30 Days of Blogging... Day Five

A picture of somewhere you've been.

I've always gazed at mountains, dreaming of someday enjoying the view from the summit. Last summer I finally made the first step toward my dream! Aaron and I took off for an overnight stay on Mt. Baker. We didn't summit... I wanted to be easy on myself and take baby steps in my dream of scaling mountains. So we hiked the ridge the whole way up to climber's camp! As you can see in the picture, it looks like you're RIGHT THERE, when in fact you're approximately a seven hour hike away from the peak. I probably could have done it, but like I said... baby steps.

It was a PERFECTLY clear day, and we hung out most of the first day in our shorts and t-shirts! At the top of a mountain! Ahh... just writing about this makes me want to go back.

**My favorite part of the hike was when a group of hikers passed us withOUT their packs on, and someone remarked to me, "Wow, you're brave... I ditched my pack a long time ago!" Yes, those things are heavy... but with my thunder thighs anything's possible. :)

30 Days of Blogging... Day Four

A habit you wish you didn't have...

Hmm... well, I have to say its probably also a habit OTHERS wish I didn't have as well sometimes.

Mine has to be that I joke too much, turning everything into something I think is apparently funny. I think it makes people think I'm not a deep person, or someone worth having genuine conversation with; or even worse, that I'm not a good friend they want to keep around and develop a meaningful friendship with.

Granted, this is all hypothetical, and perhaps no one ever thinks that of me. But part of this blogging experience is to share the real me, and this is part of it. :)

30 Days of Blogging... Day Three

Picture of you when you were a child.

Great Grandma Eula, baby Kelly, my mom Cindy, and Grandma Alice.
I'm guessing Grandma was saying something like "Ah Bill, just take the picture!!"

30 Days of Blogging... Day Two

Meaning behind your blog name.

Can't say I made it up. People have called me "kel" for a little over 29 years now. Kelly was someone's last name somewhere back in my family, but aside from that, my parents just liked it.

I was supposed to be either Kelly Megan or Megan Kelly. The funny thing about that fact is that when people can't remember my name, they call me Megan.

My subtitle, if it was listed, would be "Coffee, Crochet and Christ." Pretty self-explanatory subtitle.

30 Days of Blogging... Day one

Copied from Bridget Beth's brilliant blog. Day One: recent picture of you, and 15 interesting facts about yourself.


1. I hate myself on camera, which is why I can never be serious in a picture (except the one above, taken for the church staff page).
2. I hate folding laundry.
3. My favorite color is dark red, but it only looks good on me when I'm tan, which is rare.
4. I hate going on walks, but I'll challenge you to a race any time of day, anywhere.
5. The Sound of Music is one of my all-time favorite movies. I wanted to be Liesl.
6. I still dream about playing professional soccer, but figure I blew my chances quitting half-way through college.
7. I can write backwards fluently, both printing and cursive.
8. I correct people's grammar under my breath.
9. I'll sing or dance or act on stage, but HATE public speaking.
10. I stop EXTRA long at stop signs when people tail me.
11. I need glasses. I currently have the wrong prescription because I memorized the eye chart last time I got my vision checked.
12. I have a terrible short-term memory, but can remember most major childhood experiences vividly.
13. I would prefer to have my hair in a ponytail at all times.
14. I am 5' 3.75" tall, but my college soccer roster said I was 5' 5".
15. I love seeing my babies turn into big kids, and thoroughly enjoy their facial expressions and body language as they imitate us adults.

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Smarts.

This picture was taken back in September, on Ian's first day of preschool. What began as excitement for a new school turned into social anxiety and a stressed out mommy. You can see in the picture, he wouldn't even join the circle... too many eyes on him.

Expectations of Ian, both socially and from his teachers, caused him to withdraw into his shell rather than engage in class. His teachers were obviously frustrated, and at one point, we had considered pulling him out and giving him another year to mature.

Three weeks went by, and the constant battle of finding SOMEthing to make him look forward to preschool was exhausting for all involved. After all, how do you motivate an introvert to WANT to go to school alone?!

But fast forward to today, and you find a very different Ian. While still his introverted self, Ian can practically read, write, and recognize numbers! While he struggles more than other kids in the social department, he EXCELS in learning!

Organic.

Just curious which picture looks more natural.

Two nights ago, Aaron and I watched Food, Inc.

Now, to preface what I'm about to say, I have to tell you for probably the duration of our marital existence, we've done an "ok" job of eating healthy. We eat our fruits and vegetables, exercise (in moderation), eat organic when we can afford it, and usually pick non-fat or low-fat varieties of pretty much anything. Of course, there is the occasional trip to McDonald's with the kids, or any number of restaurants in Bellingham when we shop for the cafe...

But I realized, after watching the movie, I was kidding myself. We had made ourselves think we ate healthy, when really many choices we were making with our food might eventually have negative repercussions.

Back to the movie, "Food, Inc."

When I think of where animals are raised to be slaughtered, I generally hear a happy melody in my head, and cows, chickens, and pigs roam free. Sometimes I would guess they break out into song, but I just don't know.

Yet, here come the feed lots. Cows forced to stand side by side, munching on corn of all things, no grass in sight, and if they misbehave, workers get them to move by pushing them with forklifts or other inhumane equipment. (Don't get me started on the mistreatment of workers).

Then there are the chickens who live in windowless henhouses and yes, eat corn. Instead of maturing in 78 or so days, chickens are bred and modified to mature in 46 days. Huh? Modified chickens? They also gain so much weight that their tiny chicken legs can't support their double-D breasts. The poor things take roughly three steps, then collapse from exhaustion. I'm sure God is shaking his head, saying "Nope, didn't create that."

There's also a whole other issue with genetically modified corn, soybeans, and who knows what else!!!

To clarify, I am absolutely NOT an animal activist.

Yes, I do love animals. I think they make great pets, are beautiful in the wild, are helpful in many situations, and some are a little scary. Like chihuahuas.

And yes, I care that these chickens' homes don't have windows, and that the cows don't get treated well.

But what I care most about is... what the heck are they eating? CORN! CORN, corn corn! Which I must admit is delicious. But the meat you find at a local grocery store eats GENETICALLY MODIFIED corn. Mmm... sounds delicious.

So, moving on.

I'm not about to jump on the organic, natural, grass-fed, non-genetically-modified diet just yet. I have two kids to raise on a limited budget, and we have JUST started to tithe, finally, after years of not contributing to our own church. We don't have an extra $50-$100 a month to shell out to pay for the increase in cost due to choosing organic food.

And you can't deny those coupon savings are AMAZING, despite most of it containing high fructose corn syrup or some other genetically modified ingredient.

So, here are the first steps our family is taking to live a healthier life:

1. More vegetarian dinners. Rice, black beans and broccoli filled us up quite well last night.
2. For lactose intolerant Kelly, Organic Rice Milk is the new liquid of choice. And its soy-free.
3. Organic cereal, but only when its on sale. Otherwise we'll stick with cheerios or oatmeal for health benefits. You also can't beat peanutbutter or banana pancakes! I'm also a fan of bran muffins, but I'm still looking for the right recipe.
4. Organic yogurt and milk when possible. We are going to try to do our local dairy in Lynden as much as possible. However, we'll have to watch cost.
5. Local beef, pork, and chicken. Grass-fed, happy cows and pigs that eat what they're supposed to eat!
6. FARM SHARE. Some of our friends are going to split a farm share with us from June to October. Aaron and I might try to do this other times of the year as well! Farm shares are a more cost effective way of eating organic produce, plus you get to support local farmers and businesses. We're all about supporting local!

So there you have it, my bandwagon.

To also clarify, I am not making this choice for appearance, to appear perfect or that I am making better choices than anyone. I've simply been convicted (or as I've been saying, "ruined) to eat healthier and local for the sake of my own family. There are so many things in my life that need improving... I might as well improve the quality of the food that sustains me. :)

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Craziness...

I was going to have a peaceful morning drinking coffee and working, but now my mind is just going crazy from things happening to people around me and I can't focus! I am supposed to take a shower and prep a few small items for Sunday School tomorrow... but even that small task is impossible when I am flustered.

A friend of mine just blogged about a bit of an ordeal her family is going through unfairly. Her husband has to deal with it out-of-state, which leaves her pregnant and dealing with her 6, 5, and 1.5 year old on her own. I can't imagine her stress and exhaustion. Five more people I'm praying about... check.

My co-director for the children's program had to take off this weekend to be with her family. Her brother-in-law died a couple days ago. The stinker is that her husband is in Texas, so she has to travel alone to the memorial. I have to (and want to) fill in for her Saturday night, but this means I have a busier weekend, and have to do service tonight on my own. We need to get her a permanent assistant so she never has to teach alone, and when I have to fill in, I don't have to be alone! Yet again... two more people and a whole family to pray for.

Aaand I woke up with congestion all over the place. Wait that sounds bad. Its just in my throat and nose.

So its funny... whenever things in life happen, they happen all at once. At this point, I am fully expecting our cafe kitchen to catch on fire, one of my kids to fall down the stairs, or for one of my kids to take scissors to my hair. Or maybe a tidal wave. Eh, there could be worse.

In all this, I know God is in control. In good and bad, He is there. If you have ever read "The Horse and His Boy" you know what I'm talking about.

So, pray for me as I dive into leading a church service all on my own...! Yikes!

Things I Plan to Do this Year.

1. Go snowboarding.
2. Tame my sugar addiction.
3. Read through the Twilight series again.
4. Start writing a children's book.
5. Write enough good songs to record a CD.
6. Start selling crocheted stuff.
7. Paint and decorate this place I call home.
8. Get all our family photos printed & in photo albums.
9. Potty train Ana.
10. Work out at least once a week.
11. Practice my violin more.

Why 11 things, you ask?? Because of this:

"Well, it's one louder, isn't it? It's not ten. You see, most blokes, you know, will be playing at ten. You're on ten here, all the way up, all the way up, all the way up, you're on ten on your guitar. Where can you go from there? Where?"

I really need to watch that movie.

Hmm, now that's a thought!

I just realized I have been worked up over nothing. I can't tell you how many posts I've spent hours on, then DELETED out of fear I'll lose a friend (or acquaintance), or bore someone, or just make someone mad.

If you read my blog, you probably care what I have to say. So, no more editing my views... well maybe some of them need a little stained glass action.

My thought today was on first fruits. This week's lesson in our kids ministry is on sharing with each other, but with a small focus on giving our first and best to God. I learn so much, and I am reading children's curriculum!

Honestly, I don't have much at the moment. Small apartment, limited budget, no yard or swingset for my kids, I RARELY buy clothes for myself. When I do, its either from a consignment store, or I just give up and buy groceries instead.

But when I focus on Christ, and especially on the first fruits concept, I just want to give all of myself to His plan. I'm not suffering, I'm definitely not hungry, and I'm dying slower than most of the world. I have money sitting in my account right now that can be used, tithed, given.

Go ahead and google "First Fruits" and take a look at the images. Ripe tomatoes, peaches, kiwi, mangoes... amidst a sea of unripe fruit. I love the analogy, and I am called more than ever to give my first and my best.

Its not about getting excited about a concept, or dwelling on it. Most people just feel warm and fuzzy when they feel in the "giving mood." We are called to step out in faith, and that calls for action.