Friday, August 12, 2011

Summertime & ants

First of all, in case you didn't know this about me, I HATE SUMMER! I despise being hot & sweaty and I don't like bugs. That is what summer is to me.. staying hot & sweaty and fighting bugs. YUCK! The last couple of months here it has been over 100 degrees & absolutely miserable. Even the bugs are miserable. Everytime we open the front door, spiders, grasshoppers, etc. would literally come running inside. It also hasn't rained in I don't know how long, but we are in a very serious drought.

So, praise God, yesterday we got a nice soothing rain and the temps dropped into the 70's. It was wonderful! I was happier than I had been in months... until I pulled in my driveway yesterday evening and stepped out of my car. I did not even have time to shut my car door before my feet were covered in ANTS! I look down and there were millions of them. Big red ones, little red ones, black ones, any kind of ant you could think of all working together. I screamed & ran to my front porch. It felt like I was in a Science Fiction movie! There were so many of them and they were moving so fast that it looked like the ground was moving. Grant let our little weinie dog out (she weighs less than 10 pounds & is over 18 years old) and I was scared to death that the ants would eat her alive! I grabbed her & put her back in the house.

When I went to leave this morning, they were already awake, but not all of them. So I made it to my car safely before they could get to me. However there were enormous mounds everywhere. Kevin is supposed to ask the agricultural scientists at his work what they recommend we do to stop these nasty creatures.

Fall can not get here fast enough! I love Fall and winter. No sweating. No bugs. Bundling up with a cup of hot cocoa or sitting by a campfire roasting marshmallows is sooooo relaxing. I love the colors of Fall. I don't do a lot of decorating, but I have lots of Fall decorations. I usually bring them out in August. Kevin laughs at me. He says that will not make it get here any sooner. I tell him that at least I am doing my part. I am anxiously waiting for Fall to get here and I will embrace it with open arms.

Lori

Monday, August 1, 2011

Quiet time & raspberries

Good Monday morning! Why does it seem the weeks get longer & weekends keep getting shorter? The boys were gone to Lake Texoma last week so I was home by myself. I love them dearly, but it was so nice to have some peace & quiet. Monday night I went to bed at 8:15 & didn't get up until 6 a.m. I guess my body needed that rest. I had some great alone time with God. I desperately needed that also. I get cranky when I've gone too long without my quiet time with my Heavenly Father. Of course, I pray everyday, actually I just talk to God off & on all day long. And He is the first one I talk to every morning. I spend at least 20-30 minutes with Him each morning, but sometimes I just need to sit still in His presence. Just spending time telling Him how much I love Him & Him telling me how much He loves me. That time is so special to me. When I go too long without having that special time, I get cranky & get a bad attitude. After last week, I feel refreshed in my Spirit & ready to continue the battle. This life will be one battle after another until we are called Home. We have to cling to the Father & have our spiritual armor on at all times so that we are ready for whatever the enemy throws at us.

It was so easy to eat healthy last week with the boys gone. I feel lighter & stronger each day that I nourish my body with God's healing foods instead of filling it with junk. However, yesterday was a bad food day. I have been allowing myself one bad meal a week, which doesn't affect me too much. But, yesterday Cole was home so we had French toast made with white bread & I haven't had syrup in several months, so I used a little syrup. Then I had been craving pizza all week & had not gotten any, so we went to Pizza Hut after church. Last time we ate there they just had the really thin cracker type crust, but yesterday was nothing but the thicker crust. Oh, I LOVE the thicker crust, but I knew it was not going to be good for me. I only ate 2 pieces & a salad, which is not bad, but I guess combined with the French toast it was too much white bread for my body in one day. I hurt so bad last night that it took me 3 hours to get to sleep & I took pain pills before I went to bed. I am in terrible pain this morning. I can literally feel the inflammation in my body. My face is puffy, my fingers & all my joints are puffy & stiff. I am learning that my body just can not handle white flour.

I read on Livestrong.com that raspberries are one of the best anti inflammatory foods. I have been eating more raspberries & taking a raspberry liquid extract each day. I usually take it in the morning & evening. I think I will try it a couple of more times today & see if that gives me any relief. Today is definitely a detox day. Lots of veggies, fruits & distilled water. Got to flush all that white flour out of my body.

Keep praying for rain & cooler temps. May God bless you all.

Lori