Week Three

Richard and I have never been very good at dating. Maybe if we went on more frequent dates we would get better at them, but I doubt it. Every couple has their strengths - dating is not ours. One time we hoodwinked someone into keeping our kids overnight. We planned a nice dinner and an overnight stay at a hotel in a neighboring town. We even sprung for a jacuzzi room. It was a disaster. We overate at dinner. He got sick and was in the bathroom half the night. I had indigestion and gas. We were both miserable. The jacuzzi room? Yeah. It was a jetted tub in the bathroom. If it had been early on in the relationship I doubt there would have been another date.

Most of our dates consist of coffee and uninterrupted conversation in the McDonalds parking lot, but sometimes, we go grocery shopping. I am not complaining. I cherish that time together. Plus, it’s really hard to screw up a date at the grocery store.

Yesterday we had the opportunity to spend time together as the boys went to play at a friend’s house. Whole Foods was chosen date destination. This shopping trip looked so different from the one we had only three weeks ago. Of course, our kids were not with us screaming, “DO WE NEED ORGANIC?”, so that makes a difference.

I used to dread going to the grocery store. I would scour the ads, download and cut coupons, and make my menu. My grocery list always seemed to be a mile long and I would come home with several things that were not on my list to begin with. Yesterday, my list was a third of what it used to be. I was not concerned with getting a good deal on meat or saving $1.00 off of Cheerios. I was not tempted to deviate from my list. I did buy a couple of the most beautiful heirloom tomatoes, but tomatoes (technically) were on my list - so I don’t consider that an impulse buy.

We had such a great time together - grocery shopping.  There was so much satisfaction in knowing that we were selecting foods that are going to nourish our family and make us healthier. I am so proud that we are learning together and doing this as a team!

I continue to be amazed by how much has changed in just three weeks! This past week was a different than the first two because we did the 7 day cleanse. I was a little nervous about a “cleanse” based on what I have heard or experienced with other cleanses. I thought I may have to hold meetings via conference call from the bathroom. It was not like that at all, but I do feel a whole lot cleaner!

This work week was emotionally taxing. It was the kind of week where the “why” of what I do came under scrutiny. Thankfully, I have a solid answer to the “why”, but it still makes the heart heavy and the soul grow weary. This type of week would typically have me getting about three or four hours of sleep a night - tossing and turning, replaying every decision and conversation in my head, and heading to the kitchen for comfort food in the wee hours of the morning. Instead, I was able to process my thoughts and emotions in a healthy manner and actually sleep. In fact, I have been falling asleep before midnight, which is unheard of for me!

Other results/victories we have had this week:

• I went to small group at Dairy Queen. Home of the chocolate extreme blizzard. No craving for anything there, no feelings of depravity, no temptation.

• We went to the movies to see Peter Rabbit and we did not get anything at the concession stand.

• I went to the doctor for an injury to my elbow. I was able to tell the doctor that the pain and inflammation was better because of actions I had taken with my diet, instead of waiting for him to give me the answer on a prescription pad.

• There is less garbage - figuratively and literally.  We do not fill up the garbage can as quickly because there is less packaging from processed foods.  

• We made a grilled cheese for Micah - brown rice bread and non-dairy cheese, which he said was “Legit” and he ate the whole thing.

• Micah did not stay gluten and sugar free while at his friend’s house for a couple of days. He came home with his skin broken out in a rash and his nose was running again.

• Noah went all week with my family in Michigan without his ADHD medication - which shows me that these dietary changes are helping to keep him more focused and in control. He continues to be free of headaches and stomach aches.

And our results from this week:
Rich: lost 1.8lbs for a total of 11.4lbs
Me: lost 1.4lbs for a total of 14.4lbs
Micah: gained some back from his illness weight loss but is still down a total of 8lbs.
Noah: lost a total of 4.2lbs

Richard and I may not be good at the dating scene, but we are good at this new lifestyle of ours. We have decided to continue this journey with another 30 days on the program. I cannot imagine going back to the way life was before this. We would love for you to join us! The next month starts up on March 5th. Let me know if you are interested or if you would like to get more information.

Week Two

Life is a battle; defeat is a choice when victory has been provided.

-- Matt Evans, Rockbridge Community Church

Week two results are in!
Me: down 3.8lbs; total 13lbs - no change in inches (belly)
Richard: down 3.4lbs; total 9.6lbs - no change in inches (belly)
Micah: down 3.6lbs; total 16.6lbs
Noah: he went to Michigan for winter break so his results to come

The stand off on Talon Drive hill has come to a peaceful end. Thinking that Micah would change his eating habits so drastically was an unrealistic expectation. I was so hopeful for that “Christmas Miracle”. We made a compromise that he did not have to do the full detox, as long as he remained gluten and sugar free. We found some really good gluten free, organic chicken nuggets and other gluten free and free of refined sugar foods that he is willing to eat. He has also said he will continue to try new foods. This hasn’t happened yet, but maybe.

The good news is that he continues to lose. He had a doctor appointment this past week and she has never been so happy. Between this and a growth spurt, his BMI has gone down 2.5%. I do not put too much emphasis on BMI because I think it is a bunch of hooey, but I could tell he felt good about how proud she was of his progress.

I am learning to stay in my circle of influence. I can control what goes on in our house, but it would drive me crazy if I tried to control his decisions at school, at a friend’s house, or in the real world. My hope is that he will decide on his own that feeling better is worth not eating the junk. He went to the dinner and the movies with a friend last night and he had chicken fingers and fries at dinner and a soft pretzel and water at the movies. While this made my eye twitch just a little, it is a HUGE improvement over what he would have done in the past. It’s progress in the right direction.

What is amazing is that his eczema is almost completely gone! He has more energy and is not sleeping as much and he is much more chill since he has changed his diet. Micah has alwasy been a real snotty child (literally). Every morning he would get up and his nose would just run constantly. It drove me crazy! Mostly because he would wipe it on the collar of his shirt instead of using a tissue and I would have to tell him to change his shirt every morning. I noticed mid week last week that I had not told him to change his shirt and I did not have to tell him the rest of the week. He has not had a runny nose at all!

Noah had a rough week. His emotional detox took place last week, which is probably best since I was so emotional the week before. He fought with Micah something awful and he was the one to pick the fight, which is unlike him. One night he just unloaded on Micah. Through his tears, years of pent up feelings came pouring out - frustrations and hurts that he has just buried and not dealt with. After he emotionally vomited all over Micah, he went for a run. When he came back I could tell that a weight had been lifted off of him.

Noah had the opportunity to go to Michigan with my mom and dad this week. It is good for him to have some time away from Micah and get special attention from our family. My parents usually have candy in their car for road trips so the car was dubbed the “candy car”. Noah says to them (they are doing the 30 day detox too), “I guess this is no longer the candy car. We will have to rename it “the organic car”. It will be interesting to see how he does on the detox while he is away from home. My sister did send me proof that he had his morning shake this morning!


The most rewarding part of the week for me is that I made it through Valentine’s day without eating anything sweet! I made some candy for Noah out of the chocolate protein powder, coconut oil, and almond butter - I had one and it was really good, but really rich. WHAAAAAA?? I NEVER thought I would EVER hear that phrase come out of my mouth, especially with regard to chocolate!!!

I traveled to one of the county offices for a meeting on Valentines day and there were donuts and candy everywhere. It surprised me that I didn’t have a desire to eat any of them. But, what really shocked me was the response I had when someone brought Burger King back to the office for lunch. The smell of it made me nauseated. I never thought the smell of fast food would make me feel like that. The next day I worked in a county office where they brought in pizza for lunch. While I was not tempted to eat it, I will admit that I stood in the room and deeply inhaled the smell several times!

Another crazy thing I have realized is that my ears have cleared up. For over a decade now, I have had eczema in my ears. They itched all the time and there was a constant cycle of scratching to the point of draining, scabbing over and then it would start over again. The worst part is that I thought I was losing my hearing. Richard often complained that I couldn’t hear him. I would tell him “it’s not my fault you mumble”, but I was afraid because it was becoming increasingly harder to hear. The saddest part, for me, was when I sang. I could no longer hear myself sing. It was like I was under water. This morning, I knew I was on pitch when I sang “Oh Praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead” because I could hear myself again!!! What a gift!

I put the quote from my pastor, Matt Evans, at the top of this post because it hit me right between the eyes this morning. Prior to these 30 days, I was walking around defeated. I was allowing depression and anxiety to overtake me on daily basis. Fear kept me in my comfort zone. I was afraid of being vulnerable, making connections with people, allowing God to use my gifts and talents. I actually felt like I did not have any gifts, talents, or personality to offer anyone.

I have energy. I am sleeping better. I am making connections with people; smiling more, reaching out, making conversation. I am not overcome by negative thoughts that were plaguing me night and day. As I have fueled my body with the foods God gave us to eat and as I rid my body of the foods the enemy is using to destroy us - I am walking more closely in the calling that God has for me. What a difference 14 days makes!

By the grace of God and the lack of toxins!

Senior year of high school I attended a graduation party where they had an artist drawing caricatures - a picture, description, or imitation of a person or thing in which certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect. I still have mine - somewhere. It is a picture of me, running late for church.

It’s a common known fact that punctuality is not my forte. This is especially true when it comes to Sunday mornings. I have every intention of getting up early and having a morning like this: I listen to worship music while I sip on my coffee (er, I mean, detox tea). Then, I angelically sing to my children that it is time to rise and prepare to worship the Lord. The children will jump to their feet and off they will go to shower, dress, brush their hair and teeth, and put on their deodorant. I will ensure my makeup looks just right and my hair is flat ironed perfectly. We (husband included) magically appear at the front door at the same time, saunter down the front steps and into the car. We will get to the church in time to have a few conversations and find our seats before the countdown clock for the service begins.

But folks, the ugly truth spoken through that caricature has only been compounded by marriage and children. I am thankful we have a “come as you are” church because it is surprising we don’t roll up in our pj pants. Make up? Please. My hair is usually not even dry. The kids are whining and complaining. “Why do I have to brush my teeth? I did that four days ago.” “Why do I have to put deodorant on?” “My hair is fine. I don’t care if it is sticking up like a rooster’s comb.” By the time we make it to the car the kids are fighting, the service starts in ten minutes (we live 20 minutes away), and I am yelling “We are going to church and you are going to like it and you are going to be nice to each other and we are going to pretend like we are a nice normal family!!!!”

This past Sunday was different.

It was raining Saturday night when we went to bed. I told Richard I wanted to sleep with the window open so I could hear the rain. I had this urge to lean into this simple pleasure that I had been too distracted or stressed out to enjoy for quite some time now. There is something so satisfying about giving yourself permission to slow down and seek joy. Listening to a rainstorm/thunderstorm (without the threat of tornado or hurricane) is one of my favorite things to do. It reminds me of healing, cleansing, and renewal, but it can also be a reminder of God’s power. I slept really well Saturday night as the rain fell.

Sunday morning began more like my fantasy. I was up early. The kids got up without complaint. I was feeling really optimistic. We may actually make it in time to hear all of the worship music!

Noah came upstairs from his room and looked at me with a frown.
“What’s wrong, my sweet boy?”
“My room is wet.”
“Wet?”
“Yeah, wet. Like as in there is water on the floor.”

Richard and I went down to inspect. Sure enough, part of the garage and Noah's room were flooded!

I went upstairs and texted our Children’s ministry coordinator that we would not be there to serve in the nursery at noon. I changed my clothes, went back downstairs, plugged in the wet vac and got to the task at hand. A while later, Richard came down to take over. I looked at him and laughed. “At least it’s not sewage!” (note to self: make appointment with the septic company)

By God’s grace and the positive effects of this 30 day detox, we sucked up water for two days and I had zero emotional meltdowns, anxiety attacks, or migraines! Typically, this kind of thing would have sent me into “the sky is falling” mode. I wouldn’t want to react that way, but my anxiety would take over and you might as well rename me “Debbie Downer”.

Instead, I was able to laugh about it. I used the time to think and pray and gently remind myself that if I had called to have the gutters cleaned out a few months ago, like Richard asked, we would have been on time for church, probably singing Oceans. (note to self: make appointment with the gutter company)



You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where my feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans (or rainwaters) rise, my soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever you would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

--Hillsong United

Week One

First things first. I know you guys have been patiently waiting to find out if our sewage problem was fixed. Wait no longer. It was a little leak in the drain pipe that was fixed quickly. Whew! The septic guy did tell me we need to have the tank pumped soon because if the filter gets clogged the sewage could back up into the finished basement. The kid’s rooms are downstairs so this needs to go to the top of the savings list!

I wanted to blog more throughout the week but caught Micah’s flu-like virus, which kept me in bed for three days. I was proud of myself for taking the much needed time off work to rest and care for myself. This is a fairly new concept for me.

Despite crap and flu, we made it through the first week of our 30 day challenge! We had our week one weigh-in this morning:

 - Richard is down 6.2lbs and lost 1” off his belly.
 - I lost 9.2lbs and 2” off my belly.
 - Micah lost 13lbs (due to illness - not because he was following the 30 day detox).
 - Noah lost 3lbs. He does not need to lose any weight so we are going to make sure he gets more calories this week.

I am thrilled with our results, but even more thrilled with the way I feel. It was a rough go those first few days while getting the sugar and caffeine out of my system. Now I am having a hard time coming up with the best way to describe how I feel. Free, lighter (inside and out), energetic, clear headed, happier, in control - just to name a few!

I have tried to blogtastically (yes, I just made that up) tie this week together with a pretty bow. To convey everything I learned and experienced, but it’s not possible - there is too much. So, I will give you the highlights.

Detoxing is a physical AND emotional experience.
No shakes - with the exception of my convulsive sobs during the last two episodes of This Is Us. No cold sweats - with the exception of fever induced ones. I did have headaches, irritability, and oh lawd - the tears! I am extremely blessed with a husband who extends grace and compassion to me on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis. Who knew sugar and caffeine had such a physical and emotional stronghold over me!


Kids don’t always trade gummies at lunch.
I learned how to make hard boiled eggs in my electric pressure cooker. So much easier than the old fashioned way and they turn out perfect! Noah loves hard boiled eggs so he took one for school lunch. “I bet no one wanted to trade you for your hard boiled egg”, I teased him that night. “Actually”, He said, “One of my friends was begging for it. I had already taken a bite of the egg, but he still wanted it.” I sent two eggs to school the next day.


You get what you pay for!
I’ll admit it. I used to roll my eyes at the people buying organic/ free range/ cage free foods in the grocery store. They just want to seem fancy! I highly doubted there was any difference between the apples I was buying and the organic apples - except for the sticker and the price. WRONG! Organic tastes SO much better! My grocery bill has not increased which shocked me, but I am not buying all of the processed foods we used to buy so it evens out. I am also learning so much about all of the chemicals that are sprayed on our non-organic produce. We put that in our body on a daily basis, thinking we are eating healthy! Not to mention the living condition of the livestock…(Ok, I better stop there. I can hear my brother sighing loudly from the next state over and rolling his eyes).


Beets turn your poop red!
I love beets, but I have only eaten beets from a jar/can or a restaurant salad bar. Y’all - this week...I made beets. Brought them home from the store with the greens still attached and everything. Roasted them and served them up with some pan fried cod - had this dish been served on any of the Food Network shows, I would certainly be moving to the next round! The next day - well, let’s just say I think the family was more amused than the time they ate a lot of blue birthday cake icing! We are simple people - it doesn’t take much.


Love is compromise and tug of war
Micah went a few days without eating because his throat hurt so much. He tried to drink a shake but it hurt his throat so he decided that he does not like them. Period. He will not do the shakes. He will not eat anything else we eat. We had a “come to Jesus” meeting and we both agreed to give a little. We found some foods at the store that are still free of gluten and refined sugar that he can take to school with him but he still has to do the shakes. This morning - 1 sip of the shake - NOPE. He has dug his heels in and he is just waiting for us to give in. He is SO stubborn. I don’t know where he gets that. Oh wait, yes I do. He gets it from me! GAME ON!


The biggest take away
I am worth so much more than the crap I was calling food and putting into my body. My mom asked me if I thought I would drink diet soda after the 30 days. I told her no. Honestly, I don’t want to add most of those things back into my diet. I see, now, what they were doing to my body and how they were making me feel. The chains of addiction have been broken and I am walking toward a freedom with food that I have never experienced before.

I'm sorry for what I said while in detox

Day 2 -

It’s a good thing I was off work today because I was an emotional hot mess!

I went to the doctor for a check-up this morning. I let him know about the Arbonne 30 days to Healthy Living journey that we have embarked upon. He was encouraging, but stressed that for this to work I have to make it sustainable. So, ya know, that dredged up all of the past feelings of failure – not really dredged because they usually linger just below the surface. I know he is 100% right. Changing how I handle stress and emotions is going to be key. The same can be said for any addict, right? As an addict, we have to know what our triggers are, be prepared, and find a different way to move through the emotion or stress.

After my doctor appointment I went to the dentist. Why yes, I do like to fit in the torture all in one day. And, oh boy was it torture! That is what I deserve though – I put my health behind the health of the other family members and did not go to the dentist for four years!

I then picked up my mother-in-law’s prescriptions at Wal-greens and was hit with major first world dieter problems. Valentines candy! Now I realize why yesterday was so much easier. I stayed in the safety of my own environment. I had purged my fridge and cabinet so there was no temptation staring me in the face. There was no avoiding aisle 5 today. So, I sprinted all the way to the back of the store, got the medicine, and sprinted back out to the car before the taunting voices of the chocolate gods got the best of me!

My neighbor came over as soon as I got home to kindly inform me that the sewage from our septic tank is draining into his yard. DAGGUM! Why didn’t I get some of that chocolate at the store??!? I know there will come a day when my emotional go-to will no longer be food. But until then, I have amazing chocolate shakes that taste like brownie mix!

Micah has been sick this week and I am feeling like I am getting the same junk. After dinner, Richard asked about taking Micah to urgent care and I just had a hissy fit. It was like I was outside of my body, watching this fit unfold and thinking “Who is this girl and what in the world is her problem?” I knew I was being irrational and witchy, but I just couldn’t stop. I stomped off to bed and they went to Urgent Care.

I felt awful - emotionally and physically. I texted Richard to apologize: “I am sorry for acting like that. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” He replied, “I do. No caffeine. No sugar.” “Oh. Yeah”, I texted back as I sipped my detox tea.

Hopefully the mix of tea, elderberry syrup, thieves essential oil, and sleep will be just what I need to move transform from a beast to a beauty.

Day One

It’s Day One of the rest of my life
It’s Day One of the best of my life
I’m marching on to the beat of a brand new drum
Yeah, here I come
The future has begun
Day One
--Matthew West

We made it! We made it through the first day of the 30 days to healthy living and we are all still alive. I mean, I wasn’t anticipating any casualties, but you never know with my crew. Unfortunately, Micah is sick - I am thinking the flu, so he did not follow the program completely.

The first hurdle was breakfast. We had gotten sample vanilla protein powder a week ago for the boys to see how they liked it. Micah was so excited to try it and went straight to blending it with rice milk. He took a few sips. Hands went to his throat and he dramatically cried out, “I think I’m allergic! I can feel my throat closing up!” I looked at the ingredients. “Micah, you are not allergic to anything on this list.” For 10-20 minutes he went on and on - wailing and moaning. We ignored him. The rest of us liked the vanilla shake and had no adverse reaction to drinking it. Neither did he. One of our biggest victories as parents will be getting Micah to overcome his psychosomatic issues with food.

The good news is that we made it through breakfast unscathed. Micah drank an entire chocolate shake!!! It took A LOOOOTTT of encouragement. He has decided he likes the chocolate favor better, it hurt his throat to swallow. I had a vanilla shake with frozen berries and it was delish! Although, if given a choice, this choco-holic prefers the chocolate one as well.

I worked from my home office today, which can sometimes spell disaster for me and food. The kitchen, with all the food, is just too close to my desk. I think it helped that we purged the cabinets and fridge of all of the things on the 30 day elimination list on Sunday. Regardless, I was proud of myself for sticking to the plan. I had my morning snack of almonds, my chocolate shake at lunch, and my afternoon snack which was a green apple. I drank a ton of water (infused with lemon) which kept me from mindlessly eating. I don’t wear a FitBit (#giftidea), but if I did, I would have totally gotten all of my steps in - just by going back and forth to the bathroom!

DISCLAIMER: If you are not ok with TMI (too much information) or bathroom talk that is usually reserved for elementary school boys - you may want to skip this next paragraph.

I have worried about the function of my kidneys for awhile now because my urine has been so dark (and tends to smell like Starbucks coffee). That can’t be healthy, right? I know I don't always drink enough water, but I feel like I do better than the average American. Apparently not! Today my toilet bowl was the picture of a perfect specimen. My doctor would be so proud! Folks, our bodies are trying to talk to us - and we need to pay attention!

I knew I would be on a conference call when Noah arrived home from school so I pinned a note on the front door with snack options. And, even though he saw the note, he still came into my office; talking to me in sign language about his day and his snack options. He was as eager to tell me about his day as I was to hear about it. Come back at quittin’ time kiddo!

One of my biggest concerns with the boys doing the 30 days was lunch time at school. I didn’t know how they would feel about making a shake while everyone else was eating school lunch or bologna sandwiches and chips from home. I worried about the temptation of “normal” kid food and how that might sway them. Noah reported that he made his chocolate shake with no problem and he ate his raspberries. He told me that his friend, Alac, had tried to give him some gummies. “I said: No, Alac, I can’t have those. I’m detoxing!” I told him I was proud of him, but also reminded him that even after the detox he is not to have gummies because of his braces.

For dinner, I made a zuchinni mexican skillet with brown rice and a spring mix salad. It was beyond tasty and everyone agreed that it was a “do again” recipe.

Day one of the rest of our lives, the best of our lives is in the books. I am claiming today and all the days ahead - SUCCESS!!

Back to the garden

I am not gonna lie - this “prep” weekend stressed me out a little. I followed my normal routine of sitting down after dinner on Friday night to create a weekly menu and write my grocery list. I looked through the meal ideas, snack lists and sample grocery lists on the Arbonne 30 day facebook group.  I felt prepared.  But it’s overwhelming to flip from a weekly menu of tacos, spaghetti, pizza, fried everything, and casseroles with A LOT of cheese to a menu of free range chicken, grass fed beef, and lots of fruits and veggies.

Eating clean is a fairly new concept for me. If I am not already eating “clean”, how would "they" (you know the group of important, yet imaginary people we always refer to) define my eating? Dirty eating? Probably. I mean, that is how my body feels after I eat most meals. I feel like crap, but yet I continue to shove the McDonald’s fries, the Ben and Jerry’s, and the Dominos in my pie hole!

Why is it so hard to eat clean? I mean, we were created to live in a Garden, right??? We were created to eat the food God provided us - not something genetically modified in a lab or produced and packaged on a plant production line.

This Arbonne experience has helped me understand that I cannot return to Eden if I continue eating allergenic and addictive foods. As long as I am eating the sugar - I am going to continue craving the sugar. Then there are the foods that get my gut all screwed up - looking like I’m six months pregnant and feeling like I ate a whole box of fiber one bars! Or the foods that keep me running to the bathroom like I ate an entire Mexican restaurant!

I digress…back to the stress of the weekend. I normally do the grocery shopping on my own, but since we are doing the next 30 days as a family we decided to take a family field trip to Whole foods in Chattanooga, TN.

There was no doubt that everyone in that store knew we were Whole Foods virgins (well except for that one time in Montana - but that’s a another story for another day). The boys were running around like Tasmanian devils: touching everything and yelling “CAN WE GET THESE FREEZE DRIED RASPBERRIES?”, “WE NEED ORGANIC, RIGHT?”, “IS THAT ORGANIC?”, “CAN FROZEN FISH BE WILD CAUGHT FISH??”. I am trying to concentrate on my list and figure out if Enhanced Outdoor Access means the same thing as Free Range. Meanwhile, they are putting chocolate milk and veggie bacon in the buggy! They were having a blast but I was freaking out!

I turned on my heel and gave them the look. Noah said, “Please don’t yell”. I explained to them that buying this type of food is somewhat new to me. I am anxious about it and I really need their help to get it right. “Yes ma’am” and so they did. Micah even used his manners with each of the employees that helped us: the wild caught fish - “Thank you, Harold”, the right kind of black bean chips - “Thank you, Stephanie”, and the check out experience - “Thank you very much Rebecca”.

After we arrived home, I looked at all of the food we purchased for the week, and it was good. All of the stress was gone and I was so stinkin' proud of us! We took the first step back into the garden and it was beautiful - all of that whole, organic, God given food! LET’S EAT!!!