Today begins a new season in my life. A new first. My first diet. In the past I have tried to watch what I eat to loose weight and tried to exercise. I had different results each time. The easiest way for me to loose a lot of weight in a small amount of time is to have a nursing baby. Then, the weight just melts off but after that it starts to creep back on and before I know it I have 15 pounds or more to loose, none of my pants fit and I feel lousy.

Today I am starting day 1 of my juice fasting diet. I am excited to see what happens. This is a total detox diet and who knows the amount of junk I am carrying around. I decided to chronicle my experience here. So, after a long absence from blog-land, I am going in a slightly different direction. I am sure I will still pop on and make a comment about my kids or my knitting.

My husband is also trying this with me. Hopefully he will be a built in support system. I also have a friend that is doing a variation of this diet. I decided on this particular diet first because I have witnessed the results and they were amazing. After doing my own research I found there are many health benefits to a fasting diet. I also am hoping to jump start my weight loss. My husband decided to try it just because I am doing it.

The plan is to try this for about 12-14 days. If we are feeling like we can take it, we may add another 5 to 7 days. The health benefits during this last week are the greatest. We will drink a glass of juice in place of every meal. No solids are allowed. Drink plenty of water in between. Coffee is allowed, but only black or with non-dairy creamer. Dairy and all proteins are off limits. Of course no sugar and absolutely no chemicals- nothing processed or enriched. Only fresh fruit and vegetable juices.

I am excited about this. There is of course a very spiritual aspect of fasting, even a juice fast. I am excited what the Lord will show me during this time.

There are so many areas of my life that I need to get into order and this is a good way to get that started. I am armed with my juicer, my Bible and a kitchen full of fruits and vegetables and I am ready to start my journey!

I spent most of the night before last on the floor of the bathroom with the stomach flu. Which means that I spent the day yesterday on the couch or in bed. My kids ate fruit, shredded cheese out of the bag and cookies from my cookie exchange.

The floor of the living room is still covered in cheese and really needs mopped after the milk tag they played at lunch. Oh, that is where you take a drink of milk and then spit it at each other.

This morning I actually managed to get Lillian to school on time and Isaac dressed- yesterday Lillian stayed home and in her pajamas all day and Isaac only had on a diaper and a button up shirt on with only one button fastened.

I am going to try to take a shower today and maybe do some laundry. The stomach pains have passed, but I am still so light headed. I just think I need to take it easy and have another lounge day. Just. no. energy.

Which means that I have to miss the last day of our ladies Bible study and the pot luck tonight with my knitting group. My husband rented Wal-E (or whatever) last night to keep the kids entertained this afternoon, God bless him! He even filled up the tank of my van last night when he took the kids to McDonald's and stayed there for 2 hours, cuddled up in the back of the van with blankets and watched a movie.

So, if anyone has some spare time and energy- I could put it to good use! Just send it my way!

We finally decorated our Christmas tree yesterday. We will be going this week to get the kids ornament, which is one of my favorite Christmas traditions. My husband did this growing up and I just love the idea of going through all the ornaments and remembering. I know so many of the stories behind his ornaments but there are still some that I don't know. It is like a new gift when he remembers the story behind them.

I can't find the tree skirt, though.

And that basically concluded our Christmas decorating. We have two nutcrackers and a snow globe. Oh, and a nativity scene, of course. I don't really have any place to set it up so it may live in the kitchen this year. I would like to decorate our small banister this year and hang the stockings on it. If I don't get to all this soon, it is going to be too late.

My husband bought lights for the outside of the house, but they are still in the van.

So basically, we are a bunch of scrooges around here. We never even finished the paper chain to count down the remaining days until Christmas.

But last night, after the tree was decorated and we were all sitting at the table with hot(ish) chocolate I asked Lillian to tell her little brother what Christmas is. She said without even stopping to think that it is Jesus' birthday. She went on with a few more details, none of which included Santa or presents or food. Just the love of Jesus.

Seven Random Things

I was tagged a few weeks ago by Veronica over at Toddled Dredge for the seven random things meme and so here I go...

1. I am not good at random. I try to be. When I try to make something look random, after I step back and take a look, it looks like a checkerboard pattern

2. I really like to read. I just finished the Twilight saga, which I really enjoyed. Any good recommendations on what to read next?

3. I am on the Women's Ministry team at my church. We are the Lady Bugs.

4. When I was 4 I was playing on a tractor and fell of the step and broke my arm. I only fell about 2 feet. I told my mom that I fell off the porch and was a guilty mess until I finally told her the truth after my cast was off 6 weeks later.

5. I LOVE Chick-fil-a. I don't think i could live anywhere that there wasn't one close by.

6. I don't really like the cold. I think it should only be allowed to snow at Christmas time. The rest of winter it should be at least 50 degrees.

7. I don't like heat either. I get sick when I get too hot. It should never be above 90 degrees.

I am going to tag Becky, Amy, and On Dragonfly Wings.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Right now, the ham is finished, the potatoes are cooking, and my husband is upstairs playing with the kids. Pretty good life.

We decided, since my husband has to work in the morning, that we would stay home for Thanksgiving this year, so this is my first time making a holiday meal on my own. I opted out for the turkey because, well, my husband asked for ham. We are having a jammie day and just hanging out.

My pies turned out fine, but not really very pretty. I was trying to boil the potatoes and they never would start boiling. The coil on my stove went out this morning. Great timing!

But my son likes the cranberry sauce. My kids are doing a puzzle with their dad while some years we have just waited for a 15 minute phone call from him from somewhere far away. We have a warm house and more than enough food. Lillian is enjoying the Macy's parade. I have more blessings than I deserve.

This week has been the climax of fall. The ground is carpeted with yellow leaves and the trees are all on fire and glowing.

This time of year makes me think of the majesty of God. Imagine the God that loves us so much that instead of the leaves just falling off the trees and going straight into the bleakness of winter, He graces us with the beauty of fall. He takes the time to make the world a beautiful place for our enjoyment and for His glory. All nature and beauty point to our loving Father that wants to bless us.

Imagine the God that even loves a leaf that is about to die and fall to the ground so much that he touches it with beauty. How much, then, does He love us?

I had one of those moments this morning after dropping my daughter off at school. The kind of moment you never think you will have until becoming a parent. Then you find yourself using the word poopy and using clothing as tissues.

As we were driving home my son was very still and quiet so I looked back in the mirror at him and he was staring very intently at his hands. He just looked so cute and serious. His little forehead was scrunched in concentration and something like confusion. He was touching his finger to his thumb and opening it again very slowly. I realized that they must be sticking together a little and he was wondering why. Then he stuck his finger in his nose and started it all over again.