2011 January

Jan 14, 2011

Friday’s Fave Five

I’m joining Susanne and the gang today, to talk about five of our favorite things from the past week. This week presented some personal struggles, so I’m thankful to Susanne for the encouragement to pick out a few bright spots — they’re always there if we just look for them!

1. No jury duty. I received my first jury duty summons shortly before Christmas — I was to report Monday, January 10. Though I dutifully filled out the enclosed questionnaires and started lining up childcare, I soon realized it was going to be exceedingly difficult to find childcare for the full two weeks the summons told me to be available. So I wrote a letter requesting an excusal, fully prepared to attempt to serve if my request was denied. But it was granted — hooray! And with the snow we’ve had this week, along with school delays and multiple needed trips to the school, I am so thankful that I did not have to worry about jury duty this time around. (Though I do think that at some future time, it might be interesting to be part of the whole legal process.)

2. Knitting again. I have already completed one small project with my new stash of yarn. It didn’t take long at all for my fingers to remember the feel of knitting, and there’s something so soothing about making something tangible and cute. Unfortunately, I can’t show you what I made just yet, because it’s going to be a gift and the recipient(s) occasionally read my blog. So for now, it’s still a secret. Sorry!

3. Playing in the snow with L. This week brought our first “significant” snow of the season and our yard is covered in several inches of powdery white stuff. L (4) and I spent time outside Wednesday, shoveling and sledding and marching around. L was not impressed with the saucer-type sled (too unpredictable), but enjoyed the traditional plastic sled — especially when I helped him get it up the hill and into position. And just for fun, I took a turn zipping down the hill on the saucer. After that, I was wet and ready to go in the house. But I enjoyed celebrating the winter wonderland with my four-year-old.

4. Being the best mom ever. C (12) had to share some “sensitive news” with us this week. Now I’m not sure why, but he was pretty sure that Chad and I were going to respond in a dramatically negative manner. Even though I think we’ve done a pretty good job at being reasonable parents (or at least, appearing to be reasonable parents even when we’re completely losing it inside), C was still convinced that we would freak out. When he gave me the news and I didn’t freak out, he was beyond relieved. Some time later, I found this note in my bedroom:

What better compliment could I ask for?

5. An evening with a good friend. Last Sunday, I spent a few hours with one of my dearest friends. It just so happened that on that night, we were both feeling the weight of the world. We were struggling with some disillusionment, disappointment, parenting struggles, and the very clear realization that this world is broken. What a blessing it was to be able to pour our hearts out to each other. Though we didn’t solve all the world’s problems, we had a good talk about God and pride and our need for prayer and surrender. Good stuff. Sharing a delectable chocolate dessert was an added bonus.

I hope you had a week filled with bright spots! Visit Susanne to see other Friday’s Fave Five participants.

Filed Under: Friday's Fave Five 22 Comments

Jan 14, 2011

Book Review: Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst

written by katrina · 4 Comments

How appropriate is it to read a book about conquering “food issues” and “weight issues” right as the new year begins? So many of us pick January 1st as a prime opportunity to get serious about losing those last ten (or more) pounds. So when the LitFuse Publicity group asked if I would like to read and review a new book by Lysa TerKeurst entitled Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire With God, Not Food – I said yes.

In a nutshell, I really appreciated this book. But before I tell you more of my thoughts, let me tell you how the publisher describes Made to Crave.

What the publisher says:

Just because a woman finally fits into her skinny jeans doesn’t mean she’s won her battle with food. Too often, women overlook the spiritual component to their physical struggle with healthy eating. Made to Crave taps into the desires God gave you to consume food without letting food consume you!

Made to Crave is the missing link between a woman’s desire to be healthy and the spiritual empowerment necessary to make that happen. The reality is we were made to crave. Craving isn’t a bad thing. But we must realize God created us to crave more of him. Many of us have misplaced that craving by overindulging in physical pleasures instead of lasting spiritual satisfaction. If you are struggling with unhealthy eating habits, you can break the “I’ll start again Monday” cycle, and start feeling good about yourself today. Learn to stop beating yourself up over the numbers on the scale. Discover that your weight loss struggle isn’t a curse but rather a blessing in the making, and replace justifications that lead to diet failure with empowering go-to scripts that lead to victory. You can reach your healthy weight goal – and grow closer to God in the process. This is not a how-to book. This is not the latest and greatest dieting plan. This book is the necessary companion for you to use alongside whatever healthy lifestyle plan you choose.

What I thought:

Like many women in their (ahem) mid-to-late thirties, I struggle with my weight and can often be found somewhere on the continuum between “I’m doing great and counting my calories!” and “Oh forget it — give me the chocolate!”

And for years, I’ve been convinced that there is a significant spiritual aspect to the whole weight-loss thing. It’s not that I think God wants a specific number to appear on my scale tomorrow morning. Rather, it’s that as someone who claims to want to honor Him, I need to acknowledge that part of honoring Him is taking care of the body He’s given me.

Does that mean no chocolate, ever? I don’t think so. But it does mean making choices about food and exercise that contribute toward being healthy and maintaining a healthy weight.

That’s where Made to Crave comes in. In this book, Lysa won’t tell you how many calories or fat grams to consume. She won’t tell you to visit Weight Watchers or buy Lean Cuisine. This isn’t a “diet plan book” at all.

Instead, Lysa reminds us of the many ways our relationship with God is impacted by and reflected in how we eat and move.

She asks hard questions like, “Is it possible we love and rely on food more than we love and rely on God?” And she doesn’t hesitate to share ways in which she has turned to food for comfort, stress relief, security, etc. rather than turning to God.

Lysa also offers practical ways to rely on Scripture, prayer, and the Holy Spirit to combat cravings and unhealthy desires, and to shift our responses from over-indulgence to self-discipline. And she lovingly lets us know that we can’t fill our deepest longings or our deepest needs with food — or with anything else, except God.

At its essence, this book doesn’t tell you what to eat. But it does talk about why we eat to excess, why we should make healthier choices. And it gives Christians a foundation, a starting point, and a heart-motivation for making better decisions when it comes to our bodies.

Made to Crave is written in a conversational tone. Lysa shares honestly about her own struggles and the journey she is on to better honor God in the area of eating and weight-loss. Each chapter ends with questions for personal reflection and application, helping you go deeper and filter what you’ve read through your personal circumstances.

You can read more reviews of Made to Crave at Amazon.com. Or feel free to visit the official blog tour post for Made to Crave over at LitFuse, to see what other bloggers think about this book. (And you might want to visit that post anyway, because Lysa is holding a contest where you can win a free Kindle — information on how to enter the contest can be found over at LitFuse.)

Disclosure: LitFuse Pulbicity provided me with a free review copy of Made to Crave. I was asked to provide my opinion of the book; the thoughts expressed in this post are my own.

Filed Under: Book reviews 4 Comments

Jan 10, 2011

Yarn

written by katrina · 15 Comments

I don’t remember the last time I knitted something. I’ve only completed a few knitting projects ever (being a long-time crocheter and only a recent knitter), but it’s been a while since I did those — I’m guessing about two years?

But for some reason, today I was struck with a desire to knit. So while L(4) was at preschool this morning, I zipped over to the yarn shop across the street and found a few skeins to add to my stash.

Maybe it’s because the meteorologists are forecasting a “significant accumulation of snow” over the next couple days. I think part of me is drawn to the idea of hibernating with a pile of yarn, some bamboo needles and a quick project or two.

And coffee, of course. And a good book for when my cramping fingers need a little break.

Now I just have to re-teach myself exactly how to do a knit stitch and a purl stitch. I told you it’s been a while…

Filed Under: Craftiness 15 Comments

Jan 7, 2011

Snapshot

written by katrina · 7 Comments

He picked out his own outfit yesterday, from the red-and-gray striped sweater, to the camo-inspired pants, all the way to the mismatched one-brown-and-one-black crocs. Fashion was not his top concern. His primary reason for getting dressed was so that he could perform many acrobatic stunts as part of a “movie” he put on for me in the basement. (Actually, we only got through part of the “movie” — he assured me that there are many more chapters left to watch.)

And don’t ask me about the look he’s giving me in this picture. It’s the look both of my kids give me when I get out the camera. A kind of exasperated, “Do you really need to be taking my picture again?”

But yes, I do. And these expressions only make me want to push the shutter button even more.

Filed Under: Family 7 Comments

Jan 6, 2011

Excuse me, waiter?

written by katrina · 16 Comments

When I order a meal at a restaurant, I tend to take what I get. Even if it’s not exactly what I ordered.

I’m just not a food-sender-backer. For one thing, I figure that even if the kitchen made a mistake, if the food is still good, I can live with it. Everyone makes mistakes, and I’d rather not cause the waiter or waitress any hassle.

For another thing, who wants to sit at the restaurant all day, waiting for your food to be cooked again? Not me. I’ll just eat what I’ve been served and go home, thankyouverymuch.

But recently, I sent back a steak. I hate to even admit that. You should know, I suppose, that I love a good steak. You should also know that I like a little pink in my steak. A steak cooked to medium is perfect, and I’d never ask for one well done. Ever.

Alas, the steak I ordered (medium, of course) arrived at our table exceedingly well done. Nary a hint of pink was to be found. Just brown, through and through. That’s okay, I thought, I’m sure it’s still good. So I tried a bite.

And it was…meh. I mean, it was still meat that came from a cow. But it was not what I’d been expecting. And when I thought of what we’d be paying for that filet, I thought perhaps I should send it back.

After all, Chad had also ordered a steak cooked medium and his was perfect — just the right amount of pink in the middle.

However, I have a mental block against bothering waitresses. Perhaps it’s because I spent one summer in high school working as a waitress and I can commiserate with all the hassles they have to deal with every day. I prefer to be a good, hassle-free customer, and then go on my merry way.

But the steak was really well done. (Have I mentioned the steak was well done? Because it was. Are you getting the feeling that I feel compelled to over-justify my actions? Yeah, me too.)

Reluctantly, the next time the waitress stopped by to see how we were doing, I showed her my plate, and asked if maybe, perhaps, I could have a new steak.

She was happy to oblige and agreed that something must have gone horribly wrong. A new steak was prepared, my family waited patiently, and in the end, I enjoyed a very delicious filet, cooked perfectly.

Still, I felt a little guilty.

The only other time I’ve sent something back to the kitchen was when I ordered a BLT at a diner and it arrived without any T. No T at all. Not even a sliver, not even a seed. A BL just wasn’t going to cut it.

And really, I wasn’t asking for it to be redone, I was just asking for some tomato. They could have brought me a slice or two on a plate and I’d have been just as happy.

As for Chad, he’s not a sender-backer either.

Well, except for that one time, early in our marriage, when his salad arrived at our table with a cricket on it. Yes, a cricket. Not a dead cricket either. It was mostly dead, but still twitching. Lovely image, no?

I don’t know how the waiter transported the salad from the kitchen to our table without noticing that — Hello? There was an insect sitting right on top of the lettuce!

The restaurant was happy to send out a replacement salad, but part of me always wondered if they just took the cricket off and sent the bowl back out to us. Oh well. It wasn’t my salad. And Chad suffered no ill effects as a result of that meal.

What is the point of this post? I don’t suppose I actually have one, other than to confess that I sent a steak back to the kitchen and I still feel a little guilty for bothering them, even though technically it was their fault.

And also, I’m wondering what your policy on sending back food is. Have you done it? What does it take to convince you to flag down the waiter?

Filed Under: Purely Random 16 Comments