Facebook Detox Day 5

Funny thing ... I don't have Facebook so my house is actually getting cleaned and I'm actually working and marketing, and ya know .. being a mom!

How weird!!! :)

Until yesterday, I didn't have a clue that my social media usage had such an impact on my life. I didn't realize that I was on it so much. Yesterday, was the first day that I didn't miss it, per say. But out of habit as I was working, I would reach to click over to a different internet tab to check my FB account. Only realize, it wasn't there. Old habits.

I am so loving not having that account. At this point, I am unsure if I will ever reactivate it. My life is so much happier. How is that possible? Only 5 days into this exercise and I'm already happier, less stressed, feelings of hurt aren't being triggered daily, and my brain isn't exhausted with all the unnecessary information I was picking up.

To be honest, I wonder if I worked outside the home if I would have such an attachment to Facebook?!? I know that being home is my "job," but it allows me so much freedom to pretty much do whatever I want, while being at home.

Not using this account has been such an amazing mind clearing and detox practice.

It took nearly 5 days for people to realize I wasn't on facebook, and I am trying REALLY hard to not take offense to that. Because I probably would be about the same time frame if someone I knew was doing the same thing.

That said, why do more people not call or text or e-mail? Why is Facebook the only way many people connect with one another? How did we get to this point in life and culture that our whole being is defined by interacting with one another in a non-personal way?

I miss the days of the telephone. Not the cell phone, though the beginning of the cell phone days weren't too bad either. But you know, the days where we had to pick up a phone for a conversation. Where I would get in trouble for being on the phone for too long with my friends. Or my mom having a conversation with her siblings or friends or mom for an hour. When calling someone across the country was a scheduled event and everyone waited for that call. Personal contact was so personal and important.

How did facebook become the way we define personal contact?

Today is Thursday, April 4, 2013 and I am detoxed from Facebook! I LOVE IT!

Facebook Or FOOD ..

How does one go from ending one idol to replacing it with another? I'm not sure, but I have to be EXTREMELY careful.

Yesterday, I was just bored bored bored .. but only in one aspect. I had plenty to do, and was doing it. But my mind kept going to checking facebook. Even though I haven't checked it in more than 3 days. You never realize how much of a part a simple thing like Facebook plays in your life.

I didn't really CREATE a new idol, but rather replaced one addiction with a filler ... food.

Every time I passed through the kitchen to switch the laundry I would grab a couple of truffles, a cracker or two, or something else. Completely unnecessary. To some that wouldn't seem to be a big deal, but through out the day, it adds up.

I'm not on a "diet." But I would like to get out of this experience without weighing 400 lbs.

I know that this whole exercise of Facebook detox may seem silly to many people. After all, many do not have a belief in God. I, however, have this wholehearted belief that everything in my life will be fantastic (hard or easy) if I have God as the central focus.

Jesus didn't just come to save sinners, he came to teach and love. I am excited to say, that I did not fall down with food again today. except for those 8 chocolate chips

Day 3, Yesterday, was a success! Even with the eating.

Because I fell asleep so early last night, I didn't get to blog about the day. So there will be another post this evening. Fair warning :)

Realizations, Goals, Understanding Godly Designed Plans

Coming Soon to Alaska!

 
I was very VERY bored today. But without cause. See, I realized HOW MUCH TIME I WASTED ON FACEBOOK! Yes, I just capitalized that because it was VERY evident to me, and I want it VERY evident to you.

I sat on my couch, during the normal times I do, and realized I didn't have Facebook to use. Not to mention the loneliness I suddenly felt from all the conversations I had daily on FB.

I use to speak to 8-10 people a day using the messenger. Today (and yesterday) I talked or text with maybe 2 or 3 of my friends. This isn't saying anything bad about anyone I talked to on Facebook. Just a realization of my dependence on the messenger versus calling or whatever outside that website.

I text my friend, Kristina, and said I was bored, what do I do? She promptly responds, "Read the Bible."

UM DUH!!! Wasn't that the whole reason I stepped away from Facebook for a while? HELLO!!!

So I did. And it made sense that I spent that time doing a study. :)

I am about to start a new clothing business in Alaska as a distributor for a clothing line that is just booming in a the lower 48 and Hawaii. I cannot wait to be the sole distributor in Alaska. The promise of this business is amazing. And I know that God prompting me to separate myself from Facebook for a time is preparation for focusing on this career that will allow me to interact with MANY women across Alaska.

For a long time I felt the calling to minister to women in a way that wasn't through books, church, or mission outreach groups. Women have such a big issue with their appearance. When I came across this specific clothing line, I felt the prompting of God to contact the owners of the company and see how they would feel about expanding their line to Alaska.

Long story short, it is all moving VERY fast!! And I am incredibly excited. My freshman year of college was spent studying fashion merchandising. Which is very strange, because I left that school and program vowing never to deal with fashion again! Yet, here I am. Coming full circle from age 17 to 31 to fashion merchandising! The most expensive year of education, showing its promises. :)

God is so good! He works in the best and most apparent ways. When we are constantly in tune with the Spirit, His messages are clear and not coded. I am super excited to see where God is taking me and my family's future!

Vanilla Bean Cake Review

Vanilla Bean Cake
Photo Courtesy of The Spunky Coconut

 

 

 Side note: Yes, my cake looked EXACTLY like this!!!

For Easter dinner, I decided to make a grain, dairy, and sugar free dessert. The problem: usually such desserts are disgusting!!!! No joke, DISGUSTING.

So I searched and searched. Found a recipe called Vanilla Bean Cake posted by the author of The Spunky Coconut.

It was DELICIOUS!!! Five Star rating from even the most difficult of critics (i.e. my husband)

This recipe called for things you wouldn't normally consider put in a cake. White beans. Who puts BEANS in a cake and then call it a DESSERT!?!?! Not me.

But I gave it a whirl. I had not ever cooked with a springform pan before, so I was a little worried. And my guinea pig dinner guests had NO IDEA that this was my first time making this cake. Let alone, they didn't know it was made with beans, eggs, stevia drops, honey, vanilla extract, coconut oil, coconut flour, baking soda, baking powder, and some salt. Seriously! 

It was the most moist cake I have ever made. The texture was somewhere between puffy cake and cheesecake. My friend who doesn't even like cake or frosting, devoured two slices. And why not!?!? It's loaded with healthy proteins and has no sugar. The fats all come from the coconut, which is a healthy fat. And the flavor was nothing to be forgotten.

One would NEVER know it was made from white beans if one didn't know. I will definitely be making this recipe again. Cupcakes, yes, cupcakes!

I really suggest you make it!

Being In The Know

Today was a bit different than in the past. I didn't use Facebook for the first time in a long time. I'm a Facebook junkie. It's weird voluntarily not using FB. I have gone a day or two in the past not using it because of camping, lack of service, or being sick but never because I was choosing to not use it.

I use it for so many things other than just FB stalking people. I used it for my photography business, for my boss' real estate business, to solicit prayer, keep family updated, and so on. The list is never ending. And so were my excuses to not get rid of it. 

Literally speaking, I am addicted to Facebook. I find the whole thing fascinating. But all too consuming. My life started revolving around checking it when I got up in the morning, before I went to bed, 90,000 times during the day. It is quite a problem.

When my pastor asked me to lead a study on idolatry, I thought about it and was confused. Why would God call me to lead a study on idols? I don't have a thriving career; I'm not a materialistic person; I'm not consumed with thoughts or actions of money, power, sex, etc. So really, why would he choose me? I was sitting on my couch, talking with my cousin on Facebook, telling my kids to wait for the umpteenth time, when it hit me.... Facebook.

I could almost hear God say "ding ding ding ding ding!" Like I had hit the jackpot.

The conclusion made me think about how much time I had spent on Facebook, and it was quite a bit. I also realized I was pushing my kids needs and desires aside to look at one more picture, have one more conversation, share one more pointless picture. 

Facebook isn't bad. The idea is genius. The connections made are awesome, but the reality is, it's a very consuming Website.

We live in a society and culture that is always "in the know." I'm in the know as to who is pregnant, in the know of who is back stabbing who, in the know of who is drinking what where with who. In the know isn't necessarily a good thing. Being in the know also means, you know what your friends are doing and that they didn't invite you. Being in the know also means that you know more about other peoples marital and/or relationship problems more than you need to. Being in the know means you are likely sharing MORE about your personal life than you need to. Being in the know is what helped me realize I am TOO much in the know.

I am thrilled to say I have made it through day 1 of 50 days without Facebook. I say 50, because after realizing that Pentecost (10 days after the final ascension of Jesus and the day that the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles) was 50 days post Easter, I thought "why not?" I am trying to work on my relationship with Jesus. Focus on him. Remove all idols from myself to let him be in charge of my path, and follow in his light.

I have no idea how I will change at the end of this process, but I know that God does!! And that is just fine with me!

I hope you had an AMAZING Easter celebration. We celebrated with six of our friends and their kids! It was beautiful!

Risen Redeemer

Easter is in a few days. Christ was risen lifetimes ago. He lived, served, died and rose for one and all of us.

This year, our culture in the U.S., is responding to desperate desires of human rights. I read a blog post a bit ago about Satan's games. And boy does he have a bunch. This post on being Distracted, is exactly what Satan will do to divert any attention he can from the Risen Redeemer.

Please don't let this Easter Season be bogged down with disagreement, debate, or issues of diversity. We are all love equally by our Creator. He sent Jesus to die for all of us: John 3:16. The WHOLE WORLD can be a recipient of our loving Christ!

Tomorrow is Good Friday. It is my hope that tomorrow, everyone will realize what Jesus suffered for all of us. There is not one person that is a better recipient of Jesus' sacrifice than anyone else. We are all creations from a perfect and loving God!

Good Friday to all!

A Mother's Responsibility

There has been a lot of well-made arguments spread lately as to the "distasteful" nature of a clothing line, or how our girls are being taught and perceived as objects. While, I agree to an extent this is taking place, I can't help but also disagree.

I am a mother of a daughter. With that, it means I am responsible for encouraging her self-image. She also has a father. He is also responsible. As parents, this means we take on responsibility for her, her upbringing, her well-being, her self-interpreted image.

Mothers have a HUGE responsibility in creating an environment that promotes self-positivity. If moms are constantly trying new fad diets, starving themselves, belittling various aspects of their appearance, always looking to better their appearance for vain purposes, what chance do our daughters have in growing up with a healthy self-image?

There is a significant absence in father/daughter relationships. Dads really have no idea the impact they have on their daughters self-esteem. It is my personal conclusion that if daughters had more interactive dads, clothing lines like the new Victoria Secret one, or shows, magazines, and other media wouldn't have much of a market.

Teaching our daughters their self-worth doesn't come from a clothing line. It comes from the home. It is my goal as a mother to be sure that I encourage my daughter in all things she sets her mind to. To encourage her to make healthy decisions, not because that will make her slim and "hot" but because it's important for our bodies that we make healthy choices. It is my goal as a parent to encourage healthy physical activities for my kids. It is also my job to raise them to be adults.

The actions I take as a mother now, will have unknown impact on my daughter's adult life. If I am concerned with being skinny or objectifying myself, I can only expect that she, too, would view herself in the same manner.

Teaching our daughters that loving their body doesn't start with preventing a clothing line from developing. It starts with the words and actions we take in our homes, the result would be less provocative clothing.