Day 7- Not getting easier, but making it through!

So, as you can tell from the title of this- it's not getting any easier to not drink coke. However, I have maintained control and made it through. Honestly, I actually kind of welcome the challenge now, as I lean more and more on God to get me through the thick of it. And really, isn't that what it's all about? The cravings/temptations will never leave us on this earth, but when we ask Him to see us through and remove it from our mind and hearts, we are able to move past it. It may come up again, and new temptations and obstacles are ever present, but He is stronger than all of it, and through Him, so are we. So many people have commented "Oh, I didn't know you were Catholic," in reference to the fact that I am observing Lent (in my own ways), but I'm not, and never have been. Again, I see it as just another opportunity to really make myself consciously dependent on God so that in those moments when I don't take the time to think about leaning on Him, I still do. I've started a new "habit" of making smoothies every night after the kids go to bed for Kevin and me to share. We've tried a couple of different combinations so far, and I make enough to send with him in the mornings to work. It's fun, and quality time the two of us get to spend together deciding what concoction to put together for the evening. I've also used this opportunity to open my children's eyes (and stomachs) to more a more healthy way of eating, as we have enjoyed lunch at Panera, Jason's Deli, and Souper Salad in the past week. Souper Salad was a HUGE success and it felt good knowing I was giving them the opportunity to make healthy choices for themselves even at such young ages. Kevin has remarked more than once in the past few days about how his energy level has increased at work through the day, and I have to admit my own energy level has seen benefits, as well.
Of course, I have some selfish reasons for sacrificing the unhealthy foods in my life, and I can honestly say that I already feel like I'm beginning to lose some weight and trim down. So, given the progress in just one week, I wonder how great I'll feel in 33 more days?!

On another note, Owen said the sweetest thing today. Lately he has really been talking a lot about God and Jesus and Heaven, and I just love to get to talk to him about these things. He's so honest and sincere when he asks and talks about it all. So today, as we were heading up to my foot doctor, Owen told me he wanted two brothers. I asked him if he wanted mommy to have two brothers or if he would mind if we got his brothers from another place in the world, brothers that don't have a mommy and daddy (we've always wanted to adopt, and it's become a more relevant topic in the past few months). Confused, Owen looked up at me and said, "Well Mommy, we would get them from God, of course."
Of course Owen, we will get them from God- no matter what journey we take to reach them, God will bring them to us. Oh, how blessed we are with such a tender, sweet soul to nurture. "Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12)
Sweet boy, I pray your heart will only grow in love for your wonderful Jesus. Thank you God, for the wonderful gifts these children are to us. We pray we will be a blessing to them, as much as they are to us.

Lent- Day 5

I know I haven't been keeping up with my Lent blogging, but we spent the weekend in Kansas for my cousin's wedding, and have been a little busy! However, I must admit these past few days have been HARD. Every time I turn around, I want a coke. Then I think to myself, 'Oh, I'll just have a Sprite or sunkist or something'....nope, no carbonated beverages. I'm finally beginning to get over the caffeine withdrawal headache, and now it's just pure cravings. I couldn't even drink the punch at the wedding last night because it had some pop in it. Boo :( My favorite part about weddings is the cake and punch, no lie. So, yep, it's been difficult and I'm only 5 days in. But I CAN DO IT! I know I can, because any time that temptation arises, I know where to turn, and He alone can take away all temptation and allow me to succeed. I just need to rely on Him to get me through. And truthfully, that's what this period is all about. Sure, I could give up drinking coke, and probably do it all on my own. But I don't have to- God will see me through and provide for me in the darkest of hours. (Not to say I'm facing dark hours because of my choice to give up coke, but you hear what I'm saying.) What I'm getting at is this- God wants us to give up all of ourselves to Him. The good, the bad, and the ugly. So I'm starting with this. Now, that doesn't mean that I'm giving up coke for good, just that during this time, my sacrifice of a wordly thing that I enjoy SO much, I'm turning it over to God. I don't need it in my life, especially since it has reached a level where it truly consumes me to a certain extent. So why would I want something so meaningless as a coke come between me and my Savior?? Instead, I'm using it as a building block, to get closer to Him. He will see me through this trial that He is aware I am going through. He cares about even the smallest details of our lives, and I know He cares about my desire to do this for Him.
Any time I feel the urge or the craving for coke, I am reminded of the sacrifice I have chosen to make. It prompts me to pause and ask God to hold my hand through the weak moment, and to make me a stronger person. Then the thought continues to to sacrifices Jesus made for me (and you...and you...and you). Holy cow...that was WAY bigger than coke!! What if God asked me to sacrifice cable? or the tv itself? or driving my car? or sleeping in my nice, big, warm bed? These are all things we are accustomed to in our lives...at least as Americans. Did you know that if your annual family income is $50,000 or higher, you are better off financially than 99% of the world's population?! Talk about a reality check...as I sit here typing on my laptop computer, from the warm comfort of my OWN bed, with the tv droning on in the background I am thinking, there's nothing extravagant about my life. But, oh, how wrong I am. I live in a country where my children can play with children of other "ethnicities" (when all my children see are more friends to play with!), a country where we can choose the church we want to worship in (and really whether we want to worship the Lord or not), where I can drive freely around my city without worry of roadside bombs, I can leave my children at Mother's Day Out while I finish up a college education so that I will one day have a successful career of my own, in addition to my wonderful family. I am so blessed, simply by the zip code I live in, and I know God put us here for a reason. I pray we will be the seeds that He needs to go forth and spread His truth and love. To show the community, state, nation, and world what God's love and kingdom is truly about- LOVE. Selfless, unfailing, forgiving LOVE.
So during this time, another of my prayers is that God will help me to focus on the things He has enriched my life with and blessed me with, instead of the things that have been "taken away" by this season. I pray, you too, will choose the path of least resistance with God, and that you will open your eyes to the blessings that far outweigh the sacrifices.

New year, New goals, LENT!!

Here we are on February 18, and I'm starting the blog world over with a clean slate. Today is the second day of Lent this year, and to be honest, the effects of what I've given up truly haven't started to hit me yet. Of course it's easy the first few days and I think "Oh, I can do this! Piece of cake!" I can get over the nagging little headache that reminds me I've not had caffeine in over 39 hours, I'm still energized to do my run each day, and the other commitments I've made. However, I can't help but acknowledge that thought that keeps coming up and telling me, 'Just you wait...'
SO, the trials and triumphs during this season of learning to turn my "vices" over to God and turn to Him to help me relieve and avoid temptation, will all be put here. I can vent and unload the stresses in those moments of despair. It may sound dramatic and a little extreme, but if you even knew the amount of coke I drank in one day, you'd be amazed I'm even trying to cut it out. See, I don't drink water. In fact, I can NOT stand water! It even makes me nauseous when I drink it. On a very rare basis do I actually crave water, and in those moments it must be ice cold (and these moments typically occur only after working out or getting really hot during summer). I actually asked my OB about this during my pregnancy with Ellie, because Kevin thought I was lying when I told him it made my sick to my stomach to drink water. Guess what? Dr. Huff said it was completely common, especially for people who have very acidic stomachs. Well, due to the fact that I have no gall bladder, all that acid just sits in my stomach waiting to be used up. When I drink water, it just washes the acid up higher into my stomach, causing acid reflux and nausea. HA. Told ya so, Kevin. Anyway, the entire point of mentioning all that is to say, "WHAT CAN I DRINK?!" These fruited waters that everyone raves about also make me nauseous. And if a drink has even a hint of artificial sweetener in it (don't get me started on those things!) I can detect it and absolutely can't stand the stuff. So, with coke/carbonated beverages being out, water out, anything with artificial sweetener (Nutrasweet, Splenda, etc) is out, I'm left with a rather limited list of beverages. I LOVE milk, and could drink a gallon a day probably, but that would get expensive fast and I'd probably develop kidney stones pretty quickly. We'll see where this all takes me...
I'm ready to use this "no cokes" as a jumping off point to revitalize the way my whole family eats and looks at nutrition. The career field I'm going in to gives me the opportunity to be an example of a healthy lifestyle and the benefits it can provide. So why would I want to waste that opportunity?! Plus, aside from all the internal health benefits of eating better and being health conscious. well, I miss my old body! I know I've had two kids, but I mean, come on...that should never be an excuse to let myself get out of shape and be miserable with the way I look. As a wife and mother, this should be the time of my life! And I should have a body that reflects the joy and excitement and energy I have about this wonderful life I've been given. But, that brings forth another issue- where in this ridiculously large city are we to go when searching for truly organic and healthy foods?! I'm looking forward to tackling this challenge over the next several weeks, and will hopefully be able to report that OKC has a lot more to offer than what I've known in regards to natural, healthy foods. My poor kids...they are having to bid farewell to their beloved McDonald's chicken nuggets and fries (maybe they will be able to get it as a 'treat' every once in a while), but I'd rather them be asking for carrots and other vegetables, and I want to expand their 'fruit palate' to include more than just bananas, apples, and strawberries! Fortunately, I don't think our family is predisposed to obesity, but just because we don't fall into that category, doesn't mean our bodies aren't suffering from the bad choices we make in regards to what goes into them.
Today for lunch the kids each had a ham and cheese sandwich on dry whole grain white bread, a dill pickle spear, and organic yogurt. Organic apple juice to drink. Thanks, Panera :) (And guess what?? They actually ate it and enjoyed it all!!)
I had a jamba juice smoothie, then a turkey & cheese panini, and...wait for it....water to drink (ice cold, of course).
It's going to be fun (hopefully not too expensive) to find new recipes and try new techniques in the kitchen- and at the end of it all, perhaps I'll find a skinny, fit, more energetic mommy :)

So, what's for dinner??