Indulgence

Well, I DID IT!! I am officially 1/3 of the way into my journey.  I am beyond ecstatic! I feel amazing!  My mind is more clear and the blessings that I have noticed, not only in myself but my family, are beyond amazing and nothing short of a miracle. 

This last week was Halloween.  Yes, the kids did go trick or treating and we handed out toys instead of candy. When we got home, they went through their bags and got all the toys out and then gave me the candy.  Not once did they ask for a piece. I am so proud of them.  

This journey, like any other journey you go on, doesn't have to be void of "indulgences". Let's think about this. You are on a hike in the middle of summer on a VERY hot day. You're tired and exhausted. Heat is just radiating off of the rocks on the trail and your feet feel like they are on fire. It's making you even more hot and tired and you start to wonder why you decided to go for a hike on THAT day. You turn a corner and you see a beautiful waterfall. Your salvation. You can feel some of the mist on your face and OH, how good it feels. You get this urge to jump into the pool just so that you can remember what it is like to be cool again. You put your hiking pack down and take off your shoes. Already feeling better, you wade into the pool at the base of the falls and you let the spray mist your whole body, maybe even getting your hair wet. You smile, maybe even laugh, as the cold water washes away the sweat and heat of the day and runs down your back. You can almost hear angels sing. Trying to catch your breath as the frigid water soaks your body, you start to feel refreshed and ready for the rest of the journey ahead of you. This is an indulgence. My journey has not been void of indulgences. I welcome indulgences. It is the KIND of indulgences you need to watch out for.  On this hot day of hiking, you wouldn't pour your water over your head, thus wasting your water for the rest of the journey. That would set you back and you WOULD regret it.

A couple of weeks ago I had a brunch at my house.  I made all the food and it was delicious.  I made a vegetable quiche with a hash brown crust, fruit and yogurt with granola, and these AMAZING chocolate coconut muffins.  These muffins were amazing and I didn't feel guilty eating them at all.  Why? Because they were made with oats instead of flour, no oil, and no sugar.  They were quite possibly the BEST chocolate muffins I have ever eaten.

I'm starting to become more comfortable in finding AND using healthier alternatives in my baking. Doing this allows those indulgences in my families lives.  The kids don't feel deprived. I don't feel deprived, even though I really don't crave that kind of stuff anymore. Except those muffins, YUM! It gets me excited for the holidays coming up.  We have our family food traditions and they, like everyone else out there, are centered around sugar. This year will be different. I am excited this year to make hot chocolate WITHOUT sugar! I'm excited to try whole wheat flour for our traditional Cardamom Bread and substituting the sugar in that. I'm excited to give friends treats that are healthy AND delicious and not bad.  Seriously, how many of us dread the the holidays because of the treats?? It's like a swear word, "holidays".  Kinda funny actually, but by the end of December, I AM DONE with all the sweets.

Don't deprive yourself of the "indulgences" in your life.  You deserve it.  We ALL deserve it. But, if you are going to indulge, choose the wiser "dip in the NATURAL waterfall" instead of the "water bottle water fall".  I promise, you WON'T regret it. I haven't yet.