Things I avoid in my diet (especially my kids!)

1. Artificial colors (including "caramel color") - So unnecessary most of the time! Annoying. Bad for you. No.

2. Carrageenan - Inflammation? Cancer? No thanks!

3. Hyrdogenated oils - Pretty hard to avoid but worth it to cut down in your most eaten items. 

4. MSG (aka autolyzed yeast extract, etc) - Extremely hard to avoid in all its forms but not impossible. It's worth the effort.

5. "Natural" and "Artificial" flavors - So natural it can't even be named...right. And artificial is just that: not real. Let's eat real flavors and real food. Please.

6. High fructose corn syrup - Too much of any sweetener is bad, but why make it worse? 

7. Non-organic apples, strawberries, raspberries...and most of the EWG's dirty dozen when possible. Pesticides = poison. Poison is bad for you.

8. GMO's - Less is mo' bettah. Buy organic when you can. Limit your non-organic items containing soy, canola and corn oil. Olive, sunflower, and coconut oils are great alternatives.

Reading labels is not obsessive! Since when is educating yourself a ridiculous thing to do? Knowing what you're eating is smart. Taking care of yourself and your children's bodies is responsible. Supporting products that agree with these values is common sense. 

Yesterday's devotionals...

I had started a post but must have not saved it before jumping up when the kids woke up and it's gone. :( I had a good ah-ha moment and I hope I can get the same notes down here again...

•slow down sometimes!

•Starting off with reading my bible is so hard, for me, but getting easier. I want it to be engrained in me. I know I need that time with God and the Word but I am so distracted all the time.

•Already seeing the difference in myself when I pursue my quiet time more diligently. My daily struggles are not as powerful over me.

I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. (Psalm 119:147 ESV)

•learning to give him the daily battles not just remember the big wars.

Today's devotionals

•There's so much good that comes with the "bad" or hard parts of being a parent.

•Must continue to take notes as the beautiful things of life and children happen, so I can reflect on them when I'm down.

•My kids are a gift and truly answers to prayers I prayed to become a mom.

For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there. (1 Samuel 1:27-28 ESV)

•Doing vs Being a witness... Not always about the activity of witnessing, but just being a witness from the inside out.

Dear booboo girl...

You're going to be a year old in about 48-hours. Holding you as you fell asleep tonight, it really started to sink in. You aren't a tiny baby anymore, you're a toddler already. You've been walking for a month now and you're so eager and independent when we go places now. You may not like shoes much at this point, but I promise that will change.

Even without much hair, you are a beauty. When you smile it is so contagious, especially when you scrunch up your nose. So cute. You make us all laugh every day with your aggressive love of food and the way you jump/dive on us and your brother.

You and your manong Kole are so close, and I always pray it would stay that way the rest of your lives. No one will be your friend for longer than your sibling. He may be rough with you sometimes, but he also already knows how to protect you. It's a beautiful thing to see the love you two have for each other already.

My prayers for you, Alexandria, are that you would learn from your mistakes as well as others. That you would be a strong woman with a soft heart. Know your worth and expect others to treat you as such. My prayers for you will be endless as my love. We won't always be friends, but I'll always do what I feel is best for you. After only one year of having you in my life, you have changed me for the better. Thanks mamacita.

Love,

Momma

Just wow

Posted January 22, 2014

(Posted to my other blog by accident)

Just wow

1. Long story short: we moved. (Details later...if I can find my way out of all our crap!)

2. My precious boy has a place to play outside. I could literally cry tears of joy. Just seeing his smiling face when he runs back-and-forth right outside our front door is an amazing feeling.

3. I have a priceless friend, named Nicholei. She is an angel. Not only because she packed and moved and cleaned all our crap, but she really knows how to be a true friend through and through.

He works in mysterious ways

7/21/13:

Feeling a new excitement for the arrival if my baby girl.

I believe God has been waiting for me to change my heart. I believe I need to receive and give forgiveness for sins in my life and childhood, so I can be a better mother.

7/23/13:

She was born.

Can't win

Ne-

Was gonna blog about how I can't win, I can't get a break. Then my kids woke up and mom is back to work again.

Blogging?

Ain't nobody got time for that!