Lesson Learned... (or I'm trying to learn it, anyway)

Today I saw a woman bringing her baby into the doctor's office for a check up after he had been to the emergency room suffering from bronchitis.  He came in dressed properly and a little sweaty.  He was minus some socks, which his mother claimed he shed somewhere between the house and the doctor.  Mama was dressed in fleecy pajama pants, mud caked tennis shoes and slouchy shirt and coat.  Her hair was pulled back into a pony tail and obviously needed washing.  I heard her phone say "droid" when she got a text message.  Her baby's breath rattled now and again as he breathed thru the green binki in his mouth.  As I sit there observing the two of them while the mom talks to the receptionist I'm overwhelmed by the smell of... cigarette smoke.  I imagine her baby sitting innocently near his mama as he tries to breathe despite the smoke and my heart begins to break.  He is about Bo's age.  I want to run over and grab him and take him away to let him breathe clean air so he can heal... so his lungs won't have to suffer another bout of bronchitis... maybe i could save him from further scarring.
So then I have to stop.  Who am I?  Am I so different from this mama?  Fundamentally?  Or are the scars I leave simply not visible with an x-ray?  I yell at my children too much.  I'm inconsistent when what they need is a rock.  I'm impatient when they ask the same question repeatedly.  How often do I crush them with my words or my attitude?
As I sat in the waiting room praying that God would send the nurse to call us back and fighting back the tears for this baby, I had to fight them back for my own children.  It's moments like this that I have to take a hard look at me... and I'm not always pleased with what I find.  I'm learning that I'm not all that different from other moms.  We're all flawed.  I'm flawed... but I'm committed to do better... and so I will.

My Lisa: Year Two

kitchen dancing with lisa

They said it would get easier.  Not so.  I only miss her more.  It's like trying to hold water in your hands.... she's gone.  I can't get her back.  Wish I were as positive as last year.  Missing my darling friend.  The feel of her hair, her hand in mine... her laugh... her smile.  Sleep sweet, my love.  Missing you.

A Mom's Life

"When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, he doesn't just sit down and eat.  He must first prepare his master's meal and serve him his supper before eating his own.  And the servant is not even thanked, because he is merely doing what he is supposed to do.  In the same way, when you obey me you should say, 'We are not worthy of praise.  We are servants who have simply done our duty.'"  Luke 17:7-10

my calling

If that doesn't describe a mother's life to a "T"!  It certainly describes my evenings!  After dinner, there are dishes and baths and a shower that lasts about five minutes (I'll shave my legs when the kids are grown).  Laying out clothes, checking the calendar... the list is endless.  What I want to do (and I do at least half the time) is just sit down.  Sitting down means that baths probably won't get done, I'll be searching for socks in the morning and I'll be completely surprised that I have an early morning appointment!
The attitude in this scripture convicts and inspires me.  The servant serves without thought of "what about me".  The servant isn't disappointed when his spouse doesn't remark about a job well done.  He simply does what he needs to do when he needs to do it because it is his calling.
As a mother and a wife, I am called to care for my family and home in the way of the Proverbs woman (Proverbs 31: 10-31).  Although I may never reach her status as the ideal, I do believe that my calling is to do the work without thought of praise, recognition, honor or reward.  As a mom, I am simply doing my duty because I have been blessed enough to be called by God to do so.

The Mountain and Sea of Information: Complex Carbohydrates

Ok, so carbohydrates supply us with energy.  Depending on how refined your carbs are, that energy will last a little while or a long while.  Of course, if you're consuming complex carbohydrates, then the energy provided will be a slower and more sustained release.  Herein lies the theory of appetite control.
I am of the firm belief that those of us who gain weight do so because we've eaten beyond our appetite anyway, so choosing our carbs better is only part of the equation.  I need to pay attention to when I feel full and stop.  The other great thing about complex carbohydrates is that they are far more nutritious than their more refined counterparts.  The more refined or processed any food product is, the less nutritional value it holds.  So if I feed my body complex carbohydrates then i will feel full faster, have a sustained and level energy release and will be feeding my body the nutrients it needs to be healthy.
Whew!  Ok, it's gotta be complicated, right??  Not so!  I did a search on the internet for lists of complex carbohydrates.  Here are a few that I found:

• whole grains
• spinach
• apples
• nuts
• dried fruit
• lettuce
• oatmeal
• pears
• asparagus
• plums
• strawberries
• wild rice
• oranges
• brown rice
• yams
• celery
• carrots
• cucumbers
• beans
• potatoes
• broccoli

Those aren't hard to find!  Nor are they difficult to eat!  Watch the whole grain breads, tho.  Read the labels.  You may have a hard time finding good bread choices that don't include poor ingredients like white sugar, corn syrup or processed white flour.  I'll post an easy bread recipe so you can make your own.  I don't use entirely whole wheat flour in it yet because I'm trying to ease my family into eating something new.  You can do the same thing for yourself and your family as well, if you'd like.
Ok, so the first component of my new way of eating is in place.  Purposefully adding complex carbohydrates to my diet.  Next is lean protien...