the best career on earth...Journal #52-11/13/2010

On My Mind....unconditional love, forgiveness, and kindness

Celebration....moving forward...learning new skills...trusting in the Lord.

Praying For...Sons and daughters of God that serve Him in dangerous places. The leaders of nations that their hearts will be softened and will desire to do right. Claire Bear... she is such a character and a darling little girl. I just never felt the way most people do about toddlers and twos. They are fantastic. I pray for her protection, safety, joy, and health and the same for all children of the earth. Praying for peace. Praying for our soon to be missionary. Praying for the end of health ruining propaganda in this country.

Homemaking...is the best career on the earth. Not only did I get to raise a brood of wonderful children that turned out to be fantastic, strong, thinking adults, I get to use the skills I learned to bless the lives of others now. It is a wonderful feeling to put one's all into serving the people one loves.

Commitment to Health...Deliciousness...

I love to cook soup for our Sabbath meal, this week will be the following curry. It's sort of a mix between Thia and Indian style curries. Monday, our Mediterranean Day, I'll cook the Greek meal following. Food does not have to be unhealthy to be interesting and delicious.

Spicy Chickpea and Pumpkin Soup

4 c. cooked garbanzos
2 c. water
1 can coconut milk (or 2 more cups water if you are trying to lose weight)
1 c. cooked pumpkin or other orange winter squash

1 T. lemon juice
4 cloves garlic
1 thumb-size piece ginger, minced

1 onion, minced

1 t.  crushed red pepper

3/4 t. turmeric
1 t. ground coriander
1 t. ground cumin
1/4 t. cinnamon
1 T. lime juice
2 stocks celery, coarsely chopped
1 bell pepper, coarsely chopped

2 c. baby spinach, cut in ribbons 
1 c. cooked brown rice
1/4 c. unsweetened, dried coconut flakes
1/4 c.  fresh basil leaves
1/8 c. sliced chives 

Put garbanzos, pumpkin, coconut milk, spices, tomato paste, and water in a pot and bring to a simmer for 20 minutes. Remove from heat and puree 1/2 the soup until smooth in a blender. At this point the soup can be refrigerated for 2-3 days before proceeding, making it a great Sabbath Meal choice. Stir in bell pepper and celery and bring to a simmer. Stir in spinach, rice, lemon juice, and lime juice, heating until spinach wilts. Meanwhile, toast the coconut over low heat in a small saucepan for 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until lightly browned. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with a scattering of toasted coconut, chives, and basil leaves. Serves 4 with a nice leafy lettuce salad with Thia peanut dressing on the side. (1/4 c.soy sauce, 1/4 c. tofu, 1/4 c. smooth peanut butter, 1T. sesame seeds, 1 T. apple cider vinegar, blend until very smooth in a blender)

Yigandes Plaki

1 pound lima beans
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
2 medium onions, finely chopped
1 pound of ripe tomatoes, peeled, finely chopped (or 16oz. can diced tomatoes)
1 T. Mrs. Dash
1/4 t. cayenne
2 tablespoons of fresh parsley, chopped
unsalted kalamata olives would be excellent as a garnish for this dish if you can find them

Soak beans in distilled water for 24 hours. Drain and rinse. Add the beans to a slow cooker with enough distilled water to barely cover, onion, and garlic. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Drain and set aside. Preheat the oven to 325F. Add tomatoes, cayenne, parsley, and water, and turn slow cooker to high for 30 minutes. Bake 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Remove from the oven. Garnish with additional fresh, chopped parsley and lemon wedges. Serves 4with tabouli salad on the side.

Tabouli

1 c. soaked and cooked spelt, kamut, or other ancient wheat (1/3 c. dry)
2 c. distilled water
1 cucumber, chopped
2 small tomatoes, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/2 c. fresh chopped mint
2 c. fresh chopped parsley
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
juice and zest from one lemon (or two if you really like things lemony)
freshly ground pepper to taste (I like it spicy, since I don't add salt)
1 head of leaf lettuce


Soak spelt in water for 24 hours. Put in rice cooker, cover with water, and cook on the warm setting for 6-8 hours. When it's tender, drain any excess water, and squeeze dry. Put in the fridge until ready to use. Prepare the vegetables for the salad and mix with the lemon juice. Stir in cold spelt. Serve on a bed of shredded leaf lettuce.

 Appearance...new denim A-line, patterned blue long-sleeved T, black tights, black Madeira Birkenstocks--I love these shoes and this is my third pair. They are a little funky, but I'm a little funky. They last for years and are quintessentially comfortable.

Scripture Meditations..."When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)" Matthew 24:15

Towards a Real Education...I spend a lot of time drawing and writing about what I learn. I used to get half blank books for this purpose but haven't been able to find them for years. Just as I was about to give up, a friend sent this link. I'm buying this to start my next Nature Journal. I'm moving foward with the same resources, preparing for lots of tests from January-June. BA, MH, MEd, ND here I come.
 
What's Coming....17 days and counting....It will be so nice to have so many around for Thanksgiving and the ensuing weekend. Our house will be packed, since we are expecting around 16 people sometime over the course of the weekend. It's at times like these that I rue the day we sold our farm and big house.

Commitment to Loveliness...Simple Pleasure...sewing...teaching Spencer at this late hour to use the sewing machine. Before I was always leery to do it on account of his hands. Lately, he has received a blessing of healing with more coordination and strength. Hurray! Praise God! So he's making a small velvet pillow to take on his mission. Like me, he's really into textures; velvet is comforting. Also I'm having fun designing and making new skirts.

Commitment to Loveliness...Wild Days...this week I spent several enjoyable hours with my nature journal, as I listened to lectures. It's a great combination. We had snow and frigid temps the beginning of the week, but by Thursday things warmed up to a nice briskness. The wind died down, which I am so thankful for. Although I attempt to find joy and B+ in all God's gifts, the wind is a little more difficult to enjoy. I can't wait to get the new journal I'm hoping to get for Christmas this year.

Commitment to Loveliness...Music...I really miss playing music and singing. I plan to take up my piano playing and hymn memorization again. I want another Simple Hymns book. I hope to get the missionary edition for Spencer. After 11 years of piano lessons, he does not need simplified anything, but the format of the book lends itself nicely to his love of improvisation.

Commitment to Health...I had pneumonia 3X, the flu several times, and lots of colds in the first 9 months of 2010. I'm joining the the six week holiday challenge. Beginning next Saturday, November 20.  The idea to focus on the holidays as an time to accelerate getting healthier, rather than an invitation for a six week binge is inspiring and empowering. I usually get really sick and depressed in January but begin to doubt it's from the weather. Instead it may be a result of binging on toxic food. So, I'm taking the challenge to continue to get healthier.

The six-week plan in Eat to Live encourages the making  of good and breaking of bad habits/toxic food cravings. Although I'm already there with my habits, I could stand a bit more help with cravings for tortillas. Really, it's so irritating to have to talk myself out of this every couple of weeks. You would think the lack of digestive upsets and angina would keep this problem at bay. These changes are permanent for me now and have revolutionized me health even if I have to fight tortilla cravings.

This year instead of opening my eyes on January 1st, thick around the middle, sick, and depressed, I plan to jump out of bed feeling pleased with my choices, energetic, positive, and absolutely not hacking with pneumonia or burning with fever.  1) I'll continue to following Dr. Fuhrman’s six week plan, 2) only eat when hungry as explained by DF in his books, 3) completely eliminating salt, 4) continue to drink two green smoothies and 1 gallon distilled water every day, 5) eat at least a pound of greens and a pound of other non-starchy veggies every day, 6) continue to avoid all processed foods especially sugar, 7) develop a new nutritarian recipe every week, 8) exercise in nature at least 60 min everyday, 9) and maintain my B+ attitude. 2010 will be the year I go through the holidays without a physical, mental, or spiritual meltdown. 2011 will find me looking and feeling better than I did before the holidays and knowing I have not sabotaged my well-established, healthy habits that I intend to keep for a lifetime.