Health Nut Corner

Ok, so I don't really consider myself to be a "health nut" but my husband insists that I am (probably because he considers beef jerky, pork rinds & beer to be a well rounded meal) and I have been known to be a bit of a "radical" when it comes to health care and lifestyle. For starters my dad (and brother, uncle and 2 cousins) is a chiropractor so my siblings and I grew up in a very holistic home (no vaccines, antibiotics, etc.) and when our health conditions stretch beyond my dad's knowledge we see a naturopathic doctor. But please don't get me wrong, I believe there is a time and place for medical intervention, one example being my type 1 diabetic brother who's life depends on synthetic insulin, and I am astonished along with everyone else at the amazing medical advances that save thousands of lives every year. I just don't believe it is appropriate to constantly bog your system down with whatever new drug your doctor prescribes because your eye is twitching. (Exaggeration?, yes, but you get my point.) :) And my health views are also very much linked with my faith. I believe that our bodies truly are works of art and that God thought of everything. Seriously, take a few minutes to feel your heart beating in your chest, or look at a newborn baby's tiny fingernails, or try to keep your eyes open when you sneeze! Ok, so I don't really know much about involuntary reactions during sneezes, but our bodies truly are amazing! And that's what I want to talk about in my Health Nut Corner, that and ways to improve its function without messing up what its already doing.

Today I want to talk about P-O-R-K. My husband has challenged me to find information that "proves" it is not healthy for you only because he has been BEGGING me to buy "real" bacon, which to him means pork. I am perfectly happy with our turkey bacon alternative. :) (Little does he know I'm about to put him on a strictly bean and tofu diet! :) Do you think he'll notice??) First of all, as some of you may know, the Old Testament lists items that God has deemed okay and not okay to eat. Pork (or swine) is considered to be "unclean" and thus, unfit for consumption. This rating is based on what it is pigs eat (cows & chickens are vegetarians in a sense and eat grains, grasses, etc.) which is anything from trash to baby pigs or sick/dying pigs. Gross, I know. Quite honestly, they are disgusting animals. And the phrase, "you are what you eat" truly applies to animals because what they eat eventually becomes their muscle and tissue, which is what WE eat. And pigs were (and are) known as the scavengers of the earth. They also have only 1 stomach, compared to the cow who has 3 and whose body processes its food for a lot longer, purifying it and, within 24 hours, turning it into beef (or muscle tissue). A pig can eat something (usually something nasty) and within 4 hours it will become muscle tissue. There have also been many poisons and toxins found in pork because of the way their bodies store and lock it in their flesh...and then we eat their flesh! Yum! :) Then add the majority of farming companies that distribute antibiotics (which are also toxins) and hormones to their pigs (which also get stored in their flesh) and you've got yourself a deliscioso feast! Pork is also extremely high in cholesterol and saturated fat and most dietitians will strongly recommend not eating it. But please, don't take my word for it. Do your own research. I highly recommend "The Maker's Diet" by Jordan S. Rubin. There are plenty of articles and books out there and you will always find both sides of the story. This is just the one I choose to believe. :)

Once again, don't get me wrong. I can go for the mouth-watering honey glazed ham almost any day of the week and was appalled when my parents told me we'd be giving up pork and would no longer have it on Christmas morning...then we discovered the even MORE delicious honey glazed turkey (whose taste and texture is exactly like the ham!). Check out your local honey-baked something or other store and ask for the turkey! :)

Sunday {Reflection}

Today's Scripture: Luke 10:25-27

This morning we learned the value of being under {God's} authority as well the value of being a servant in this world.

When our pastor was talking about the privilege of leaning on someone else {God} to make decisions for you, it reminded me of when I was a little girl and friends would call to see if I could play or come to a sleepover, and sometimes I just didn't feel like going but I didn't want to lie or hurt their feelings. So my mom told me, you can always use me an excuse and I just "won't let you" go. So that was our rule, when I would be on phone with a friend, I would say out loud, "mom, can I go play with {blank}?" while shaking my head no (that was our code I guess :) ) and my mom would say, "no, I'm sorry honey, I need you to stay home." And that gave me such comfort, knowing my mom not only understood, but that she RELIEVED me of the obligation, and took the "burden" of saying no onto her own shoulders. How selfless. Because it meant so much to me, I have thought that I want to be that kind of mom to my own children. And that's how God feels about us. We can find comfort in His authority and it can relieve us in so many ways. So I think in a world that bucks authority and that has completely destroyed the meaning and understanding of "submission", its refreshing to hear of the joy and relief it can bring.

We also learned how "the Son of Man came to earth not to be served, but to serve." Can you imagine, Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior, the Lord of Lords, Kings of Kings, Emmanuel, HERE, serving US, washing OUR feet? Can you imagine seeing this man, kneel at your feet, to WASH them? A act that was only reserved for the lowest of servants. What a message he was sending us!

We are discussing finances in our small groups as we watch a series called "LOST" (I strongly recommend this entire series by Andy Stanley) and last week he was teaching about actively seeking those in need. (Watch this video) Most of us live in areas of the United States where we could live our entire lives without witnessing those that are truly in need. Because of that, we need to be ACTIVELY seeking people we can help. Whether it be supporting a child in Africa so she can go to school, wear shoes, and get the nutrition she needs, or buying an extra sack of groceries for the single working mother who has never voiced her hardships. SEEK IT. BE ON THE LOOKOUT. Andy Stanley says you do not deal with discontentment by pretending it doesn't exist, but by pursing something that is bigger than yourself. He says, "Generosity BRIDLES discontentment." WOW.

Our pastor said it this way,

Do everything you can, with everything you have.

Today, I challenge you (and myself) to do something bigger than yourself. Serve, give, love.

I like how our church says it:

Love God
Love People
Serve the World

Peace.

Happy Halloween!

Well, it was a big surprise this year what Jaymin was going to be for Halloween and that was only due to the fact that I didn't even make his costume until the day of. :) The past 2 years I have been working off of a theme but this year we didn't have one so my creative juices were running low. I had been mulling over ideas for a long time and finally on the day of I voiced my UFC fighter idea to my husband....need I say more? The decision was officially made...

I made his t-shirt and this is the back of it sporting his sponsors :)

I sewed his initials and some stars on his shorts, spiked his hair, gave him a black eye (using black eye shadow) that everyone thought was real, and we covered his little body in Thomas the Train and Lightning McQueen tattoos. Nice, huh? :)

His warm-ups. :) Or as my brothers would say, "he's cuttin' weight".

And his fit cause Grandma wouldn't stop taking pictures.

Jaymin just could NOT figure out my tights that night. After I put them on he kept following me around and pulling at them asking me if they were my socks and then he kept saying, "Mama, tiger? Mama, tiger?" :)

Holiday Mart!!!

Last week was the annual junior league Holiday Mart Extravaganza here in Kansas City and it was awesome as usual! Its a tradition for me, my mom, and my sister to go every year. I told my husband I'd be gone for a couple of hours and I think by the time I got home we were pushing SIX!! This thing gets bigger (& better) every year and takes FOREVER to get through, especially if you're looking at every single booth. Anyway, here are some of my favorite things from this year:

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This was a super cool vintage "french market" booth that was totally down my alley!

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This booth had THE coolest diaper clutches I've ever seen...

Totally simple put super inventive. A mom designed them and now has them shipped off to be manufactured.

And this booth was what I would call cowboy chic or cowboy glam. Really cool stuff, I LOVE the combination of cowboy boots, belt buckles, jewelry, etc. with touches of glam! They don't have a website but are located in Liberty, MO.