November Update

Hello friends. It's starting to get chilly here in Minnesota now! We're expecting our first snow tomorrow. The forecast is predicting up to 2 inches of snow fall. I am trying not to get too excited in case it doesn't happen.

Here's what else is new: We're still not finished with the house purchasing process, so it looks like it may still be a few weeks yet before we can move.  I'm just hoping it's in time to decorate and enjoy the Christmas season.

Baby D is doing well at 18 weeks, with a strong, quick heartbeat.  We find out his or her gender in a little over a week. I'm excited for that!

Also, I set up an Etsy shop this week, selling printed paper goods. So far I've only listed a couple sets of Christmas Card packs, but will be adding more to the shop soon.  I also started a Maren Layne Design page on facebook.  My sister, Dena, is designing a logo for me and I hope to get the shop and fb page updated with that soon too.

Oh, and here is a link to the knitted hat I mentioned in my previous post - I blogged it on my design blog.

I've also listed a FREE DIY DOWNLOAD for a Christmas Nut Jar for Dad (or other men in your life) on my design blog as well. So, if you need a gift solution for him, check that out.

NEWS

Hello friends.  It's been a while since I've written, but I'm hoping to begin again regularly. There have been a lot of changes in my life over the last few months and still many more to come in the next few!

Darin and I have been on a spiritual journey over the last year, which has been amazing.  We have found a new church that has been such a blessing to us.  We thank God daily for his grace and mercy and sovereignty over our lives.

Secondly, we are expecting our first child in the Spring! Praise the Lord! Some of you may know that we've been praying for a child for the past few years. My PCOS (explanation blog here) makes it more difficult to get pregnant. Lord willing, Baby Dalida will arrive around April 20th, 2012. The first trimester was pretty rough on me.  I had morning sickness pretty much all the time. But, thankfully, I am starting to feel better now that I'm moving into the second trimester.  I am in my 14th week and Baby D is the size of a lemon, and I've got a little belly (on top of my previously existing belly, that is).  We're planning on finding out the gender (I've been getting this question alot) as soon as we can. I've still got at least another month to go before that's possible.

And lastly, Darin and I will be home owners by the end of the year, Lord willing! We have been house hunting over the last few months and have put an offer on a house.  We are just waiting to hear back whether it is accepted or not. I am excited and anxious! It will be so nice to have our own place.

The weather here in MN is starting to cool down.  It's been in the 40's and 50's in the morning and hasn't risen above 60 in a few days.  I'm starting to feel giddy over the crisp, fresh air and the pumpkins and apple cider.  I made a pot of Borscht soup last night and knitted a baby hat last week (blog to come, most likely).  I just love the fall.

Is That You, Lord?

"We constantly overhear in Christian circles that someone is looking for the will of God for his life. He is most likely speaking of the major decisions - who to marry, where to attend school, what vocation to follow, etc. Others are seeking God's will for slightly lesser concerns: what car or house to buy, church to attend, vacation to take. We have been taught that the will of God can be ascertained through divinely prompted feelings, hunches, impressions or dreams. If these fail we can turn to fleeces, fasting, flipping coins or opening the Bible randomly and following the first verse that makes sense. To be sure, these methods are usually coupled with analysis of circumstances, wise counsel, and the peace of God. But here a serious question arises - does the Bible prescribe such methods? Is this how God says we are to discern his will?" Is that You, Lord? by Gary E. Gilley

Are you constantly struggling to hear the voice of God? Do you constantly question if your decisions are what God wants you to do?  If this resonates with you, I would highly recommend this book.

 

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, The Bible)

Love Is Still A Worthy Cause

have you listed all the times you've tried
do you call on all your alibis
when somebody asks the question why are you hiding

did you feel the pull, did you hear the call
did you take a chance and lose it all
do you fear there's no collateral left for trying

friend i know your heart is raw
but love is still a worthy cause
picking up and pressing on
oh love is still a worthy cause
like the touch that starts the thaw
oh, love is such a worthy cause
or the word that breaks the pause

in the midst of passing bravery
in the face of our own injuries
is the constant generosity of grace
it's the beauty in the tales we tell
it's the pressing on and ending well
it's the joy that comes when we give our self away

chorus
i love because he loved me when i had nothing
i love because you loved me when i had nothing
i love because he loved me when i had nothing
i had nothing

when you count the cost and all seems lost
love is still a worthy cause
when you're pressing on though your strength is gone
love is still a worthy cause

oh, love is still a worthy cause
oh, love is still a worthy cause
oh, love

by Sara Groves, Tell Me What You Know

MMEL Update

As you guys know from previous posts, one of my goals for 2011 is to move more and eat less junk (MMEL). I admit, partially for vain reasons, but mostly for health reasons. I haven't been doing so hot with the move more part, because my foot has been bothering me from over exertion. I wasn't patient running with my Merrell Pace Gloves and over did it. Now I'm paying for it by having to wait for my foot to heal. I'm dying to go for a run outside in this new spring weather. But, it will have to wait. Anyway, I'm very excited to report that I'm starting to see some teeny tiny results.

Last week I bought a digital scale so that I can get an accurate reading. My old scale is difficult to read in between the 5 lb increments.But after comparing my weight on both scales, I realized I have lost 3.5 lbs this past month.  I probably owe a huge thanks to the Sugar Smackdown regimen I have been following for the past week. It played a huge role in those numbers. I also took my measurements (chest, waist, hips, arms, thighs) and have positive results. After last month's 1 lb gain, I'm glad to see these new numbers.

Day 6 Sugar Smackdown

Today is the start of day 6 of my Sugar Detox.  It's honestly been pretty easy so far. Not that I haven't thought of soda, chocolate or other sweets. But, I'm very good at sticking to rules once I've committed to something.  I am having a difficult time being creative with what I eat. So far, I've been eating pretty much the same thing every day. Maybe this weekend I will have time to plan some more interesting meals.

My usual foods:
breakfast: apple, banana, and/or oatmeal
lunch: salad, veggies or cottage cheese, wasa crackers with meat and cheese
dinner: milk, chicken, brown rice and veggies
snack: veggies or wasa crackers with cream cheese

I have also been eating considerably less because I would normally have a sweet snack and dessert after dinner.  I wake up with a grumbling tummy. For this reason, I have been a little tired. (I think next week I need to ramp up my protein intake and probably my grains too. I've been eating a little high on the fat grams.) The funny thing is, if I can't oblige my sweet tooth, then I'm not all that interested in snacking. I might have had a breakthrough.

On another note, I spent the last two afternoons reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I hope to spend the weekend reading book #2, Catching Fire. So good!

The Sugar Smackdown

While I don't normally fall prey to detoxing, cleanses or fad diets, this one intrigued me. It's called The Sugar Smackdown, designed to help kick sugar cravings to the curb.  I try to be health conscious about what I eat, limiting my sugar, salt, and other problem causers. But ever since Christmas, I've had a mega sweet tooth and can't seem to get rid of it. I don't know if it's because of my hormone imbalance, or just really bad discipline. Whatever the case, I'm determined to beat it.

Here are the things I'm going to avoid for the next 21 days:

white granulated sugar

brown sugar

maple syrup

agave nectar

honey

fruit juice or fruit juice sweetened food

fruit, except green tipped bananas & apples

stevia – because it’s sweet and you want to recalibrate your taste buds too

refined white flour – it acts like sugar in the body

sugar substitutes – no diet drinks

alcohol

Yesterday (Sunday, March 27th, 2011) was my first day of the SS.  It went pretty well. I only broke 1 rule, that I am aware of, and it was because I was a dinner guest and I didn't want to be rude by not having part of the meal.  Sometimes it's awkward having to explain to someone why you're not eating a particular something.

Here's my day in food:

Breakfast: steel cut oats oatmeal with milk and cinnamon for flavor, and a green apple
Lunch: Panera Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad and an apple (probably should not have eaten out)
Dinner: Raw Veggies, Beans, Sloppy Joe on wheat bun
Snack: Wasa Crackers (2) with turkey and cheese

Thankfully my day was busy so I didn't have any major cravings.

Check back to see my progress :)