometimes we might sing a hymn that "wafts" (as Mr. C puts it) up from our heart. It makes my heart so full. So very full. Usually after supper we are ready to head home and call it a day, but maybe we take a trip to the pool first for an evening swim, just the 5 of us. Mike is busy with the Training Staff, learning and growing and watching. Then we come home and shower and the kids head to bed while I start my little (sorta big) task of ordering the food. Mike makes his way home a little after 9:00, we have a little bit of a "debriefing" and it's off to bed. This camp thing is no "walk in the park" or "woods" for that matter! It's FULL!!!
A quick idea of what I'm doing. I am ordering food. It's no different from what any other Mom does, it's just on a much bigger scale! We needed 495 buns! How do you even get that??? We shop from 2 places and then order from one place twice a week that delivers our nosh on a truck. I told Mrs. B last night that I don't remember the last time when I didn't get good at something quickly. This is going to take some time. Everytime my phone rings I think, "Oh dear, what did I forget? What are we missing?" Yesterday the Kitchen Director called and in her super sweet voice, "Mrs. Ali, I was looking at the forks and we have 6 or 7." Me, "Boxes?" KD, "No, forks." With the Saturday picnic to look forward to the children and I loaded up and headed to Kroger. That was after I had forgotten feta and pepperoni earlier. Thankfully I was already out! The Lord has been kind to have me where I needed to be when I get these calls, but I feel frustrated that I'm not perfect at it. Enter my kind Savior. I think it's been a long time since I've really been stretched. I mean, homeschooling 4 people will stretch you, but do you know what I mean? That kind of stretch that comes from the Holy Spirt that confirms you belong to God and He will not allow you to be complacent. The good stretch that causes you to look to Heaven and praise Him for filling in your gaps...for revealing them...for increasing in your weakness. It's a good thing...no, it's a great thing. Each week I am getting a little bit better...but I'm nervous at every meal. I feel like I'm the food police. Last week everyone was pleasantly surprised that swiss cheese showed up. I panicked! Swiss cheese was for the ham quiche...would there be enough? AHHHHH!!!! The ham quiche was today, all 14 of them, and they were delicious and there was plenty of swiss cheese! Tomorrow I'll meet the food truck with Mrs. B to see what we ordered (or what we should have ordered) and hopefully that will help me do this better. I want to give a shout out to Mrs. Barbara and Mr. Charles...have you ever been around people who know Jesus forgave them their sins? Like, really have dwelled on it and have given their lives to responding to His grace? It's a pleasure to struggle to learn something under them because they understand our frailty and help you become what Jesus wants you to become. I still put a ton of pressure on myself, but their gentle leading and guidance excite me to do better...to trust in Jesus to enable me to do my job...and do it for His glory.
So, that's us. We got to go to the library last week. What a refreshing day that was! Our kind neighbor, fellow homeschooler and book lover, loaned us some books when she found out we didn't bring any (Camp has a library, we just haven't made it there yet) so we were THRILLED when the librarian at the local library allowed us to have cards to check out books. I was so very thankful that she didn't run a background check on our ability to return books on time. Or, maybe she did and she's hoping to make some cash for their library while we're here running up fines! This sweet place is a TON different from our library. It's smaller, it's actually in a room of the old Presbyterian Church. It just says, "LIBRARY" out front. They have a counter that they use to count the folks who enter. I don't know why that is so cute to me. We headed home with 30 books and the best part is that our neighbors came over to read with us. God has been kind to provide people that we never thought to ask for, as partners in this summer. Only a few days in, their mom said, "Do your children ask to come over to my house as much as my children ask to come to yours?" It's a fact...God has provided good friends for us for this adventure. He also provided some small "pets" in the form of Chad and Chase, our box turtles. The children built a little pen outside with bricks they found in our yard (scavengers) and it's sort of fun to watch those little guys. We toss fruit out there every now and then. They certainly don't replace Sonny who is romping on the Graham Fam Farm, but they are sort of fun to have.
I think that's about all. That's a long and broad overview of what the Wessner's are doing this summer. Perhaps one day I'll post pictures. Perhaps. If you've got children that need a break from the world and want them to have a Christ centered week...send them our way...we'd love to see some familiar faces! I checked with Charles and Barbara and for 1-4 graders for the week of June 30-July 5th it's not too late and for the week following there is also a bit of room, just not as much. Y'all, these counselors are PRECIOUS! Your children would be so blessed by their time here. We also have camp for 5-7th graders the last 2 weeks in July. I'm telling you, I've watched one group of campers come and go and it truly is a blessing to be in this place. Here is the link again to Camp Marannook.
Oh...our house. Picture an old brick house on a country road with white awnings over the windows...that's our house. We have just what we need and are enjoying our home away from home. I was slightly disappointed at our inability to keep tidy a place that doesn't even have 1/10 of our belongings. I suppose we are the problem and not our house or our stuff...we just aren't a "neat" crowd. Oh well, Jesus loves me of this I am CONVINCED!!! The 3 older kids are bunked together, Mike and I (of course) and Caroline has her own room. A Marannook Miracle is that we were really having a hard time with Caroline in a big bed, so much so that we put her back in the pack n play at home, we brought one with us, set it up, but she wanted to sleep in the PRECIOUS bed provided. She stays in that bed and SLEEPS THROUGH THE NIGHT!!! We are so thankful and are trying to figure out how to sneak the bed home! :) Not really, there's not a single place for it...I do wish we could, though. So, we are doing well. Clearly God has placed us here for such a time as this and as we find our way, we find Him. It's a privilege to be here, to serve and be served as the Spirit ministers to us all calling us to lay it all down, consider it all rubbish that we might know Christ.
May it be so. Amen.
The sad thing is that, as usual, there will be no pictures. I hate that about my blog and yet I do nothing about it! At some point there will be some. I need to check with the CEO to find out what can be posted and what should not be posted...so until then, my words will have to do. This will not satisfy family, I'm sure...but I'm doing the best I can. Onward!!!
For several YEARS Mike has battled with the Spirit as to what he is supposed to be doing and where. We've taken the Perspectives on World Missions course, and that confirmed that we are not headed overseas, we've looked into teaching abroad...still nothing...and then we spoke with a friend about camp ministry. After a few years of struggling I finally said, "Alright, if you could do ANYTHING what would it be?" His response, "I love camp. I'd love to raise our family at camp." Alright, I thought, now we are getting someplace. So, last year we sent out a few applications to camps and again...nothing. So, we moved into our house. You remember my new countertops and the bookshelves. Well, an opportunity popped up for us to spend a summer at camp sort of investigating if this was for us. So, here we are. Our summer adventure at Camp Marannook. I think I can put the name of the camp, in fact, if you are looking for a top-notch camp to send your children to, look no further! So, I wanted to give everyone sort of an update as to what we are doing and what our days look like.
Every day is different, yet they have elements that remain the same. We wake to Secret Worship. That's a time where we read our chapters for the day before we "begin" our day. We are reading through Romans and Acts, all of Psalms and some of the Epistles...I think, I'd have to check my schedule. Then we get everyone ready and head out the door a mile down the road to have breakfast at Manna. We arrive only a few minutes early and the Training Staff trickles in to start their day as well. The Training Staff are college students from as far as Indiana and as close as Auburn who have come here to study the word (over 100 hours total for the summer) and share the gospel through the camping experience. These students are AWESOME! They are intelligent and funny and passionate about knowing Jesus and making Him known. So, we circle up (picture roughly 57 people holding hands on an open air deck) to thank Jesus for our food and the day. After a clap confirming it's time to eat we start through the line. The high school girls, "kitchies" as they are aptly named, provide service with a smile. We eat GOOD! We find our places at our picnic tables and enjoy some sweet food and sweeter fellowship. Roughly 45 minutes into breakfast a deep voice with a charming southern drawl belts out the first line of scripture signaling to everyone to stop their conversation and listen to what Spurgeon has to say from "Morning and Evening" sometimes we read the Word, "On the Rocks" that's straight up! Once the reading is finished we get the plan for the day and within minutes the deck is cleared and everyone is off to their business. Our children find sticks and rocks to play with the other children who are family staff (their Dad is the maintenance director). I might meet with the Kitchen Director to finalize the menu/grocery list, maybe we'll take a walk with our neighbors (the maintenance family) around the lake and hit the low ropes course. Perhaps we'll catch some frogs or tadpoles at "The Rock." Some mornings I leave to grocery shop with sweet, Mrs. B, while a kitchie babysits my children. Either way, we're back at 12:30 to circle up again and to fill our bellies with food while the Spirit nourishes our souls as we talk and share. You see, we have many "traditions" here at Camp and 2 major traditions are, "No gossiping and No complaining." Do you know how pleasant an atmosphere is when those things are not tolerated. Like, seriously, not tolerated. After lunch it looks a little like after breakfast, only naps are pretty strictly enforced. My children are EXHAUSTED and they haven't even had their week of camp yet! I suppose it's all of the fresh air and good food! So, an afternoon of rest, sometimes this is where I grocery shop, and then it's back to Manna (our cafeteria) for dinner. We listen to reading after every meal and no one is excused until it's over. It's INCREDIBLE. Sometimes we might sing a hymn that "wafts" (as Mr. C puts it) up from our heart. It makes my heart so full. So very full. Usually after supper we are ready to head home and call it a day, but maybe we take a trip to the pool first for an evening swim, just the 5 of us. Mike is busy with the Training Staff, learning and growing and watching. Then we come home and shower and the kids head to bed while I start my little (sorta big) task of ordering the food. Mike makes his way home a little after 9:00, we have a little bit of a "debriefing" and it's off to bed. This camp thing is no "walk in the park" or "woods" for that matter! It's FULL!!!
A quick idea of what I'm doing. I am ordering food. It's no different from what any other Mom does, it's just on a much bigger scale! We needed 495 buns! How do you even get that??? We shop from 2 places and then order from one place twice a week that delivers our nosh on a truck. I told Mrs. B last night that I don't remember the last time when I didn't get good at something quickly. This is going to take some time. Everytime my phone rings I think, "Oh dear, what did I forget? What are we missing?" Yesterday the Kitchen Director called and in her super sweet voice, "Mrs. Ali, I was looking at the forks and we have 6 or 7." Me, "Boxes?" KD, "No, forks." With the Saturday picnic to look forward to the children and I loaded up and headed to Kroger. That was after I had forgotten feta and pepperoni earlier. Thankfully I was already out! The Lord has been kind to have me where I needed to be when I get these calls, but I feel frustrated that I'm not perfect at it. Enter my kind Savior. I think it's been a long time since I've really been stretched. I mean, homeschooling 4 people will stretch you, but do you know what I mean? That kind of stretch that comes from the Holy Spirt that confirms you belong to God and He will not allow you to be complacent. The good stretch that causes you to look to Heaven and praise Him for filling in your gaps...for revealing them...for increasing in your weakness. It's a good thing...no, it's a great thing. Each week I am getting a little bit better...but I'm nervous at every meal. I feel like I'm the food police. Last week everyone was pleasantly surprised that swiss cheese showed up. I panicked! Swiss cheese was for the ham quiche...would there be enough? AHHHHH!!!! The ham quiche was today, all 14 of them, and they were delicious and there was plenty of swiss cheese! Tomorrow I'll meet the food truck with Mrs. B to see what we ordered (or what we should have ordered) and hopefully that will help me do this better. I want to give a shout out to Mrs. Barbara and Mr. Charles...have you ever been around people who know Jesus forgave them their sins? Like, really have dwelled on it and have given their lives to responding to His grace? It's a pleasure to struggle to learn something under them because they understand our frailty and help you become what Jesus wants you to become. I still put a ton of pressure on myself, but their gentle leading and guidance excite me to do better...to trust in Jesus to enable me to do my job...and do it for His glory.
So, that's us. We got to go to the library last week. What a refreshing day that was! Our kind neighbor, fellow homeschooler and book lover, loaned us some books when she found out we didn't bring any (Camp has a library, we just haven't made it there yet) so we were THRILLED when the librarian at the local library allowed us to have cards to check out books. I was so very thankful that she didn't run a background check on our ability to return books on time. Or, maybe she did and she's hoping to make some cash for their library while we're here running up fines! This sweet place is a TON different from our library. It's smaller, it's actually in a room of the old Presbyterian Church. It just says, "LIBRARY" out front. They have a counter that they use to count the folks who enter. I don't know why that is so cute to me. We headed home with 30 books and the best part is that our neighbors came over to read with us. God has been kind to provide people that we never thought to ask for, as partners in this summer. Only a few days in, their mom said, "Do your children ask to come over to my house as much as my children ask to come to yours?" It's a fact...God has provided good friends for us for this adventure. He also provided some small "pets" in the form of Chad and Chase, our box turtles. The children built a little pen outside with bricks they found in our yard (scavengers) and it's sort of fun to watch those little guys. We toss fruit out there every now and then. They certainly don't replace Sonny who is romping on the Graham Fam Farm, but they are sort of fun to have.
I think that's about all. That's a long and broad overview of what the Wessner's are doing this summer. Perhaps one day I'll post pictures. Perhaps. If you've got children that need a break from the world and want them to have a Christ centered week...send them our way...we'd love to see some familiar faces! I checked with Charles and Barbara and for 1-4 graders for the week of June 30-July 5th it's not too late and for the week following there is also a bit of room, just not as much. Y'all, these counselors are PRECIOUS! Your children would be so blessed by their time here. We also have camp for 5-7th graders the last 2 weeks in July. I'm telling you, I've watched one group of campers come and go and it truly is a blessing to be in this place. Here is the link again to Camp Marannook.
Oh...our house. Picture an old brick house on a country road with white awnings over the windows...that's our house. We have just what we need and are enjoying our home away from home. I was slightly disappointed at our inability to keep tidy a place that doesn't even have 1/10 of our belongings. I suppose we are the problem and not our house or our stuff...we just aren't a "neat" crowd. Oh well, Jesus loves me of this I am CONVINCED!!! The 3 older kids are bunked together, Mike and I (of course) and Caroline has her own room. A Marannook Miracle is that we were really having a hard time with Caroline in a big bed, so much so that we put her back in the pack n play at home, we brought one with us, set it up, but she wanted to sleep in the PRECIOUS bed provided. She stays in that bed and SLEEPS THROUGH THE NIGHT!!! We are so thankful and are trying to figure out how to sneak the bed home! :) Not really, there's not a single place for it...I do wish we could, though. So, we are doing well. Clearly God has placed us here for such a time as this and as we find our way, we find Him. It's a privilege to be here, to serve and be served as the Spirit ministers to us all calling us to lay it all down, consider it all rubbish that we might know Christ.
May it be so. Amen.
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