Our food and what it means to our health

S. and I started our journey to eating better and more wisely about a year ago. Then, we watched Food Inc. (click for my review) and we really started to question things.

Our food is no longer food and it's disgusting.

A while back ago S. read an article (that we couldn't find, but I found others) stating that apples in a supermarket are normally kept in cold storage for up to a year. These apples are disgusting, grainy, mushy, and sealed with a waxy buildup so it looks pretty to the consumer. EW. Perfect Apple Pushed Growers Into DebtNY Times, Nov. 2000.


Today he found another article that discussed how "fresh squeezed OJ" from the store is no different than the cheap concentrated stuff. And more than realizing there isn't a difference (ew) this article, from Cook's Illustrated, goes into detail about how these juices are made. It's enough to make me make my own, thankyouverymuch. High-end orange juices claim to taste better and fresher than ordinary not-from-concentrates. At twice the price, are they a sweet deal?Cooks Illustrated, March 1, 2008.

Ready to get back on the train.

I finally had my moment. My moment of mourning and release. After 5 months of highs ad lows of struggling with no pregnancy, learning of infertility, and then to an amazing high of deciding to adopt, I finally cried. I actually bawled. I hadn't cried like that in a long time and it felt amazing.

I don't know why my body wouldn't let me mourn, wouldn't let me feel anything. "I'm fine", was all I ever said to anyone. I felt fine, but there was something brewing deep down that I didn't know about until recently.

Looking back on other difficult issues in my life, I realize that that is how I deal with things, I guess. I feel I need to be the one to help others, I have to be the strong one, they need to cry, they need to let it all out, they need the shoulder. And it isn't until months later that my moment is released.

Anyway, I took a break from conceiving. It was much needed. But now I'm feeling ready to get back on and get back at it. Our chances are incredibly slim, but with Jesus, all things are possible.

He Has Risen!

As I get older and fatter I love Easter less for the chocolates cream eggs and jelly beans, and more and more because this is the day Jesus rose from the grave to save our sins.

I love you, Jesus.

Matthew 28

He Is Risen

 ¹ Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. ² And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door,^[a] and sat on it. ³ His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. ⁴ And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
⁵ But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. ⁷ And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
⁸ So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

The Women Worship the Risen Lord

  
⁹ And as they went to tell His disciples,^[b] behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Calling all of you blog readers!!

S. and I are starting to get more serious about purchases for a baby. I managed to get him to okay our first clothing purchase - just a couple of organic onesies that I couldn't resist - only a couple weeks ago.

That leads me to our little conundrum - what necessary items do we need?

Last year I bought this super cute organic bedding set thinking I'd have a crib.
S. and I decided there's no reason to have a crib because we're going to have a co-sleeper bassinet and baby will be sleeping with or near us in our room.

I am also debating the need for a stroller because we will be wearing our baby.

So crunchy mamas, please help us figure out what's a need vs. cute but not useful?

Home study, where art thou?

I'm probably too antsy about it because it's spring break so I don't have school to keep my mind off of it, but I'm so ready for the first draft!

That being said I just can't believe how many steps it feels like we've taken already.

On another note, I made plans to sign up for like 5 classes this summer only to get smacked over the head by my reality check and so I signed up for 2! I probably won't be done by next Spring, but at this rate I'd rather be happy, healthy, and have less stress than what happened this semester. BLAH!

I guess I'll use this post as a general update...

I officially ended my "no poo" about a month ago as I ended up with some gnarly hair problems. I know what my issue was, and that was to tweak the water to baking soda and water to vinegar ratio (which I didn't do), because I had zero time and my patience had run out. But luckily I still had some shampoo around so I've been using that.

I have also not dyed my hair in, I think it's been, 2 months (at least). Back when I was a salonophile (I really don't think that's a word, but it sounds good), I'd be in the chair every 5 weeks - my gnarly grays are just that bad. But I've been trying to grow it out to see what it looks like, how bad it is, and also to give my poor chemically treated head and scalp a break. I told S. I'm trying to see if I can make it to not dye it until we head to Japan...we'll see if I can handle all those grays for so long.

Are any of you watching American Idol? If so, listen up and do yourselves a favor: VOTE OFF TIM URBAN AND AARON KELLY Thank you! My American Idol top pick is 100% Crystal Bowersox. No one is even CLOSE to her talent. Lee Dewyze is a distant 2nd. I hate the show, but they always get me swept into it, BOO! As for Didi, I thought she was good and had an amazing, quirky voice, but I think she let herself get in her way AND bad song choices...such is life.

We have been deemed "fit parents"

Or something like that. But the bottom line is we've got the 100% green light and now we go through home study revision phase.

Here's our checklist:

* Passport (because ours got stolen last August...still bitter about that. I lost my first 2 stamps from ever being outside the country! UGH!)

* Letter to our prospective birth mother. I'm both nervous as anything and excited to write this letter. This is our opportunity to reach out to a brave woman in another country, to tell her why S. and I will do our best to give that child everything she can't, and why we are so humbled at her strength. It's our brief connection that transcends race, culture, and religion.

* More Government Forms to fill out and send in.

* Visit to the Agency.

* Then we wait...

Our emotions are so indescribable right now.

Our friends melt our hearts

We are finishing up the last of our pre-adoption home study visits today. Another mile marker hit in this amazing, frustrating, exciting, nerve-wracking process to bring our baby home.

Our wonderful social worker went through and read the responses from our references and I teared up...our hearts melted and even if it takes a long time to get our child, this whole process is worth it just hearing how special we are to these people.

We love you guys and are the luckiest people alive because we get to call you friends. Thank you.