Organic...not just for the nature lover...

So, I have a lot of friends who have "gone organic" recently and I was kinda surprised at this...not really surprised at wanting to eat healthy, just why organic? Well, since being diagnosed with Type II Diabetes earlier this year, it has been a real battle for me to eat healthy. But that has been resolved, so to speak, by the opening of the Earth Fare store in Auburn! That place is awesome! And although some things are what I would consider "overpriced", there are so many choices for other things. I have been inspired to try new things, to think "outside" the box with the box being the BIG BOX grocery stores...wow, I am impressionable after all!

We finally went to the store this past week after my boss told me I could get the Greens Plus Mixed Berry powder she has been raving about. So, we planned it ahead of time for one evening after work and off we went. I was excited to see what it was all about, but really had no idea what to expect. I admit, I did check out their website briefly ahead of time, but I still had no idea.

We were somewhat overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by the choices, overwhelmed by the samples, overwhelmed by the amount of good stuff that is available. The kids loved the free samples, as kids often do, but we adults were pretty excited about them, too! We purchased a few things...some winesap apples (never had, nor heard of them before, but they are tart and sweet--a great combo), organic raisins (which have proven to be my fav), some cayenne kettle corn (hot, yet sweet), coconut water, the Greens Plus powder, Wasa sourdough crispbread, Newman Cinnamon Mints (for my parental units...since that is my maiden name) and bananas.

So, I guess I am hooked on organic! We were so impressed we went back today and got some more goodies: more of Ike & Sam's kettle corn (we decided to try all the flavors since it was on sale: cayenne, sweet & salty, mo'cheddar and caramel), more raisins (2 this time..I want them to last!) and Cultural Revolution Vanilla Organic Yogurt (I tried mixing the raisins in this tonight...it was heavenly, my new "fav" snack).

On their website they have this cool coupon when you first sign up that allows you trade in some High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) items from your pantry, no matter whether the products is full, half full or nearly gone, and trade it in for something without HFCS from their selection! I find that pretty awesome! A store that promotes good health for its customers and encourages "sampling" at their store. I find the sampling really important because I am one who certainly doesn't want to waste money on something I'm not going to eat..not in this economy anyway.

So, that's my summary of my new found love of organics...oh, and we made a commitment this week to only eat out on Sundays and Wednesdays...that, in itself, is a "one giant leap for mankind" a.k.a. the Williams' Family.

Cheese Dome Thingy

Here it is! My first post about things I want to create and do around the house! I've been cleaning out and selling on Ebay like a mad woman and now I want to create. I kept seeing cheese and cake domes on other blogs and wanted one for myself. So, unbelievably, on my first trip to the local thrift store, I found one. It was still attached to it's wooden home, but for $3.99 I simply couldn't pass it up even if I redonate the bottom part. Now the problem is I'm not sure what to do with it, but I know it's got potential!

unmerited favor

“The blessed, unmerited favor of God has been extended to me”…the words of this song have been resounding in my head for the last few weeks. I loved that song way before I ever understood what unmerited favor was simply because women I had great respect for sang it at church.

Here lately, I have been really focusing on this unmerited favor that God extends to us. What exactly is “unmerited favor”? One word sums up it up and that is “grace”. God’s grace is extended to anyone and everyone regardless of what their past says about them. That is what makes it unmerited. We don’t do anything to deserve it; we are sinful man, it is our nature. This is the favor God showers upon us.

The world doesn’t look at the heart of man, it looks at the outside. What does this person have that others don’t? Looks, brains, clothes, height, weight, hairstyle and the list goes on. But God is not interested in what man has to offer on the outside; He is only interested in the heart. Oftentimes, this confuses a person who is searching for the fulfillment they can’t find anywhere in the world, but they also don’t understand that despite how much ugliness may be in their past, God doesn’t care. God is the Father of all mankind, but this relationship is only understood once a person gives their heart and life to Christ. Once the heart is given over, the rest follows; however, until a person takes that step it is absolutely impossible to understand God’s grace.

This grace is not just extended to those searching for forgiveness, it is also extended to those of us whom have either tried to take things back into our own hands or have walked away for a time. Whether you’re a new follower or you’ve been one for years, His grace is still extended to you every day. I recall a t-shirt I wore for years, on the front it said, “Are you far from God? Guess who moved?” on the back it said, “Draw close to God and He will draw close to you.” God doesn’t walk away from us; we put on our walking shoes and slowly (or quickly) make strides back to the ways of the world not always because we want to, but as man we are often ashamed of ourselves and forget that His grace is there to cover a multitude of sins.

I recently had a conversation with a good friend of mine, Amber. Amber will tell you in a heartbeat all about the grace of God. She wandered away for some time, but has come full circle and is now back where she belongs. Her testimony speaks for so many young women in today’s world, but the difference is she came back to the grace, the unmerited favor. Here’s what Amber has to say:

“God took me from a life completely separated from Him. I was doing things that no one should ever do and living in a way that certainly God is not ok with and still He took me back and not only forgave me for all of the horrible things I did, but blessed me beyond measure and continues to do so and He does with ANYONE who is willing to receive it.”

To know God personally is so awesome...it's amazing anyone would turn it down...they think the world is great, most don't know any better, but if they could only get a glimpse, a taste, they could know all the world offers is nothing compared to what God gives us!

When God is part of your life, your outlook is revived every time you read His word and hear of the mighty works He is doing/has done. There is contentment inside of you that nothing compares to. Amber said it well, “… with Him everything is meaningful and profound and beautiful.”

God takes your glass, whether half-empty, half-full or there is dust in the bottom, and fills it to overflowing! His unmerited favor cannot be contained in words or thoughts. It is beyond human imagination, but that is what makes it so fascinating. Why would anyone ever love me enough to give me favor without me having to do one iota in return?

“Grace, grace, God’s grace. Grace that is greater than all our sin. Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin.”

Welcome Aboard!

For all my previous blog fans, I welcome you and my newbies to follow me on my latest journey, a Quest for Zest! This will cover a vast array of topics including house remodeling/updating, spending time with family and finding the path God wants me to travel. I have been on the back-burner for far too long and have truly missed sharing my little slice of life with the world. Stay tuned for updates soon!