Against The Grain (Industrialized food system)
Photo courtesy of Dan by Free Digital Photos
*disclaimer* Please don’t fuss at me and call me phony if you see me eating a double stuffed Oreo:) Being against the grain is my goal.
Let me start from the beginning and share with y’all where God has taken me to give me the disgust and rebellion I have for our industrialized food system. About 3-4 years ago I took my husband to a farm tour for his birthday. (Seems random but he and I are fascinated by them) It was a dairy farm in SC called Happy Cow Creamery. On the tour he explained where our supermarket milk came from and why they were different. They fed their cows GRASS. Huh? We looked at each other and thought, well don’t all cows eat grass? I know to a lot of people reading this are thinking how could you have not known all of this. Basically comes down to how you are raised, your education, and what is available to you. We knew no different. He began to explain that the milk from the supermarket was from cows who ate a diet of corn feed, received antibiotics due to their confinement and diseases, and were given hormones to increase their milk production. (Though most claim this isn’t true) It’s not just in milk but in all dairy products we use every day. He explained that cows were made to eat grass and the health benefits increase dramatically when the milk is from grass-fed cows compared to corn-fed ones. They gave samples of the milk and oh my word, no comparison, delicious!
This was a huge eye opener for us. We wondered who else knew about this secret. Nobody in our family did. When we got home I began to research where I could buy that same quality of milk around here locally. Turns out there are a lot of people out there who do know about this, it’s just not easy to get your hands on. If any of you are research queens like me than you know one thing always leads to another… Turns out there are also select places with grass-fed beef, pasture raised chickens, grass-fed hogs..etc WHAT??? You mean to tell me this whole time I’ve been eating food that is sub par. My risk of getting food borne illness, heart disease and cancers is all increased due to what these animals are consuming including chemicals, antibiotics, and hormones. I thought I was eating real food that was good for me!
As we all know with most things done the right way you have to pay for it. All of these grass-fed meats and foods that have the least intervention cost the most. As a society we are constantly penalized for going against the grain, rather that be financially, emotionally, or even educationally.
Turns out even a tomato from the store has been chemically altered to give it its shelf life, color, and vitality. It really blows my mind at how much the food system feeding our country is able to get away with, yet it is illegal for me to buy raw milk in NC. Just about every week there is some sort of recall on these foods deemed safe to eat.
We all need to start questioning our own food safety and be our family’s advocates. It is no secret that the leading cause of death is heart disease. This is REVERSIBLE by our diets. It is my opinion that we are being tricked and schemed into a money market as what “healthy” really means. I can remember a time when I used to buy lean cuisines and key lime flavored low-fat yogurt. Unless you have educated yourself these labels look like they are healthy options. THEY ARE NOT! They are horribly processed.
Through all of my research I have had times of being completely overwhelmed at where to start to gain me and my family’s health back. The conclusion I have come to is that this is the most basic and easiest diet to follow. REAL FOOD! I need to mimic not what my grandmother fixed at her supper table but my GREAT grandmother. This includes fruits and vegetables grown in season with no interventions. Meats raised on what they were born to eat and milk from the town near by. They had no minute rice or cream of mushroom soup. They used what was available, local, and what they grew. This may sound difficult but it was an art. To be truly creative in the kitchen and put real ingredients together to make a masterpiece. (Even if that masterpiece was a simple homemade biscuit.)
There is the issue of time spent on gardening or money spent at farmers markets. When you think about it… it sure does cost a lot of money for your stent or cancer treatments and it’s an awful lot of time wasted in the hospital or not feeling the way we were meant to feel.
God didn’t design us to eat the way we have been eating. We know what to do but we put our heads in the sand just because it’s easier. It’s time we go against the grain and feed our bodies what it is meant to have, REAL FOOD! The good thing is we can start off small and work our way up. Start by not having fast food. We all know how terrible it is for you and you can save money. Dig in and start finding information to encourage you and show you the benefits of eating real stuff you can pronounce. The truth is we have all been starving ourselves. Not of calories but of vitamins and minerals essential for living, this is all a form of malnutrition. Let’s feed ourselves again!
Did I mention the food from real ingredients taste 100 times better? Even the Oreos don’t taste as good anymore:) Any one else with me? Interested in joining the food revolution? Did you have a moment like we did that stopped you in your tracks and got you thinking? If so, subscribe and share!
Here is part I of my series: Against The Grain (Birth Control)
I will be adding more to this series, so subscribe so you won’t miss it!
Sharing this with: The Prairie Homestead, A Mama’s story, Raising Arrows, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, Growing Home, Time Warp Wife, Thankful Homemaker, Mamal Diane, Teaching What is Good, Mom’s the word, conerstone cofessions, A proverbs 31 wife, Some of the best things in life are mistakes, Let this mind be in you, A Wise Woman Builds her home, Deep Roots at Home, Graced Simplicity, Raising Homemakers, Women Living Well, Hope in Every Season, Jill’s Home remedies, Little Natural Cottage, Our simple country Life, Raising Mighty Arrows, The Purposeful Mom, Happy and Blessed Home, Homemaker by Choice, Your Thriving Family, My Joy Filled Life. New Life Steward, Hometead simple, Let this Mind Be in You,
Hello Hormones!
Alright every body, my hormones are a mess right now. Seriously, I don’t ever remember nesting this much, crying so much, or getting furious at the drop of a hat.
Here is a picture of my coping mechanism at the moment:)
Just noticed my belly at the bottom of the pic!
I know God has all of this…but my mind is racing a million miles a minute. Thank God we are planning on going to church tonight! Lord knows I need it!
I want to spend this last month reading to my babies, sitting out in the sunshine, enjoying my sleep, and soaking up the sweet kicks and hiccups.
Lord, help me to give the anxieties of this world over to you. Let me see your abundant blessing all around me that I so often take for granted. Let me find my care free spirit again that loves you and my family more than anything…
Y’all ever felt like this? Any tips to calm this crazy girl down?
Stop Entertaining Your Children!
Society tells us to do this craft, take them here and take them there. Don’t get me wrong these are all great things to do with our children. I have found that all of this activity may not be very beneficial. After a lot of entertainment my kids don’t know what to do with themselves when I’m not there throwing fun in there face. Honestly, I don’t like it. We may be young but my husband and I are pretty old school in how we raise our children. I want them to be creative and independent enough for me to open up the back door let them run out barefoot. I want to be able to yell, “Have fun, I’ll call ya when lunch is ready!” In the summer we do have days like that. They are wonderful. I think that all of the entertainment we feel forced to give our children is why so many women feel like they can only handle one or two children. They are running themselves ragged trying to keep them happy. It’s hard enough to keep up with children in general but nearly impossible to keep throwing excitement in their face all the time.
It’s easy to see it in adults every day. They are constantly looking for something to get into and can never seem to be satisfied. I often wonder if this is because of the endless activities they had as a child. It is sad to see someone never be content with just sitting or using their brain to be creative. I don’t want this for my children. I don’t want to have that kind of relationship with them to were they look to me to provide them with their entertainment. I also don’t want their fun to depend on rather they have friends around or not. I have very social children. I love them playing with their friends but the problem comes when they don’t know what to do with themselves when no one else is around.
A hard lesson for parents to learn is when you should say yes in order to encourage their creativity and let them find their own fun. It’s very easy to sit them in front of the TV or computer so we can have our eye on them all the time and know they are safe. What if we said yes to climbing the tall tree? What if we said yes to them being on the swing set learning how to climb the ladder and go down the slide by themselves? Are they gonna fall? Yep, probably so. But they are figuring it out for themselves and I am there in the distance if needed. I want to facilitate the learning and imagination not feed it to them with a spoon.
Yes, some days are long and tiresome. But when you have the ability to let them pretend, play, fall, run, and climb your job as the parent is the facilitator of them finding their own capabilities. I am not run ragged or filled with guilt because I didn’t take them to the movies or to a friend’s house. When we have days like that everyone unanimously says it was a great day even if there are a few more bruises:)
What do y’all think? Do you see the trend in constant entertainment in children too? It’s hard not to fall in the trap, but I am convinced it is the way childhood is meant to be. FREEDOM to figure it out and have fun the old-fashioned way! Subscribe and share!
Doing Too Much?
I was so completely convicted the other day by my five-year old. She bought me to tears, then prayer, then to a strong realization.
Allow me to explain….
The morning, in my eyes, was going pretty well. We did school time. I got some items ordered online we were needing and we were starting to knead some homemade bread I was making. All three of them love for me to give them flour and water so they can knead their own.
This is when things went down hill.
Everyone’s hands were covered in thick dough, including mine. Dough was spreading to cabinet handles, chairs, floors, kids hair, you name it. Bellies were starting to growl for lunch time accompanied by lots of whining with nap time lurking around the corner.
My patience was definitely running thin and I’ll admit I was more short than usual and probably seemed aggravated. But not the kind where I thought I was going to lose my mind. (I have been worse)
Once dough and hands were clean, lunch eaten, we all headed upstairs for rest time. I was laying the last one down when my five-year old comes back out of her room. I scolded her to get back in her room and I would be with her in minute.
When I went in she was sitting on her bed with her head down. She then asked, “Are you sick of us?” My heart broke… I said, “No of course not!” She asked, “Then why are you acting this way?” I told her I guessed I was grouchy but no matter how grouchy mommy got that I could never get sick of any of them! So I tucked her in, went in my room, and cried.
God showed me that through all my best intentions of schooling, projects, bread making, and life lessons, none of it mattered. All my little girl wanted was me. Ouch! I thought I was there and was doing all the right things, but in her perspective she couldn’t do anything right. I was taking all of the joy out of the day.
I have learned a huge lesson. I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN. The thought of her thinking that all because I am trying to get to the next task kills me. These precious souls are what matters. Not the home-baked goods, the homeschooling, or long life lessons. It is all about the relationships. When I can take the time to feed her soul with God’s truth and my love and attention that is when true success will take place in our day. So thankful for God stopping me in my tracks, even though it hurt!
Against The Grain (Birth Control)
Are any of you the, “Going against the grain kind of people,” like me? As a teenager many people referred to me as rebellious. I can see why they would say that:) As I look back over my life I can see God’s hand in my rebellion. He gave me that stubborn personality to go against the grain at times…well, most of the time. I used to feel guilty about always bucking the system and wondered why I couldn’t just be like everyone else.
A truth I have slowly started to process is that we all aren’t supposed to be the same. There are some systems that are meant to be questioned, bucked, and rebelled against altogether. This blog is an outlet for me to raise awareness about things we go along with every day and test them to see if we are really making progress.
One issue that is near and dear to my heart that God revealed to me almost two years ago was the value we place on life. I think most Christians would agree that abortion is wrong. We get in an uproar when the Roe vs. Wade anniversary comes around. We rally and give opinions, which are all great. But…what about birth control? When we question this normal practice the facts are clear to see that they are abortifacients in themselves. We get statistics on the amount of abortions every year, but what about all of the chemical ones that go unknown because our bodies are having a heavier period than usual due to our birth control method?
When I found out this information I was floored!
The majority of birth control methods including the pill, IUD, the patch, and Depo Provera all effect the lining of the uterus enabling the newly fertilized egg to implant thus it is starved and dies. Of course the birth control industry denies that their product can cause an abortion because of their definition of when life begins. To them it begins once implantation occurs.
This is simply not true.
When the egg and sperm unite (fertilization) is when life begins. When they meet, immediately there is a genetically different human being than the parents. It is ridiculous how they try to over analyze the definition of life. This is not discussed in our OB/GYN offices. I could have ignorantly killed children all because I was going with the norm. I blame a lot of this on being uneducated. I hate to use it as an excuse, but it is the only one I have for the reason I was on the pill and IUD for so long. You get married, get on birth control, and have sex. No questions asked, it’s just what you do. WE MUST START ASKING OURSELVES QUESTIONS. When we can line up our decisions with God’s word then that will open up the door for other people to ask. No need to force anything in their face, but offer information and let God do the rest.
Another reason why this means so much to me is the fact that many of women’s cancers along with other health issues have stemmed from the use of birth control. There are many lawsuits going on right now against some of the birth control companies. When we mess with our body’s natural, God-given design we are bound to run in to problems.
Whenever you go on a new type of birth control you are taking hormones. When we start to complain of headaches, fatigue, breast tenderness, break through bleeding, nausea, and decreased sex drive our doctors tell us this is normal and if it doesn’t go away after a few weeks then we can try a new kind.
What? Why aren’t we concerned about this?
We fuss over hormones in our chicken, but are rarely upset over the hormones we take in our bodies to prevent babies. Birth control has been linked to blood clots, stroke, heart attack, glaucoma, breast cancer, and many other health risk. It is a known scientific fact that women who have a baby, breast feed, then get pregnant again significantly drop their risk for cancers. This is due to the fact that the estrogen in our body is reduced because we have fewer menstrual cycles. Birth control contains estrogen and progesterone. Is the prevention of children worth the risk of our health?
On to sexual intimacy. No wonder most women never want to have sex! (Don’t mean to be so blunt) The birth control methods out there mess your hormones all up. God made our bodies so that when ovulation occurs you and your husband are more sexually attracted to each other than other times of the month. Why? We were made to reproduce. But what if we stop that ovulation process or keep normal acting hormones at bay? We are missing out ladies on that intense desire that happens for our husbands at that time. How fair is that?
The list goes on and on about the dangers of these contraceptives, but it is the norm. It is reported that 4 out of every 5 women who have sex have been on some type of hormonal birth control at some point in their life. In fact, people assume you are crazy and weird if you don’t use any and let nature do it’s thing. Let me tell ya from experience, ever since I stopped using birth control over two years ago my body has never felt better and I have never felt more free.
Am I making you raise an eyebrow? I encourage you to do your own research about the exact mechanism of the contraceptives we use every day. You may find yourself very surprised at how pregnancy is prevented, and all of the side effects we deem normal.
Go against the grain with me! Are there topics that you rebel against? Subscribe and share! I am planning on making a series about all kinds of topics God has prompted me to question;)
Against The Grain Series
Against The Grain (Pharmaceuticals)
Against The Grain (Industrialized Food System)
Photo credit Pixabay
Real Love
Real love isn’t at first site. It isn’t flowers. candy, and cards. Love isn’t long uninterrupted conversations staring deeply into each other eyes. Love isn’t for when the bank account looks good and your cutting into your filet mignon with a glass of wine. Love isn’t running in the rain, staying up late dreaming, or amazing getaways.
I’ll take the real love any day…
Real love fills up my car with gas. It let’s me sleep in if the baby has kept me up all night. It lets me fall asleep night after night on the couch with a gentle reminder to go to bed. Real love holds back your hair when your sick. It holds your hand through tears, stress, hardships and the pregnancy hormones. Real love goes out and works hard for us to give his family the very best. Real love can hold a conversation with you while the phone is ringing and 3 other kids are trying to get your attention. Real love knows instead of steak you just want pancakes for supper:)
Today I am so thankful for what our love has grown to be. Not because it’s Valentines day but because of the everyday reminders of a true love sacrifice.
Love ya babe, Happy Valentines
Family Day
I’m sitting here so excited about the day ahead. I have no special plans, no date night planned, no time to myself today. TODAY is all about my family. My husband comes home from the fire station this morning and he will be with us all day. I guard these days very carefully because they don’t happen often enough. If they were a continuous occurrence, like most things, I would take it for granted.
When he is here we are complete. The normal routine of the day goes right out the window. There is a lot more running, screaming, tickles, and laughter when he is here, and the kids know it! The house gets messier, I snack a lot more, and we do less real school. It’s like a mini vacation day when dad is here.
I usually fix something a little better for supper when he is here. Tonight it will be…
Split Pea and Sausage Soup – I got the base for this recipe off the back of my grocery store’s green split peas bag, and of course added extra of all my favorites.
- 1 lb kielbasa sausage
- 2 cans of beef broth
- 1 large onion chopped
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 1/2 cups chopped carrots
- 2 cups split peas
- salt and pepper to taste
Cut sausage into bite size cubes. Reserve 1/4 of sausage and place other 1/4th in blender with about 7 ounces of beef broth and puree.
Pour remaining broth in your pot. Bring to a simmer while adding your diced onion and sausage cubes. Add your pureed mixture, the bay leaf, and your salt and pepper. Simmer for 30 minutes.
Add your sliced carrots then continue simmering another 10 minutes
Add split peas into the pot. Simmer till soft not mushy.
Of course you can’t have soup without cornbread🙂
Enjoy! What are your family days like? Any special recipes?
The Value of a Mother
photo courtesy of imagerymajestic by free digital photos
I am writing this today, because like you, I feel inadequate. This job of mothering is too much sometimes. Every single time I’m down, I hear the sweet whispers from the Lord that remind me of who I am and what I am doing it for. He reinforces the calling that can so easily go dim. I hope to be an encouragement to all of us and give you the recognition of your amazing value in this world.
The value of a mother is of indescribable words, it can only be felt. Her definition spreads far from the woman who is traveling to pick up a beautiful adoptive daughter, the mom who pushed with all her might to give first breath to a newborn, to the Great Aunt that cuddles and watches movies. It is all a fierce love that no one can deny. It is innate and all apart of God’s brilliant design that brings on the character of a mother.
Her daily sacrifice is like no other. She eats last, to ensure their bellies are full. She goes to bed last making sure all are having sweet dreams. She is the first to wake up to ensure the day will run better than the day before. She is on her knees praying she doesn’t screw this up. She lets them have the drink she just poured…have the last piece of gum..the comfy seat in the living room…watch their favorite movie…listen to the radio station they like…snuggle when they need it…leave them alone if they need it…tie the shoe again…peel paper on another band-aid…be goofy when we don’t want to be… be serious when we have to be…hold back their hair when sick…wipe the bottom…brush the teeth…and still keep smiling…or at least thinking we should be.
Her love moves mountains. She can inspire beauty in the ordinary with a fort and a batch of cookies. She can melt a stubborn heart with a whisper in their ear saying, “Your my girl right?” She can calm the loudest cry and dry the heaviest tears. She mends broken hearts and spirits. Her voice delivers confidence that they can do it all. Her words are like a healing balm to the scars of this life. Her touch is gentle yet shows belonging. Her listening ear is by far the best remedy for bad days. She believes all, sees all, loves all, and is determined to make her children’s life better than her own. To give them opportunities and show them the open doors God has created in their life. Yes, she paves the way and stands behind them when they move those mountains.
No matter what this Monday brings, remember your value in God’s eyes. He put these children in your life for a reason and uses our every move to shape and mold them. Even if we screw it all up again today, His mercies are new every morning. Look to Him, asking for what you need today for your calling. You do not go unnoticed, every single act you are doing is for the Lord and He remembers it all. Your precious, worthy of the calling, saved by grace, and way stronger than you think because of He that is in you. Keep it up momma!
A special thanks to all women in my own family who have had a part in building character in my children’s life and helping me to sharpen these arrows. Love you all!
Encouraged? Subscribe and share! We all need it!
Sharing this with: The Prairie Homestead, A Mama’s story, Raising Arrows, The better Mom, The Modest Mom, What Joy is Mine, Far Above Rubies, Growing Home, Heavenly Homemakers, Time Warp Wife, Thankful Homemaker, Mamal Diane, Teaching What is Good, A cat like curiosity, Mom’s the word, conerstone cofessions, A proverbs 31 wife, Some of the best things in life are mistakes, Let this mind be in you, A Wise Woman Builds her home, CSAHM Parenting Linkup, Deep Roots at Home, Graced Simplicity, Raising Homemakers, Women Living Well, Hope in Every Season, Jill’s Home remedies, Little Natural Cottage, Our simple country Life, Raising Mighty Arrows, The Purposeful Mom, Consider the Lillies, Happy and Blessed Home, Homemaker by Choice, Your Thriving Family, My Joy Filled Life. New Life Steward, Hometead simple, Christian Mommy Blogger, Let this Mind Be in You, Heart Reflected
Home
- I want to actually be at home. I can accomplish nothing if no time is spent there.
- Nurture the sick and broken.
- Raise up the next generation.
- Pass down scripture, recipes, and the how to’s of this life.
- Provide rest for my family.
- Provide a constant eye, ear, heart, and hug to my husband and children.
- Have home cooked foods to fill hungry bellies.
- Warmth in the winter and cool breezes in the summer.
- Laughter to be the continuous tune.
- A place where examples are made for marriage, love, and determination.
- A place to always feel close to God and hear His voice.
These are just a few of a continuous list I should always have circulating in my mind. How about you? What do you think about when you hear the word, “Home?” Do you have anything to add to the list?
College? -Not A Fan
Photos courtesy of jcreationzs by Free Digital Photos
Not only am I not a fan of college but I find it to be unnecessary the majority of the time when an 18-year-old graduates from high school. Let me repeat, the majority. I am aware this is not all cases…Yes of course people need degrees to be doctors, lawyers, any kind of specialty etc… My question is, when did going to college simply because that’s what you do, become the norm? When did we start accepting all of the normal debt that comes with having that piece of paper in hand? Like a lot of my post, it’s not meant to pull you on my side or talk others into anything. The purpose, if even for a moment, is to make you say hmmm??? I want people to pause and wonder why we do things just because that’s what they all tell us to do.
First I want to look at the typical American scenario. Most 18 year olds who walk across the stage at their high school graduation have no plan of what they want to do with their life and are hoping to figure it out in college all while accruing the average 35,000 dollars worth of debt. They see their entire life in front of them with endless possibilities. Not knowing that they are about to fall into the trap of, “typical.” College has been beat into their heads from the time they hit kindergarten. Their parents spoke about it at supper and it became the focus as thy entered high school. It becomes ingrained that you are nothing until you’re in that building. Let’s face it, as parents we often want to base our success on where are children are attending. The unspoken in the situation is how they or their children are taking steps back financially to be able to say they are going to that certain university. It has become a, “Keep up with the Joneses atmosphere.”
The people who benefit from our children being in college is not always intended for the child themselves. Banks, universities, and the government are all benefited way before the person actually going to school. In my opinion, whenever something is so heavily advertised and looked at as a must, then there is someone out there racking up and taking advantage. Why do people think the cost of college increases by roughly 7% every year? This is much higher than the average inflation and they do it because they can. It is easier to get in college these days than ever before and yet harder to find jobs with that piece of paper. Why? They need that money coming in. Heck, today you don’t even have to ever walk in the building because of the multitude of online classes provided.
Most people, if not yourself, know of someone who spent money getting a degree (rather going into debt or not) then got a job that is no were related to their degree. 48% of college graduates are not working in their required field, and a four-year degree isn’t even required. This makes no sense what so ever. Like I said in the beginning there are people who need degrees to be in their career field. This post is not about them. I am writing about the typical. How many people can look back on their college days and be proud of their past? College is now looked at as an experience rather than the degree anyway. We no longer need statistics to show us all of the drinking, drugs, and sex that go along with that experience. Kids assume they will figure out their career path when they arrive at college all while having the time of their lives. That’s an awful lot of wasted energy and time to just think about something.
For our family we are not saving for college. We do however set aside money in a savings account for each child. This money of course could be used for college if their career depends on a degree, it could be used to jump-start a business, or could be used as a down payment for a home if any of our daughters want to be stay at home mommas. What ever way God leads them, it will be there to help them. We believe in showing them all of their options and potential not just, “You better go to college.” I want to instill in them not only the value of a dollar, but I feel the value of their time is even more important. Our time on earth is so precious and every next move we make should be thought out prayerfully into which way would be most fruitful. I do not believe that going to school for a few years while you figure it out is the best use of ones time. There are internships, volunteer opportunities, and many good paying jobs where hard work will get you far. I want all of my children to be good stewards of the gifts God has given them; rather that be extra money for their family, their time to help others, or their minds to do something to contribute to our society.
We all don’t have to be a cookie cutter generation. I want to show them what God can do when you step outside the box and take His leading versus the leading of the world. Any body with me? Opposed? Subscribe and share your thoughts!
Hey Y'all! My name is Brittany Styron. Sweet Country Roots is a place I hope to encourage, inspire, and bring a chuckle. Grab yourself a cup of coffee and join conversations about marriage, babies, homeschooling, frugal living, good food, and an old fashioned way of thinking.
