I have felt drained. Aimless and quick to anger. A friend posted a status about the things we do for others, and what have we done that day as a gift to someone else.
I was stumped. Because in my day it was all me focused. How can I get a break? How can I do what I want? How can I …… ME?
And I felt that gut pull. That resolution tingle. That need and call for action. Then later that night a sweet Mom posted in our local Mom group, she posted about her baby having GERD, having a long hospital stay, crying for hours upon hours, her sweet little one who shares a name with my daughter, she reached out and put everything aside for love. She asked for milk. Milk that is dairy free, soy free, sugar-caffeine-gluten light, she asked for a tall order. And so many Mamas answered.
Mom’s with liquid gold frozen in the deep freeze from the days of elimination diets, and sensitive newborns. Mom’s with babies who fall into the same intolerance’s, Mom’s who are stretched and willing to bend just a little further. And Mom’s who are willing to make some diet changes to start to pump for this baby. Basically, this Mama reached out and there were hands to meet her.
This weekend the Internet seemed to be extra… internetty. Like, people were even more bold behind their screens than typical. That words were slung without thought even more aggressively, that people were just… extra… mean.
Her post was the reminder I needed. These groups do good. The people in them want to do great BIG things. The Mamas are there. The Mamas answer. And we all just keep giving, because we have been given too.
On that note; send me your favorite dairy/soy free recipes please. Stuff that is easy! What blogs should I be reading? What recipe books are best? Who has a pin-board FILLED with this stuff? How can I make it financially feasible? Help this Mama out. Cause we are embarking here.
Embarking into a new food world, a new outlook on giving in this new year (Give, just give. Don’t question it, just give.), and meeting some heart resistance- as always. This will be my year of Embarking. of Hold On Tight. CHANGE.
I love the intention of embarking, that’s a beautiful way to approach each day.
Do you like middle eastern food? Falafel, pita, hummus, cucumbers and tomatoes make a delicious wrap-sandwich. It’s one of my favorite dairy-free meals. You can bake or fry the falafel.
Anna recently posted..Monday, Monday
I love the way you write. Truly.
Embarking on each day is a wonderful approach to living, as the previous commenter said. I am trying to approach my days with an attitude of kindness. I want to choose kindness first. I want my children to choose kindness first.
This is one of my new fav recipes. It came from a vegan cook book called Forks over Knives. My sister got it for me for Christmas, but I bet you can find it at the library.
Curried Squash and Apple Soup
1 medium onion, chopped
1 squash (butternut or acorn) peeled, seeded, chopped into cubes
2 Granny Smith apples peeled, cubed
2 cups vegetable stock
1 cup apple juice or cider (use no sugar added)
2 tbsp curry powder
1 tsp (or more) hot sauce
Brown onion in a stock pot over medium heat for ten-ish minutes. Add all other ingredients. Cook 15-20 minutes. Puree. Eat. So simple. So healthy. So delicious.