Raw for 33 days

We did it. That's right, we ate raw for 30 days straight. Nothing cooked, nothing heated, nothing pasturized... We did it!

And when we hit 30 days, we decided we liked it, and that we'd keep on going.  Today is day 33, and we are still eating raw.  I think we will probably start including a few other foods, like raw milk and raw yogurt and maybe even an occasionally slice of bread (**shudder of joy**).  But then again, I am strangely afraid that by letting myself go a little I might just start sliding down that slippery slope and not be able to get back up again.  You see, I've never been very good at 'diets.' There was that one time when I decided that the only way to lose weight and feel good about myself was to never eat again.  Well, I got hungry.  End of story.  (Funny thing is, it took feeling good about myself to loose weight, not the other way around, but that's a story for another day.)  We have just felt so good eating raw, and have seen so many benefits, and have been having so much fun doing it, that I don't want to stop.  Yes, I would like to be able to eat whatever I want without ever having to think about it, I would like to throw the easiest thing in front of my kids and not feel guilty, I would even like to indulge every once in a while in something decadent and horrifically high in calories, but frankly, keeping myself and my family healthy is really, really important to me, and right now eating raw seems to be a great way to do that.  Not the only way, but the right way for us, right now.  So, bare with me for a while longer as I carry on this journey.  Eventually it is going to either become just something that we do, not blog worthy or all consuming, as it is right now, or we will find that it's not what we want to do any longer.  But for now, the Wiebe family is still raw, and loving it.

On another note, can I tell you that I'm completely annoyed by all the Valentines posts in Blogland right now. How I wish I had a house to completely decorate in red and pink hearts, but I don't, and even if I did, I've never considered Valentines a holiday worth rearranging any furniture for.   Although, if I magically do get around to doing some hearty crafts, this one is one I'd feel good about.  I may swallow my words next year, but for now I am steering clear of all the pink posts.  I'll rejoin the reading after the 14th, thank you very much!

Finally they are earning their keep!

Today we had some work to do on the house we are renovating, and no one to watch the boys, so we brought them along and put them to work!  That's right folks, you're never too young to pick up a paint brush and put in a few hours of good hard physical labour!

Somehow Silas knew just what to do with the paint roller.  Yes, he is wearing a sleeper, don't judge me.  We don't have a lot of 'paint clothes' around for our 16-month-old, so old hand-me-down sleeper it is!  He was in heaven, and didn't even realize he had no paint (or actual roller, for that matter). 

Eli, on the other hand, could not be fooled.  He wanted to help, and he wanted real paint.  I was a little nervous, letting him at it, but figured there wasn't much damage he could do, so I gave him a paint brush and some paint and let him at the baseboards.  He was a champ, almost helpful, and extremely proud of himself. 

 Once Jared's power tools came out, however, the monotony of brush painting could not hold Eli's attention any longer.  He quickly left me to the floor boards and joined Jared in changing up the hardware in the bathroom, wielding the drill all by himself.  And don't worry all, the pink toilet has stayed: nothing could convince us to get rid of that beauty!

The renos are coming along quite nicely, especially with the boys' help.  Soon the house will be complete and beautiful, and we will still be living in my parents' basement.

Time for a good ol' fashioned barn raising!

Remember when in "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" the Pontipee brothers go to the barn raising and fight over the girls and sing all about it? Remember that?  Well, I'm willing to let anyone interested reenacting that very moment in musical history to come to our house to raise our metaphorical barn. Seriously though, I've had a lot of time to think about it, as I've been painting for a week straight, and I think it is very sad that we live in a world where we no longer rally around our neighbors to help them, just because they are our neighbors.  I'm certainly not suggesting that I am any better than the next person in this regard.  I've complained plenty of times about people who ask for help when I think they could very easily pay for the work.  But why not help out. Why not give an afternoon to help paint, an hour to shovel, a day to garden.  Who cares if they could afford to pay someone else, where did our ability to do good things just for the sake of doing good things go?  Since neither of my neighbors are building any barns this week, and since this has been on my mind, I am going to make a fresh batch of my granola tomorrow and bring it to them in a symbolic attempt at raising their barns.  Why not, eh?

If you didn't catch it through my preaching, we are renovating again!  This time we are ripping up the upstairs of our old house in Ranchlands.  The tenants that were in it last happened to be the filthiest people on earth and the flooring throughout the entire house needed to be replaced.  So absolutely disgusting! However, we are taking advantage of the opportunity and giving the place a well deserved face-lift!

No reno project would be complete with out some before and after pictures, so I've dug through my archives and found a few pictures to share of the house as we lived in it pre-Michigan (you seriously would be so grossed out if I put the pictures of it after the tenants destroyed it - except for that you wouldn't have been able to smell them, so maybe it wouldn't do justice to just how disgusting it was.)

Action shot.  That's right, we had a drum kit in our house. 

Ikea Christmas tree. This was the only room with new carpet. We put it in after we moved in.

This one is to show the cuteness of the late Napoleon the dog, but also to note the colour of the carpet, 20 years old, at least.

Our kitchen, this week, many years ago.

The front of the house.

Visions of Candlemas' Past

More Candlemas shots.

Our front door: yes, it's purple.

Wish we still had those beautiful couches. 

Guess what, I don't have a shelf like that anymore.  The bull in the room (Silas) would make very short order of it. 

I loved the colour of our master room.  It was very warm.

This was the day we found out we were preggers with Eli.  This room was yellow.

Our double bed.  Cozy.

On my way to the Stampede, on the scooter. 

 So, give me a week and I will have the AFTER shots.  You will be so impressed, I promise.  The painting is done, but if anyone wants to come "raise the floor" you are more than welcome.  I'll bring lunch, although it may be raw.

We've made it 3 weeks!

Lest you think we are suffering on this raw food diet... we're not!

Silas is very much enjoying raw food. Tonight we had sushi with a sunflower seed rice/tuna pate and lots of veggies.  I hate sushi, I mean really hate sushi, but I actually enjoyed our delicious raw meal!  Really.  Although we couldn't get Silas to smile, (he was too focused on the dessert) here is evidence of the chocolate torte that we made and absolutely LOVE!  Topped with fresh blueberries, it doesn't get much better than this.  With only one more week to go I am having a hard time envisioning myself cooking up a pound of ground beef for a spaghetti dinner, or eating bacon and eggs for breakfast, ever again.  I feel good, really good, and I want this to last. 

We've been talking about where we will go from here and decided that before we are done we are going to have to set some ground rules for once we aren't eating 100% raw.  I think the major thing for me is going to be to avoid processed things. Even though I generally eat organic, natural things, I am all about convenience, and so I eat a lot of crackers, granola bars, etc.  I am going to continue making my own snacks so that I am not tempted to eat that kind of stuff.  I am going to reach for an apple instead of something from a box.  I am not going to buy stuff I can make on my own, and I am going to live without stuff that just isn't good for me.  I am not going to eat things just because they are available.  If I didn't plan on eating it, I'm going to leave it. I'm going to fill my plate with salad first, and then the entree afterward.  Most importantly, I am going to continue actually cooking for my family.  I have loved being in complete control of my own health, and am going to make sure that I continue that.  I am going to make our breakfasts, not pour them out of a box, I am going to make our lunches, not let a "sandwich artist" do it for me, and I am going to make our dinners, not just dump some pasta into boiling water and sauce it up with a canned concoction.  One more week people!  We've almost made it!

My Testimony

This week has been hard, and while my boys have certainly done some darling things, and while the raw food challenge goes on, I feel that instead of sharing these things I need to share with you my testimony of my Saviour, Jesus Christ, and his plan for us.

You see, this week something tragic happened in our family.  My dear sweet niece came into the world and our Father In Heaven called her back almost immediately.  Her story isn't mine to tell, so I will not go into the details, but what I can share is the impact that the sweet little Amelia has had on my life, even though hers was so short.

This week my testimony of prayer, and of the communication we have with God, has increased.  We went from praying that the baby would be okay, to that she would live, to that she would be cradled in her Father in Heaven's arms until her parents could hold her again one day.  Eli loves to pray and constantly reminds us to do just that. He prays over every meal and multiple other times a day. Through his eyes we have been reminding of the hand of God as Eli has asked, unprompted, for Heavenly Father to take care of his auntie's baby so that we can see her when we go back to heaven someday.  Although we are completely heartbroken, through prayer we have felt comfort and love, and have seen God's hands in our lives.

My understanding and testimony of the Plan of Salvation has grown.  I know that because of the great plan of God we will be able to return to live with him again, and at that time we will be reunited with those who have died before us.  Not only will we be able to see those people again, through the gift of Eternal Marriage we will be united with those people forever.  My sweet niece was born into this covenant of Eternal Marriage, and no matter how short her mortal life was, she will one day be with her family again, and her parents will be able to raise her and hold her close.

I have also felt my testimony of family grow.  All this week, as I have looked at my two sweet boys, I have found my heart overfilling with gratitude for the blessing they are in my life.  The sacrifices I have to make for them seem nominal when I think of what being their mother has given to me. I would not trade the family I have for anything. Last night, when Silas woke up multiple times, and I had to sooth him back to sleep, I couldn't help but spend some time staring at his sweet face and feeling a little bit of that love that the Lord must have for us.  I have also seen Jared's family band together to support their sister and her husband, each in their own way. We have been put here in families so that we don't have to be alone in times of trial. I have learned this week just how imperative those family units are, and am so grateful for mine.


Tomorrow Amelia's parents will bury her.  I can't imagine ever having to do that. My soul aches for them completely. At such a heartbreaking time I am grateful for my understanding of Heavenly Father's plan. The Lord loves us and wants us to be happy.  He wants us to make good choices and return to live with him again one day. He has given us the Saviour, who has atoned for our sins, so that we can do just that. Tomorrow is going to be so hard, but with lots of prayer, and lots of support, hopefully we all will be able to be touched by the spirit, feel the Lord's love, and know that we will see sweet Amelia again one day.

Day 12!

Here we are, day 12 of the Wiebe Family Raw for 30 Days Challenge, and we are doing great!  Seriously, not only are we surviving, but we're really enjoying it.  The food is delicious, we all feel incredible physically, and I am just having so much fun finding and trying and modifying new recipes.  I was so worried about not getting enough calories, but the food has been so good (especially all the healthy treats!) that if anything, I'm eating too much!

So, to add to the reasons that I liked raw food last week, I add a few more:

11. I love that every single day I have made healthy food for my family.  There is something very empowering about providing for the health of my family.
12. I have never been very good at following recipes: with raw food recipes it doesn't matter!  I can change them up anyway I want without worrying if it will ruin, because there is no chemical reaction to be made or rising to fret about...  It's actually been really fun to take a recipe that I like and change it up to be even better.

And, something I don't like?  Well, I spend so long on each of these recipes and after dehydrating for two days they are GONE in hours! Seriously.  This week we made 10 heads of kale into kale chips.  10 heads!  We took them out of the dehydrator yesterday afternoon, and they were devoured before we went to bed.  Silas loved them more than anyone, I think, and I can't blame him, because they were delicious.  It's just that making your own chips seems like a lot of work just to see them disappear so quickly.   I suppose I should be glad that at least it is something healthy, but still...

Another one of those recipes that will be gone before I know it is my granola.  It is packed full of healthy goodness, and oh so good for you!  While I don't want to rip off someone's hard work, I'll tell you how I've made it, because I really, really love it!

Living Berry Nut Granola

 That's right, that's what I call it!  I adapted the recipe from "Cranberry Maple Granola" from Raw Food Real World by Matthew Kenney and Sarma Melngailis.  Like I said, you can change it in any way you want, but this is what I did, and it is absolutely wonderful. (I made a mega batch so that it would last a little longer. It could easily be halved if you don't want to make so much.)

Living Berry Nut Granola

2 apples, cored
2 cups date paste
1 cup maple syrup
1 cup of agave
Juice of one large lemon
2 Tbsp vanilla powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 TBSP salt
1 cup Sunflower Seeds, soaked over night
4 cups almonds, soaked over night
6 cups walnuts, soaked over night
1 cup pumpkin seeds, soaked over night
8 oz of frozen berries (I used 1/2 a package of cranberries, and 1/2 package of raspberries)
2 cups of dried currents

1. To make date paste soak 2 cups of medjool dates in hot water for 15 minutes.  Separate dates from water and in a food processor mix until a paste forms.  Add some of the soak water if you need more liquid.
2. Add apples, maple syrup, agave, lemon juice, vanilla, cinnamon, salt and 1/2 cup of the sunflower seeds to the food processor and process until smooth.  Transfer mixture to a large mixing bowl.
3. Add the remaining sunflower seeds, almonds, walnuts and pumpkin seeds to the food processor (you may have to do this in two batches - it's okay - and don't bother rinsing the food processor) and process until coarsely chopped. Add nuts to the mixing bowl.  Add the frozen berries and dried currents and mix well.  If it looks like it needs more moisture, add more agave or maple syrup.
4. Spread the granola on a lined dehydrator tray (you could also do this on an oven sheet in the oven) and dehydrate at 115 degrees F for 8ish hours.  Flip, remove the liner, and dehydrate for another 12ish hours. (Dehydrate less if you want a chewy granola instead of crunchy.)
5. Remove from the dehydrator, break into pieces and once it is cooled store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a few weeks (it won't last that long!)

There you have it.  Living Granola, or G'raw'nola, if you will!  Do you know that walnuts have the highest amounts of omega-3 fatty acids of any nuts?  Well, you'll definitely get your share in this granola.  If you don't have access to those nuts though, add some cashews, pecans, pumpkin seeds, chia, hemp, flax, buckwheat...  Really, anything will do.  Make sure that the nuts and seeds you buy are not pasteurized though, or the whole dehydrating thing will be kind of useless. Try it, and enjoy!

More recipes to come, I just need to have something last long enough to take pictures.

My life, right now.

Remember a few months ago when I was whining about feeling like I had no purpose here in Calgary?  Well, I finally am beginning to feel at home here, and am excited about the months to come!

Eli and Silas are such a riot right now.  Silas is finally at an age where he and Eli are really starting to play.  Silas still refuses to talk, or sign, or do much besides point, nod and go "Uhhhh" with various inflections, which we try to interpret.  But, he is so stinking cute that we don't much mind.  He is terribly mischievous, and I spend most of my time at home trying to make sure that he doesn't destroy something else of my mom's.  I can't wait until he does start talking, because I'm sure he'll have a lot to say.  Together we are taking swimming lessons right now, and he is loving it. Eli is an absolute riot.  Where Silas lacks in communication skills, Eli makes up for it.  Today on our way out he asked, "Mommy, what's college?" I tried to explain and he said, "I want to go to college and be a lawyer just like daddy, but I want to go to college in our house.  Can you teach me college at home? I'm going to ask Andy about it, because he goes to college."  I don't know where he get's these things, but I sure love it.  He is taking a class at the YMCA with crafts, gym time, and a swimming lesson as well as an art class with the City of Calgary. It is fun to have him out and involved, and he loves it so much. 


This week Jared writes the last of his exams that will allow him to practice law in Canada!  That means that next week he can start looking for a job, and once the results are back, he can do what we have worked all these years for him to be able to do.  After four years we are ready to enter the next stage, and I am so incredibly proud of Jared for getting to this point.  Go, Jared, go!

In the life before I was a mommy I was a teacher. I always wanted to be a mommy, but I also loved being a teacher.  Not once have I wished to go back to that life, but every once in a while I wish I could stand in front of a group of teenagers again and impart something to them.  Today I got to do that!  I am teaching two classes of Speech Arts to Alice's homeschool group. It is actually quite perfect.  I teach for two hours every week while Eli and Silas play with the Russells. And I make a little money doing it.  There is literally no downside.  Today was a lot of fun, and I really think I'm going to enjoy it. The best part is, I get to teach Benny. I love teaching people I love.  I taught Phoebe when she was in grade 7, and it was a riot.  Benny is pretty rad, so I think it's going to be wonderful!

But, the most exciting thing going on in my life right now is my budding Doula business (for which I have yet to pick a name.) At this time I have three births lined up before summer, and I am so excited for each and every one. Honestly, I. LOVE. BIRTH.  I do.  I love that I get to help birthing women.  I love that I get to help women I love! Being asked to be a Doula at someone's birth is quite honestly such an honor to me, and I'm truly grateful to be able to do what I'm doing.  It is so exciting!  So, send your referrals, and your name suggestions my way, because I'm rearing to go.

It's nice to be excited about what's going on in my life.  I'm feeling like things are falling into place, and I am thrilled.  We are fixing up our Ranchlands house next week, and either finding a renter (prolonging our stay in the basement room) or moving in.  We'll see what the market is like.  Either way it gives us a chance to work on something, and I am excited to do it.   Life is good. There is lots to be grateful for.  I hope everyone else is feeling the same, because it's good to feel good!