Best Friends

A best friend is a special gift from God, and was I given big! My best friend and I have been just that for 11 years. She is more of a sister to me than a friend. I consider her God's special gift to me. She knows me better than anyone ever has or ever will. She's got the dirt, if you know what I mean. I really doubt there is much of anything that she doesn't know. It's likely she knows me better than I do.

It's a good friend that will tell you the truth even when it's not what you want to hear. Sometimes the truth hurts, and it's then that we need someone that's willing to stand up and say what needs to be said no matter what. This friend will, she has, do just that...more than once. I can count on her for the honest to God's truth no matter what.

We have had ups and downs. There has been pain and tears, but through it all we have always been there for each other. We've made it through the storms and have seen the rainbows. What a blessing it is to know that there is one person in this entire world that knows me, really knows me, and still loves me. What a gift to be accepted just as I am, flaws and all, with no strings attached. Some people have no one, and I have been gifted with the best.

This week I get to spend three days cooking and hanging out with my best bud. There will still be school work, but there will be girl talk, cooking, cookbook discussions, and cups of tea. There will be music, gardening, and walks by the water...maybe. How much fun can two homeschooling moms cram into three days? We'll find out, and you'll be the first to know. I'll be off line until Friday. Hope you all have a lovely week! See you on the flip side...

Resurrecting the Cookbook

Well, two friends and I started writing a cookbook years ago. One friend dropped from the project, and the two of us were left holding the recipes, so to speak. We have struggled over the years on how much of a priority it was in our lives to make this happen. Writing a cookbook is a lot of work, especially when you are raising more than a handful of children AND homeschooling.

I am excited to say that we are resurrecting the cookbook project. It is something that is near and dear to my heart, and I pray that it will lead to other projects in the future. The cookbook that we are working on will really be good for anyone that is interested in eating more consciously. It will be a wonderful resource for many types of people including singles, couples and families. There will be something for those that are meat eaters, vegetarian and vegan.

This cookbook will encompass our varying dietary styles over the years which includes a struggle with knowing how best to eat and battling old habits. Everyone learns as they grow, hopefully, and this cookbook will provide recipes for every level of awareness. I am so excited that this project is back on!

Of course, the cookbook is always in my head. We have just had it on the back burner, so to speak, for at least a year or more. Making the decision to recommit to the project was rather easy for both of us. It is something that we would just love to see come to fruition and pray that God blesses it's publication. This cookbook has tremendous potential. It is my prayer that I will be offering it up right here in the not so distant future.

In just over a week we will be meeting to discuss the details of what we have accomplished, what still needs to be done, and how to go about doing said things. We will be making a business plan of sorts. Your prayers in regard to this project would be most appreciated. I just know that this is something that can be used to glorify God.

Over the coming months I will share recipes and seek your opinion. I will share struggles and triumphs throughout the process. You input will be sought and valued. I am really looking forward to the coming months.

In a Vegan World

I just finished reading The Real Forbidden Fruit: How Meat Destroys Paradise and How Veganism Can Get it Back by Jeff Popick. It was very compelling. Once I began reading I just could not seem to stay away from this book. I found it challenging and thought provoking.

Mr. Popick very effectively conveys his perspective on how the consumption of meat has destroyed any possibility of peace and harmony in our human existence. The idea that it was really meat that destroyed paradise as opposed to an apple or fig challenges conventional thinking. This book will likely make it to my bookshelf as it is currently borrowed from the library. Seriously, I had to force myself to not mark this one up with notations and underlines. I will most certainly read it again.

Over the weekend it was tremendously challenging to not eat any animal products. I was so compelled while reading this that I just couldn't bring myself to do it. We were traveling, and I was not prepared with my own food. Not to mention we were unfamiliar with the area. I made do with what was available and ate quite well despite my unplanned vegan weekend.

Mr. Popick's perspective is practical and rather genious. One might wonder, "Why did I never think of it that way?", as you progress through the chapters. A familiar saying in our house is appropriate here: "Common sense isn't so common."

Reading this book has brought me back to my college days of being a vegetarian. I was a vegetarian back when everyone thought it was lunacy. I was compelled by a PETA magazine that landed in my hands. I just could not deal with the reality of how animals are treated by factory farmers. I could not contribute to their pain and suffering.

There were no real good products on the market. I didn't have the Internet or access to yummy cookbooks via the public library, or any other source for that matter. I just winged it so to speak. We ate some very bad tasting food while I traveled my learning curve. Now there are SO MANY resources that there is just no excuse for not eating very yummy and satisfying vegan meals.

Somehow I ended up back to my Standard American Diet (SAD), overweight, and discontent. I fell back to my roots. Within the past few years I have been trying to make my way back to a vegetarian based diet making more "conscious" eating choices. I have avoided grocery store purchased meats, eliminated cow's milk, and dramatically reduced other forms of dairy such as cheese and eggs.

Mr. Popick further challenges my thinking in that being a conscious consumer is still damaging. Eating any animal products and using any products that contain animal byproducts is just plain imoral. This has really challenged my thinking. He makes a very compelling argument.

From the back cover:

• "Meatism" blocks our connection to God; veganism facilitates it - no religion required!
• "Meatism" fosters suffering across the planet; veganism eliminates.
• "Meatism" is destroying the environment; veganism is the ONLY way to save it.
• "Meatism" actually creates famine; veganism produces abundance.
• Veganism isn't about eating lettuce and tofu...vegan food is AMAZING!
• Veganism doesn't cure disease...it eradicates it.
• Veganism isn't a "diet"...it's a way of life. (But have you ever seen an obese vegan?)
• Veganism is the ONLY proper way to love animals...And people.
• Veganism is mandated by God...on PAGE ONE of the Bible.
• Meat is The Real Forbidden Fruit; veganism is the key to Paradise.