Chewing Granola

Chewing Granola

     Ok, so it may be offensive to call people who are into green or natural products "Granola" but stick with me.  A few weeks ago, I chipped a tooth in the back.  Long story short, I grind my teeth on a regular basis and had worn that particular tooth out.  Also during this time, I have been researching and making natural chemical free items to use in the home from cleaners and dish detergent to toothpaste and body butter.  So the funny story is that Andy told me he knew why I chipped my tooth because "you are chewing granola at night".  HA Ha ha.  

     Over the past few years, I have come to realize that something is wrong.  I can count on both hands the number of people I know that have or have had some form of cancer.  Maybe 20 years ago, I was just not told when someone was sick or we just did not know what they were suffering from but I feel like every time I turn around, someone else has cancer.  

     I have also noticed that there never was a "peanut allergy" table in elementary school.  Why do we have so many allergies to foods?  So, I don't know the answer to that.  But one of the factors I do know that has changed is the foods we ingest.  I also think that 50 years ago, more natural cleaners were used verses today where everything was laden with chemicals.  So, my experiments so far:

• Toothpaste-the recipe I use is a little bitter (calls for adding stevia but I did not) but my teeth feel clean.
• Deodorant-I did not actually make this, I have been using Primal Pit Paste but I have most of the ingredients to make it myself when I run out.  I absolutely love it.  I will never go back to the old stuff.  In fact, I went back to it on Radius' 10 year anniversary Sunday because I felt like I needed extra protection and I felt like I smelled disgusting.  
• Household cleaner-Love it.  Super simple recipe and cleans great.
• Laundry Detergent-I have been making for a while and it is super cheap.
• Dryer Sheets-I just started making these...and they work great.
• Body Butter-It takes only a dab and at first may feel greasy but I will never go back to the chemicals.
• Body Scrubs-These make your hands feel silky smooth.
• Shampoo and Conditioner-My first try was last night and so far so good.  The apple cider vinegar was kinda smelly in the shower but my hair does not smell like it now. 

So next on the list is:

• dishwasher and dish detergent
• various snack foods my kids eat (fruit snacks, goldfish, etc)
• body wash for my boys
• my own deodorant recipe
• make up
• the list could go on forever...

     The first comment from my sister and my friend..."she has too much time on her hands".  Some of that may be true because I only work 2 days a week...but I am frugal...so I want to keep not having to work as much while my boys are young.  The more I make, the more I save...the more time I have on my hands.  
      So this is a new adventure and I am loving it so far.  Anyone want to jump on board with me?  Let me know if you want some recipes or if you would like me to make you something.  Love to you all!

The Kidney Bean

     Many of you know that I had a miscarriage in April.  It was a surprise baby that slipped out of our hands as quickly as she entered.  One thing I encourage others to do when they experience loss, is attempt to find a reminder...a tradition..something to remember what was lost.  After my loss, a friend gave me a gift card to Amazon.  I decided to use it to buy something for myself that would be a reminder of this life.  At first I contemplated a tattoo, but after further thought, I realized that my mom would shun me or worse.  I opted for a small silver kidney bean on a necklace.  When I wear it, I am reminded of the life that was forming inside me and was lost too soon.  I named her "Lannie Ruth" because my elderly friend, Ruth Mobley, would joke that if it was a girl...we should name her that.  I went through many mind games after my miscarriage, one of which included blaming myself (should've seen  that as part of the grief process...but grief is a rascal that sneaks up on even the most savvy of us...even those off us that  are trained to know).  

    Funny thing though, is that when I told Andy about what my mental struggle was...he reminded me that I am "not the author and sustainer of life".  Yeah...that truth hit me hard.  Regardless of my choices, God is in charge of that.  So...I moved on from blame.  

     This morning at church, it has been almost 2 months and the miscarriage was not forefront in my mind...but someone asked me about it with the "How are you feeling" question.  Which brought it back to my attention.  AND...then God chose for me to sing "Waiting Here for You" by Christy Nockels during worship...yep, that is me...waiting on God to move the mountains, have his way in my heart...basically always waiting on him because He is where my life..well life in general comes from. 

   So there I am this morning, slapped in the face again by my loss and my dependency on Jesus...and someone notices my necklace.  To the untrained eye, my necklace could appear to be a small silver bead on a necklace. But to this particular gal, she picked up on it quickly.  "Is that necklace from Tiffany's" (FYI, no it is not...the closest I get to that kind of expense is the Neeman Marcus shirt that Mrs. Mobley gave me...to which I tell everyone it is from Neeman Marcus because it makes me feel special...and I say it with a sweet affluent accent...Neeeeemahn Mah-cus).  Anywho, she goes on to tell me that it is a Tiffany thing to have kidney bean necklaces. I did not know.

   Fast forward to this evening, I decided to look up the necklace on Tiffany's website.  I kid you not...te description was "the bean represents the origin of all things".  BOOYAH!   Thank you Jesus for the simple yet very intricate way you work our lives so that your message commes through loud and clear.  I am thankful that you are in charge of things and not me.  I am also thankful that you find the time to weave such details to remind me that you remember my loss.  And you are here to hold me through it.  

Sometimes my musings come out in recipes:)

Greek Souvlaki Yumminess

    I love grilling in the summer.  Let me take that back, I love when Andy grills what I want to eat in the summer:).  I actually make this recipe in the house but I thought I would take it up a notch and make it on the grill...or ask Andy to make it on the grill after I get everything prepared.  

Marinade:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

3 tbs lemon juice

1 tbs oregano

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

(Make extra marinade or keep some to the side for veggies...don't mix with the meat because that is dangerous and gross:))

Place all ingredients in a bowl or ziploc bag and marinate in the refrigerator for an hour.

Cook chicken on the grill to internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Skewers:

Cherry tomatoes

2-4 Squash and zucchini

2 onions

Marinate veggies and skewer.  Cook on grill until tender.

Grill whole wheat pita bread briefly to warm.  

When all items come off the grill, take veggies off the skewer, give chicken a rough chop and combine in a bowl.  Add 1/2-1 container of Feta cheese and stir together (I like feta...so I add a lot.  You can also get reduced fat).

Tzatziki Sauce Recipe:

1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced

1 container of plain greek yogurt

1 tablespoon of dill weed, dried

1 tbs lemon juice

2 tbs olive oil

2 cloves garlic

1 tbs red wine vinegar

Combine all and place in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Assemble pitas with items from the grill and tzatziki sauce.  Some people add lettuce to their pitas, I do not prefer it.  Hope you enjoy!

God's Timing

God's Timing

But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,

    I wait for God my Savior;

    my God will hear me.

--Micah 7:7

Life is full of waiting.  It is in these times that we are reminded of how little control we have.  Anxiety breeds itself in the unknown.  Often times we find ourselves thinking and thinking our way into the hopes that we want...and we forget that God has our best in mind.  And get this...our plans may not be the best for us!  Crazy, I know.  

Rest in this verse this morning.  That we can watch in hope for the Lord, we can wait on Him...because He hears us.  So often, I find myself anxious in the "process" of life.  The process is where all of the waiting happens.  But when we get to the other side of the process, we find that God was changing us.  We are better because of the different processes that we experience in life.  If God handed us everything we wanted, we would be spoiled brats without a need to draw closer to Him.  We do the same for our kids.  We look out for their best interest because we love them and want them to succeed.  

God wants the same for us, but His success is not bound by our earthly measures.  So if you, like me, are in a process this morning.  Rest in the fact that once you are on the other side, His ways will become more clear.  This process will not last forever.

Hold My Hand

Copyright Lannie Ott 2004

So here's a little song I wrote.  Excuse the sound quality and the door slamming from my child coming inside...but this is a musing from my soul... I wrote this song for a friend who had been through some tough times.  Today, it speaks to me...

It Is Well With My Soul

"When peace like a river attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll.

Whatever my lot thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul"

--Horation Spafford

     It is a hymn I have sang for years.  Blow right through it without a thought...until I get to the last verse about Jesus coming through the clouds.  I can dig that.  But this morning...this first verse hit my heart like never before.  A month ago, I lost a baby.  Wasn't planning on being pregnant, but the excitement set in...and then it was ripped away from me.  How could a God who loves me and has the best in mind for me....how could he do this.  And on top of that...we are trying to sell our house...and nothing is happening!  And to top it off, a week after I lost my baby...my parent's house burned to the ground.  I read the book of Job that night...all the way through.  

    And it hit me this morning...when I am at peace, it is easy to say that it is well with my soul.  But pain comes my way and I want to be mad at God. In knowing the back story of this hymn, the author lost his financial status due to fire, sent his family on a boat ahead of him to Europe and the ship sank killing his four girls but his wife survived, and then his only that he and his wife had after the boat sinking died of scarlet fever.  My life certainly feels like that right now..whether mine is as bad in the eyes of others or not.  The pain is real and it is huge in my heart.  But this morning, I continue to realize that I have little control over my life.  And without Jesus, it would never be well with my soul in the sorrowful times.  I can't imagine the life where I did not have Jesus to hold this pain...a life where it would never be well with my soul.  

   Whatever my lot, Jesus, it is well...it is well with my soul.

    Welcome to the new blog!  I am constantly in awe of what God is teaching me on a daily basis and thought that maybe blogging about it would inspire others and just remind me of how God daily redeems my  life.  Today I read Proverbs 19:21 which says "We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God's purpose prevails" (MSG).  Isn't that so true?  As a mom, I have dreams for my kids, as a wife, I plan our future...and all for what? I spend so much time worrying about the future and God is in control of it regardless of the countless hours I stay awake in worry.  When bad things happen, we tend to  blame him instead of realizing that he makes good out of all things.  We serve a good God that knows what is best for us....even when it hurts.  I just needed to remind myself of that today.
    On a different note, I will be posting some videos of songs I have written and words God has put on my heart  for a reason.  I hope they bring peace, comfort, and remind you of the love that God has for you.  Stay tuned for a video in the next few days.  Love to you all.