I had time to reflect this morning while out on my early morning run (you know, the one that you don't want to get out of bed for, but know if you don't you will regret it all day). As I was running I was thinking about gifts. I thought about how glad I am to have my reflective vest. I got it from my brother-in-law Clayton for Christmas a couple years ago. I wear it several times a week. To say that I love it would be an understatement! I got a pressure cooker from my husband and boys that I will use year after year. These are the kind of gifts that I LOVE to get, and also the type of gift that I enjoy giving. They may not always be the most popular gift when opened (except by like minded givers), but I hope that the person receiving will get more than a one time use.
Guessing the idea of gifts was spurred on by the date. You see tomorrow is my birthday. It is not a date that I look forward to as I did when I was a kid. Don't get me wrong, I feel great and I love life, but the idea of getting another year older is no longer exciting to me. It is just another day. But I was asking myself, what are other gifts that I use over and over? What gifts keep giving time after time after time?
It only took a few steps when I was nearly knocked off my feet with the realization.... Of course, forgiveness. The gift is from God. You see, I am a sinner by nature. I try, and try, and I try but I just keep on failing in so many ways. No matter how many "right" moves I make I am never totally free from sin. God in His overwhelming grace keeps on forgiving me and loving me. Amazing! All we have to do is ask.
Jesus suffered and died on the cross for you and for me. Have you asked for forgiveness? Have you asked Him to be Lord of your life? He wants to have a relationship with you if you will open the door. It is the best gift that anyone could ask for or receive. Thank you God for the gift of Jesus! Don't wait another day. Here is a place to start...
God in heaven, I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner. I am sorry for my sins and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe that your Son Jesus
Christ shed His precious blood on the cross and died for my sins. I believe that God
raised Jesus from the dead. I accept Jesus as my own personal Savior.
Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace. Transform my life so that I
may bring glory and honor to you alone and not myself. Thank you Jesus
for dying for me and giving me eternal life. Amen
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
4 Weeks and Counting....
4 weeks is how long we have into the journey with our new diet. Jacob has had health problems for some time (noticeably for almost a year). Through the course of time, we have had several tests run and come up short until 4 weeks ago. We found that his body cannot digest certain foods (they tested well over 100 of the most common "problem" foods). The recommendations came back to cut out dairy, gluten, and eggs for 8-12 weeks. After that time we can reintroduce 1 item every 5 days and see how he reacts.
I love to bake and cook. One of the ways that I show love to others is by making them their favorite foods. I get that from my mom. She always makes people feel special by spending the day preparing your favorite dishes when you are coming to visit. And every time they taste amazing. To hear that we had to change our diet was a blow to all of us. But one that I will gladly make. I would do anything to make our son feel better.
He responded almost right away. Some of the improvements include his face clearing up, his tummy was not hurting every time he ate and he seemed much happier. There were other improvements, but not ones that need to be posted ;). I could not believe it. It had only been 3 days. Shopping and meal planning have been difficult, but worth every second to help him feel better.
A week had gone by and the improvements we had seen early on were going backwards. I was keeping a journal of his food, the way he felt, monitoring everything I could think of. What were we doing wrong? I poured over his results, library books, and blogs. It did not make sense.
Last week (after reviewing all our notes) we decided to cut out corn as well, even though his results said he was OK with corn. This left us with very few (in my mind) options for eating, but we wanted to see what would happen without the corn. Once again we started to see amazing results. We have several weeks to go, but given the improvements I am not sure that we will be returning to our "old" diet. Thank goodness for fresh fruit, vegetables (except corn), nuts and meat!
Shopping, cooking, and just plan eating is so hard when you are not including eggs, dairy, gluten and corn. I am using ingredients that I have never heard of and utilizing my food processor more than ever before. We are looking forward to a garden! Dining out is not even an option any more. I have found some great recipes at Maid in Alaska , Gluten Free Home Maker, my dear friend Holly, and we love these bars at Kitchen Stewardship. The more I read, the more I realize we are not alone in our diet. I am so thankful for those that are willing to share their recipes with everyone. It has made cooking fun again. Each day is getting better, PRAISE GOD!
I love to bake and cook. One of the ways that I show love to others is by making them their favorite foods. I get that from my mom. She always makes people feel special by spending the day preparing your favorite dishes when you are coming to visit. And every time they taste amazing. To hear that we had to change our diet was a blow to all of us. But one that I will gladly make. I would do anything to make our son feel better.
He responded almost right away. Some of the improvements include his face clearing up, his tummy was not hurting every time he ate and he seemed much happier. There were other improvements, but not ones that need to be posted ;). I could not believe it. It had only been 3 days. Shopping and meal planning have been difficult, but worth every second to help him feel better.
A week had gone by and the improvements we had seen early on were going backwards. I was keeping a journal of his food, the way he felt, monitoring everything I could think of. What were we doing wrong? I poured over his results, library books, and blogs. It did not make sense.
Last week (after reviewing all our notes) we decided to cut out corn as well, even though his results said he was OK with corn. This left us with very few (in my mind) options for eating, but we wanted to see what would happen without the corn. Once again we started to see amazing results. We have several weeks to go, but given the improvements I am not sure that we will be returning to our "old" diet. Thank goodness for fresh fruit, vegetables (except corn), nuts and meat!
Shopping, cooking, and just plan eating is so hard when you are not including eggs, dairy, gluten and corn. I am using ingredients that I have never heard of and utilizing my food processor more than ever before. We are looking forward to a garden! Dining out is not even an option any more. I have found some great recipes at Maid in Alaska , Gluten Free Home Maker, my dear friend Holly, and we love these bars at Kitchen Stewardship. The more I read, the more I realize we are not alone in our diet. I am so thankful for those that are willing to share their recipes with everyone. It has made cooking fun again. Each day is getting better, PRAISE GOD!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Fresh Starts
I finally got around to getting a new family desk calendar last week. I am not sure why I waited so long, because getting a new calendar or planner is an exciting thing for me! I am not sure why I get so excited. Perhaps it is the crisp paper or the white sheets with no scribbles/marks etc... I get to sit down with my pen, pencil, and highlighter and fill in the activities for the month and year to come. I take time to make it neat and blemish free. I love it! After working on it for a little while, the kids come over to see what
mom is working on. Why is she so happy and excited about this blank
paper? What is it about what she is doing that is fun?
This first time sitting down with it is the only time that it is neat and clean. I try to keep things in order, but flipping pages, changing dates, and kids scribbles make it a mess by the end of the year.
As I sit and reflect on that blank sheet of paper without blemish I think about Easter. God sent his one and only son to live among us, to have a perfectly sin free life and to die on the cross for you and for me. He is the perfect, clean, blemish free, son of God.
We can go to Him and repent of our sin and become new! Romans 10:9 "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Is that awesome or what?! It tells us in 2 Corinthian 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Maybe that is why I get so excited about a new calendar. We can be that clean sheet of paper. It reminds me of fresh starts, new beginnings, of forgiveness, of Jesus! I am overwhelmed with love for the one who gave everything so that I may live.
This first time sitting down with it is the only time that it is neat and clean. I try to keep things in order, but flipping pages, changing dates, and kids scribbles make it a mess by the end of the year.
As I sit and reflect on that blank sheet of paper without blemish I think about Easter. God sent his one and only son to live among us, to have a perfectly sin free life and to die on the cross for you and for me. He is the perfect, clean, blemish free, son of God.
We can go to Him and repent of our sin and become new! Romans 10:9 "Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Is that awesome or what?! It tells us in 2 Corinthian 5:17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Maybe that is why I get so excited about a new calendar. We can be that clean sheet of paper. It reminds me of fresh starts, new beginnings, of forgiveness, of Jesus! I am overwhelmed with love for the one who gave everything so that I may live.
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