Joy

I am a very optimistic person (sometimes to a fault)! Yes, someone you probably want to punch on occasion :) You would be surprised by the amount of people who think of it as a rude way to feel and actually tell me, "I don't want to hear that it will be okay." So in those times, I just sit and pray. It is hard for me to put it aside. Don't get me wrong, I am sad and weep for them and their family, but I fully trust that God knows exactly what needs to be done. Moments of sorrow and pain make my heart ache. It is hard regardless of our faith and joy in the Lord!

How do we get this joy? When we have faith in God! I find happiness in my family, spending time alone with my husband, laughing with my children, being goofy with friends. I find happiness in cheesecake and the smell of a farmhouse basement. God gave us these things for our enjoyment, yes, but true joy is absent when we don't have a relationship with him. "The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing." ~Proverbs 10:28

Our faith in Him is our salvation with Him! "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,  for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." `~1Peter 1:8-9

I find great joy in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When a "bad" thing is happening, I can see good! I know that our "bad" things are not intended to bring us harm or hurt us in any way, but to teach us something. Our trials teach others around us about God's glory and point them to Him. God sees the good in our trials and so should we. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." ~James 1:2-3

No one can take away our joy! It is from God and Him alone! I see so many amazing people going through cancer, adopting children, caring for the elderly, sick parents and friends, have a slew of children, whom all have joy! This is not something they can do alone. This joy is from God! It is indescribably beautiful to witness! I am not saying we should not be sad or grieve. Jesus wept and so should we. In our moments of sorrow cling to Jesus and He WILL give us rest! (Matthew 11:28)

My prayer for you is that you see this goodness from God! You see the JOY in the difficult times, in the moments when a friend hurts you, when your children are screaming, when a friend is struggling. When we see with this perspective, we will see His good, we will see God's hand at work, we will forgive, and we will shine His joy for all to see.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." ~Hebrews 12:2

That's Weird!!

Yesterday, I found myself at a Heath Foods Store, called Greatest Grains on Earth, looking for some Brown Mustard Seeds to make Mustard for my family! While I was there I found some Chia Seeds. These sweet little seeds have had me searching for quite some time!!!! Packed full of protein, fiber and healthy fats, these seeds are tiny, but pack a super punch!!! You can add them to smoothies, bread, rolls, granola bars (or mustard...unless that's too weird).  You can research their benefits by clicking HERE, Fox News explains them perfectly!

Another, what I feel, secret that I found was Organic Bananas!!! I had to eat one right away, mainly because they looked horribly intimidating to me because I've been brainwashed to thinking bananas are actually bright yellow, so my brain kept thinking something was wrong with these. The first bite was firm and delicious! My husband is NOT a banana eater, but he LOVED these!!!! The taste was incomparable to a non-organic banana! I'm not sure what all those companies are doing and what I've been eating all these years, but they are not bananas.

It made me want to research these little fruits and find out what makes the taste and color so different! What I found was shocking! I mean, I always knew they had "stuff" on them, but never to the extent of what I found!

By eating Organic, this is what you're saving from entering your body: (In order by most to least percentage in a single banana) Below info was found HERE.

• 63% Thiabendazole (Toxin can cause Developmental or Reproductive problems and is a probable Carcinogen)
• 26% Imazalil (Toxin can cause Developmental or Reproductive problems and is a probably Carcinogen)
• 7.4% 5-Hydroxythiabendazole
• 4.2% Azoxystrobin 
• 2.0% o-Phenylphenol (Known Carcinogen, Causes Developmental or Reproductive problems and is a suspected Hormone Disruptor)
• 1.5% Pyrimethanil (Suspected Hormone Disruptor, Possible Carcinogen, Slight Bee Toxins)
• 1.1% Oxamyl oxime 
• 0.4% Chlorpyrifos (Contains Neurotoxins, Hormone Disruptor, and has High Bee Toxins)
• 0.3% Myclobutanil (Causes Developmental or Reproductive problems and Hormone Disruptor)
• 0.2% Bitertanol (Hormone Disruptor)
• 0.2% Carbendazim (MBC) (Hormone Disruptor, Slight Bee Toxins and Possible Carcinogen)
• 0.1% Carbaryl (Contains Neurotoxins, Causes Developmental or Reproductive problems, has High Bee Toxins, Hormone Disruptor, Probable Carcinogen)

To sum it all up, in every banana, you are putting 7 suspected Hormone Disruptors, 5 Developmental or Reproductive Toxins, 4 Known or Probable Carcinogens, 2 Neurotoxins and 2 Honeybee Toxins (which mainly effect the environment) --->> How CRAZY is that!!??!! All these pesticides don't even account for the amount of radiation in our fruit (radiation is to keep our fruit nice, bright, yellow and appealing! Is it really that important to peel a bright yellow or dingy yellow banana??)

I understand that buying Organic isn't feasible for everyone as it is a little pricier, but if you can...DO!! Those toxins are just bananas, what about strawberries, apples, carrots, lettuce!!! We wonder why our children are hitting puberty sooner and why Cancer is running around like a Terrorist!! We can change our lives and our children's by distilling healthy eating habits in us now!!

If you can't buy ALL Organic, here is a list of FRUITS from Highest to Lowest Pesticide Load:

• Peaches
• Apples
• Nectarines
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Grapes
• Pears
• Raspberries
• Plums
• Oranges
• Tangerine
• Cantaloupe
• Lemon
• Honeydew
• Grapefruit
• Watermelon 
• Blueberries

VEGETABLES from Highest to Lowest Pesticide Load:

• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Celery
• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Potatoes
• Carrots
• Green Beans
• Hot Peppers
• Cucumbers
• Cauliflower
• Mushrooms
• Winter Squash
• Tomatoes
• Sweet Potatoes

As far as MEAT goes, I would recommend getting meat from a farmer who raises their cows free of antibiotics, no added hormones or human growth hormones. These animals are typically raised more ethically and humanely as well.

My curiosity sparked with a single banana and it led to so much more! I'm grateful that I purchased that banana and I cannot envision buying another non-organic fruit or feeding it to the ones God has entrusted me to take care of!! Some things, I won't be able to help, but this I can!!

Now that you know, what are you going to do??