Christian Hippie Foster Momma

Yes, you read that right.  I am not-so-slowly becoming a hippie.  The more common word these days is "crunchy" but without the political and some of the social aspects, it's the same thing. In my previous life, I would have silently judged someone for saying that they got most of their care from a chiropractor.  I would have rolled my eyes if someone wouldn't pop a pill for a headache.  I had sarcastic comments on the ready for people who wanted to eat all organic food. Well, I have gone to the dark side. Although I was judgmental about crunchy ways most of my life, it was always with the exception of my beliefs and perception of pregnancy/labor/childbirth.  I have always been one to want to let nature do its thing in that regard, but now that I am looking forward to having a family, growing kids right here in my body, and raising them to be healthy (physically, mentally, spiritually), I have decided that maybe doing things naturally can extend to more areas of

“If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” I recently read one of those “40 things you should know to improve your life” or some other ridiculousness and this quote was on the list.  I usually dismiss most of what those things say, but that one really struck me.  I am a competitive person and I come from an intellectual family, so you can imagine that being the “smartest person in the room” has always been an aspiration for me.  I don’t think I ever have actually been the smartest person, per se, aside from times I have been the only adult in a room of toddlers. As I tend to always relate things to faith, Christianity, church, etc. I immediately thought of the goal that many of us (especially the competitive types) have to be the most biblically knowledgeable person in the room, or in our circle, or on the internet, etc.  Maybe biblically knowledgeable isn’t always the goal.  Maybe we want people to see us as the most godly, or the most spiritually

Last week, my best cousin, Rachel, asked me if I would be off work on Wednesday and if I would like to hang out with her.  It was kind of random, but we were way overdue for some one-on-one girl time.  She said that her mother-in-law would have the kids for a couple hours and we could hang out.  I made sure my schedule was clear and penned her in.  She said to be at her house around 9 a.m.  Wow, does she know me?  Why would I want to get up in time to be across town that early on a day off!?!  I asked her if she had something in mind, or were we just gonna veg out at her house, or what?  She said she had something in mind, but it was a surprise.  And she knows we're on a budget, so she assured me it wouldn't cost me a dime. A surprise for me?  It's not even my birthday!?  We used to celebrate Valentine's Day together, so I thought maybe this would be our Valentine's "date."  My mind starting wondering what in the world she would have planned so early

It seem that everywhere I turn, I see and hear things about weight loss.  From pictures in magazines, women on TV, even facebook status updates from friends, I am bombarded with the idea that skinny=good.  For years, I have struggled with my weight.  Even at my very best shape, I have never been skinny.  I will never be skinny.  I even had a type of eating disorder for about 6-8 months and dropped a ton of weight, and was not ever skinny. This past year, a lot has changed in my life.   I married my wonderful husband, moved him here to Texas, started working more than ever, and somewhere in the process of all that, gained about 15 pounds that I really didn’t need to gain.  It’s been bothering me since I noticed it.  I immediately changed what I thought was causing the weight gain, hoping that those 15 pounds would magically fall off the same way the fell on, but so far, that hasn’t happened.  I keep wanting to drastically change my diet, or get back into my running habit, all with