A Picture Perfect Thanksgiving

When I say I began preparations for Thanksgiving early, I mean really early. Like, within 5 minutes of realizing that 11 adults and 6 children would be joining us around the table for the festivities, I started putting my new dining room table to the test…pulling out the leaves, and trying to arrange 11 chairs around it. I bought the biggest tablecloth I could find. I bought placemats. I searched the basement for the 13 place settings of fine china we got for our wedding 8 years ago and only used once since. Honestly, I would’ve gone ahead and set the table weeks ago if I weren’t having a large group at my house the Sunday before. (It’s embarassing enough when people come over and see your house decked out for Christmas before Thanksgiving. I could not rationalize also having my table set for Thanksgiving 5 days in advance.)

In my defense, I have always wanted to host a big, nice holiday dinner but never had the space to do it. For years were were in our little apartment, then our townhouse with our small round glass table in the eat in kitchen. Last year we got the big dining room but had no table in it, nor did our family come to us for the holidays. Now that we’re in Syracuse, we are able to have both sides of our families together. My family lives local and we have enough room to house Brian’s family. Enter the Thanksgiving dinner party of my dreams. At long last I’d have the opportunity to channel my inner Martha Stewart and produce a tradition-worthy holiday.

We busted out the good china, we pulled in extra chairs, we planned, shopped, planned and shopped some more. We bought a 20 pound turkey, and when that turkey stunk up the garage fridge…and the rest of the garage, we got another one. We ironed table linens and wiped the dust off the fine china (ok, let’s be honest, I ironed the table linens and wiped the dust off the fine china…there is only so much domestication I can subject my husband to). We cooked as much as we could in advance, divvied up the cooking with our guests, and on Thanksgiving day, all systems were go. Things went relatively smoothly, except for the fact that our 22 lb turkey defied the laws of physics and took close to 5 hours to come up to temp. Fortunately the appetizers and spirits had been out for a couple of hours already so no one seemed to mind the delay (except for me, obviously).

It was an absolute blast…even before dinner started! How blessed we are to have such great families, immediate and extended, that we can all get together and have an enjoyable relaxing day together. And sitting down for the main event was no exception. So when everyone was finishing up dinner and my younger sister Caroline leaned over to me (repeatedly, despite my attempts to ignore her) and suggested we go around the table and say what we’re thankful for, I set into a bit of a panic. Everything had gone so well thus far…families blending…no awkwardness, and she wanted to put this occasion to the ultimate awkward test by “passing the mic” around this table of adults? Martha would not approve of such impromptu and unscripted holiday fun.

But when she ignored the fact that I was ignoring her and announced her idea to the entire table, I was pleasantly surprised (and bashfully put in my place). I will forever remember this Thanksgiving by the things said around that table. Everyone was honest, and transparent. We shared our joys and the blessings we had found in the midst of loss, sadness and unrest. We thanked each other for each other. We said the things that we often assume the people we love already know, but they so love hearing it. We learned more about the people we didn’t know that well, and we learned more about the people we thought we knew really well.

All in all, it was not planned, it was not prepared. It couldn’t be set up in advance, or purchased. I could not iron the wrinkles out of it, or wipe the dust off of it in preparation. But it was, without question, the most beautiful part of our picture perfect Thanksgiving day.

30

This morning I slept until 8:45. Avery left yesterday to spend a couple of days with Grammy and Poppa, so I had no 6:45 am wake-up call. As a sidenote, Avery’s wake-up call is very much that. More of a wake-up demand, actually. She literally yells from the other side of the house “Moooooooooooooooom…is it morning time yet? Mooooooooooooom…wake up and come get me” until I do.

With that obstacle to uninterrupted sleep, I still did not expect to stay asleep this late, but by some miracle, neither my bladder nor Posh’s woke me up early. So with no child to call me out of bed and begin requesting a breakfast buffet the moment her toes hit the floor, what am I to do on this rare peaceful morning?

Not sure how it happened, but here I am. It’s been months and people often ask me (not true, no one really asks anymore) why I stopped blogging. I never really knew why but I guess it’s just that I don’t make time for it. So since I’m sitting here, sipping coffee and relishing my unscheduled time, I will update anyone in the world who cares on what’s been going on with me.

First and foremost, I am just under 48 hours away from turning THIRTY. And guess what? I’m pretty pumped. Lucky for me, most of my friends, and my husband, are older than me, so I have the luxury of still feeling pretty young, relatively speaking (sorry guys, but its true!). I also live a very “old” life, so I’m welcoming thirty. Besides that, I met a woman last week who, when I told her I was about to celebrate a milestone birthday, was insistent that I was turning 21, and did not believe me when I told her the truth. I don’t know where this woman came from, but I love her.

I guess big milestone birthdays make you stand back and take a look at your life. When I do I like to look at it from the perspective of my younger self…say 16 year old Libby. My teenage self would obviously hope  and expect that I’d have found that special someone by now. Check! 8 years with my best friend, who still makes me laugh more than anyone else, and loves me despite AAAAAAAAALLLLLL my imperfections. Yup I did ok in that department.

Sweet sixteen Libby was surprisingly goal oriented, so I’m thinking she’d have expected that by now I’d be the next Katie Couric, or on the road thereto. Well that plan was revised early on, but in the career category I really couldn’t ask for more right now. Since my change in fields a few years ago, it’s been a rough road, but changes over the last year have put me in a position where I several times a day find myself thinking “I love my job.” I think that in itself is a success, to love what you do and feel that you’re doing a good job of it. So I think I earned a checkmark there.

My 16 year old self, in all her earthly wisdom, probably did not think much about kids, but I’m putting a huge checkmark in that category! Although her wake-up calls keep getting earlier, there is no sweeter face to wake up to every morning and put to sleep every night. There is nothing in this world that keeps me in check like the co-responsibility of teaching and training this sweet little life. My goodness I love that little girl.

I think one of the last things people in general want to have under their belt when they hit a milestone is some sense of purpose, or the feeling of being part of something bigger than they are. This past year has made me examine the meaning beneath this in a whole new way. When we were part of Northway Church it was so easy to put a checkmark in that category. Loving and investing in others was literally on my calendar every week. Now, my beliefs are the same, my desire to serve God by serving others is the same. The challenge is figuring out what exactly that looks like on a daily basis.

Yes, we have found a phenomenal church, and I’m thrilled to finally be getting involved in music there. But after 9 solid months of not being involved in any official volunteering capacity, I have been challenged like never before to live out my purpose on this earth in a completely non-organized fashion. And it has been so, so hard. Why? Because I have come to the conclusion that God’s purpose for my life is to break me down and teach me lessons that only He and I can judge if I’m learning. And they’re not the easy ones. Rather, I’m recognizing that I need to do the following: Be humble. Be unselfish. Love everyone around me, from the angry receptionist I encounter at work, to the almost 3 year old who wants to play checkers with me while I’m making dinner…and love them more than myself. The problem with these is I can’t put them on my schedule…they come at me without warning, often at the most inconvenient times, and my challenge and purpose is to respond the right way in that moment.

It’s so much harder to put a checkmark in this category, but recognizing where my purpose lies and what I’m supposed to be doing is probably half the battle…or at least a third! I recently heard Pastor Doug put this in such great perspective for me. He said that living life in Christ is not about attaining to a standard, or for me, passing all of these little tests that come at me every day. Rather, it’s recognizing the standard and that I can’t be expected to measure up perfectly, so I fall back on Him. Literally, I fall back and rest in Him, and I stay standing because I have a greater support system. Doug literally had someone up there catching his fall. He fell back in exhaustion, and almost to his surprise, someone caught him and held him up.

So in the purpose category, that image is in my head…me falling back and resting in Him. I would say that’s a very accurate image of how I find myself as I approach this milestone birthday. Perfect? Not even close. Striving? Yes. Failing? Mostly. But thank God I have a solid understanding of where I stand, and Who I fall on. And among the many, many, many things I’m grateful for, that is the foremost.

So when people ask me how I feel about this big birthday, I think they expect me to say something along the lines of “29 forever.” But truthfully, I can’t help but smile. Bring it on 30. Life is good…very good!

What’s Up?

Wow…it’s been a while since my last blog! We have made a lot of transitions lately and I wanted to take a minute to catch you guys up on what The Howe family has been up to!! We moved to Syracuse in January to be closer to our family! Lots of snow…but I love me some ‘Cuse basketball!!

I have been accepted into a Masters Program and I am excited to pursue a life long dream of continuing my education. My Masters degree will be an MA in Human Services  with a specialization in Executive Leadership. This degree will really help me in some areas that I know I can get better in as I move into what God has called me to do! I am preparing for what God has prepared for me! Libby is kicking butt in sales…she is so excited about her new job and has really excelled in the first few months. She actually just left for New Jersey for training for 2 weeks…pray for me…better yet pray for Avery

Speaking of Avery, she is continuing her world domination as the cutest kid on the planet!!

I know for many of you, our transition was a surprise. I also know that whenever there is a transition in leadership in any venue…the people who are hurt by the transition can sometimes jump to their own conclusion of why it happened. I want to help clear up any confusion you may have.

I have heard some people say that they thought  I was “forced” out or that I did not leave on my own account. Real clear here…that is the farthest thing from the truth. If you are spreading this rumor you are spreading a lie…just stating the truth

Simply put, I knew that my season at Northway Church was over. I felt God leading and calling me to something new. Out of loyalty to my God, my Pastor, and my Church, I made the decision that it was time for my family and I to move on to what God had for us next. I initiated a conversation with Pastor and the leadership of NC. They were very supportive and beyond accommodating and kind during the transition. I truly believe that they want what is best for me and my family.

For nearly 8 years I had the opportunity to do life with and learn from Pastor Buddy, I consider him a mentor, my Pastor, and my friend. I believe in him and his vision to reach the Northeast with the Good News of Jesus. I am a better husband, dad, and leader because of my time under Pastor Buddy’s leadership. I believe God is going to continue to use Northway Church to reach the Northeast for Jesus, and I believe the best days for Northway are still ahead of her.

My family and I are so excited for what the future holds for both us and our friends back at Northway Church!  If you had some questions about how we were doing, hopefully now you have some answers. I want to encourage you, if you have questions regarding Northway Church please bring them to the leadership there. That is the biblical thing to do. I know first hand how much they love you and would love to answer any questions you may have.

We miss and are so thankful for our Northway family. Even though life has taken us on a different path in our Journey, we will be watching and cheering you on and I know you will be cheering us on as well!!

Family Time

This weekend’s showings have provided us with an abundance of family time. We pile in the car (Posh too) with no particular place to go, and no hurry to get there. Today’s second showing of the day landed us at Esperanto for lunch, where an unforgettable family memory was made…Brian teaching Avery how to eat pizza “like a big girl” (folded in half of course). It took a little practice, but eventually she got the hang of it

Aaaaaah, pizza like a pro. Let the feast begin…

Heading to Haiti

This June I (Brian) have the opportunity to travel to Haiti and be a part of the country’s rebuilding…quite literally. Many experts have said that Haiti’s fragile future lies in the hands of its youth, who will ultimately determine their success or failure in rebuilding a stable country. Among the many affected youth in Haiti are 62 young orphans, whose orphanage was leveled as a result of the recent earthquake.

Through the Foundation for Children in Need, I will be traveling with a group of people to help reconstruct this orphanage. Currently, these 62 children are living under tents and eating, at best, one meal a day of rice and beans. Many of them have not been held in weeks, unless by eachother. In addition to construction, we will be bringing much needed food, water, diapers, and supplies to the orphanage, as well as playing with and loving these children.

My personal goal is not only to raise the funds to cover my trip, but to raise additional funds to help sustain the 62 children living in this orphanage. $93 provides one day of food, diapers, personal care and cleaning supplies for the entire orphanage.

You can donate by mailing a check made out to Brian Howe with “Haiti” in the memo. You can also donate online by visiting FFCIN’s donation page, then under Volunteer Program, choose “Brian Howe” from the drop down list, and click “Make A Donation.” Libby’s name is still listed as we originally planned on taking this trip together, but her new job prevents her from coming, so please make any donations under my name.

Thank you so much for partnering with me, and making a lasting investment in the future of these children.

Brian Howe

A happy medium?

So I’ve been home for about six weeks and my life as a stay at home mom has evolved significantly since I started out. I remember when I was working, if I found myself with ONE day at home I would get soooo excited and immediately start making lists in my head (or on my phone) of all of the long overdue projects that needed to be completed that day. Sometimes it would be as simple as 1. Dishes 2. Laundry. If I was particularly on top of my game, I might tackle reorganizing the pile of shoes in my closet, or cleaning out the garage.

Well you can imagine my list(s) when I found out I’d have an extended amount of time at home. Visions of a perfectly organized closet, garage, and a pristine house that never had dirty clothes or dishes in it danced merrily in my head. In fact, I didn’t even need to make the lists, because I knew it would all get done, and if it didn’t, I still had the next day to get it done, or the next day, and so on.

But that’s exactly what the problem is. There is absolutely no urgency around my projects. So little in fact that they haven’t even been listed. If I’m honest, my approach to each day at home has changed significantly since the beginning of January. For example, I had a stunning start out of the gate…I’d get up before Avery, shower, sometimes even exercise, and Brian came home every day to a perfectly clean house, dinner, and some sort of amazing pronouncement like “I emptied, cleaned, reshelved, repainted and reorganized the pantry alphabetically and by expiration date today.” Every night when I turned off the lights and headed upstairs, the toys were neatly packed and tucked behind the couch so I couldn’t see them when I walked downstairs. The dishes were clean and put away. Brian’s lunch was ready to go in the fridge. Even the coffee was set to brew at 6:45 sharp the next morning for another perfectly productive day as a domestic diva.

[Yes, if you're wondering, I have mild OCD.]

And as time passed some interesting things happened. I mean, you adjust to some of the changes of staying at home pretty quickly, like deciding what to wear (or if you should change out of pajamas at all) when the only people who will see you are yourself and your 16 month old, or gradually paring down your get ready routine, and getting used to the sight of yourself without makeup on.

But these changes are a little different. The toys? After putting them away and pulling them back out 46 times I realized that may not be the most productive use of my time. And the kitchen? Well I obsess over having it immaculately clean, but it only stays that way for a half hour, so what’s the use in that? And as for the projects…well I have cleaned out the shoes in my closet but the bag that needs to go to goodwill is still sitting in my hall.

No, clearly these behaviors were not effective. I had to find a better way to use my time at home. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still getting the important stuff done, but what about all those other little carveouts of time? Like when Avery sleeps an extra half hour and I have a peaceful house all to myself with no pressing to-do’s on my list?

I haven’t really figured out what the best uses of my time are, but what I can tell you is this: Yesterday, I sat down and watched 20 straight minutes of Dr. Oz. In the middle of the day. It was glorious. He was talking about bioterrorism. I got so freaked out I made a list of emergency items to keep in the house and told Brian that we needed to designate an emergency meeting place in case we encountered a disaster (to which he responded, wryly, “ok I have the perfect place…home”). Oh, and this morning, I woke up to the sound of Avery banging on her crib and singing (not screaming, singing) “mama,” walked to her room in my robe, went downstairs and sipped coffee, watched the Today show and played for the first hour of my day. 

Yes, I realize I’m swinging from one extreme to another, and I’m really not sure where I’m going to land on this issue, but I do know this much. This morning at 7:30 while I was sitting on the floor sipping coffee, Avery gave me a huge bear hug, rested her head on my shoulder, patted my back and said “Mama” over and over. I will never, ever forget that moment. As for my messy garage…well it will still be there tomorrow.

My life as a SAHM

That title pretty much sums my experience of being at home with Avery. Why? Well for starters, 2 months ago, I didn’t even know there was an abbreviation for Stay at Home Mom. I thought you were just a mom who got to stay at home. And to some extent I am, but, as the acronym suggests, being a “SAHM” is a unique career that, until you’re in it, you really can’t begin to understand.

How can I put this in non-SAHM’s terms…Have you ever had (or, most likely, left) a job where you felt like the people you worked with were children, and you spent most of your time cleaning up their messes? I think you know where I’m going with this! This morning, for example, I thought I had discovered a way to carve out seven minutes for myself to do the dishes. Avery has taken a recent interest in Posh’s food bowl, and learned several weeks ago not to touch the water (or eat the food), but to take out the food and then let Posh eat it off the floor. Talk about killing two birds with one stone – dog and baby entertained. About 45 seconds into doing the dishes I discovered Avery sitting in a small pond of dog-mouth infested water, sprinkled with soggy pellets of food.

There’s a little taste for you, but that’s a pretty typical experience here in SAHM land. Now, I must point out that my current experience isn’t really standard, since I’m in a sort of limbo here looking for a new job, and am also without a car. I’m sure my super-SAHM peers find fantastic activities to keep them and their children entertained, and have projects and goals that keep the days from getting repetitive. And while I sometimes do have a car and manage an outing, I really have no goals for myself other than the following: keep the house clean, keep the kid clean, make dinner and look for jobs.

Obviously I’m not naming the LONG list of advantages to being at home, but that’s not the point of this particular post. The point is to let the world know once and for all that staying at home is among the most challenging of jobs (and I only have ONE KID)! Today I woke up and was on duty at 6:30 am, despite a stomachache and the remains of a stubborn cold. No calling in sick on this assignment! I was greeted by a wildly energetic 16 month old with a steaming hot surprise in her diaper, as I am with the dawning of each new day. Joy. I’ve also learned that the more I’ve been home, the more attached Avery is to me, which has resulted in a little girl who demands nothing less than momma’s full attention when she’s awake, making even the smallest of tasks a whole new challenge. I’ll clock out around 6:30 or 7 tonight, probably put in another 30 minutes so I can check off “keep the house clean” from my to-do list, and call it a day.

Am I complaining? Absolutely not! This particular job boasts some very exclusive benefits, including therapeutic fits of unstoppable laughter, energy-boosting tickle fights, and tons of affirming hugs and peanut butter flavored kisses. But if I’m being honest, when I learned that I was going to be at home starting January 1st, I may have thought to myself “Aaaah, what a nice, restful vacation this will be for me.”

Don’t worry, I stand corrected!

A few more recipes…

Oops, so I severely slacked in providing a weekly menu! My apologies! But here are a few more recipes to get you through and then I do promise to provide a couple really good Superbowl recipes!

Penne with roasted vegetables: This is a favorite of Brian’s and mine and we just omitted the cheese and butter. I even made my own sauce and put some spinach in it. I would use less peas, maybe a half cup, and make sure you bake it covered or it will dry out.

Mexican anything: We tried veggie crumbles last week but were not big fans, so instead, we just mix up some corn & black beans (I didn’t even bother to season them, but you could), and use that in place of taco meat, and you have MANY possibilities. You could make Burritos with rice, fat free refried beans, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa and guacamole with some fresh cilantro. YUM. Or hard tacos. YUM. Or even just throw it all over some corn chips and have nachos. Again, YUM!

Quesadillas: I know these are technically mexican but they deserve a listing of their own. Use the whole wheat wraps, put some refried beans on both sides since you’re not using cheese and you’ll need “glue,” and I just throw in black beans, corn, bell peppers & onions. Then top them with some salsa and guacamole. They’re DEEEELICIOUS.

Stir Fry: This is a chicken stir fry recipe that I’m going to attempt to make this weekend with just lots of veggies. Try it out! Stir fry some broccoli, carrots, celery, onion, and whatever other veggies you’d like for 4-5 minutes in a tbsp or 2 of oil. Add this mixture (already mixed) 1 tbsp cornstarch, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 1/2 tsp ground ginger, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, and 1 cup of stock. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Serve over brown rice.

Minestrone Soup: I am a huge fan of allrecipes.com and this recipe is another catch from their site. I did not include the zucchini, used stock instead of water and seasoning, added an extra can of diced tomatoes, and used WAY more italian herbs. And per Brian’s request I added about 10 oz whole wheat penne (already cooked). It was awesome. In fact I’m eating the leftovers right now.

Granola Bites: A friend passed these on to another friend, who passed them on to me, and I am ever grateful! Place 2 tbsp almonds and 1/4 cup of oats in a food processor, process to fine crumbs and set aside. In a large bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups oats with 1/3 cup each dried apples, apricots and raisins (all finely chopped), and 2 tbsp raw sunflower seeds and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Then combine the dry ingredients with 1/2 cup natural peanut butter, 1/4 cup honey, and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Form them into 1″ balls (or smaller for kids, Avery loves them) and coat them with the almond mixture. Refrigerate about 4 hours and enjoy! They keep really well in an airtight container and are great snack, breakfast, or dessert options.

Bon Appetit!

Fast Facts

Here are some more thoughts for those of you planning to participate in the Daniel Fast with Northway Church.

• Families: Obviously the complete Daniel Fast may not be appropriate for children depending on their age. For example, our 1 year old, who can’t even begin to comprehend the purpose of the fast, will not be participating at all. But as our family grows I hope to have my kids increase their participation as they age. For example, a young child could give up a few of their favorite foods, a kid in grade school could give up sugar and/or soda, and a teenager could follow the entire fast but perhaps just add in chicken for protein. Again, the attitude is what’s important.
  Overall, I see fasting as a family as a great opportunity to really pass the torch on to our kids. Maybe another part of the fast is turning off the TV between certain hours, having dinner as a family and refocusing on the purpose of the fast. The more I think about it, I’m really looking forward to doing this as our family grows.
• COFFEE: Giving up coffee is hands down the most challenging part of the fast for me! I’ve actually considered brewing it in the morning just to wake up to that sweet smell. But I think that would actually be slightly torturous. If you’re like me and just really want something hot to drink in the morning, herbal tea with honey is your best bet. Not black tea, not decaf tea, but herbal tea.
• Water: Cutting meat, dairy, sugar, artifical additives, caffiene and preservatives from your diet will pretty much put your body in a mild detox. Ok, a moderate detox! Water is key. First of all, it’s pretty much the only thing you will be drinking. Second, it will help flush toxins out of your system as they’re naturally released by your body. And for those of you who start your day with coffee every day…and maybe require a pickup in the afternoon too…I have no idea what the science is behind this but drinking water throughout the day will keep that massive caffeine headache at bay. Oh don’t get me wrong, you’ll probably still get it on day one, but it won’t be as bad if you’re well hydrated.
• Breakfast: You can make a very quick and easy breakfast on the Daniel Fast. Just buy Old Fashioned Oats (you don’t even have to get the quick cooking ones) and put them in a big bowl (otherwise it will boil over) with about 2x as much water and microwave 2-3 minutes. I used to even do this at work. Add in a banana, some cinnamon and honey and you’re good. You could add apple too, but I would actually cook that in the microwave with the oatmeal so it softens more and gives off some of its flavor.
  Don’t forget that especially while fasting it is very important to keep eating protein, so add a handful of nuts to your breakfast, or try a couple of spoonfuls of natural peanut butter with your oatmeal (hmmm, and maybe some all fruit jelly…)
• Fast Food: No, you obviously can’t eat fast food, but I would keep some prepared foods handy in case you’re running out the door to work and don’t have leftovers handy. One option is a grocery store with a salad bar, or Salad Creations, where you can choose your ingredients and dressings. As far as prepared foods you can buy, there aren’t many out there, but Amy’s Organics makes a few great canned soups that are completely vegan. For example, Amy’s Black Bean Vegetable soup is a great option (in fact there are several soups on that page that would work, check the ingredients though, as some include dairy or pasta). These canned goods are also great if you want to take a night off of cooking.
• Snacks: The following will be in my house in abundance for the next 3 weeks:
  - Unsalted Nuts
  - Rice cakes with natural peanut butter and all fruit jelly (At my grocery store, the store brand of rice cakes, if you check the label, is made with whole grain brown rice). If you think rice cakes taste like cardboard, trust me, keep some of these handy. By Wednesday mid morning, they will taste like little drops of heaven
  - Popcorn. Popcorn? Yes, Popcorn! About a tbsp of oil, about a half cup of kernels depending on the size of your pot, shake it up so the kernels are coated, turn the burner on high, and let them pop away. Add a little sea salt. Mmmmm. Delicious and way cheaper than the bags.
  - Hummus and veggies. This is a great snack with protein to keep you going, and the best part is you can add some variety by changing up the veggies and the flavor of hummus. You can make your own hummus too but, well, I’ll be doing enough cooking next week, I’ll take the store bought hummus!
• Weighing the results: OK now an obvious result of cutting all the garbage out of your diet for three whole weeks is that your pants will probably fit a little – ok, a LOT better. And let’s be honest, who’s not excited about that?! But having thought a lot about the upcoming fast and what I personally want to gain from it, I’ve decided my scale is going into storage for the duration of the fast. I know that I’m inclined to lose focus, and I want to keep my eyes on the spiritual gain, not the physical losses, so I challenge you to do it with me! The physical health is a natural byproduct, but the spiritual health is the true purpose, so don’t let a focus on the former trump the latter!

Fast Prep

I found a few free minutes this morning and thought I’d use it to prepare for the Daniel Fast next week. If you’re planning on participating with Northway Church in this three week fast, I hope this info and the recipes I have will be helpful.

Brian and I have done the Daniel fast in the past, and as this one came up, if I’m being completely honest, I found myself dreading it, but not for the obvious reasons of limiting certain foods. I was not as concerned about the eating limitations as I was about the extra time, thought and energy it would take to feed our family on it. Realizing that the true purpose of the fast is to direct focus away from food and towards God, I’m hoping that an extra dose of preparation will help me to do just that rather than getting caught up in the minutae of shopping and cooking.

So here it is, this week’s menu for our family, complete with recipes. Keep in mind that some substitutions can be made consistently. For example, if a recipe calls for chicken stock you can use vegetable stock. If it calls for sugar, try honey instead, etc.

Monday we’ll conclude the 24 hour juice fast with a couple of my all time favorite recipes that just happen to be Daniel Fast friendly: Sweet Potato Fries, Mediterranean Succotash and Brown Rice Pilaf (no recipe for this one, just brown rice prepared with a little veg stock with veggies added in…carrots, peas, mushrooms, corn…whatever you want).

Tuesday I’m trying out a new recipe, Spicy Bean Soup. Probably with a salad.

Wednesday we’ll have Channa Masala, an Indian dish with curried chick peas, potatoes and peas in a tomato sauce. I’ll serve it over basmati brown rice. If you don’t like Indian food, then – well first off if you don’t like Indian food, I kinda feel sorry for you because you’re MISSING OUT! But truth is, this would be a great recipe for you to try out Indian food with because you can control the spice level yourself by adding less of the curry paste. Just try it ok?!

Thursday nights Brian and I aren’t home, which brings me to another point. These recipes are all very leftover friendly, with the exception of the sweet potato fries (do not eat them leftover ever…finish the whole pan). Which means you’re all set for lunches, and that busy weeknight you don’t have time to cook.

Friday night we’ll visit another delicious foreign dish, Thai Curry with Basil, which I’ll serve over brown rice.

Figure in lots of leftovers and that’s week one in a nutshell. Not so bad, huh?

Let me conclude with this. I know the point of the fast really isn’t to see how deliciously you can eat while still following the restrictions of the fast (although with these recipes you may feel that way), but no matter how you view the food, the restrictions, the routine – all of it – the real point is the spirit in which you participate. If you’re approaching it as a burden and plan to complain your way through it, why even bother? If you approach it as an adventure through which you intend to focus more energy and attention on the One who made the ultimate sacrifice for you (hmmm, food for thought there, kinda makes giving up sugar, meat and dairy pale in comparison huh), you can’t lose. Whether you eat plain beans and rice leftover every night or take a vegan culinary journey around the globe every week, the spirit you do it with will determine the outcome.

So whether it’s making my menu, writing out the list, spending extra time shopping or a few extra minutes cooking every night, I’m hoping that this entire change of pace will be an opportunity to harness my thoughts and draw closer to God. Because even if I follow each and every guideline of the fast to a T, if I miss out on the true purpose, I’ve really just wasted three weeks of delicious greasy food haven’t I.

Tomorrow I’ll be posting some tips and tricks for breakfast and snacks throughout the day, not just dinner recipes. Also, I’ll be posting my recipes for the following two weeks as well, and concluding with the meatiest, cheesiest Superbowl menu you could ever imagine for the Sunday we break the fast!