Vegan Black Bean Brownies, That's Right!

When I came across this recipe, I gasped. How could it be possible? How was it that no flour was used? How could I get my kids to eat it? So many questions... all I had to do was make it and get some people to taste test for me.

I apologize for no pictures, but it was dark, chocolate-fudge-brownie-like. And it was very good.

I pulled this recipe out, and A3 saw it. He said, "Yum Mom, can you make more?"

Hope to make these some time this week! Will try and take pictures and post them later.


Vegan Black Bean Brownies
adapted from mealmakeovermoms.com

1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)
1/3 very ripe banana
6 tablespoons of unsweetened applesauce
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

optional:
1 tablespoon instant coffee
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

3 eggs instead of 6 tablespoons applesauce (for a non-Vegan version)


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place beans in food processor and mix until smooth.
3. Add bananas and applesauce and blend.
4. Add vanilla extract, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and baking powder.
5. Blend together.
6. **You can also add half of your chocolate chips and blend.
7. Line brownie pan with parchment paper for easy pan removal.
8. Pour batter into pan (can place remaining chocolate chips on top).
9. Bake for 20 minute intervals, checking to see if a toothpick comes out clean.
10. It took me over 1 1/2 hours to bake because of the applesauce. If you use eggs, it can take 35    minutes.

Resident Standers

Yesterday, I had my one year appointment with my endocrinologist. Can you believe it? A year has almost passed since my thyroidectomy/mastectomy! It is hard to believe that it was almost one year ago... Now, when I think of Thanksgiving, I think of my surgeries and how good it was to spend it with my family... at home. Who can forget?

Everything went well with my appointment. I did bring up my hair loss, and he is going to do some blood work to see my iron levels. Unlike some doctors, Dr. W takes his time with each patient. I might have to wait a little bit longer because he is talking quite a bit with the patient before me, but unrushed time with your doctor is such a blessing. He also remembers all my complicated medical facts without looking at the computer. I don't even remember sometimes. Things like that make such a difference to me.

But, I have to tell you about the medical student that came in with Dr. W. They both entered the room and Dr. W took a seat in front of me. There was a third chair in the room, but the medical student didn't sit down. They never do. I noticed this when the occasional medical student would come in with my oncologist. Some would come in before my oncologist to ask a few routine questions, and they would sit down. But as soon as the doctor entered the room, they would stand up.

I was in the room with Dr. W for 30 minutes or so. The medical student was standing the whole time. There was a chair right next to him, but he didn't dare sit. He just stood there. I started to feel uncomfortable. He looked uncomfortable. It was quite a sight. The doctor, the patient, and the standing medical student.

Why can't medical students sit down?

Sandy

My sister lives in New Jersey and she is in the middle of Super Storm Sandy. I talked to her in the late afternoon, and her power went out as we were talking. She freaked out, and it freaked me out.

I asked her if she had enough bread.

The last time I went to New Jersey, we experienced Hurricane Irene. It was a very scary situation with the wind, crashing trees, and fear of an electrical/gas/everything outage. You're waiting and waiting and not knowing what to expect. Her basement has flooded a few times because of hurricanes. Before Hurricane Irene hit, we went to the grocery store, and the bread aisle was empty. People bought all the bread, just in case. It was like nothing I had ever experienced in my life.

My sister has enough bread.

Please pray for the safety of those out on the East Coast. They our prayers.

What Do You Do With Broken Dreams, Part IV

What Do You Do With Broken Dreams? Part I
What Do You Do With Broken Dreams? Part II
What Do You Do With Broken Dreams? Part III

Giving birth was never easy for me. I had three c-sections and a lot of scar tissue. Each surgery got longer: 30 minutes (A1), 1 hour (A2), and 2 hours (A3).  After A2 was born, I was strongly advised to not have anymore children. Everything was stuck together with scar tissue. This made it very difficult to get the baby out. The doctor had to cut and suture. Cut and suture.

When A3 was about to be born, the doctor called for another doctor to help her because I was a scar tissue mess. I remember her saying, "Get Caroline! Tell her to come in and help me!" I also remember her saying,  "I can't find her bladder. Where's her bladder?" After getting through all the scar tissue and finding my bladder, she got on top of a stool and pushed him out by pressing on top of my stomach. I didn't realize until I went in to get the staples removed that I was completely bruised up. Another doctor took out my staples and the first thing she said was, "you poor thing, what happened to you?" That's when I realized how beat up my body had been.

In some ways, I felt as if God had closed this door to having more children. If I could have, I would have had a fourth child. But, I knew that He knew better. Maybe this was His way of directing our focus more on what we had desired for so along: adoption?

This longing grew stronger and stronger. Reading His Word, continued reinforcing God's heart for orphans: that He wants us to care for them. We met so many families who had adopted and shared their stories with us. Was this the time?

I felt as if there was a missing member to our family. Sometimes, I would cry thinking and praying for our fourth child. She was out there, but we weren't together yet. These pangs of pain for our special, fourth child were reinforced by my children. They would keep asking for a little sister. I would just pray for God to allow us to find and adopt our little one.

But then, my cancer.

What Do You Do With Broken Dreams? Part III

What Do You Do With Broken Dreams? Part I
What Do You Do With Broken Dreams? Part II

My husband and I met at the seminary that I attended in Korea. We were in the same group that went to an orphanage to tutor the children. (One day I will write about the details of our courtship, but not today). I LOVED the fact that we met in this specific way: serving God and serving orphans.

Our hearts were in agreement that someday we would adopt. We felt that God had put that desire in our hearts (even before meeting each other) and that He would continue to lead us in that direction. I would scan the internet to find out about the adoption process. I would listen to Christian radio programs about adoption. I would read books about issues in adoption.

We knew we wanted to do adopt. We just didn't know how or when. My husband's pastor's salary didn't allow us to have an extra $20,000. But, we knew that if it was God's will, He would provide a way like He always had.

In Between

I know that I was in the middle of a series of posts, but I wanted to give an update on the vertigo. It is still with me, but a lot better than two weeks ago. I shudder to think of the first two days of my vertigo. I can move my head a little bit more in each direction, but I still have to be careful with how much of an angle. I get dizzy spells all the time as I bend to pick something up, but I keep going with what I was doing.

On Monday, I tried driving again. Had to go to Target. The drive went well. I just have to be careful not to suddenly tilt my head in any direction. As long as I take it slow, I am fine.  

Please keep praying that all will be as close to normal as soon as possible...

What Do You Do With Broken Dreams? Part II

What Do You Do With Broken Dreams? Part I

Knowing what I knew about my mom left a deep impression on my heart. I could not even begin to imagine a life lived without a mother or father. How did orphans live? I found my heart being pulled in a direction that I could not stop. Who would take care of them?

When I was in high school, I remember watching an episode on 20/20 about orphans in Romania. I was sitting in the basement watching the program by myself. As I saw the rows and rows of cribs... as I saw the children inside those cribs rocking themselves back and forth... as I saw the faces devoid of emotion and hopelessness... who could not have their heart broken? Tears poured.

Taking to heart World Vision's founder's life theme: "Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God."

When I went to Korea for what I thought would be one year, I went with some other English teachers to an orphanage for younger children. We helped a grandmother who took care of 6+ children in one room. All of those children had special needs. I would cradle and hold this little girl who could not see, talk, or walk. One day, I heard the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit speaking into my heart. Whatever you do for one of the least of these, you are doing unto me. That thought was overwhelming. I tried to hold her closer and closer. I wanted to hold Jesus.

Looking at pictures of starving North Korean orphans...

My last year in Korea, I was at a Korean seminary. There was a group of students who would go to a nearby orphanage and tutor the children. This orphanage had children from 1st/2nd grade until high school. There was some supervision but not a mother's individual care. Children were hardened to newcomers. It took a lot of time, patience, and love to break through. The girl I was tutoring had been abandoned by her mother. She still remembered being left at an outdoor food stand. Her mother promising to return, but never to be seen again.

Amy Carmichael's ministry in India...

And who could ignore God's constant reminder in His Word to care for orphans?

What Do You Do With Broken Dreams? Part I

My mother was tough, industrious, but full of compassion to those in need. She always told me to take care of people who were in need. To be kind to them. Not to look down on them. She always gave to people when she could. She gave and didn't expect anything back.

When we lived in Korea, she took in a runaway girl who had been beaten repeatedly by her father. She lived with my parents and helped take care of my sister, brother, and eventually me. She lived with my parents for many years. When we moved to Argentina, my grandmother would not let my mother bring the girl with us. It made my mom very sad.

Here is a picture of the girl, me, and my brother. Yes, I don't look too happy. Yes, my brother had a perm and long white socks.

My mom lost her parents during the Korean War. Her mother stayed in North Korea with my mom's older sister, while my mother, her father, and brother, fled to the South. My grandfather was later killed for his negative and very vocal views of the North.

My mother grew up being taken care of by aunts, uncles, and other family friends. She has many happy memories, but many painful memories as well. Growing up in Korea without parents wasn't an easy thing. But she clung to her drive to never let anyone say that she acted like a person without parents.

Looking back on her life, my mom said that she could see that God had been in her life. Even though she didn't know Him at the time, He was there. He sent people to help her, encourage her, and love her. She experienced much kindness and love from others.

Out of that heart, she poured into mine. To look out for those in need. To quietly and secretly help those who were the neediest.

Spicy Kale Chips

I know, when I first heard about kale chips, I wasn't too eager either. Then, I kept reading about how good they were in a lot of blogs. So, I had to try them. I added a bunch of different spices to match my taste, and in the end, they were really good! The crispiness made them quite addictive, I must say. A very good alternative to potato chips but super healthy!

I made these in June and kept forgetting to put the recipe on the blog. Oops! Try these! They are so good! I would recommend that you eat them the day that you make them. The second day, they get a bit soggy. Still good, but crispy is better! Also, I used two bunches of kale instead of one. I was a bit ambitious that day!

Spicy Kale Chips

1 bunch of kale
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon agave
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder                  **Please feel free to adjust spices to your taste!**
1/8 teaspoon curry powder
1/8 teaspoon tumeric
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper


1.   Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2.   Rinse and drain kale.
3.   Remove leaves from inner stem.

4.   Cut into small, bite size pieces.

5.   Place in a large bowl.
6.   Place the EVOO, agave, salt, pepper, garlic powder, curry, turmeric, and cayenne pepper, in a     bowl.
7.   Mix with a whisk.
8.   Pour over kale and mix with hands.

9.   Place kale on baking sheet.

10. Bake for 15 minutes. Keep checking at 10 minute intervals after this.
11. Move the kale around so that the wetter pieces get baked.

12. Your goal at this point is to get all the kale crispy.

**You have to be vigilant about checking the kale. It burns easily.
**You can take out the pieces that have crisped and leave the soggy ones to continue to dry out in the oven.

By Jove, I Think She's Got It!

So my vertigo raged on, and then one of my friends left a comment on one of my recent posts. She wrote about her husband who had been diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) at the beginning of the year. I looked it up. I read about it. I self diagnosed. And, I determined that that's what I had.

When I read about BPPV, things began to come together for me. Basically, I had done something that damaged my inner ear (controls your balance) and brought me to this dizzy reality. And, I remember what!

The Monday before my vertigo began, I had washed my hair using the shower head attachment. Okay, I was too lazy to take a full body shower. Don't judge. My hair wasn't in such great shape so I leaned forward and used the shower head to wash my hair. (Note: had not washed my hair in this way in a really long time.) As I was rinsing off the shampoo, I twisted my head in a weird way. I remember feeling something and thinking in my head, "I shouldn't have done that." For the rest of that day, my head wasn't feeling good. It felt a bit achey. 

The next day, I woke up to a dizzy, dizzy world.

Now what?

I'm trying to do some of the recommended exercises that try to put everything back in place in your inner ear. I did 5-6 repetitions on our love seat. (These are exercises that a doctor is supposed to help you with. I did it searching the internet because my MRI came back with nothing wrong.)

1. I sat in the middle of the love seat facing forward.
2. I slowly lay on my right side.
3. Waited until the dizziness subsided.
4. Waited 1 minute.
5. Got up.
6. Waited until the dizziness subsided.
7. Waited 1 minute.
8. Slowly lay down on my left side.
9. Waited 1 minute.
10. Got back up.
11. Waited 1 minute.
12. Started with the right side again.

As I did these exercises, I realized something. When I lay on my left side, the room didn't really spin. It was bad on my right side, but there was very little spinning on my left. This helped me to strategize when I lay down to rest. If I lay down on my left side, there would be minimal spinning. Then, I could quickly flip on my back. Hopefully, there won't be any dizzy dramas. 

About the motion sickness medication: hasn't kicked in. The dizziness is still there, but something else has kicked in. Something that I can't quite put into words. My body was drained of energy. I was really, really tired. There was this "buzzy" feeling. As if I was shaking like a florescent light. At times, things seemed to go in slow motion but they weren't. Does any of this make sense? Bottom line, I experience all the side effects of all drugs.

Pray for me, please!

Also, if you are past 40 (like me), remember that you can't do the same things you did when you were in your 20's or even 30's. Don't try and wash your hair in positions that might cause your inner ear tubes to mess up and bring you to a dizzy, dizzy world! You will regret it!

Results

Got a call from the oncologist today. She said that everything looked fine on my MRI. She still isn't sure why I have been so dizzy. She gave me a prescription for motion sickness medication. I took one last night and am praying that I can wake up to a non-dizzy world.

Thank you for all of your prayers! Please keep praying for healing.

My mom thinks that it might be because of menopause. Her vertigo happened after menopause. She said that it was because of her hormone fluctuations. I saw online, and it seems to happen to a lot of women during menopause. Who knew? Well, now you do. Prepare. Tell your husbands to prepare. Tell your children to prepare.

Unnecessary Force

Usually, my scans and tests at the hospital are in the morning. On Monday, I had a late afternoon appointment for an MRI. It's so different when you go at different times because you don't see the usual people working. Emotionally, I wasn't doing so well because the dizziness had gotten worse on Sunday. Every little movement of my head seemed to send me into a dizzy frenzy. I was thankful that the dizzy spells only lasted a few seconds.

Once in the scanning area, the MRI tech asked me if it was hard finding veins on my arms. I told her that it was. I guess I have small, thin veins... at least, that's what I've been told. The tech said that she would get the nurse. You see, they have a special nurse for these types of situations. They help find veins in arms that seem veinless. You would think that they would be gentle...

Well, let me tell you what happened on Monday. The nurse came and got my arm prepped for the port. THEN, she jammed the needle into my arm so hard that my head went back, I yelped, and I almost got out of the chair. Then, my head started to spin because I had put my head back. Usually, the nurses stick the needle slightly parallel to my arm - at an angle. I believe that this nurse stuck the needle straight into the depths of my arm. Like an intramuscular shot. With a lot of force. No gentleness.

I will tell you that I don't shy away when they poke me with needles. I look away, but I don't pull my arm away. Getting poked with needles is a part of my life now. But, this instance takes the cake! I have never pulled my head back nor tried to jump out of the chair like this day. IT HURT! It hurt even after she said that she was done. It hurt 45 minutes later, when the tech pulled the port out. It still feels a bit sore.

YIKES!

I didn't pray like I should have. Always need to pray for techs/nurses that are gentle with needles... because some are not!

Once Again

Unfortunately, the dizziness has not gone away. Every time I get up out of bed, lay down, go down the stairs, move too quickly... I get another dizzy spell. I called my oncologist on Friday, and she wants me to get an MRI of my head. Just to be safe. So, at 3:00 pm, I will be getting another MRI. Please pray for me.

Just like it was after my surgeries, I just want to get back to the way my life used to be...

Spinning

Tuesday started off in a really terrible way. I tried to get up out of bed and nearly fell over. The room kept spinning and spinning. I thought that it was because it was so early and because I was half asleep. Bad memories of my surgery crept up, but I went back to sleep praying that everything was okay.

Unfortunately, it didn't get better. It got worse. When I woke up again, the spinning was unbearable. I couldn't lift my head off my pillow. I had to grab onto whatever was near me to keep stationary. Also, my husband had left on a trip and was not going to return until Wednesday night. I called my mom but my dad had gone golfing. No ride. Had to call my sister-in-law to see if she could drive my mother to my house. My sister-in-law was also sick. My brother ended up driving with my sister-in-law to my mother's and then to my house. Interrupted everyone's day.

Could not shower for 72 hours. Could not open my eyes because of the spinning and nausea. Could not go to the bathroom as often as I would have liked because it required great effort. Writing about the whole experience makes me nauseous.

This type of experience has happened to me, maybe, 3 times before. All when I was pregnant. I attributed all those episodes to indigestion. Growing up, I had watched this happen to my mother when she had eaten something that didn't agree with her. Then, I saw it happen to my brother. My sister must have my dad's iron stomach because this never happened to her.

Here I was experiencing the spinning once again, and I wasn't even pregnant! Don't worry! Oophorectomy, remember! It actually brought back memories of my surgeries and the reaction to morphine and anesthesia. Flashbacks kept creeping up on me. Double yikes! Not pleasant.

On Wednesday, there was less spinning but the nausea hadn't left. Once I got out of bed, I had to stay seated on a chair. The spinning only occurred when I got up out of bed or lay down. To avoid this, I had to sit because it was too dizzying (is this a word?) to lay down again and get back up, dizzying again, to go to the bathroom. So, I sat in a chair with my eyes closed listening to Moody radio. Not back friendly but less dizziness.

I am writing this on Thursday night. I was finally able to go downstairs. Couldn't come back up, but I was downstairs. As long as I kept my head straight, everything was okay. No moving my head in any way to the front, back, or sides. Had to keep the kids from running into me or bouncing on the couch next to me. I could finally keep my eyes open for long periods of time after lunchtime. Then, it was a lot better.

I am not 100%, but I am so much better. I have been begging God to wash the dizziness and nausea away. Too many things that a mom has to do. Not having these two around is such a blessing. Please pray for me. Please!

One last thing: the whites of my eyeballs were alarmingly white. Why? Because I had rested my eyes for 48 hours. Hadn't seen them that white in many years. Who would have thought?

Acupuncture/Acupressure

This is my right shoulder. 

This is my left shoulder.

Pretty freaky?

Pretty cool?

Just acupuncture needles in my shoulder

and cupping glass thing-a-ma-jiggers making my skin look really freakish. 

Don't give me that look. 

These are traditional Eastern methods that have worked for thousands of years.

Someone in my church had studied acupressure. She gave me weekly acupressure massages (since September) and it was incredible to see how effective they were. I could lift my arms higher than I had ever been able to lift them since my surgery (which was almost one year ago). The massages were once a week and it was mind bending to see the improvement in movement in my arms.

One week I was walking to the room where she was going to massage my shoulders and was sidetracked by someone. I talked to that person and forgot why I was going in the direction that I was. I proceeded to my car and remembered 30 minutes later that I was supposed to go to get the massage. Don't judge, accept me for no-short-term-memory me. That week, I felt the difference. I was sore and couldn't move as well.

But, why are there needles and cupping thing-a-ma-jiggers?

My friend took me to an acupuncture/acupressurist for my birthday. Turns out her husband's fellow pain management doctor went to this acupuncture/acupressurist for frozen shoulder and was cured. No medicine required. No side effects felt. Really!

Now, I am going twice a week to this acupuncture/acupressurist. This is also a long story, but I will skip the details on this blog. You can ask me about it if you see me or talk to me on the phone... It can only be God!

BUT, the big question remains: does it hurt!?!?

Yes and no. 

It does not hurt when she sticks the needles into my flesh. Really. The needles are very thin. It does hurt when she hits that sore spot... and jiggles the needle a bit. But, the pain is quick and temporary. Still a lot better than getting that tear-inducing cortisone shot. Really.

Then, she sticks a flame into the cupping glass and sticks the glass onto my arm. No pain whatsoever. The hot air inside the glass suctions your skin. This is supposed to improve circulation in the area that is being treated. It also leaves dark, red marks on your arm. Temporarily. It will fade with time. So glad that it is cold and not summer, short sleeve weather.

The acupuncture/acupressurist waits a while and then jiggles the needles one more time. Not as big of an ouch. Temporary. After more time passes, she takes the cupping thing-a-ma-jiggers out, takes out the needles out (no pain), and then gives an acupressure massage. Very nice.

I will keep you updated on this treatment.

I will keep you updated on the pain levels. 

Who would have thought that I would get acupuncture needles and acupressure massages?

Not me.

But, here I am.

So thankful to God for it.

Coconut Hot Oil Treatment for Hair

I could tell that the weather was getting colder because my coconut oil solidified. This is the jar that I keep in my medicine cabinet. I use it to remove my makeup at the end of the day. During the summer months, it was in clear, liquid form. It was really interesting to watch the changes in the weather and in my coconut oil. Coconut oil turns into liquid form as soon as you touch it because it has a melting point of around 75 - 76 degrees.

Coconut oil can be used in so many ways. It can be used for cooking, makeup removal, shaving, as a moisturizer, and today I am going to show you how to use it as a hot oil treatment. You know, like those Vidal Sassoon hot oil treatments that were all the rage in the 80's and 90's.

A week and a half ago, I gave it a try because it was said to soften and help hair regrowth. Personally, I needed both of those results. Here are the steps that I took:


Coconut Hot Oil Treatment for Hair

1. Heat 1/4 cup (might need up to 1/2 cup if you have longer hair) of coconut oil in the microwave for 20 seconds (or until warm).
2. Make sure the coconut oil is not too hot.
3. Spread the oil into your hair using your fingers.
4. Massage into scalp and hair.
5. If your hair is long enough, tie into a ponytail.
6. If your hair is not long enough, spread hair across your head.
7. Have another person, plastic wrap your hair around your head. My husband thought that I was really weird, but he did it for me.
8. Wait 1-2 hours or sleep with your plastic wrapped head. 
9. Shampoo a few times to get the oil out of your hair.
10. Condition and style as usual.

A-Okay

Had to change the day of the week that I normally go to the oncologist. The day of the week that I used to go on was in conflict with our homeschool co-op days. In the past, I went in the early morning. Now, I am going in the afternoon. Don't have to wake up super early to go. I didn't see the usual people when I went. Threw me off a bit, but then I got to see some new faces.

Got my blood drawn. I always pray that God will give me a tech that is gentle with the needle. The tech I got this time jammed the needle in. I think that he thought that if he just stuck the needle in really quick, it wouldn't hurt. Still hurt.

Saw my oncologist. It is always good to see her. I don't envy her job. She sees a lot of pain. She sees a lot of things that the majority of people don't see. Must take a lot out of her. Well, she told me that all my scans came out well. No new growths. No larger growths. Keeping my cancer contained is the goal of my treatment.

Got my Xgeva shot. The needle didn't hurt going in. For a second, I thought that, just maybe, it wouldn't hurt this time. Then, the nurse administered the medicine through the needle. Then it really hurt. Can't get around this painful, intramuscular shot. Thank you, Lord, that it only lasts for a few seconds.

Had a disturbing dream the night before. Made me feel a little contemplative and a little blue. Can you tell?

Small House

We live in a small townhouse. It fits our needs, and we are so thankful for a home. Over the years, I have learned two important things from having a smaller home:

1. You can't be a hoarder (addictive show, by the way). There is no room so I have to go through our things and purge our small home of "stuff." Constantly. I keep a bag in the closet that I fill with things that I need to donate. As I clean, I place various items in the bag. When it fills up, I take it to the Salvation Army or Goodwill. Makes you feel better that it is helping someone else.

2. When you live in a smaller home, you can't hide from your family. I've tried this. Many times. But, I still have to face them. It keeps me in check. No one can go to their room for the whole day and not be seen. We have to interact and be in each other's faces lives. Sounds crazy sometimes, but in the long term, it's what we need.

So thankful...

In His Care

This past weekend, something happened that I didn't know how to handle. I got a call on Saturday and I didn't know what to do. I sent a "Yikes!" text to my husband telling him what someone had done for me. He sent a "Yikes!" text back to me. I grappled with it the whole weekend. I asked God what I was to do.

You see, a person we know had done something I never expected anyone to do for me. On top of that, she's a widow! Time and time again, the Bible tells us to take care of widows, orphans, and aliens. She was taking care of me when I should be the one taking care of her... giving to her.

I saw her on Sunday and got to talk to her about what she had done. Didn't know how to face her. I was ready to explode because I felt so bad... didn't know how to take all of this in. She told me that she felt that God had placed it on her heart to do what she did. (Sorry, I am being so vague, but I need to.) Sometimes it is so hard to receive.

On Monday, I felt like God spoke. I was sharing with someone about what that widow had done for me. A quiet voice spoke. God was showing me that He was going to take care of me using unlikely people. Even a widow. Just like He had taken care of the prophet Elijah (I Kings 17:8-15) during a severe drought. God didn't send Elijah to a rich man's house. He sent him to a poor widow's house. Everyday of that drought, God provided food for Elijah through that widow. Who would have thought? No one. It could only be God.

He is so good...

Carrot, Apple, Green Shake

This was my dinner a few nights ago. You would be surprised at how full you get from drinking a green shake. During the day, I ate something that wasn't so healthy so I needed to balance things out. It is easier and less time consuming to drink my veggies vs. eating them. You would be really surprised at how full you get from one of these shakes. I get the food, nutrients, and energy, to get me going until the next meal. Wouldn't think it, but it's true.

As you know, I really enjoy watching documentaries. Lately, it has been documentaries about food. I really encourage people to watch these types of documentaries. Awareness... it is really enlightening. Like I have said many times before, don't wait until you are sick. Here are some of the food documentaries I saw on Netflix:

Food, Inc.

Food Matters

Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead

Deconstructing Supper

Supersize Me (I think this was the title)

Carrot, Apple, Green Shake

1 apple (with peel, no core)
1 banana
2 carrots
2 purple cabbage leaves
2 tablespoons raw sesame seeds
3 tablespoons raw sunflower seeds
1-2 cups ricemilk
1 cup coconut water

1. Cut hard vegetables and fruits.
2. Put in blender.
3. Mix.
4. Expect to be full.