Hawaiian Chicken Skewers

These Hawaiian skewers are really good and are a nice change from the "usual's"! Plus, the grilling is done outside so nothing is heating the kitchen!

Ingredients:
3 cups pineapple, cut into chunks
1 cup pineapple, diced for food processor

1 tbsp cilantro, minced
1 tbsp. ginger root, minced
1 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 whole lemon, juice
2 chicken breasts, cut in chunks

Directions:
1. Combine diced pineapple, olive oil, garlic, ginger, lemon juice, and salt in a small bowl.
2. Puree mixture in a blender or food processor.
3. Pour back into small mixing bowl and stir in minced cilantro. Set aside to use as glaze during grilling.
4. Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Lightly oil grill as skewers can get sticky.
5. Skewer pieces of chicken and pineapple.
6. Brush with glaze periodically while grilling.

Add a salad or some brown rice and enjoy!

A little this, a little that...

I feel like that is all I do now... add a little this and a little that... and all those little things are adding up to a whole lotta goodness! We are one month into our new life now, and I have to say, we have never felt better! (I can speak for my hubby, too :) In cutting out all the "extras", we have so much more energy, clear thoughts, gooooood sleep, and have each lost about 18 pounds! I'd say we are doing pretty well!

Here's tonight's dinner... have you ever cooked with fennel? I had never even heard of it until today! It looks a tad bit crazy, but it sure added a good flavor!

             Fennel                                 Italian Braised Chicken w/ Fennel & Cannellini

 

As delicious as this "new" food is, and as great as it makes me feel, it is still difficult at times to stick with it. I don't really crave sugars and what not anymore, but when you find yourself somewhere surrounded by yummy desserts, you remember how tasty they are and it is tempting. And in that, I have found a strength and determination inside that is continually growing. Now I know, that might seem a little extreme when just talking about dessert, but it is a big deal! If I say, "Oh I can have just a little bit right now, I have done so well..." it will put me back 10 steps. Yes, down the road a ways, I will be able to enjoy those things on special occasions, but for the sake of what we are trying to accomplish, I am not willing to move backwards. For the sake of creating a healthy environment and someday being able to hold my baby in my arms, a sweet dessert becomes easy to say no to. And that is exactlty what I say when that temptation comes... would I rather have this or my baby? I have to be that extreme right now!

 

It gets tiring, very tiring, because I am learning. I know it won't be this "intense" forever, but for now, it's alot! But one thing the Lord always reminds me of when I get overwhelmed:

 

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary,  and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  Isaiah 40:29-31

 

Those who hope in the Lord... that is what this whole adventure comes down to... our hope in the Lord. Our hope that He knows everything we have been through; our hope that He has a good plan for our future; our hope that He will take all of these pieces and thread them together to make one beautiful display of His love.

So Far So Good!

 

 



And our most favorite... milk in a glass jar!



Cleanin' Out the Cupboards

I guess it had been a while since cleaning my cupboards, but gosh, so much stuff! This was more than just a re-organization, however. Suited up with our lists in hand, Frank and I took a trip to Whole Foods in Sacramento to stock our shelves and refrigerator with the fresh foods that we would need to be successful in our new lifestyle. Yes, new lifestyle. Not diet. Lifestyle. Diets don't work. We are changing our mindset and being real about what we put into our bodies.

Out went the flour, sugar, crackers, chips, breads, canned goods, and Crystal Light! In went the coconut flour, almonds, sunflower seeds, Quinoa, Organic coconut flakes, vinegar, grapeseed oil, coconut oil, and more spices than I can count!



It took a few days to get used to the empty cupboards, but now, I hardly even open them, as I realize that most everything I need is fresh in the frig.... and I'm lovin' it.

                         

                                       
 


 

 oh.... and since I never finished updating my blog back in the chemo days (I know, I know, I'm so inconsistent!!).... I finished and I have checked out perfectly healthy ever since!!



The Countdown Begins......

10 more days and I will be DONE WITH CHEMOTHERAPY!!!! 10 days!!!!

It feels like just yesterday that I was in the hospital, healing from surgery, and learning and anticipating the "what ifs" of my medication. Countless times, as I was posted on my spot on the couch, we would say out loud, "ok... June, July, August, September, October...", as if saying the months might make time go faster. There were days when I felt like time was crawling, and days like today where I am stopped in my tracks thinking, "How in the world did this go so fast?!?" The pharmacy called the other day to ask if I was ready for a refill on my medication and I cannot even express the excitement as I got to say, "Oh thanks for calling but I won't be needing any more medication! My treatment will be complete on October 23rd." 

10 days...

40 pills...

I can sooooo do this!!!

Hebews 10:23 - Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

How He Loves Us

I woke up this morning with this song in my heart. It is a beautiful song about the love that our Father has for us. As I was singing the words, I was reminded at how truly amazing God's love for us is. We didn't do anything to earn His love, yet He gives it so abundantly; and we can't do anything to make Him stop loving us. What an incredible gift!

Often times we go through seasons in our lives, good or bad, and we fail to remember that God's love for us is at the core of every situation. When it's a season of blessing and prosperity, we are engulfed in joy and the feelings of love and thanksgiving. And rightfully so! Remember to thank God for them. But what about the seasons of need, of heartache, of disaster, or sickness? We need to thank God for those times as well! Hard to do? Sometimes. But it is in those times that God can draw us closer to Him. When there is nothing else to lean on, He can teach us to lean on Him and trust Him. It is the times of deserate need that we are reminded of God's unfailing love.

He always has our best in mind! Even in this crazy cancer journey of mine! How in the world is God's love at the core of this sickness? It is! He didn't cause this disease to plague my body, but He sure has used it to teach me things and bring me closer to Him. I have found his love for me with every step, around every corner. God cares about the littlest details of our lives - every desire, every feeling, every need.

Matthew 6:25-29 - “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you? "

I love that example of God's love for us! If He cares that deeply about birds and flowers, how much more does He care about us, His children, the ones He came to earth and died for! Again, what a tremendous gift! So no matter what we are facing, victory or hardship, our Father loves us....

Oh how He loves us....

Steps

Everything around our house these days is "one day at a time..." and even more so, "one step at a time." And it really is! I cannot predict how a day is going to pan out, or make solid plans for upcoming days. During this cycle of chemo, my days have been all over the map (as well as my emotions; just ask my husband...sorry babe). One day I will wake up exhausted and sick, while the very next day I will be up and at 'em, painting my family room! We never know what a day will bring, but I guess that is what makes this a journey...

Our whole life is a journey, one step at a time. Each of us have our own path and can look back at the steps that led us to where we are at today; and each of us will take steps that form the life ahead of us. The steps on our journey are so varied. Sometimes our steps are through grassy meadows, along cool, sandy shores, or through lakes of milk chocolate (mmmmm, gotta throw the chocolate in there, just cuz!). But often times our steps are along rocky paths,  or through scortched deserts, or sludgy swamps. Life has so many seasons and we have to walk through each of them. It's not always easy, especially during the hard times, but it is do-able!

Yes, it is do-able! Not by our own plans or by our own strength, but by God's! God promises us in Psalm 37:23, "The steps of a good man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way..." That tells me that whichever step I am on in my journey of life, God knows! I am not just wandering around in the middle of nowhere, blindly trying to find my way. Rather I am always right where God wants me to be. Because I trust in Him with everything that I am, I can be confident that even if I am stomping around in sludge, it is for my good. Such a season will make me a stronger person, teach me what I need to add to my character, bring me to my next step, and give me compassion for someone else along the way. It says in Isaiah 43:19, " Behold I am doing a new thing! Do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." That means that our difficult season is not forever! As we trust him through the muddy parts of our life, He WILL bring us to the green pasture that is right around the corner.

It is not easy, it is tiring, and it can be painful. But if we just hold on a little bit longer, we will find our rest. And how great it is to look back over steps on our journey and see God's faithfulness. So much to be thankful for.