Hungry for Change

I just finished watching Food Inc. It was sad, disturbing, sickening, and infuriating. It was shocking but not completely surprising. All I can say is watch this movie, read the book (I plan to) and know what you're eating. Here's some links to find out more.

http://www.foodincmovie.com/about-the-issues.php,
http://www.foodincmovie.com/about-the-film.php

Here are Ten Simple Things you can do to help change our food system

1.Stop drinking sodas and other sweetened beverages.

You can lose 25 lbs in a year by replacing one 20 oz soda a day with a no calorie beverage (preferably water).

2.Eat at home instead of eating out.

Children consume almost twice (1.8 times) as many calories when eating food prepared outside the home.

3.Support the passage of laws requiring chain restaurants to post calorie information on menus and menu boards.

Half of the leading chain restaurants provide no nutritional information to their customers.

4. Tell schools to stop selling sodas, junk food, and sports drinks.

Over the last two decades, rates of obesity have tripled in children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years.

5. Meatless Mondays—Go without meat one day a week.

An estimated 70% of all antibiotics used in the United States are given to farm animals.

6.Buy organic or sustainable food with little or no pesticides.

According to the EPA, over 1 billion pounds of pesticides are used each year in the U.S.

7. Protect family farms; visit your local farmer's market.

Farmer's markets allow farmers to keep 80 to 90 cents of each dollar spent by the consumer.

8.Make a point to know where your food comes from—READ LABELS.

The average meal travels 1500 miles from the farm to your dinner plate.

9.Tell Congress that food safety is important to you.

Each year, contaminated food causes millions of illnesses and thousands of deaths in the U.S.

10. Demand job protections for farm workers and food processors, ensuring fair wages and

other protections.

Poverty among farm workers is more than twice that of all wage and salary employees.

Not The Time

Today my family and I went over to my Aunt Corinne's house. It was a great time with family, as it always is. We ate (burgers, hot dogs, watermelon; all that amazing summertime food), we talked, and everyone mooned over the new baby in the family.

On the drive home we took the long way, through all the towns and places my parents grew up and spent their teenage years. It was a long day for the little one. She was tired. Tired of sitting in her car seat. She screamed endlessly (besides the five seconds between when she found her thumb) until we finally arrived home. I am thoroughly enjoying the time I'm getting to spend with my ridiculously adorable niece, but if nothing else it makes me realize that I am no where near wanting one of my own. As I see the selflessness my brother and sister-in-law possess, it makes me see my one selfishness. There's a time for everything and I have no doubt that when that time comes I will have what it takes to be a loving selfless mother; but I feel like now is not that time.

Tuesday we are headed to Noah's Ark Waterpark. I have a feeling the baby will stay at home.

Morgan Ruth

This is Morgan Ruth, and right now she's taking a nap on my living room floor. Being an Aunt is probably the most exciting thing that has happened to me in quite some time; I absolutely love it. At first it's strange to think of your sibling being old enough to have children, but to be completely honest (and completely unbiased) I don't think there is a role my brother Rob has played better. Morgan is 6 months old already and this is only the second time I've seen her in person. At this moment it's really hard to let her sleep because I just want to pick her up and cuddle her. I look forward to all the fun and exciting things I'll get to show her, and places I'll get to take her as she grows up. So here's to babies... and brothers having babies... and being an Aunt... Auntie Lisa.

When My World is Shaking, Heaven Stands

Island in the Blue Bay

"I will live my life as a lobster man's wife on an island in the blue bay.
He will take care of me, he will smell like the sea,
And close to my heart he'll always stay.
I will bear three girls all with strawberry curls, little Ella and
Nelly and Faye.
While I'm combing their hair, I will catch his warm stare
On our island in the blue bay."

~Ingrid Michaelson, Far Away

This song pretty much sums up what I want in life. It isn't so much these particular details, however the concept is what I want and what I have always dreamed of. Living in today's society woman have made huge strides in professional fields. While I think it is great for woman to have these opportunities, I myself have never really been driven into a particular career. Lately I've been wondering why it is that woman are so much more driven to have a career rather than a family; Or more so why it seems women with careers are more respected as independent and driven. I don't think one life path is necessarily better than the rest, however sometimes I think just being a stay and home mom gets a bad rep. More than anything, I just want a family. When you really think about it, what is more important than being with people you love and who love you in return. I want my own island in the blue bay.

Current Obsession

I've never been a big gardener, and I never really give much attention to things like flowers, plants and trees; but something about this last spring has really made me stop and enjoy them. It could be Andrews University's blooming campus after a long winter, or maybe as I get older I'm starting to take notice of the little things. My first obsession came in the spring as was held by the brilliant shades of red, yellow, orange and pink Tulips. Now that summer is in full swing I am in love with peonies. Big, beautiful and deliciously fragrant, it is safe to say they are my favorite summertime flower. So here's to flowers, just because they make me happy.

ChocoLove

A couple weeks ago, my boyfriend Sam took a vacation with his family to Colorado. While he was in Boulder CO, he found a chocolate shop. It could be said that I'm a chocolate addict and I love trying new flavors of real chocolates (Hershey's excluded). Being the thoughtful boyfriend he is, he brought some back for me. I wanted to share because #1 the chocolate is delicious and #2 the story of this chocolatier and its owner is quite charming. The founder (who has been eating two chocolate bars a day for the past ten years) pairs his love for chocolate and his love for romance in these delectable premium bars, selling them from a shop tucked away in Boulder Colorado. Here's to good chocolate!

Rain (And Pray) Away the Worry

This morning I woke up to the sound of rain. Normally, I like rainy days. They can be refreshing, almost restful. However today, it's bringing me down, making me feel tired and burdened. The dark hues of gray and blue seem to be somewhat of a reflection of my own disposition the past couple of weeks. I don't want to sit here and write about all my personal problems and worries. I'm sure you all have enough of your own; but I would like to share something that keeps me going. So if you're life seems rainy without much hope remember this:

"It is not the will of God that His people should be weighted down with care. But our Lord does not tell us that there are no dangers in our path. He does not propose to take His people out of the world of sin and evil, but He points us to a
never-failing refuge....
We may find rest and peace in God, casting all our care upo
n Him; for He cares for us." -Ellen White
"Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

"Cast ALL your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7

Rain is a beautiful thing, I don't want it tainted with the cares of this world. I believe that God sends the rain to refresh the earth, and to clean away the dust; not remind us of all the things going wrong in our lives. Let the rain give you rest. Let the rain clean away the dust; but most importantly, let God do the same on the inside.