Yeah, me too.
I'm just a little blah today in general, I guess.
The kids went back to school today after their EIGHTEEN DAY break. That's a lot of days.
I loved it, and until yesterday I wasn't ready for it to end. I was a tiny bit sad when I dropped Abbey off at school this morning, but I forgot about being sad as I made my way to meet a friend at the tea house.
It hit me when I came back home though. I like quiet, but it's just a little too quiet around here right now.
So yeah...blah...blah...blah.
Let me just quickly catch ya up on a few things going on around here.
1. I'm fasting from sugar again. I did this for about three weeks in November and felt great. I also lost 6.5lbs. I tried to do it again in December, but the lure of sugar was too much. I failed miserably. I'm tired of feeling the miserable side effects of sugar consumption--bloating, no energy, poor sleeping, skin breakouts--so I'm attempting to detox yet again. I have one day and one killer headache under my belt but I'm on my way! Wanna join me?
I'm not eating any refined sugar for two weeks. No honey or agave either. I will add those two things back in gradually after my initial two weeks.
I DO allow myself to have fruit--usually an orange or apple once a day.
I'm trying to eliminate white flour as well.
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2. I'm attempting for the 8th time to read the Bible in a year. I need to apologize to Betsy because I told her I'd done it twice. I thought I had but I haven't. I've gotten VERY close to finishing it twice but never have I actually read from cover to cover.
I'm using this reading plan and I plan to use the New Living Translation for most of my reading. I always get bogged down in the Old Testament though so I think I'll probably use the Message to make that a little easier. I like the way the Message translates the Psalms though so I've been using that this week.
Here's the wonderful thing about the Discipleship Journal plan. You only have 25 readings per month so if you get behind you have a grace period to catch up. I've used this plan several times, in fact, I found my old reading plans last weekend (while searching high and low for my Message Remix Bible) that I've saved from my prior attempts. One year I made it to the end of November--so close--and for the life of me I can't figure out why I didn't finish that last month? [Note to all of you who save stuff: Write the date on things you save. It makes looking back way more fun. I wish I had dated my reading plans!]
Some wonderful advice that has stuck with me over the years is this: if you start this plan/any plan and only make it three months, don't look at it as failure, look at it as having read 1/4 of the Bible.
There's still time to catch up if you want to join in. There are actually lots of us doing it which helps with accountability!
Alright, it's time for lunch, and I have some reading to do. See ya!
24 comments:
I admire your sugar detox. I've given up refined sugar during times of intense spiritual focus. But as a daily habit, it would be a recipe for disaster. Instead, I try to limit my sugar intake each day, which helps me from feeling deprived.
I'm reading the Bible this year, too. I'm using the One Year Bible Online plan, which has me reading from the OT, NT, Psalms and Proverbs each day. Also, I'm doing all my reading from The Message, which is HUGELY helpful for me to stay focused. I'm sorry to say that the NIV is so familiar, I glaze over when I'm reading it.
I've felt Blah ever since my kids have been back to school and hubby back to work. I really enjoyed the holidays and our time together. It's hard to go back to a really quiet house from 8 to 3 or so. I love the time alone but it's just plain lonely too!
I am reading my Bible this year too. I love reading the OT in The Message. I know many people think The Message isn't a good translation but I recently read a quote by John Piper (whom I really respect) who said, If you are reading a Bible in English, you are reading a translation. The goal is being in the Word. If the Word you are drawn to is The Message, so be it. I didn't use quotation marks because that was the gist of it but not a true quote.
I do still adore my NIV. I have so many verses underlined and notes made that I would truly miss seeing that version BUT I can read alot longer in The Message and really understand the text better. Okay...all that was a long diatribe about basically nothing. LOL
Anyway..I always feel really out of sorts until I get a few meal plans and weeks into the New Year under my belt and settle down.
I admire you doing the sugar fast... are you still drinking coffee? and if so, are you drinking it black? I'd have to detox from the caffeine/coffee cause I don't think I could do coffee without sweetner! But I really, really should try...
We are too alike! I'm doing the sugar/white flour fast thing too (day 5) and the one year Bible reading plan!
I just can't, can't, can't give up sugar. I'm doing really good at getting processed food and things with corn syrup in them out of the house though, does that count? LOL. Trying to focus on whole foods and natural ingredients. So even though hubby and I still have our snack at night, I make it from scratch and use good stuff to do it. I even make my own salad dressing. I can't completely give up my carbs, either, but I have been incorporating gluten-free stuff and the kids are actually very accepting of it. Not sure what I'll do when they get bigger and start going to friends' houses to eat.....they'll discover what they've been missing all these years, ha-ha.
I have no idea how to even BEGIN to give up sugar. Seems it's everywhere.
Tips, please?
I think I've lost my blogging mojo...trying to find it, though.
Blahg?! Too funny!!
Oh goodness, I'm not touching the sugar thing...although I KNOW I would feel better. So proud of you for doing it! (Not saying I won't ever do it)
I'm actually excited about the Read With Me challenge with all of you..today was first day and I read a good long while (and dozed a little--not such a great start!) But I am really praying for success and revelation through all of it!
I was sad when I dropped the boys off on Monday. We'd been together every single day for almost a six week break, and it was such a special time of togetherness that I almost can't describe it. I cried when they got out of the car.
It was a good thing.
Love your title to this post!
I'm reading the Bible through this year too. Never done and always wanted to. I've started this a few years so I have high hopes this year!
I totally need to quit sugar although I'm not sure I could stomach black coffee. I use agave nectar in mine so maybe that could be my only sugar;)
Keep us posted on how your doing!
I got THE HELP from the library last night, and I have to tell you, I'm madly in love with this book. I'm only on page 40 but I'm so eager to finish it.
Right now, I'm trying to homeschool my kids, but all I can think about it getting back to reading that book.
Thank you for the suggestion. I can't wait to find out what happens. I adore the author and the way she writes. I laughed out loud so many times last night. :)
Kelly in Michigan
I'm trying the no sugar thing again too. I did it for a week right before Thanksgiving and I felt SO good. My teenage daughter is doing it with me and yesterday on the way home all we kept talking about was desserts and candy......It was like an awful attack!
Love your blog! After reading about your sugar detox, I was good between Thanksgiving and Christmas but have really fallen off lately. I'm going to give it a go again too! I have also tried to read the Bible in a year and not gotten too far. There is still time to get started though, right?
Laurie
Can.not. Can.not. do the sugar detox. But I SO SO SO SO admire your courage.
It seriously terrifies the bajeebies out of me.
And I love reading through the Bible. It is tough, but I adore it.
I didn't comment yesterday because I don't want to commit to either a sugar detox or a read-the-bible-in-a-year and because I'm glad my kids went back to school. I have very valid reasons for all of this, most of which I plan to address in posts this week.
Today however, I covet your opinion. Please check out my post for the day and weigh in. In the meantime I'll work on sharing my reasons for not joining you in your very admirable endeavors. Ugh! I sound so pompous. Help!
You know what I do with reading the Bible through? I take more than a year. I follow a plan, but if I miss a day I just pick up where I left off instead of trying to make up. I absorb it better that way, and don't get as caught up in checking my boxes. I'm kind of at a loss right now, so maybe I should start that again...
Well, you're not so blah that you can't be clever. Lurve "blahg". Lurve.
Okay...I'll think about joining you tomorrow. I've already made a woeful disaster of today. But it was fun. 'Course that bloating and fatigue...i could do w/o those.
Happy to see you in my reader, whether you're blah-y, or happy, sad, or inquisitive. I think this first week back has thrown many of us for a loop, even if we were kinda looking forward to it.
I'm so glad that you are apart of the BIble Girls!
I'm with you on the Blah's. Been feeling a bit Blah-ful myself since before Thanksgiving, but am hopeful my mojo will return soon!
It is very difficult to kick that sugar habit. I think I have tried and given up numerous times. I applaud your efforts!
And reading the bible in one year is amazing! I think I would need the cliff version or something.
Hugs. I hope you don't feel so blah about blogging.
Rosey
Would it be too repetitive to hear one more person say they've been feeling the "blahg" too? Well, I am. It's the truth.
I'm doing that read through the Bible with y'all too, but I'm already behind. Not discouraged though! I can catch up!
I'm in on the Read with Me challenge!!
I love how you inspire me! This is such a great way for me to have accountability.
Love the title of this post....you crack me up!
Yeah, I want to join you on both counts- don't remind me next month that I said I would on either count. The spirit is willing but the flesh...not so much.
blahg! love it!
I love that you enjoy your children, and having them home.
You inspire me, not just to remember to enjoy the time I have out of school with the kids, but also to really think about a sugar detox.
really think.
;)
How did I miss this post?!
I seriously admire your sugar detox. I did it when Blake was a baby and know I'd feel better if I did it now, but I think I'm using sugar as my emotional crutch these days.
I think I'm going to start with going ONE DAY without sugar and then move up from there. We'll see. There's not a scholarship riding on it, right?
I know you already have tons of questions for the post after this so don't feel like you need to answer this! It may not even apply to you~ do you pack your kids lunches or do they eat in a cafeteria? I'll be packing a lunch next year for Ashley and am freaking out a little trying to be that planned ahead of time and getting a good lunch ready to go for her. Just wondering IF you do and if you have a system for it?
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