Going Vegan - Sort of...

We are hitting the studio next week and in preparation for having the "cleanest" voices that we can we are abstaining from dairy products (dairy produces lots of flem -- bad for singing). For those of you who are lactose intolerant, I now understand the difficulties that you go through. I mean, there is dairy in everything. Giving up dairy is like giving up happiness.

Well, shortly after deciding to give up dairy temporarily, Jacob came to the decision that he was going to solve his acid reflux and major sinus allergy problem by taking out foods that typically cause those symptoms and then reintroducing items one at a time to see what is causing the issues. Which means, in addition to the dairy, eliminating gluten and eggs. Simultaneously, I am getting serious about my own hormonal health and it was recommended to us to try a vegetarian diet....Hey, no problem... so we can't eat meat, wheat, or dairy....sure....umm.... seriously? I don't think I can do this.

Honestly I don't know how long I can endure. The first week we did this, I could think of nothing but food - I was day dreaming about sausage, cheese burgers and butter, oh sweet butter, and ice cream .. . . gulp.. ... delectable ice cream.

We are now at 11 days on this diet and things have gotten easier. In fact, this has forced us to eat healthy, immaculately healthy, and that feels good. Finding things to eat has also gotten easier. At first, all I could think of was salad and lentil soup...and the lentil soup didn't turn out so great. This week we have gotten more creative - vegetable and tofu curry (tofu is not as bad as I always thought), stuffed green peppers (see recipe below), and roasted portabella medley. These dishes have been quite enjoyable. My sister pointed me to a vegan blog that has been helpful. Plus we found a vegan restaurant here in East Nashville called The Wild Cow. We ate there last night and thought it was super tasty. They really know how to prepare great vegan foods. In fact if you are looking for a delicious cake, they have a chocolate cake that was AMAZING. It was gluten and dairy free (I have no idea how they did it) and it blows away most other chocolate cakes I have ever had. It was made by a local baker, Aunt April's Bakery and is sold by the Wild Cow.

Anyway, the reason I am sharing all of this is so you can feel sorry for me.....no, just kidding. I just think its an interesting story. I guess I always thought that people who were vegan were a little bit, shall we say, extreme. But now I realize that there are all sorts of reasons for doing it. And it's a good exercise in learning to eat more healthy. Even when we do start eating meat again, we will know how to prepare more vegetable-based foods, which will keep us living longer.

So, here is a recipe that I invented tonight with ingredients that I had in my fridge. It turned out really well and could be a main dish or a side dish.

Stuffed Green Peppers - Vegan Style
2 large green peppers
1 cup chopped portabella mushrooms
1 cup cooked rice (any variety)
1 med. tomato, diced
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup of chopped zucchini
4 ounces of hummus
salt
pepper
olive oil

Mix together mushrooms, rice, tomato, onion, zucchini, hummus, salt and pepper. Cut out core of the green pepper and stuff with mixture. Or you can cut the green peppers in half and stuff each half.  Brush the outside of the peppers with olive oil. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. (For a non-vegan version, add turkey sausage or ground beef and feta/or other cheese)

Phil at my concert!?!?

Believe it or not, Phil Keaggy actually listened to Sacred June at our concert this Saturday, Albeit he was only in attendance for about 90 seconds. But hey, if I could hold Phil Keaggy's attention for 90 seconds, I'm feeling proud. He is one of the most accomplished guitar players in this town and one of my favorite musicians. Interestingly, my first date with Jacob was a Phil Keaggy concert. We have since seen him many times. So I am seriously excited that he took the few moments to listen to us....I think he liked it:)

My Little Homestead

We built this stone wall a few years ago with rocks from our creek...

Complete with garden, chicken coop...and dog.

Now we just need some children to complete the picture:)

Jacob and I are playing at the Edgehill Village Artisan Fair this Saturday 5/22 at 2pm. Come out and shop for local art and hear Sacred June.

 

New Shelves

Check out these great shelves that Jacob whipped up for his desk area and for our bedroom. These are a great solution to our desperate need of storage!

Gifts

I tend to be a fearful person. Social situations, big crowds, talking to strangers on the phone, attempting something new. I am really good at hiding my insecurity, so you might not know that about me. But truthfully, anxiety has been a companion of mine since I was child. I'm talking about gut wrenching, about-to-puke anxiety. A lot of it has to do with failure - - being afraid to fail, that is. Over the years, God has been changing me and giving me more confidence, but I still struggle with this a lot. Can anyone relate?

Recently, I have been thinking about gifts. I tend to be the most fearful and the most self-pitying when reflecting on my gifts and talents. I guess it's human nature, but when we have a gift or talent, we tend to be the most insecure when it comes to using that gift. We also want to be the only one with that gift in the near vicinity. And if we are not, we want the next best thing - - to be the most talented of everyone who has that gift....and if we aren't, then pooh, "There is no point in me using a gift that everyone else already has." (Can you just hear the self pity rolling off each word?)  In a town where 3/4th of the population has the same talents that I have, being confident can be difficult. (All of you musicians living in Nashville know what I mean). There is always a better singer, guitar player, fiddle player, etc....and they are probably living next door.

Over the past month, Jacob and I have decided to put more energy into music. This is the perfect time to produce an album and travel with our music. However, true to form, my insecurities have surfaced......Are my songs really relevant? Do I have anything unique to offer? I am going to be able to play this song without really messing it up? Can I play a new instrument and not get laughed off the stage? .....

Jacob really likes to talk about how truth does not come from us. It has to come from outside of us. Anything that we come up with and say is truth, just leads to death. And despite what I may think is true about my gifts during my insecure moments, here is the truth that God has established...what is really true about our gifts: Every gift that you or I have has been given to us by our creator. Whether you have the gift of writing, metal smithing, photography, music, organization, event planning, wood working, encouraging others, management, teaching, etc., all of these gifts are reflections of God. He is taking his own talents and giving them out to us. And He gives them to us to glorify Himself.

I may not be the best songwriter in this town or even on my block, but if I build a box around my gifts, put a cushion on top and sit on my comfy seat, my tush might feel nice, but I am wasting what God has given me, and in the process, holding back glory from God. God never promised that I would be unique. He does promise that whatever we do unto the Lord, he will bless. So I am making a declaration to you: I don't want to sit on my gifts anymore. I am going to use my gifts and talents, not because I am the best at them, but because God has given them to me to glorify Him. That knowledge strips away the fear because it reminds me that this life is not about me. It is about being a reflection of Christ...Showing the world what kind of God we have....a God that has given "to his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of [His] tender mercy, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace." (Luke 1:77-79)

Will anyone join me in letting go of their fears and letting out the gifts and talents that you have been given in order to glorify God? Also, next time you hear me doubting my gifts and talking all pitiful, please remind me of my declaration. And I would be happy to do the same for you :)

Flood in Photos

For those of you who do not live here and/or those who are interested in seeing the flood devastation here in Nashville, the Boston Globe has posted a collection of shots from around the city. My sister took the shot below.

Flooding In Nashville

When I said that I wanted it to rain, I didn't mean this much rain. The creek in our backyard has turned into a river. Jacob and I woke to a neighbor pounding on our door to tell us that our chicken coop was floating away! This picture was taken after the waters receded quite a bit, believe it or not.

Yesterday the coop was back by the creek. God's eye was on the chicken, though, because yesterday afternoon we were compelled to move them further up into the yard. We moved them behind the truck, and yet Jacob still had to wade in two feet of water to rescue them this morning. They, and the coop, are now safely located up on the driveway. We are very fortunate that the waters have not reached up the house, although our basement is flooding a bit. There are many people in much worse situations around Nashville and Middle TN. And the rains won't be letting up until early tomorrow morning.