Food Month Conclusion

Food month was so hard for me y’all! I learned things about me that I maybe didn’t want to know, but that I need for them to be brought to light. That’s the dread and beauty of this fasting journey aim on. I know there are things the Lord wants to teach me that aren’t always the easiest to comes to grips with... what the call “the ugly truth”.

So what is a hard truth I learned? I’m lazy. I may not always act lazy in every area of my life, but my natural tendency is to be LA-ZY! I noticed signs of it throughout this month, but by the time I got to week 4, and the thing I am dreading most about “living off the land” is not eating the same foods over and over or having to go purchase things every two or three days, but the absolute dread (and sometimes willingness to go hungry) over having to prepare and cook EVERY. SINGLE. MEAL! Once I realized this was a problem, I started noticing it it in many areas of my life (sadly, most of my domestic responsibilities).

But what I hate and  really made me sad/disappointed was how lazy I have become in committing daily quiet time with the Lord. It’s a hard truth. I think sometimes I try to justify it by “I don’t have time with all my worldly responsibilities” but y’all... bologna! I don’t make the time, or use my time wisely. It’s a really hard smack in the face... and I plan to fix it!

My wonderful friend (and council member) Missy sent me a great post about stubbornness being my great spiritual discipline. Quite honestly I KNOW I am incredibly stubborn (my husband can attest to this truth is there is anyone in denial of it), but I had never really thought of it as a spiritual discipline until now. I pick these things each month that are things I struggle with, and I commit them to the Lord. I know some people think I’m crazy, lots of people don’t understand, lots of people just think it is dumb... but I pray and seek what it is the Lord wants to teach me, I commit to following through for 28 days at a time, and fervently pray that the Lord opens my eyes in a way that has not been done before.

Y’all... most months, my stubbornness is the only thing that gets me through the month without cheating or giving up! These things I choose, they are hard for me (not for everyone, but definitely for me). I choose things that I know will stretch me and grow me because I want to be faithful to the Lord and not just get caught in the vicious cycle of survival until the next stage. For me, being stubborn, in some ways, looks like being faithful. Keep on doing what may seem ridiculous to those around me, but is a commitment to the Lord... even if it is hard and sometimes feels pointless. Sometimes it is just a matter of not quitting. So I’m going to keep on not quitting, because that is sometimes the only thing I have to give.

The next month is waste... and is a full family involvement month!

Thanks for joining me on the journey!

Food Month: Week 4

It is over! But, as usual, I'm running behind on posts... so here it is- the last week of food month!!! It’s been an interesting and eye opening month. My pants fit a little better, I feel healthier, I’ve had my eyes opened to some scary truths about my food choices, but more than that, I have learned some hard truths about myself and my commitments to the Lord.

Here is a quick overview of the day to day of the last week:

Day 21- Sunday

Eric took the big kids biking today. They did some off road biking until they got caught in the rain. They headed back to the house, but the rain let up so they got some more miles in on the paved trail, 13+ miles for the big kids today.

Jax and I however stayed home and tried to get some things done. It was our first attempt at zoodles and sauce. It was a win for both of us! Add zoodles to the list of zucchini item we can make with the abundance of zucchini and squash coming in!

Day 22- Monday
I had a moment today. I want to use this moment to point out some things that may be a misconception about this process for me.

I sat in my garden and cried over a very large bowl of green beans. Not because they were bad, or too many, or anything like that. I cried because I have never canned green beans... but my mom has canned a LOT of green beans. I like my mom's green beans. I really wanted to call my mom and ask her how she cans her green beans, and I can't. So I cried.

Here is the thing y'all… this is not a diet or a lifestyle change I am trying to embrace. Did I hope I would learn some things about my eating habits during these 28 days? sure... but that was not the point. The point was the discipline. I don't think eating foods that are not grown in my garden or in season is bad. I don't think enjoying a delicious meal with friends or family is bad. Jesus did it all the time! Some of the most important things Jesus did/said happened over a meal.

Luke 22:14-21

¹⁴ When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. ¹⁵ And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

¹⁷ After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. ¹⁸ For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

¹⁹ And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

²⁰ In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you."

Jesus wanted everyone gathered the table for one of the most important conversations with his apostles (even if they were totally unaware).

In Isaiah he tells us to feed the poor and hungry. In Matthew, Jesus performed a miracle using food to feed 5,000 with only 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread (gasp! bread... the frowned upon food in this day and age).

My point is this... a lot of great things happen involving food. From Jesus performing miracles and preparing us for His ultimate sacrifice, to making chocolate chip cookies in a big yellow mixing bowl or having all matching dishes and everything in a beautiful serving dish at every meal... or even remembering canned green beans... there are great things that happen around the table. This month was about a commitment to the Lord and stretching myself. I don't have any problem with food and using it to gather together and enjoy each other and make memories. Just wanted to make that clear.

Day 23, 24, 25
We did a few more little purchases this week. We bought some Honeyloupe, which was a new one for me. Apparently a cross between honeydew and cantaloupe… it was sweet and tasty!

Jax also enjoyed rolling in all over the kitchen floor while I was cleaning in the kitchen. It kept him busy for a solid 40 minutes. Double win for the honeyloupe.

I made refrigerator pickles... it will be 4 days before I can tell you if they are any good. :)

Still eating the same few things over and over, though I feel as if there are more and more things coming season everyday .

And we got our weekly box from cheasepeake farmery… and was pleased as always.

Day 26- Friday
I've decided that after I got over eating the same few things over and over, the hardest part is the time and energy it takes to prepare and cook every single thing I want to eat. There is no convenience of grabbing something on the go. There is no "easy" solution to dinner... it is wash, chop, prepare, cook, and clean up... no tossing a frozen pizza in the oven and doing something else while we wait. It is a lot for this mama, and has given me a new respect for mama's from the beginning of time. Taking care of your family's food needs would have been an all day, every day job. Respect y'all… respect!

Day 27- Saturday
Today did not go as planned. My husband is not home and I had a kid that woke up needing to go to the doctor. Seeing as it was Saturday, urgent care was our only option. With baby in tow, we spent 5 HOURS!!!! waiting to been seen. Absolutely ridiculous and exhausting. And I am sad to report that my first reaction when I (finally) left the doctor's office was, "man a giant lemonade sounds amazing right now." so here we are at he end of the fast and still my knee jerk reaction to comfort for a hard situation is food... sigh. I didn't act upon it, so I guess that says something, but man I wish I didn't have that as my initial thought.

Day 28- Sunday

We made it to the end! The kids and I decided to break bread (the yummy kind with sauce and cheese) together tonight since I will have to leave super early tomorrow for Missouri. So we ordered their favorite pizza and enjoyed spending time together! I opted to not eat the pizza (thinking I would get sick) but I did eat salad dressing on my salad and had wings that had flavor! not simply salt and pepper.

It has been a hard month! I'm glad it is over!

Thanks for joining me on the journey!