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Candidate Orientation

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OK friends, here is the full report from our experience last week in Colorado at Greater Europe Mission’s Candidate Orientation…

In case anyone is new this week to my “mixed use” blog (personal and business), you might want to first read my view of “missions.”

With the kids in the safe hands of many people – our neighbor Julian, the grandparents, and friends the Dixeys – for the week, Fred and I left early Friday morning, the 22nd and arrived with no trouble in Colorado.  My amazing friend Janessa picked us up at the airport (and later drove us back), let us stay with her all week, shared her food and her car.  So thankful for all these tangible helps from so many wonderful people!  🙂

One of the first sessions Friday evening was a time of sharing what had led us all to this point in our journeys with Jesus and where we thought it all might be headed next.  It was really incredible to see how the stories of everyone aiming to go to London wove together in such incredible ways.  Here were seven total strangers, all brought to the same place at the same time, with common yet unique stories and a shared heartbeat to see people all over the world have the opportunity to discover and know the real Jesus – not the Jesus so often horribly misrepresented by the media and misguided churches or individual Christians.  It’s honestly hard for me to even call myself a “Christian” in some ways because of how that term is so marred and misunderstood.  These days, I more often think of myself as a simple follower of Jesus.  At any rate, it was really neat to see how bonds of friendship were being formed right off the bat.  Really, only God could have orchestrated the “chance” meetings in the room that night.  🙂

Saturday’s biggest event was our interview with a Member Care counselor, who, it turned out, Fred already knew from his short-term service trip with GEM (Greater Europe Mission) back in 1998.  Yet another beautiful orchestration by God.  This was basically a time for them to assess our spiritual, emotional, and marital health and was really, really good.  We know that God has done much healing in our lives over the years, but that there is always more to learn, work through, and grow into.  Rick (the counselor) recommended we do some more counseling to make sure we’ve really worked through some stuff prior to adding the huge stress of a cross-cultural move away from all the supports we’ve ever known here at home.  We see counseling as a great thing and highly recommend it – not at all a negative thing as so commonly stereotyped – so we’re really looking forward to this step in the journey to see how God will use it to grow us both individually, as a couple, and as a family.

Saturday night we enjoyed dinner at a restaurant called HuHot – a Mongolian BBQ, very cool – and got to meet the President of GEM and his wife.  We were so impressed by the genuine love, humility, passion, and vision of both Henry and Celia and are honored to by under their leadership as part of the GEM family.

Sunday brought some really major events.  In the morning, we had a session on spiritual warfare – addressing the realities of challenges and persecutions that can come when one steps out to share God’s hope, peace, forgiveness, and love with the world.  The day was cut short because of a huge blizzard coming in, and we decided to stay, with another candidate couple, at the home of one of the GEM staff couples right near headquarters, instead of driving all the half hour back to Janessa’s house in Colorado Springs.  Shortly after arriving and settling in for the day of snow, our friends the Bogeses, candidates to serve in Germany, received a call that their home back in Virginia had burned to the ground that morning – while we were in the session on spiritual warfare no less.  It was humbling, sobering, and yet incredibly encouraging and an honor to be with them in that moment.  To see their faith in response to this news was so beautiful.

Monday’s big event was our interview with the Personnel Committee.  This was also really great.  It was so encouraging to see how they had so carefully and prayerfully gone over our applications and histories and had such wisdom and discernment from the Lord on how to guide us.  The meeting had its share of emotions – as any deep discussion may – but it was so, so good.  I could really write a whole separate post on this one meeting – and probably should at some point when I have time!  🙂

Monday night we had dinner in separate men and women groups, which was lovely.  It was a great time of sharing and growing in our friendships.

Tuesday morning was “the big” day all us candidates had been waiting for all week – the official word as to whether we were accepted to serve with GEM or not.  We met with a personnel committee member and got the word that we were appointed to serve with GEM, with the exact location and project still TBD.  They also gave us some great next steps, both requirements and recommendations, and sent us off with hugs to celebrate with the other candidates.  🙂

Tuesday also gave us the chance to meet with Bryan Doyle, the UK field leader, and Paul Unsworth, the founding pastor of Kahaila in London.  It was wonderful to meet them and get a little better idea of their vision for the UK and some of their current endeavors.  Since it’s at least 18 months before we’d actually move, it was decided that we’d be aiming for London, but that the exact roles would be determined closer to  our actual arrival in country.  We’ll be keeping in close touch over the coming months as things unfold.

Wednesday wrapped up CO with a lovely commissioning service for all the candidates with all the GEM family from Headquarters.  It was a great time of worship and fellowship and “good-byes” – or rather, “talk to you soon”s.

Then off to the airport we went to return home.  We were so thankful to get glowing reports about the kids from all who cared for them while we were gone – and a little saddened by the grouchies coming out of them our first day home.  Transitions – part of life.  One day at a time.  I think we’re almost back into a “normal” routine here, though it’s definitely changed in light of the fact that we are taking steps to move across the pond in the next 18-24 months or so…  While we all have our mixed feelings, the overall sense is one of excitement and eager anticipation for what God will do along this crazy journey of following Him anywhere He leads.

If you’re not on our email list specifically for our family’s journey into overseas ministry, and would like to be, click here.

 

Understanding Lingo

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“If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it probably is a duck.”

Ever had a network marketer try to tell you he was NOT in network marketing?  I have, and I hate the smoke and mirrors.  Representatives of many companies try to avoid this label because, let’s be honest, network marketing often has a bad reputation with the public at large – and for good reasons.

However, IF conducted properly and sustainably, network marketing can be beneficial for everyone – company founders, employees, independent representatives, customers, and society at large.  My vision is for this to someday be the only type of network marketing that remains.  But to achieve this vision, we must all know how to discern between hype and truth, so we can reject the former and support the latter.

Here are a few key terms to understand so you don’t get fooled or confused by the hype.

Please note – This is a very brief overview. If you have questions or comments on any of these, let’s have a more in depth discussion in the comments section below.

Pyramid Schemes.  These are illegal – but not because of the “pyramid” shape.  Every organization has this shape – governments, corporations, non-profits, volunteer organizations, faith communities, your family tree… all of which can work well for the benefit of all, or fall to corruption.  Though many incorrectly equate the two, pyramid schemes are not the same as legitimate network marketing companies.  Do you know how to tell the difference?

Network Marketing.  Simply refers to the method of getting the word out on products or services through networks of individuals, rather than through insanely expensive mass media advertizing methods.  This should be done based on genuine quality and value, not hype.  How many ways can you think of in which mass media ads are wasteful?

Multi-Level Marketing.  Same industry.  Simply refers to how working representatives are paid – on their own sales and sales made by 2 or more levels of reps into whom they have invested time and effort, teaching them how to also find and serve customers.  The goal should be that all working reps are trained to serve their customers well, instead of engaging in stereotypical recruiting hype.  As long as it’s done properly, why should trainers not be paid for the time and effort they invest in their organizations?

Direct Sales.  Same industry.*  Simply refers to the person-to-person nature of the industry, rather than mass media and impersonal customer service.  If done properly, this should not create weird pressures or relationship dynamics – it should create excellent, personalized attention and service for customers.  Have you experienced the negative, the positive, or both?  (*Note: you can have direct sales without NM-MLM, but all NM-MLM is direct sales.)

New Variations…  “Customer direct marketing” or “social commerce marketing” or “referral marketing” etc.  It’s fine if companies want to use distinguishing terms to highlight special attributes of their approach to network marketing.  But when in the same breath they deny that they are fundamentally a network marketing company, they only create a whole new level of hype that is not helpful for anyone – only more confusing.

In the MiCommunity Team, we call what we do “Sustainable Network Marketing” to differentiate it from what’s typically done in the industry.  But we will never deny that it is network marketing at its most basic definition.  We don’t have to deny it, or be ashamed of it, because we know that, done properly, it benefits the public at large via a relative handful of honest Working Reps serving the majority – a growing customer base – with excellence.  Rather than hide the truth and create our own hype and spin, we’d prefer to educate you on the facts so that you can be empowered to wisely evaluate the products, services, or business offered by any company – network marketing or otherwise.

 

So how about you?  What good, bad, or ugly experiences have you had with network marketers, or in network marketing?  Do you have any questions on the above lingo?

 

Surprise Setup

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I’m not sure if it’s just that this is baby #5, or the fact that we’ve chosen to take a very different journey this time around with a home birth midwife, or a combination of both, but the time sure is flying, and it’s still sometimes easy to almost forget we’re expecting – even though the belly is becoming a more obvious reminder, along with the little “flutters” of movement.

At this point in all my other pregnancies, we’d had two ultrasounds already – one around 9 weeks and one around 20 weeks.  Now, here we are at almost 24 weeks and haven’t had one yet.  And I kind of like it that way.

Sure, there’s part of me that wonders if the baby is fine and forming well and such.  But, we’re just trusting that all is well, and that if at any point it’s not, that God will alert us to any problems and sustain us through the journey they bring to our family.

Honestly, the “biggest” (most tangible?) reason we opted to skip the 20 week ultrasound with this baby is because we wanted to choose to be surprised this time around, and I knew I’d need to set myself up for that.  If we had gone in for the 20 week ultrasound, I’m 99% certain I would have caved and said, “Oh, just tell me!”  It’s the “type A” planner in me – it hasn’t been entirely beaten out of me 4 kids later, even though I’m definitely more of a “wing it” person in many ways now.

In some ways, I miss not knowing.  It’s hard not wanting to call the baby “it” but not being able to say “he” or “she” really.  We always enjoyed talking to and praying for the baby by name…

Even though, “they” were wrong with our #3 and we were totally surprised anyway…

Two confused sisters, learning that they actually had a brother!

Yes, back in 2008, we were told we were expecting a third girl, and then “Lydia” popped out with boy bits and was suddenly Matthew.  It was definitely interesting trying to explain that to our oldest, who was not quite 4 at the time.  She was so confused.  She is now 8 and really wants to know ahead of time if this new baby is a brother or sister, but she seems to understand and be OK with our decision to plan on being surprised this time around.

Overall, I have to say, I think I’m enjoying this intentional surprise setup.  And June will be here before we know it anyway.  🙂

Chocolate Alert

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Guest post from Susan Taylor at RDoncall

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Are you a lover of all things chocolate? If you are, then you’ve probably heard about some of its many health benefits. However, not all chocolate is created equal!  Beware of chocolate labeled “Cocoa Processed with Alkali” or “Dutch Processed Cocoa” as it has an alkali base used to counteract some of the chocolate’s acidity.  Many chocolate products on the market contain the additive Lecithin, which is used as an emulsifier to keep the cocoa and cocoa butter from separating, thereby, extending the chocolate’s shelf life.  Processed versions are often also loaded with added sugars, fat, milk, fillers, and preservatives.  Unfortunately, processing destroys most of chocolates beneficial flavonoids.  The best option, packed with the most health benefits, is chocolate labeled raw, unprocessed, non-alkalized, and non-lecithized.

Cacao, the bean from the Cacao tree, is possibly the healthiest part of chocolate as it contains over 300 compounds including the antioxidants theobromine, phenylethylamine (PEA), serotonin plus vitamins A, C, E, pantothenic acid, B1, B2, B3 and minerals magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, potassium, and manganese.  Theobromine, PEA, and serotonin are all mood enhancers which may account for the sense of well-being you experience when eating chocolate. Studies have shown chocolate may help improve blood circulation, cholesterol levels, boost brain power, and act as a mild cough suppressant.

Cacao’s ORAC score (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) is near the top of the list for antioxidant capacity. ORAC measures the effectiveness of an antioxidant to absorb free radicals that cause cell or tissue damage – the higher the ORAC score, the higher the ingredient’s antioxidant power.

Instead of a box of highly processed, unhealthy chocolates, consider show your valentine some love this year by replacing their morning java with a raw cacao beverage – definitely a healthy alternative as it is loaded with antioxidants and bliss-inducing compounds.

A great supplement to consider is Miessence’s BerryRadical which contains not only certified organic cacao powder but the certified organic antioxidant foods pomegranate, acai berry, goji berry, raspberry, blueberry and strawberry – plus two special ingredients that take the ORAC score “off the charts” compared to most products on the market.  The ingredients are freeze-dried to preserve freshness and BerryRadical contains no chemicals, preservatives, or fillers. Check out the Berry Radical presentation below for more information about this amazing product. For less than the price of a fancy latte, you can find your bliss the healthy way – give BerryRadical a try!

Berry Radical presentation – Don’t miss page 23 especially!

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For information on how you can try a 10-day supply of Berry Radical, click here.

 

Misunderstanding Missions

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Anyone newer to my blog may not yet know that it’s what I call a “mixed use” blog.  I don’t think that’s an official term, but it’s what I call it.  🙂  It’s a place where I share both personal news or stories and information or articles related to my work in the natural and organic field and the home business field.

As such, I have a rather diverse audience – and I love that.  Friends, family, new online friends from all over the place – and everyone from all sorts of different backgrounds and perspectives.  Again, love that.  And you’re always welcome to read what you want, and delete what you don’t.  🙂

This is a personal post.  There are two pretty major things going on in my family this year.  One, as you may know, is our anticipation of baby #5 in June and our decision to take the home birth journey this time around.

The other is the strong possibility of an overseas move in the next year or two.

For a while now, my hubby has been praying for an open door into more full-time or more formal ministry, and for years now we have both had a desire to serve overseas at some point in our journey through life together.  You may recall that our trip to Ukraine last summer was both a “scouting trip” for possible future service and, in the end, a closed door.  Shortly after the trip, we began poking around online to see what other opportunities there might be “out there.”  We searched the website for Greater Europe Mission (GEM), with whom Fred did his Holland/Austria trip back in 1998, and found that there were a few options that appeared to be a potential fit.  And so we began the application process to see if there might be an open door.  A few weeks ago, we received our official invitation to become candidates for overseas service with GEM.

For all my dear readers who would not consider yourselves Christian in any way, a little bit of clarification might be in order, as I find many times there are some strong misunderstandings out there surrounding the word “missions.”  And it’s totally understandable WHY these misconceptions are so prevalent.  The past two thousand years, including people’s every day experiences right now, are riddled with horrid stories of misguided “Christians” carrying out their version of “evangelism” using force, coercion, manipulation, anger, hate, and violence…

I am certain that Jesus Himself weeps deeply over these stories, with great sorrow over how badly people have misunderstood His heart and plan.

And to be perfectly raw and honest, my own dark side rises up in these ways from time to time – most often nowadays when I’m frustrated with my kids over something or another.  But each time it does come out, I’m quickly aware of a strong conviction in my heart to ask God to forgive and change me and to apologize to my kids for my wrong attitudes, words, and actions.

Following Jesus is not about somehow thinking you’re better than others or perfect and trying to force others to be “perfect” or “like you.”  It’s about being honest and real about one’s own brokenness and wrong doings, confessing those things in grace-filled, loving humility to God and to each other, accepting His sacrificial payment for our sin (another commonly misunderstood and abused word – basically the icky bad stuff we all, if we’re honest, wrestle with in our hearts in various ways) so that we can be set free from the power of our own inner darkness, trusting and seeking Him daily in every area of our lives, and allowing God to work through us to create a world where honesty, humility, compassion, forgiveness, self-sacrificing love for everyone (including enemies), peace, and restoration reign as we all become more like Jesus in these heart-level ways – even if we may all look VERY different in so many outward ways (culture, vocation, personalities, passions, and more).

Thus, “missions” is NOT about forcing anyone to believe anything.  It is about living out one’s faith in authentic, genuine, loving, and respectful ways, thereby giving people the opportunity to know and understand who Jesus really was and is – rather than what the media or often misguided church cultures have portrayed Him to be – and letting each person with whom we may interact make his/her own decisions.  Ideally, this would happen in the context of real relationships and loving community all over the world.

But in some places in the world, it is very difficult to find the real Jesus represented anywhere.  Thus He asks some people to go and be His hands and feet to other parts of the world where His hope for every kind of suffering is not so widely available.  And to make a very long (18 year) story short, at this point in our journey, we feel a strong desire to leave our home in the land of “the American Dream” for the sake of sharing with others what we have found to be a far, far greater vision.

We’re eager to see what lies in store and how it will all come together logistically.  So many pieces needing to come together still, but we’re sure it’ll all work out somehow.  God is always amazing in his artistry and timing.  Already, He has woven together so many pieces of the story in some pretty neat ways…  As just one example, 10 years ago, we had no kids and thought we’d go and teach in an overseas school somewhere.  Now, we have 4 (5 soon) kids, and our skills, passions, and interests “just happen” to have been changed to align so well with some particular needs to which we’re possibly being led…  For Fred, it’s the arts, poetry readings, coffee house ministry type things, and for me it’s ethically run, socially and environmentally responsible business.  It’s amazing to see how His timing has worked in all these things over the years, so we have no doubt He will continue to work out all the remaining logistics along the journey.

One day at a time.  🙂

Vitality Challenge

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Enter the raffle at the end of this post for a free 10-day supply of certified organic superfoods. 

It hardly needs to be said that people are struggling with health, even in countries with an excess of “food.”

People are overweight yet undernourished due to the regular consumption of “food-like things,” such as fast foods and highly processed packaged foods.  Three of the top four causes of death are diet related and thus preventable, and there are 561,000 patented pharmaceutical drugs yet increasing rates of cancer and heart disease.  Our food supply, homes, and environment are poisoned with alarming numbers of toxic synthetic chemicals, and babies are being born pre-polluted with over 200 industrial chemicals already in their bodies.

So, what do we do about this?

Well, it starts with a shift in mindset toward reconnecting with the way the natural world is designed to work.  I know an expert in beneficial probiotic bacteria who sums it up well when he says… “We adhere to the principals of Mother Nature. We know that the only way to good health is through working with Her by using Her wisdom in its natural form. We are not arrogant like [so many who] believe they can improve upon Her.”  While I would personally give this credit to Creator God, and others would express it in still different ways, the overall value is the same…  The more natural the better.

While there are many steps we can take, such as reducing our direct exposures to toxic substances and reducing the toxic burdens we place on the natural resources that sustain us (as an example: choosing truly organic products in our homes, such as household cleaning and personal care supplies, is one way to help both our own health and the health of the planet), we can only reduce our toxic exposures so far.  There are many sources of toxins – both man-made and natural – all around us that we cannot control.

The key then, is to fuel your body with nutrient dense, potent, truly natural, “clean” and sustainably grown (organic) foods so that your own natural detoxification systems can function as intended and do their assigned job of keeping you healthy.

But this is often easier said than done.  Whether for money, time, or know-how reasons, many people transitioning off the modern-day, “conventional” industrialized food systems onto cleaner, more sustainable (and quite frankly, God-honoring) systems of daily nutrition face some real challenges today.  Let’s face it, buying organic can be expensive (though there are ways to do it on a tight budget).  It also takes both time and at least a bit of know-how to prepare fresh, healthful foods for every meal.  In our fast-paced, rat race culture, it is so much easier to hit a couple quick buttons for a microwave meal.

While we should work toward eating 100% clean and fresh, truly natural foods, that goal is rarely accomplished over night, and sometimes, we never reach 100%… unless perhaps we stop hanging out with friends and family who aren’t making these changes yet… which I do NOT recommend… relationships are vital for your health also!

This is why I so greatly appreciate the simple, nutrient rich, diverse, food-only nutritional support products from Miessence.  Yes, I do sell them now and have a financial interest in this post (I value upfront disclosure and hope you do too), but I am genuinely a VERY happy customer first and foremost.  And as I did back in 2010 when I made a big shift in my company affiliations, if I find something better than these products, I’ll change again and tell my readers about it.  But, so far – and I have seen many options out there – these are still the best I’ve found.

And beginning February 1st, Miessence has put together a 10-day supply of the superfoods for people who want to give them a try.

In a clinical trial, of 24 people who participated in the 10-day “Vitality Challenge,” here were the results…

  • 3 did not follow through (for unknown reasons)
  • 3 experienced no observable change (likely people with super healthy diets already)
  • 2 experienced severe detox reactions (likely people with very unhealthy diets to start)  Note – if this is you, it’s recommended to do the Challenge over 20 days instead of 10 to lessen the severity of your detox.
  • 16 experienced clear, observable improvements to their health and well-being

Potential benefits of incorporating this variety of super potent, super concentrated, raw, organic foods into your daily routine, via the Vitality Challenge include:

  • Eliminating toxins
  • Improved immunity
  • Improved skin and hair texture
  • More energy
  • Improved focus and concentration
  • Improved nutrient absorption

Sound worth a 10-day try?  I have two options for you… 

1- Get more details on the Vitality Challenge, and/or
2- Enter my Rafflecopter raffle for a free Vitality Challenge Pack.

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To request additional details on the challenge, fill out the “Read Your Labels” form above and to the right – put “Vitality Challenge” in the ‘How you found me’ field.

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To enter the raffle for a free Vitality Challenge Pack, use the Rafflecopter widget below.  NOTE – You can come back and add more valid entries any time up until the end of the raffle period. – a Rafflecopter giveaway

Absolutely Rejected

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This year, interspersed with natural health, sustainable living, and personal story posts, I’d like to offer you insights into the good, the bad, and the ugly of network marketing and empower you to understand key essential truths that can help you:

1- Steer clear of the scams and hype that threaten a sustainable economy and world by wasting people’s time and money.

2- Find respectable companies that genuinely care about serving you as a customer and, through their ethical approach to network marketing, contribute to a more sustainable economy and world.

After 8 years in network marketing, I have learned a LOT about the industry and truly have a love-hate relationship with it.  I love all the good it offers and hate the hype that so often infests it.

But pause and consider…

Does the undesirable behavior of certain people in any given profession necessarily make the profession itself unethical?  While there are unethical doctors, lawyers, teachers, politicians – you name it – there are also many in those professions who are trustworthy and servant-hearted.

The same is true in network marketing.

If you’ve ever been approached by a “stereotypical” network marketer, then perhaps you can relate to one of these three experiences:

1- Feeling like you’re just a target in the marketer’s hyped up attempts to reach his sales quotas.

2- Hating the hard sell tactics and the lack of respect for your “not now” or “not ever” response.

3- Hiding from someone who was essentially taught to use peer pressure with friends and family.

Sadly, all this and more happens far too often in network marketing.  But it does not need to be the case.

For example, when I first discovered Miessence in June of 2010, I was immediately struck by the clear difference – and was thrilled to have found such a refreshing community to potentially work with as a stay at home mom.  Miessence’s Working Representatives absolutely reject the above “norms” for network marketing and instead work to create a sincere and sustainable culture of:

1- Education – empowering you with information you can use to evaluate ANY brand or company.

2- Service – genuinely consulting with you to help you find what YOU want, instead of pitching at you.

3- Zero Pressure – no one is ever pressured to become a customer or to “do the business.”

I’ll be honest.  We often feel like salmon swimming upstream against the trends in network marketing.

But if the public begins demanding this ethic from the industry at large instead of falling for the hype or accepting the peer pressure, the negatives will die away and the positives will spread.

If a friend approaches you for “x, y, z network marketing company” in all the stereotypical ways, lovingly encourage her to reject the stereotypical industry training and instead choose a more sustainable, educational, service based, zero pressure, and no hype approach from which everyone – representatives, customers, and society at large – can benefit.

As a customer or representative, what have been your best or worst experiences with network marketing?

PS – If you’re in network marketing, with any company, and struggling with the stereotypical training, click here.

Home Birth

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Aside from my initial announcement that baby #5 is due in June, I haven’t posted much about my pregnancy.  In part, because… perhaps sad, but true… It’s #5!

Please don’t misunderstand me.  First of all, my hubby and I have always talked about a big family, so no, this was not an “oops.”  And we will love this one as intensely and uniquely as each of our first four.  But, truth be told, there is not much time to be super excited just yet about someone who isn’t right here asking for something nearly all the time, like his/her brothers and sisters are.  Any mama of more than 1 or 2 can understand, I think.  😉

In the first trimester, I at least had the constant reminders of extreme fatigue and a slight “off” feeling (yeah, sorry everyone who has had severe morning sickness – that’s about it…  I think God just knows what a wimp I am!).  But now that I’m into the second trimester and feeling basically normal, it’s especially easy to semi-forget most of the day until I lie in bed at night and feel that tiniest bit of belly starting.  Then I do get a bit excited.  🙂

I also haven’t posted much because we didn’t even make an appointment with a provider until week 13…  We were undecided about whether to take the home birth journey this time around.

I am not “anti-medicine” or “anti-hospitals” – I’m grateful these things are here when needed.  But, the longer I’m on this natural health and sustainable living journey, the more I realize how dreadfully over used these resources are.  No wonder “healthcare” (really, sickness care) is so maxed out and bankrupting this country (among numerous other things).

I love my two OBs who delivered our first four babies, and had positive experiences with all four in the hospital.  So my leaning toward a home birth had nothing to do with dissatisfaction with them or prior experiences.  More so, just shifting priorities and perspectives on the big picture systems as a whole.

The real kickers for me were this:

1) I kept thinking, “If I can and am willing to do a home birth and support a more sustainable long-term system, knowing that the emergency resources are nearby if needed – unlike most places in the world unfortunately – then why go through the hospital which would cost ‘the system’ probably at least twice as much, even if it’d only cost me a $25 copay?”  I’m not one to always look for the cheapest possible deal for myself, but rather, to consider real value – both to myself and society at large.

2) I, along with much of US society, have little to no concept of the ancient wisdom surrounding this incredible experience of childbirth.  I want my kids to know that they can trust God through these amazing natural experiences and not have to be so reliant on “the system” the way I have been to date in this regard.  I want them to know that this is a powerful option that they have for their own futures if they become parents – especially if there will come a time when any of my descendants might be denied access to “the system,” or if “the system” itself completely crumbles one day and is not available at all.

Sooooo, we decided to do it…  We’re taking the home birth journey this time around!

Pretty exciting… when I slow down long enough to think about it.  🙂

Anyone else out there have a home birth after a hospital birth?  What was your experience like?

 

Jumpstart Diet

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Guest post by Susan Taylor, from RDonCall

After the holidays, we all want to lose a few pounds and start eating better.  However, instead of making the same hollow New Year’s resolutions as last year, commit to making changes that will have a real impact on your life.  Eating healthy is not rocket science–it just takes a little planning to turn a resolution into a reality.  Here are a few suggestions to help jumpstart your diet and start 2013 off right.

1- Eat Your Greens.  Packed with vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals, leafy green vegetables such as collards and kale have a myriad of health benefits. These hard-working veggies may aid in the prevention of chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis.  Their high fiber content may aid in weight loss by promoting satiety, thereby decreasing hunger pangs.  Choose organic if possible to limit exposure to pesticides and chemicals.

2- Love Those Antioxidants.  These free-radical fighters are found in fruits and vegetables–by protecting the body against cell-damaging free radicals, these super foods may aid in decreasing your risk of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, and dementia plus provide potent anti-aging benefits.  Again, go organic if possible.

3- Good Bacteria.  Believe it or not, all bacteria are not bad.  Probiotics are beneficial bacteria found in the gut that keep it functioning properly.  Good sources are fermented foods such as live cultured yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, micro algae, and kombucha tea.

4- Fiber is Your Friend.  Foods high in fiber such as green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits are great for weight loss as high fiber foods make you feel full but with the added benefit of being low in calories.

5- Get Your Sleep.  We are all guilty of burning the candle at both ends; however, studies have shown that people who don’t get enough sleep are prone to weight gain plus an increased risk of potentially serious diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.

6- The Sunshine Vitamin.  According to recent studies, Vitamin D may help your waistline as well as your bones, as women with the lowest Vitamin D levels, gained the most weight over a five year period.  Fish such as herring, catfish, and salmon are high in Vitamin D as are fermented cod liver oil, egg yolks, mushrooms, and if necessary, fortified foods such as milk and orange juice.

7- Move It To Lose It.  Exercise is not only a fantastic calorie burner but is a key player in the prevention of heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and cancer. Commit to an activity you enjoy doing on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, it can be a challenge for busy people to fit in those 7-10 servings of fruits and veggies into our daily routines.  The Miessence Vitality Pack is a simple solution to this dilemma.  It includes BerryRadical antioxidant superfood, DeepGreen alkalizing superfood, and InLiven probiotic superfood–these high quality supplements are certified organic with no added fillers, preservatives, or chemicals.  Just one teaspoon a day of each of these ultra concentrated superfoods is all you need to kick your vitality up a notch–make 2013 your best year yet!

 

Fall Raffle

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And the winner of my fall new subscribers raffle is…

(That’s subscribers to my newsletter, not the blog posts.)

Drum roll…

Briana B. from Wisconsin, US

Briana, congrats!  I’ll email you shortly with the details of your $50 gift certificate.

To all – I’m signing off for an extended holiday break.  Will be back online a bit at the end of next week, and more fully in January.

From my family to yours…

“We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”

A quick PS – my favorite version of one of my favorite Christmas songs (not We Wish You A Merry Christmas)…