I pray all mothers had a wonderful day. I certainly did. I was taken out to eat, but was pretty proud of myself for choosing veggies. I know it wasn't what it would have been if I were at home, but, I didn't go crazy with it. I did good on water as well. I'm finding if you actually drink the water, it is an appetite suppresent. And today and yesterday I jumped on the mini trampoline (Rebounder) as well as walked. This reminds me of taking baby steps. I was doing this really good and it's like I'm starting over. But, what is good is I'm doing it. In my reading I found myself praying for a faultless character as Daniel had. "A Faultless Character—Daniel was subjected to the severest temptations that can assail the youth of today; yet he was true to the religious instruction received in early life. He was surrounded with influences calculated to subvert those who would vacillate between principle and inclination; yet the word of God presents him as a faultless character. Daniel dared not trust to his own moral power. Prayer was to him a necessity. He made God his strength, and the [153] fear of God was continually before him in all the transactions of his life. Daniel possessed the grace of genuine meekness. He was true, firm, and noble. He sought to live in peace with all, while he was unbending as the lofty cedar wherever principle was involved." Temperance page 152-153 Keep it going.

Day 1 went well. I have not been in the habit of drinking this much water, but I got down far more water than I normally do. Honestly, I almost met my goal, and for me, that is real progress. I do not want to overlook the small victories because they turn into lasting habits. This week, while studying my Sabbath School lesson on prayer, I learned something that connected deeply with this journey. Prayer is more than simply asking God for help. Real victory comes through communion with Him. Obedience grows out of connection. If we are not staying in contact with God, it becomes much harder to overcome obstacles and unhealthy habits. Taking care of the body temple and building a community that helps me and I them has become a real desire in my heart, not just something I “should” do. I also learned something powerful from the book Temperance. In my own words, Christ went into the wilderness and overcame on the very point where Adam and Eve fell, appetite. Satan believed appetite would continue to keep humanity under his control, but Jesus proved obedience through dependence upon God was possible. Christ did not only win the battle for Himself, He showed us the pathway to victory. If Jesus overcame where humanity first fell, then He also left us an example and a pattern we can follow through His strength. That thought encouraged me so much during Day 1. I mostly ate watermelon, and I was excited because I actually found one with seeds. I bought mostly fruit and salad, and overall, I ate really well. Sabbath was not quite as strong as Day 1, but I am learning this journey is not about perfection overnight. It is about continuing, learning, praying, adjusting, and moving forward without giving up. OK! Now this statement hit hard in the book Temperance. "A strict compliance with the requirements of God is beneficial to the health of body and mind. In order to reach the highest standard of moral and intellectual attainments, it is necessary to seek wisdom and strength from God, and to observe strict temperance in all the habits of life." Temperance pg 155 We've got to do it. Let's help each other.

Happy Sabbath everyone! Today is Day 2, here is how yesterday went😊 Started yesterday morning in Christian Temperance & Bible Hygiene by Ellen White. This verse was very powerful to me: “Be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” — Romans 12:2 And what mercies that God accepts even the poor remnant we offer when we finally turn back to Him. Praise God who saves souls as by his goodness and grace💚 The day looked like: 🥤Breakfast Smoothie — berries, soy milk, sorrel greens, flax, hemp hearts 🥗 Lunch Vegan guacatostada with black beans, rice & black bean salsa 🧹 Cleaned the house (with an 18.5 lb baby on my chest 💪🏽) 🍠 Made & gifted a sweet potato pie 🚗 Oil change errand 🌿 Evening walk around the property with Miriam in the carrier 💧 Full gallon of water — done! “Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” — 1 Timothy 4:8 Godliness and health aren’t in conflict, they’re in harmony. Day 1 done. Who’s still with me? 🙋🏽‍♀️

Yesterday, I found myself surrounded by family, laughter, and tables filled with foods I don’t normally eat. It was a beautiful baby shower, full of love… and somewhere in the middle of it all, I slipped. I stepped outside of the path I’ve been walking. And I won’t pretend otherwise. I fell. But I’m not writing this to sit in shame. I’m writing this to stand back up—with humility. Scripture reminds us plainly, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, KJV). That means none of us are standing on higher ground looking down at another. We’re all learning, all growing, all being shaped. And the truth is… one may have the diet right, but be struggling in another area. Another may be strong in discipline, but weak in patience, in words, or in quiet battles no one else sees. We are all in need of grace. So I say this with sincerity—I apologize for falling short. And I’m asking for your prayers… not perfection, but progress. Not pressure, but strength to overcome. Because the Word also tells us how to respond when we see one another stumble:“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness…” (Galatians 6:1, KJV). “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2, KJV). “Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24, KJV). That’s the spirit we hold onto. Gentle restoration. Not harsh judgment. And this… this is exactly what this community is about. We don’t come in perfect—we come in feeble. But by the grace of God, we don’t stay there. We walk together, step by step, from feeble to fabulous in Jesus. We will see one another fall. That’s not the question. The question is—what will we do when we see it? “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32, KJV). Our whole reason for being is to help each other make it. To lift, to pray, to encourage, to restore.

I learned years ago that by beholding scripture, we become changed, so when I saw this scripture I wanted to know why Solomon used this particular illustration to make his point about strange women. What does pure and clean water have to do with it? As I kept going, I saw it. In Proverbs 5, the “strange woman” is presented as attractive at first, pleasurable in the moment, but destructive in the end. That same pattern is exactly how many addictive substances and habits work, including heavily sweetened drinks and processed foods. Look at the language: “For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood…”— Proverbs 5:3–4 Notice the progression: - sweet at first, - smooth at first, - pleasurable at first, - but destructive afterward. That sounds shockingly similar to modern addictive foods and drinks. Sugary beverages are designed to excite the brain quickly. The sweetness gives temporary pleasure, energy, comfort, or emotional relief. But afterward often comes the crash: - fatigue, - more cravings, - irritability, - dependency, - inflammation, - and the desire for another “fix.” The body begins wanting more and more while becoming less satisfied. That is exactly how temptation works. The strange woman in Proverbs represents more than immorality alone. She represents seductive destruction, something appealing that slowly gains control. Doesn't that sound like the Dr. Pepper, or Coke that so many are addicted to. Actually, all sodas. And honestly, addiction of any sort behaves the same way. It whispers:“Just one more.”“You deserve this.”“It won’t hurt.”“You can stop anytime.” But over time, the appetite grows stronger while the person grows weaker. That is why this water comparison becomes so meaningful. Water does not seduce the body. It serves the body. Water does not manipulate cravings. It satisfies real needs. Water is simple, clean, honest, and life-giving.