Intentionally Healthy

So I was debating writing a blog about this.  I am in  no way an expert, nor a licensed nutrionist:)  Although I do hope to be be certified in nutrition and fitness in the next couple of years.  But I felt the Lord's leading to write about this from my perspective as a mom and share the health journey we have begun as a family.

I grew up with a health concious Mom and I'm so grateful for that.  We ate mostly cheerios, homemade breakfasts, sugar free treats and definately no soda:)  So, I have remained somewhat true to that with my kiddos through the years.

Over the last couple of years I have become sort or a fitness obsessed person, some people might say:)  As a result of that I started doing some research online the last few months on nutrition as well.  And I have been seriously challenged by the Lord that it is my responsiblity as a parent to teach my kids to eat healthy and BE healthy.  After all our bodies are the Lord's temple and so it's one of our many repsonsiblities as parents.  We need to teach our kids to grow into healthy adults.

It is super hard these days with the bombardment of advertisers and all of the nasty foods out there.  It all looks so appealing especially to our kids:)  I challenge you to sit down and really look at the labels and research what is in what you're feeding your famillies.  I thought I was doing pretty good, and I was.  But still, some of it was pretty shocking to me as a mom. 

So, where do you start right??  It can be pretty overwhelming not to mention what about the cost?  Isn't it more expensive to do organic you say??  Sometimes and for some items yes.  I will just share my journey and my thought process.  I think that you have to look at your family, your budget and start there.  But isn't it worth living longer and beng healthier??  I think so.

So, where I started was with dairy and meats.  We do all organic dairy now and yes it is a little more expensive but to me it's worth it.  We do not eat red meat anymore.  With the exception of Ruth's Chris maybe once a year. I'm a sucker for a Ruth's Chris filet:)  We also will go out for a burger every once in a while, but we found a fabulous place here in Folsom called Burgerocity.  They use all grass fed organic beef and cheese.  Love that!! We do eat pork and chicken (not fish lovers), I make sure it says on the package that there are no hormones.  Pretty soon I plan on doing all organic on that as well.

We have always done whole grain bread, so my kids actually don't know any different on that.  But we switched last year to whole grain pasta as well.  We have also cut out most processed foods.  Emma loves mac and cheese.  So I do organic on that as well.

Tons of fruits and veggies.  I cannot say that enough.  I keep, cuties and strawberries, blueberries, carrots, spinach etc on hand always. You can throw all of that into a smoothie and I promise your kids will love it.
My kids have been limitied in their like for veggies, I'm not gonnna lie and so have I for that matter!!  But you know what?  If their hungry they'll eat it.  And if it's not here they can't eat it:)  So I've been introducing a whole bunch of new veggies lately.  And most of their meals are eaten at home, so I figure most of the time they're getting super healthy stuff. 

Other practical things to do:  Get rid of the breakfast items like Pop Tarts, and sugary cereals.  Make them some oatmeal, or a whole grain cereal.  Popcorn is a great snack but not if it's microwave popcorn (more of my research).  So I bought an air popper and would you believe the kids like it better than the micrwave kind?:)  You can get organic corn in the bulk section at Whole Foods even, SCORE!!:)  Cut out the soda.....omgoodness, it's so bad.  We haven't ever let the kids  have soda at home and only a special treat sometimes if we go out.  We do water, milk, and sugar free lemonade. Switch from regular yogurt to greek yogurt which has no fat, less calories and more protein.  You're probably starting to think my kids are super deprived!!  I don't want them to feel that way.  Practical things I do to make sure their sweet tooth gets satisfied: Organic 5 grams of sugar chocolate chip cookies, organic granola bars and Dole sugar free fruit bars.  They love them all:)

I was telling someone today.  I think that you have to look at your family and your needs, and take some small steps to change things.  Figure out where the most important place to start for you is.  Then take those small steps.  Lots of small steps equals big change in the long run. 

We have to be creative and get out of the "box" that the advertisers have put us in.  Think healthy whole foods without preservatives.  Think the less ingredients on the label the better.

Let's get as passionate about our families health as we are about other things in our lives that are a lot more trivial.

Our bodies are the Lord's temple.  Let's be intentional in treating them that way and leading our kiddos to do the same.

New Year New Adventures

So I am someone who grew up in the same home from age 2 until I got married, went to the same church for 33 years, and went to the same school from preschool until I graduated hish school.  When I write it all out like that it looks rather strange I must admit lol!!  I know that amount of stability and "non-change" is not normal.  Although I look back and would not change a thing about my childhood, with my personality it has made it quite difficult for me as an adult to accept change, want change, or like change at all. 

And don't we all know that change is growth and change is progress and change is what our Father is all about!!  And so the Lord put me with this amazing man 17 years ago who is an embracer of change.  Don't we know that the Lord always knows what he's doing and is working in every area of our lives and is a part of every detail??  I'm so very grateful that my husband seeks the Lord for our family and that the Lord uses him to "nudge" me into the changes that he has for our family........still don't like change at all lol!

But in the last two years we have had plenty and it looks like this new year will be a year of more change and new adventures.  I'm proud to say that I have grown a little.  Now the norm for me is to freak out for a day or two and then accept the change and know that God's got this:)

I digress, and must go back a couple years actually.  The first major change the Lord allowed in our family was two years ago New Year's day.  That was Tim's accident.  And yes it changed our lives in so many ways.  Especially for the first 6 months of 2010.  Tim was on duty (he's a Police Officer) and had a pretty bad crash on his motorcycle.  He was unconcious for 7-8 min.  When they got him to the hospital they discovered, he had a broken collar bone, concussion, broken/dislocated thumb, broken tibia and fibula, and a shattered and dislocated right ankle.  He had a long road of recovery and rehab.  God has restored him to his job, although he's not 100% physically he is doing awesome.  As I have told some friends, of course I wish my husband still didn't have problems and pain with his ankle as a result of the accident.  But the depth of gratitiude and growth and intimacy in our relationship that we've experienced because of the accident I would not trade for anything. 

The next change that the Lord brought about was a change in churches.  This was huge for me because as I said, I had attended the same church for 33 years.  We were very involved in serving and in leadership.  But sometimes the Lord's plans are so different than ours.  And we really and truly have to be focused on him and not caught up in what OUR plans for our lives and families might be.  As wives and moms, we have to be focused on what Jesus wants for our families. I know that in this life journey I have gotten caught up in MY plan for my kids and can tend to think it's the best.  Because I know what's good for them, right?  Well, how much more does the Father love them and know what's best for them??  For us, at that time it was to make a church change.  Very hard, but we couldn't be happier a year and a half later.

The next major change in the last two years was a move.  You know, when we bought our last house my thoughts were, that we would never move again.  It was a big house and we would live there forever.  Well, the Lord had other plans.  You know, I've realized He must be sitting up there chuckling at me all the time:) At the beginning of last year the Lord told us to downsize and move to another city.  This was all at the nudging of my husband once again:) What??!!  But I didn't want to, I loved my big house.  But I love the Lord more, so we listended lol!  We moved from 2400 sq ft to 1500.  We moved to a beautiful city with bike trails and lakes and it has been so much better than I ever imagined!!  Isn't that the way the Lord works?  Eph. 3:20, He can do immeaurably more than we can ask or imagine.

About a year ago the Lord start speaking to Tim and planting a seed.  He was feeling that we might be led to change schools for our kids.  Now let me back up and say that my children go to the same school that I went to my entire life.  I told you I lived in a "no change bubble" lol!!  Well being the kind of person who hates change I did the only logical thing........I ignored my husband.  Okay, definately not the right thing to do but that's what I did.  Well, a few months ago I realized that it's an awesome thing that my husband has Christ first in his life and that I should probably be praying with an open heart.  Because for Tim this wasn't going away.  And it's amazing because as soon as I started praying with an open heart within a couple of weeks it was crystal clear to me too, what we were supposed to do.  Now let me add that my kids have been in Christian school up until now and the change would be to public.  I have always been fearful of this.  But through this process the Lord has brought friends onto my path that have had similar experiences and used them to encourage me.  And lastly he took away the finances to make it perfectly clear.  He will do that you know??  He will make your path crystal clear if you are seeking him.  He will leave no doubt in your mind you are heading in the direction that he has for your life.

So this year the Galovichs are heading on a new adventure.  That's the way we are choosing to look at it.  Because with God life really is an adventure.  Over the last couple of years I've gotten a little better at embracing change.  I don't have it masted, that's for sure and it doesn't come easily.  Those who know me well, know that I have my "freak out" times for sure.  But this is where the intentionality comes in.  Remember, being an intentional mom:)  So this is where I intentionally bring to mind all of the Lord's promises.  That is what helps me with the change.  His drection is crystal clear.  Yes, I said direction........now that doesn't mean every thing along that adventure path is crystal clear.......that is for the Lord to handle not us.  All I know is we are heading in "His direction."  The direction he has for our family, and the rest of the time I will be focused on his promises.  Some of my favorites are, Jeremiah 29:11, Eph. 3:20, Psalm 37, Rom 8:18, Proverbs 3.

Obedience produces blessings.  So I will be intentional with my Lord this year, resting in His promises and that will transalte to every area of my life. 

This new adventure I'm not worried about because.............God's got this because He's right in the middle of it:)

Blessings in your New Year of Adventures!:)

My dreams aren't always His..........what's more important??

It's been a long time since I've written a blog.

We've been trying to adjust to the changes the Lord has brought.  In the last 4 months we have moved out of our house that I thought we would raise the kids in and downsized for a few different reasons.  And both kids started school in August.  Our oldest started Middle School and that has been a major adjustment mostly for him and Mom:)  We have all settled in.  We LOVE our new home and city, the small town feel and going to different community events.  We love all of the outdoor amenities and keeping active with the kids.  And Isaac is doing amazing in Middle School after a couple times of forgetting Homework at school and many times of leaving his lunch box in his locker lol!

Life has settled to a new normal.  That's just the way I like it, normal......steady......unchanging:)  But don't we know that that is not usually the way the Lord leaves it?  I am one who is not a lover of change.  Tim would say I'm putting it mildly!  But the Lord knows that and that is one of the many reasons he gave me my amazing husband.  The Lord has used him so many times over the years to "nudge" me into something new that Jesus has for us.  He is a man who truly does seek God's will for his family and I am so thankful for that........most of the time lol!  I don't particulary love it when it means possible change.  I was watching What Not to Wear yesterday (love that show) and Stacey London gave a quote on that episode that I loved.  She couldn't remember where she had heard it but the quote was, "Life truly begins at the end of our comfort zone."  Of course she was talking about fashion, but it my mind it went to a different level:)  I really think that the Lord would agree with that quote.  His richest blessings and best changes in us begin at the end of our comfort zone.  Because that is when we are truly relying on Him and his strength and direction and not at all relying on our own.

So, just when I thought that things are "normal......steady......and settling in," the Lord is nudging my husband about something else.  He has been nudging my husband for over a year, to which I have been unresponsive and pretty much ignoring the whole thing.  If you ignore things they go away right?  Not true:)  Especially if you are truly seeking the Lord for His direction in your life.  If that's the case the nudging, and knocking on you heart continues until its more like banging on your heart:)

I will not talk about what this "thing" is right now because that is as far as we've gotten with it.  What I mean by that is there has not been an anwer from the Lord.........yet.  But you know what I know?...........He always answers.  And He always bring clarity if that's what we ar truly seeking.  And do you know what I am learning??  That we need to be intentional in our prayers.  If we need an answer, direction and clarity from the Lord, we need to look inside our hearts and be intentional.  We need to ask ourselves, who's desire is this??  Is this "dream" I have my own human dream or is it really God's dream for my life and my family.  Because if I can answer with a pure heart, as scary as it might seem to me I want nothing more than GOD'S WILL AND HIS BEST for my family.  And you know what?  His will and His best is always so much better than we could ever imagine.  I can draw on past anwers to prayer and remind myself of that when I am praying about these new possiblities.  I am sure you can too.

So be intentional in your prayers as a mom today.  Ask yourself, are these dreams I have for my children my own human desires or are they truly your desires Lord??  That is a hard thing to pray with a pure heart when it comes to your kiddos isn't it?  Let's just be honest:)  But we need to remind ourselves that we have given them to the Lord...........not just in word.  But we truly have given their entire lives to Him and he will give us the BEST direction for them.  Somtimes it might not "look" like it to us.  But let's remember, "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.  Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am known." (1 Cor. 13:12.)  We do not see the big picture for our lives or our families.  We need to fully trust the Lord that he does and He will not lead us atray..........if we can only put our FULL TRUST in Him

Staying Present

Something has been on my heart lately.  We have a lot of turmoil and trials going on around us right now, as a family.  Loved ones going through a lot, and if they're going through a lot then we're going through it right along with them. 

I want to be there in whatever way possible and Tim and I have been.  The thing is, it can take a lot out of you mentally, spiritually and emotionally if you aren't in the right place in your own life with the Lord.  If you are not filled up and full of Christ you cannot give to others and have anything left for yourself or you immediate family.  The point of this blog from the beginning has always been intentionality in every area of life but especially in being a wife and mom.

The Lord really starting teaching me this when Tim had his accident almost 16 months ago.  I could not control what had already happened and we had to lean on the Lord for strength like we never had before.  Then the road of troubles started for some of our loved ones right around the same time and I was not handling it well at first. I am a fixer and a doer for others and I was taking it on myself and it was leading litterally to stomach problems.  Let me tell you........you CANNOT take on the weight of your loved ones problems, you cannnot fix things for someone else, you cannot control decisions of others and if you are trying to.........stop.  I've been there and it will make you sick not to mention it will take you out of the "present" with those that matter most, your husband and kiddos.  After a couple of weeks of being sick on and off I realized this last year.  Since then I have found that I must have boundaries as much as I loved these people, my husband and kids are the most important thing.
The most important thing is that my household be filled with the Peace and Joy of Jesus Christ..........no matter what is going on around us.

I was reminded of that this last week in my daily devotional Jesus Calling and again in church yesterday when we were singing a song called Consume Me from the Inside Out.
The passage in Jesus Calling for March 24th said the following:
"This is a time in your life when you must learn to let go:  of loved ones, of possesions, of control.  In order to let go of something that is precious to you, you need to rest in My Presence, where you are complete.  Take time to bask in the Light of My Love.  As you relax more and more, your grasping hand gradually opens up, releasing your prized possesssion into My care.  You can feel secure, even in the midst of cataclysmic changes, through awareness of My continual Presence.  The One who never leaves  you is the same One who never changes:  I am the same yesterday, today and forever.  As you release more and more things into My care, remember that I never let go of your hand.  Herein lies your security, which no one and no circumstance can take from you." (based on Psalm 89:15, Heb 13:8, Isaiah 41:13)

Isn't that AMAZING to know.  I was thinking about this in church yesterday...........I'm a very visual thinker.  I was picturing myself and Jesus standing holding hands.  Then I was litterally picturing everything that is going on around me in the lives of those I hold most dear and it was all swirling around me like a tornado.  But I was standing in the middle holding the hand of Christ.  It was calm in the middle because I was making the CHOICE to stand with the Lord in the middle of the circumstances. 

Whatever you are in the middle of whether it be your own or the circumstances of those you love it's your choice where you are standing.  I have done both and let me tell you it's much calmer to stand in the middle with Christ and let him worry about the details.

It is a daily thing sometimes of making that choice, because I want to help those around me.  But sometimes........a lot of the time, there is nothing more you can do but hold the hand of Christ and pray.  And let me tell you that your husband and kids need you in the "present" with them and the only way to do that is to give whatever it is to Christ.  And I can testify to you that if you can completely do that He will give you His Peace and His Joy in whatever and I mean WHATEVER the present circumstances might be.

Today I was reading Isaiah 26:1-4............pleas go read and claim it for your family daily!!

Doing It All

I was talking to someone the other day and she said of another mom, "I'm so impressed because she does it all."  She went on to list all the things the other mom did and as I listened it actually made me sad.  They weren't things that would be drawing her closer to her family or husband at all.  Isn't that the way the world is?  So about accomplishments, and how many things we got done this day and how many places we went.  If we're stressed and frazzled and running a million places and managing to take care of our family we're "doing it all."

This has actually been on my mind for weeks.  I think that we should have a different standard as christians for "doing it all."  I truly believe Jesus views that phrase in a completely different light then the world does.  And so should we.  We should view it with Spiritual eyes and an eternal meaning.  To me "doing it all" is striving with the Lord's help to raise my kiddos to love and honor Him and others above all else.  To me "doing it all" is putting my husbands needs first and loving him in a tangible way.  To me "doing it all" is studying his word and asking him to grow me in the areas he sees that I need it.  I'm telling you that if we're giving it our utmost in these areas we're "doing it all" in Jesus eyes.

I just believe that we can simplify things as christians and be so less frazzled and stressed.  The Lord wants us to simplfy our lives so that we have time to focus on what's important............and that's the eternal.  It's not if we got our daughter to her 10 gymnastics lessons this week!  Okay I'm exaggerating a little, but you know that you know someone like that.  And then they fall into bed at night too tired to have barely kissed their kids goodnight let alone prayed with them and they definately didn't spend a moment of quality time with their man. 

Yes, I'm a little riled up about this.  Because we never get these moments back with our children and it's our job to "do it all" for them...........eternally speaking.

So, these are some practical things that we do in our house.  Let me say that we don't have it all figured out and will be striving to "do it all" in Jesus eyes til the day we die.  But we definately try to make it our daily focus.  Back to the practical:):
~The kids never do more than one sport each.  And they do not always have to be doing something.  Isaac has been done with football since November and is taking a break from anything.  So he actually has down time after school.  Kids need down time and don't have it enough these days.
~We eat dinner together on average 5 nights a weeks.  I make dinner and we sit down together.  I know that some moms work and it doesn't have to be anything crazy and gourmet.  As a matter of fact last night I was exhausted so we all ate something of our choice, but we sat down together at the table, TV OFF and ate and talked.  I was astounded at some statistics I found.  I don't think some parents take this simple thing serious enough.  The statistics are from a study done by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.  Kids who eat a sit down dinner with their families on a regular basis are 40% more likely to get As and Bs in school.  They are also less likely to smoke, drink, do drugs, get depressed, develop an eating disorder or consider suicide.  Can you believe that?!  That's huge and obviously important.
~Another thing we do is plan family nights on the calendar and I literally pencil them in.  It could be as simple as playing a board game....my kids love that.  Or making some popcorn and watching a movie together.  Last week we went miniature golfing..........I'm the champ by the way!:)  I think it's good to teach my kids to lose gracefully!  Haha!
~Every night we sit in one of the kids rooms and have family time with the Lord.......we always switch off to be fair, you know how kids are:)  So, we have a little book for each of the kids that I talked about in a previous blog, Jesus Calling that we read from.  It has some scriptures at the bottom, and then we discuss it together.  And the kids will come up with the coolest questions that spark the best discussions.

Anyway those are just a few things we do and believe me we are constantly learning and asking the Lord for fresh ideas for our family.  I encourage you to take your responsibilities as Mom and Wife seriously and to view them "eternally."  Let's "do it all" the way Jesus wants us to and not the way the world says we're supposed to.  We're in this world but not of it and I encourage you it is so possible to live differently, not easy sometimes but possible.

Like I said this has been on my heart for weeks and then I opened my Jesus Calling devotional today and it was like it's on the Lord's heart too:)  This is what todays page said based on Eph. 4:1-6 and John 10:4:
I love you for who you are, not for what you do.  Many voices vie for control of your mind, especially when you sit in silence.  You must learn to discern what is My voice and what is not.  Ask My Spirit to give you this discernment.  Many of My children run around in circles, trying to obey the various voices directing their lives.  This results in fragmented, frusterating patterns of living.  Do not fall into this trap.  Walk closely with Me each moment, listening for My directives and enjoying My Companionship.  Refuse to let other voices tie you up in knots.  My sheep know My voice and follow Me wherever I lead.

Isn't that awesome?!!  Let's ask the Lord today to help us listen only to His voice and he will help us "DO IT ALL" for His GLORY!

Giving a Great Marriage to Our Kids

So yesterday Tim and I celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary..............which by the worlds standards is an eternity and incredibly long.  The sad thing is it's becoming a major accomplishment even within christian circles too.  We've been through a lot in the last two years as a family and I am so thankful to say that it has done nothing but bring me and my husband closer.  I cannot attribute that to any great gifts of our own but only to the two of us keeping our eyes on Jesus.  I know this because there have been moments through it all where our eyes faltered and so did our lives in those moments.  When that happens you have to recognize it quickly and re-focus your "view".

What does this have to do with being an "intentional" mom??  I wrote in an earlier post about how much our kiddos are watching us.  So much more than we realize.  Well, my intention is to give them a feeling of stability and being safe always within this family of ours.  So, the best thing I can do is give them a great marriage.  Not just "stay in it for the kids" or an "okay marriage".  I want to give them a great one!!  A marriage where they will watch and one day with Jesus help and my prayers, choose nothing less for themselves.

We should not strive to have this kind of marriage just for our children but also for ourselves and the Lord.  He created this amazing union that so many of us have entered.  And the Bible says everything that flows from HIS HANDS is not just good but perfect!!  I want that in my family and in my marriage.  But it's going to take us working hand in hand with the Lord.  And yes he cares about every aspect of your marriage because he created it.  He cares about your spiritual connection with your husband, your finances, every interaction with him............even your intimacy.  So give every area to the Lord and he will help you to be creative and intenional with your husband.

I don't know about you but I do not want to miss one second of my life and all the Lord as intended for me and my family.  And his intentions are for our marriages to be smokin' hot and soooo much fun!!  And for our children to be witnesses to that is such a good thing and a "God thing"!!

Emma's favorite thing to say lately is, "I love our family."  She'll just randomly bust out with that lately and it just makes my heart feel so good and thankful.

So, today if you aren't in a good place in your marriage, ask the Lord for intention in that area and a new and vibrant love for your husband.  The Lord is faithful ALWAYS the Bible says and he will be faithful in this area as well. 
Just a couple of practical ways to give to your marriage and involve you children as well:
So, tonight Emma and I will make a yummy dessert to serve after dinner in honor of our Anniversary.  And this weekend the kids will spend the night with my parents so that we can have some alone time in our home without the kids.  That is the best feeling, being together at home without the kids..........you all know I mean that in the best way possible! I do love my children! Haha!
Jeremiah 29:11-14 says that he has amazing plans for us.  Plans of hope and a future!  Now to me, that does not sound like we should be settling for a mediocre life in any area.  It goes on to say that he will bring us out of exile.  That means no matter where your marriage is at he can bring you out of captivity and back to an amazing place!

Jesus Calling

Our church passed out these amazing devotionals at the beginning of the year.  My husband and I have been reading them.  They're short, one page per day.  But this author is amazing!  She writes them based on scipture but in Jesus' words, so it's like he's speaking right to you........so good!! 

I went on Amazon to order one for someone else and found that she has a version for kids.........I'm so excited!!  Something I have tried to be "intentional" (this word is kind of the theme of this blog, in case you hadn't already figured that out) about with my kiddos is fostering and encouraging in them their own personal relationship with Jesus ever since they asked him into their hearts at ages 4 and 5.  When you grow up in church and around "christianese" your whole life as I was, sometimes it's hard to figure out who Jesus is to you.  You know what he is to your pastor and parents and teachers (yes I went to christian school too), but it takes a while for it to become personal to you, when he's already such part of your life for as long as you can remember.

I am so thankful he was pretty much always a part of my life.  I do however, want to do whatever I can to make it easier for him to become real and personal to my kiddos:)  We talk a lot with them about how going to church doesn't make you a christian.  That it's the personal, everyday talking with him spending time in your Bibles that creates that "relationship."

Our kids spend time by themselves, at bedtime reading their Bibles.........they started that on their own, isn't that so cool!?  I'm very proud of them for that and pray that what they're reading sinks deep into their hearts.  Although at one point we had to steer Isaac away from Leviticus:)  He kept coming in our room to ask what certain words meant!  Yikes, if you've ever read Leviticus you'll know what I'm talking about!:)  Although it lent to some great conversations that's for sure:)

Even if your kids are younger, you can read to them or get them those fabulous children's Bibles that have the pictures with the stories.  Emma loved hers for years.

I encourage you to help your kiddos make Jesus personal today.  Motherhood is one of our highest callings and leading our kiddos to Jesus and all his fabulousness is the best thing ever!
The name of the book I ordered for my kids is Jesus Calling:  365 Devotions for Kids by Sarah Young.