LENT and the Paleo Diet

I really get into Lent.
I feel like I've been giving up chocolate for Lent since I was a teenager.
In recent years, I have given up chocolate and Facebook and read from a great book called the Divine Hours daily.
I truly find value and benefit from the discipline Lent provides. (it's just 40 days, right?)

Well, this year, I even roped Joe into my extreme form of discipline. :)

THE PALEO DIET

A dear friend of mine did a "Whole30" from January 1st to January 30th - it was a huge success for her and her husband. (they lost weight, felt better, slept better and their skin cleared up)

So I checked out every book (and bought a few too) about Paleo that I could find to learn more.
It's an interesting philosphy.
It's rooted in the idea that our bodies were MADE to eat things God made (not man).
Meats, eggs, plants, fruits and nuts (except peanuts) are the main sources of your food intake.

What you CAN'T eat are:
Glutens (bread, pasta, cereal, beer)
Dairy
Sugar
Anything "processed"

So, what's our day look like?
Eggs and bacon for breakfast (plus Joe has a fruit, I put avacado on my eggs)
Meat and vegetables/fruit for lunch
Meat and vegetables/fruit for dinner

As my Gram Young says "That sounds like starvation!"

But, really, it's not.
We eat AS MUCH AS WE WANT.

We are committed to doing this for 40 days.
We started on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 13th. We finish Easter morning.
It's been good, not always easy, but good.

As you read through these books, they speak towards the value of a gluten free diet - which our family has been loosely practicing for a year, because of Jackson.

Many books criticize the dairy industry as well. (This is one part I just don't fully agree with - especially with my complete LOVE for chocolate and cheese is high on my Favs list too). Essentially, the philosophy is milk is for calves, not humans and we can (and do with this diet) get calcium from many other sources.

Lastly, the diet does not allow potatoes or rice - which were big parts of our dinners since we went gluten (pasta) free. The mindset is that both are too starchy and affect your insulin levels.

Overall, the very strategic items you CAN eat ALL have healthy, functional, effective ways to "detox" your body - especially your gut. And in the process, your whole body responds positively.

We'll see where this takes us. Joe is REALLY missing beer.
But the snacks, cheese, chips...well, I don't even give them a thought.
It's kind of hard to explain.

I am glad we are committing to this.
I am counting the days til Easter.
(but I think I am missing Facebook more than chocolate!)

I DO think there are some very valuable shifts in our mindset of food that I expect will remain for our eating choices and family even after Lent is over.

I hope you enjoy your Lent time, as well - whether giving up or adding on - this time of year is one to draw us closer and more deeply in reliance to Jesus - the reason for this season.

Basketball, basketball and Dramatic Dance

Our Saturdays are filled with fun at the Y!
Jameson and Joey are both playing basketball (in separate leagues) and Morgan is in "Dramatic Dance."  :)

Joey is on the 6-7 yr old Cincinnatti Bearcats. Joe is his coach.

Jameson is playing in the 4-5yr old league and is on the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Morgan is in Dramatic Dance - it's absolutely adorable to watch her in her super puffy purple outfit amongst all the other ballerinas in her class.

Happy Birthday Jameson!

Jameson had a Lego Birthday Party! 8 preschoolers and Jackjack enjoyed snacks, pizza, cupcakes and LOTS of legos!

Mo, Bubba and Ry Ry came to town for the weekend to celebrate too!

New Years Resolutions for the Schmidt House

Well folks, I've figured a few things out.
1.  I like a plan
2.  I like efficiency
3.  I LOVE for my family to like these things too!

Joe and I sat down before school started back up again after the New Year and we formed a PLAN - a GOOD PLAN!

I am just going to pat us on the back for a bit because IT IS WORKING!

All thanks to a few Christmas Presents that we have now found to be our children's "Currency".
I don't know how else to explain it - but if the chance of missing out on the opportunity to PLAY either of these devices is at stake, well, the kids just get things together and obey!  Imagine that!

So, my (our) first resolution for the new year was to END the "Time to Go NOW!" announcement (ok, yelling!) every school day at 7:55am.
And so far, so good!

I'll explain our genious idea  (well, until this currency no longer motivates!)

 

 

One of the most time saving, significant changes/additions for our kids was they THEY pack their own lunch the night before, set out their shoes and coat the night before and they choose their outfit the night before....these concepts were all suggested and tried many a time in previous months, but now they are REQUIRED!

The OTHER good switch was that they have their alarms set and wake up on their own and get dressed in uniforms before coming down to eat breakfast....that 7:25am check mark has been a HUGE help with RESPONSIBILITY and EFFICIENCY!

 

 

The checklist (right above) has been a part of our routine all school year - I say "Are we ready?" instead of ....did you brush?  where is your lunch?  where are your shoes?....it was an effective way to get out the door with the bigs taking responsibility for THEIR stuff - and let's just say, the day the backpack was forgotten...well that NEVER happened again! (Morgan must have been asked by 15 kids at pick-up line - where's your back pack? and she HAD to answer - "I forgot it!" - How embarassing!)  :)

 

The dry erase board is the NEW and IMPROVED format for a good, easy, no yelling, morning routine.  And it's working great!  The "penalty" row is for bad choices towards each other and that means losing minutes of Wii over the weekend.  There are 3 check points throughout the morning that the kids put on the dry erase board themselves once they get the particular things done.  IF they miss a check - they miss 10 minutes of TV upon arrival home.  The focus on the TIME and NOT the sibling has been a huge benefit! (competition has no place in this house at 7:30am!)

The EPad is the bonus for getting out the door at 7:55am - 20 minutes after homework is done after school - it's been awesome.  Jameson, who is 3 and doesn't really "get" this yet, but follows along pretty well, GETS when he loses his minutes - he knows it's best just to obey.

 

 

I like that our kids don't feel entitled to TV or the Wii or the Epad - they know it's earned, it's a privelage and there are choices they make that allow them to have or lose their opportunity to have any of these technologies.

 

For now, it's a succss story....but, we've only been in school 3 days :)

 

Now for MY RESOLUTION:



I am going to READ!
I am going to fill my mind with life giving, healthy, encouraging, motivating words and concepts.

My dad got me an Epad and I have already read 3 books on my Kindle App within the Tablet. It's been awesome!

This year, I want to be an ECOURAGER.
I want to write notes to people who need to hear HOPE.
I want to PRAY often and HEAR from my Encourager.
I want to SERVE in the way God has called me to Serve.
I want to GROW in relationship with others.
I want to BUILD our family, along with my husband, with intentionality and Purpose.
I want to SEE God move in amazing ways - and that only happens when my eyes are open and focused on Him.
I want to EQUIP others grow.
I want to TEACH others to lead.

Last year, I had lots of resolutions that only lasted about 6 months..or less...when we could not figure out what was wrong with our baby boy, well, it took me out of things. It TOOK OVER things. And I never got back on track.
Some of the books in my box are from LAST YEAR that I never read! And that very well may happen again! Some, I'm reading AGAIN because they were so GOOD for me to read!

But I am encouraged by how my heart is LONGING to hear God. To Serve God. To Be His hands and feet! This is not just by chance....I am being tapped on the shoulder...He is pulling and I am letting go!

I am excited to see what is in store for my life, my family, my relationships!
Here's to 2013! It's going to be an amazing year!