Friday, June 10, 2016

happy weekend


Does anyone read blogs during the summer? Or ever anymore? Sometimes I wonder. But I realized long, long ago, that recording my life here was for me and not for anyone else. And so, two weeks into our summer vacation, I thought it was time for a little update.

Last week, I babysat my four nieces and nephews (for a few days by myself, even, while Mike was away at a youth conference), and which included a baby and a three year old. So this week, naturally, has been about recovery. :) We've napped, we've read, we've gone to the pool, we've reveled in the quiet. And as per usual after something stressful, I got sick. Head colds in the summer are so uncalled for.

But I wanted to tell you about two things.

One: Mike, Oliver, and I are in the middle of a 30 day sugar and white flour fast. We're not eating any added sugar. No honey, no syrup, no fruit juice, no artificial sweeteners, etc. After the first couple of really bad headaches (although that could have been attributed to minding 8 children), I started to feel fantastic. I have more energy, I am never bloated, and food has never tasted so good. Honestly, Oliver and I ate some strawberries the other day that I swear were the sweetest, most delicious things we'd ever put in our mouths. I'd like to keep this up. I'd like this to be how I eat for the rest of my life (with some special occasion sweets thrown in from time to time, of course). It feels right to me. For the past year or so, I've had some really weird digestion issues, and they have totally cleared up since I removed sugar from my diet. Now I'm not a doctor, obviously, so I'm not saying that giving up sugar has cured me, or anything. But I can tell you that I feel terrific when I eat this way.

Two: If you are a parent, please read Leonard Sax's new book, The Collapse of Parenting. It probably deserves it's own post, but I'll quickly tell you why I feel it is so important. Before I started the book, I felt pretty confident in my ability to parent. I knew I would agree with a lot of what Dr. Sax had to say, and I did. But Mike and I are about to enter a new world in parenting: the high school years, and I felt completely unprepared for them. This book reminded me that the most important things I can teach my children are to have humility and self-control, that family time should be held above all else, that I need to have fun with my kids and help steer their interests, and that it's ok to maintain high standards even if they are unpopular. And to turn of the devices, for goodness sake! I'm not exaggerating when I say that it brought me to tears more than once. It resonated deeply with me, and Mike and I have made some course corrections since we read it.

I hope your summer is going well. Have a happy weekend!

18 comments:

  1. I read blogs, just a few and yours is one of those.

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  2. You don't know me, and I don't know how I came across your blog many years ago, but I do love reading it! It's like a good book that never ends. You help me stay focussed on what really matters, inspire me to be better, and to simplify. Thank you.

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  3. You don't know me, and I don't know how I came across your blog many years ago, but I do love reading it! It's like a good book that never ends. You help me stay focussed on what really matters, inspire me to be better, and to simplify. Thank you.

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  4. I read blogs still and would love to hear more on both items above!

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  5. I started reading you years ago via Sarah from Clover Lane. Keep writing.

    I read The Collapse book as well. It made me want to go back and reread Blessing of a B- this summer before my oldest becomes a sophomore

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  6. i only read 2 blogs anymore, and yours is one of them :) and i have to thank you stephanie. i read your summer goals entry just in time to try some of them out for our family. no television/computers and more reading and being bored have been incredible! and we are only two weeks into summer. i will do that every year for sure. thank you!

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  7. I agree. I check 4 blogs every day, yours is one of them! I love it! Keep posting if you have the time.

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  8. I also have read your blog for many years, along with Clover Lane and Denton Sanitorium. I probably check every week or two to see if there are any new posts. I love that you and Mike are on the same page as far as how you want to parent your kids, even if your ideas are unpopular. Being of the same mind will make things much easier to go against the tide.

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  9. I love your blog and the ideas you share. Thanks for the parenting book tip! Keep writing. You inspire me!

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  10. I love Hayley's comment above because I feel that way too! I have similar goals and aspirations and sometimes what you write is just the motivation I need to keep on track :) I just wish you would post more about your sewing, I love to sew too and find it is getting more and more rare to find others who enjoy it like I do :) keep writing please!

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  11. Yeah for no sugar! It's so hard at first-I relapsed a little, but something about experiencing the way one REALLY feels (so good!) makes it easy to get back on track-being really really conscience of it helps I guess.
    I am afraid to read that book but I will-afraid of how sad I will feel for kids these days and their parents too-this constant push and pull of electronics, how much I hate seeing even my college kids spending way too much time on their smart phones. I tell them all the time that they NEED to feel what their brain and their life feels like without all the unnecessary crap they are forcing it to needlessly process. I just will never accept it as "the way things are now"-are at least happily accept it. I don't think it's any good for a developing brain, and until children are well into adulthood there is no benefit. I say all the time I am SO SO happy that I know what life was like pre-cell phone, pre-social media.
    And your blog is one of the tiniest handful I read (2, 3? :)

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  12. If you go no sugar for the whole family we find "trade-ins" to be a good way around the treats offered (a little too often) at church. Or we give a little snack for them to take and eat instead of what is being offered (usually banana chips and peanuts).

    We still celebrate birthdays the good old fashioned way with cake and ice cream, and during holidays we'll eat pie etc. but honestly that's about it. Knock on wood, our children's teeth are so much better than mine were growing up!

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  13. Just adding my voice to the choir! I don't know how I found you but I'm so glad I did! Your blog makes me want to be a better person and helps me refocus my life. Thank you for sharing goodness.

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  14. I love your blog, too. It's one of the few I read. So often you suggest a book, talk, or article that is just what I needed. Sometimes it's a picture you post of your cozy home that inspires me. Sometimes it's just knowing what you're focusing on or working towards that motivates me to do the same. Thank you for mentoring me and inspiring me!

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  15. I'll echo Hayley's comment as well! Found your blog through Clover Lane a few years ago and I'm so glad I've kept up with it. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and glimpses of your life with us!

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  16. Anonymous8:37 AM

    Excited to see your recipes. I have a few that we love if you want. i keep saying I am going to do no sugar and then fall off. It takes a little bit more work to make my 2 favorite cookies. They call for honey but I have subbed in DATES. I figure treats for special occasions, but i KNOW if we do no sugar for 30 days that the treats will not be as tempting. Maybe I start in the Morning! Maesyn is having a sundae bar for her birthday. I am actually picking some onions today and that calls for sugar. SUGAR is in so many things.

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  17. Your blog is the best, I'm sure you have way more readers than you know. I keep meaning to tell you, I had your Easter post open on my computer awhile ago when my inactive friend stopped by. She glanced over, started reading, and immediately teared up. You are totally sharing goodness.

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  18. I don't know if I have ever commented here, but I enjoy your blog! I read yours when I have a moment and Sarah at Clover Lane... I mentioned this to her, but have you read "Hold Onto Your Kids-Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers" by Gordon Neufeld? It is really an interesting read on the subject!

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