"The Wahl"s Protocol" and me!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says: "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."

I am "using" these verses to keep me on the "straight and narrow" path toward a healthier body, one that suffers less from digestive issues and slows down the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.

 My physical body should be a useful temple for God's work on earth as long as possible so I have
learned that I must actively participate in keeping it in working order. Recently God has directed me to a book called "The Wahls Protocol; How I Beat Progressive MS Using Paleo Principles and Functional Medicine." written by Dr. Terry Wahls, M.D., a professor at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in Iowa City.

Although I do not suffer from MS, Parkinson's Disease is a similar autoimmune type chronic disease with no cure and degenerative features that are usually treated with drugs alone. In reading Dr. Wahls book I found a kindred spirit, since she had been diagnosed with MS in 2000. In three years she was weakened to the point of needing a wheelchair. At that point she decided to study in depth the nutrients necessary to "feed" the mitochondria at the cell level in an attempt to slow down the process of degeneration of the brain cells which happens in these types of diseases. She became aware of the nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids that were needed for optimal performance. By adjusting her diet accordingly she went from a wheel chair to riding a mountain bike and being able to once again pursue her medical practice, but most importantly she "had her life back". Although not a cure by any means her diet protocol gives hope to those of us facing a weakening body "down the road".

There are three levels of her diet regime and I am currently working through level two.
Level one eliminates gluten and dairy, alters the protein to only organic, grass-fed, wild caught, and incorporates nine cups of fruits and vegetables, every day, broken down into three groups: leafy greens, colored veggies and fruits, and sulfur-rich veggies.  (OH, all processed foods of any kind are assumed to be eliminated!!)
Level two reduces all non-gluten grains, legumes, and potatoes to just 2 servings per week, adds powdered sea weed to every meal, as well as occasional organ meats to the diet. Level two also adds fermented foods, soaked seeds and nuts, and more raw foods.
Level three is still unattainable for me. It eliminates ALL grains, legumes, potatoes as well as
ALL honey and maple syrup (my only sweeteners now). At this level you reduce your veggie level from 9 cups to 6 cups daily but add higher levels of coconut oil and full-fat coconut milk. In addition, most fruit are eliminated, (very difficult for me since I love all fruit), because of their high carbohydrate level-only berries are allowed.

I doubt I will ever fully embrace level three but after being on this regime for about four months my digestive system is more stable and I feel I have a higher level of energy. Dr.Wahls did say that healing the digestive system and seeing an improvement at the cell level takes from one to three years! Patience and perseverance are the key words here!

Doubt this diet ever becomes popular in mainstream society or will be recommended by the medical community in the near future. Can you imagine the reaction of the patient if a Dr. would suggest this diet and say you will see results in three years?? What-give up my diet coke, hamburger and fries, and that delicious ice cream cone? No, just give me a pill!

I am challenged with Romans 13:14
"Clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ and do not think how to satisfy the desires of the flesh."

New Year's Eve "Bang"!

Fireworks are exploding all over the world tonight, resulting in spectacular colors and loud bangs bringing laughter and well wishers ushering in another year. Traditionally, Hunter and I have a quiet evening with some delicious food and maybe a movie or a good book to read then retire by 10:00 p.m.

This year was going to be no different until I had my own personal "bang"-quite literally I must say! 

After successfully making, from scratch mind you, Chinese pot-stickers (or jiaozi in Mandarin) which I was going to serve for dinner fried with spicey dipping sauce (yummy), I clipped on my shuffle with my favorite Christian music and embarked on a time of devotion as I briskly walked the roads around the RV park, hoping to get a little exercise before I began dinner preparations. 

I was thoroughly engulfed in songs of praise one moment then flat on my face "eating" the pavement the next! What exactly just happened? To this moment I can't quite describe the details only to guess I may have drug my left foot, which is my weaker side, causing my shoe to catch on a slight rise in the road propelling me violently foreward. The knees and palms slowed the downward ascent but the chin actually took most of the force of the "bang"! I laid there a moment trying to assess the situation when I heard a man yell, "Are you alright, miss?" The voice shook me to my senses and I slowly got up clutching my chin while blood oozed between my fingers. I assured the kind gentleman I was OK and slowly made my way back to the RV. Hunter and Tommy's card game was suddenly interrupted by my "grand" entrance. Hunter jumped into action with towels, ice, and questions to determine the extent of "damage". As it turns out I was blessed with only a twisted and swollen ankle, bruised and skinned knees and palms, a cut and bruises to the chin, which butterfly strips could handle, and a sore jaw to accompany the broken tooth. The tooth being the issue needing professional attention. We located a 24 hour emergency dentist who examined the injury. He said I would need two days of healing the chin before he would put on a temporary crown, so a return visit is scheduled for Friday morning. In the meantime I started antibiotics, a necessary procedure when you have an artificial implant, such as the one in my knee. My dinner consisted of soup and very soft fruit. I imagine I will have a few days of a liquid type diet before my jaw stops hurting. Thankfully the dentist did x-rays to be certain there were no broken bones. I am most grateful nothing was serioiusly damaged and I can slowly recover from my New Year's Eve fall. Since 2014 went out with a bang for me I am looking forward to 2015 coming in quieter please! Think I will pick up that good book and relax tomorrow and sip on soup-rather a boring New Year's Day but a safe one!

Hope yours is more exciting and less painful. 

May God truly bless each and everyone of you during 2015 with His unconditional love and opportunities to share it with others!  John 3:16 

Surprise!

Have you ever wanted to "pull off" that perfect surprise, catch someone totally unware? Well, I did it, a memory making moment! On December 18th around 6:30 p.m. I totally surprised my mother with an unexpected appearance. She was definately astonished and filled with "wonder", as Webster defined a true surprise! She was not expecting to see me until the summer of 2015. But I decided I didn't want to wait that long to spend time with her so I arranged with my sister (my partner in "crime") to pick me up at the airport. Previously she had told mom she would pick her up and go to a church dinner event that evening, so when we pulled up in front of her building and I jumped out of the car she was a bit confused, to say the least. What fun it was for me to give her a hug and explain that since I didn't know what to give her for Christmas I decided to give her myself-a WEEK of me for her Christmas gift! Marlene and I wisked her away to a salad supper and all the while I think she was still trying to process the event. Ha! Ha!

We did have a wonderful time together; talking, reading, praying, cooking, shopping, attending church, going to the movies, and visiting with my sister and her family. Thanks, Mom, for being the happy recipient of a joyful holiday "event"!

"Imagination!"

In November of this year Hunter and I had the privilege of spending a week with some of our grandchildren at Disney World. We parked our motorhome in their convenient campground and met Jacob, Stacia, Keaton, and Beckham everyday at varioius locations around the gigantic park. Years ago we had taken our three chldren there so it was fun to see the changes. Yet the most magical times for me were watching the two grandsons engage their imagination and giggle with delight as their minds were bombarded with "big" characters, joyful dancing parades, and new entertainment around every corner. Disney must be experienced through the imagination of a child!

I am ending this blog with a question for the grownups: Where is your imagination? Is it dried up like I fear mine is sometimes? Just spend a few moments on the floor with blocks and plastic zoo animals and you will discover that there are still a few drops of imagination left in the shriveling brain!

In reading my Bible recently I reflected on the fact that God does want us to keep alive a bit of that imagination gift He gave us until the "very" end. How else can we picture heaven without some imagination? I love to imagine the design of the mansion Jesus promised me in John 14:2. And, wow, I often imagine and long for my new body (2 Corinthians 5:1-3),  especially as this one is in need of many repairs!

I guess the lesson here is enjoy and continue to cultivate God's gift of imagination!

Transitions!

I have a grandson who has trouble transitioning from one activity to another. He becomes so comfortable doing "one thing" that to stop that activity and change "gears" brings out the "uglies" in him. I am beginning to think he inherited that trait from his Nani. Now I know what many of you might be saying about now, "You have got to be kidding. Who has transitioned into and out of more places and situations than you have in the 6 years of living full time in an RV, not to mention previous years living in China, as well as now having children you visit around the globe?" My comeback to you would be that yes, I have been through many transitions but it has not always been comfortable. If it were not for Hunter, the true adventurer, and his constant positive attitude and daily encouragement you might have seen more "uglies" coming out of me. I have come face to face with this truth just recently when I had to tackle the task of moving back into the RV. My new little home in Indiana has become so comfortable, like a soft warm sweater, a cup of hot tea, and a fall sunset. Why change that? Why transition back into tight quarters, little counterspace, no friendly neighbors? As Hunter would respond: WARM SUNSHINE!

Now that we are officiallly in Florida and enjoying that warm sunshine I would agree that the work of moving and the transition itself was well worth it. 

I am struggling, though, with a transition that is much harder than moving clothes from one place to another or endurin jet lag or even adjusting to living in another culture. That is the transition from being in the "middle age" bracket to entering the "old age" category of life. It is, of course, inevitable for us all but that does not mean it is easy or even welcomed! What happened to the body that could play racquetball, memorize parts in a play, watch movies until 11:00, eat greasy pizza and sugary pop without a stomach ache?

Are those days really gone? What manual gives us a step by step procedure to make this transition easier? Bo Caldwell writes in his book, City of Tranquil Light, "This growing old is the great test, you know-the challenge we've been preparing for all along." If that is the case I need to "rise to the occasion." Look into God's word, feast on it and apply its truth. 

Isaiah 43:18-21 speaks directly to this struggle: 

"Forget the former things, do not dwell in the past. See, I am doing a new thing. Now, it is springing up. Do  you not see it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert to give drink to my people, the chosen ones, the ones I have formed for myself, so that they may proclaim my praise."

OK. The purpose in entering that "old age" group is, through aches, pains, foggy brain, sore joints, through no matter what the body can or can not do - to give God praise!

1 Corinthians 1:3

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort."

Home

There is an old saying: "Home is where the heart is." I believe there is much truth to this adage. When we lived full time in our RV we used to say:"Home is where we park it". Living in the various houses of our children for some period of time caused me to coin the phrase: "Home is where the grandchildren live". But now that we finally have a small house in a retirement community I am beginning to feel that home is once again a stationary building with walls, a cement driveway, and a red front door with a welcome mat. I invite all my blog friends to visit us in Indianapolis but in case you never travel this way here are a few photos.

Our home is not very big but it feels so comfortable and fills me with a real sense of warmth and peace. It is a special gift from God. It is like the peace that only He can offer His children. Jesus said to his disciples before he returned to heaven; "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid. " John 14:27

As the sun streams through my bedroom window while I do my morning devotions I feel His peace and know I do not have to be troubled about anything because HIs peace covers me. 

"Pilgrim was taken to a large upper room that faced the sunrise. And the name of the room was Peace." from Pilgrim's Progress

Powerful quote!

I recently completed a novel of historical fiction called "The Preacher's Bride" written by Jody Headlund. It is the tale of the second wife of John Bunyan, author of "Pilgrim's Progress". The story, although fiction in nature, is based on historical facts gleaned from the authors's hours of pain staking searching out and reading a variety of historical records. Elizabeth Bunyan was the step-mother of four small children left motherless by the early death of Mary Bunyan. Elizabeth labored for 7 days, yes 7 days, giving birth to John's still born son. She had to provide a meager living for these children and herself while John was imprisoned for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, during which he wrote "Pilgrims's Progress", one of literature's greatest works! Elizabeth suffered much but kept her eyes on Jesus, her Lord and Savior. One quote from this book has had a profound impact on my view of hardships:

"Hardships are the Lord’s greatest blessing to the believer. Without them we would love the Lord only for what He does for us. Our troubles teach us to love Him for who He is.”

I would recommend this novel as an enjoyable read but even more so to take to heart the quote above, whose truth echoes through the pages of God's word!