Daniel Fast - Day Ten

June 19, 2013

Day Ten

Here it is. Day Ten.  Sort of a milestone with this fast since it's based on Daniel's fast in which he asked permission to eat only vegetables and drink only water for 10 days and then be tested to see if he and his friends were healthy.  They were found to be stronger and healthier than the others who were eating the king's choicest foods.  So, of course, I should be examining whether I feel healthier and stronger than I did eating "choicer" foods. 

I definitely feel healthier than I did last week.  I'm grateful for that.

Based on what I'm accomplishing every day compared to my pre-fast days, I MUST have a greater amount of energy pouring through my body.  I feel physically tired every night when I go to bed. Yet, I'm not feeling as emotionally drained as I was before.  I am not battling irritability like I was, either.

I'm also starting to feel like this is more of a way of life than just a fast. I mean, I still think of something I'd enjoy eating or drinking that isn't allowed every so often and think, "Well, I'm glad the fast has an end." ;)  Still, we're finding a lot of new ways to incorporate vegetables and fruits into our menu that will stick.  I'm learning some great things about how I eat, how much I eat, and I'm definitely planning to keep this focus on vegetables and fruits as the core of our diet when this is over. 

Today started late for me. I was up with the baby last night and then could NOT make myself sleep.  I'm not sure why I was so restless other than my brain wouldn't stop fussing.  We were late almost all day long with meals and work and such.  Didn't get near what I was hoping to get done done, but I am very happy with what was accomplished. 

Bedrooms are all clean and mopped along with the third floor stairway and the second floor hallway. Smells so good. Two large baskets of laundry are sorted and put away. Shoe bins are sorted and ready for storage. Clothing bins were stored away in the attic. School happened and happened well. Three healthy meals with clean up for dessert.  ;)  A couple more loads of laundry through the machines. A short break with fruit smoothies made by my Benjy-boy this afternoon.  Then we all hit the garden beds again, planting some flowers and building up two more flower beds.  I had SUCH a nice time with my children working on that today. 

I really thought I was too tired for anything, but I was able to tidy up this evening, clean the kitchen, unbury my bed tonight from the work I was doing with sorting clothes and shoes, and help my oldest with a quilting project she started.  I know you didn't hear about this, but take it from my absence over the last year or so, I was NEVER getting this amount of work done on a daily basis before.

It could very well be that refraining from the foods that I was eating is helping me feel less slug-like. It could be that the healthier foods I'm eating right now are giving me a great boost of energy.  It is very likely that the fast from my internet social scene is making a huge impact on how I spend my time and who I spend it with.  Again, this time of refocus, rebooting my body, and renewing relationships has been a treasure I am ever so grateful for.  I'm a little afraid of what happens when it ends.  Yet, I know the Lord has a plan.  He will lead and guide by His word.  I'm so grateful.