Sweet Struggles

Its been a good week. The sun came out and we got some fresh air finally! While decluttering we were able to open the windows and let the house air out! We are not dirty people but we do have a lot of clutter and dust. So the weather permitting us to air the place was such a relief. A blessing really because i was feeling really claustrophobic!


 We made a list of each section of our home to be marked off and worked on over a 6 month period. Its a process so we are trying not to rush into this 'minimalist lifestyle' overnight, but im anxious haha! So far weve finished about 95% of the kitchen/dining room which was the #2 biggest project on the list. This past weekend we tackled the #1 on the list which was clothing. We had an entire room piled with clothes we couldnt find spots for and couldnt control! All together we have bagged and trashed about 7 large trashbags full of clothing!! Thank you Jesus!!! We now have just enough dishes, pans, and silverware for us only. about 3 or 4 pieces of everything (compared to originally about 15 of everything) and about 5 loads of laundry all together including our 4 towels and bed sheets <3 SUCH. A. RELIEF.!!!!!

Another big part of the decluttering our life includes your mind as well. Its not just about getting rid of unnecessary STUFF in your home but also weeding out the unnecessary thoughts and things in your mind(hateful thoughts, things that stress you, bad memories) and the unnecessary things your ingesting (processed foods, junk food and SUGAR).  So on down our list (or mine anyway) includes being in my bible more. Ive learned a lot about myself since being saved almost exactly a year ago. One thing ive learned is that i let myself become annoyed very easily by unimportant things. I will think so far into a situation or something a person said and make it into something to get angry about. Very judgemental and negative really. HAD TO GO!! No one wants to feel that way....i want to be happy all the time. And the only way to do that is to throw out the bad. Your answers are in the bible!

The last part is to get rid of the junk i am ingesting into my body!...So...let me gripe at yall for a sec <3

Your body is the temple of the HOLY SPIRIT who lives in you and was given to you by GOD. YOU DO NOT BELONG TO YOURSELF 1corinthians 6:19

In the bible it talks a lot about LOVE. Loving ourselves, each other and that God loves us. Well i realized Jesus DIED and was TORTURED FOR ME. His body was beaten and cut and bruised all for me so that i dont have to do that. And here i am basically killing myself with what im eating. My body is a fortress and its time we started treating it as such!

Anthony and i have over the years learned new things and slowly started eating healthier by habit. Before i got pregnant we were working out pretty hard and changed our diet to match. We were eating basically NO SUGAR, NO SALT  and NO FAT. We were taking in as much protein, carbs and nutrients that we could. Looking back i wish i knew then what i know now. Protein is not what we have been convinced it is. It is not proven that as humans we HAVE to have very much protein at all. It actually is proven to have led to several diseases (such as cancer and high cholesterol), same thing goes for sugar. I had no clue. I thought (especially while working out or being active) that it was essential. Nope. The only essential thing we need to be putting into our bodies is FRUIT, VEGETABLES AND WHOLE GRAINS. And thats it. I knew sugar was bad but until here recently i had no clue HOW BAD. 

We like to watch documentaries and learn stuff and weve been watching alot of nutritional ones. Eventually youll find one and itll all click! Well we found a few! ( Sugar Coated, Cowspiracy, & Hungry for Change) 

Really good educational shows that are a must see! It changed the way we look at our food for sure. 

If you are overweight, or maybe tired ALL OF THE TIME (like me), never have any energy, or maybe youve been trying to loose those last few pounds for years and its just not coming off, or maybe you have issues with your cholesterol or blood pressure. Well heres how to REVERSE IT ALL:

QUIT EATING SUGAR AND MEAT!!!

its killing you

I know what your thinking, because i thought the same thing. Thats unrealistic. And in todays way of living it is almost impossible. Every single thing that you are eating is filled with sugar, preservatives or something toxic that eventually will make you sick in some way. 

Start replacing certain snacks or meals with a meal of greens and good proteins like lentils or beans. Start eating fruit for breakfast instead of that Special K cereal that is packed full of sugar. Youll see the pounds FALL OFF and youll have so much energy.

JUST SAYIN'

also we bought only fresh produce for groceries this last night and only spent $40!!! for a whole weeks worth of HEALTHY food! And ill be more full because ill get to eat bigger portions!

Another awesome thing about this is kyndall can eat it all and i dont have to worry. I cant get this kid to eat ANYTHING but mac and cheese, cheese sticks, cookies or fruit gummies. But she also likes those sauce squeeze pouches from the baby section so this morning i blended Kale, almond milk, banana, and some 'greens powder' into a green juice for her and thats what she drank with her honey and oats this morning for breakfast! She thinks its regular juice! but its actually greens! And its sweet because of the fruit! YAY! I had some for breakfast as well and usually by now i need a 3rd cup of coffee. Ive only had one today and i have MORE ENERGY!!! For lunch im going to make a Buddha bowl <3 (Quinoa, Kale, Boiled egg, carrots and probably some other veggies too)

okay, ill stop griping at you! I got a few emails about people who had something they wanting me to talk about and one of them were curious about my 'struggles'. HAHA ok, ill be raw and tell! To save time ill just make you a list haha!

THINGS KALI STRUGGLES WITH:

1. well, ive always had an addictive personality. Its something prayer and blessings from God has helped me overcome. Right now my addictions are Coffee and Facebook lol could be worse!

2. I am lazy. I get really frustrated at myself because i dont pick up after myself or clean like i should. I WANT to be clean and organized but its hard work for me.

3. I often struggle to concentrate. I have always had trouble focusing but its gotten worse as ive gotten older. My mind wanders off to about 5000 things (especially while im trying to pray) But, when i pray hard enough for clarity God will give me a clear mind and its such a relief.

4. Im a negative nancy. I can find the negative in just about any situation. But over the past year thats changed a lot. I still struggle with it but ive improved!

5. My confidence is either at 300% or -300%. There is no in between. If im feeling confident people can usually tell but if im having an off day and my self esteem is pretty low i usually hide it really well.

6. I dont take advice very well. I guess i can be...defensive haha! or so im told. especially when it comes to things about Kyndall. Which i think any mother is like that.

7. I depend on Anthony a lot. I ask for a lot more favors from him than what i do for him. Sometimes i get down on myself because i feel like im not pulling my weight but its something i have to go back to the book of Ruth to reassure myself. Reading in Proverbs is a big help too. because instead of being a downer about it and sulking i am reminded to get off my butt and be virtuous to the best of my ability!

8. I struggle with being social. i get really uncomfortable during a conversation with almost everyone. I cant do small talk =( i try i really do but it makes my heart race and i start panicking.

9. i forget a lot. Sometimes while talking to someone ill be so nervous or caught up in the moment that 9 times out of 10 ill forget every single thing i said and every thing you said. 

10. I struggle with exaggeration. I dont know how to describe that other than just that. Ive been known to exaggerate sometimes. (anthony says im dramatic)

Phew! Well there you go, 10 things i struggle with. This is just a portion of it and i could probably go on and on! But i can tell you one thing i DONT struggle with and thats FAITH. I have so much faith sometimes i feel overwhelmed with it and dont know what to do with it.... I have faith in God and God's word but i also have faith in people. Sometimes too much haha. But these things are daily struggles for me. I also over eat, and dont do enough alone time with jesus. These are things im praying about and overcoming.

Anyway i really recommend checking out those documentaries. You can find all three on Netflix. Something I read said 'Stop telling yourself that you deserve a donut." ...No you deserve a healthy body. So stop treating it badly!