Jamaica-Me-Crazy!

Y'know, I don't recall specifically how long ago it was, but my sister, Tracy, and I once went on a quest for a spice blend of some sort while camping at a KOA Kampsite with our parents.  We ran out of our Lawry's seasoning salt, so we wandered down to the on-site camp store, where we were greeted by a very kind camp owner as well as a plethora of creepy miniature dolls our mother later insisted on purchasing.  Regardless, the kind man offered to let us borrow his spice mix, called Jamaica Me Crazy, in lieu of having to go to town for some spices since his shop did not indeed sell any.  Since then this phrase has been widely used by our family (as in, "you're making me crazy!"), but never has is seemed so appropriate until now--I am so excited to go to Jamaica this summer, it's making me a little bit crazy!

I will be sending out some letters in the next couple days, but have had such a wide friends base request an electronic version I figured posting it on my blog couldn't hurt.  If you're a complete and total traditionalist and would prefer a letter be snail mailed to you, stop here and let me know!  I'm completely fine with that.  If you're not into that kind of thing, but want to know more, keep going - this post is for you:

Friends and Family,

I am writing to let you know about an incredible opportunity I have to serve some needy people in Jamaica this June.  We will be partnering with Mission Discovery (an organization who does short term missions) and to take 15 people to go and serve in Montego Bay, Jamaica June 9-15.  This trip will provide three opportunities:  first, in Barrett Hall, a small community where there is a local church serving this very needy community.  This church and school could be a place of ministry for our team as we work to encourage the members, help with the continuing construction, and share the gospel with the people of the community.  Work could include laying blocks, carrying sand, mixing concrete, and leading a Children’s Bible study.  Second, in Eden, a small village that is off the “beaten path,” set back in the hills and rainforests of the island.  In this tiny town, the Jamaica Christian School for the Deaf ministers to hearing impaired and special needs children whose families could not otherwise afford such excellent attention and care.  This needed school may be a place of ministry for our team to work together to meet the children’s physical and spiritual needs.  Projects could include building new dorms and classrooms, creating safe areas for the children to play, building perimeter fences, and leading a Children’s Bible School in Eden. This location in particular is dear to my heart because of the love the Lord has put in my heart for learning sign language and helping those who are deaf.  Third, we will also have the opportunity to lead a children’s Bible school and work at Blossom Garden Children’s Home, an orphanage that houses more than 70 children.  This is another portion of the trip I am greatly looking forward to since James 1:27 commands us “to look after orphans and widows in their distress”.  I have felt the gravity of this verse press on my heart in the last few years, especially for the orphans, and I am excited to have the opportunity to share Christ’s love with these Jamaican children.  Lastly, our group will also spend a day shopping at the Straw Market and relaxing at one of the island’s beautiful beaches.

I am writing to ask for your support for this opportunity. I want to ask you to consider supporting me one or more ways.  First, going on this mission trip, I want this to be His mission not mine; in all this my heart needs to be rightly focused on God and relying on Him to get me through the week. So, would you be willing to be a prayer warrior for me?  I really want to be prepared to do whatever God asks me to do and I believe that I need to be spiritually prepared before I go.  Also, I would like for you to pray for me to be physically ready and healthy while I am there.  Please pray for the families we will be serving.  Pray that we would be able to meet their physical needs as well as their spiritual.  If you would be willing to do this, please let me know.

The second way you could support me on this project would be to help me with the cost of the trip. I will need to pay $1600 in order to attend. This amount covers, travel, food and lodging, supplies for projects, and supplies to meet some needs in the local community.  If you are able to help this way, details are below.

As you can tell this trip is only three months away but and I need to begin receiving support as soon as possible.  Whatever you can do will be greatly appreciated. If you are able to give financially you can simply send a check to Chase Oaks Church in my care (EDIT - as in to me, Patricia Price) at 241 Legacy Drive, Plano, Texas 75023 (I work there in addition to worshiping there, so I have a mailbox and everything), made out to CHASE OAKS CHURCH, the church I attend. Then in the memo line put “Jamaica Mission Trip”.  Do not put my name on the check.  I will turn it in to the church for you so you will get a tax deduction if you desire.

Thank you for considering partnering with me on this mission trip.  I am looking forward to sharing the stories of how God will use us to show love through using our hands, feet, and hearts during this week.

Thank you,

Patricia Price

A review of the 2012 playbook

Certainly, this was a year unlike any other.  It was filled with learning, growing, and plenty of growing pains as well.  Fortunately, there has been more sustained joy in that pain, knowing that Christ is transforming me to be more like Him with every ache I feel.  It has been truly beautiful.

My 2012 Resolutions were:

Healthy Choices: I would definitely say that was a total success considering the fact that I am the fittest I've ever been before in my entire life and maintaining healthy eating and workout habits with the help of my amazing accountability team.  I have completely over turned the contents of my pantry and fridge and that has helped me over turn my closet a few times this year!

Joyful Obedience:  I'm still terrible about getting the laundry done on a regular basis and I have to scramble to get the house clean every time someone is coming over (feel free to count that as an invitation to make house calls) but in regard to trusting and obeying God and His plans for me, that is becoming simpler daily with prayer and humble submission.  Now I just need to remember that everything I do is meant to glorify the Lord and that includes laundry and vacuuming with joy and gratitude in my heart.

Read more:  Not as successful as I had hoped, but I did read more in 2012 than in 2011, so we'll call it a win.  I will say that since the living room is basically just a couch and a fireplace now, I have read significantly more.  I fully intend continue that upswing this year and have already clocked an hour toward that goal.

More homemade, less store bought:  I would definitely say that has been accomplished.  Decorations, clothing, pieces of furniture, and lots of food have been made and enjoyed by us over the last year.  There is more that I can be making myself and I'll work this year to implement more of those things into our lives, but I feel quite satisfied with the progress made this year toward becoming more self-sustainable.  Next comes chickens.  Okay, kidding (for now) but composting and vegetable growing is on the list for this year!

I very much look forward to what is in store for 2013 and I am excited to see who I am a year from now, as the Lord continues to mold my heart and draw me nearer to Himself!

My 2013 Resolutions:

Continue growing each of those 2012 resolutions

Take my sabbath more seriously- make time to relax

Make time in the Word a higher priority

Aim for intentionality and authenticity in all relationships

iTunes Champion

I am triumphant!  My iTunes and I battled and I won.

Momza and Pops just left a couple hours ago from their week here for Thanksgiving.  It rocked having them here, so we were sad to see them go.  And their puppies!  I am surprised Grady refrained from trying to hide one or both of them so they couldn't leave...  Such cute puppies!!!

Yesterday, while the mister slept, the rents and I went to Lowe's go purchase their Christmas gift to us: three beautiful, big, steel shelving units for our garage (on sale and we didn't do any crazy Black Friday shenanigans to get the deal!), followed by my pops helping me set them up and getting them loaded while Momza so kindly, without prompting or being requested, prepped the house for Christmasing.  We also converted the newly clean garage in to the rough beginnings of a man cave for the aforementioned sleeping mister, but more on that later.

Once we got around to setting up the tree, I realized that it would be crying shame to not listen to some great Christmas music while we decked the halls.  I was wanting my old, ridiculous stuff-- you know what I'm talking about-- Billy Gilman, Jim Henson and The Muppets, The Carpenters.  It was then that I remembered that in the great flood of 2011, we lost the computers and therefore the music.  I guess I just ignored that fact last year?  Not sure how I made it through without a tantrum... (If tantruming happened, I am sincerely sorry to any of you sweet friends who dealt with it.  I've clearly repressed that situation if it did indeed happen).  Regardless, Pops and the then awake mister conspired to get my music back to me via a media transfer from Pops' computer by flash drive!  Genius!!!

At that point, iTunes started to play elusive...  Jerk.  Tripp did what he could, Pops tried too, but to no avail.  They added a folder of all the music to my desktop, but shortly thereafter, Tripp had to do that lame thing we call going to work...  Boo.

Fast forward to this morning!  We send off the rents and pups, do our Saturday morning routine, and once mister was sufficiently snuggled to sleep, I made a tactical strike at the iTunes.  I knew it was a permissions issue, so I looked into altering ALL of the permissions regarding our hard drive, my iTunes account, and my computer user account.  After reading MANY blog forums, modifying copious amounts of curse words before they escaped my lips into silly phrases, and refraining from actually punching the computer, I stumbled across the issue: the random location iTunes has decided to store and pull my music from was locked from modification from my account.  And by that I mean Tripp was the only user marked as available to make changes.  I added myself to the list of admins for that file while mumbling something about a misogynistic computer system, added my music files, opted for "Add to Library," and watched every single music file name scroll by as I felt the full weight of my victory!  Best yet, my as-good-as-Apple-Genius husband didn't have to hand hold me the whole time!  Or any of the time; I am soo capable!

I am listening to some of that good old Christmas music right now as I type to you of my success and it feels soo good.  Now we move on to crafting: jingle bell poppies from egg cartons, tree skirt from table cloth, crocheted star ornaments, paper word garlands, something creative for our above-mantle art (inspiration will come, I'm not worried.  Or Pinterest will be summoned), and making pillows and curtains for the man cave!

My Weight Loss Secrets!

Yesterday, I celebrated my first anniversary of being refined sugar free!  Refined sugars specified only because when you say "sugar free," people get uppity about fruit and honey, which I do still consume.  But cut me some slack- from here on in, I will refer to the topic simply as sugar free.

Okay, let's get honest-- some of you won't like hearing this, but it has to be said: "You're stronger than me" and "I could never do that" are not compliments.  There.  I said it!  It's not flattering to tell me that you have no faith in yourself.  I know what you intend for that to mean, but it's just not a compliment.  I promise you, if giving up sugars was something that mattered to you like it did to me, you would give them up too.

NOTE: there are some people who can eat refined sugars in moderation without struggling.  I am in no way saying I judge sugar eaters (although, it sounds derogatory when I say it that way).  Only that we should give compliments that convey what we really mean.

I've gotten a lot of questions about this sugar free decision, the most frequent of which is "WHY?".  If you really wanna know...  I am completely and undeniably addicted to refined, processed, sugars.  I formed that addiction partially through genetics and partially because of my eating disorder.

July 2, 2011, I shared a tear filled conversation with a dear friend of mine during which I realized that the behaviours that plagued me in middle school had resurfaced in my life--I was purposefully skipping meals when I felt down on my self (weighing in at 220 lbs for a 5'10" girl?  Basically all the time) and lying to everyone in my life about it.  I claimed I didn't eat because I was sooo busy or that I just wasn't hungry when people asked.  I had probably stood staring into a pantry or fridge that day (letting the cold air out, running up the electricity bill, I know), willing myself to not eat, though.

On the other hand, I had developed new behaviours that I hadn't recognized until that evening- when stressed, I binge ate on sweets.  Gluttonous gorging on candies, cakes, cookies, you name it.  I had no will power or discipline.  If I opened a bag of chocolates, I would pour a small handful, eat them and put the bag away.  Aaaannnd two minutes later, I was back getting another handful.  And another handful.  And another handful until the bag was empty. I could.not.stop.myself.  Anyone who went to culinary school or worked at Aprima with me can attest to how incredibly stressful either environment was and also, I'm sure, to how much I was eating all of the time.

Yes, I was eating, but I was not getting nourishment.  Both the anorexia and binge eating are completely separate with unique triggers while still existing simultaneously in my mind.  It was hard living that way and I was not happy.  Once I realized it, it had to stop.  And that part wasn't easy either.  Fortunately, I have an incredible husband and dear, wonderful friends who all love me and wanted only good health and happiness for me.  They were the ones who really listened when I tearfully asked them for their help and babysat me through the first six months of eating on a regular diet at regularly scheduled times.  Then, they were the ones who understood when I went Paleo that even though I didn't have a leaky gut, I needed healing in the area of nutrition.

I know this sounds so far like a huge sob story, but really it's a celebration!  I DON'T live like that any more!  I  DON'T think like that any more!  That is NOT who I am any more.

IF YOU DON'T READ ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS POST, READ THE NEXT PARAGRAPH!  Please and thank you.

An eating disorder is ANYTIME our food consumption is central to EMOTIONAL needs.  That's it!  You don't have to fit one of the three (now four) known and named disorders to be a disordered eater.  More importantly, if you struggle with an eating disorder, it does not have to own you.  There is life on the other side and it feels gooood!  Lastly, you never know what the people around you are struggling with, so be kind, be loving, and lend support even when you don't understand.

So don't tell me if you felt that terrible all of the time, you wouldn't choose to give up sweets or grains or whatever it took.  Don't tell me you couldn't handle choosing to be healthy and happy.  I am not the strength in this situation; the strength only comes from our sovereign Father and He will provide for your needs too.

Today I celebrate being a year and a day on the road to recovery (cliche, but true), giving the Lord the control to make me whole.

Random Thoughts on Present Blessings

The Lord has been at work in me regarding specifically obedience, discipline, patience, and trust for a few months now (years actually, but he's had victories in the past few months).  It's been an incredible journey!  I wanted to share a few tidbits of it with you.

As I worked out this evening, the Holy Spirit reminded me that my health journey over the last 10 months (nearly) has taught me really great things.  Quick shout out to my girl, Janelle--thank you for our text conversation tonight.  God absolutely used that for these ends:

• I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  And that can mean physical strengthening.  Frequently, I think of that meaning only spiritual, mental, or emotional strengthening; however, I've found the physical application in that I can push myself significantly further than I would have imagined because God made me capable. (Thank you to Becca and Megan for guiding me to that revelation).

• I CAN give up sweets and the ever beloved bread/pasta/pastries and be PERFECTLY happy, content, and fulfilled. (Glo- you know you're the biggest catalyst for this one).  No part of me feels deprived, disappointed, or lacking.  When your health and happiness is at such a strain, as mine was even an recently as just last summer, you find you will do what it takes to restore your temple.

• Now I'm in a place where God is using me to help lead and teach others about health, fitness, food, and so much more.

In case you hadn't gathered by now, I feel amazing and I know that is how God intended for me to live!  What joy!  What a wonderful Redeemer.

Birthdays, Price Style

Yesterday was Grady's 24th birthday, so I decided to go a little crazy while he slept.

Crape paper everywhere!

Helium balloons (I was a bit of a doof about how many balloons the tank would fill. Oh well!)

Grady was soo pleased, can't you tell? No, really, he loved it!

See? He decided to dive in!

Kiki was (is) not pleased! Tripp thought it would be fun to spread the balloons all over the house and since the pup is apparently afraid of them, she gets herself trapped as the fans move them around at will.

Quick dog sidebar: when Tripp got home this morning, Kiki was excited (per usual) but frustrated that she was "blocked" on the bed with me. She found a patch of opportunity, hopped down, found herself surrounded by balloons and no where to go, and attempted to hop back up on the bed. She did not quite nail her landing, however... Kiki fell off the bed, popped a balloon, and effectively flew into the center of the bed! Hilarious.

Next up - family celebration! We're headed over to Sharon and Ed's place for dinner along with my mom and pops (they're graciously sharing their anniversary to celebrate Tripp's birthday!). I'm in charge of dessert (duh), so Tripp and I landed on Pavlovas! Because who doesn't love baked meringue (pictured above), whipped coconut cream, and honey macerated kiwi and strawberries? That's right, no one.

2011: A Year in Review

Here we are at yet another new years eve and I am naturally contemplating the happenings of the past and my hopes for the future. 2011 has been an eventful year:

February- Our apartment flooded

July- We moved into a sweet little house; I made life altering health choices

September- We celebrated our first anniversary

Well, that list is shorter than it feels like it should be, however, that's only when I consider the really big "noteworthy" happenings, and only those in which occurred within our little Price unit. We celebrated safe returns from deployments, new life, and beginnings of great new adventures along with our families, but for the events that took place among our two person, one dog family, the above four landmarks have changed us.

Back in February, the flood seemed to own my life. It was hard, to say the least. But it's true what they say- time heals all.

Lessons learned:

• possessions are of this world, they come and go, so don't place too much weight in them.
• Relationships are valuable; you'll find refuge in the most unexpected places when you value your friendships as they should be.
• Patience- to be okay where and when we are presently.
• Fortitude- there are going to be hard things, but if you keep your head down and tough through them, you'll find a reason in time
• Contrary to popular belief, God does give us more than we can handle. But it's because we're supposed to give those burdens back to Him in trust.
• God is sovereign and we need to be obedient.

The blessing in the form of a rental house has been indescribably instrumental to our recovery to normalcy from the chaos and uncertainty that followed the flood. The employees of the apartment complex, the neighbors, the feeling of complete vulnerability and insecurity was more than I could handle. Our sweet little house has made me feel safe again. I'm sure that's a huge relief to my amazing husband, because paranoia does not become me...

Those health choices- I have had some demons that I've been dancing with for a number of years now and I've finally taken real action to own my life over them. I have eliminated the sweets from my diet entirely and now eat on a regimented schedule. I know this sounds simple and silly to some of you, but I can hardly describe the havoc I was reeking on my body before I implemented those changes and the negativity that ate constantly at my mind because of it. I am 6 months "clean", if you will, and I have never felt better in my life. I've also started riding my bike and that has only helped.

And best of all this year, our anniversary! I know I can gush enough about Grady to write a whole volume of books, but let it be said that he is the most loyal, patient, loving, and kind man I have ever known and living a life with him daily delights me. With all of the struggles and hard times, he's been more supportive than I could have imagined. It is obvious to me the God created my husband with me in mind- Grady has been tailor made to my needs. I love him more everyday than I did the day before (a concept that never ceases to amaze me).

As for my 2011 resolutions, I am proud to report that I succeeded. Many of them in round about ways that were not my expectation or plan; nevertheless, God clearly wanted to reinforce my resolutions through everything we've experienced this year. I indeed find myself a different woman than I was a year ago and I think that's how it should be.

2012 Resolutions:

Continue to hold strong to the healthy choices.

Continue to hone joyful obedience within my heart

Read more

Become more homemade and less store bought

The Power Struggle

I can hardly wait to leave work today and get to our new house! You might ask, "didn't you move in on Friday? What's special about today?"

Well, it's true that the lease started and we moved a great many of our belongings in on Friday; however, we have not had electricity until today... It's been a bit of a saga, but to avoid much of the drama, let's just focus on lessons learned:

1) When renting a house, be sure to ask the landlord about the expectations for electricity- Will it be on when we move in? Will it need to be in our name?
2) If the answer to the questions above are "No" and "Yes" respectively, recognize that some energy companies will take three business days to turn on power.
3) Take the time to research said energy companies-- some of them will only take ONE business day and may be cheaper...
4) Number 3 is better known before all of the other lessons because if you cancel a contract to switch, the first company just might play tricks that will keep your new company from being able to keep their promises...

But now that's all behind us- we have power which means we have air conditioning! I've loved the house from the moment we first walked in, but I have a hunch that I'll love it even more when I get walk in today and can enjoy being it!

Although, I will kind of miss the "sauna affect"- I'm pretty sure I lost all of my water weight this weekend alone... Just kidding- I won't miss that at all :)

Joyful Obedience

Well, it's January- the start of a new year. I've never been much of a resolution maker, but the beginning of 2011 seemed like a good time to start! My resolutions include but are not limited to these:

• Take better care of myself. No "work out everyday" or "swearing off restaurants"- I'm trying to set myself up for success, here!
• Be a better and nicer wife. Tripp insists that in no way have I been a poor or mean wife, but I can just see some areas for growth.
• Most importantly-- teach myself to become joyfully obedient.

I've heard the phrase all my life- joyful obedience. The first Sunday of the month, every Chrysalis retreat (sever times over each weekend)... Page 12 of the United Methodist hymnal at the end of the confession and pardon prayer. "Forgive us, we pray. Free us for joyful obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord."

I have had the communion ritual memorized for a number of years (as I'm sure many in our congregations do, but still, we start at the book...). Since my realization of this fact, I have quit "turn[ing] to page 12 in [my] pew hymnal" when the minster asks and I have had a series of epiphanies about the meanings of the words we recite month after month, thoughtlessly, only because I've put thought into them as they are said. Still, I can be quite slow and some phrases get over looked all the same. Admittedly, the feeling of complete stupidity that follows the bliss of making a revelation is incredibly humbling and therefore all part of the process, I'm sure.

I marvel at the timing of God's wonders, but clearly, Christmas eve was the night where my ears were first opened to hear what my life has been so lacking, then reinforced when we took communion again on January 2. I'm lazy. I procrastinate. I've been actively working on it for a handful of years now with little success. And it makes so much sense now, looking back- I told myself to get up and do work but I felt like there was no purpose in it. Why do I need to clean up? Why do I need to do my homework? Why do I need to study stupid subjects? "Because it needs to be done." That was never sufficient for me. On the rare occasion it was, then my obedience was begrudgingly.

I didn't understand the truth in "it needs to be done" and how that IS enough purpose for me to do work. As I was talking to my friend Stacy this morning, she reminded me that work is a blessing and always has been: Adam was to tend the garden even before he and Eve sinned. God did not make us capable and smart people with the intention for us to just sit around, doing nothing. Working is just as much a part of our nature as sinning is (but helps us stay focused and avoid sin- a topic for another time). We constantly busy ourselves and I have had a habit of busying myself with stupid, inconsequential tasks when I have real jobs to be doing!

If the dishes need to be done, then I need to do them and I need to be joyful in doing so-- I have dishes and there was food on them! The laundry is piling up, and I'm so grateful we can clothe ourselves. The bathroom is dirty, but praise God for our privacy, the sanitation advances we have made since the beginning of time, and especially for the good health we have and would like to keep!

It comes so naturally to me in the office! My job is so simple and incredibly mundane, but I am so happy to do it! I have a job and an income! Maybe the fact that my position is technically temporary helps me keep a grasp on the joy of the situation- every mindless and numbing task they find for me is another hour/day/week I get paid. I've started really trying at home in the last few days to practice joyful obedience and it's going to take some getting used to, a lot of discipline. But my overall joy is greater because I feel a sense of completion and purpose.

I guess that's really my only resolution, because everything else seems to fit into that one concept. If I'm taking care of everything I need to be taking care of, everything will be as it should. And that thought in itself is so freeing...

One Year Ago Today

I was about 3-4 hours early for a flight from MSP to DFW, my flight was delayed just over two hours, my luggage was lost, and then all of the stress of the day was forgotten when my then boyfriend became my fiance.

We were supposed to make a delicious meal together, but in my cranky and famished state, I forced him to take me out. So tonight to celebrate the passing year, our personal Christmas, and remember this monumental date in our relationship, we are going to make beef wellington! Tripp always has the best ideas when it comes to making nice meals and new recipes. I'm definitely lucky to have him as my husband this time around :)