Food Storage



As you all know, I am a fanatic about food.
I like yummy, fresh and healthy. I am picky about what I eat because our health and daily issues, depends on it.
So here is my fact for the day. Something big is happening and we need to do something about it. Our prophet has asked us to grow a garden, build up our food storage and take care of our bodies by exercising and maintaining our health.

One reason why this is so important to me is because I have lived in a place, and in the circumstances, where everyone sees and understands and values what they put into their body and how it correlates with their quality of life. I also have strictly diet-based issues.
We take for granted our food and our health because of 'tasty foods', (that we believe are tasty, when they are actually cheap, flavored poison) regardless of how it might affect us. Just because food is cheap, doesn't mean it's doing us any favors.

I'm a little upset with the idea of literally being brought into bondage because I didn't see or alert anyone else to the dangers of not feeding ourselves properly.

There are 3 federal bills being brought to the Senate table about our food, safety and access.
If these 2 bills were passed, we would no longer have access to local, fresh food. That means pesticide-irradiated-fungus laden-antibiotic resistant (entire food chains); produce, meat and dairy and grains. OUR WHOLE FOOD SUPPLY and diet.
If one bill is passed we might get our access to raw milk back. Do you boil human breastmilk? Why would you boil any mothers' milk, unless it is going to sit out for days, but then why would you drink it?
Of course, no one is talking about these bills because it's not a big deal. Yet.
Just wait until you can't find lactose-free milk or non irradiated lettuce or non-contaminated food in general.
This is not a scare tactic, this is real and some lawmakers and food giant lobbyists are trying to take away our ability to nourish our bodies with foods that can help and heal us.

If all our food was processed, refined, enriched and delivered (the only food available to purchase) to us; WE WOULD ALL have those diseases that we hear are so common; Diabetes, heart disease, and a myriad of other problems. Our bodies are not designed to digest these "foods" and the result is slow killer inflammation.

If I could, I would literally like to feed people those foods that could make them healthy.
But since I can't do that, I would like to plead with you, that you check or make food storage a priority, use it everyday in your cooking and incorporate fresh garden produce into your diet everyday.

Bruce was impressed to build up our food storage quickly and I'm pretty sure that everyone needs to think about it, because it has been mentioned by our church leaders, to the whole church.
I think I would like to redirect the purpose of this blog. I know I'm not a great cook but I am willing and ready to help people eat healthier.
By the way, there is lots of ways to eat well, yummy and healthy on a budget.
So if this post is too over the top for anyone, maybe you'll do a little research, dismiss me but keep it in the back of your mind.
I hope that you will see that we are not going out like that!

food.

Maybe this was the wrong time to get off a processed food lifestyle. (holidays)
I probably should clarify; refined foods is much more of a health hazard. As is; High fructose corn syrup, any food colorants, artificial flavors or preservatives.
I recently had a Gluten free crust apple pie and it was smashing!
Halloween was tough. We threw away all the candy, after trying for 2 days to divvy it out (without gorging). WAsn't working.

I have a soapbox about food so I will leave it alone.

Anyway, We are hoping for some good news here in the next week or so and I will keep you posted.

LAst weeks dinners;
beans and rice (3 times)
whatever else I could scrounge up.
Halloween candy
apple pies

Yes, that's what we ate, and yes, that's why everyone here is on the verge is getting sick. NO MORE CANDY!

This weeks' dinners;
Ikea food
spaghetti (whole wheat noodles take longer to cook!)
White sauce veggie lasagna
red sauce chees veg lasagna
potato/brocolli cake, I need to figure out a protein for this meal.

We are going camping this weekend so I need to figure out some nonjunk food to take and make while camping; I am thinking pre-homemade burgers and veggie foils and fruit.

Pies have been on my mind for some time now but making the home-making the crust makes me want to poke my eyes out. I did buy a 6 inch pie and it was perfect. Not too much and everyone still got some pie! I might have to buy some 6 inch pie tins and give those for Christmas/Thanksgiving.

I still feel the need to do as much homemade gifts as I can so I am thinking about posting them on Yu-zen and maybe get some feedback?

Since I last wrote, Lilli started a new pre-k. I think she loves it!
Eva is still serious about homeschooling and so we are working towards that.

That's my news.

Processed foods

3 days into it and we are not doing as well as I had hoped.

Bruce and I are good, starving ourselves (not really) rather than eating crap.
Processed foods consist of any processed flours, all unhealthy vegetable oils and refined sugars.
So that also means pasta, bread, chocolate and all sweets.
But it also means we are doing better because we are mostly eating organic meats, fresh produce and all homemade (freshly ground whole flour) baked foods.
If we are home more and spend a little extra time making a few more meals all at once with better items then it's not so bad.
But the expense seems to be more of an issue when you talk about time spent, finding and buying the better produce and meats. Grains are really not as complicated but it's always better to buy in bulk, which is harder if you have kids with you.
I do want to give some benefits to trying this;
In these last 3 days we have not dealt with these symptoms (which are usually part of our days);
Allergies
stomachache
general itchiness
lethargy
trouble sleeping

We had rice and beans 1st night
2-organic chicken, Org. broccoli and Bruce's bread. kids only
2-Vietnamese soup (beef broth, beef, bean sprouts, rice noodles). Brisa only
Sat has been hard- kids got hold of candy, soda and hot dogs. yuk.

But I went to the Farmers Market on Friday; got $30 of org chicken and ground beef, apples and honey and chocolate chips, pure sugar.
Sat. I went to another local Farmers Market (Cooper and Park Row) and went to the back of the store and found a sale shelf. There is tons of stuff back there! I got 2-3 lbs of red grapes, plums and round zucchini, a bag of dried mango, and 20 free range eggs,; all for 10 bucks!
I think all of the sale shelf produce is less than $2, in medium sized baskets.

I just need access to raw dairy and we'll be doing awesome!

Oh yes.....
Bruce found the camera so I will be posting pics too! Especially of the baked goods Bruce has a knack for making. We will be making cookies and Pie soon.
Leave it to me to pretend to be a foodie. Too bad that I'm such a cheapskate.
BTW I love food and think we need the right stuff to be and stay healthy.

Real Quick

Diego is big. Finally laughs now and it is the most wonderful sound in the world!


I just got a job teaching Zumba 3 days a week and I am nervous but excited!
I should start in Oct. 4.

We buried my beautiful grandma in July. It was nice to see family but it was hard to be in Utah for 2 weeks without Bruce. Not something I want to repeat.

Dylan is in School full time and Lilli JUST missed the cutoff point for qualifying for preschool.
So we are improvising: babysitter, Lita and hopefully a ballet class at the center where I will teach Zumba Fitness class.

That dang house in NRH has been a thorn in our side that strangely enough has spurred us to change and work hard to get it, so it's been good too. Of Course, we are NOWHERE near buying it (in foreclosure).

On another note, Bruce and I have accepted a challenge to bust out a prototype for a business that Bruce came up with. A men's line and a women's line. Pictures will not emerge until we have a plan and a way to protect it. Can't patent clothes!

Of course there a million things we want to do, but taking it one day at a time.
My new mentality is if it's meant to happen, it will, and if it's not on your time frame, you gotta trust God to get as prepared, for as long as you can, for what you want.
Sounds trite but for our instant gratification culture, it seems impossible.

Summer!



Blogger had a really simple (1 click) background change setting and so I went for it. Just for the 1 person who reads this blog, Jessica!
AND the anon. stalker who is trying to sell me discount Viagra. I changed it for your viewing pleasure also.

Seems like this is going to be a crazy summer, but I'm up for it. I am starting to get really bored when I don't have alot to do. Which can be bad, because I don't take the time to be still and
read/pray.

Anyway, we seem to have alot planned and now I'm trying to squeeze in Zumba practice. It's crazy.
I need to chorograph and learn 12-14 songs. I need some good luck vibes sent my way.

I will post a dance video (only on the blog) as soon as I put one together.

I sure love summer!

Bring home this WWII hero!

Our Uncle Alan sent me this and I think it's a great cause. If it was my family, I'd want him home too.

"As Memorial Day approaches, I will be returning to CONUS from an OCONUS TDY just in time to remember my father, LTC Clifford Hopewell, a genuine hero of "The Great Escape" of World War II from Stalag Luft III. Two years ago to this day, I returned from Iraq, accompanying the body of a hero of Operation Iraqi Freedom, a young officer killed after only three weeks in country, and who left a young wife.

I now want to use this Memorial Day to bring to your attention the efforts to repatriate the last American Officer buried at Stalag Luft III in Germany, Distinguished Service Cross winner 1LT Ewart Sconiers. This repatriation has special significance for me since 1LT Sconiers was a fellow POW with my father, and his erroneous death certificate has now been corrected by a psychological autopsy conducted by Dr. Tamara Haygood and myself, with the help of his niece and Stalag Luft III archival researcher Marilyn Walton, herself the daughter of one of my father's roommates. It is anticipated that 1LT Sconiers will be exhumed from his military grave just outside Stalag Luft III and repatriated to Hawaii for forensics, then buried at his home.


The recovery is scheduled for June 20-26. They want the film crew folks there ready to go June 19, anticipating this may go more quickly than most. The Airmen Magazine will send a journalist/photographer to capture it...since active duty airmen will be part of the recovery team, since it's the 100th anniversary of the Air Force, and since one of their own is being recovered---very timely.

Ewart will be a feature story in the Columbus Dispatch (OH) on Memorial Day! We are hoping it will be fed to all the major news services.

The Northwest Florida Daily News will feature a "daily log" of the recovery, with our own Stephen Marks serving as guest journalist!

The big thing we are facing is financing for theses efforts. I am attaching the official flyer for this recovery. I ask for you to be generous in your contributions. The POC for contributions is Pamela Whitelock, as listed on the flyer."

This message is not an official DOD or Army communication, is unclassified, and is only for the benefit of the "Keeping the Promise" organization.

--
V/R
C. Alan Hopewell, Ph.D., MP, ABPP
American Board of Clinical Neuropsychology
Fellow, American Psychological Association
MAJ, MS, USA; "One Oak Leaf Cluster!"
Operation Iraqi Freedom; Surge Campaign Star


http://www.bringsconiershome.com/

Diego and my grandma.

I love parents and grandparents!
I took Diego to the cardio Dr. yesterday. He's about the same as when he left the hospital. Which is fine. His next appt is in 2 months so I'm grateful for that. It's been a little more hectic around here than I was expecting, with all the Dr. appts and driving around to see family (not complaining, cuz I love to see everyone!)
But in general we have been doing well, noone has gotten sick yet and Diego is growing (12 lbs, 23 in.)
I feel truly blessed cuz I know I can't handle all this stress on my own. For all the stress and running around and lack of sleep, I should be diving off the deep end; but I am happy and calm and not overworking myself too much.
It's not because of anything I'm doing, that I feel so much better (than I would have imagined).
I know it's a blessing because of everything that's going on with my family.
My amazing grandma is dying of lung cancer and I have been planning to go to her funeral for months now.
Yesterday we had a scare and we were ready to jump on a plane to be there for her.
I have to admit this has been stressful because of the pain she's been in and the possibility of leaving to go to Utah and all the details and planning it requires.
Not to mention the house. Ahhhh, that feels like it will never happen.
I am thinking, if we do get the NRH house, it will be like a bomb going off. Crazy, time-consuming and frenetic.
I know GOD is in charge and that he won't give us more than we can handle and I'm so grateful for his tender mercies.
I hope to see everyone at the baby blessing!

All is well...

So, we are doing great. (Just to let the 2 people who read this blog, know)
I have only had a few meltdowns in the month that Diego has been with us, which is an accomplishment for me.
Diego is a typical newborn, getting fatter and vocalizing his discontent when he's awake.
I do worry about every little gasp and when he doesn't burp, he can be a quite.....
But the kids are great with him, even Lilli- who used to be my baby!
(who constantly tries to hold, carry and generally smother him with kisses.)
The dog is back, seems to be taking the baby's presence well. We haven't noticed the same allergies to his dander, so we are hoping Diego is okay too.
We are still trying to buy that house in NRH.
We definitely need help-prayers. I realized that we have been trying to buy this house for over 2 months and we are still not even in the process of closing. We are hoping to be in the house by the end of summer to put the kids in the local school.
We are already trying to sell this home and keep trying to think of ways to be proactive in receiving the blessing that we are asking for. We hope to see everyone at Diego's blessing.
Ethan loves Teancum. 
Poor Teancum, he needs a good new home.
Yawns like his dad.
The day Diego was born.
Huge, right?



Just wanted to write about a couple of things; Diego and the dog.
Diego doesn't have the immunity that the other kids had when they were born. My dad has a rare form of asthma and we have all had allergies from Teancum's (the dog) dander.
WE also have tile all throughout the house, so it's really hard to capture all the dog's fur.
Anyway, we hate to even think about re-homing Teancum but at least until Diego's heart/lung valve is a little better, we have had to put him outside and are obviously neglecting him, because he was an inside dog. 
Diego is doing all right but I would never risk his health for the sake of my dog's feelings. I know that sounds cruel but it's true.
I hate to even post this because I know that it means that I have given up the hope that we can manage having a sweet but allergenic dog and having a delicate new baby.
But FYI; Teancum is a good dog! 
Crate/house trained
plays well with kids
guard dog
very laid back and patient
loves to eat leftovers or dog food
obedient and knows when he is in trouble (unlike my kids)
goes to or stays in his crate when asked.
Loves walks and to play
Can sleep all day or sit quietly


cons
poops alot
needs attention
  

False Labor

Ohh this stinks.
I have been in false labor twice in the past 5 days and I am about to strangle someone.
FRiday was the worst with contractions and pain for over 8 hours, then, just when we were about to go to the hospital, the contractions dissapeared. All that for nothing.
Buisness as usual but with some serious nervousness because on Mon. my dr. said I was dilated to a 3.5. All I need is a 4-4.5 to be in labor. She said I could go at any moment and if I started having contractions, then I should hurry to the Hospital because I would probably have the baby quickly. So we were all on pins n' needles for the 2 last days but with almost no contractions.
Then yesterday around 7:30pm I started contractions and we all went for a walk to see if I could keep them going. I figured that if I was contracting for an hour (since I am so close) that we would head for the hospital after that. Well, I walked for a mile (1.5 hours) and didn't eat dinner because I was so ready to go. Bruce made dinner and got everything in the car, called a friend and my mom and off we go.
We get there and I am the same as MON. 
The contractions were not doing anything. 
They monitored me for an hour-no change
I walked the hospital halls for an hour in serious pain-no change
They monitored me again for another 30 min-no change.
The nurse gave me the option of staying to walk and be monitored again for another 1.5 hours and I said "Forget it!"
By now I am almost crying because it was hurting alot and nothing was happening. I was too tired and sore and frustrated and hungry to keep trying. 
I got dressed, ate, came home and Poor Bruce still has to go to work. 
The worst part is I'm still sore and still having contractions but there's not alot I can do about it.
Needless to say, I am trying really hard not to be upset about this but.....

Better days!

i dont know if you can see it but that lil yellow block at the end of street is the kids school.
front outside of the house. 
I love this kitchen!


I just wanted to post about our little miracles this week.
Despite being beyond stressed, we have taken the time to read and talk and pray. I didn't think it would be such a drastic change but it has been.
Despite our stubborness, stupidity and general ignorance, we have been blessed beyond belief and I truly believe that it is because we have been trying- TRYING being the key word.
We are trying to read every day, we tried to feed the missionaries, we tried to cut back on tv watching, we tried to eat at home with the food we had, we tried to stay in budget for everything.
You get my point.
But here is the clincher; we found our tithing JUST before we sold the truck that we just paid off. We just paid off the truck because we forgot that we had enough money to do it.
We have had dinner every night this week. (BIG deal for me).
Bruce asked some people to come over and help fix up the house, who are coming on Sat.! and before he sold the truck he found the extra money we needed to do some repairs and haul the stuff home before the truck was gone. 
Anyway, I am rambling but the biggest deal for me was today.
We were fighting last night, and after we resolved it, Bruce started a fast today and was inspired to ask a co-worker if the bank would give us (EXACTLY the type of loan we need to buy this house) a loan.
Bruce had no idea if it was feasible, much less if they would even consider doing it.
This co-worker (bigwig?) immediately says "yeah sure!" What?!! Really!! YAY!!
All the hoops that we would have to jump thru and not to mention all the money we would have to come up with have been reduced down to 'totally plausible-doable' VS
being 'how the heck are we going to pull this off in order to get this house?"
So needless to say, we talked about miracles today with the kids. I hope they get it.
I asked them what miracles they would perform if they had the power; most of them said they would "make it rain food all over the earth".
Here are some pics of the house, in case you are wondering what it looks like.

Frustration.....



Both Bruce and I are feeling overwhelmed (Bruce more than me) by all the stuff we need to accomplish and the serious lack of time and money that goes with it. 
We are selling our truck and everything else we can so if you need something or know someone who does, let us know. (3 dishwashers, a treadmill, inversion table, kids motorcycle, tools, maternity clothes and other stuff.)
Kids are good and are really excited about moving but we don't know when we will move and even where at this point. 
On the upside, we are doing Dave Ramsey's 'Financial Peace University' and have started a scripture study program.
I am doing my 'survive-until-the-baby-is-born thing and not feeling excited about March.
I am not one of those people who does well after their baby is born. I am a better prego. 
Anyway, I thot I had pictures of the truck but no so enjoy Ethan getting clobbered by snow on our front tree.
We will see you all on Sat. 
maybe.
If we don't strangle each other from stress.

Snow day!



Today was fun! messy too!





moving?

We are thinking about moving. 
We have our eye on a house but are waiting to get some repair bids back, not to mention working with the bank who owns the house. 
If things don't work out with this house we will probably continue looking so as to take advantage of the tax credit this year. I won't post any pics of the house till we get more info, but sufficeth to say that we will not grow out of it. 
We are trying not to get our hopes up but we are excited at the prospect!
I am also trying to start a line of maternity wear and am planning on teaching Zumba after the baby is born. Seems like alot I guess, but as we are all quite active and maybe restless, I think it would be a good idea to start then maybe delegate to others or even sell a business. Anyway, all these are thoughts and not concrete deeds, but we are excited to start a new year. 

back in business!











What a hassle! Gonna have to ask Bruce to help me simplify the process of posting on the blog.
These are pictures from this last Mon. We went to Mineral Wells again and got to throughly explore all the caves and nooks and crannies, with a good friend Vega and our dog T-man. You will notice that Bruce carried our dog up and down the stairs to get into the lil' canyon. Shameful.
We also got to see some friends who were briefly in town to bless their baby. It was a nice day.
We have some pics from Thanksgiving and Christmas but I'm sure ya'll have had enough of those, with the cute CD that Bruce made and gave to everyone, right?

ugghh

Grrr, all the photos are on Bruce's iphoto profile. I'll be back.