Day 13 Day 14 and Day 15

Blogging over the weekend is very overrated. Definitely rather watch a movie until I fall asleep... or my more realistic reality study with football in the background until I am too tired to read another word. But I do see the benefit of getting my feelings and thoughts about this process out. I can look back on this after time has passed and accurately reflect on what happened.

Since we have prayed for almost all of the cities we are moving into praying for different areas.
Day 13: London, England
Day 14: United States of America
Day 15: Flagstaff Covenant Church Campus
When I think of England I think Catholic or church. I am completely lost as to why this is one of our cities. It is definitely influential, but I do feel like they are hip to the whole Christianity thing.... maybe I am wrong. Maybe just like every bustling city there is that draw towards sin more than normal. Either way my prayer is that when the people who go to mission they are met with groups of people that can join forces with them. For the USA I pray that we as a nation learn how to work in one accord, and that God ordains those in power to lead correctly! Lastly, the Flagstaff campus. I pray that they continue to read a community that was in desperate need of a church. That they can serve that area with great passion!

Over these past 3 days I have read Genesis 27-33. It starts off with Jacob stealing Esau's blessing from their father Issac. It is interesting to think about "stealing" a blessing. I think we often see a blessing as a gift that cannot be stolen, but in actuality it can be. Our blessings can be taken by those we are around. Makes you look at your friends and family with a skeptical eye, huh. I would say that the moral of the story is to watch who is around you, for they may steal your blessings... but to also know that you can go get your blessing! I wouldn't steal it from my sister, but there are blessings out there out for the grabs!
In chapter 32 and 33, Jacob must return home and face Esau. On the way there he fights (struggles) with God who blesses him and changes his name to Israel. Once Jacob and Esau reunite after a long time apart. Jacob is still guilty and fears that Esau will want to kill him for stealing his birth right and blessing all those years ago even after God blessed him with a new name. Well Esau was still plentiful and God still blessed him, and he welcomed his brother with open arms. I love this story of the Bible. It is full of forgiveness and true struggle. Despite having his blessing stolen Esau is still prosperous, and has a forgiven heart. It is truly beautiful. A testament to how to treat those who may have wronged you. I also love how Jacob is forgiven by God and not only forgiven but given a new identity. I know there have been times that I needed a new identity after the things I had done. To start fresh with a new everything!

Menu's

Saturday's Menu
Breakfast: None
Lunch:
Dinner

Sunday's Menu
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Monday's Menu
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner

Day 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21...22

Clearly I need to better practice blogging. It is definitely on the back burner as studying and everything else comes to the forefront. The next fast or blog I do will not be put off as this one has

The last few days of the fast were the hardest for me. I began to eat out at Chipotle and bbbop asian restaurant (Daniel fast friendly restaurtants) more. Cooking in advance went to the way side and I found myself wanting to bend the rules more and more. Stress built up, room mates made cinnamonrolls (from scratch), and my will power got a run for its money. I found myself just not wanting to eat, yet hungrier than ever before. I cheated and went to an Asian buffet with the fiance after a open house for UNT's Medical Master's program, therefore, I am extending the fast for 1/2 more days. I have a new batch of vegan beans which will be consumed today.

The prayers of the days were to be focused on the following:

Day 16: Carrollton Campus

Day 17: Crossroads Campus

Day 18: Colleyville Campus

Day 19: McKinney Campus

Day 20: Texoma Transition

Day 21: Family/Business/Career

I pray that each campus is a vessle to spread God's truth, to better the community with out judgement, and to serve everyone it can! Day 21 was a special prayer for myself. I am taking the MCAT is April. I am not longer scared but excited. It is now clear to me that if I give my 100% God will cover anything that is left. I cannot rely on him and be lazy, but if I give it my all and my all is not good enough... He will come through to finish the race on my behalf. I took my practice test on the weekend I would have taken the MCAT before rescheduling and I made a 27. I need that to be a 30, so I know where I need to go from here!

Instead of listing each menu I have the following highlights of the fast and the past few days.
Awesome foods:
Creamy red beans with brown rice was a nice food to eat while on the fast. Filling and they cook themselves. Soak 2lbs of dried red beans over night. Boil with 2 bay leaves, 2 tsp salt, 2 tsp pepper, 2 tsp cayenne, 1 tbls onion power, 1 tbls garlic powder; 1 tsp garlic salt.
I made a great flat bread pizza. The dough was a chapati recipe which I put a tomato paste based sauce (1 can tomato paste, 1 can tomato sauce, crushed red pepper flakes, garlic powder, garlic salt, onion powder, italian seasoning) and my veggies (pineapple, onion, jalapeno). Oven was on 400 for about 20 minutes. I didn't follow a recipe, so the dough wasn't cooked well through. I decided to griddle the bottom of the pizza after cooking. Best idea ever. The crust became crispy and crunchy! It was my go-to meal for almost every meal. I made a medium fried egg on top and it was breakfast! It also helped curb the need for carbs in my life. I can't wait to make this with baking powder

and cheese :)
Asian stirfry using clemetine (cuties) juice, soy sauce, and crushed red pepper on top of fresh never frozen broccoli, carrots, snow peas, onion, and garlic. This eaten with brown "fried" rice or gluten free rice noodles.

Chipotle was my friend. Their brown rice, in house made vegetarian black beans, the veggie toppings, and guacamole was appreciated. I probably went overboard and exceeded my financial budget by eating it 3 times in one week. But it definitely made running from one place to another with no time for food especially easier. Bbbop is a place off greenville in Dallas. They are an Asian style chipotle. Pick your startch (brown rice, boodles, steamed rice, etc) and pick your five vegetables which you can have raw or sauteed. They also have great sauces to choose from. Their only Daniel's fast friendly sauce is the yellow coconut curry sauce which is fine by me. I do miss siracha (has sugar).

Wrap up:
Over the course of this fast I finished Genesis (which is rather long), and began Job. Genesis is a never ending cycle of the same curses and blessings. Reconfirmed my belief in family cycles. Unfortunately, I didn't read about anyone who was able to break their curses, but some who lost their blessings. This reconfirmed that God is always there every step of the way. Job is difficult to read and I may have to re-read it a couple of times to figure it all out. I truly don't understand all the dialogues and am having a hard time understanding who is speaking, who is using cinnicism, and who is out rigt sarcastic. But as I continue my 365 days of reading, I pray that I am able to open my mind, heart, and soul, to what the Lord has written for us!
 The food on the daniel's fast is amazing for your body and mind. It allows your body to cleanse itself, while still eating. I would definitely try this again with gluten free or all raw added to it. A bigger challenge, but much more drastic results.

The Daniel's Fast.... cleanse, refocus, get closer!

O, and what you all probably want to know. I started the fast as 5'2" (almost), 140lbs, full size 8. I am now still 5'2"... shocking!!, 135lbs, size 6, but I wore a dress which was a size 4 for my engagement photos on Day 20!

Until I have something else to blog about!

KCC 1/28/2013

Day 12

Today's city is Edinburgh, Scotland. According to Google, Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, the seat of the Scottish parliament and government, the largest city by area and the second largest by population in the country. I honestly don't know the significance of going to Scotland. I am pretty sure they are predominantly Christian. But my prayer is for God's perfect will be enacted. While my flesh mind doesn't understand, may my spirit line up in accordance with God's. May they go there a do God's work.

Today I also read Genesis 24-26. Genesis 24 is when Abraham ask one of his servants to go find a wife for Isaac. I have always loved this story but never realized the unanimity of the teaching in the story. This servant goes to a foreign land to find a relative of Abraham for Abraham's son, Isaac, to marry, so Isaac did not marry a local Canaanite woman. The servant goes on the trip because he made the covenant but you can feel that the servant was very skeptical of finding a woman of marrying age that was Abraham's kin in and entire city. He could have lied and said he searched and could not find her which would have freed him from the covenant he made with ABraham, but instead he prays "O Lord, the God of my master Abraham, please grant me success today, and show lonvingkindness to my master Abraham. Behold, I am standing by the spring, and the daughters of men of the city are coming out to draw water; now may it be that the girl to whom I say, 'Please let me down your jar so that I may drink'; and who answers, 'Drink, and I will water your also', may she be the one whom you have appointed for you servant Isaac; and by this I will know that you have shown lovingkindness to my master." Well the first woman he asks does just as the prayer asks and she turns out to be Abraham's niece. This had me ask myself... "When was the last time you asked God to just lay it out in plain sight/language/actions?" I think we get so fancy in our language and think that God works in tea leaves and the blowing of the wind, we forget that God is our God. He created us and understands how we work. If we just ask we can receive a plain and simple answer. If you are searching for an answer; if you are in the right place, with the right person, as for clarity plain and simple.

I digress from my mini sermon to tell you that I made the most delicious and soft flat bread last night. I used the same chapati recipe that I have always used (1c whole wheat flour, warm/hot water as needed to make doughy, pinch of salt) I just added 1 half a medium sized sweet potato. Man, it was just what I was looking for in the bread. It didn't make it sweet, but softened it like no other. After sitting overnight in foil, at lunch it was still butter soft (o how I miss butter).

Well so far my stomach has not been too happy with me. I think I am still adjusting to so much fiber in my diet. I have good days and then I have days like today where it is all rumbly and other stuff I won't mention on here. I will drink lots of water to see if it just need a little help flushing out some stuff. At least my stomach is really flat :)

I still enjoy this fast. I had to ask for help as my room mate made limeade with a cup of sugar in front of me. I never thought I would want limeade so bad. Then she had chinese which was a sweet fried chicken of some sort and white rice.... ghhhhhhh. It looked and smelled so good. Of course all I could think of was my botched attempt at an orange ginger vegetable stirfry. O well, baby steps. I walked away from the kitchen and waited for her to put up the honey and sugar. Of course today marks the start of a new weekend. the 2nd of the three which I will endure. As football season is at it's most interesting all the pizza and wing commercials are getting to me. I don't watch much TV, but the little that I do (Scandal was so good last night) is a huge temptation to just eat crap. I wish crappy food was so addicting. The salt, the fat, the sugar. All things that are bodies crave from our hunter-gathering days which is in way too much abundance today. Working in the Human Nutrition Department at UT Southwestern has taught me a lot about what not to eat, yet, I still eat it. You would think after seeing obesity up close and personal I would work much harder to go the other way. But after this fast I will definitely be more cautious about what I put into my body!

Today's Meals:
Breakfast
2 eggs scrambled and 1/4 steamed sweet potato

Lunch
Chickpea salad wrapped with sweet potato chapati
Cucumber and carrots

Snack
Apple

Dinner
Lentil soup

KCC 1/18/2013

Day 10 and Day 11

I will get back on track with this blog one day. Work from 8-5; cooking, eating, and cleaning 5-6:30; studying from 6:30-10/10:30pm... I just haven't found where to blog exactly. But I am proud to day that I have completed exactly 50% of this fast, and I am very proud of my progress. I feel much more rejuvenated, my skin is clear, and I am just more happy overall. I think it is a combination of eating so cleanly and the inner joy of doing something so satisfying.

Two days ago I made a batch of chickpeas from dried chickpeas. I took some and roasted them to make "chickpea nuts" (recipe from: http://www.food.com/recipe/chickpea-nuts-463012). They are salty, crunchy, spicy, and down right delicious. I sauteed some chickpeas with kale, carrot, onion, and garlic which was good with roasted sweet potato. After all that, I still have a good amount that I could do something with and still haven't figured it out. I saw this recipe for a chickpea salad which mimics tuna fish salad which I like a lot. The only ingredient which I am not sure about is the mayonnaise. Of course mayo is just whipped oil and egg and mine is imitation mayo so it is just whipped oil. But in my heart mayo isn't something you should have on a cleansing fast. There are definitely other options to the mayonnaise, but some aren't so budget friendly like unpreserved hummus and/or don't sound appetizing like "veganaise". (chickpea of the sea recipe: http://www.food.com/recipe/chickpea-nuts-463012) I would really like to use this recipe once I am off the fast as an alternative to tuna since tuna fish has so much mercury. I wouldn't even mind mixing 1 can of tuna with some mashed chickpeas to "thin it out".  

So last night I tried my hand at a sugar free orange glazed stir fry of broccoli, carrot, celery, and onion. It was disastrous and barely edible. One of my few creations that just did not taste good, Ginger, garlic, and orange sounded good in my head, but apparently sugar is in so much Chinese food because it is necessary to balance it all out. It was healthy and cleansing with all the fresh ingredients, so I ate it with brown rice, but it was hard to get down. Ginger is very powerful and overwhelming. I will try this one again, but I must make sure I use less ginger, and make sure my oranges are Sunkist sweet! I might even do a mandarin orange stir fry with Mandarin oranges in it to ensure sweetness.

Today's gateway cities are Las Vegas, Nevada and Washington, D.C.
I love these cities because they are known cities. These aren't remote cities in some random thrid world country, but major ports and tourist attractions. I pray that the people who are led to go to these two cities don't get blinded by the familiarity and bling of these cities. That they can focus is such blinding lights places!

SO! My readings for today were Genesis 20-23. This is the story of Abraham. Part of this is when he is blessed with Isaac, and then has to "sacrifice" him. I think this story emphasizes the need for obidience in our relationship with God. This is a display of blind faith, and God never fails so he comes through in time to deliver Isaac from the sacrifice and provides a ram! This is one powerful story!

Source: newsyoucanbelieve.com

Well another weekend is approaching and I am praying for strength. I am very grateful for this fast. I am learning discipline like never before. After studying 3 hours a night I normally turn to junk food as a comfort, as the replacement to watching tv and relaxing. Eating better and being disciplined in my diet and studying are a far better match. I know this sounds like common sense, but it is amazing how powerful your diet is on your mental state and physical overall well being.

Wenesday's Menu

Breakfast

Fruit mix (apple, orange, banana)

Lunch

Roasted Sweet Potato

Kale, tomato, and chickpea

Dinner

Orange Ginger Vegetable Stir Fry

Snack

Roasted Chickpea Nuts

Today's Menu

Breakfast

Apple (had tons of water and couldn't eat much)

Snack

Roasted Chickpea Nuts

Lunch

Kale, tomato, and chickpea

Brown rice

Orange

Dinner

Orange Ginger Vegetable Stir Fry (-_-)

Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 and Day 9

So I am a little behind on my blog... I am new at this write your life everyday thing.

TODAY IS ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA'S 105th YEAR OF EXISTENCE! Happy founders' day to all my sisters! I love my sorority and will uphold it's goals and values! Janurary 15, 1908!

I digress.. this fast has truly chnaged my outlook on things. I am more conscious of how foods I put in my body affect me, and how saying 'no' to yourself is rather gratifying. The weekend was rather difficult. Friday was a hectic day and all I wanted was a margarita and some chips and salsa. Guess where my line sister's going away party was? Yes, a mexican restaurant. I am so very happy I ate before I went or I would have definitely been casting demons out of myself. Then Saturday was football. Of course football is in a long term relationship with pizza, wings, beer etc etc etc. I am so glad Mario and I just sat at home and watch the game by ourselves.

Youversion.com has sent me through the story of  Noah and into Abram (Abraham- but I am not there yet). It reads so well! I am currently going back and forth between a paraphrase version (NLT) and a direct translation (NASB) version to help me read the stories. It is hard to read NASB and not get a little lost with the gist of the story, but NLT paraphrases and takes out meaningful detail, therefore, I read the NLT and then follow it with the NASB or if I am feeling scholarly the NKJV.
Saturday: Genesis 10 and 11
Sunday: No readings
Monday: Genesis 12 and 13
Tuesday:  Genesis 14, 15, and 16

The gateway cities for these past few days are the following:
Day 6: Shanghai, China
Day 7: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Day 8 San Francisco, California
Day 9: Los Angeles, California

To many, these are two sets of cities, but they are all the same. Large cities with much influence, yet they are the epicenters of some of the worst sins known to man. Sex trafficking, promescuity, gluttony.... I pray that these cities will lose their reputations. That they become known for their good and not their evil deeds!

Saturday's Meals:

Breakfast
none (slept in a tad late)

Lunch
Whole wheat pasta and Marinara sauce with Steamed Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Carrots

Dinner
Whole wheat pasta and Marinara sauce with Steamed Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Carrots (it was a lazy saturday)

Sunday's Meals:

Breakfast
Red beans and Brown Rice

Lunch
Red beans and Brown Rice

Dinner
Poblano Pepper, Scrambled Eggs, Black Beans, and Corn Meal Patty (My failed attempt at corn tortillas)

Snack
Baked Sweet Potato "Fries"

Monday's Meals"

Breakfast
Banana

Mid morning snack
Organic No Sugar Added Apple Sauce

Lunch
Chinese steamed veggies

Dinner
Brown Rice Pilaf
Sweet Potato "Fries"

Today's Meals

Breakfast
2 Scrambled Eggs, Sweet Potato "Fries"

Lunch
Brown Rice Pilaf

Snack
Apple

Dinner
Chickpea, tomato, and kale salad

I am going to try my hand at chickpea nuts tonight. If they turn out well they will definitely be a good snack!

KCC- 1/15/2013 

Day 5

It's Friday! I am so glad that it is Friday it should be a shame. Plus it isn't cold today! HALLELUJAH! To be honest I don't feel like blogging today so we shall see how this post goes.

Source:http://assets.diylol.com/hfs/ddc/a61/360/resized/friday-meme-generator-so-happy-it-s-friday-e08ee2.jpg?1344626126.jpg
I am still bloated and do not know how to remedy it. I have continued to drink copious amount of water with no avail. Clearly I should be eating more fiber regularly. I have definitely shocked my poor gut, and it has no clue how to deal with it.

My youversion.com God's Story Chronological reading was a nice read this morning: Genesis 8 & 9 and Psalm 12. Genesis 8&9 is about the flood waters retreating, the dove finding land, God's promise to never flood us out of existence symbolised by the rainbow, and Noah cursing Canaan and the Canaanites. That last part is controversial and confusing. First, a little background. Noah gets drunk and in his drunkenness ends up butt naked in a tent. Ham (the youngest) finds his father passed out and butt out. Ham find this beyond hilarious and calls his brothers to come see the spectacle. His brothers in fact do not find this event funny and honorably- walking backwards to avoid looking at their bare father- place a covering over their father. When Noah wakes up hungover (yes, the Bible says he was hungover), he is angry when he finds out what Ham did. He commences to curse Ham's youngest child (Canaan), and all his people to be slaves to the relatives/decendents of Shem (the honorable older son). I didn't understand why Noah would curse Canaan and not Ham, so I went online to see some explanations. In my quest I found that this passage was one of the passages used by slave holders to religiously confirm slavery in America. Ham apparently can be translated as "black", although it actually means "warm", but those are close right...? Any who, some people thought that this meant that all the dark people of the world (the "decedents of Ham" should be enslaved by the "decedents of Shem"... 100points who guesses which relatives the slave holders thought they were.... YEA. So, this infuriated me and I don't even understand why Noah cursed Canaan instead of Ham. I guess I will have to take that to my pastor.

Cochin, India is the focus for today.
From time immemorial, the Arabs, British, Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese have left indelible marks on the history and development of Cochin. Over the years, Cochin has emerged as the commercial and industrial capital of Kerala and is perhaps the second most important city on the west coast of India (after Mumbai/Bombay). Cochin is proud of its world class port and international airport that link it to many major cities worldwide.
source:http://www.cochin.org/

Christian church in Cochin, Kochi Kerala India

Source: http://www.lightstalkers.org/images/show/513888
This gateway city is huge. This is Bollywood. I am not sure my pastor's goal in this city or why he chose it. Maybe it is because they have such a hand in media around the world and can influence it greatly? Whatever the desire to go to Cochin is, I pray for stamina and adaptation. India is a hard place to adapt to live. There are many diseases, no AC, and densely populated. I pray that the missionaries are fearless enough to walk hand in and with a leper, or to go the orphanages to play with the children. God's light can shine through them in ways scripture cannot. I pray that they are the living word!

No on to the Daniel's fast. I am just now noticing how abrupt my transitions are. I will definitely work on that in the future. But I digress. I am not craving anything, but as we go into the weekend this might change. Everyone will be going out, eating out, eating crap, but I will be eating kale and chickpeas... pizza or chickpeas... hot wings or kale... this will be my walk through the shadows of fattening foods and Lord knows I need Him as my guide! I had whole wheat chapatis and I don't think that helped my bloating. I will definitely watch my wheat intake as it is a hard grain to digest. Back to brown rice it is!

Today's Meals:

Breakfast
Banana

Snack
Asian Pear

Lunch
Green banana stew with kale
Sampling of curried chickpeas and chapati

Dinner
Kale and lentil mash

When I made my red beans I made a double batch and froze half. I will definitely take those down for next week!

That's all folks!
KCC 1/11/13  

Day 4

And now we are building The Ark. My youversion.com ""God's Story: One Year Chronological Plan" has gotten to Genesis 6 and 7, where God looks at his creation and says "backspace...delete". I have to wonder if I am living a life that God would want to delete? I know God created a new covenant with man that He will not destroy us with water again (fire is still a viable option lol), and then sent Jesus to redeem us. BUT if I was under the Adam and Eve casted out of Eden covenant, would I fall short. DEFINITELY. Struck down... drowned... whatever. Thank God for Jesus... no really... Thank you God for Jesus and His redemptive power over us!

Source:http://bloodstainedink.wordpress.com/2012/02/09/noahs-ark-to-receive-the-130-million-silver-screen-treatment/
Today our focus of prayer is Instanbul, Turkey. This is another influential city, being the largest in Turkey. Instanbul attracts millions of tourists. Unfortunately, there is serious danger going into Instanbul and proclaiming freedom of religion and Christianity. My prayers go to those who are missioning out there. May God speak to them daily, and may they keep in their hearts why those chose to leave the comforts of their homes to follow Christ!

I cannot lie and say that I am just skipping merrily along with this fast. I am craving candy and tacos. I figured the tacos would come and I can remedy that with black beans and a corn tortilla with salsa, but the candy. I have never had a sweet tooth so it is definitely throwing me for a loop. To keep my mind off of what I can't have I have been looking into all the delicious recipes I can have. I was blessed to do mission work in Kenya in Summer 2012 (kelsey2kenya.blogspot.com) and I fell in love with their foods. Fortunately for me many are Daniel's Fast approved. Matoke is a plantain dish which was delectable. It is usually made with beef and or beef stock, so I will be removing that from the ingredients. Ndengu Stew or Green Grams Stew. In America green grams are mung beans. Lentils, which were cooked and look very similar to green grams. Last but not least Chapati. Chapati is a flat bread made to go with stews. It is made with whole wheat flour, water, and a pinch of salt. I have made these before and am mastering the puffing technique needed to make them airy. To clarify, in Kenya they were dense and clearly fried (yea, fried bread... definitely thought I was going to lose weight in Kenya, SIKE)! For this fast, since it is to be cleansing, these chapati's will be made with little to no oil in a South Indian style.

Green grams or Lentils. Both will look the same.

Chapatis/Flat Bread 

Matoke with Kale or Greens
Source: http://migrationology.com/2011/06/kenyan-food-overview-20-of-kenyas-best-dishes/



Today's Menu

Breakfast
Egg, Bean, and Salsa Chapati Roll up

Lunch
Lentil soup and Brown Rice

Dinner
Okra Curry with Fresh Cilantro, Lime, and Chapati

Snack
Carrots

I am not sure who is viewing this blog, but I would love your comments, feedback, or questions!

Hopefully, I haven't bored you to death on my blog yet. I don't usually blog or do anything like this, so I hope you enjoyed it.

KCC 1/10/2013