Thursday, September 1, 2016

Month 7 is here...

At work a few weeks ago, a friend of mine said, "Wow, it feels like you've been doing 7 for like, a year!"

............you're telling me.

But here we are, the finish line in sight. Something that didn't seem possible after my millionth scrambled egg in March. If you've read along the last 6 months (most likely questioning our sanity at many points), then you know it's been quite the journey. And although it's had its challenges, each fast has gotten easier and easier.

With every passing month, as God has gotten ahold of me and convicted my heart, whatever we're supposed to give up just doesn't seem like as big of a deal. My attitude has shifted from "I can't do it, why did I ever agree to this?" to "Bring it on. Try to break me, 7."

My priorities have changed. And the way I look at possessions and people's opinions of me have totally shifted. God has knocked down some huge walls in my heart and showed up in big ways as a result of our prayer and making space for Him. Yet both Emily and I are super hesitant about today. You're probably wondering why since it seems we should be 7 pros at this point.

It's because this month is intangible. We're not eating 7 foods, wearing 7 outfits or spending money at 7 places. We're simply pausing.

At 7 different points throughout the day choosing to stop whatever we're doing. Pray. And invite God into our circumstances. Interceding for ourselves and others, thanking Him for who He is and what He has blessed us with, asking that He would weed out any unforgiveness or bitterness in our hearts, and praying for His blessing, guidance and discernment in everything we say and do.

Midnight. When I wake up. Mid-morning. Noon. Mid-afternoon. Dusk. Nighttime.

Don't get me wrong, I'm excited about taking all this time to intentionally talk to and commune with God. It's something I know I need to do more often anyways. What's making me nervous is my schedule, the busyness of life, and the fear that I'll totally blank and miss, like, 4 pauses in a row. I tend to go, go, go with little time to rest. And when I do rest, I struggle to not let the remainder of my to-do-list interfere with that time.

So I've set alarms and have my Bible handy. Because slowing down is hard and I need all the help I can get. Wish me luck.

- Morgan

p.s. Enjoying some morning work and Day 1 prayer time with my friend here. She says I should do a month 8 where I fast from my love of cats. So there's that.

  

Friday, August 19, 2016

So you're saying it's almost over...?



Hi there.

If you're wondering why it's been so quiet on the 7ish blog it's because we don't have a whole lot to say.

Month Six is about spending money in only 7 places.

We didn't even blink.

It was a challenge to come up with 7 places I actually needed to spend my money.

We didn't even question why until we were eating dinner together earlier this week (chicken and sweet potatoes, wouldn't you know). This wasn't such a challenge because - it's month SIX people. We've been saying 'NO' for siiiiiix months, and apparently it's rubbed off on us. I confessed to Morgan that even though it was my turn to post an update, I had nothing to say. So she suggested I tell you all why that is, and the changes we've seen because of these last six months.

1. We haven't touched eggs since March. We can't stand the smell of them. Luckily, you can't smell eggs in cake.

2. I find myself wearing the same dress 2-3 times a week. I find that I don't care if you care.

3. Considering the above, every time I look at my closet I think it could be cut in half and I'd still have too many cardigans

4. Some of you have asked if I saw that thing on Facebook - I haven't. I haven't talked myself into re-installing the app on my phone. Turns out I like all of you a lot more when I don't have to read your opinion on the Presidential Candidates. I might stay off Facebook until well after the election. Maybe forever.

5. Even though I thought the month of Waste would be wasted on me, I found myself arguing with the girl at the drive thru window about upgrading my meal. I calmly explained to her that I did not need two sides and a bigger drink. She gave me a funny look.

Which brings us to 6: I've stopped buying clothes, I've stopped wasting fresh food, I've stopped checking Facebook, and if you ask me for anything in my house you can have it... except for the dog. My point being: this is working, I'm not going back and I have nothing else to report.

- Emily 

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Confession Time

I feel simultaneously triumphant and completely ridiculous about my little recycling excursion earlier this afternoon. But more on that in a minute.

Let's do a little "wasting month" recap first, shall we?

5 months ago, I looked ahead at these 7 fasts and thought "Oh, month 5 will be the easiest, no doubt." I've grown up in a home where we recycled each week. And I like to think of myself as a person already very eco-conscious and not prone to wasting. Yes, college and the first year post-college has made it difficult to recycle (it's not like the truck comes to the second floor of my apartment building). But I thought, no big deal, it'll take a little more effort to recycle this month. But I already rock at everything else. Smooth sailing, right?

Consider this me officially eating my confidence-laden words. Emily, you're not alone my friend.

Apparently I cannot help but take 2 paper towels every. single. time. I wash my hands. No matter how many times I coach myself beforehand. It's like an automatic compulsion. Why? I wish I knew.

Apparently it is completely necessary that I have the TV on, but muted, while I'm 100% focused on something else. Because why not waste the electricity for absolutely no good reason.

And apparently I'm a little more hesitant about the whole recycling thing when it means half my sink is almost always taken up with empty cans, bottles, and plastic containers while they dry.

I have no problem using reusable grocery bags, though. So I got that going for me.

But really, so much of this month has been harder than expected. And more mentally taxing than anticipated. I learned very quickly that as much as my eco-friendly intentions had me believing I was the queen of not wasting, I had been letting things like water and electricity go completely unchecked. Overlooking them as there's nothing tangibly being thrown away.

God has convicted me, though, of wasting these luxuries that a huge percentage of the world doesn't have access to. Clean running water. Light with the flip of a switch. Easy access to food. God has blessed me with so much, and who am I to just throw away these gifts like they mean nothing? Who am I to carelessly waste and pollute the earth with things that could easily be recycled and transformed into something else?

So today I loaded the car with all my glass, plastic, paper, and cardboard and set out. After 30 minutes of searching for these fabled, 24-hour recycling outlets around town, and only finding a wannabe bin that I managed to cram most of my plastic into, I finally stumbled upon the holy grail of recycling. There were 8 different categories and each one was the size of a dumpster. Only to come home and see another one of these approximately 0.2 miles from my apartment.

Awesome. You live and learn.

Guess I have no excuse now to stop recycling even after month 5. But what's an extra trip every other week to throw away a few things? If it means I'm being a good steward of the resources God has given me, then that's worth it in my books.

- Morgan

p.s. pretty sure the guy who saw me take this picture thought I was certifiably nuts.






Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Bllleeeehhhcckkkk

Month number five here we go...

And I already hate it.

We made a long list of lofty things that we would be putting into practice this month. They were great things like not using paper towels, sorting plastic and paper, using less water, not using plastic silverware, preserving electricity, taking reusable bags to Walmart and monitoring food waste.

So far I've put forth just about -12% effort. This is officially the worst month ever. 
- I don't like recycling, pretty sure it's a scam.
- Paper towels are scientifically more sanitary than cloth rags or towels.
- There is no real silverware at work.
- Fine, I'll turn off the lights.
- I have like 2 reusable bags, and Garrett is doing the grocery shopping this week anyway. No chance of that happening.

So there's really just one thing I can get behind here: food and water waste.

I love you Morgan, I'm sorry.

When I first read this chapter of the book the topic of food waste was what stuck out to me most. We are terrible at this - if you ask my husband, I'm just really terrible at this. Fresh food goes to waste a lot around here. Also, I leave cups half full of water all over the house like I'm that little girl from the movie Signs.

This is the internet, so of course I'm going to be honest: reducing my food and water waste are going to be my main goals this month.

It's okay, you can hate me. Just try to keep in mind that a few months ago I was surviving on sweet potatoes and greek yogurt. 

All of that being said, this week we're eating out of the pantry in order to prove a point - that we have way more food than we think we do. So there's still things being learned.

Bear with me, Morgan's inspiration blog is coming soon.

Emily

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

No really, I'm listening now.

Yesterday, I actually forgot that it was the last day of month 4.

True story.

Interesting, I thought. Considering I was counting down the days during month 2 until I could wear a different shirt. And in month 1, just the thought of coffee at the finish line was enough to get me through each day.

Yet here we are at the month I had absolutely been dreading the most, and I forgot the 28th marked the end of my media fast.

On day 1... and day 2 and day 3... I couldn't believe how slow time was passing. For about a week, I was in detox mode from all the over-stimuli I was used to. Instincts and old habits kicked in countless times as I reached for the radio the second I got in the car, or walked towards the TV minutes after getting home. In selfish moments, I responded with anger and audible frustration to God that I couldn't use outside noise to drown what I didn't want to think about.

But in moments of growth, the quiet was uncomfortable, yes - but so freeing, I discovered. The absence of excess sound gradually became the norm. It didn't take long to realize that silence creates this beautiful mental, emotional, and spiritual awareness that allows you to experience life more fully...

Reading on my deck one evening, and looking up to see the most breathtaking shades of blue painted across the sky. Going on a bike ride rather than watching Netflix, and stopping at the sight of these unique little black and red birds I had never seen the likes of before. Opening the window and just sitting, listening to the myriad of almost imperceptible noises coming in from outside. Enjoying car rides filled with prayer and giving thanks for things I might not have otherwise taken the time to be grateful for.

The silence became a calming, reassuring constant in the middle of my busy life. No matter what the day brought, I knew my quiet car and home would bring solace. And even if that meant reflecting on and thinking about things I would rather avoid, when I chose not to ignore them, it always proved worthwhile.

If you're a believer, I'm sure you can relate to the feeling of wanting to avoid God at times, because you feel guilty coming to Him after messing up once again. Yet part of you feels just as guilty for ignoring Him, and this vicious cycle of shame and even more guilt ensues.

And you're miserable.

I loved this month because I didn't have an excuse to ignore Him. Even when I felt unworthy of His love and presence, I had no choice but to turn to Him. Because there was no other distraction luring me into denial. The silence taught me that He is always there, no matter what, to take on everything that I am, everything I've done, and everything I'm concerned about. My mess doesn't scare Him away.

Your mess doesn't scare Him away.

Some no-noise, no-screen time, even if just for a few minutes, I think is absolutely vital to our daily wellbeing. Give it a try. Unplug for a while. You may be surprised how loud God becomes, and how much love and grace He is waiting to lavish on you.

- Morgan

P.s. Day 29 update: enjoyed another quiet car ride of my own accord.

Monday, June 20, 2016

The Pictures I Didn't Take


If you haven't heard, my friend Morgan and I are doing this crazy life experiment where we fast from seven different things for seven months. It's been challenging, we've had to admit some difficult things about what we eat, what we wear and what we give away. 

Oddly enough the month away from media landed in June. 

At first I was just taking pictures and not immediately posting them to social media. That felt like enough of a challenge in itself. 

But the more time I spent away from my phone the fewer and fewer pictures I took. Until I found myself making the conscious choice to put my phone away completely so that I could enjoy the moment. 

I do not have a picture of our yard full of kids on the last day of school. 

I don't have a picture of our Ft. Wayne boys playing cards at our kitchen table with Nathan. 

I don't have a picture of the Squad trip to Menards or late nights at Cracker Barrel

I have not a single picture of the view from my hammock at 4 am in Shea's backyard. 

Not junk food night, not the vanilla soy latte I bought or a single #ootd. 

I don't have a picture of sorting through my moms basement together or watching home videos and eating pizza. I don't have a picture of the circus that is Luke and Kenna together  or my Sunday morning walk with Hattie. 

I don't have a picture of Scott's birthday dinner, the Father's Day service on the square or Jimmy's hair at the LeVault cookout. 

I don't have a picture of the moment right before my Aunt and Uncle saw Bethany in her wedding dress, or Kelsey's face when it was time to give her sister away. 

I don't even have a two year anniversary snapshot. 

My friend Wally went to be with Jesus today. 

This past Christmas Eve we invited Wally to our house for pie. He sat in the middle of our tiny house crammed full of our family and told us stories about Mt. Pulaski and when he was in the Navy and of course complimented me on my apple pie. It's my favorite picture of Wally. 

But it's not on Instagram, The Cloud or my camera roll. I remember realizing at the end of the night after everyone had left that we hadn't taken a picture of Wally. I was so upset. Maybe today more than ever I wish we had a snapshot of that moment, but I know it's one I won't forget. 

This month has made me mindful of the time we spend with the ones we love and the images that no photographer could capture. 

I highly recommend putting your phone down so you don't miss it. 

With Love, 

Emily 

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

I'm Listening.

Hello, Month 4. I've been dreading you.

When I first read the list of things we would be fasting from during 7, I had a visceral reaction to this one: Media. And it took me off guard. So instead of thinking about it too intently, or considering why I responded so strongly, I decided to ignore month 4 and deal with it when the day came.

Well folks, it's here.

We're not getting rid of all media (these words aren't magically typing themselves). Emily is giving up 7 specific outlets, and I am limiting my media usage to 7 hours or less a week. This does not include tools you need on a daily basis for your job, to complete your work, to pay your bills, etc. The goal is to weed out extra and unnecessary media that bombards us every day.

And I know what you're thinking - shocker, the 20-something Millennial is freaking out because she can't check Instagram all month. Oh how I wish it was that simple. As I've been gearing up for this transition and really thinking on why it is I have such anxiety about parting with certain media, some things have become apparent.

I actually don't care about Instagram that much. Or Snapchat. Or Facebook. Or Pinterest. Yes, I check at least a few of these on a daily basis, but often out of boredom or procrastination.

My battle is with television and radio. Hands down. I use their noise daily to drown out what I don't want to think about, deal with, or hear. When I would rather not dwell on whatever current hurt or pain is in my life, I turn on the TV. When I know there's some tough things I need to pray and talk to God about while driving, many times I turn up the music and choose not to deal with them. And when the Lord is convicting me of poor decisions I've made, often my first response is to drown out His voice with whatever drama is on ABC that night.

Time and time again I choose to live in denial and embrace a false sense of self-sufficiency, rather than have a tough, gut wrenchingly honest conversation with God. I seem to always forget that even though those talks with Him can be hard - they lead to freedom.

And quite honestly, I'm sick of it. I'm sick of media being my first response. I'm sick of prayer being an afterthought. I'm over how full my mind has become with all the media and stimuli the world tries to shove inside it.

I'm scared for this month, but I'm ready for some quiet. Some peace and genuine listening. I'm ready to stop running away from God and what He wants me to hear, learn, and do in His Kingdom. How fitting the verse we read at small group tonight: "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;" James 1:19 ESV (emphasis mine).

It's definitely been a quiet day with all the hearing I've been forced to do. Not sure I utilized the extra, rather uncomfortable nothingness like I could have - but being engulfed in so much silence, and choosing to sit there anyways, was a start.

This month is the main reason I'm doing 7. I'm in such unchartered waters it's not even funny, so no guarantees about what's to come out of my mouth these next 28 days. All I know is I'm scared. And so excited to meet the person who emerges on the other end.

- Morgan

P.s. For someone who lives by a strict "no notification ever left on my home screen" type of policy, this is driving me bonkers.

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Another Pat on the Back

Ok, I'm not wasting time on adorable openers this month. Ready? Let's dive in.

Jesus got a hold of me in way that felt like a sucker punch. Here's why...



I gave away my clothes.

Yup.

I gave away my clothes.

I have reduced my closet by 80% and climbing.

The day that I did this I gave myself a nice little Christian pat on the back. I thought, 'Man, I'm so great. I am such a good giver. Look at me. Sacrificing and such. Go Emily.' I know you're applauding me as well, and I could write you a blog post about how big a gift I gave, and how warm and fuzzy it made me feel, and how much Jesus likes me because I'm just such a great giver.

Then a week passed.

And another one.

And as I was sitting in church a few weeks ago, I saw someone wearing one of my dresses. I was reaching up to pat myself on the back when I felt the truth hit me instead: her life was not any different because she was wearing my dress. The miserable home life she faces every day when she wakes up, the fear, the pain, loneliness that I can only imagine she must feel... my dress didn't help any of that.

That thought broke me.

And I have felt a clear impression on my heart ever since: You have nothing to offer - I AM the only one who can truly restore. 

What a humbling thought.

And if you think humbling means something gentle and meek and realizing your smallness in the world - that's not what I mean.

I felt as if I had been knocked off my tower, brought to nothing. All the things I treasure look like dust. Because in the end I cannot save anyone. I - can't- save-anyone. No matter how great I think I am, or how much I give away. The only thing- the only thing- I have of value is the truth about my Savior.

We've been discussing money on Sunday mornings at my church, and Mark made the argument that money is meant to be used as a tool - not an idol. Shouldn't that be true of everything I own? Of everything I give away? Couldn't a dress be how someone knows the love of Jesus?

But only if I use it correctly.

If I instead chose to pat myself on the back, write a blog about how giving I am and then head up a charity for the rest of my life - it will be useless. It will mean nothing. It is dust.

But I know this Jesus, and there is nothing he cannot heal, there is nothing he cannot restore, there is nothing in this world that he has not defeated. That is the hope I carry, that is the only gift of worth I can give - the good news of my Jesus.

This is what we learned this month:

  • We are not that awesome, and we really started out thinking we were really awesome, so imagine the shock. 
  • Jesus doesn't care about my clothes, he cares about my heart. If I gave away everything I had and still believed that I was the one helping people, it would be for nothing.
  • We serve Yahweh, and he is our hope. We have something to give that will never wear out, that you cannot outgrow - we have living water that never runs dry.
I don't know what to tell you about your life and the things that you have, or the things that you value.  I am only telling you that I don't care about mine so much anymore. I'm letting go. More everyday. And I'm only telling you this so that you start to wonder why, because the answer to that is Jesus. Because I want you to have my Jesus too. Because He is the way, the truth and the life. And nothing else can heal us. 


- Emily

Thursday, April 21, 2016

All the stripes.

I am so many things this month.

Some days I love my strictly assigned wardrobe. It feels like I'm getting to experience the mythical "benefits" people who wore school uniforms always talked about growing up.

Then other days I sit on my bed and just gaze into my half-open closet. Daydreaming about wearing that denim shirt with the enthusiasm of a girl fantasizing about her wedding dress.

And somewhere in the middle are days that are just gray and confusing. When my mind is all over the place and my perceptions are challenged. When the things I thought to be true about myself are questioned. Days when I'm a carefree, uniform-wearing Jesus lover one moment, and then a panicked, frightened cardigan addict the next.

Let me tell ya. The clothing swings are real.

I wore the same dress to two separate events in one weekend. Trust me, it was inevitable. I was fine until I got home after outing #2 and the thought hit me: what if pictures get posted from both? What if people see them NEXT TO EACHOTHER? What if everyone scrolls through their newsfeed and smirks because of my obvious inability to come up with more than one cute outfit in 24 hours?

Then something occurred to me this past week: Literally, no one cares.

Ouch.

A tough pill to swallow, but so true. After three straight weeks of wearing the same two outfits to teach dance, kid you not, one of my students said to me, "Oh, I haven't even noticed!"

Uhh... what?? That one comment rocked my world and taught me more in 5 seconds than I think I've learned all month. It's funny how God uses the seemingly small, inconsequential daily happenings sometimes, to reveal the most paradigm-shifting truths in our lives. That's how He tends to work, though, catching us off guard in the unexpected.

I've come to realize that each day is a gamble in this whole "7" thing. There are no guarantees that I will wake up tomorrow thrilled about wearing the same striped tank top for the approximately 240284th time this month. But I guess overall I've learned to start caring a little less how my closet tells me I should feel, and a little more how God says I am secure in Him and Him alone.

It hasn't been perfect. But it sure has been something.

- Morgan

p.s. I feel like my face says everything about the love hate relationship I've developed with this favorite shirt of mine. 7 more days, friends. 7 more days.

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

The rich young Pinterest addict


See what I did there?

If you don't already know the story, a rich young man comes to Jesus and says: "Hey! I believe in you, I am ready to go! I follow all the rules, I'm a good person - am I going to make it into Heaven?"

Jesus replies, "Alright that's great, but one last thing - go sell what you have, give that money to the poor - then come follow me."

The young man went away sad, because he was very wealthy.

Oh, how many mean thoughts I've had for this young man. Growing up in church I came to understand that he made the wrong choice, he had a bad heart, he ultimately chose money over the chance to follow Jesus. Obviously I would never make such a horrible mistake.

Can I tell you that in these last few weeks, this young man is on my mind almost everyday. And I have never felt so heartbroken for him.

I look at my closet and feel a tug on my heart that gets stronger all the time. I've made my clothes an idol - and it's time to start sorting through that. But every time I think about it I just go away sad.

And this is where the blog post stops... I don't know what to do. I don't have an idea on how to proceed, I'm just running out the clock on this month. I'm scouring the internet for a minimalists closet structure I can live with. Now I'm asking you for help.

I need to get a handle on my closet, and I am open to suggestions. 

Last night we were in Sports Authority and this cute pink sweatshirt caught my eye. I reached for it, then backed away when I remembered my fast. In the next heartbeat this soul-draining thought popped into my head: "I just need one more sweatshirt - then my wardrobe would be complete."

Ugh. That is the heavy, exhausting never-ending hamster wheel I've been running. I've said that about every single thing I've purchased this year... just one more ____ and then I'll feel whole. 

Oh, it makes me tired to the bone. And standing there in the store I thought there has to be another answer- there has to be a way out of this endless trap. I can never win, these clothes that I buy are never enough. 

They don't solve my problems at work. 

They don't give me lasting peace, security or comfort. 

They don't actually help anyone. 

These clothes that I keep buying just perpetuate this cycle of eternal longing bandaged up with temporary trappings. 

This month in particular is why I'm on this fast. This is why I need a long term solution for my closet. Because I am so tired. I am so very tired. 

I'm asking for help, because I need a hand up out of this pit. Shoot me some thoughts - I'm ready to listen. 

-Emily 

Friday, April 8, 2016

7 outfits I will never wear again

Okay, this is hard.

I knew I loved my clothes, but I thought I would be able to coast through this month no problem. I'm not that addicted to my wardrobe, I thought. And I get 7 completely different outfits! Totally doable.

This coming from the girl who moved to North Carolina for 2 months and packed enough clothes and shoes and scarves and jewelry and cardigans and skirts and... you get the point... that I didn't have to repeat an outfit for a whole month. My roommate at the time can attest to this amazing feat.

But being the glass half full type of person that I am, I still entered April with a shiny, I-can-do-it attitude. And I'm discovering that I can't. I cannot do it.

The importance I place on what I wear is far greater than I originally thought.

I teach dance sometimes 4-5 days a week, so I have 2 "dance teacher" outfits to work with (a number I wish was much higher after these past 7 days). I need comfy clothes to wear at home, and comfortable PJs for crying out loud. So there goes 2 more of my allotted 7. Which leaves 2 outfits that a normal person would wear in public (and still look presentable), and 1 dress for nicer occasions, or for the beautiful spring day I'm hoping arrives at some point this month.

And that's it.

Sounded like a lot more in theory. In practice, it feels unbearably limiting compared to the excess of options normally at my fingertips.

So here at the beginning of week 2, I'm praying for God to change my "I can't" attitude. I'm praying for Him to break my heart for what is truly important in His Kingdom. And praying that by the end of this month my clothes have taken a backseat to far more important things.

- Morgan

p.s. I've discovered these floral keds of mine are truly a mental and emotional lifesaver, on days when wearing the same shirt for the third time in one week feels especially tough.




.

Friday, April 1, 2016

This is not a joke

I'll be brief, because I don't know what to say. I was switching out pieces of clothing until 11:30 last night, and staring into my closet like a lost soul.

I love my clothes, and I'm not even sorry about it. I have a separate Instagram account for my closet.

So here's to Month 2 of our lifestyle experiment...

This month is about excess clothing. Essentially, I feel like someone found a bruised rib and put their elbow in it. Over and over and over again.

I've been in denial, if we're being honest - yesterday I made an order on Zulily. Why? Because I was ignoring the fact that I won't be wearing those clothes when they arrive. I'm in denial.

Jen Hatmaker's challenge of choice for her second month was 7 items of clothing. God bless her, but she writes from home. I wish I could write from home, but I answer phones in a professional setting. So instead Morgan and I have chosen 7 outfits each and we'll be wearing them all through April.

We had an awesome response to our blog last month that encouraged us to take this experiment at our own pace, while still capturing the heart of the project: letting go of what we don't need. As a result we feel comfortable adjusting things this month so that they continue to be eye opening, while still being manageable.

I don't need all my sweatpants, but by golly I want them.

I encourage you to join us this month - no sweet potatoes required, I promise. It's a great time to jump in for the rest of the journey, or even just for the next four weeks.

We'll keep you updated, and probably post an outfit-of-the-day or two. But  my heart is sad. I'd just like to say that. My heart is so sad about my sweatpants, and my cardigans and having to choose between my striped shirts. I have 32 of them.

Each month we pray for something different - and we'd love to pray for you! Let us know what's on your heart and we'll add it to our list this month. There's something serious about fasting and praying, it's referenced all through the Bible, and we're experiencing the truth of that in our own lives. So seriously, we'd be happy to fast and pray over whatever it is you need.

If you'd like more details, please feel free to text, call, Facebook message or comment below. We'd love to give you more information so that you can do this too, but I also don't really want to talk about underwear on the internet. 

-Emily

P.S. To all my female friends... and sisters... since I won't be wearing 99.9% of my wardrobe this month I'm opening it up to you. If you want to borrow or just outright steal something from my closet, this is your opportunity. I'm even willing to mail it to you. Call, text, smoke signals - you know the drill.




Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Month 1: Check

Well that's a wrap, folks. 1 month down, 6 more to go.

Each is supposed to last for 28 days, but we actually ended March a little early because of Easter. As a joyous day intended to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior, it just didn't feel right remaining in a physical and spiritual state of fasting. So we ended on the 26th. Well, technically halfway through the 25th when Emily mentioned the homemade coffee creamer in her fridge.

It was all too fitting to enjoy that first glorious cup together. My mom made some ridiculous comment at the beginning of March that after so many days apart I might not like coffee as much. I'm happy to report she was 100% wrong.

I'm gonna be honest, though. Beyond the lack of caffeine, it was a pretty rough month. I had to haul this diet all the way to St. Louis for the weekend and make it work at a dance competition - in a hotel room nonetheless! Emily's husband will tell you that his wife has been just a little less agreeable than usual. And unfortunately not everyone has been supportive of this process - voicing criticism when it doesn't line up with what they believe "true fasting" to be.

These things and others were extremely frustrating. But God remained good and met us where we were, even amidst the mess of how utterly awful some days were.

The 3 biggest things I learned:

1. This journey is ours, not Jen Hatmaker's. I was reminded of this after sharing our blog in a writer's community on Facebook. One woman who previously completed "7" left a beacon of hope in my notifications when she said to remember that our journey doesn't have to look just like Jen's in order to be successful. It's all about the heart and intention behind each month's decisions. How freeing!

2. I expected to walk away from March with some neat, pretty, wrapped-up, Christian lesson learned about being grateful for what I have. What I didn't expect was the ugliness in my heart. The selfishness and entitlement I didn't realize was even there. Talk about shocking. Yet so, so good. I learned a lot about myself and a lot about the person who God wants me to be.

3. When you make room for Him, God is faithful to answer prayer. Emily and I both had a very specific prayer request this month that we were focusing on. And what do you know, the Lord revealed answers to both of us!

Overall, March was challenging, revealing, infuriating, and never ending at times. But oh so wonderful. We may still be a little nutty for doing this. But I'm convinced now more than ever that it's all worth it.

- Morgan

p.s. Check back in the next few days for an update from Emily about Month 2!

Monday, March 21, 2016

Come Hungry.


Hi there. 
Our first month is almost at an end. I should've blogged a lot sooner, but I didn't. I kept waiting for some amazing insightful thing to hit me upside the head, but I just kept feeling hangry instead.

As I mentioned before, I like comfort food. But I didn't think I had a problem with food, or giving up food for a month. Of course, I was super wrong.

Instead of a great insight about my future path in life I've kept running into this problem I have with using food for comfort. I've labeled it a few ways this month like: I'm just hangry, I'm low on caffeine, if I had a cup of tea I wouldn't be crying so much. 


I've developed plenty of excuses: 'I'm tired of sweet potatoes, I just want ONE chocolate chip cookie, if I just had some coffee I could get through this day, if I could just eat a real meal I wouldn't be so mean' etc. 

The example from Jesus' life that I've been focused on this month was his time spent fasting in the desert. The longer I eat spinach for breakfast the more frustrated I become with his experience.

See, Jesus knew he was about to tempted and that this would be the beginning of his ministry here on earth, and that people would write it down and talk about it for thousands of years afterwards.

He still arrived hungry.

I know for a fact that when I am well fed, when I have my caffeine, when I'm not trying to find a new way to cook eggs, I am a more mentally and emotionally balanced person. If you have doubts, you haven't spent enough time with me lately.

So why would Jesus arrive hungry to something so difficult?

The longer I feel hangry the more I am forced to realize: when I can't rely on a venti vanilla soy latte for comfort, I am much better at placing my faith in my Heavenly Father, I pray more often, I do a better job of reaching for His promises, and I work harder to memorize His truth.

Perhaps Jesus knew this about the human body - that we can get so bogged down and distracted by the calories of this life.

Call out time - because I'm hangry and reckless and you chose to read this blog:

I am willing to bet another week of sweet potatoes that you were hoping this would be a lesson in gratitude. And more than likely your excuse all along had something to do with already being fairly grateful. Ha.

Jesus has more to teach us than gratitude friends. Stop settling for a kindergarten understanding of your own faith. Challenge yourself. Get freaking uncomfortable.

I don't have anything nice or warm or milky to tell you about what Jesus has for you when you get over yourself. So, again, I invite you on this journey of getting past the excess in your life. Stay tuned this week for more updates on April's challenge!


In the words of one of our eighth graders:


"I'm sorry, but I do not regret my actions"

Peace.


-Emily

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Resisting the Matcha

I survived week 2 with my sanity (and health) intact! Mostly.

I feel like the past 7 days have gradually brought about a sense of peace and acceptance about this meal plan. I even managed to sit inside Coffee Hound for a meeting, and be (almost) completely okay with not having a cute little house cortado sitting in front of me. Like I said, almost. But I was getting into the groove of things. Handling each day fairly well in my opinion.

Until Friday.

I was getting ready to drive to Springfield to celebrate my sister's birthday when the aforementioned coffee shop announced 10% off a matcha freeze for all it's' loyalty members. (It's sort of like a green tea smoothie for those of you that don't speak hipster. Don't worry, I didn't know what it was either until a friend handed me a cup of it last month. So good!)

I know, only 10% off. Nothing to freak out about. But like a switch got flipped in my brain - content Morgan disappeared as selfishness and entitlement flared up inside me like I couldn't believe.

Kid you not, I almost did not make it out of town without getting one. I was literally a block away; it would have been too easy. The voice in my head was screaming "Morgan, it's healthy! There's no coffee in it. What's one delicious smoothie on the way home going to hurt?" I couldn't convince myself, though, without some affirmation. So I texted Emily. Hoping she would say something that even slightly suggested I go for it. Throw all caution to the wind for an hour, get the drink!

No luck. She was a good friend and empathetic. But not an enabler.

So I kept driving and glared at my plain, boring water with a hatred I don't think I've ever felt towards a beverage. I may or may not have even let a few tears slip. Don't judge me, going 2 weeks without coffee can make anyone a little emotionally unstable.

But why? After so many good days, why did a smoothie make my world come crashing down in seconds? To tell you the truth, I don't know. I can't pinpoint it, but it felt like some sort of breaking point. The first time my feathers were really ruffled in this process... but also the first time God was really able to get my attention.

And when I finally chose to stop whining and listen to His quiet prompting instead, He reminded me that all I could ever want or need has already been given to me in His Son. In His love, I find complete fulfillment. Total satisfaction & fullness of joy. He has already given me grace upon grace. And only when I recognize that am I able to move past my unwillingness and look beyond my selfish desires and frustrations.

Only there am I able to resist the matcha, and do so with joy.

Praying for you friend, if you're having a hard time at the halfway point as well. Stay strong, you've made it this far!

- Morgan

p.s. I'm going to Coffee Hound again this morning. Wish me luck.

photo cred: @the_coffee_hound on Instagram

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Soup Success

So, truth time. It's been a rough start to 7. Sounds pretty pathetic after only 6 days, right?

Wrong. So wrong.

And it hasn't been rough for the reasons you're probably thinking. I actually don't hate the 7 foods that much yet. This first week for the most part has consisted of a bunch of adjusting - getting used to only having 7 different options in my kitchen, figuring out which combinations go best together, and accepting that I need to wash my pans by hand Every. Single. Night. Because I will most likely need them again the very next morning. Probably to cook some eggs. So many eggs.

But everything is still new enough that I'm not totally freaking out yet. I mean, I miss things like condiments, other fruits and vegetables, and my dear, dear almond milk. And you don't even want to know how many times a day I just look at my Keurig. And for about .2 seconds try to convince myself that it wouldn't be the end of the world if I just had one teensy little cup.

I haven't, though, thank you very much. Hang in there friend, just a few more weeks of separation.

No, what's been hard is that from night 1 I have been sick. Like, blow your nose 20 million times a day, headache, weak, achy all over sick. AND I got a canker sore in the back of my throat. (Yes, apparently that's a thing.) And the only way to get rid of it is to eat yogurt. So without even making it a full 24 hours into 7, I consulted Emily, made a Hyvee run, and then pumped as many probiotics down my throat as I possibly could. Hey, there's always tomorrow.

Thankfully the canker sore went away, but the being sick part just kept getting worse and worse. And it's been so frustrating because I feel like since I've been sick all week, my attitude towards this process hasn't even had a fair shot at being optimistic.

You know how it goes, you stub your toe or you spill something and all of a sudden every other thing in the room becomes the most despicable, loud, unnecessary annoyance to ever exist. It hasn't necessarily been that extreme, but I feel like I've been living in a general state of misery and discomfort the last five days. And it's only served to amplify the things about this journey that are challenging now or that scare me about the future.

I'm finally starting to feel a little better, and I'm hoping by the official end of week 1 tomorrow that I can go to bed and start week 2 healthier and with a better attitude. Because I'll admit, I'm starting to get just a little sick of the limited options I have, and the weird food combinations I've been forced to come up with. But each time those thoughts creep in and I start to get pouty and annoyed, I turn to prayer.

Because honestly, this is a small sacrifice compared to what some people on the globe live like every day of their lives. The amount of times this week I've heard people say "Oh, I could never do that" has been so frustrating. Because they could. We all could. So many in this world live on so much less. So I'm trying to stay focused on gratitude and being thankful for the blessings I have. Because they're too infinite to count. And 28 days without almond milk is nothing to get upset over.

Hang in there, friends. If you're participating in 7 and also had a rough start, know you're in good company. Feel free to comment and tell us how your first week is going!

- Morgan

p.s. I made soup today. I was nervous, but it turned out really good! Literally just chicken, kale, sweet potato, chicken stock, salt and pepper - who knew. Solid end to a pretty shaky week.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

AKA: the 7 things I will never want to eat again

Hey there. How are you? It's Day 2 in our world and honestly, I thought it would be at least Day 12 before I wrote this post of pure sadness. Instead, it's Day 2 and I want to tap out.

I thought that this month would be an easy one for me. I didn't think I was that attached to my food, I like eating healthy sometimes and for goodness' sake, who can't go four weeks without a strawberry milkshake???

Me. That would be me. I am currently raising my hand.

Here's the deal: I'm a stress eater.  I know, I know  you're shocked. Emily? The one who drags her friends to Mazatlan after a bad day? The one who has cravings that could rival a pregnant woman? The one who wakes up early to stop for donuts instead of doing her hair? Surely not.

Yes. That Emily.

Work has been stressful this week, applying for grad school has been stressful this week, starting this 7 month project has been stressful this week. I am stressed.

And the first thing that pops into my mind...Dunkin. How quickly can I get to Dunkin Donuts? Or McAllister's? Or Chipotle? Or Chi? 

At the very least, I want a hot cup of tea. With cream. And honey.

I would like to take this opportunity to blame my mother. My entire life, after any encounter with a doctor I have been rewarded with food. Unfortunately, I now work with doctors everyday. Imagine that. Also, she makes great cinnamon tea, and she smells like cinnamon tea and she makes cinnamon toast for you if you're sad. So, really, this isn't my fault at all.

All of this to say, today I dropped my lunch on the floor of my car. And as I was dusting Luke hair and random filth off of my apple slices, I was torn between crying, driving to McDonald's, or doing both. Instead I prayed, and I laughed, and I told the Almighty how much I appreciate him creating cows and convinced myself that eating my own car floor dirt wasn't that bad.

So here's my encouragement to you: when you think you're going to give up, just push through, phone a friend, and tell Jesus how thankful you are for vanilla soy lattes, strawberry milkshakes, and moments that give us laughter on hard days. He is our comfort, and He gives us what we need.

Feel free to update us on your 7 experience, and don't feel bad if you're already sick of sweet potatoes.

-Emily


Sunday, February 28, 2016

The Day Before

Month 1: For the next month pick 7 foods and eat only those.

Hello!

I'm Morgan, for those of you who don't know me. Emily and I have been friends for years - ever since we were little sophomores in High School and screaming over shared struggles from our corner spot in Starbucks (annoying every person in the room no doubt). We have faced life together side-by-side for the better part of a decade. And this is simply another chapter to add to our story.

A 7-month-long journey of decluttering our lives in every sense of the word, dealing with the discomfort that comes along with it, and being open to what God has to teach us through it all.

The biggest question that's been invading my thoughts the last couple of days is "why?" Why in the world, after a 5-minute-long phone conversation did I agree to such an endeavor? What most people would say no to even after weeks of consideration, I readily hopped on board with after mere minutes. Am I crazy?

Quite possibly.

But I think the real answer to my "why" is simply that the Lord had already been preparing my heart for some time now. Only because of the Holy Spirit's prompting did that immediate "yes" fly out of my mouth. (That, and the fact that I love Emily LeVault more than words and I knew I couldn't let her go this alone.) God made it clear within moments that this was a season I was meant to enter into. And I'm looking forward to it. Preparing for these 7 months with a sort of optimistic determinism that I can't quite describe. But I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared too - dreading with everything in me some of the challenges I know are waiting in the near future.

But mostly, I'm excited.

Bursting with anticipation over what God has to teach each of us. Looking forward to how He is going to wreck my heart and then build it back up again. Expecting some serious life change and transformation to take place. So if you are joining us on this journey, or are curious and simply want to gawk at craziness for the next 196 days (holy cow), here are a few parameters Emily and I established at our "Mo and Em Official Meeting" (which, shocker, was not so official):

1. We will be committed to each month's focus for exactly 4 weeks. Following Jen Hatmaker's example, we want to give ourselves 2-3 days of rest between each month in order to prepare for whatever the following life change will be.

2. Each month will be prayerfully focused. We will obviously be praying about what God has to teach us through each unique set of parameters. But along with that, both Emily and I will decide on a personal prayer focus to specifically bring to the Lord during those 28 days.

3. The 7 foods we've chosen for month one are:
  • Wheat bread (we decided that whole wheat tortillas are also acceptable)
  • Apples
  • Eggs
  • Chicken
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Kale (Emily is choosing spinach)
  • Avacado (Emily is choosing plain Greek yogurt)
*Note that there are other options within these such as 100% pure apple juice, dried apple slices, and chicken stock.

As you can see, our lists differ slightly. And that's okay. We've both chosen foods that fit our specific needs and will have the most nutritional value during this process. But something that's clearly going to be a challenge for the both of us is making Month 1 not about good food, but about a good fast.

At our uber-official meeting, it was all too easy to drift towards manipulating the process - planning the strategic use of each ingredient in order to make everything taste as good as possible. But to truly fast, I need to accept that bland, wheat bread with no frills is about to be 1/7 of my diet for the next month. And Emily needs to accept that plain, sad, sour cream-like Greek yogurt will be 1/7 of hers.

Bottom line: It's not about our comfort, but about turning to God for fulfillment in our discomfort.

I'm nervous. Dealing with anxiety already about future months and fighting to let tomorrow's troubles just stay there for now. But despite my nerves, I think I'm ready for this month. I have a guppy friend by my side and a God whose plan for these first 28 days is bigger than I could ever imagine.

So if you're going on this journey with Emily and I, welcome! Let us know in the comments if you're in and how we can be supporting you.

T-24 hours until 7 begins.

- Morgan

p.s. I already miss coffee.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Marginally Rude

Hey there!

You are here because you want to join Morgan and I on our 7 month experiment, based on Jen Hatmaker's sweet book! Or you want to watch two nutty women struggle to eat avocados for an entire month.

Either way...we're glad you're here!

As our journey progresses, Mo and I will be sharing our thoughts, experiences, joys and failures with you here - on this, our friendship blog! Feel free to check in weekly, sign up for email alerts, and join us for what Jesus has for us in the next 7 months.

Feel free to jump in at any time, but if you want to start with us on March 1st, here's a few things you should do to prepare:

  • purchase this book
  • empty your fridge
  • say goodbye to coffee
  • check in on February 28th for the full Month 1 Challenge!
Get excited!

- Emily

P.S. I am freaking out.