The Cauliflower is Lonely

I was recently informed by my physician that I have high triglycerides (essentially, too much fat in the blood, how gross is that). High triglycerides are a risk factor for everything from stroke to heart disease to diabetes. The prescribed course of action? Stop eating all white foods: white potatoes, white pasta, white rice, white bread, white pastry, white sugar. I'm taking this seriously, since I know high tri's run in my family anyway, so I've begun overhauling my diet and thus, my pantry. Now in: citrus fruits, berries, greens, avocado, fish, chicken, beans, oatmeal, whole wheat bread, reduced fat cheese, almonds. Now out: everything else.

In truth, I actually like all those foods that are good for me. I like every kind of fruit and almost every kind of vegetable (even brussels sprouts). Can't stand tuna or mackerel, but I like salmon. Don't enjoy any kind of artificial sweetener, but I'm going to give Truvia a try. I'm looking forward to learning how to cook collard greens and how to prepare a spaghetti squash. Here's the sticking point: CARBS! I love carbs. Every kind of carbohydrate. Donuts. Croissants. Cereal. Granola. French bread. Crackers. Pretzels. Chips. Muffins. Cookies. And, as has been well documented, Pie.

So at this point, three days into the diet overhaul, I've become completely obsessed by food. What I can have, what I can't have. Whether I'm hungry, and what I should eat if I am. When I'll eat again if I'm not. I hate all food commercials. Everything seems to have a hidden form of sugar in it, in a most unfair manner. I'm telling myself that this phase will not last. I'm focusing on how proud I'll be when next year's blood tests come back with better results.

Meanwhile, the cauliflower is lonely, the only white food left in my fridge. Maybe I'll move it next to the skim milk for company.

Character Counts

My son Jacob is one of the sweetest children I know. Of course I am biased, but seriously, if you've met Jacob, you would probably agree that he just has a sweeter-than-average disposition. I'm not saying that he's wimpy, or girly, or anything like that. He likes to wrestle and get dirty and play with trucks as much as the next boy. And I'm also not saying that he's perfect. But he is considerate, and empathetic, and kind. In that regard, he seems to be one of a relative few, and I wonder what to do about it.

Because of course, Jacob has met with a lot of bullies. He's encountered a lot of overly aggressive kids, who are quick to take advantage, or be mean or rude or selfish or hurtful. And he's encountered them everywhere: on the playground, on the soccer field, at Cub Scouts, even at church. These are kids who don't take turns, who don't share, who don't play fair, who don't understand about cooperation or generosity or give-and-take.

Are we not supposed to be teaching our children these values anymore? Are these attributes no longer valued at all? We've just tried to instill in our children the importance of being a good person, a nice person. Basically, we're teaching them the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. What more could we ask for our children, what other attributes could make us more proud?

I'm glad that the first topics of our new children's church program will be about the Fruit of the Spirit. I believe we could all use more reminders, more instruction about these Christ-filled traits. But meanwhile, I'm trying to figure out what to say to my son, who doesn't understand why his friend insisted that they trade Bakugons, Jacob's two for his one. Or why the kid at Cub Scouts "hogged" the rubber band airplane and wouldn't take turns.

I am trying to encourage Jacob that it's okay to stand up for yourself, to speak up when something isn't right, and to be thicker-skinned when things go wrong. But I wish these lessons weren't so bruising.

I don't know why other kids are just plain mean. I didn't understand it when I was a kid and I don't understand it now. But I do know why my kid is nice. Hopefully that's all that will matter in the end.

Encouraging Words

"Where seldom is heard a discouraging word, and the skies are not cloudy all day."

Wouldn't it be great to live at home on the range? Wouldn't it be even better to live wherever we are right now, but to seldom hear a discouraging word?

Several years ago, we participated in a small group that studied Gary Chapman's 5 Love Languages, and my primary love language was Words of Affirmation. I am just someone who likes to know that whatever I'm doing or saying or being seems alright to someone else. After "I love you," my next favorite words are, "You're special." Or, as Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber would say, "God made you special, and He loves you very much."

I've been thinking about encouragement lately. We recently attended the memorial service for a woman of God named Opal Rodgers. Opal had the gift of encouragement. She was a blesser. She wrote cards to people - for birthdays and anniversaries, but also "just because." On the day of her funeral, I heard several people say that they had often recieved cards from Opal, and that they had held on to those cards. When we moved to Cape Girardeau three months ago, we received a card of welcome and enouragement from Opal. Even though we had never met her and she attended the Nazarene church in the neighboring town because it was closer to her home, she still reached out to let us know how happy she was that we had come to Cape Naz.

I've been blessed with some encouraging words lately, and while that's always meaningful to me, it is especially so now that we have entered into this new ministry experience. My whole attitude changes when I hear, "We're glad you're here. We think you're doing a good job." I'll hold on to those words and draw on them whenever I face doubt or discouragement.

Of course, being encouraged reminds me that I want to share encouraging words with others, too. It's easy, it doesn't cost very much, and it's almost always well-received. Now, I think I'd better go tell my kids, "You're special."

Caitlin's Pink Party

Caitlin the preschool princess turned three yesterday. Initially, she was not wonderfully enthused about turning three; after all, it's quite a bit harder to make the three sign with one's fingers than it is to make the two sign. And, as she has often been reminded, three-year-olds need to use the potty, even though as Caitie says, "I like my diapers," and "Going pee-pee on the floor is fun."

But in the end, when reminded of the birthday party and accompanying birthday presents, Caitlin decided that perhaps turning three would not be so bad. For her party, she requested a pink cake with pink ice cream and pink milk. To this was added strawberries with pink fruit dip and pink frosted cookies. Presents were wrapped in pink paper, and a vase of pink tulips completed the not-so-understated theme.

The guests were Caitie's favorite grown-ups, Tyronza and Dr. Scot, and Susan and Mr. Scott. Everyone enjoyed the cake and ice cream, and especially the strawberry milk. Jacob gave Caitlin a Big Sister Dora doll, complete with baby brother and sister. He's more than ready to turn six in a few weeks.

It was the first time that we have had guests in our new house. Now it's really beginning to feel like home.