This post will mostly have to do with female stuff. If you are not a female, you have been warned.

I knew the real test for me in this Whole 30 thing would be those few days of the month when I want to eat, well, everything.

And this eating plan, and the resulting calmed addiction, passed my test.

Oh, please don’t hear me say I didn’t want a (pan of) brownie(s). I did. But instead, I ate raisins, drank herbal tea, read a book, and stayed off Pinterest. And I turned to Him because He’s worth anything.

But I do think my husband and children would appreciate my full disclosure right here: I also whined. We played Ticket To Ride last night and I so wanted a Blizzard. We were out of apples. No more raisins. The bananas were still too green. So I played the game crunching on baby carrots. Never has this quote more described my life:

But seriously, the discipline of the previous three weeks helped. And the cravings were significantly less as I hadn’t had sugar (or things like dairy, grains or alcohol, which your body processes like sugar) for a while.

On a more important note: I truly think my mood was more even keel this month. I know I snapped less at the people I love most.

I’m in my final week and have some going forward thoughts if you’re interested. If the above t-shirt more accurately represents your level of interest, I completely understand. Smile.

Planning to slowly add:

Oatmeal and rice

Peanut Butter

Dairy at a minimum (like a splash in my coffee…though I must say I feel very adult enjoying my coffee black these days)

 

And sugar? I plan to take it slowly and really pay attention to things like mood, energy, headaches and sleep. And I want to make it count if I splurge: good chocolate not hidden sugar in salad dressing, for example.

 

We’ll see where I am in a couple of months. Hopefully not back to where I was, but in a realistic, healthy place.

 

Oh, on a positive note: Workouts are pretty amazing these days. Additional protein + no junk = feeling strong. I like that.

 

Okay, anyone have long-term sugar limitations that are working for them? Advice on adding back food groups from any experienced Whole 30ers? I’d love to hear!

Last time we got to read the first part of the Trans-Euphrates officials’ letter to King Darius. The disoriented officials needed to know if they should be stopping the Temple rebuild in Jerusalem. The exiles began to answer about Who they were serving and how captivity had made a rebuild necessary.

 

Let’s read on.

“However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, King Cyrus issued a decree to rebuild this house of God. He even removed from the temple of Babylon the gold and silver articles of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to the temple in Babylon.

 

Then King Cyrus gave them to a man named Sheshbazzar, whom he had appointed governor, and he told him, ‘Take these articles and go and deposit them in the temple in Jerusalem. And rebuild the house of God on its site.’ So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem. From that day to the present it has been under construction but is not yet finished.’

 

Now if it pleases the king, let a search be made in the royal archives of Babylon to see if King Cyrus did in fact issue a decree to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then let the king send us his decision in this matter.”

 

Ezra 5:13-17

 

I’m kind of liking this built-in recap. I also appreciate how the officials are making sure they have their information correct before they proceed. Then leaving the matter in the king’s hands.

 

Because here’s the thing: There were really two sides in this whole ordeal. The officials ruling now didn’t know of King Cyrus’ orders. Nothing had been happening in Jerusalem for years. Suddenly they hear the temple is being rebuilt – and in earnest – and they aren’t sure what to do. They were doing their job.

 

And our exiles? They had been slacking but now were trying to obey God’s instructions through the prophets.

 

So what do you do in a situation where everyone is wrong and everyone is right?

 

You submit the case to the King.

There have been times when my feelings were telling me I was completely a victim in a situation. I had been doing what I knew to be right when someone else was wrong. And it wasn’t acknowledged. I wanted justice.

 

But what God wanted from me was to own up to 100% of my sin in the situation. 100%. No I’m sorry, but did you see…

 

One hundred percent.

 

I remember in one particular situation (that only Jesus and my hubs know about – in case I know you in real life and you’re curious) it was almost physically painful to bow down to His Authority and repent in a smaller area because I was so sure I was right in a bigger area. But only when I moved toward repentance where needed was He freed up to tenderize my heart and teach me how to rely on Him in conflict.

 

Here is what I’m learning: any area in which I’m tempted to feel like a victim, it is usually because at some level I am thinking, What so-and-so did I would never do.

 

And you know what my faithful Father has done? He has recreated many of those scenarios in my life where I had the opportunity to “never do it” to someone else. And each time, on some level, I didn’t pass my own standards.

He is absolutely committed to making sure we know it is His righteousness, not ours. Not because He’s mean. Not to beat us down.

 

But because we choke on our own self-righteousness otherwise.

 

I know I do. Every time.

 

Rather than pleading our own case, He seems to prefer we submit the case to Him and say, “If it pleases the King, let a search be made…Then let the King send us His decision in this matter.”

Oh, He is good. There will be no incorrect judgments when He is given control. Because He sees all the way into every single person’s heart involved.

 

Please hear my heart as a fellow conflict-learner: pride is often the only thing standing between us and complete liberation.

 

Let’s bow down.

Have you been remembering Winter Wednesdays at the Sedgwick County Zoo? Every Wednesday through February, entrance is only $2.50 per person. Great time to visit if you don’t have a pass this year.

Join the conversation at tonight’s Hack Night with Open Wichita beginning at 5:30 pm at The Labor Party (a brilliant coworking space Downtown). See a list of current projects this organization is tackling here.

 

Watermark is partnering with The Kansas Leadership Center to host a book launch for Ed O’Malley and Amanda Cebula’s new release Your Leadership Edge. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, January 19th at 6:00 pm at the Kansas Leadership Center at 325 E Douglas in Downtown Wichita.

Beginning this Saturday the 16th, Wichita State University’s Ulrich Museum of Art will be showing Visual Justice: The Gordon Parks Photography Collection. Admission is free.

 

The Great Plains Nature Center hosts Naturally Crafty every Tuesday from 10:00 to noon. This free event will provide all the materials you need to create a masterpiece.

 

Ooo: This Monday the 18th is one of the selected days for Free Admission to America’s National Parks. If you’re taking a road trip over the long weekend, consider exploring our nation. For free. (Thanks Wichita On the Cheap)

 

If you join the Wichita YMCA before January 18th, your $50 joiner fee will be waived. Great deal and friendly staff.

 

Library:

Drop in at Alford Branch this afternoon any time from 1:00-2:30 for tech help. Anything from a new device to job applications, technology staff will be available to help you explore.

Alford Branch is hosting a Beach Party tomorrow afternoon from 2:30-3:30. Luau party, games, crafts, and a dream of the beach.

Also on Friday the 15th, head to Angelou from 2-5 to make a harmonica from popsicle sticks, paper, and toothpicks. That sounds interesting.

Saturday the 16th, come to Central at 2:30 so the whole family can recreate famous works of art. Then create original prints of your own.

On Tuesday the 19th, come to Evergreen from 6:30-7:30 pm with the whole family to make rainbows and explore colors.

 

And don’t forget: All branches will be closed on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Day

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Pokemon Battles

Picking out a chapter book for brother at the Library’s Secret Book Club

So excited to open it

Love when they ask to help make dinner

I don’t think they love when I decorate with their books. (Harder to read them, you see.)

(Not pictured: reading lights they got for Christmas, upping the cool factor for reading in bed.)

Comic books for the win

These guys rescued us when our car broke down. It was a giant adventure.

Whole 30 dessert – roasted nuts and “fried” bananas

Glory

 

Your 7 Days?

I promised you some “whys.” So if you’re interested, here you go:

I regularly have headaches. I struggle with consistent energy levels. I often wake up in the middle of the night. And I’m not 20 anymore. I had been talking with God for some time about what I eat regularly, and it was time. Time to take a step of obedience and intentionally see how feeding myself well would affect these things.

 

In addition, our family rarely says no to ourselves on sweet treats. I haven’t read the book with all the details (yet) but my friend was telling me about how sugar is more addictive than cocaine. I did a little internet searching.

{I modified our usual Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe. Which just meant I took mine out of the pot before I added black beans and corn. If you want the recipe you have to comment. See what I did there?}

 

Since the introduction of High Fructose Corn Syrup in the 1970s, we have doubled the amount of sugar consumed per person per year in America. Because it’s in everything. And, even though we started reducing our fat intake in the 1980s, obesity and Type 2 Diabetes is still on the rise.

 

The problem is, when you take out the fat in a processed food item, it tastes like junk. So the food companies had to add sugar to make it palatable. Thus, our sugar intake has doubled, and we are even more sick.

 

The book points out the reason you can eat an entire bag of Oreos, or some other highly-processed food, and still not feel full is because there is not enough nutrition to induce satiation. Even though we’ve consumed plenty of calories, our brains know we haven’t received enough nutrients. So we continue to want more.

 

I understand this: My children have been known to say, “Mom, please don’t eat [whatever treat] when I’m gone.”

 

So, yeah.

 

Okay, now for a bit of the How:

 

With a pretty fierce headache (sugar is addictive you know), and a heart full of God-reliant prayers, I headed to the store on Day Two to load up on fresh fruit & veggies and lean protein.

 

First thing I did was chop onions, carrots & celery, throw them in a pot with water and a whole bag of frozen chicken breasts, and let it simmer most of the afternoon. I used the broth for…broth. And I shredded the chicken and veggies in my Kitchen Aid mixer to keep in the fridge for potato and salad toppings.

 

When I had my hands on fresh broth, I set to work on this soup recipe. (If you’ve never cooked with coconut milk, don’t be scared. It can usually be found in the Asian food section of the grocery store.) We kept the leftovers in the fridge for the next week for quick lunches.

 

 

I also browned several pounds of lean beef. I stuck some in the freezer and some in fridge for quick meals. I chopped veggies and boiled eggs.

 

Then I roasted the veggies we had on hand: Acorn squash, butternut squash, carrots, onions. Dee-lightful.

 

What else?

 

I have individually wrapped potatoes in foil and thrown them in the crockpot for most of the day. Baked potatoes ready in the fridge to heat up whenever I need them. (Apparently, the original Whole 30 plan didn’t allow for potatoes. But now it does. I was not aware of such controversy and have been happily using this non-grain carb in my prepping.)

 

I plan to hit The Spice Merchant this week to pick up sage and fennel, two spices that give sausage its flavor, and make this chicken sausage recipe.

 

I’m glad almond butter is allowed. Fresh Market, Natural Grocers, and Whole Foods all have contraptions that let you grind it yourself. You have to read labels carefully if you’re getting the stuff in a jar.

Still want to try this coconut oil roasted nut recipe.

 

Green onions/scallions have been invaluable for adding flavor to salads, omelettes, and tuna wraps. So have red onions.

 

Some winner recipes include Roasted cauliflower and Crispy Oven Fries. (Oven fries and homemade guac made for acceptable New Years Eve party additions.)

 

Ghee is interesting and helps for a butter fix. Ever heard of it?

A few observations:

I have dreamed about food several times. The “typical experience” timeline talks about this, which made me feel less crazy.

Other than those dreams, sleep has been…wonderful.

I don’t know if I would have taken the time to try new recipes or veggies if I hadn’t been doing this challenge. It’s been good for experimenting.

Pinterest is not as fun to look at when you are not eating baked treats.

Been exploring this blog, a quality site whose author is a friend to many of my friends in real life. The recipes are mostly plant-based and gluten-free. I will keep returning here when the challenge is over.

 

I’m still processing with God about what all of this looks like going forward. I doubt giving up sugar forever is going to happen, but I don’t want to be controlled by it.

 

How about you? Any thoughts? Ever tried to give up or limit sugar? Believe it’s addictive? Have any good recipes or tips to share?

 

I’d love to hear!

 

{There were a few affiliate links in this post.}

“This is a copy of the letter that Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates, the officials of Trans-Euphrates, sent to King Darius. The report they sent him read as follows:

To King Darius:

Cordial greetings.

The king should know that we went to the district of Judah, to the temple of the great God. The people are building it with large stones and placing the timbers in the walls. The work is being carried on with diligence and is making rapid progress under their direction.

We questioned the elders and asked them, ‘Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?’ We also asked them their names, so that we could write down the names of their leaders for your information.

This is the answer they gave us:

‘We are servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished. But because our fathers angered the God of heaven, he handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon.”

 

That’s not the whole of our exiles’ answer, but let’s stop there.

First, oh my. “The king should know that we went to…the temple of the great God.” I love that this is coming from non-Jewish mouths. They know who He is. They’ve heard of Him. He has made sure of this.

 

Second, don’t you love their answer to who authorized the rebuilding? We are servants of the God of heaven and earth.

 

Yes.

When He is the One authorizing what is being built, little else needs to be said.

 

But more is said, and likely not just for the Trans-Euphrates officials: Remembering. Bringing back to mind the reason the original temple was destroyed and the people taken captive.

 

But because our fathers angered the God of heaven, he handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon.

 

Remembering is a consistent theme in God’s Word. This week at our small group we took the time to think through conflicts of 2015. We will never be rid of conflict in this life, but we can learn and grow…if we remember.

 

We intentionally brought to mind things He taught us in conflict. We journaled and shared and worshiped the God Who meets us in the difficult.

How about you? How will you keep conflict lessons at the forefront this year?

 

It might just keep us from captivity.

This Saturday the 9th, Arts Partners is hosting a Professional Development Workshop: Business of the Arts. This is a (free!) chance to connect with other local and regional artists and learn how to build your business.

Hoo-rah for Second Saturday. Shop our beautiful city center – there’s so much to explore.

 

Second Saturday of the month also means Bird Walks at the Great Plains Nature Center. Bundle up and meet fellow bird watchers in the parking lot at 8:00 a.m. Bring your binoculars.

 

The Library has been delighting us lately:

Great display at Central, right?

We also discovered The Secret Book Club. Choose a book without knowing the title – it’s already wrapped. Great way to try something new.

 

 

They have a club for teens as well: The First Liners Club. Choose a book based on the first line alone. Helps you branch out if you tend toward the same genre.

On to Events:

Every second Wednesday, you can head to Westlink for an Adult Coloring Event. I have been seeing this new trend everywhere and I love it. Great way to chat with someone while being creative. The library will provide materials and beverages. You just show up at 6:30. Bring someone you’ve been wanting to catch up with and go out for dessert after.

This Saturday the 9th from 10:30-12:30, bring the family to Central to enjoy an Academy Award Animated Shorts Retrospective. Enjoy some cartoon blasts from the past.

Then Saturday afternoon from 2-5, take in some favorite documentaries from past Academy Awards’ lists. Will include at least 3 short films.

And it looks like Story Times will be starting up again next week for the Spring semester.

 

Enjoy your weekend!

Some Barnes & Noble love

Spaghetti Squash and Roasted Red Pepper sauce

Another new friend

So fun

A treat: Whole Foods smoothies

Such a fun place

 

Your 7 Days?

So. I’m on Day 13 of Whole 30.

 

No one is more surprised by this than me.

 

If you haven’t heard of this program, it is a 30-Day Elimination Diet. No sugar, dairy, or grains of any kind for the 30 days. These are products that can affect digestion, the immune system, unhealthy addictions, skin issues, hormone and energy levels.

 

Unfortunately, they are also things I adore.

The first few days weren’t great. I backed off a bit on the coffee as well, which was part of the detox. But by day 4 it was getting easier.

 

Truly, I used to be jealous/annoyed at people who didn’t eat much sugar and talked about how an orange tastes like candy. I was all, no, candy tastes like candy. But I’m starting to understand. Lately an apple has been tasting like sweet goodness, completely refreshing.

 

And that’s been the hardest part for me. Not wanting to be that person. Perceived as too high maintenance or healthy.

 

But I’m learning good stuff and leaning into pride issues like that. First, this is just temporary and I am not endorsing it for everyone. It’s taking me on an obedience step and I’m having to rely on Him in it. Especially (so far) when I realize I want to comfort eat. But that’s another blog post.

 

Second, it really is true that you crave what you consume. If you’re consuming healthy, nourishing food, your body craves more. If you feed it junk, it demands more of the bad stuff.

 

I do not like this. But it’s how our Creator designed it.

 

And like most things, it’s worth the effort.

Other things I’m learning:

1. I was worried about that panicky, deprived feeling. But healthy fats and protein are things that make you feel full. And fruits and veggies take a while to break down. Plus this has nothing to do with restricting calories; it’s simply making healthy food choices. I really don’t feel deprived.
2. If you cook a Sweet Potato correctly, you don’t need extra condiments. But if you add a bit of coconut oil and cinnamon, it tastes like dessert. (I know, I heard it.)
3. Almost all condiments and seasonings have sugar in them. But sea salt, fresh-ground pepper, and cayenne pepper can flavor most anything.
4. Eggs for breakfast day after day can get old.

I made my own mayo. So that’s new.

5. More consistent energy levels reduce the need for caffeine in the afternoon (reduce – I’m not giving up coffee at this point.)

6. We’ve eaten out twice since I started. Each time I had a salad with grilled chicken & tomatoes, no dressing. And the next morning both times? I woke up with a headache. The oil your food is cooked with does matter.

7. I don’t feel bloated. That’s been the best part for me: realizing that feeling satisfied after a meal is so much better than uncomfortably full. So that’s happy.

8. Food is so, so social. I already knew this, but I’ve been experiencing it.

9. There are tons of resources online for this. I personally watched two of my close friends do their Whole 30s before I took the plunge. Reading MMD’s posts on it were very helpful as well. At the recommendation of a friend, I also followed an Instagram board with recipe ideas.

10. Herbal tea can help in an I-want-sugar pinch. Especially if you buy the good stuff.

 

I’ll be sharing a bit more of the “why” and some nitty-gritty details of making this work in real life in upcoming posts.

 

But what about you? Ever tried this? Any New Year plans to take a baby step toward better health? Any thoughts or questions? (I may not know the answer, but we’ll see.)

 

———————–

 

{Another step of obedience for me this year is to take writing more seriously career-wise. One way is by joining the Amazon Associates Affiliate Program. What you need to know is if you click through on a product link and buy it, I’d get 5 cents. Just kidding, I’m not sure what I’d get, but I need you to know it would be something. Please know I will only promote things with which we are truly satisfied or someone I respect has reviewed well. I don’t take your trust lightly. Thanks!}

It’s been a while since we’ve been in Ezra. Last we heard from this book, it was: “Then Zerubbabel…and Jeshua…set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, helping them.” (Ez 5:2)

 

The prophet Haggai certainly did help cast vision. The people set back to work, encouraged to put God’s purposes above their own comfort and fight through challenges. To seek holiness and trust that He Who called them would take care of glorifying Himself amidst their very human obedience.

 

And Zechariah is just getting started. So far, he’s called for heart return, not just going-through-the-motions return. We’ll keep checking in with him as God uses him to speak.

But back to our exiles in the Ezra narrative. As per usual, word gets around. Others heard about the work resuming:

 

“At that time Tattenai, governor of Trans-Euphrates, and Shethar-Bozenai and their associates went to them and asked,

‘Who authorized you to rebuild this temple and restore this structure?’ They also asked, ‘What are the names of the men constructing this building?’ (Ezra 5:3-4)

 

Wouldn’t you just know it? Do you ever think to yourself, “Why can’t life just be easy?”

 

My hubs and I have a comeback for each other when that flows out of our mouths in frustration: “Oh, because this isn’t heaven.”

 

Can’t you just picture our exiles stopping their hammering and rock cutting, standing erect, and sighing at the intrusion? We’ve backed off for nearly 20 years. We have taken care of getting our own supplies. Can we just work?

But they didn’t have to go there. Here’s why:

 

“But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.” (vs. 5)

 

When we are obedient to the work He’s asked us to do, and trusting Him with outcomes, we don’t have to worry about the consequences of that obedience. His eye is watching over us.

 

But there’s another part of this section, too, isn’t there? How often are we the ones getting in the way of what God is doing?

 

There can be many reasons why: refusing to let go of the past and forgive; unwillingness to listen to the counsel of those who may not share my perspective; not going directly to the person I need to talk to; making it about me and my plans and not giving Him control.

 

If we are returning with all our heart to Him, daily surrendered, and living in gut-level honest community, it is much less likely the above will describe us.

 

If not, we need a heart check.