I have been following the Hallelujah Diet for about 2 months now.  Very little meat ( I only eat venison, and not much of that), no white flour, no white sugar, lots of raw vegetables and lots of salad.  I've done okay with it and lost maybe 10 or 15 pounds.  I actually have gotten used to eating this way and my energy level has increased and I feel good.

But I've just gotten my hands on a book called "Eat Fat, Lose Fat" and I am intrigued by the information in the book.  They advocate eating alot of "good" fats and eating only whole foods and fermented foods.  She also has another book, "Nourishing Traditions" that I am waiting to get from the library.

So what do I do?  There is so much out there now in the area of "eating healthy".  I've been praying that God will show me what to do and how to eat.  I think, though, the basics are the same in either diet.  No processed foods.  No unclean meats.  No white flour or sugar.  Only whole foods and whole grains.

Anybody out there with opinions or experience eating this way?  Especially in the area of weight loss- I'd love to hear your story.

We began our tenth year of homeschooling a few weeks ago.  We started when my oldest was going into 2nd grade and his younger brother was beginning kindergarten.  I look back upon that first year with such fond memories.  Oh the fun we had while we learned.  We all still remember our first unit study on airplanes, and even still know some of the vocabulary and parts of an airplane.  School just seemed fun with 2 small boys and their younger sister who took long, long afternoon naps so we could do such fun learning adventures.

Fast forward 10 years and the fun seems about gone.  We now have 4 students doing "serious" school and one toddler.  By the time it seems we get all our subjects in, we are all frazzled and uptight, me especially.  I want to go back to the fun school.  But, I don't really know how to get back, what with laundry and housekeeping and cooking and cleaning and algebra 2 and 2 highschoolers.

Any suggestions?  I could do unit studies with my 10 and 7 year old daughters- they would absolutely love that.  But, I don't know that I can spare the time to prepare and do the unit as it needs to be done while still helping the high school boys and taking care of the baby.

Sometimes I can overwhelm myself with my thoughts.

Elizabeth

It's lasted a long time.  I just don't want to do anything.  I'm tired all the time and look forward to laying down whenever I can.  My house is so/so clean, my kids are out of control, my husband is aggravated and I'm just flat out tired.

How do you get out of the blahs?  I know my time is short with school starting in a few weeks.  I can't afford to have them during the school year.

I know it's a choice.  But with being so tired, I sometimes just can't.

It's been over 2 months since I last blogged- where did the time go?  I had intended to do some schooling through the summer, but between summer camps and vacation, we haven't done a thing school wise.  But we've had a nice summer even though it has been very hot.  We live in middle GA where the temperature is usually in the 100's these days.  Even the pool is no relief in this heat.

I turned 40 (wow- can it really be??) about 2 weeks ago and my wonderful, generous husband bought me a laptop which I love!!  I did have to promise him that the "house would not go to hell!" (his words). 

Not much else happening around here.  I had hoped to be pregnant again by now.  Samuel is 15 months old and I thought for sure he'd have a younger sibling on the way.  I was so scared to stop using birth control for fear I'd have so many kids, and now I find myself disappointed each month. I must trust in God, who knows best for me.

My husband and I were able to attend GHEA- Georgia's homeschool convention in Atlanta this past Friday and Saturday.  It was the first time we had left the baby (13 months) and gotten away by ourselves. It was wonderful.  We had such a great time that I wished the convention lasted a whole week instead of two days.  Two of the speakers really ministered to us.  Sharon Grimes spoke 4 times and I went to every one.  She really encouraged me to keep with it and to get healthy.  I could identify with alot of what she said.  Reb Bradley encouraged and convicted Paul and I about our parenting and family.  He told it like it was and like we needed to hear it.  It was well worth the effort and cost to go.

I was able to take 2 boxes of used books along to try and sell.  I didn't really expect much from them, but God let us have $125 from the sale of those books!  We were able to take that money and buy some resources we had been wanting for a long time.  It was a great feeling to walk into the vendor hall and get what we wanted without having to figure out first how we were going to pay for it.

I'm tired, but satisfied and ready to finish the year out with grace.  Interestingly enough, very little of what I heard this weekend had anything to do with homeschooling- it had to do with me as the parent, including the books we bought.  Put it all into perspective for me- it's not the curriculum or even the fact that we're homeschooling that will save my kids- it's whether or not I have their hearts.

My 13 year old son bought an old, used tape recorder at a yard sale a couple of weeks ago.  He is enthralled with it.  He told me proudly that he was taping a couple of cd's so he could have them on tape.  I chuckled to myself- I remember taping records to tapes!

He has been taping around the house for a few days and then playing back what he has taped.  I listened to one of his playbacks and was first shocked, and then dismayed at what I heard.  No, not one of the kids mouthing off.  It was me.  My voice was so hard and so ugly.  I wasn't chewing anyone out, I was just giving instructions.  Frankly, if I was one of the kids, I wouldn't have wanted to listen to me.  What happened to me?  If the phone rings, I don't talk like that to the person on the other end.

I have let myself get in a bad habit and thanks to his tape recorder, I am trying to change the way I speak to my children. But I can't do it.  God has to do it through me and remind my 24/7 to be aware of how I'm speaking. 

If you want a quick reality check, have someone tape record your day.

is the day my precious son Samuel was born.  He is a year old today- amazing how time flies.  He is such a blessing (as are all my children) but his birth comes a little more than a year after I had a miscarriage and I think that is why he is extra special.  I have enjoyed every minute of this year with him and I pray God gives us decades more with him.  The older I get, the more I realize what a blessing babies are.  I pray God blesses our family with more babies.  When I was pregnant with Samuel, my oldest son, Paul, told me that he was excited about having a baby, but anymore after this one would be "weird".  A few weeks ago I asked him what he would think about us having another, and he enthusiatically replied it would be great. 

Our church had a yard sale today to raise money to send kids to camp this summer.  I had gone through mounds of clothes and washed and folded them and put all the yard sale clothes on the breakfast bar.  I was not up when Paul and the kids  left this morning and it was later that I realized they took a pile that was not supposed to go.  The only things I was really concerned about in this pile was two homemade baby blankets- one belonging to my oldest son (16) and the other to my oldest daughter (10).  I quickly got dressed and rushed to the church and searched the piles of clothes and blankets.  One of the ladies asked what I was looking for and I told her and she regretfully told me they were sold early that morning. Tears came into my eyes as I realized they were gone forever.  I save one homemade baby blanket with each baby, hoping to pass it on when they have kids.  I felt sick and then I felt a little silly. Yes, I wish I had them back, but what made the blankets special was the memories attached to them.  I still have the memories and I still have the kids.  No, they're not babies any longer, but they are still here with me.  Many mothers have only the blankets and not their children and they'd trade in a heartbeat.

Father, give me Your perspective on circumstances in my life.  And make me thankful for my family.  Enable me to serve in love.

It doesn't seem possible that today is the last day of March.  2006 is 1/4 over.  Wow, that went fast!  It's a sobering fact that time goes by so quickly.  I remember (as I'm sure you all do) my parents commenting on that fact and I, as a child, thought, no way! 

My baby will be 1 next Saturday.  I have enjoyed Samuel immensely this past year.  God is so good to us to give us another sweet baby after WE decided we were done having children.  Isn't that just like God?  I am praying God gives us even more.

I have made alot of progress in recaiming my house after my 4 month sickness.  I have cleaned just about every room completely and now I need to get on to closets and drawers.  I have found (at least for me) that the key to not being overwhelmed is to not look at everything that needs done, but to focus on one area that is doable.  Another thing that has helped is labeling.  I have labeled just about everything in the kitchen cabinets and I finally have neat cabinets!!  The kids are not able to tell me they "didn't know" where something went because everything is labeled.  The same for our school shelves.  Even they are neat because they are all labeled.  Thank you God for labelers!!

Easter will be here before we know it.  I love this time of year, with all the azelea's blooming and the dogwood trees and the cherry blossom trees.  But most of all I love it because Easter is coming.  Without Easter, Christmas would be meaningless.  Without Easter, life would be meaningless.  The Easter songs all bring chillls when I sing them:  "Christ the Lord is risen today, alleluia!" 

Have a blessed day!

We've had  a productive day around here.  We completely did school, got some laundry done, the house clean and dinner cooking.  I was satisfied.  I still have alot of cleaning left to do, but it is getting done, slowly.

I have discovered, however, that my middle children are in dire need of remedial math help.  Neither one of them knows their multiplication tables or addition/subtraction facts or how to properly mulitply or divide.  It distressed me today to watch my 13 year old son get all but 2 wrong on his math sheet.  We used Saxon up until about a month ago, and now I am trying to work on what they need help with.  But I am finding out it is everything.  Any ideas? Suggestions?  She is in 4th grade and he is in 8th.

My headaches are all but gone.  Every once in while, when I cough or bend over, I can feel the pressure.  But nothing like before.  God has truly healed my head.  Now I need Him to heal my heart.  I have such a bad attittude towards my children at times, and I'm not even sure why.  I'll be fine and then blow up at them over nothing, and then go in my room and cry because I treat them so badly.  I know the answers but it seems my emotions take over and by the time I realize what I'm doing or what I'm saying, it's too late.  I need to think before I respond.

I am amazed at the condition of my house.  After being in bed for virtually 4 months, I have been up and around for about a month.  The more I clean, the more I see that needs to be cleaned.  And I don't mean your normal, everyday cleaning.  This is deep down cleaning, the kind that takes alot of time and energy.  Today I cleaned out the laundry room.  This room is the size of a large closet and it literally took me all day, and I'm still not done. What's overwelming is that every room in my house needs cleaning like this.  Sometimes I get so overwhelmed I do nothing except sit around and think about what needs to be done. 

On a happier note, I have had 4 headache free weeks!  God has healed me, for which I will be eternally grateful.  I will not take my health for granted again.

Elizabeth

"What God arranges for us to experience at each moment is the holiest thing that could happen to us."

Jean-Pierre Caussade, an 18th century writer

I "borrowed" this from a blog I read earlier today.  It just amazed me.  I mean, I know this.  I've probably said it, not in so many words.  But sometimes truth just hits me between the eyes.

My life is holy.  My wifely and motherly duties are holy.  Teaching math is holy.  Cleaning the baby is holy.  Disciplining is holy.  Wow.

But what about the flip-side?  What about when I ruin these holy moments with my unholy attitude?  It grieves my heart to think about this because I'm not only ruining these moments for myself, I'm ruining them for my children also.  I'm robbing them of a chance to have "holy time" with mom.

Wow.  I am convinced that raising my children and homeschooling them is more for me than them.  I need to grow so much.  I need to learn so much.  They are along for the ride.

Have you ever heard of this?  Me either, but it is apparently what is wrong with me.  I finally (almost) have a diagnosis.  It is when you have too much brain fluid and the pressure in your head is too high (thus, the terrible headaches).  The neurologist said she cannot make a definitive diagnosis without a MRI and a MRA, blood work and an opthamalogist's exam. 

But, I feel alot better.  I think this situation has already begun to resolve itself with out medicine or procedures.  I think God has decided to heal me so He can get all the glory and credit and that's fine with me.

I'm glad to have a name to what's been wrong with me these past few months.  I'm even gladder to feel better!

Have a great day!

that my headaches are going away.  It's been 6 days since I've had to spend anytime in bed.  This week has been great- I've been able to do everything I've planned!  That has not happened in 4 months.  I'm trying to be cautiously optimistic without getting my hopes up.  I have an appointment with the neurologist next week which I will probably keep, just in case.  But, truly, it has been a miracle.  God has healed me, at least for this week.

Now I have to change the way I've been thinking.  I have been taken care of these 4 months, letting everybody do everything for me because I was helpless to do it myself.  Now that I can do everything, I'm finding I get so tired even thinking about what needs to be done!  My house needs a serious decluttering and deep cleaning.  I have to remind myself to tackle one thing at a time.

Thank you for all the prayers!  Keep praying that my healing will be permanent.

It seems that this is becoming the story of my life during this season.  Would I have chosen this path for me?  Not on your life.  But then, I don't always know what is best for me.  I have to trust God to know what He is doing.  Submission. It is always about submission.  Your will, God, for mine.  You, God, know what is best for me.  And I accept that, whatever it is.

Actually, I've had some fairly decent days.  I have been able to get up and around, at least in the afternoons.  It may not sound like much, but after spending all day every day in bed, I'm happy.  Homeschooling is going better, also.  That is except for my sons' math.  One is in algebra 1/2 and the other is in algebra 2.  I have a hard time doing and explaining algebra while I have a headache.  We are at a loss at what to do about that.  But then, it comes back to trusting God to know what He is doing.  I know He will show me the way.

I went to the ENT (ear, nose and throat) dr. today to see if maybe the headaches were caused by sinus problems.  They're not.  I'm not surprised- I really didn't think they were.  My next step is a chiropractor and dentist.  Maybe by then the neurologist will see me.

Thanks for your prayers.

Is God trying to teach me humiility?  I sometimes wonder if that is the reason for these never ending headaches.  I spent another Sunday out of church and laying down.  I am the pastor's wife, by the way, and my place is in the church offering moral support for my husband.  It is so hard when I am unable to do that.  Others have had to carry my load for me and being a proud, hard headed woman, it is hard not to take offense at that.  Some of our newer homeschooling families have made plans to come over this week and clean my house for the second time.  It bothers me that they think I can't keep my house clean.  But, in reality, I can't.  But that's little comfort when you are watching other ladies see your "real" home, the one that you try and hide from others.

I'm so tired of living like this.  I want to be able to fulfill my calling as mom and wife.  My husband, in one of his words of wisdom, says I am doing exactly what God expects of me right now, even if all that entails is laying on the couch.  That's a hard pill to swallow cause that is NOT what I want.

It all comes down to submission, doesn't it?  Submission to God and his will.  If I'm fighting, I'm not submitting. I guess deep down, I'm afraid if I submit to this being God's will for me, that it means I'll be this way the rest of my life.  And that is not something that I am willing to deal with right now.

I've been reading over my previous posts and I feel ashamed.  I feel as if I've done alot of whining and complaining with little thankfulness.  Well, tonight, I want to be thankful:

-a fun game of bunco with my husband and 4 older children ( we laughed so hard we cried!)

-my sweet 9 month old son Samuel- just looking at him is a blessing.

-my new teenager (turned 13 Wednesday) who bought himself a digital camera with his bithday money and has taken pictures all night

-my 16 year old son who is not too cool to play bunco with his parents and kisses all over his baby brother

-my 6 year old daugther who has no front teeth

-my 9 year old daughter who loves her baby brother like he was her own

-my attractive, loving husband of 17 1/2 years who still flirts with me

-3 new, likeminded families who homeschool and who have started attending our church this year.  Previously, we were the only ones who homeschooled.

-no headache today

Thank you Father.

The last half of 2005 certainly did not meet my expectations.  I had hoped to have a wonderful first half of the school year and be leaps and bounds ahead of the curriculum; I had expected to spend load of time with each child and train them in areas of housekeeping and cooking.

It didn't happen.  I woke up on Oct. 23 with a raging headache that has been with me since.  I have spent more days in bed than not.  We have spend more days not doing school than doing it.  My house looks like a tornado hit it.  AGH!  I'm so tired of this.

I'm fairly certain the headaches are caused by the blood pressure medicine.  However, after changing the meds several times, I still have them.  Ugh.

I would covet your prayers for my healing and for my family to get back to normal.  2 months is a long time to have a headache.

Elizabeth

I received the results of my CT scan on Wednesday and it showed nothing abnormal.  I was so relieved and thankful.  A week is a long time to think about what might be abnormal in your brain.  My headaches are still here, but I am almost sure they are blood pressure related.  It is weird- low one minute and high the next.  I'm hoping they stop soon.

I've changed my eating style drastically.  No diet coke, no white sugar, no white flour, no salt, no processed food, only meat that we process ourselves and no dairy.  What's left, you ask?  Raw fruits and vegetables and whole grain products.  I know what you're thinking- UGH!  I had the same thought, but I am determined to get healthy.  I've lost 5 pounds already and it's only been a week.  I also drink fresh carrot juice- and not because I like the taste!

Have a blessed day.

Elizabeth

I'm a do it youself kind of mom.   I like to do it by myself and I like my kids to do it by themselves.  Let me clean the kitchen by myself- I'll get it done quicker and cleaner then if a child helps me.  Besides, I can have a few minutes to think a few complete thoughts without getting interrupted.  Don't get me wrong- I enjoy my kids, but I enjoy a clean house also and I enjoy time by myself.

I've been basically in bed for a month with headaches.  The doctors can't figure it out.  I went for a CT scan on Friday and haven't heard the results yet.  I am very nervous about what the scan showed.  I'm afraid everytime the phone rings that it is the doctor with bad news.  Anyway, I've been on my back for a few weeks and my kids have had to do it by themselves.

And it's not been pretty. They do as little as possible to get by.  My house is very messy and dirty and I can't do a thing about it.  Have you ever tried to train a child while lying on the couch?  It's not very effective.  So, as I watch them clean the kitchen after dinner, I'm realizing how wrong I was and am.  It's disheartening to realize how little I've taught them over the years.   I am truly reaping what I've sown.

I'm begging God for another chance.  I'm asking Him to take these headaches away and let me get back to the business of being a mother and a wife, and this time do it differently.  Please pray for me. 

Thanks,

Elizabeth

PS- Has anyone ever heard of the Hallelujah Diet?

I thought I was getting over my headache problem.  I have been experincing headaches for about a month after getting my blood pressure medicine changed. I have been back and forth to the doctor trying to get to the bottom of this, changing meds, etc.  Nothing has helped.  I went in today for a CT scan of my head.  On the way home, I had my worst headache yet.  I got sick to my stomach while driving- not a fun day.  My bp had spiked up real high, which explains the bad headache.

Please keep me in your prayers.  I need God's healing.

Elizabeth

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