On becoming a Vegetarian

So I guess you could say I'm a vegeterian. I feel like I need to pass a test or something before I'm able to refer to myself as one. Like the haven't eaten meat for 10 years test. Anyways. It's really only been like 6 weeks so I have a hard time labeling myself like people might think i'm a poser or something. But really I was eating vegetarian for several months and then I got pregnant and it was sort of became eat what you can get down and keep down and then I sort of drifted back into meat eating and forgot about it for awhile.

Lately I'd found myself eating less and less meat and then I had a change to read "In defense of food" by Michael Pollen and it really just sort of sparked the desire to cut out all meat and really transform my diet. Not eating meat is actually pretty easy, however eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and passing on the prepackaged foods at the grocery store is the really hard part. All of his books that I've read are so so good.

I at first decided to go vegetarian for health. That was the time before I was pregnant. Almost two years ago. I've always had a crappy stomach and it really helped. This time around it's for health definitely but also a lot more. Trying to cut out anything prepackaged. I'm eating lots of whole foods basically. I don't think calling yourself a vegetarian and eating lots of weird processed soy products and fake meat garbage is any better for you or the environment.

Enviromental concern is a huge part of it. You can start reading about that here . This also kind of leads into stuff like quality of meat and all the crap you're putting into your body. I can't really afford to eat grass finished organic beef on a regular basis. So beans it is.

Actually the longer I go with out meat the less I desire it and the more reasons I find for not eating it. I was eating eggs and milk in the beginning but now I'm finding i'm really losing my taste for those things too.

I've really been thinking about veganism a lot here lately too, but I'm really interested in finding more biblical answers for that one. These sites are really cool. http://www.all-creatures.org/cva/default.htm and http://www.jesusveg.com/index2.html and I'm not sure how taking eggs and milk from animals is bad for them if it's done in the right way. So still thinking. However, all the byproducts and animal part waste crap they put in our food and cosmetics is pretty gross. http://www.veganwolf.com/animal_ingredients.htm

I'm really convinced that we don't need meat to live. It's just a quick and easy source of protein but not the only one.

Go VEG!

I was meaning to say some things about being a vegetarian but now I've gone and wasted all my quite time, not to mention the battery on my lap top browsing the interwebs so I guess I'll go to bed instead.

Deep thoughts. By me.

I have changed a lot in the past three years. If I had spent the past three years doing the same ol' same ol' would change still have found me? Especially these changes? I'm not sure. It's hard to break away from the norm when your surrounded by it. Even if you know in your head you don't like it. You often tend to just go along with it.

As much as I hate to admit it, living here the past three years might be the best thing that's ever happened to us. Four years alone is a lot of time spent thinking, reading, researching, talking, learning all with out the enfluence of others. Just figuring it out for yourself.

I mean I sure as H E you know where don't want to say here but I think we're almost strong enough to go home. Ready. Of course there will always be change but the foundational changes have started to set up and I would say the concrete is just about dry. I don't think people will be surprised that I've changed because I've often been the odd one but they might be surprised a little at what I've become.

How's that for deep?

"This ain't my bag baby"

I really keep thinking I should say some stuff here. But meh. I sort of prefer to talk about things in person or via email so theres a general back in forth. I believe they call it a conversation. I do have lots that I'd love to chat about if you're intersted. I'm feeling so SOO inspired about a lot of things so maybe I'll still think about posting, but it's really hard with the toddler. I've been reading lots of books and researching and such and have lots of recomendations if you want to hear them. You can always find pics on flickr, the occasional twitter, and of course facebook (for now but I might delete it).

Help me if you can...

I’m tired. I’m really, REALLY tired. Henry has a hard time going to sleep. Me and Nathan come home at different times everyday so we go to bed at different times which means we get up at different times which means Henry gets tired and needs a nap at different times. It’s a never ending cycle of madness. Some days the stars align and everything lines up and makes sense. Other times all hell breaks loose.

We tried giving him a set bed time, but that meant some days my sister would be putting him to bed and he wouldn’t even see me at all that day. Then the next day he’d be waking up earlier than I needed him too and I can’t get any rest.

It’s getting worse. Last night I got home about 9:45 and even though he was exhausted he wasn’t just going to go happily to bed. I just got home. He hasn’t seen me so he’s tired, grumpy, whiney but he wants me to hold him and just be with him. So it was nearly 11 before he went to bed and I still needed to straighten up, check my email, rinse out the diapers and hang them to dry. Somewhere in there I needed to eat, probably talk to my husband and just find some time to take care of myself, but alas. There was no time.

I can’t do this. I can’t work full time and be a Mom. I don’t even want my job. I’m not working my way up the corporate ladder on some power trip. I’m not doing anything glamorous. I’m simply working to make ends meet and boy is that just barely. All I want to do is take care of my baby. Full time. He needs me. God made us so that I know him best and only I know exactly how I want to raise him and what I want to teach him.

I want to raise him in a gentle and grace filled way. That’s hard work and a lot to ask from a substitute caregiver.

Me and some of my other mom friends are going to start spending Mondays in prayer begging God for mercy, hope, change…we need it. Desperately. I’m really desperate. Please pray for us too.

Whatever you do, DON’T pray for God to teach me patience!

Go Nader 2012!!!!

Sorry couldn't resist.

There is so much going on in my head right now. I was really convicted about some things last night on my train ride home that I'm trying to work out in my head. I don't think that you'll all agree with them either but that's really ok. Maybe i'll share and maybe I wont. At least for now considering that the election will all be done and setteled in a few short or maybe they'll be long for some of you hours. Although, if you realy know whats up you'll know it's those local elections, the ones for reps and congress etc. that really make a difference. The president? Meh, he's just in charge of the military.

It aint Mccain for me
but i'm no Obama mamma either

I don't give a rats rear end and it's none of my beeswax who your voting for

Ok well maybe a little...
I asked a very very conservative and wonderful Christian person who plans on voting for Obama and who shall remane nameless to share with me why and what they said was very well spoken and thought provoking. Especially what they said in regards to abortion. Something which they absolutely do NOT agree with. I'm sharing this with you, not because I want to change your mind but mostly as inspiration. Please note especially the part in bold. I hope you'll be motivated to take this as a challenge to continue to fight against abortion in a new and different way. It certainly wont make me vote for Obama but it does remind my that I can other things to help besides simply voting for a particular party.

"First, let me say this issue is very difficult for me. A lot of Christians are voting solely based on abortion. I am pro-life and I believe that abortion is always wrong. I have viewed his voting record but I have also heard him say that he does not condone abortion and he discussed some education programs he would like to put into place to decrease abortion rates. As a lawyer, he understands that, constitutionally, women have the right to have abortion, even if he disagrees morally. People who create legislation need to be able to look at things objectively. I believe that America is past the point where abortion will be banned again...and even if it was illegal, people would find their own way to do it. Both candidates have stated they would not do a litmus test before appointing a supreme court justice. I do not believe either candidate would do anything to further the cause of abortion or to overturn Roe vs. Wade. He has said that it is important to maintain a balanced supreme court.

I don't understand how people who consider themselves to be pro-life are also pro-war...especially in one as corrupt and unnecessary as this one. I think the way to end of abortion is by changing perspectives, not legislation. This needs to be done through the church. The church is supposed to be the place people turn to. Instead, it is the place that people avoid when they are in trouble. There is a lie out there that church is for the perfect. Jesus was there for the woman at the well and the corrupt tax collector.

So rather then reaching for a legislation to overturn Roe v. Wade which will never happen why doesn't the church reach out to the women who are high risk for abortion (teens/poverty/mentally challenged). Mother Teresa was pro life and she didn't prance around in an abortion is murder shirt, she said "you don't want you baby fine I'll take it and care for it". So when i think of pro-life in that sense it makes me think more of how am I treating the pregnant teen at the grocery store. It is pro-life just a different mind set.