No Muck Messages!* - Now at www.nomuck.com - Go there!

Movin' On Up!

2013-09-19T23:03:00.001-04:00

Hey there! Missed us? Well, we've sure missed you.

We are finally unveiling the newly designed No Muck Messages and want to make sure you get there.

The new URL for the blog is now www.nomuck.com. Cruise on over there and take a look around! Make sure you re-subscribe on the new site to make sure we stay in the loop with you. Also, make sure you give us some feedback on what you think through the comments or the different ways to contact us.

Thank you again for all the blessings you have given us by visiting our blog and allowing us to serve you in some way. It's time for a new chapter! We will be back with all our weekly posts next week.

Let's go!!

Hey! Where'd Ya Go?

2013-09-08T07:36:00.002-04:00

Hello Everyone!

We just wanted to give you a heads up that we are taking a short break from our posts to work on a surprise for you...

In our few weeks of regular posting, we have had a great response and we especially appreciate some of the encouraging messages that you have passed along to us. We want to make your experience on our site a positive one that encourages you as well, so we are working on making it even better.

We will be back before you know it...keep checking!

Blessings,

Jordan & Heather*

Gersday Thursday: Why So Much Juice?

2013-08-29T23:09:00.000-04:00

Hello again everyone!

One question we get quite a bit is about the amount of juice that Sy drinks on his therapy. His schedule now requires him to drink 2 green, 2 carrot, and 6 carrot/apple juices each day. That's a lot of liquid!

One of the two main facets of the therapy is correcting any nutritional deficiencies and providing the cells of the body with more than enough of what they need to do their jobs the best they can. In Sy's case, we have been slowly trying to correct the fact that his immune system sees food as a foreign invader. If we can help support the body as a whole, we hope to encourage Sy's immunity system to focus more on attacking the right things. As you made have seen from a past post, Sy's endoscopy last November was well within normal ranges...something we have never seen with him before. With other chronic diseases, the Gerson Therapy looks to practice the same principle and support the body to heal itself (like it was designed to do), unhindered.

After many years of trials and research, Dr. Gerson found that these particular kinds of juices made the biggest impact on improving health. It's not to say that other kinds of fresh juices aren't great (as long as the amount of fruit is limited) but when you are focusing on healing through therapy, stick with what's been proven.

The reason that the fresh produce is juiced is for a couple of reasons. One is the fact that your body does not have to do all the work of breaking down the foods to get the nutrients out. Our digestive systems are set to absorb the nutrients we give it, so if it's already broken down, you're going to get even more bang for your buck. The Hallelujah Acres site wrote a great article on this:

According to Dr. Kirschner (M.D.) in his book Live Food Juices, eating a carrot forces your digestive system to separate the carrot fiber from the carrot juice. This uses a lot of energy and destroys over 65% of the nutrients in the process.

Dr. Kirschner goes on to say that juicing carrots before consuming them is a different story. The juicing machine removes the pulp for you, eliminating much of the digestive process. As a result, 92% of the nutrients are available at cellular level for almost immediate use.

Another thing that people often ask is why Gerson doesn't stress drinking water when on the FULL therapy. Does this mean that you should never drink pure water and that it's bad for you? No way. Sy is an active little guy and definitely needs his water when playing in the nasty Florida summer weather. Anyone would tell you that dehydration is not a good thing and causes the body to do goofy things; however, if you consider the amount of liquid you are consuming on the therapy, you would understand that you are getting plenty of healthy hydration. Sy makes plenty of trips to the bathroom with just drinking juices and his output shows that he is staying plenty hydrated. If Sy drinks tons of water on top of his juices, he will float away!

I hope this post gives you a little insight to the ideas that have been researched and documented with Gerson. If you have any questions, please post them in the comments.

Do you juice? If so, have you seen benefits in your own health? Post us a comment and let us know!

Transformational Tuesday: Meet Brennan Manning

2013-08-27T07:35:00.000-04:00

As you already know, our blog is dedicated to helping you live a life gunk free. Although we are passionate about keeping this stuff off our skin and out of our bodies, we also want to encourage you to look at the areas of your life that aren't as easy to see. Yesterday, Heather shared a healthy way to keep your face beautiful and today we are looking at a much deeper part of yourself.

I'm not sure if any of you have had the pleasure of reading or hearing the work of Brennan Manning. Although he has recently passed away, this man had a story and a message that has left an impact on so many people in this world. When you take the time to do some digging, you see someone who has experienced great triumphs and has wrestled with lows that would humble any human being. It was through these experiences that Manning came to learn about "Furious Love" and working to both comprehend and live according to that. He also championed a special mission to bring "good news for the bedraggled, beat-up and burnt-out" and saw you and me in a way that leaves us amazed. Do you ever take the time to stop and realize how unique and special you really are? Do you see others that way?

Heather and I had the opportunity to hear Brennan several years ago and it is something that we will never forget. He spoke openly and plainly about the feelings that we all have in our hearts and encouraged us to grab hold of the truth of our world, whether we want to believe it or not.

Take a couple minutes to watch this video and comment about what you think. Know that you matter more than you know and we desire for you to stay encouraged!

Cuckoo For Coconut Oil As a Moisturizer

2013-08-26T07:30:00.000-04:00

So coconut oil is one of my all time favorite products...I mean this is a hall of famer! It's both "green" and super budget friendly. The uses for this are endless--but today is all about moisturizing that cute little face of yours.

First of all, make sure your coconut oil is organic, unrefined, and virgin. Besides the obvious labeling, you'll be able to tell by the scent. Unrefined oils actually smell like coconuts whereas the processed, refined impostors are odorless and colorless. Bleh. Since you'll be spreading this directly on your skin, go for the gold standard and be sure to store it in a glass jar. I've also found that the better the quality, the better it absorbs into the skin. I've been using the Artisana brand now for quite awhile and I'm really happy with it, but there are a lot of great brands out there.

When using coconut oil as a facial moisturizer (you can also wash with it too), dab a little on your finger and spread evenly all over your face and neck. I wait about five minutes and then I splash a bit of water on my face and wipe with a towel. This will get off any oil that my skin doesn't absorb. I live in crazy, humid Florida and it's currently August (sizzle, sizzle) and I feel way less greasy than I did using my other moisturizers. Coconut oil also is a natural sunscreen (ding, ding, ding!) which I like for my face. I'm serious--this stuff is a Jem...as in truly outrageous! (Five points to the person who can pick up on that joke in a comment--old school!)

Oh and I've tried other oils supposedly less comedogenic (pore clogging) like apricot and hemp but I like the texture and feel of the coconut oil better. I ended up shiny half way through the day with the others and I'm not that into the greaseball look. (It makes an amazing body moisturizer too. Ahhh, the uses go on and on but those are for another day.)

Anyway, give coconut oil a try and let me know what you think in the comments below!

Lotsa love,
Heather*

Gersday Thursday: What If I'm Considering Gerson?

2013-08-22T23:06:00.000-04:00

The Gerson Therapy has obviously made a huge impact in our family's life. To make a tremendous turnaround with a severe case of a disease that is thought to have no cure is more than noteworthy, especially when it's your child. We have heard and seen so many stories of people who were almost completely out of hope and found an option that made all the difference with Gerson.

When we came to the end of the road with conventional medicine, we were forced to desperately search for another way. It was in this time that the Gerson Therapy came to our attention and it deserved a closer look. Let me just say that Heather and I (mostly Heather) spent countless hours digging and trying to find the real scoop on what was going on. Since our son's health was on the line, it was more than worth it, but it was a frantic time of trying to get the real information we needed to move forward. After doing the work, we took the next steps and made even more investments of time and money to see if it was a viable option. Once we listened, learned, and prayed, we obviously made one of the best decisions we could ever make. This decision opened door after door and we are where we are today because we went "all in" on this.

When we talk to other people who are interested in Gerson, it's very difficult to take a person from knowing nothing to getting them to a place of understanding the whole picture in just a conversation. The bottom line is that people have to do the same digging and grunt-work it took us to get to really understand and believe in what we are doing. Let's be frank, this therapy is not how we unwind in a day. It takes hours upon hours of work, but when healing (or even living in some cases) is on the line, it definitely outweighs any negative aspects.

So, let's talk about what we always tell people who are looking into considering Gerson for themselves:

1. Watch the documentaries

The Gerson Institute has worked extremely hard to put out their information in an easy to digest manner. There are several documentaries that give a great overview of the therapy and interviews with people who have had experience with it. Watching a few documentaries is the smallest time commitment you can make and is much easier than trying to dig through books. Here are the documentaries that you can find on either YouTube, Netflix, or Hulu: Dying to Have Known, The Gerson Miracle, and The Beautiful Truth. There is also a new documentary that has just been put out by Gerson Media called Heal Yourself, Heal the World. We haven't seen that one yet, but it's on it's way to us. We'll let you know!

2. Order the books

If you are ready for even more information, it's time to do the studying that you MUST do for yourself. Gerson has several resources available, but the one to start with is called Healing the Gerson Way. It will give you a good in depth look at the whys and hows of doing the Gerson Therapy. There is also a handbook that nicely condenses a lot of the information in the book for quick reference called the Gerson Therapy Handbook. For those of you who are more scientifically minded, you may want to get some of Dr. Gerson's very detailed case information and order A Cancer Therapy: Results of 50 Cases.

Hear me on this one: If you want to get the best information you can, you have to know enough information to ask the right questions for your specific need. If you really take the time to research this information, you should be in great shape. You know yourself the best and the Gerson Institute is designed to help empower you to take your health into your own hands. You really have to believe in what you are doing if you are going to undertake the serious commitment to healing.

3. Go see it for yourself (either live or virtually)

The Gerson Institute provides informational workshops that allow you to go even more in depth and have the interaction you need. It's a few days of a lot of information, but again, they want you to know why the therapy works. They are extremely open with their information and have a done a great job of not compromising a proven protocol. The live workshop also gives you a great opportunity to connect with the Gerson folks themselves and others who are on their own health journey. It's pretty amazing to see folks who had stage four cancer (other life threatening/debilitating diseases) who were given no hope to live, completely healed and thriving! Check out a Gerson Basics Workshop or a Gerson Basics Live Stream.

I would also like to mention that the Gerson Institute isn't trying to sell you anything. They focus solely on getting information out about what has made a difference in so many people's lives. They are a non-profit organization and only sell books, media, and a few other things to help keep the lights on in the office and continue to spread the word. Take specific note of that.

4. Consider the big commitment and weigh the financial costs

Just tonight, Heather and I were again saying how reduced our lives have become (socially, recreationally, relationally, etc.) just to keep this ball rolling. If you saw the difference between Sy's health before the therapy and now, you would understand why we keep going. However, I'm not going to lie. It has taken every ounce that we have been able to give and then some. This isn't just a little something that you will just add in to your day but again, it is so worth it!

I would also like to say that this therapy could not have even been considered financially without faith that God would make something happen if it was His will. Since we were convinced that this was the road we had to pursue, we allowed Him to do things that we were not able to do. We have seen miracles happen right in front of our eyes! It has been through Him that others have rallied around us and kept us going day after day (holla to our peeps!). I don't know how it's exactly going to work for you, but you have to be open to even the most unexpected provision.

5. Go For It!

The Gerson Clinic allows you time to be monitored by doctors and staff when you are kicking this thing off. Depending on the severity of your condition and the time sensitivity, this may be for you.

The therapy itself is designed for you to do it from home (with lots of help from loved ones). Instead of being dependent on other facilities or professionals to make the right decision for you, you have control of how you want this to go. It will probably take a lot of adjustment to your lifestyle (especially in your kitchen and bathroom), but when you need healing, you have to go for it...

So much to consider, I know. If you know that natural healing is the way for you or you've run out of options, you will make time for something this important. We can't say enough good things about it!

Disclaimer: Neither us nor the folks at Gerson can tell you what you should or shouldn't do. You must make the decision for your health, regardless of what avenue you decide to pursue. Just promise me that you won't be afraid to ask lots of questions, no matter who you are talking to. We hope you find clear direction with your healing journey!

Transformational Tuesday: After the Sabbath

2013-08-20T18:02:00.000-04:00

Here's our report on our day of ceasing last week...it was truly a transformational experience that we highly recommend!

Since this was our first time doing this, it actually took quite a bit of planning and effort, but it was well worth it. The days leading up to our day of rest took a few runs to the thrift store (for candleholders, centerpiece accessories), the grocery store (traditional food items, candles), and making sure to grab some flowers to remember creation. Everyone in the family pitched in to make sure that all the work was done so it could truly be a restful day. The house was cleaned, kids made sure their "chore sticks" we're completed early, technology was tucked away where it wouldn't be a distraction from each other, and our table was set as if we were expecting a very special guest (which we were).

So lucky to have these gals to myself!

An extra setting was placed at the table to visually remind us of our true Guest of Honor. When Sy found out that God was going to be in that seat, he asked to take a picture with Him... What a fun picture to have.

I think the big G man was definitely enjoying this hug from Sy

As the beginning of our Sabbath began, we all were more than ready! I will admit that trying to have a nice leisurely meal with that guy in the back of this picture was not exactly restful. We couldn't keep the food coming fast enough! Regardless, we gave it our best shot and had fun.

Getting ready for 24 hours of focusing on what's important

Our meal was full of traditions, prayers, and blessings over each member of our family. It was a time to really stop and realize that we have been given so much. Essi got to light one of the candles and say the Redemption Prayer. Sy got the big job of praying and passing the handwashing bowl before our meal.

Phoebe did a good job of not splashing her brother

Our entire 24 hours took work to not get drawn back into old habits like getting sucked into media or checking our phones. In fact, we turned all that off so we could focus on each other. It is going to take practice to really get into the groove of this, but our part is just to remain faithful to the instructions we've been given. I can see that it will take a while to undo all our years of rushing around seven days a week, but we will continue to practice this fantastic day.

Please comment if you have any questions about our day!

Btw, a quick shout out to My Father's World for providing the practice of these traditions in their curriculum!

No Muck Monday: Dr. Bronner's Soaps

2013-08-19T07:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday! Here is another green tip to get the muck out of your home and personal care products. This will for sure get you one step crunchier as you work toward granola. :)

Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap has a ton of uses--it's like a one-stop shopping kind of product. Seriously, this stuff is amazing! I should also point out that this product is not only Gerson Therapy friendly, but comes highly recommended by folks at Gerson. Boo yah! Because of the versatility, we obviously buy in bulk. We've found it at Target or online at Amazon or Vitacost.

Ok, so what in the world is castile soap? Without getting into all the hoopla, castile means that it's made from 100% plant oils (no animals products at all). It's also a true soap, not a chemical detergent, making castile soap completely biodegradable and majorly earth friendly. On the Environmental Working Group website (another great topic to come), it ranks a "0-1" for toxicity which is the best you can rank. The ingredients are water, organic coconut oil, potassium hydroxide, organic olive oil, organic hemp oil, organic jojoba oil, citric acid, and vitamin E. It's also organic and certified fair trade. It comes in various flavors--Unscented Baby Mild, Almond, Citrus, Lavender, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Rose, and Peppermint.

So this stuff boasts that it's good for 18+ uses. Believe it or not, it is true! Now keep in mind, this isn't going to work in the same way that all of the chemical and toxic crud does... For some things, it may take some getting used to. I just love it for some uses and others?--well, not so much. However in a pinch, it can do almost anything! So here is the lowdown:

1. Body Wash: Just squirt a bit of this onto your loofah (that word is just silly to look at) or washcloth and suds up. I use the baby mild and it is my all-time favorite body wash. I am amazed at it's ability to lather and not have the mucky ingredients.

2. Shampoo: 1/2 T in your hand and work into wet hair, or dilute 1/2 T in 1/2 a cup of water. Since this alkaline, you'll need to do a vinegar rinse after. Don't be a scaredy cat...give it a shot.

3. Baby Wash: It is gentle enough to use on baby (just be careful around the eyes, it will sting). Use it like the body wash or you can dilute it and use about 2 T in an average size tub. It won't suds up like bubble bath, but it will clean for sure.

4. Hand Soap: Some people just dilute this and use it for hand soap. I actually use it for the base of my homemade foaming hand soap (I will put those details in a future post) and we love it!

5. Multi-Purpose Cleaner: 1/4 cup in a quart of water in a spray bottle. Add essential oils or use the tea tree oil for its antibacterial qualities. After we clean all our carrots in the sink, we have quite an orange ring that's left behind. This is one of the greenest and most effective ways I've found to knock it out.

6. Toilet Cleaner: Either dilute in a spray bottle (use the dilution for the Multi-Purpose Cleaner) or just squirt a bit in the potty and clean. You can also add a little baking powder for some added scrubbing effect. Poo be gone!

7. Toothpaste: One drop on your toothbrush. It will suds up and taste like soap but it does clean. I recommend peppermint. Please post comments after you give this a try.

8. Detergent: 1/3 to 1/2 cup of soap for a large load in a normal washing machine. Add 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle. Half the amounts for an HE washer.

9. Dish Soap: Use a 1:10 ratio with water. Ideally, rinse with vinegar after washing. However, I use it as my base for my DIY homemade dish soap which needs no vinegar rinse.

10. Liquid Dishwasher Detergent: Use it as a base for a DIY liquid dishwasher detergent that is inexpensive and of course, eco-friendly.

11. Shaving Cream: For men: Use about 10 drops on the face. For women: Use about 3 drops on the underarms; just pour a little out on hand and spread on legs.

12. Plant Spray For Bugs: 1 T in a quart of water. Add 1/2 t cayenne pepper or cinnamon, if desired. Take it outside to the garden yo!

13. Fruit/Veggie Wash: Add 1 T to 2 cups of water. Keep the mixture in a squirt bottle by the sink.

14. Face Wash: This makes a lovely face wash and suds nicely. Just a few drops will do.

15. Enema Bucket Cleaner: This is what Gerson recommends for enema bucket cleaning. Nuff said.

16. Foot Bath: 1 1/2 t in a bucket of hot water. Bronner's, take me away...

17. Congestion Clearer: 1 T in a bowl of hot, steamy water. Drape a towel over your head and breathe in mist. Make sure you get in a few Darth Vader lines before you completely clear up.

18. Pet Wash: Depends on the size of your dog and how much fur it has, but start with a little and go from there. Jordan's tag line is, "Enjoy your doggy's style while being green!"

Whew! There are even more I could list but this is for sure long enough. Comment below on what other uses you come up with and we'll give it a try! Again some on my list may be hit or miss but regardless, you get quite a bang for your buck (with a little hippie action thrown in for free) with Dr. Bronner's!

See ya next time!

xo,
hh

Gersday Thursday: Carrot Apple Juice with Norwalk Juicer

2013-08-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

Check out our detailed video that will take you through making one of Sy's famous juices with an amazing juicer.

If you can't see the video below, please click here. Enjoy!

Transformational Tuesday: To Cease or Not To Cease?

2013-08-13T07:00:00.000-04:00

I want you to picture a firefighter sitting in the middle of his fire station, reading with tears running down his face. I'll tell you that it's not an everyday occurrence, so it's quite a sight to see... This also makes him easy prey for other firefighters and their jokes.

Heather and I are working to prepare for this year's school for our kiddos. I can tell you that it hasn't been an easy preparation, because we have come to realize that our lives do not have the margin we need in the midst of all our current obligations and distractions. Trying to prepare for something really important while stress continues to mount is not a real fun task. I will also tell you that there has been great discussion in our home about the need for change and how we can bring more peace and a healthy rhythm into our family. We have had many discussions about the pace being set around us and the tendency in our culture to continue to run, and run, and run without end. There are so many things to do, so many places to go, so much news to gather (especially from social media), etc. that it can go on and on forever. Can the life we are all hungry for be found when everything around is a blur?

One last thing that I'll point out is that Heather and I have paid close attention to many health-conscious non-Christians around the world and how many of them sometimes do a better job of realizing their need for ceasing. When we compare ourselves as Christians and the community of these folks I just mentioned, there is a stark contrast. We are watching as some non-Christians actually get the fact that they must take time to temporarily put everything aside and refocus on their lives and how they are being lived. Jesus' life was a clear example of the need to withdraw for a time to focus on God and our relationship with Him and then go from there. It has been spelled out clearly in the Bible the need for stopping and resting, but we believe that we must continue to push our lives and our gas tanks beyond what they are capable of. What happens after this is not fun to watch. Marriages disintegrate. Children's hearts are "managed" and not nurtured. Health fails and illness prevails. Addiction grows. The list goes on, but you get the drift, right?

I just finished reading a chapter in a book that we will be using for our school year called "Celebrating Biblical Feasts In Your Home or Church". The first chapter goes over God's most important holy day, the Sabbath. We know how powerful the Sabbath can be and we've seen it modeled, but when you really take the time to understand all the gifts that God placed in it, it can make a guy cry in his firehouse. When you don't take advantage of it, it's like having best present in the world sit in the corner of your house, still wrapped, decades after it was supposed to be opened and enjoyed.

We all need a day to reacquaint ourselves with our Father who loves us beyond measure and is the sole provider of all our needs. My wife needs a day to cradle Ash (while he's still little) and not be rushed or respond to screams in other parts of the house. Sy needs a day where we can work on his new Lego set like I've promised for months. Essi needs a day to be snuggled and given full attention to her random comments. Phoebe needs a day where we can appreciate the new stampwork that she put all over the sides of her bunk bed (grrrr...). I need a day to tell Heather how much I love her and couldn't live without her. We all need a day to not worry about how things are going to work out and what our next steps are. This is what Sabbath is.

I will let you do your own research on the Sabbath and the gifts in it, but all I can say is that I'm sold. My rotating schedule makes it a bit tough, but I can promise you that this week will contain a day of following the instructions as close as we can. It's not easy, but I can already see great benefits waiting for us to grab onto. There's only one catch...we have to CEASE (which is what Sabbath translates to). As much as I would like to have all these benefits while continuing to run, it just can't happen. Don't be deceived that it can. Here's a quick quote from the book mentioned above:

So much of life as we know it has become hectic and exhausting. Important meetings, exciting activities, sports events and very good causes are pulling families in a thousand different ways. People everywhere are busy being busy--never stopping to really rest. When balanced, our activities during the week become preparation time for the Sabbath, somewhat like a path leading us to the gate of a garden...It can become a time for us to rediscover places inside ourselves that are forgotten during the rest of the busy week.

We will keep you posted on how our Sabbath goes, so stay tuned. I already wish it was sundown on Thursday!

I also guess that I need to confess that that crying firefighter was me. It was worth it, though.

No Muck Monday!: Easy Exfoliant

2013-08-12T17:22:00.000-04:00

Check out Heather's super easy (and super cheap) "green" exfoliant. It works great, so enjoy!

If you are unable to see the video below, click here.

Let us know how it works for you. Thanks for watching!

Let's Mix It Up!

2013-08-09T13:28:00.001-04:00

Just as our own lives are a work in progress, so is this blog. We've been praying and planning through some new updates so here they are!

First of all, we realized that we've probably never taken the time to explain why we write. I mean, why even bother? :)

No Muck Messages was created to help foster the beautiful and abundant life through the continual transformation of the body, mind, and spirit. Our goal is to inspire ourselves and others to get the gunk out of our lives in ALL areas (and having fun while doing it)! We believe in living every day to the fullest.

With that being said, we are going to have three topical days per week--Yay! After listening to those of you who write in, these seem to be the areas in which we get the most questions.

On Mondays, we'll encourage you to take reasonable steps to make a clean change for yourself and those you love. This may be a new natural hygiene tip, a greener cleaning product than what you are using, or just suggestions to simplify your life. We know that there are many of you who don't even know where to begin when looking around you. We will just be sharing what we've learned over our time of changing our lifestyles step by step. Keep in mind that getting the gunk out is a process, but you can do it!

Tuesdays will focus on reaching our innermost parts that we often neglect in day to day life. In order to truly take care of ourselves, we have to do some rethinking, reflecting, and intentional soul care. Remember that true, lasting change only comes from real and authentic transformation. There is no quick fix or pill you can take to make the kind of changes we're talking about. This is going to take some practice, but it will be well worth the investment we make!

On this day, we'll share more details about Sy's (and our) journey with the Gerson Therapy. It's hard to believe that we've been in this sixteen months! Needless to say, we've picked up some tips and tricks along the way, so we hope that we can help educate folks on what life looks like when you use food as your medicine.

These are our current areas of focus but we are far from having all the answers. However, we have discovered that life is all about rhythm and lack of it can have grave consequences. We see it all around us even now. We were not designed to live in a constant state of rush, chaos, and stress. It is nearly impossible to hear the voice inside you when you are running full speed in all directions. This kind of life is not the full life we've been promised.

So please journey with us and spread the word! Together, let's have the courage to free ourselves from the gunk that entangles us and robs us of our joy. Let's discover the beautiful rhythm, authentic community, and amazing service found in the daily living of the abundant life.

Let's encourage and inspire one another in this forum... Hop on the No Muck Mobile!

Sy's Burning Bash!

2013-08-05T12:41:00.002-04:00

We realized that we missed posting about Sy's big birthday... When it comes to a kid that can't eat much, you have to focus on doing some super cool stuff. Check it out!

Sy was definitely pumped to turn 7! He even lost a front tooth for the event.

First stop was coming to see Pop at the firehouse and do some cool stuff.

Only Essi would find a way to shoot rainbows from a fire hose.

Waiting to blast someone...

Just a couple more years to grow into this seat.

I'm so proud to be a part of this crazy kid's life.

Quite a fire brigade, huh?

Sy is now a huge baseball fan, so it was off to the batting cages...

Sy was a complete natural. He crushed probably 80% of the balls.

Even Mom had to come show off her home run swings. She really got in there!

I don't think anyone would argue when I say that 7 has definitely been Sy's healthiest birthday yet. We had tons of fun and made him his own birthday cake made of nothing but potatoes. We are looking forward to future birthdays and continuing to see Sy grow up to be a godly young man.

Happy belated birthday, big man! We love you!

My Own JOURNEY to Wellness

2013-07-26T07:30:00.000-04:00

So about 10 years ago, I was a super health nut! I typically ran 60-80 miles per week. I ran marathons, ran road races competitively, did weight training, was a coach, had a coach, was a vegetarian, etc. The highlight of my week was my long run! Can you imagine?! It blows my mind when I think about it now. Needless to say, those days are long gone...

God has since blessed me beyond my imagination with the incredible gift of raising 4 small children (ages 8, 7, 2, and 14 months) and one with a major medical condition. Anyone would agree that as a mom, your kiddies come first. Of course! However after a year of having Silas on the Gerson Therapy (and within that year I also was pregnant, had a baby, and then later miscarried another), I realized that I was living my life so "sacrificially" that I almost became a martyr to the therapy. I'll post one of these days about the typical day in the life of a Gerson Person. It's fascinating... Anyway, I was recently talking with Jordan and realized that I had pretty much forgotten who I was. That runner that I used to be and who my identity was tied up in, no longer existed. For the first time in my life, I was terribly out of shape--and I mean terribly! I wasn't quite sure what I enjoyed anymore... I realized that I've somewhat isolated myself in the past 16 months which is virtually necessary to get the day's work done, but I've missed out on many social events and even surprisingly some friendships have changed. It's been at times lonely doing this therapy... It's no one's fault, but some people don't tend to understand and often don't seem to validate the work of the therapy because it's not through conventional medical methods. It's okay, but it doesn't take away from the seriousness of Sy's disease and how imperative the therapy is to his health. I always knew and rejoiced in the fact that I was God's Beloved... but for the first time, I wasn't sure how much I was loving myself.

Anyway during this past year, I had some blood work completed a couple of times because I was having a few medical issues and in general, not feeling great. Finally my doctor sat down with me and said that as much as I want to be there for my husband, kids and others, I needed to make some radical lifestyle changes or I may not be around for them. Whoa... What?! So here I am busting my chops to do this amazing therapy for my kid and ironically, my own health is starting to deteriorate. How many times do we do that as moms? We give our all to our family and leave nothing or at best, the leftovers for ourselves. It took a little while to sink in but the reality finally hit that it was really time to turn my life around. I had the head knowledge since I'd been studying natural therapies for almost 10 years. I had implemented loads of what I learned but definitely still had my own vices and used some of them as a crutch to get through this last year. After spending hours and hours in the kitchen prepping for Sy, the last thing I usually want to do is to cook a healthy dinner for myself!

So I found this amazing kickstart for my life--ironically from a person who healed herself from cancer through the Gerson Therapy! When I find out more about her own story, I see so much of my own. Jordan and I both decided to challenge ourselves and felt that if we're going to speak publicly about Gerson and Sy, then we needed to understand exactly what it was like for ourselves and to better understand how Sy feels each day. We want to be the real deal. And Wow! All I can say is that it completely changed my life! In those 10 days, I found freedom! I realized that we give food--whether it be specific foods or sugar or caffeine, such power in our lives. I don't want food to empower me... I want God to empower me! There is such freedom in letting go and truly eating to live and not merely living to eat. It's amazing how quickly even my taste buds have changed when you take out salt and sugar. Not only did I cleanse through the liquids but I also started cleansing through a new morning regime for ME! Not in a selfish way but in a loving way... I've been convicted that I need to serve others, including my family, out of an overflow of what the Holy Spirit is doing in my own life. If we constantly give to others out of chaos and depleted reservoirs, then over time we will feel the effects of that on our bodies... So I've been really challenging myself these days and constantly asking myself, "What do I love to do?" and "What will bring me the joy I once knew?"

So that leads me to my new morning routine... It includes quiet time with God, prayer time through meditation, oil pulling, coffee breaks (not what you're thinking!), dry brushing, listening to beautiful music, and juicing. I no longer resent the therapy and think about what I'm missing out on but instead focus on the life and healing that God is doing through the therapy for Sy. Instead of thinking of restrictions, I'm focusing on the great things I do have and enjoy! It's all about perspective. I've found the gift in Gerson... It's more than just healing our boy... It's healing ourselves and reconnecting our spirit to our ultimate Healer. As moms, we absolutely have to take time for ourselves--quiet retreats for our own soul care. It's so important. So as I mentioned before, this is a journey for me. I'm not there yet but I'm learning and implementing all that I can. I'm even starting a course to bring about even more transformation and I'm pretty stoked about it. My life sure looks different than it did 10 years ago and I'm sure it will look even more so 10 years from now. So who knows?! Maybe, I'll even be back to running... :)

What about you? What things do you implement in your life for your own soul care?

So What Is The Gerson Therapy?

2013-07-22T06:00:00.000-04:00

Over our past year of Sy being on the Gerson Therapy (and making a miraculous turnaround in this health), several people have asked questions regarding his therapy and how it can help so many chronic conditions. The therapy has plenty of years behind it and even more documentation, but we thought we'd at least give you a brief overview.

Dr. Max Gerson began his medical career with a great ability to observe and learn how living things were affected by their environments and the quality of their consumption. Because he was often incapicated by severe migranes when beginning his medical career, Dr. Gerson was forced to desperately seek answers to find relief from his serious condition. He sought out answers from experts and medical professionals who told him that he would just have to deal with it (sound familiar to you?). Unsatisified with accepting a lower quality of life, Dr. Gerson began searching for answers outside the traditional circles. After reading about another migrane sufferer who improved through a change in diet, Dr. Gerson began to look into this option.

To make a really long story short (you can read in more detail here), Dr. Gerson found that by including some foods and excluding others, he was able to cure himself. Keep that in mind...cure! As a person who accepted a role in helping others to the best of his ability, Dr. Gerson prescribed his "migraine diet" to another patient who needed help. Not only did his diet stop the migraines, but it also cured a then-incurable disease that the patient also had--skin tuberculosis. Because TB was a major problem at the time, this required a closer look. The bottom line came that during an controlled study, Dr. Gerson's diet cured 446 out of 450 tuberculosis sufferers. This was absolutely unheard of at the time. Because these same patients carried other disorders and conditions, cures were also seen in those areas.

Over a period of 30 years, Dr. Gerson continued to clincially study diseases and the impact of his diet on them, namely multiple types of cancers. He published these results and sought hard to share this amazing information with anyone who would listen. In 1946, Dr. Gerson also had the opportunity to sit before a Congressional Subcommittee about his advancements (and seek funding for future cancer research), but it was not accepted that diet could have a significant impact on health. Um, wait a second...

Because there are countless people who have been cured through this therapy (just ask Sy and see this post), it has continued to be researched and developed in accordance to our ever changing environment and food harvesting practices. There are so many great hearts continuing to push this information out, especially to those who have exhausted all their options.

Before I get into the details of the therapy, I would like to point out that the Gerson Institute is a non-profit organization that focuses on education, not selling you some product with their name slapped on it. Because Gerson has helped and supported putting the power of healing our son in our own hands, I have come to find that every person in that organization has a great heart for serving others. I have done plenty of examining of this therapy and it's proponents and have found nothing that seeks anything other than true health and healing for all mankind.

The Gerson Therapy today is based on two pillars: hypernutrition and detoxification. Because our bodies are wonderfully made, they can do amazing things when it comes to healing itself. If you give cells exactly what they need to efficiently work, in most cases, they will do the job they were intended to do. Also, because the list of toxins in this world gets longer every day, we have to support our body and find a healthy way to get the stuff out that doesn't belong there.

The first of the two factors of the Gerson Therapy are exercised by giving the body specific organic fruits and veggies, especially in the form of fresh juice. If you understand how our digestive system works and how the body can more easily absorb the nutrients from something it doesn't have to break down, this makes total sense. You would also be suprised how sufficient a vegetarian diet can be for the human body...and yes, even protein. For added nutrients, there are also a few supplements added to the regimen to fill in any gaps that exist and to support the body's normal function. Again, the point is giving the body exactly what it needs to do it's job, which is needed even more if your body is in crisis.

The detoxification part of the therapy requires one to really open their eyes to the world around them. Do you have any idea how many toxins you come in contact with in one day? In the air, water, food, chemicals, etc., there are just too many to count. This is not a fear-mongering tactic, but one of reality that must be realized. The point is that the body doesn't need toxins and they mostly just lead to more serious issues. Decreasing or eliminating these toxins takes time and work, so it must be taken seriously.

The part that most people love to talk about are the detoxifying coffee enemas. Yep, you read it right. I used to think that hole was strictly for exporting, but I was wrong. By looking at the history of the enema, you will see that this was a practice used by doctors and nurses without restraint. You will also see that this practice is used to support our natural detoxifying organ...the liver. I can bore you with a lot of scientific mumbo jumbo on why exactly it works, but you can research this yourself. We will work on posting some more info on this soon.

There are a few other small pieces that are added for additional support or comfort for those undergoing the therapy, but you can read all about it in their books here.

My personal experience has been that every stone I have turned over in this process has a reliable answer underneath. The part about this that you must remember is that it is a therapy...not a fad diet. There are many people who have recovered their lives through this therapy and refuse to deviate far from it because they already know where that led them before. The other thing I would like to say is that most people aren't at a place yet where they are willing to do the research and work it takes to embrace what's actually best for their body. Sometimes this takes driving people to the point of death. Sometimes it's too late before people get there. All of it is hard to watch, but doesn't mean we throw in the towel.

There are several lessons we've had to learn the hard way through our journey with Sy and his health. Don't ignore things that you know you should consider, don't believe everything you hear, ask LOTS of questions, look at things from a totally different perspective, ask difficult questions. Don't accept something less when you even have a miniscule hint that there may be more!

And most importantly...don't give up.

P.S. If you have some time, check out these documentaries...if you look on Netflix, Hulu, or YouTube, you will probably have some luck:

Dying to Have Known

The Beautiful Truth

The Gerson Miracle

Jiggle Another Handle?!!

2013-07-21T13:37:00.000-04:00

Life is fun for sure! When I picture the doors that we've knocked on or opened in our time, they're never plain ol' doors...

When we diverted our journey to missions 10 years ago, we always knew that the road with the brightly lit signs would be waiting for us to jump on again. There's no doubt that we were created for a life called away from the ordinary. It's just that getting back to that road has been a bigger task than we thought.

We've had many people asking about our status, so here's the current update:

Recently, a door opened to help serve within our community to start building the base we needed to launch ourselves out for wherever God needed us to go. Since we had more juicing in our lives than we wanted, we looked to share the knowledge and healing power with others. There are so many people in our lives now who need some serious healing. I don't mean superficial healing, I mean deep-rooted, death-is-on-your-radar kind of healing. From this, we developed a business plan for starting a juicing cooperative effort where people could get quality nutrition and the workload was evenly distributed. Since we are overwhelmed in our own lives with the work of Sy's therapy, this seemed to be an answer where we could both serve and have some weight taken off our shoulders. Not only would this be an opportunity to help people heal physically, but to really focus on asking people questions about their spiritual health as well. Again, super amounts of encouragement and enthusiasm from others, but when it came to gather people together, it was not the response we needed. Ok God, you can see that we are trying here. We asked the question and you gave an answer on this one. We will move on.

Do we give up now? No way.

As you probably know from our previous post, the door before us has pointed us to look at the need in Dominican Republic and see if we can find a spot for our hearts to be poured out there. As you know, we took the trip and whoa, baby! God showed up and revealed the need for help there. Our skills lined up, we were received with open arms, and there were endless possibilities to live the life the Bible clearly speaks about. Both our hearts leapt as we saw a spot we could easily (relatively speaking) fill. Back in business, right? All doors were wide open, except for one.

Organic produce is something that we certainly take for granted here in States. We asked and looked in the local DR town for produce that would fit Sy's needs. No luck. We spoke to workers in the local hospital about where to get it. Bummer there. We have contacted friends in another DR town to get their knowledge. Another dead end. I've contacted an organic farm on the north coast to look at visiting there to get the information we need. No response. I've been in communication with the country's Department Of Agriculture with a list of Sy's needs. How about a no. We've contacted missionaries in the same organization to get information on the produce. Not looking good there either. We are looking into aquaponically growing what we need, but root veggies are still an obstacle (considering that carrots are the bulk of what we need, that could be an issue since we run through about 75 lbs per week).

Do we give up now? No way.

There are voices that are whispering to just give up and to live a normal, quiet life until we die. I'm sure many of you are thinking, "Why don't you just stay where you are for right now?" Honestly, we would love it! We live in sunny paradise... We dearly love our family, friends and church here... This is home and this is comfortable. But for us, we wrestle between our flesh and spirit every time we open the Bible because of the personal convictions that God has placed on our hearts. When we hear His voice in our lives, we know He is calling us out for more. It's hard because often times we'd rather just stick our head in the sand and ignore it. However, the call to go out and seek who we were really created to be is way too strong.

I can also see that not being willing to radically shake things up is exactly what the enemy wants. We live in a great community where a great song has been written and those that are here are singing it with excellence. However, it has been laid on our hearts that there is a new song that God wants to write and that He wants us to play a part in that. Maybe a small one, but a crucial one. The second issue is that staying where we are isn't working either. It's embarrassing to say this as a man, but the truth is that a firefighter salary doesn't work well when supporting a family of six. I firmly believe that God opened doors for my career and has given me crucial medical knowledge that I will continue to use for His glory--I've even had the priviledge to take part in saving lives. I also have a side business that is small and growing, but it's hard to develop a business with no capital and risk taking the focus off Sy's healing. We will juice in a box on the side of the road if that's what it means to keep our boy healthy.

All of this typing finally gets me to a point. Whenever doors start closing on us, we hear the creaking of another one swinging open. This post is too long already, so that's for another day.

So as another door possibly opens, please pray for clarity and wisdom. We have stood before God and said that we are truly willing to do anything and go/not go anywhere. We just want to live in obedience however scary that may be. I look at Heather and each of the kids and I want to help encourage them to bring the Christ out of their hearts for the world.

Cloth Nappies

2013-07-01T17:15:00.001-04:00

Can I just say that I am borderline obsessed these days with being as green and non-toxic as possible but on an el cheapo budget! I'm all about saving $$ and nothing makes me happier than seeing my cloth diaper stash (Bum Genius 4.0s) all clean and tidy ready for the next day!

I also must add that I have finally perfected the washing routine, diaper rash creams (CJs Butter rocks, not only for rashes but for a whole host of other things--holla!), wet bags (the one here is purchased from Planet Wise) & everything else cloth diaper. It's a bit of a learning curve especially if you have used disposables before, but that's what I'm here for. If you're new to cloth diapering (and scared to death), I can guide you step-by-step through any questions you may have... Just post them in the comments. I'm super particular so when I figure out a good routine I'm pretty stoked! And the best part is all of the money you'll save!!!! Yahoo! :)

We Can't Take It Back

2013-06-30T07:37:00.002-04:00

We recently had an opportunity to follow a whisper that has been in our ears for a little while. We returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic and we were able to see and experience things that we never could in our own culture. Although it's considered to be a third world country, we so needed to step out of our lives to see how God is working in other parts of the world. (Btw, you should look up the history on how countries earn their first/second/third world ranking.)

God laid a path for us to visit and I felt that our hearts just needed to be open to what He needed to show us. Before our trip, I just prayed that He would allow me to see and feel what He needed us to. Such a beautiful country and such beautiful people. Thank you, God for such variety in people! The other side of that is that there is so much need, it's overwhelming. It's hard to believe that poverty like we saw is allowed to exist in a world where others consume so much. There's so much to say and we will have more posts, but we'll just drop a few pictures because they usually say more...

This was the orphanage on the property where we stayed. So many amazing kids here!

One of the best/hardest parts was visiting the Haitian immigrant bateys. These people live with nothing, yet are filled with joy. Although you can't see it, these kids are standing on broken glass with no shoes on.

These kids were such a blessing to be around. So much need here for love.

This was the local store in the settlement. There was not much to offer in here.

I had a chance to teach these kids how to play freeze tag for the first time. They wore me out!!

We had a chance to visit the town hospital. The conditions were rougher than we expected...invasive surgeries in rooms that were not air conditioned!

Goat anyone?

So many great places hidden beyond the litter and empty bottles...

So, the question becomes: Who will help them and share the blessing that's been entrusted to us? After returning to the U.S., this was part of the first passage that we were led to:

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,

with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

and your night will become like the noonday.

Isaiah 58:10-11

And you know what's strange? Immediately after returning, we were bombarded by our regular lives. Lives that are so distracting that it's easy to put a trip like this in a box and on a shelf. I mean, we should just consider ourselves lucky lottery winners that were born and raised in the U.S., right? But we cannot forget what we've seen and heard. We cannot continue to read passages like this one and continue to live a self-serving, all-about-us kind of life. Even though the DR was missing so many material things that we have and appreciate here, we saw how they were rich in other ways. Things that have been untouched by the busyness and the race to get what we think we (and our kids) deserve... There will be more about this trip and more pictures soon, so "follow us" to stay tuned!

Now In Stereo Sound!

2013-06-01T00:02:00.000-04:00

Last night, Heather and I had the opportunity to be interviewed by Howard Straus, the radio host of "The Power of Natural Healing". We had plenty of time to dive into Sy's story and how his health has made a complete turnaround on the Gerson Therapy. If you get a chance, please check it out on his website here Monday at 11am Pacific Time. It will also be available in the archives later that week! This was our first opportunity to be on the radio and we had tons of fun. Thanks Howard!

Unexpected Gain and Devastating Loss

2013-05-21T21:24:00.000-04:00

So God totally shocked us about six weeks ago... We found out we were expecting another baby! This was nothing outside of a complete miracle because all of our other children have required me taking meds or herbs in order to conceive. We thought we were finished with birthing babies and the doctors definitely have encouraged this... So when I say we were shocked, I really mean SHOCKED! Let's just say that we were preventing in more ways than one. :) Of course after getting over the initial freak out, we knew that God wanted this baby and we were excited to grow our family from six to seven! Wow!!

Then the bleeding started... This is nothing too unusual for me. I've experienced that with all of my pregnancies but I've also miscarried before so it's still unnerving. One night it was so bad that I had to go in to the ER. Ugh... Finally after waiting and waiting, we saw the heartbeat... That little flicker is always so exciting and reassuring. It carries with it an immediate calming to my soul. It's such a reminder of God's intricate handiwork growing inside of my body. Meanwhile, I later had a follow up ultrasound and all still looked good. I was still nervous to tell folks but I knew the facts were that at that moment all was okay. Then a few days later, the bleeding intensified and I was really expecting the worst. The doctor wanted to do yet another ultrasound due to the amount of bleeding and just to be sure. Lo and behold, there was that heartbeat--thumping even stronger at over 160 beats a minute! I've had complications with all of my pregnancies (and deliveries) but the OB came up with a valid reason for the bleeding and reaffirmed that the baby was just fine--"No need to worry." So I didn't... I just tried to "lay low" (yeah right with four kids under 8, homeschooling, and Sy's therapy, but I did my best). And I just laid the worry aside and trusted God that all was okay. And I really trusted...

So yesterday morning rolls around and I went in for a prescheduled doctor's appointment. The morning was pretty hectic and it was easy to forget the importance of what we were going to do. We remembered to stop and pray right before going into the office for the well-being of our little one.

Since I was still bleeding, we did another ultrasound. After what seemed like an eternity of watching the doc's eyes scour the monitor, I heard those words that I will never forget.

"Guys, I hate to tell you this... There is no heartbeat." Silence. "I'm sorry."

As tears start to stream down my face I keep thinking, What?! Oh, God no! Lord, just help me breathe. I can't completely fall apart here. The doctor went on about me needing a d&c asap because I was ten weeks along and I had already been bleeding so much. He could also see a lot of blood pooled around the placenta. Unfortunately, I had eaten a small breakfast so we would have to wait a few hours. I hardly heard what he said--I was still working on just breathing. Then, Jordan interjected and asked if there was any chance at all of our baby still being alive. The doctor confirmed that he was 100% positive that the baby was gone...we knew to be with Jesus. He then left to schedule my surgery and to give us a few moments alone...

Jordan and I just clung to each other, clasped hands, and then cried out to God and thanked Him for this miracle of life. We told him how we knew he was holding our little baby in His arms. That was comforting but I must admit, I felt and still feel a little jealous. I now have four babies here on earth and two in heaven. It will be such a delight to meet the other two some day. They must be pretty remarkable because God obviously wanted them to be with Him early on. And through it all, I still know that I can completely trust Him... His ways are not my ways and His ways are so much higher and better for me than I can possibly understand. Despite the hurt, grief, and sadness, I am so thankful that God used me to be His vessel to bring these children life.

I'm not one to have feelings regarding whether a boy or a girl, but throughout this pregnancy the name Corban has really resonated with me... It means a gift or offering to God. I think heaven inherited a new Corban yesterday.

Side note: Yesterday, as we were pulling out of the neighborhood, a magnificent rainbow was coming down right beside us. Thanks God, for reminding us of your love and unmatched promises!

Anderson Live Show Clips (Updated!)

2013-05-10T11:38:00.000-04:00

**Updated show clips to show full segments, including intro video and surprises. They are hand recorded and the audio is a bit low, but it should be clear enough.

Thank you to all of you who tuned in to watch our handsome boy make his daytime TV debut. We all were very happy how the show was put together and we are so thankful to the Anderson Live crew for having us there. We really hope that we were able to help at least one person in some way. There's only one complaint...I still have not received a phone call to become a jewelry hand model on QVC. Did they not shoot my amazingly strong, yet tender hands enough?

We've been looking to find the entire interview. We've found both parts, but the first one is not the greatest quality. We'll keep looking and try to find something better. Anyway, thanks to the person who took the time to record this on their TV! Here you go! Oh, and also, just for the record, I'm really proud of both my son and my smokin' hot wife.

Lastly, a huge thanks to those companies that blessed our family in a huge way...Bunny Luv, Global Organics, and Lego! I just noticed that this part isn't on the video. Big hugs from Sy for these great folks!

If you can't see the videos below click here for part 1 and here for part 2. Enjoy!

Here's still the portion straight from the show...much clearer.

Cinco de Ashy-o & Anderson Air Date!

2013-05-07T13:53:00.000-04:00

We've had an eventful last few days... Sunday was Asher's FIRST birthday! I can't believe it's been a year since that kid came out backside first and folded up like a laptop by a lady with no pain meds (if you missed that story, you need to read it here). It's been a great year of joy with this little guy and we were able to party at our local Mexican Restaurant (viva Mexico!) with a group of friends, a mariachi band, and a bunch of folks we didn't know. Here's some pics from the day:

Who could resist a fiesta with a bandit like this?

Don't mind if we do!

Poncho or placemat? You'll never know!

Ash was surprised when the whole restaurant sang to him! Feliz Cumpleanos, little guy!

Ole!

Someone had too much Cinco in his Mayo.

I think our Spanish-speaking cake decorator thought we wouldn't notice the English! Excelente!

It's Finally On!

Ok, so we also just got the news that our Anderson Live show will finally be aired tomorrow, May 8th. Check your local listings for when it comes on...some places it's morning, some it's afternoon. We just saw a preview today and Sy is looking great! Click here to get the show info.

Let's say a prayer and hope that our family is able to let the real Light shine in our story!

Listening Heart Required!

2013-05-04T16:50:00.002-04:00

So get this...

The other day, I'm in the kitchen juicing and prepping Sy's food goodness. Since I'm a guy, I can usually only concentrate on one thing at a time, so I was pretty involved in my work. Nothing was going to stop me from producing some high quality nutrition!

Before I get any further, let me tell you that Sy decided one day a while back to start reading through the New Testament when he wakes up in the morning. It seems like he just started yesterday and he informed us that he is already through Acts! Let's just remember that this kid is only six! Makes me smile when I know that he is reading God's love letter to him! It's also a reminder to not let the most important instruction manual fade into the background.

Now back to the kitchen...

As I'm scrubbing carrots, Sy comes quietly into the kitchen and watches me work. He then began a dialogue that drew me in right away:

"Hey, Pop?"

"Yeah, buddy..."

"I think God is speaking to me."

!!!??? Although I continued working to keep the conversation natural, Sy had every bit of my attention. I knew in my heart that God didn't want me to miss a word of what was coming up next.

"Oh yeah? What's he saying?"

"I think God is telling us that we need to go."

This is one of those times that I knew God was speaking to me through my son. It was also very clear and appropriate for our hearts. Through how God has been teaching us and calling our family, this statement had a huge impact. Even though I knew, I still asked to see what else was stirring in his heart.

"Where do you think God wants us to go?"

"Either where we've been talking about or wherever he needs us. Like Paul and Silas in Acts. They went wherever telling people the good news."

Oh snap.

It has been amazing to watch God work on Sy's heart. Sy is someone who enjoys his home, his toys, and all the perks of staying where we are. The rest of us are more willing to accept change. This is just another example of the power of God's Word and it's ability to transform us on an individual basis.

Thank you God, for moments like this. Thank you that even though I don't listen to you all the time, you still get messages to me and my family. Please give me the courage to lead my family and keep the focus of their hearts as the most important way of providing for them. I am weak, but you can do great things through me!

As you finish reading this, we ask for your prayers. We ask that we would have amazing wisdom and clarity and that we would pursue His leading with reckless abandon!

Excuse Me...Did You Lose Something?

2013-04-28T13:32:00.001-04:00

Last night, as Heather and I were finishing kitchen cleanup and making our way to bed after another long day, we had the first opportunity to really talk. Not just be in the same car or the same room like we did most of the day, but give each other our undivided attention. As Heather continued to talk and share her heart, I realized that it was snowballing into more than either of us planned. God gave me a great opportunity to appreciate my wife and what REALLY lies in her heart. Our time ended with tears and much needed prayers. I know how my wife goes way beyond the call of duty (often to her detriment). In the middle of the whole process, I again realized the weights my wife carries (or ones that are pushed on her) and this verse popped into my head:

"If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles." Matthew 5:41

So, how'd we get there, you ask? I guess it all started when I heard that someone said to Heather, "So, it looks like things are going pretty great for you guys." At first glance, this seems like a pretty benign statement. And you know what? Things are not just pretty great, they are really great compared to many other people in this world. We have a marriage relationship that gets better the more we are together (seriously, it's crazy), we have our kids who we can hug and kiss (not enough), we are experiencing physical health in a whole new dimension with Sy, we have a roof and beds to sleep in, I have a job that pays (most of) the bills, we have cars that run, we have a great community around us, and we have a Father that continues to call us out to a life of abundance. The list goes on and on, but I'm sure you get the idea.

But there's the other side of things that people don't necessarily see. The fact that our marriage has taken the biggest beating ever over the last several years... That although it's so worth it, this therapy doesn't stop and it's more work than the two of us can handle... That our kids are actively seeking God, asking questions, and are ready to be led, but there's often times no one is available for this meaningful conversation... That there are still serious concerns about Heather and her physcial health, lack of sleep, and emotional load... That our world is really financially crumbling even though I know without a doubt that God has led me where I am professionally... That we recently received news that radically affects our household and the future of our family as we know it (another blog post to come)...

And all this just underscores my point.

My wife has numerous reasons to complain, whine, fall on the floor, kick, scream, walk away, bail out, flip the bird, etc. But that's not who she really is. I know it. I get to see and experience her heart in a way that other's don't. Even though she's left at home with four little rascals, she ultimately chooses JOY. Even though homeschooling with two babies is not really possible, she chooses JOY. Even though a juicing/nutritional therapy is way too much for our family, she chooses JOY. Even though she doesn't get a break and has been begging me to find an "Alice" (like from the Brady Bunch), she still chooses JOY. Even though her husband has constant bad breath and leaves messes, she still chooses JOY. Even though she is often buried beneath huge amounts of verbal vomit, a hand sticks out and waves a JOY flag. Even when everything around her is screaming at her to let go of her joy, SHE WON'T LET GO.

So why does is appear "like things are going pretty great for you guys?" Because our God who is Great shines His Spirit through my wife in ways I only wish I could. When Heather speaks to others, she is intentional and focuses on them more than herself. When she fields complaints and deals with "life-drainers," she continues to do everything she can to be a "life-giver."

I'm often embarrassed by how differently I would handle the conversations she has with people. Since I love to drag out and drop the huge axe of sarcasm, I've told her to start telling people that complain that "...I am so bored every day. We really wish we had something to fill our time. Our family just sits around with blank stares on their faces."

I know for a fact that I married the right person. Thank you, God, for making my wife unlike any other!

If you see this lady, will you please give her our number?

"Time Of My Life"

2013-04-24T22:24:00.000-04:00

So you know those times when you just sit and and enjoy the moments?! A few minutes ago, Jordan started humming "The Glory Of Love..." I was sitting on the couch thoughtfully planning out next week's homeschooling schedule while blankly staring at my batch of cloth diapers on the drying rack that needed to be put away and I absolutely cracked up! Who even remembered that song existed?! Rewind back to 1986 and Peter Cetera. The next thing I knew, we were ready for a karaoke duet battle. Then we typed 'ol Pete (don't judge) into Pandora... Hilarious! The sad part is that we knew every song by heart and this isn't even the genre of music we grew up liking. If only I could remember scripture or something actually useful near as well... (Right now I'm singing "I Don't Have the Heart" by James Ingram and still know every word 20 something years later.)

Anyway, I just have to soak in these moments... Us laughing... All of my babies in bed asleep... The roaring of the juicer in the next room and ... Oh snap, now it's Hungry Eyes!! Anyway, God just reminded of these simple treasures in life and to savor each and every moment. I think we're going to make it a new tradition to pick out the most random artists and find their stations on Pandora a couple of times of week just to get some chuckles and be crazily amazed at the brain's ability to remember song lyrics! It might end up being a "Hard Habit To Break!" Lol!! (Ooooh, now it's I Can't Fight This Feeling by Reo Speedwagon... Yes, I know. I'm a slow blogger.)

Update: I just had "The Time Of My Life" and now "Heaven Is A Place On Earth." This is hysterical! Maybe our next station will be Eddie Money!!! :)