Changes

If you've read some of my blog, you know that I am going through a lot of changes in my life.  One such change is the way my family eats, although I haven't been as diligent in this as i would have liked.  I have taken steps in the right direction, though.  I found a farmer's market that accepts foodstamps (right now, I am only able to feed my children by the grace of foodstamps.  Since I am coming to loathe supermarkets, I have been looking for better places to spend my food dollars).  Detroit's Eastern Market exchanges foodstamp dollars for coins, which do not expire and can be used at many of the market's vendors.  I recently purchased raw honey and a few interesting types of potatoes.  This Saturday, I will be making my way back downtown in search of farm fresh eggs, more fruits and veges, and maybe even some meat, if I can find the right vendor.  I have also officially given up Coca-Cola, which is huge for me.  I have had a bottle of kombucha each day instead, and since kombucha cleanses the liver, i felt it necessary to up my daily intake of water.  It's been three days and I have already lost three pounds (water weight, I am sure, but still nice). 

On the weight-loss note...I am not a fan of dieting and working out.  But I am a fan of healthy living, and i have been way too quick to use my life's stress as an excuse to be unhealthy.  I am in no way overweight, but i have had four children, and have thus incurred an extra 20 lbs.  I have lost 3, simply by exchanging soda for water.  We shall see if my dietary changes have any effect on my permanent weight.

I know that the changes i am making are quite big, and I'm prepared for the time it may take.  But i have "goals" in my mind, and by keeping these goals in mind, i have slowly been making steps in the right direction.

My goals are:

To give up pasteurized, homogenized milk, in exchange for raw, fresh milk

To grind my own grains for consuming, and to always soak or sprout them before using them

To give up almost all prepackaged, store bought foods

Consume 1-2 eggs per day, from healthy chickens (most likely from a small farm)

Eat more raw fruits and veges

Finally get in the habit of sleeping a full night, every night (it's 10:30 right now...)

Spend every morning in prayer, before my children awake, and consume more of my bible

Get all my recipes on 4x6 cards, organized and in one place!!!!

Learn more about natural cures and remedies, especially for my children

Learn to make all my own bath and beauty products, and some household products  (laundry soap???)

Get in the habit of taking my kids for a walk every day, for exercise and quality time  :)

Figure out schooling and money, so i can release some stress and start making a future farm a goal with a plan, not just a dream...

Those are my goals for now.  It's really nice to say that I have been getting better at making them habits, not just goals.  But it's definitely still a work in progress.  I have finally come to a place where I call on the Lord in everything, big and little, and I know that it's only by His grace and guidance that I am finally becoming who I've always wanted to be.  :)

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