Who me? Crunchy?

You know you are starting to get a little bit crunchy...

1) when you drive to two different stores at opposite ends of town, in the dead heat of August, with your infant, just to get the proper raw local honey...all of this while your sister coaches you via cell phone from the midwest while you make this all-important purchase.

2) when you skip sleeping-in on Saturdays just to pick up your box of Abundant Harvest Organics

3) when you are giddy with delight to discover coconut oil as an ingredient in your new sunscreen.

4) when you cry real tears when your 2-year old spits out his new organic yogurt...never mind the fact that he will willingly sample this mysterious green fruit/veggie from your harvest box.

What, pray-tell is this green stuff? Anyone? An onion??

5) when you swoon when your husband surprises you with some Rumford baking powder...because nothing says "I Love You" like aluminum-free baking powder!

6) when you know(and care) about the difference between cage-free and free-range eggs.

7) when your husband starts telling everyone that you eat nuts and sticks. And when he purposely mis-uses the term "free-range", just to tease you.

8) when your 6-year-old starts using the the word "organic" and says "hey mommy, Fillmore{from Cars} talks just like you!"

9. when the grocery teller at Winco asks you several questions about these odd grocery items that she has never scanned before.

10. when you cook with grape seed oil rather than olive oil.

11. when, for the first time ever, you want to make your 4th child homemade baby food.

12. when you make a special trip to Lassens just to get your sprouted Ezekiel muffins.

13. when your children become increasingly suspicious of your every single movement in the kitchen and ask, "Is this that healthy stuff again?"

14. when you ration your kids' organic milk because it's so gosh-darn expensive.

15. when your friends read this, they trade you in for a different model:)

All joking and silliness aside, I am extremely grateful for whatever bounty the Lord provides for our family, organic or not. However, where time and money allows, I am gradually adopting some of the principles that my sister Jessica is teaching me, from the book, Nourishing Traditions.

And I must say, I am loving it. At first, I wasn't so sure. I initially rejected every idea my sister proposed. It's my defense mechanism. Then, I mull it over... and usually change some of my ways, if it is feasible. I usually only try one or two new things per week.

And for the first time in my life, I am excited about grocery shopping and cooking. This way of eating is New. Exciting. Different. Fun.

I started with breakfast:

-free-range scrambled eggs

-sprouted Ezekiel muffins with organic butter and raw honey

-organic fruit

And then lunch started to follow suit.

-sprouted bread with organic peanut butter and raw honey. Or

-nitrate free meat with Tillmook cheese

-organic fruit or organic carrots

And then a few different dinners, here and there, per week. For example,

-free-range chicken thighs

-organic potatoes

-brown rice pasta

-organic bean burritos

I have yet to pre-soak my beans and flours in sea salt or whey...and I highly doubt that I will ever culture my own sprouts...and I am terrified to try kombucha(though I'm very curious).

For now, I'm doing the best that I know how, to feed my family.

And on days when this is not possible, I don't worry about it AT ALL. In fact, just 2 days ago I ate from Burger King. And I feel no guilt what-so-ever.

And if I get too carried away, I try to remember,

Matthew 6:25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than food?

And now, for some BLOOPERS...Ollie being strangled by Calvin,

Ollie placing his half-eaten mystery fruit back in the box for the next unsuspecting victim. Seriously, what is this green stuff???

And, careful Calvin...

Oopsie.