Too Busy To Listen

We have been in the midst of this great sermon series at church, entitled Too Busy To Listen.  I also just finished reading Lysa TerKeurst’s new book, The Best Yes.  The two have spoken to me so deeply, especially with this being the start of a new school year for my kids, and my return to my second year at my part-time job at preschool.  While I love both of these things (my children’s school and my job/ministry), I lovingly refer to the school year as the “rat race”.  With fast paced early mornings getting three kids out the door, carpooling to school 15-20 minutes from home pending traffic, the homework/dinner/shower/bedtime hours, and adding 14 very cute 4 year old preschoolers three mornings a week to that mix, it does not fail to keep me busy and my schedule full.  And we refuse to pack our evenings with extracurriculars like many do! 

Quinoa Salad with Lemon Basil Dressing

I know, it's another quinoa salad.  I hope you are not bored with quinoa yet.  It is such a nutritious complete protein, that I find myself using it often.  With our busy lives and the need for quick, healthy lunches for my husband and I, I have taken to fixing a large batch of a cold bean, quinoa, or orzo salad on the weekends, that we are able to use all week.  This is a new favorite.  Sorry...no picture.  

Dawn's Fall Favorites

Favorite song stuck on replay:  This Is Amazing Grace, by Phil Wickham.  We've been singing this a lot recently at church and I love, love, love it.  We are in a series called #thisisworship.  Yes, that's a "hashtag".  I confess, I'm old and have not much interest in any additional social media/technology besides Facebook (which I often need a hiatus from as it is!).  I just learned about the "hashtag" a few months ago.  Our church placed the # (=hashtag) in front of the sermon series title because they wanted to encourage a social media campaign about worship, what worship is, where we can worship (anywhere!), etc.  Take a listen if you like...

Inspirational Bits & Pieces

Just a few things I have read or listened to lately, that have really spoken to me.

The Joneses Are Overrated
I recently took a 1 week hiatus from Facebook.  An ungrateful attitude was creeping back into my life, because I was spending my days comparing my life to what I saw on Facebook.   And I was tired of it.  I expected to at least get a grip on reality and refocus on how abundantly full my life is.  It was fabulous!  I felt like I could breathe again.  My brain didn't feel so cluttered and overwhelmed.  I think the introvert side of me that is recharged by peace and quiet, is mentally stressed by the continuous stream of (mostly unnecessary) information that social networks such as these provide.  While I don't plan to hang it up completely, as it does have its benefits, life does not revolve around it anymore.  And it is quite a relief.  Love this Proverbs 31 devotional!

To continue with that theme, you must read Stop Instagramming Your Perfect Life.

Help!
Our very own Pastor Mike tackles how isolated, disconnected, and superficial we've become in our technologically savvy world.  And how we all are in desperate need of authentic relationships, in which we can safely share our messes and lives.   

Speaking Life Into Your Relationships
Fabulous message from Pastor Steven Furtick at Elevation Church in Charlotte, about the power of our words.  My favorite quote:
"God's potential in your relationships, starts with you denying yourself, crawling up on your own cross, and giving your own life.  You cannot hold onto your selfishness and fulfill God's potential for your relationships at the same time."
Wow!  Love this message because it applies to all the relationships in our lives, not just the marriage relationship.  Our words have the power to bring life or death.  Choose them wisely. 

Blessings today-
Dawn

Lessons from 13.1 training: 8 miles

This weekend I ran 8 miles.  I ran EIGHT FREAKIN MILES!  Yes, I needed to YELL that out loud one good time!  Twenty four hours later, I was still feeling the runner's high.  I am so proud of myself it's ridiculous.  I'm allowed to be proud.  And in awe.  I was the girl that hated P.E. in school.  I hated running even more.  I'm not that girl anymore!  I LOVE to run.  There is nothing like the satisfaction it brings.   

When we met at 8am on Saturday to run, it was 19 degrees.  Brrrrrr.  Fortunately, the body warms up fast.  In many ways, the run felt easier because it was flat compared to last weekend's hilly run.  When I finished the run, I was having trouble getting my mouth to move when I was talking.  I think my lips were frozen!  Oh the joys of training in winter.

We're All Broken

It is said that while an extrovert thinks while talking, an introvert thinks before talking.  As someone who has grown more introverted (not to be confused with shy) in recent years, as a result of the extrovertedness mothering requires of me, I agree.  Which is why I could never be a full time blogger.  The thought of being forced to "talk" every single day, even when I have nothing to say, sounds like some kind of torture!  Sometimes I wonder how I was ever a full time math teacher.  But, things change, and our personalities evolve.  In short, I only write when I have something important to say.  So, here I am.

Thoughts on 13.1

This morning, I experienced a first - running in the rain.  The combination of North Carolina hills , 40 degrees, and a persistent heavy drizzle, could've made for a potential disaster.  I was actually nervous about this 5.5 mile long run. Likely because of last weekend's long run.  But more on that later.  It was a "good" run.  Good as in, I mostly enjoyed it, I finished strong, could've kept running, and felt that runner's high of accomplishment.  And, bonus points, no weird tummy troubles or flu-like symptoms post-run!

Why am I running in the rain, for goodness sakes?  Because I'm committed - to health and fitness.  But, mostly because I am training for my first half-marathon.  This hilly training around here, should be good training for a nice FLAT 13.1 mile race.  LeAnne and I, and a few other girls we know, are signed up for the Quintiles Wrightsville Beach Half Marathon in March.  What better place to run my innaugural 13.1 than one of my favorite places in NC.  Oh, and did I mention it's FLAT.  (smile)

Where Have We Been?

In case you haven't noticed, it's been a little quiet here at Grab Your Greens.  We're still here.  We took a little step back to enjoy having our children home for the summer.  To read some books.  Tend a garden.  Enjoy the beach, the pool, Disney.  To take a breather and slow down.  And to do some soul-searching.  Especially in regards to this itty bitty little blog venture of ours.

It's easy to get burnt out, even doing something you love.  To wonder if it matters, if it makes a difference.  It's easy to look at "fancy" blogs and start feeling sorry for our very humble 'home'.  And to see the corresponding Facebook pages, where there is lots of community response, and wonder what we're doing wrong.  It's easy to see the number of views of each blog post, as a direct correlation of our worth.  It's hard not to get discouraged when you feel you've been given this great gift, but don't have a clear vision as to how God wants you to use it.

P.O.W.E.R. Clean Eating Challenge Debrief

We recently wrapped up leading our first Clean Eating Challenge.  Several of our POWER girls said they would love to see a debrief blog post.  You asked, we deliver! 

First, a huge THANK YOU to those of you who took the time to fill out surveys for us!  We (& many of you) really wanted a face-to-face debrief meeting with all of you at the conclusion of the Challenge.  But, because May very well may be the craziest month of the year, especially for those of us with school aged children on a traditional school calendar, we were not able to make it work out this time.  Which is why your feedback was even more important to us!  Thank you!

Easter Blessings

We interrupt our regular food blogging, to bring you this special Good Friday message.   Because, while we are passionate about living healthfully, our first love is Jesus!  Easter weekend is like the SuperBowl for us Jesus girls!  In the words of the song God's Not Dead (Like a Lion):

"My God's not dead, He's surely alive.  He's livin' on the inside, roaring like a lion!"

There is a beautiful, fairly new song by Natalie Grant, called Alive, that has been on repeat on my iPod for the last few weeks.  I fell in love the first time I heard it.  The lyrics are beautiful!  On this Easter weekend, where we celebrate our LIVING Saviour, I'd encourage you to take a moment, read through the lyrics, spend a moment listening to the song, and worshiping our magnificent Creator.  Pause and dwell on that thought, that Jesus died for YOU!  If you were the only person on the planet, He still would have made that ultimate sacrifice just for you!  You are loved and treasured!  And He's alive and dying to be in relationship with YOU, His most magnificent creation!

Before I leave you with lyrics and video, I'll give a shameless plug for my church, Hope Community, where we've been members for 11 years.  If you are looking for a place to celebrate and worship this weekend, it's a great place to be!  You'll be greeted by amazing, loving people and will enjoy vibrant worship and great teaching.  There are 12 Easter celebration services at our 3 campuses this weekend.  We operate these services by using a (free) ticket system, to help us "crowd control".  But, we also plan for guests who arrive and don't have a ticket.  So, if you don't have a ticket, just SHOW UP!  We'll make you feel at home!  My family attends our West Cary Campus and I'm glad to meet you and give you a familiar face to sit with.

Easter blessings, friends!
dawn

Who but You, could breathe and leave a trail of galaxies and dream of me?
What kind of Love is writing my story till the end with Mercy’s pen?
Only You.
What kind of king would choose to wear a crown that bleeds and scars to win my heart?
What kind of Love tells me I’m the reason He can’t stay inside the grave?
You. Is it You? Standing here before my eyes, every part of my heart cries

Alive! Alive! Look what Mercy’s overcome; Death has lost and Love has won
Alive! Alive! Hallelujah, Risen Lord, the only One I fall before
I am His because He is alive.

Who could speak, and send the demons back from where they came with just one Name?
What other heart would let itself be broken every time till He healed mine?
You. Only You could turn my darkness into dawn; running right into Your arms

Alive! Alive! Look what Mercy’s overcome; Death has lost and Love has won
Alive! Alive! Hallelujah, Risen Lord, the only One I fall before
I am His because He is

Emmanuel, the promised King the baby who made angels sing
Son of Man who walked with us, healing, breathing in our dust
The author of all history, the answer to all mysteries
The Lamb of God who rolled away, the stone in front of every grave

Alive! Alive! Look what Mercy’s overcome; Death has lost and Love has won
Alive! I am His because He is alive.
Alive!

Where Do I Start?

One person at a time is becoming aware of the mess we have gotten ourselves in, as a modern nation of convenience, with our highly processed, refined diets.  We have both been overwhelmed and humbled, at the enormous interest in our diets.  We have been spending time fielding questions, responding to emails and phone calls, as one by one, friends and family say they want a change.  Because so many of our readers may be just starting their journey, we thought it was a good time to address a few things.


A very common beginner's reaction, is to feel overwhelmed:  'But, High Fructose Corn Syrup (& sugar) is in everything!  I don't have time to cook from scratch!  I don't have time to relearn how to cook!  My husband is NOT onboard!  My kids only eat 3 foods!'  It is normal to feel overwhelmed.  There is a huge learning curve to eating healthfully.  We cook what we know and for many of us, we cook what we knew as a child.  We also buy what we know.  It takes time and patience and a conscience effort to SLOW DOWN!


We are both 1-2 years into this, and we are still learning!  In some ways, there is indeed a sense of urgency, as we look at the rate that obesity and serious diseases are climbing in our country.  It's time for a change and it needs to be soon.   Many of you have responded with a fire lit under you and are ready to dive in headfirst.  For a small few, that method will work.  But for most, that type of 180 has the potential to backfire over time.  Getting healthy and revamping your diet does not have to be an all or nothing endeavor. This is after all a JOURNEY!


What are some simple ways to begin?


*Read a book.  Educate yourself.  KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!  Once we saw statistics, proven data, and started to truly educate ourselves on what we eat, we could no longer continue down the same path.
*Learn to read ingredients, NOT the nutrition label.  Our eyes are easily drawn to calories and fat grams but you need to be more concerned about what is in the food!  If it has more than 3-5 ingredients, we usually don't buy it.  If we can't pronounce the ingredient, we put it back on the shelf.
*Meatless Mondays!  Make one dinner each week a meatless, unprocessed meal.  Why not start with Monday and join others around the country -  Meatless Mondays!
*Begin serving fruit & veggies intentionally.  When you grocery shop, go ahead and cut, peel, and chop the fruits & veggies so they will be easily accessible. 
*Eat greens (kale, collards, turnips, broccoli, spinach, etc.) several times a week.  Put them in salads, smoothies, and soups.  Eat them raw.  These are some of the most nutrient dense foods that exist, giving you the most bang for your buck.
*Eliminate or drastically reduce sugar intake.  READ labels.  Sugar is in practically everything! 
*Choose brown rice, whole wheat pasta/flour/bread, over white.  White foods are simple carbohydrates and are nutritionally empty.  Eating white grains, is like eating sugar.
*Invest in a reuseable water cup.  Then take it everywhere with you!  Drink, drink, drink.  It is so good for you, more than you know.  Becoming a big water drinker can and will become a habit, if you invest the energy.
*Eliminate soda and other non-nutritional beverages.  Soda=sugar.  Water, water, water is where it's at.   
*Exercise.  Get off the sofa and move the incredible body God gave you!  Get your heart pumping. 
*Keep a bag of nutritious snacks in your car.  This can help prevent the hungry urge to stop for fast food. 


For most people, it works best to start small.  Make changes slowly at a pace that is sustainable for you.  The goal is for these changes to be FOR LIFE.  Take the time that you need to relearn what you know about food.  We are so proud of you and we want to see you succeed!


Glad to be a part of your journey-


Dawn & LeAnne

S.C.R.E.W. This! Challenge, Week 2

As we enter into P.O.W.E.R.'s second week of the S.C.R.E.W. This! body image challenge, we'd like to share with you our friend & trainer, Jenni's, blog post titled Taking Thoughts Captive...

Negative mental chatter is something I have known since I was a child.  I was not even aware of how naturally it came to me.  And even up until six months ago, I would have told you that it was "just who I was", a part of my personality that was unchangeable.  Within the last year I have become aware of how strongly my thought life affects not only me, but all of the people around me.  It is draining.  I am here to tell you that I learned that I have the power to control my thought life!  It is a choice!  Just like practicing gratitude is a choice.  At first, it had to be a very intentional choice.  As in minute by minute and hour by hour, I had to remind myself that with God's power, I could choose what I filled my mind with.  There is truth to the saying that if you do anything for 21 days, it becomes a habit.  Months later, I am still Dawn, a cautious realist, but my mind isn't nearly the poison to my soul that it once was.  There is hope for you, if this is something you struggle with.  And even if it isn't, we can all use an extra dose of healthy self-talk this week. 

Today I urge you to meditate on two of my favorite scriptures, that I claimed on a daily basis as I set out to "renew my mind":

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Romans 12:2a

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Phillipians 4:8

Special Sunday blessings-
Dawn

Dawn's Story

So, how did I get here?  If I had a dollar for every time I've been asked that question...  Sometimes I laugh, because it's so wild I couldn't have dreamt it up.  I was done having children, my once speedy metabolism had shrunk to a crawl, and I was unhappy with my body that once upon a time did not take effort to stay thin.  In 2010 the "journey" began (though I had no idea) with me wanting to lose a few pounds.  I started exercising and dieting.  Lost a little weight, but then stalled.  Somewhere along the way, this girl who hated P.E. in high school, fell in love with a good workout, lost her taste for meat, and dove headfirst into the plant world for food! 

The first encounter I had with the "Real Food" movement was this post at Musings of a Housewife.  I rolled my eyes.  But I kept reading.  Little did I know, the seed had been planted.  Almost six months later, after much reading, I concluded that perhaps there was some truth to the notion that our bodies were meant for more.  So I threw out everything in our house containing HFCS (High Fructose Corn Syrup).  Then, more reading.  I was hungry.  Hungry for knowledge and truth.  Several months later I threw out everything that contained enriched flour and replaced with whole wheat.  I kept reading.  I watched Food Inc. and read Food Rules, by Michael Pollan.  My eyes were opened wide.  I started reading food labels. 

My diet was getting cleaner, but my body was not changing the way I wanted it to, and I still had a strong addiction to food, specifically sugary processed foods, though I didn't realize it was an addiction at the time.  I lived in defeat with my food choices.  I knew what I shouldn't eat, but I couldn't stop.  It was a vicious cycle of frustration.  I stumbled on the book Made to Crave, by Lysa TerKeurst, and the connection was made between food and my God.  This was a huge Ah-ha! moment in my story. 

In October 2011, I went completely clean and unprocessed, as part of a 30 day challenge.  I was determined to throw my hat in the ring and go all in at 100%.  Initially, it was because I wanted to see if my body would change.  And to see what kind of willpower I had.  I dove in headfirst for all 30 days.  No processed foods, no refined sugar, just lots of whole foods the way God created them. 30 days later, my body was drastically changing, I was free from the addiction to unhealthy foods, and I felt ALIVE!  My once sluggish, tired body felt awakened with energy.  (Note:  this doesn't mean I jump out of bed perky at 5am.  And one of my guilty pleasures is still a good afternoon nap!)  And my mood in general, did a 180.  I think my husband was most appreciative of this! 

It was during this challenge that I watched Forks Over Knives.  My world was rocked as I began to understand the powers of plant foods and the risks of a diet high in animal protein and processed foods.  I completed the challenge feeling the best I have ever felt in my entire adult life.  I knew I could never go back!  I began to understand that food was meant for fuel, and how we fueled our bodies affected how well they ran.  I began to see food as a beautiful gift from God and the deeper I dove into the plant world, the more a whole new world was opened for me.

So, where I am now?  I eat very clean (unprocessed), my husband has tagged along for the ride, and our kids are a work in progress.   While food choices are very important to me, it is not the "be all and end all", as Jo-Lynne of Musings of a Housewife said it.  I love how my friend Jenni said it on her blog, that "people are way more important than plants".  Do my kids have a sugary cupcake at a friend's birthday party?  Yeap.  If I'm having dinner at a friends's house and I'm served pizza, will I eat a slice?  Of course.  Do I judge you for your McDonald's cheeseburger?  Nope!  Would I have a piece of grilled chicken at my in-laws?  I'd probably try to stock up on fruits and veggies, but if not having chicken meant I would hurt someones feelings, I'd try to have a few bites.  This is not a legalistic game, this is a life full of precious relationships.   It has taken time to figure out the balancing act.  Just like it took me time to get here.  Everyone's journey is different.  LeAnne always says there are a lot of things in life that aren't black or white.  We each need to figure out the gray areas for ourselves.  While it is my burning passion to educate and share how getting healthy has changed my life, I pray I never intentionally hurt someone in doing that.

In life, there are moments that change us forever.  This is one of those.  Every day my heart overflows with thankfulness to my Creator, for this incredible gift I have been given.  I have absolutely no mental picture of where this road will lead me, but I feel I have been called to share my love for Jesus and my love for the food He created.

S.C.R.E.W. This! Challenge, Week 1

Here's a warm Sunday hello from your two favorite plant-strong bloggers!  We had great fun today at our very unofficial "business" meeting over lunch!  If you're wondering what looks different, we aren't wearing make-up today, to kick off Week 1 of P.O.W.E.R.'s month-long body image challenge, otherwise known as the S.C.R.E.W. This! challenge.  (From the home page, click on the Body Image tab)  Yeap, no make-up for a whole week.  Fortunately, neither of us wear much make-up to begin with, but I've got to say I felt a little naked going to church this morning.  Someone told me I looked tired.  Why yes, I am, thank-you-very-much!  But I'm thinking it's the lack of eyeliner. 

Please check out the challenge, consider participating (you don't have to be local!), and spread the word.  Share it with everyone you know, boys and men included, as we are ALL in need of a new definition of beauty!  Oh, and please leave us a comment if you decide to participate!  We get bonus tickets for getting someone outside of the POWER family to participate, even if it is just for one day! 

We'll leave you today with this thought-provoking video, put together by Chris Cockerham, husband of one of our very special trainers. 

Make today matter-
Dawn

Love the skin you're in

We interrupt our UNregularly (just keepin it real, we're two busy moms!) scheduled blogging, to bring you a very important message from Janine McGann, owner of P.O.W.E.R., LLC, a Raleigh area personal training business that is passionate about women.  LeAnne and I both found our way to POWER in 2011 and I think it is safe to say that Janine and Jenni, along with their hearts for helping women find balance in life, have forever changed our lives.  It has not just changed the way we workout, but also our thoughts about what it means to be healthy and strong, our mothering, our families, our walks with God, and how we balance all those priorities.

February is body image month in POWER.  Join us in this body image challenge!  You can find more information at the POWER website, under the Body Image tab.  Take a few moments to watch Janine's video message, then share it with all the women in your life! 

To quote POWER:
"POWER is passionate about body image issues, self esteem, and negative self talk. February is known as body image month in POWER. Be Beautiful: Love the Skin You're In. We're inviting women everywhere to join POWER this year in our month long journey of self discovery, education, inspiration, and yes, a body image challenge. We're attaching a link that will explain it all. Please please please watch it and then share it with every woman! Let's get the S.C.R.E.W. This! movement to go viral. We look forward to a fantastic five weeks with you!"

Make today matter-
Dawn