Thrive Archives - KitchenWise

Dispatch from the Doldrums

October 30, 2014 by Trina 7 Comments

This week my inner energizer bunny ground to a halt.

I’m typically a very driven, high-energy person. I have brainstorms like Alabama has thunderstorms–often several in one day. I go from one thing to the next, my passion keeping me from pausing for very long between each task, my mind nearly always excited about something.

But this week, due to a cocktail of sleep deprivation, a lingering cold, and, ahem, hormones, all that sizzled out. My body began sending me messages that were so unfamiliar, they nearly required a translator. Rest. Sit still. Let go of the list.

I used to freak out when I hit these slumps–they felt so unnatural, and so terribly unproductive. I didn’t recognize myself without burning passion or at least a low level of stress (at least). Usually I thrash about, flailing desperately until I find something that makes my heart race again. Anything to avoid the dreadful doldrums.

And I admit for a little while yesterday I got a little depressed, recognizing the symptoms and worrying about writing projects that would most certainly suffer if this overcame me. (There are so, so many exciting and interesting things I want to blog about!)

But I’ve learned that these seasons are not permanent. They never last long, because I’m just not wired that way. It will pass–and it will probably just be a matter of days, so what I really ought to do is just sit back and enjoy it. Stifle the inner nag that still believes my worth is in what I produce, and just enjoy the unnatural calm happening between my ears and in my heart.

Now, that all sounds well and good, but sitting still isn’t easy for me, even when my innards are becalmed. So, I have my crutches. A good murder mystery keeps me on the couch when the couch is where I really need to be. Simple favorites that don’t require thought or special ingredients fill the menu (Spaghetti. Chicken Gravy. Meatloaf). I take care of the basics with school, then encourage the kids to go off and create and discover on their own. (Thank you Jesus they’re getting old enough to actually do this…they’re painting and reciting scraps of poetry to themselves at the kitchen table as I write–thank you, Andrew Pudewa!) Devotion to our little cleaning routine keeps the house tidy enough that I feel I really could afford to sit down and do nothing for a little while.

I think part of what has lead me to treat the doldrums like a gift is that I’ve seen a pattern emerge–a season of quiet always results in fresh inspiration for me. After a time of detaching from all my pet projects, I gain new perspective, and priorities tend to fall into line themselves, instead of me having to deliberate about it. Clarity replaces chaos in parts of my mind, and I go back to regular life with a lingering scent of stillness giving an atmosphere of peace to the busiest moments.

So, whether rest is something you’re good at fitting into your routine, or sickness is the only thing that slows you down, I wanted to remind us both to breath deep in those moments and be thankful for the gift that they are. There is more beauty, more worth in quiet rest then our finite minds will ever understand. This is me publicly committing to be grateful as I wait for the breeze to pick up again.

A Million Little Ways {Why I Love This Book}

November 17, 2013 by Trina 4 Comments

Since I first found Emily Freeman’s blog 3 years ago, I’ve regularly turned to her words when my soul needs a breath of fresh air. She’s an author with whom I often personally relate, plus, she’s a really good writer.

In her first book, “Grace for the Good Girl” it was like she climbed inside my brain and shifted little pieces around until life, both past and present, made more sense and had a lot more grace shimmering all over it.

Her second book was more of the first, but for a younger audience. I enjoyed gifting it to several of my favorite young women, excited that they could receive the message of grace-enough-for-me even sooner than I did.

Then came A Million Little Ways. A book I really didn’t have time to read and review this month. But, it was one of my favorite authors! And a girl’s gotta have some indulgences in a season of crazy, right?

And so, in little snitches here and there, during late night feedings and turns in the passenger seat and–#keepingitreal–bathroom breaks, I’ve been nibbling on Emily’s delicious prose. And here’s what I have to say about it…

What I loved…

Emily’s words inspired deeper thoughts than I’ve felt capable of thinking in…months. She’s gently lead me to deep, reflective waters that have refreshed a soul rubbed raw by busy schedules and way. too. little sleep. She’s reminded me that there is something deeper than the to do list, while explaining that my to do list itself is art. She’s reminded me that I–we all–have an artist inside us. Sometimes hiding terrified in a corner, sometimes left behind and forgotten in the childhood years. And she’s reminded me that to feel fully alive, to be all God made us to be, to experience the joy and fulfillment He meant for His creation, we must be willing to make the art He made us to make.

It’s just like the verses I’ve been SOAPing in Ephesians this month…”For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath foreordained that we should walk in them.” Yeah, those good works are more than sweaty service in crusty corners…it’s also creating beauty, whispering encouragement, and doing those things that makes us feel alive.

When I read the War of Art by Stephen Pressfiled, I was convinced and motivated to push through the resistance to make my art. But in Emily’s words, I find the resistance itself explained, from a woman who gets it, and who knows the Father. It all has to do with identity. We forfeit the ability to make and live our art when we forget who and Whose we are. Remembering that allows us to dip into the depths of all the beauty He meant to happen when He breathed His own breath into our souls.

It’s a journey. I’m on it. You’re on it. And this book is for anyone who needs a hand up or a little more light to make progress on living and creating in all the freedom God meant for us. I’ll admit, I’m not even done with the book yet. I believe it’s meant to be read slowly, reflectively, and, if you’re an extrovert like me, in community with friends so you can talk through the gentle promptings and ideas that will flow as you discover the million little ways He’s given us to walk in His image as an artist.

Quotes…
Here’s a few of my takeaways so far:

“Your childhood dream delights God.”

“What if you desire to do a particular thing because God create you a particular way, not to tease you or to make you miserable, but to actually mold you into becomeing more like him, for his glory and the benefit of other?”hi

“…being an artist has something to do with being brave enough to move toward what makes you come alive.”

What I didn’t like…
Just kidding! There wasn’t anything I didn’t adore about Emily’s latest book. So, there you go. 😉

A Million Little Ways is available November 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Getting Intentional About Community {And an Invitation for You!}

April 22, 2013 by Trina 1 Comment

One Monday a month, I rush to get dinner ready by 5pm, and as soon as my husband gets in the door from work, I grab my purse and a plate full of dinner, kiss my babies, and head out the door. I drive 45 min. to my dear friend and mentor September’s house and to spend the evening with a group of ladies, talking, praying, and fellowshipping together. We’ve been reading through Sally Clarkson’s book, “The Ministry of Motherhood”, discussing a few chapters each time we meet, and I always come away inspired, equipped, and more passionate about my role as a mom. It’s a long drive, and a late night for me, but it’s worth it, because I need community.

Every other Wednesday morning, I pile my kids in the car and we drive 5 min. (woot!) to the home of a friend from our Church. We join 8-10 other moms, their several dozen children, and a few dads who come along to watch the kids, and we enjoy 2 hours of good, deep fellowship, building friendships and community with other local moms. We’ve been working our way through the awesome book from Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson, “Desperate”, and in the months since we started the study, we have truly bonded, found community, and feel just a little bit less desperate in this challenging season of young mommy-hood. We make the effort to do this twice a month because mommies need community.

This Saturday, thousands of women from all over the world will meet together in homes and churches to fellowship and enjoy the awesome content the women from InCourage.com put together each year in the form of short, inspiring videos. This year the theme is “The Challenge to Stay in Community” and we’ll be exploring why community is hard, why it’s worth it, and how women have worked through the challenges of embracing community. Women all over (including myself!) will be adjusting wires to connect to the webcast, making yummy food, and decorating for this fun girl’s weekend that doesn’t require traveling, but instead comes right to our town. We’re hosting our own, or driving to a friend’s meet up, because we know we all need community.

I didn’t used to know what if felt like to rest in the warm hug and helping hands of community, but since I became intentional about community, my life has become richer, deeper, and more joy-filled. If you’re feeling alone, I’d encourage you to take a step this week to find or build a community you can be a part of. It doesn’t take much. A few ladies willing to make the effort to meet in each other’s homes for coffee or a book study. A phone call to a friend while you both fold laundry, sharing what’s on your heart and praying for each other. Or, checking out inrl.us and finding a meet up this Saturday that’s within driving distance for you!

Community rarely happens by accident. We must be intentional–reaching out, grabbing on, and holding tight. (<–Tweet that!)

It’s totally worth the effort.

(some of the decorations I’m preparing for my InRL party this weekend!)

Resources for Getting Intentional About Community:

The book “Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe” is set up to make a great book study, with discussion questions and links to online resources. This is a book any mom could relate to, with practical inspiration on every page. The ebook version of “Desperate” is on sale today for just $3.99! (Also? There’s a whole bunch of giveaways celebrating this sale over at Sarah Mae’s today!)
The Desperate DVD Companion Study comes out today! I received an early copy of the DVD and have been using it to help lead the discussion with our little mom’s group on Wednesdays. It’s such a treat–like having Sally and Sarah sitting right in the living room with us! Short videos introduce the chapter’s topic, share stories and stuff that’s bonus to what’s in the book, and allow someone else to do the talking if you want to start a group but you’re too shy to do all the talking! 😉 You can get the DVD here, or you can get it free when you purchase 5 copies of the paperback version of the book (This is what I did with an earlier sale! All set for my group study!) You just take a picture or scan your receipt and send it to: desperatebook@thomasnelson.com
You can also get a mom’s small group guide to help you start a ‘Desperate’ group here. (I used this and it’s great!)
Go to inrl.us and find a meet up near you! And if you’re within driving distance of the Fingerlakes in Upstate NY, consider this your official invitation to come to my house on Saturday! My party is from 9am to 3pm, you’re welcome to pop in any time! Lunch will be served (and it’s gonna be amazing!). Contact me for more info.

What do your efforts toward community look like? Do you feel like you have good community, or do you feel the lack of it? Are you coming to my part???? 😉

{Finally} Loving My Core–Diastasis ReHab at Home

February 25, 2013 by Trina 16 Comments

How are your New Year’s Resolutions going?

Whoops. Sorry I asked. Wait–you’ll forgive me in a minute when I share this great resource I discovered.

One of my goals for the new year was to close my diastasis Do you all know what diastasis is? It’s where the muscles that hold in the stomach separate during pregnancy, and afterward, they rarely go back in place on their own without help. Many people do hundreds of crunches, believing that’s the secret to a flatter tummy but that actually can make the problem worse. Finally, some resort to tummy tucks as a desperate effort to bring the stomach back where it belongs. But that’s major surgery and freakin’ expensive.

So, what’s a momma to do? I was asking myself that question last month when I happened upon Bethany Learn’s AMAZING website, Fit2B.us,

The exercises that Bethany teaches are tummy safe and all the workouts are designed to heal diastasis and help moms sculpt their core (and the rest of their body) so they can carry babies well and maintain a fit figure through pregnancy and beyond. And all from the comfort of your own home. No going to the gym.

To say I was excited was an understatement.

In fact, I was so excited, I cooked up this plan to post my fitness goals and have ya’ll join me and together we were gonna do this whole ‘get rid of your mummy tummy’ together on the blog in January. I got the post all written but then I didn’t have a peace about publishing it. (I didn’t know why, God just said, ‘no’.) So it sat in drafts for a week or two, and then we discovered the mold in our house was making us sick, so we evacuated to a house that didn’t actually have internet. Looking back, I realized that was probably why the Lord hadn’t given me a peace about my fitness initiative here on the blog, because without internet, I’d have been really stressed trying to follow through on something I’d started. (Pardon the Bunny Trail!)

But you know what? Even with how sporadically I was able to work out so far this year, I’ve had something really amazing happen: I’ve closed by diastasis.

Now here is where, if I was brave enough, I’d post before and after pictures. But people, I’m chicken. That was just way to much skin. Instead, I’m just gonna describe it for you. (trust me, this is better)

Before: I look 3 months pregnant. I had a 2-3 finger width diastasis (you can learn to measure your level of diastasis here) and my belly pooched out over the top of my jeans.

After 6 weeks of (intermittent) working out for 10 min. at a time with Beth’s techniques: Belly visibly flatter. Waist more clearly defined. You can actually almost SEE my abs, and my diastasis is completely closed.

I don’t know about you, but I am seriously impressed. Not with my dedication–oh no! we already talked about how sporadic my attempts at regular workout have been–I’m impressed with the workouts Beth has developed, so custom fit for a mommy’s body and needs.

{If you really, really wanna see some great before and after diastasis photos, check out the blog Beautiful after the Belly. Very inspiring.}

So now, I’m finally getting around to sharing this awesome concept and resource with you. If you’ve had a pooch that traditional fitness isn’t helping, here’s what you do:

Quit doing crunches.
Go to Fit2B and learn about what diastasis is and why many fitness programs actually make it worse.
Sign up to Beth’s newsletter (in the sidebar here) so you can get access to her free sample workout (this is the one I used to get the above results)
If you like it and begin to see results as quickly as I did, get yourself a subscription to the her online gym and dozens of videos like I have!

Then, we can work out together (you in the comfort of your home, I in mine!) and we all can enjoy finally loving our core.

Do you have diastasis? Have you ever heard of it before? Do you like the idea of an ‘online gym’ as much as I do???

This post contains affiliate links.

Resources for Getting Intentional About Community:

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