Pre-Thanksgiving Prayer and Fasting Wrap-up

The final week of the fast went really well. I found it easier to stick within Paleo guidelines (though I wasn’t perfect) and was actually enjoying the changes God was making in my heart through prayer.

Here’s some of what I was eating during that last week.

Paleo egg salad on Bubbie’s sweet pickles.

Bananas with cinnamon fried in grassfed butter. Makes a great fruit topping, but I just eat it straight- as is.

Bacon! Uncured, of course. And eggs fried in garlic herb butter.

Paleo blueberry cobbler. I’m actually amazed that this came out delicious. I didn’t follow a recipe. Just melted gf butter in a loaf pan, threw in several handfuls of frozen blueberries, then poured in a mixture of eggs, almond milk, and coconut flour. Added coconut sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon to everything. I had to keep adding extra time in the oven to get all the moisture out, but it ended up being really good. We ate this for desserts and breakfasts for several days.

Peppermint hot chocolate. New obsession. Warmed up a mug of chocolate almond milk then added a drop of peppermint essential oil. Amazing. And with all the digestive benefits of peppermint oil. Love! (If you try this, make sure it’s a high grade oil like Young Living.)

Herbed pork loin and mashed cauliflower (with pan drippings for gravy). Munchkin picked the basil leaves to go on top, and then couldn’t help herself- had to get a finger full of mash.

Deviled eggs. Used homemade paleo mayo and chopped up a Bubbie’s lacto-fermented pickle for relish. Topped with paprika and the anti-inflammatory powerhouse, turmeric. I’ve included my daughter in a lot of my prayer time and devotionals over the past few weeks. In a lot of ways, she is just as mature, spiritually, as I am. We are learning together. When I told her the name of this dish, her jaw dropped. “No, Mommy, we can’t eat that!” Angel-ed eggs it is, then.

So, coming into Thanksgiving, I was feeling pretty good. I was able to get through a long travel day involving a car, train, bus, and plane while wrangling a small child and all our luggage. I was able to eat and enjoy several gatherings with family and friends throughout the weekend. But I could feel the exhaustion of an impending flare creeping up. It hit pretty hard a few days after Thanksgiving, and I’ve basically been in bed most of this week. Unable to talk or eat without intense pain. And the fatigue has been debilitating. I’m grateful that we are in a safe place, surrounded by people who love us and will take care of Munchkin while I rest and wait it out. This forced down time has allowed me to continue to develop my faith, reading, learning, and praying as God keeps making adjustments in my heart. I’m annoyed at being sick again, but excited that God is using it to do work in me. I hope He finishes up quick so I can get on with my life, but I’m learning to be patient and trust His process.