My Plant-Based Family

Feeding My Family a Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet, On a Budget

Gratituesday

Gratituesday: New Relationships

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Over the last several weeks I have had the opportunity to meet several new friends. Some of these friends I haven’t actually “met” but I’ve been conversing with them online. I know that sounds kinda creepy but I assure you it’s not. Some of these new connections have been through my blog or through My Plant-Based Family on Facebook. Mostly they have been amazing women who are friends with Amanda, my friend who had a stroke 3 weeks ago.

Others I have met and we even had lunch together. Later this week I’m getting together with an acquaintance, but since she is such an amazing women I hope we become fast friends.

Most of these new relationships will probably stay casual friendships or even just acquaintanceship; but a few have the potential to be something more. Before moving to Arizona in 2006 I had a few really good friends. My friend Autumn since junior high, Crissy since high school, and Jessica who I worked with after college. We didn’t talk often but we appreciated each other and knew we could depend on each other. Since moving here I have made some friends that I believe will be life long friends. I know I can depend on these friends no matter what.

It’s exciting to think that right now may be beginning of a life long friendship. So this post is to all my new friends out there…Kelli, Krista, Breht, Angela, Melodee, Lisa, Susan, Heather, Nancy, Kathy, Angie, Danica, Kris, Ashley and the others that I am forgetting… today I am grateful for you.

Have you wondered why I post Gratituesday each Tuesday? It is because I like taking one day a week to share what I’m thankful, grateful for. Laura at Heavenly Homemakers has been doing it for years and she gives other bloggers an opportunity to “link up” their blog too. I enjoy clicking through the links and being encourage by what other people are grateful for, and seeing how God is working in their lives. Last week I had a crazy dream that Laura emailed me asking to stop commenting! I told you it was crazy! I think about what I’m going to post for Grati(Tuesday) all week-long. So all week I’m thinking about all of the things I am thankful for. You don’t have to blog about it but feel free to leave a comment so others can be encouraged.

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

 

 

Gratituesday: A Great Babysitter

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When my husband and I first moved to Arizona we didn’t know a soul here. We had three elementary aged kids at the time. Everything we did was as a family, in other words there was no escaping our children. We are very protective of who we let our kids be around so we had no baby sitter. As time went on we became close to a few neighbors and friends through church that we could depend on to baby sit when necessary. 

Fast forward 6 years and we have a 1 and a 3 year old. We have a lot of friends with kids around the same ages so we can sometimes swap babysitting. We also have to most Fantastic, Responsible, Caring, Sweet, teenage babysitter. She LOVES our boys! 

I have heard stories from other mom’s of sitters ignoring kids, wrecking the house, or just doing enough to get by but not my sitter. I can’t express what a blessing it is to have someone you can trust with your kids; someone who know’s their personalities, and understands and adhere’s to your standard for feeding your kids (food allergies included). She plays and interacts with our boys!

Yesterday I mentioned date nights. Six years ago when we had date nights it consisted of making dinner for the kids, turning on a movie for them, threatening them not to bother us, then taking our meal to our bedroom’s “date night table” for our dinner. Now we can go to dinner, a movie, some shopping if we are up to it or whatever else we want to do. 

Now that it is summer break she is available during the day too. Our sitter watches kids for other families as well. I can only imagine that she is a blessing to them as well.

I’m so grateful for her! What are you grateful for today?

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Gratituesday: Progress

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There are so many things I am grateful for today. There are two things that pale in comparison though.

First is the progress that my friend Amanda is making in her recovery. If you are just tuning in, a little over a week ago my 29 year old, super fit, health conscience friend who is a mother of 4 with one more one the way had a stroke. Yes I know it doesn’t seem possible. She would be the least likely person I would ever imagine to have something like this happen.

Yesterday I posted a quick update and said I wouldn’t be mentioning her all the time but when I think about what I am grateful for she is one of the top things I think about. Even in the last 24 hours or so she has made more progress, she was able to lift her left leg and eat real food. I saw her last night and she was smiling, laughing and talking so much better.

The second thing I am incredible grateful for is my husband. Yesterday we celebrated our 7th anniversary. My husband is such a great man who honors and supports me. I can’t imagine life without him. He is a great father to our boys and seeks to honor the Lord in all he does. He is a blessing to me.

What are you thankful for today?

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Gratituesday: Weakness

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Years ago, when we lived in Oklahoma, we had a really tall tree in our backyard. Our kids would occasionally climb it but there was a point in the tree that if they got any higher they would get stuck. When they got stuck they would get scared and call for their Daddy. My husband does not like heights even if it is just a tree but he would climb the tree, cradle his scared little child in his arms and climb back down.

My tree climbing days are (probably) over but sometimes I get stuck. I feel like I can’t get down to a safe spot, I feel insecure where I’m sitting, and I need someone strong and safe to rescue me and take me home.

 But he said to me,“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

In these moment’s of weakness I call to God. He rescues me. I may still be in my situation but I find strength in Him. So whether it is a financial hardship, a broken relationship, a broken body or despair that overtakes you, maybe even everyday frustration from which there is no escape. When you are weak, He is strong!

Lord, I pray that you would comfort my friend reading this today. That you would show yourself to be real and powerful, able to provide a way of escape from burdens that are too much to carry. Amen

If you need someone to talk to you can call 1-888-NEED HIM or click here. Thank you for sharing today with me. When we don’t truly know someone we often put them on a pedestal thinking they really have it together. I assure you I don’t and I’m betting you don’t either. When we are open about our weakness we allow other to come along side and encourage us. So Be Encouraged Today! 

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Gratituesday: Testimony

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This morning I got to listen to a good friend share her testimony. There were about a dozen of us listening and I can assure you we were all riveted with her life story. She shared about loss, love, and ultimately God’s faithfulness through her life, even when she was unaware of his presence.

I’m so thankful for stories like that. Stories that remind me I am not alone. Most, if not all of us have been through difficult experiences. Some of us lean on friends or family to be our anchor, while others rely on our faith.

My friend shared this verse with our group.

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:11

I like the thought of that. I live in Arizona, it is dry and hot; the idea of a “sun-scorched land” is not hard to imagine. I also know the feeling of being spiritually dry, the longing for something cool and refreshing that will satisfy my soul. Do you know that feeling?

Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. John 7:37b-38

Ahhh, now that sounds refreshing.

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

Gratituesday: Being Home

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After traveling for ten days I am thankful to be home. I thoroughly loved the time away and visiting my family but I’m glad to be back home and starting to get back in a normal routine. I am also so happy to live where I live. As we drove through several states my heart was longing for the Valley of the Sun! I was never so happy to see My Mountains! I am grateful that God chose this place for us, I grow to love it more each year.

For more stories of Gratitude visit Heavenly Homemakers!

While we traveled we were not able to eat the optimal plant based diet. If you are just beginning a Plant-Based diet I feel I must warn you. If you eat the Standard American Diet (SAD) your body is addicted to all manor junk; fast food, butter, cheese, sugar, oil, caffeine, etc. If you are serious about getting this stuff out of your system it will take time and you may not feel great for a while. 

The last two days of our trip we were on the road and having to eat fast food a lot, not to mention the road trip snacks to keep us alert. After we got home we were ILL from all of the junk we ate. Our body knew it didn’t belong. 

Now that I’ve warned you I will also encourage you that giving up the junk

IS WORTH IT!

Soon you will feel so much better. You will have more energy and clarity. People will pay big money for a pill that promises that, but I assure you no pill is necessary. 

Have you experienced the withdrawal that comes from giving up the Standard American Diet? Thankfully it didn’t last long for me but I’ve heard it takes longer for some. What is your story?