To eat or not to eat...

that is the question of the day here.

Okay, so you all know I could stand to lose a few  many pounds. And many of you also know I've recently been diagnosed with a number of ailments all conspiring to make me tired. What you may or may not know is that in addition to this I have not been able to eat seeds, nuts or legumes for years now. No idea why. At least until recently.

While going through my myriad of doctor tests the word "celiac" kept coming up. I kept saying, "No, I eat bread. ALL THE TIME." Then someone else who is very similar to me in health issues and temperament shared that recently he had discovered he had celiac's disease. His wife shared many of the things they had been learning and I got curious. Enter the Internet search.

Lo and behold I find that frequently Celiac's Disease is  misdiagnosed as Chronic Fatigue with an accompanying anemia of undisclosed origins. I also find that it can cause problems with digesting foods, weight problems, fatigue and anemia. Hmmm.

Now you also probably know I'm not overly fond of having to see the doctor. And, it's not just the embarrassment of having ailments, it's also the idea of paying for even one more test. So, as of today I'm beginning a gluten free diet. I could use your prayers. I am SERIOUSLY addicted to wheat... bread, muffins, pretzels, pasta, YUM!

(a happy clam!)

Well, this morning after a trip to the physical therapist for MMH we made a trip to one of our local specialty stores and I picked up gluten free pancake mix and a gluten free brownie mix. I just made the first pancakes and they are seriously good! Not even joking. I added a few chocolate chips to the batter as I really don't like syrup and butter on pancakes and I'm happy as a clam. I also found that the same mix makes muffins, so I think I'll be fine for breakfasts.

But bread??? Are you kidding? I thought it couldn't get much worse when I had to give up berries, unless of course I also had to give up chocolate. But, bread? I need prayers you all. I LOVE BREAD!

The other thing I learned that gives me some hope is that eating too much of the gluten carrying foods, like flour, can kill off the villi in your gut. This in turn causes digestive issues that you may not understand.Meaning... there is a modicum of hope that if indeed this is Celiac's disease, and if indeed I can be good about eating right, then maybe, just maybe, I can once again eat berries, and tomatoes, and cucumbers and zucchini and yellow squash in all their seedy tasty goodness. I think I could handle that. Right now I'm just sitting here dreaming of chocolate dipped strawberries. Yep.. I could handle that.

So, if you all know of any good tips, recipes, products, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send them my way.

Blessings, Kim

Sometimes I wallow and miss the world...

Dear Friends,
Sometimes I am so ashamed of myself when I realize that just when I thought I was strong I was just wallowing in my own life. I hope you all can forgive me.

I just spent a bit of time visiting Denise's blog. I used to do this regularly, but somehow just lost sight. I am ashamed to think that I want you all to read my blog and yet I don't want to have to read other blogs. Isn't that sad? Well, week after week Denise leaves such sweet comments and from the past I know that she is a true prayer warrior. Today I finally read her posts from between Christmas and now and realize that she has been walking through her own tough time. REALLY tough.

Please visit her blog, read her story... and pray. I've added a prayer button on my sidebar, the code is on her blog. I will be, in the Lord's strength, praying for my blogging "friends"... whether I know them or not. And I hope you all can forgive me for my self-focus... just call it sin. The Lord is always so gracious and merciful to us when we come to Him. I am forever grateful!

Now I'm praying that "Shortybear and Lovebug" will have many more years in which to "dance" (read her posts) and to share the love of Jesus with each other as they share it with us. What a sweet story they share!

Blessings, Kim