Posts...Raw food...Pics...

I hope you don't mind but I'm going to change the way I blog a bit for a bit. I want to get on here and just talk about whatever I've been thinking about...what God has been showing me and especially the little things...mostly around our home. There are times when I feel like I can't "bore" you with this stuff and then there are other times when I feel like people would stop reading because it's not all about Thailand and ministry.

But at this point in our life...until we moved down south at the end of November...thai class and our home is our life. We are learning how to be a family of 5 and how to be better parents...while Josiah and Jude learn how to love each other as brothers even though it is apparently extremely hard for 6 year olds and 2 year olds to play together...much less coexist in a house 24 hours a day with no ability to go anywhere as a family and get out of the house.

Don't get me wrong...I speak to Thai people everyday and when an opportunity arrises to tell about our God...I do. I have literallly stopped myself from posting about simple stuff...but I'm going to stop holding back and just post. :) Today I put my tennis shoes on because my feet have really been aching because of the lack of support offered by the sandles and pair of flip flops that I wear everyday. In Thailand it is custom to take your shoes off before entering any home...so we don't wear shoes in our house.

But I have been breaking the rules simply because my feet hurt so badly! So anyway, I was putting on my shoes and Jude automatically was like "Where we goin mom?" and I told him that we weren't going anywhere and he was like "Ohhh MAN!" with his cute pouty face.
We haven't been using the air conditioners during the day to save money and let me just say...it is hot! Especially today! So all three of my children are running around in underwear and diapers as usual...it's so normal(not wearing clothes ) that I laughed so hard when this happened this afternoon:

I decided to put some clothes on the boys and when I gave Josiah his clothes Jude got really excited and said "Where we goin? Where we goin mom?" I said "We're not going anywhere...we're just putting clothes on." He continued on..."(mumble...mumble...)and the clothes...(mumble...mumble...)and we go. Where we goin mom? and the clothes and we go..."
hahaha...my son has officially attached clothes to going somewhere...of course they can't just wear clothes in the house! hehehe...

So I've been thinking about a lot of things...one of which is wanting to prepare better meals for my family. I've been reading and hearing a lot about "going raw" for many years and I've always wanted to attempt to make our diet at least 50% raw...but I've never taken any steps because it seems so hard.

But...just recently I decided that I'm going to do a 10 or 30 day raw diet. Not for dieting purposes (although I'm sure to loose some weight) but for health purposes and it will force me to find foods and experiement. With that little bit of experience under my belt I will be able to think about creative ideas to start changing our eating habits.

Here are some of the things I'm working towards:

1. All raw food breakfast. There are sooo many choices for raw food
breakfast...apples, bananas, watermelon, pineapple, mangos, pomelo, oranges and
for the kids some real yogurt too...not the sugar packed kind.

2. Preparing a green smoothie every morning for my whole family. I can't really do this one until I can afford to buy a blender but you guys have got to look into this. Wouldn't it be great if you could make sure your family is getting 15 servings of fruits and vegetables a day? Not just the 5-10 the FDA recommends? Well, you can with this smoothie! (Sounding like an infomerial now)

This would be so easy for you guys to do...(people in America) because you have easy access to frozen fruits and veggies...and I don't think spinach costs too much? Anyway...check out this video and see how simple it really is: http://happyfoody.com/2008/03/15/how-to-make-a-green-smoothie/

3. Cut back on things like potatos, rice (ha! I live in Thailand - the country known for the worlds best tasting rice and every Thai dish is served with it!) and bread. Or at least switch to real whole wheat bread.

4. Use seasalt instead of regular salt. Ordinary table salt has been stripped of it's companion elements and contains additive. In studies table salts have been link to hypertension and other heart or blood illness. Table salt also gives many people the feeling of being bloating.

Natural sea salt is a healthy replacement for ordinary table salt on the market; it contains about 80 mineral elements that the body needs. Sea salt has nutrients and minerals that help your body preserve the blood cells. Overall, sea salts are better for you. If you haven't tried it, switch salts for a week and you will see a difference.

5. Exercise 3 times a week. Whether it be walking or popping in my beloved Kathy Smith Fat Burner DVD.

Are there any of you out there that would be interested in going raw with me for 10 or 30 days (haven't decided which)? Leave a comment and let me know...it'll be tough...especially for us Texan girls...but if you'd like to join me I'd love it!

Here are some awesome pictures from the last 3 days....

Ok...I LOVE this picture of my baby girl! AHH! Shiloh Pruett took this picture. Joss was strapped to my back and they were just laughing about something...so they asked for the camera and this is what they were laughing about...ha!

My handsome boys!

Jossie...oh how I love her...

Josiah had a death grip on my leg when it was time for me to head out to Thai class...I leaned down and snapped a shot...

This is Judah...he is staying with the Pruetts while his adoptive parents (the Garsees) are on furlough. He's such a ham! And soo cute!

This is little Joseph...the picture says it all...he's sooo cute! He is also staying with the Pruetts while the Garsees are in America for furlough.

Jude...looking a bit unsure about this ride...

LOOK! They're not FIGHTING!! WAHOO!!

Daddy and Jude being silly with our neck pillows...

Use #103 for using Bobby Pillows.
I love this picture of Jude...he thought this was sooo funny! hehehe...