day 8

A routine...

Every other Friday I make my way to Trader Joes.
It's my main grocer.
It is a little bit of a drive but I make it worth my while shopping at stores around or near it.

Today was my shopping day since we were out of town Friday with my parents 50th.

So...

50th

My parents celebrated their 50th this month.

It was such an honor to celebrate with them in this way.

 

We invited friends, family, past students and it was great.

 

I saw so many familiar faces.

We reminisced.

We laughed.

 

Dad and Mom had a great time.

Mission accomplished.

 

Here are some pictures.

I've mostly included the grandkids.

Mom and Dad would want it that way :).

 

Two red roses represent mom and dad, four yellow represent their children

Caterer recreated their cake :)

Adam J.

Would not be a party for Rex L. without M&M's

Abby and Micah

My girls, Abby and Micah

The happy couple

Hannah

Welcome sign Janene and Dad created

That's Jess there, directing traffic
 

Ever seen a parking lot in the middle of a garden?

The reason we celebrate

day 7

Changes to come...

Finding that new job.

 

{sorry J, God hasn't revealed it yet}

day 6

My obsession...
{berries}

Berries sautéed in butter.

Drizzled over GF pancakes.

Delish.

day 5

After dark...

 

{On the road to my parents house for their 50th anniversary party}

day 4

Something green...
{our backyard}

more volleyball

We had more volleyball this week.

This girl can't get enough.

One ends and she's asking when the next one is.

We've been told by two coaches now that for her size, she is a power house :).

 

Little sis got in on the action this week and is enjoying it too.

Could I have two volleyball players in my future?

summer livin' at its finest

Two girls, fresh from the pool.
Lounging in the rocking chairs.
Feet up.
Playing minecraft.




Now this is living.

day 3

Clouds

day 2

What I wore today...

Running to volleyball camp.
Errands.
Keeping it casual.

Mermaid t-shirt, jean skirt and flip flops.

mischievous giggles

Yesterday afternoon things got quiet in our house.

 

Too quiet.

 

It was nice BUT way to quiet.

 

Something was up!

 

I heard mischievous giggles.

 

Started down the stairs to the basement and this is what I found.

 

Creative fun.

Little stinkers :).

Sister silliness.

day 1

So I came across a 30 day photo challenge on pinterest.

It looks like fun and who couldn't use a dose of fun this summer?!

So here goes.

Day 1: Take a self portrait {or selfie as they are called these days}

This took me out of my comfort zone.

I don't like the idea of selfies.
Unless it's a double selfie {meaning with a friend}, I'm not interested. 

I am also one of those people who never likes photos of themselves.
No matter who takes it.
Where it is taken.
Whatever the occasion.
Guilty as charged!
I don't like them.

But I did it.
And now I'm done.

unfair

Heard the message yesterday at church.

We're going over the book of Habakkuk.
'Where are you God?'

Habakkuk had some issues with God.
He thought God didn't seem to care.
He thought God wasn't doing what he was capable of.
He thought God's actions were unfair.

We were to list things that don't seem fair to us in our life right now, that we believe God could change.

Here's my list:

1. Loss of a job I loved - it was not my doing, I am a consequence of a bad choice that was made by others.  This makes me bitter at times.  It makes me question God, it just isn't fair.  Do I sound like a child?  YES.  In fact I sound like my girls who tell me at least once a day that "that's not fair!" 
2. My health.  In my moments of pain and frustration it's easy to say that none of this is fair. Why is this happening to me?  Why can't it just be over? Why can't you intervene and make me whole again?  I made choices, choices that were what I thought was best at the time.  I made choices in what food I put in my body too, for that I have to take responsibility. 
3. My mom. Her decline into dementia is my biggest "this is NOT FAIR!" challenge.  Why would God allow this to happen to his faithful servant?  How could this in any way bring glory to him?  I see how it hurts her, how it challenges my dad who cares for her.  I've seen how my siblings and I have tried to find the silver lining but at times it just plain stinks.  No other words for it, than it is just UNFAIR!

I've prayed for all three of these unfair issues.  I've screamed out to him in tears over some.  Why God? 

God responded to Habakkuk. 
"Look at the nations and observe - be utterly astounded!  For something is taking place in your days that you will not believe when you hear about it.  Habakkuk 1:5

I am much like Habakkuk. 
What are you trying to show me Lord?

I pray.
I wait upon the Lord.
I cry out in my moments of doubt.
I waiver but I always come back to what my parents  have taught me.

I must place my hope in him.
Let him guide every situation.
Believe he has a purpose for our good.
Follow and obey.
Love.

my temple

Bought some of these today.

 

Our crop has stopped :(.

I knew it would happen but still sad.

 

Man these are good.

Having limited sugar has made me appreciate these and other berries more.

 

I've come to conclusion that even though I am feeling better physically, I have a long battle ahead of me.
And there are times I am reminded that I still am not 100%.
My temple needs some repair.
I've educated myself more on candida and it's not something that is going away easily or quickly.
I'm in for the long haul.

Most Americans have it.
They might not know it yet, their immune system isn't compromised.
Mine is.

Why is this happening?

Drugs/antibiotics feed the yeast.
We are society addicted to doctors and medicine.
Quick relief.

Sugar in EVERYTHING that again feeds the yeast.
We are a society eating too much sugar and finding out it is highly addictive makes things worse.
I'm guilty of that.
Poor choices time after time.
There was a time I craved it. 

Think of our great grandparents.
They didn't run to a doctor every time they had a sniffle.
Doctors were emergencies.
They ate a diet high in fat but lots of veggies, fruits, red meat and little sugar because it was costly.
They didn't have preservatives, GMO's, additives in their foods like we do today.

Not everyone believes in Candida.
I know my doctor doesn't.
But I'm a believer because it fits everything I've gone through the last ten years of my life.
I don't buy into everything, believe me there are some doozies out there.
Most of them are trying to sell you "a cure."

I found a new book.
Candida Crusher
I investigated the author.
Read up on him, his claims before purchasing.
It's 718 pages.
Can you say wow?
Got my Summer reading right there.

It feels good to feel validated again by reading it.
To feel what I've been experiencing has a name and there are others who suffer.

It just reiterates everything I've learned on my own and also with my voodoo lady :).
I really felt like I was going crazy, so many symptoms that didn't seem they could be related.
From head to toe I felt it.

I've been on this road for almost a year and have come so far.
Art is supportive and seen me at my worse and best.
He prefers the best :).
A wife who doesn't feel like she's crazy.
A wife not in pain.
A wife who isn't scared.

To further my health and recovery I am going to follow the diet proposed in the book.
It's not going to be easy by any means but I think I will learn so much from it.

First phase
Purge my system

No yeast products - bread basically
No fried food
No red meat
No condiments
No sweets
No sugar or it's substitute
No fruit (other than berries which are low in sugar)
No dairy

Sounds daunting doesn't it. 

Basically I will eat:
chicken
turkey
fish
vegetables
Olive oil, butter
Spices
Herbal tea
LOTS of water

I will have some supplements to help in the purging process as well.

For one week
See how I feel and either continue on this same purge or continue to phase 2.

I have nothing to loose but much to gain if this further helps me.

These are my findings.
Not to judge others.
Not to sound pious.
Just to better myself and live the life God has given me.

mermaid obsession

My girls have had an obsession lately.

About mermaids.

I guess I had a part in that since I introduced them to the best Disney movie EVER :) at a young age.

 

We stumbled upon this on Netflix and they loved it.
H2O Just Add Water

Then the spin off from that show.

Maco Mermaids.

 

Now my own mermaids.

The girls took an old pair of their leggings and with imagination, plus a lot of tugging and pulling, they created their own tails.

Does this pose look familiar?
:)

Love my mermaids.

always

This guy is ALWAYS at my feet.

Under my chair.

Behind me.

Beside me.

In front of me.

Never far.

 

Some days it bothers me {usually when I'm trying to get something done quickly}.
He has tripped me before.
He gets yelled at.
But he ALWAYS comes back.

Love my pooch.

summer snack

We have a snack we eat a lot of in the summer.

 

Popcorn.

 

 

 

It's easy and inexpensive.

It's also gluten free.

We flavor it with cinnamon and sugar sometimes.

Garlic salt is good too for variety.

But salt and butter is their absolute favorite.

 

We love our stove top popper.

We've tried others and find it gives us the best flavor.

Plus you can mix it all together in one pot.

Easy peasy.

piano lessons

Another benefit of having piano lessons three doors down from us.

Sarah just learned how to ride {on Father's day} and now wants to ride everywhere.

Love this picture.
A reminder at how quickly they are growing.
Bittersweet.

fathers day

We had a great day celebrating Art.

 

We pretty much let him plan our day and it turned out to be both active and relaxing.

 

We started off with church.

Great message.

 

Then a lunch of hamburgers, mashed potatoes, salad, ice tea and a fruit basket cake {all his choice}.

 

We took our annual daddy/daughters pictures.

We couldn't leave Truman out.

 

Love how they turned out.

 

The shirts were a surprise for Art and he noticed them right away at church. 

I saw them and knew all three would like.

 

 

Another shot, close up.
Man these kids are growing.

We got Art a K-9 Kanon.
It shoots tennis balls as far as 10 feet for man's best friend to retrieve.
Here we are testing it out.

Grace giving it a shot.

Truman didn't get into it at first and preferred Art throwing them.
But by the end of the day he was into and wore himself out chasing the balls down.

We took Art into town to pick out new bicycle. 
The girls got new bikes in early spring and I got one for Mothers day.
So for our whole family to enjoy, we got one for Art.

Went to Sports Authority with coupon in hand but couldn't find anything that looked right for our dad.

Headed to Wally on the chance they would have something.
We found a mountain bike.
It was on clearance.
Originally $129 but got it for $87 after talking to the manager.
SCORE!!! 
Art was a happy man.

I didn't get photos of us riding. :(

We had a lot of fun though.
So glad we purchased these.

We ended our night playing basketball.
Four Square.
Art chased the girls around the yard trying to shoot them with tennis balls.
Truman followed scooping up the balls into his mouth.

Lots of laughter from everyone.

Art had a "great day." {his words}

Mission accomplished.

swinging

Last week was not only rainy but cool at times.
It made for some girls itching to get outside and move.

The girls had the best time on the tire swing.

Big sis' helping little sis'.

Love that face :).

Worn out sister.

Her turn.
Of course a silly face.

Fun.