Yep, I'm Giving You Homework

I realize this post might get some eye rolls, or give the idea of an extremist mindset.  Just know that these are my thoughts/convictions, based on my own findings.  The nature of my blog is to talk about issues that interest me, share my thoughts with you, and if some discussion comes from it - great!  If you disagree, no worries...I can only tell you things from my vantage point.

I recently wrote about my stand on the pro-life issue, and was encouraged by the support I received on that post.  I'd like to take it a step farther, and bring some attention to another area I feel strongly about.  Birth control....okay, okay, before you start thinking that I want to be the next 19 Kids & Counting, stop right there.  That is not what I'm getting at.

I recently read another blogger's post on this subject, and it challenged me to once again think about this topic.  I am not a doctor, but as a wife and mom, I want to ask you to do your research before taking any chemical form of birth control; The pill, IUD's, patch, etc.  If you have a pro-life conviction, and believe life begins at conception, then you need to be educated on the fact that chemical birth control can have an abortifacient effect.

I have used different chemical birth control methods through the years, without ever looking into what it could do.  After each baby, the first thing my care provider would ask is, "what type of birth control do you want?"  It is just assumed that you want it, and I assumed I was to take it.  But, research and conviction has changed my thinking.

I will not go into detail telling you how to go about birth control in a different way, just urging you to ask questions about what you're taking.

Here are a couple websites I found helpful:
Does the pill cause abortion?
The Truth About Contraceptives

Okay, here's my conclusion - It is always best to be educated about what we put into our bodies, and just because you may not use chemical birth control, doesn't mean you can't find a method that will work for you & your spouse.  Research and pray about what is best for your situation.  Not everyone is going to be a Duggar.

*Once again, although you might think I'm a medical professional (why are you laughing?), I'm not.  It is always good to talk to your doctor about any concerns or questions you may have, but don't underestimate the power of your own instinct/conviction.  God gave you that!

Wheat Update

We are three weeks into our healthier eating lifestyle.  We've eliminated a great deal of unnecessary wheat from our diet, as well as high fructose corn syrup and added sugars.  Basically, what this looks like for us is that I'm not preparing meals that need to be thickened with flour, or have cream soup as the main ingredient (bye-bye almost every casserole recipe out there).  I'm grocery shopping more often because of the large quantity of fresh fruits and veggies we're eating.  We ate them before, but we've at least doubled our intake. I am experimenting with recipes that call for almond flour & coconut flour, and I've found a crustless pizza recipe that we've enjoyed for a treat.  Pinterest has been a great resource for recipes!

We haven't completely eliminated wheat from our life, we just don't have it at home anymore.  When the kids have a party at school, they participate.  When we get together with friends, we eat what food is provided. We feel this is a lifestyle we can live with, and so far none of us are feeling deprived.  I will add that Joel is still enjoying his pb&j sandwich at lunch.  The kid would be crushed for life if I removed that one staple from his day.  Except now he eats half a sandwich instead of a whole, with lots of fresh foods on the side.  It's a good compromise.

Dave & I have noticed a difference in the kids.  The difference wasn't obvious until Valentine's Day, after they had consumed a lot of junk food at their school parties.  That night at home we realized how whiny and out of sorts they were, and it was something we hadn't seen in them for a little while.  I should also mention that Dave & I both felt sick after eating pasta and bread on Valentine's Day.  We were blown away by the obvious difference in how we were feeling.

Dave has lost a total of 9lbs., and I'm down 8lbs.  I'm still nursing Sadie, so I keep that in mind while I'm choosing what to eat, and I recognize that my weight loss may be a little slower for now.  Overall it's going well.  I wanted to post an update because, as I said before, I want to keep accountable in some way.

Faith. Family. Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day is kind of a big deal around here.  It's no longer a day for Dave and me to hire a sitter and plan a quiet romantic dinner alone.  Nope, it's a day of fun for the whole family, and we don't want it any other way.

Three years ago we decided to ditch the dinner date idea and make it a fun family night.  Dave has always been great about making Valentine's day special.  For our first married Valentine's day he prepared dinner, and made chocolate covered strawberries, and had it all set up as a surprise when I arrived home from work.  From that point on, he's always been great about making Valentine's day memorable (insert story of the overnight at a favorite B&B, where we were both so sick we spent the whole time sleeping and drinking NyQuil...we probably should have cancelled our plans, but we were young and determined to go).

Several years of marriage, and four kids later, we've decided it's a lot more fun to make this day a family day. Three years ago Dave started the tradition of a theme, and take-out spaghetti & meatballs from Valerio's.  Our first year's theme was Italy, and the kids were only allowed to call Dave "Luigi."  Last year was the same take-out meal, with a Hawaiian theme (music, leis, and grass skirts included).  The tradition that has lasted through the years is the one where Dave makes his homemade chocolate covered strawberries.  Now the kids make them with him.  They love it!

So, I've included some pictures from last night's Valentine's Day dinner....can you guess this year's theme?  

Welcome to our Duck Dynasty Valentine's Day....yes, that is a teddy bear with antlers.  Doesn't everyone have that for a centerpiece on their table?

Dave assigned a DD character to each kid, complete with costumes and beards made by Dave.  

They're holding up a picture of their character.

"Hey, Jack!" 

Willie (Dave), holding his daughter, Sadie (for the record, our Sadie was not named after Sadie Robertson), Willie's crazy Uncle Si, Brother Jase, & Phil

(Notice the family picture on the wall...)

"Miss Kay," with the gang.

So, there you have it.  A redneck Duck Dynasty Valentine's Day.  We listened to blue grass music while we ate (or I should say, for as long as Miss Kay could stand listening to it), but "Sharp Dressed Man" (song below) was playing when the kids came down for dinner.  After all, it is the opening song for the show.  :)

I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day....my husband shows his love to me all year long, and someday those quiet dinners will be easier to come by, and we'll miss the noise and fun of these kiddos.  I love that Dave pulls out his creative side and makes these memories for our kids.  

Wheat Schmeat...

I've been on a mission to work on better health for myself, and my family. Being a mom is hard.  Being the grocery shopper is hard.  Being the family chef is hard.  I feel so responsible for how well we eat, or don't eat.  We're not as healthy as we could be, and this is sobering.  So, I intensified my research to try and decide what would be best.  In my search I came across the book "Wheat Belly."  It's a very eye opening book, and a little overwhelming (especially for the extreme carb lover).  But, I've discovered the damage wheat is doing to our bodies, our mental focus, and our overall health.

So, with the support of my husband and my kids, we're working hard at making some life changes.  We already enjoyed fruits and veggies, but we have increased our intake of these foods.  We have decreased (greatly) our consumption of wheat.  I am not cooking meals that include pasta, bread crumbs or flour, or other starches.  We are not eating Gluten-Free products.  I am experimenting with almond flour, and coconut flour.  We've enjoyed some cookies and biscuits made from these things, but we've discovered that the wheat free bread recipe I tried was just not worth my time.

We are very much in a trial & error stage right now....and may be for a long time.  We're learning, but my goal is for overall health, not just weight loss.  But, speaking of weight loss, after only one week I've already lost 5lbs.  

My hope is that by talking about this, it will help me stay accountable and focused.  Hopefully I can keep posting about our progress.

Throwback...

Today my sister-in-law forwarded me an e-mail that my mom sent her on June 18, 2003.  Mom was e-mailing Andrea this picture of Julie that I had sent her.  I thought it would be fun to share with you, since it is Throwback Thursday, after all.

Julie would have been almost three months here.  Check out all that crazy hair.  Our old kitty, Simon, laying next to her.

We are on a bit of journey in our household, and I intend to post more about that soon.  I realize I'm not posting much, but believe me, I'll get back to it.