Naturally Sweet!

My daughter has never had a sucker. She's not diabetic and doesn't have food problems but she's never eaten a sucker, a candy bar, a brownie and she's nearly 3 years old. How and why you ask?

I can't say it's as easy as it was when she was 1 since she's rapidly approaching the age of, "here do you want a sucker sweetie?" from the bank teller, grocery store clerk, gas station manager but we either say no thanks or we take it and toss it, depending on the situation and I LOVE the places that offer a sticker. That means there are no grocery store tantrums in the check out line and no requests for Pop Tarts on Saturday mornings (they aren't even in the house). She doesn't eat junk food. Don't get me wrong she loves pretzels, popcorn, crackers so we have to read labels for sodium but she'll beg for strawberries, blueberries, peanut butter with a little honey (yes, I know, there's sugar there but it's in the fruit too), and once in awhile she'll have a sugar free cookie. When she has pancakes she has sugar free syrup, for her birthday it's a reduced sugar cake and minimal icing, for dessert it might be a roll with a little honey, a yogurt in a "dessert" flavor, or even a banana.

I don't have an issue with sugar, personally I love sugar, but I've switched to Splenda myself and I am working hard to get over my own addition to sweets, especially chocolate. We are all eating healthier, reading labels more and I know it won't last forever I want her to understand that she can satisfy a craving for something sweet in other ways than chocolate.

With Easter just around the corner I am already working on her basket. There are some bubbles, a small kite, some seeds to plant and a puzzle but no candy. I'll write more as has basket gets closer to being finished but Easter brings spring weather so there is lots I can add without feeling a need to add a big chocolate bunny!

Blowing the Budget!

My family has recently taken a love to fruit. We've always been into apples, bananas and some of the summer berries but lately we've been eating blueberries, strawberries and so much more on a weekly basis and it's blowing my grocery budget! Does anyone have any tips for saving money on fruit? I shop at a warehouse store on occasion and always check their fruit for quality and price but it's not a huge savings and, like I said, we're eating lots of fruit every week.

I did find this site, it's nationwide, that I look forward to taking advantage of this summer and hopefully picking some of our own fruit but it's only March and here in KY our growing season is a short one!

http://www.pickyourown.org/KY.htm

Faith in Action

I'm not a minister, theologist or extremely knowledgeable of the Bible but I do know a little something about faith and I've seen faith in action lately, like never before.

A dear from of mine, from years ago, and I recently reconnected and she told me how her and her husband along with their child had felt called into foreign ministry. They are currently selling belongings, packing and praying for the journey ahead and I've found myself wondering, could I do the same thing? Although they are in a very different place (and location) they are leaving everything that is "home" to them to set off on a journey like never before. That is faith in action to me and I pray for them daily. They have had love and support, criticism and critics and I pray for their upcoming journey and strength as they prepare.

Another friend of mine found a lump in her breast, is younger than 30 and within 2 weeks of finding it had a double mastectomy and started chemo. As a young woman, mother and wife she has encountered things that I cannot imagine but she has never doubted her faith or questioned, why me. Since she has no family history and I've wondered, what if it was me, would me faith carry me through as it has her? She prays for healing and comfort but also for those who she met in and out of doctors offices and hospitals and she has a level of understanding that amazes me. I find myself praying for her a lot in every aspect I can think of, from financial debt (being sick is expensive!) to peace, to strength to sunny days. She has thrown away her rose colored glasses and know life isn't perfect but has an internal strength that I truly admire.

I don't tell these stories to make anyone sad or depressed because these people aren't. They have good days and bad but their faith and strength carries them through. I often feel like I have a faith meter and some days it's all the way at the top, ringing an imaginary bell like a carnival game, then other days it's just halfway there, then on some days it feels like the bottom wants to fall out and it takes a little more prayer to get things climbing, but it always climbs and when it's at the top, it's an amazing view.

I'm Back!

To say it's been awhile is putting it mildly but blogging got to feeling like a chore and not a pleasure so I took a break but I'm back with a new focus. Thanks to any readers who find me again and comments are welcome to leave a message!