THM Week 2

Trim Healthy Mama hasn't been the easiest cooking format for me to get used to- but so far, so good.  The thing I am noticing is that we aren't eating enough vegetables- so my goal this week is to make sure there is enough incorporated in our meals.  

Last week, I managed to stay 75% on plan.  Even at a preachers wives' retreat.  Not bad, not bad.  The brownies during a late night round of Catch Phrase got me.  And then Easter.  And Chocolate.  So I will start with two deep "S" meals and get back on plan.  

Here are some of the meals we had last week: 

Breakfasts: 

Mufflets (new cookbook) 

Mozzarella and Turkey Toast (old book) 

Bacon & Eggs 

Lunches & Dinners  

Bangin' Ranch Drums (New Cookbook) 

Baked Chicken Breast 

Collagen Creamed Spinach (New Cookbook) 

Green Chili Chicken Casserole (Mrs. Criddle's Kitchen) 

Pizza Casserole (Old Book) 

Cheeseburger Casserole (New Cookbook) 

The family is doing fine with the new cooking style, because for the kids it hasn't changed much.  They still get their food the way I used to cook (One Protein, One vegetable, one starch) because I always make their foods crossovers- none of my children need to lose any weight.  

I haven't lost any weight per say- but I know how hard I was and continue to be on my body when I make bad choices on food- so I am waiting a few weeks to worry about starting to lose weight.  

I hope your Resurrection Day was an amazing blessing to everyone and this week begins finding you refreshed and loved in the Lord.  

Trim Healthy Mama Week 1

So have you heard about this not so new plan running around the internet?  Have you seen pins on Pinterest with these weird labels (E,S, FP, XO) and wondered what the heck people were thinking?  I get it. I was there.  And then I bought the books.

In 2012, Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison self published a 600+ book after years of struggling through public consensus and fad dieting.  I saw it off and on while reading blogs, and surfing recipes, but never truly gave it much thought.  I too, have struggled through my own diet woes, and yo-yo weight loss.

After failing at the 21 Day Fix, and a barrage of other things, I decided to spend the $25 and get the new revised books that came out this year.  Instead of a self published 600 page book, Pearl and Serene have divided their information into two books.  The plan book (all the information you could possibly need to start the program, including the  meal types, special ingredients, identifying your eating habits or your mama type, etc) and the greatly improved cookbook with beautiful color photos and the chatty encouragement that carried over from the first book- but in a much more organized manner.

I was very apprehensive to try THM, but I am thankful I did.  I know I have some medical issues going on, and this has been a great start to allow me some indulgence, but also some grace if I slip.  I know my body internally has a lot of healing to do, but I know when I see the doctor in a little over a month I will have been already on the way to making the necessary changes to help my body work through the healing and inflammation process.

Will it be easy? No.  After five days I caved and had a Coke the other day.  But I know that getting back on track is only 3 hours away at the next meal- and cheese and bacon and all dairy for that matter don't make me feel guilty anymore.  But I completed week one about 80% on plan which isn't bad for week one.  I still ask tons of questions on the official and unofficial forums on facebook- and I am thankful they are there.  I have studied alot- done alot- and tried alot- and I really feel over time this is going to be the best possible chance I have for success.

I wish I had the time and imagination to sit and work on original recipes to wow you and dazzle you with new recipes... but alas that is not the season of my life right now.  For now, I am settling for the vast array of bloggers out there that are providing some fantastic recipes that I can add to Plan To Eat- my absolutely favorite menu planning service.

There will be more stories ahead I am sure- recipes we love, recipes we hate- and things  we can wait to make again... and I can't wait to share them with everyone as we go.  We have been using some recipes for two weeks- on plan somewhat week one and more on plan week two and next week we hope to be totally on plan.  I am really enjoying learning to cook with new alternatives to still get what we crave without all the nasty stuff in gross processed foods and fast foods (I am a Drive Thru Sue out of necessity- but there is no place I love being more than my kitchen when there is time!).

How is your Trim Healthy Mama journey?  Are you seeing changes?  Are you totally not knowing where to start?  Let me know!

Personal Study in 2016

As I have started 2016, I found myself seeking the Lord in many ways.  I felt a profound amount of conviction toward the end of the year about if my heart was really in and serving in church, or am I "playing church."  When we had family devotion time on Sunday evening, we had a candid conversation with our children about this exact topic (along with watching the Christian documentary, Captivated.  I cannot recommend it highly enough for anyone and everyone!), and set some goals and ideas for the coming year.  Things we truly wanted to expand on in serving harder and further this year.

One of my personal goals is to study more. As I have to sit with Cassidy for the 3 1/2 hours she does school to help keep her focused, I feel like the Lord has answered my prayer and my need.  As badly as I want to be up and about the business of my home, I also have no choice to sit still, with her.  What better time to get my personal study in?

In the month of January I began two copywork challenges on Scripture.  One is on prayer (as seems to be all the rage with the new movie from the Kendrick brothers newly out on DVD- War Room- It is a good movie, I recommend it as well), and the other is an entire year, with month to month with a different theme, this one happening to be on Renewal & Refreshment.  I like both because they simply give you a scripture for the day and you go into your Bible and find it and write it as many times as you need.  For me, online studies and guides can be difficult to find, as I am strictly a KJV person.

Southern Melle's 31 Day Scripture Writing Challenge

The Purposeful Mom Writing Through The Word

Both of these have been highly effective for me, and I am loving the time I spend with the Lord on these very important topics.

Another thing I am doing to help me focus on my prayer time is that as I pray I journal.  I love these journals from Target  but any notebook will work. Loose leaf paper and a binder will work too!

Along the lines of prayer, I also found this wonderful resource on praying for your family.  Tauna at The Proverbial Homemaker has put together an amazing *FREE* resource for weekly prayers to to pray for your family.  This 89 page printable sets a weekly goal of specific scripture to pray over your family, with a note sheet that gives gives goals on Read, Pray, Love.  I am super excited to start this as well.

You can find information on The Proverbial Homemaker here.  I also follow her on facebook as well- she does share alot of great resources!

My devotion time right now is studying along with a blog series from A Virtuous Woman.  The topic is on finding the joy in homemaking.  It's helped me find my focus again!  I can't wait to see the rest of it!  She also has a great planner too, that I am seriously thinking about changing to when my Erin Condren is done at the end of this year.  You can see it here.

More information about A Virtuous Woman's series on finding Joy in Homemaking can be found by clicking here.

Lastly, I am just reading through the word.  There are many guides and outlines for reading through the Bible online.  I at the very least get my Proverbs and Psalms in for the day.

I hope you will check some of these resources out and are as blessed by them as I have been already this year!

Day 18- Rehabilitation- Psalm 143- Seek God In The Midst of Disappointment

This week has been the ever famous third week of rolling emotions.  I say this, because in every kind of recovery, there is inevitably some kind of set back, or issue that causes the dreaded emotions and what ifs of any situation.  As a Christian, I genuinely largely refrain from that question, but in the still, small, quiet hours of three AM in a hospital, it sneaks up on you.  And then it sits like a heavy brick on your chest.  And then, you have to ask the doctor, therapist, specialist etc... what if?  

That moment came yesterday.  I had been awake two solid nights, and laid awake at 3 am and had some kind of cosmic revelation (in my own mind) that took me back to Wyatt's recovery from the first major orthopedic overhaul he had 4 years ago.  I started doing the math and counting weeks... and BAM!  I came to the conclusion that we were not nearly even close to where he had progressed to at this point in his rehab last time.  Enter brick on chest.  Finally 7 A.M. rolled around, I got Wyatt up and out to therapy, and then I called my Mom, because I needed to say words that not anyone else on this planet would understand at that moment.  After my mental moment of weakness, I took her advice.  I went back to the therapy clinic while Wyatt was in an activity, and talked to his physical therapist Ms. Shannon.  

After a couple of minutes of talking, I realized that I was truly seeing Wyatt's situation for what it was.  He was not going to have the monumental recovery he had last time. At that point, Wyatt wasn't even looking like he was going to walk out of the hospital.  The reality yesterday was that it was going to be another 3-4 months before he was back to walking full time.  He was going to be dependent on a wheelchair.  

And then I let my emotions take me for a joy ride for a little while.

I struggled with the thought, "He walked into this hospital in April to have surgery to make it better, and now he's not even going to leave here as good as he was?"   Yea.  That's a big one.  I assure you, my anger, and resentment could have taken control quite quickly.  I wrestled with how to ask God why, without shaking my indigent fist at Him.  And I sulked.  Alot.   And I faced reality.  I can't even say I prayed at this point... because any words I said to God at all were not reverent, or with any kind of heart of joy or love, or anything remotely appearing holy or righteous.  Selfish.  That's about the only word I can use to describe what I felt.  How hard it was going to be to have two babies in wheelchairs.  How hard it was going to be for us to do anything as a family because Wyatt would require so much more than he had been in the past.  Going out in public, taking him hunting, anything that brought him joy was going to take more effort from me.  

Selfish.

So this morning,  after going through our "Shreveport" morning routine,  I regrouped, spent time in Proverbs (I would say I had a heart condition and Proverbs always gives me the right medicine), and studies in Acts, and attempted to reign in my emotions.  I won't say it was easy... but I am thankful I did.  I went back to a conversation Wyatt had yesterday with Ms. Shannon while they were walking... he finally admitted to her he was in pain.  So after consulting with Ms. Shannon and the nurse, we decided to try pain medicine preemptively in stead of treating symptoms.  

It worked.  

Wyatt walked twice the distance today in half the time.  

Does this mean he is going to walk out of here next Friday? Highly unlikely.  But it gave me something I desperately needed- Hope.  I have to remember that no matter what happens, my hope is in something Eternal.  And I have to remember that what ever happens, it happens to bring honor and glory to God.  In whatever shape or form that takes.  I have to be confident in him.  

I came across this passage of scripture that was exactly what I needed to hear- 

Psalms 143 

6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

7 Hear me speedily, O Lord: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.

8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

9 Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.

10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.

My enemy?  My doubting Thomas self.  I am so thankful for a God who answers prayers, and walks this journey with us, even when we doubt the aspects of his love and devotion to His children.  In spite of myself, He is still there... using all of us for His Glory.  

I am so sorry I didn't seek Him early, so that maybe this could have all turned out differently (at least emotionally) but still thankful for the truth it presented for me to face.  

Days 5 & 6- Rehabilitation- Through Christ...

Days 5 & 6 were nothing spectacular.  We are making decent progress through the day, finding our rhythm through therapy and school, and still tending to as much as we can back home from here.  Wyatt continues to get stronger, and walk further.  We had a group of volunteer entertainers come through, and Wyatt got in on some of it, but made the big kid decision he was here to work rather than play.  He misses home, and recognizes what the whole family is sacrificing by us being here.  

Nana sent money with us so Wyatt could get a break from the hospital food, and he tells me everyday he can't wait to get home so I can cook again.  

We miss home.... But I feel like such a brat because I am getting to come home every weekend, and there are kids from Panama who have been here with their parents for 6 months.  I can't even imagine.  We have been gone three days, and are already homesick.  

Today, as long as my focus and goal is to bring honor and glory to Christ... We can press on.  As long as in the end our hearts goals and desires were to glorify him, and whatever goal we are trying to reach is for His glory...

Philippians 4:13 

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheth me.  

Amanda 

John 11:4