two reasons to blog

Okay, so I haven't written a new post in 13 months. I had kind of decided to quit updating this page but I've changed my mind. I've done a lot of changing this year... really, more than I imagined was even possible. I've started doing these crazy things like reading books and keeping a journal. And I write and write and write in the kids' baby books and am running out of space. So, it only makes sense that I keep a blog.. if for no other reason, than simply to look back at one day.



But there's one more thing: Starting July 1st, I am beginning a sort of seven month fast from different things in my life that I have either taken for granted or taken advantage of or used excessively. It's kind of a long story, but God has really been at work in me during the past few months. He's been showing me all kinds of things about myself... unpleasant and nasty things that I had been content to keep hidden until recently. Like how I have a sort of addiction to buying things. And how I am selfish with my time. Ways I have been self-righteous towards those I'm close to, with no grounds whatsoever for these feelings. Ways I have constantly sought to justify myself and appear "good" towards others, when all I really have is filthy rags.



Somehow over the course of this year, He made me really hungry to see changes in my heart. I began praying daily for Him to show me my sin and ways I've been hurting those around me. And if you haven't noticed, He's pretty quick to answer these sorts of prayers. I was quickly overwhelmed by the sin in my heart and ways I try to hide it. As I became more aware of my sin, I gradually began to have more courage about opening up to people about it and asking their forgiveness for ways I've been hurtful. And in this process, the Lord started to show me how selfish and spoiled I am. I started reading a lot, which is pretty shocking, considering I had sworn off books after college, and have only done "required reading" for Bible studies and the occasional book on CD since then. I devoured several Tim Keller books and found myself browsing Amazon for other good books to read (you just have to understand, this is CRAZY behavior for me). One afternoon a week or two ago, I stumbled across this book called, "7: An Expirimental Mutiny Against Excess" by Jen Hatmaker. It was published earlier this year. I read the first chapter for free on Amazon and was totally hooked, so I bought the Kindle edition for my phone. Basically, Jen and her husband Brandon are realizing just how rich they are, in many areas. He has previously been a pastor at a large church and they've recently undergone incredible transformation in their lives as they are beginning to understand the gospel better and see Jesus' calling to love the poor. They've planted a small church in Austin, TX, that is committed to mercy ministry. Jen is sickened by the amount of money she and her family spend, the amount of stuff they keep accumulating, the lack of concern they have for those in need, etc., and comes up with a plan to "fast" from seven areas of their lives, over seven months. It sounds like it might be really guilt-inducing and legalistic, but it's it's really not. She shares everything out of her own repentance and is simply looking to trust Jesus wherever He leads her... and her journey is absolutely hilarious! She and her friends have each chosen different categories based on where they most desperately feel the need for change. Jen's 7 items are: food, clothing, possessions, media, waste, spending and stress. For example, during month 1, she and her husband allow themselves to only eat 7 different foods (plus salt, pepper, and a little olive oil). The second month, they allow themselves 7 articles of clothing . This book is simply a journey through her life during this fasting process. It has been an incredible read. I pretty much talked nonstop about this "7" thing to nyone who was kind enough to listen, hoping someone would want to do a fast like this with me. My friend Suzy was as excited about it as me, and we decided to do it and begin July 1st! Her mom is joining us as well, and several other friends are considering it. We badly want as much support as possible, as we're so deep into these things we're about to fast from that we're scared of not following through and actually completing what we're setting out to do. The goal is to open up our lives (these areas specifically) for teaching, so that we may be more aware of change that needs to take place. And also, on a very simple level, to just become more thankful for what we have as we force ourselves to do without it for awhile.

So here's our tentative plan for the next 7 months:

July: FOOD. We chose avocados, sweet potatoes, black beans, chicken, whole wheat bread, eggs and spinach. This is gonna be really hard for me because I obsess over food and cooking so much!

August: CLOTHES. We can choose 7 articles of clothing to wear all month (underwear and socks don't count, and neither do shoes, but we only get 2 pairs of shoes... and no accessories/jewelry except wedding rings.

September: SPENDING. This one is a cool idea. It isn't one that is meant to make us live exactly like this in the future, but more to help think through purchases and show discipline and restraint. The deal is, we can spend money at/in 7 categories/shops. They are:

1- online bill pay/utilities (i.e. monthly bills)

2- gas station

3- medical expenses

4- Beechwood Farms (for produce)

5- The Tomato Vine (it's a farmer's market that sells local produce but has a lot more than Beechwood- part of the idea is buying locally)

6- the food box sale at Sav-Mor

7- Walmart (for any necessities/grocery needs that come up)

So this means no restaurants, movies out, amazon.com purchases, etc! Crazy!


October: WASTE. This means:

1-recycling everything that can be recycled

2- conserving energy and water (specifics to be decided later)

3- shopping thrift and second hand (as much as possible)

4- buying only local (as much as possible- we realize it won't be easy)

November: POSSESSIONS. We will give away 7 items per day. The details aren't exactly nailed down yet, but we will not be able to keep giving out of the same category excessively (for example, we will limit the amount of clothes we can give away). We won't just dump things off with goodwill, but will try to find people to give things to (I recently started working at the food/clothes pantry, so I'll have an idea of needs and hopefully will have built some relationships there)

December: MEDIA. This means no TV, radio, facebook, movies, games on electronic devices, web surfing, and texting just for the sake of texting. We can email, and can read books on our phones.

January: STRESS. I haven't read this chapter yet (just cheated and looked ahead at the basics), but it looks like we'll spend certain times every day praying and reading Psalms: midnight, dawn, mid morning, noon, afternoon, dusk and bedtime.


The kids will participate to varying degrees in most months, but won't be doing the food or clothes portions.

In light of what these next seven months will be like, I wanted a way to both journal through it and have support from friends... so I decided re-opening the blog would be a good idea. I will update as often as I can!