A Statement to Ponder

Recently I completed reading a novel titled: Edge of Eternity by Randy Alcorn. Basically it was the story of a man "caught" between heaven and hell. Although this sounds a bit strange it was a fascinating read. I wanted to share the following quote with you:
"We live our lives in eternity's lobby, walking toward a door that will forever seal our destiny."
If there is any truth to this statement think about its implications. The door we choose to walk through here on earth will determine how we spend eternity. Eternity is a LONG time. For me, I want to make the right choice, which I've already done. I'm walking toward the door marked heaven, but not because of anything I have done but rather because of what Jesus did for me. I pray, you too, make the right choice!

On a lighter note here are two blue-eyes boys ready for a run with mommy.

Look at that boy in the mirror!

Made from "scratch"

On my new diet there are a number of food items I have discovered I can not just go to the store and purchase, mainly because of their sugar or refined carbohydrate content. Therefore I am learning to make more and more items from scratch. It has become quite an interesting challenge-one that surprises the taste buds and provides me with a tiny bit of "pride". (I know that's a sin so let's just say I feel good about my accomplishments!)
In the above photo from left to right starting in the back row you see my versions of hummus, mayonaise, applesauce,(including the nutritious peelings), ketsup, sugarless granola, almond butter, yogurt, (just finished eating the last jar), and 100% whole grain bread made from wheat I ground myself. To this list I also can add soy milk, Italian salad dressing, peanut butter, carrot and various other juices, and alfalfa sprouts from my newly purchased seed sprouter. On my "yet to create" list I have yogurt cream cheese, buttermilk, other salad dressings, various seed sprouts, and a long list of grains to grind for use in breads.
If it was not for my stomach problems I would not be jogging along this new road. So,today, I can with heart felt honesty say "Thank you, Lord, for a tempermental stomach!"

Cutest kid on the block!

In the Valley

Why is it when we are on the mountain top we think we will never venture into the valley again? Just two days ago I was feeling great on this new diet and today I feel rotten. I think it may be the pork ribs we ate yesterday but who knows. There could be a number of reasons why I feel like a little gremlin has lit a match to my digestive tract and is gleefully fanning the flames. But I must remind myself that healing takes time and that a chronic condition doesn't go away easily but puts up a rather vicious battle. Thankfully I can be comforted by Paul's words in 2 Corinthians as he reminds us that God's strength is made perfect through our weakness. God's grace is sufficient.
There is a wonderful old hymn titled-"God Will Take Care of You"
I especially find stength in the line "beneath his wings of love abide". My mind's eye sees a baby chick under the protective wings of a mother hen. That is a safe, warm place. So today I'm resting under the wings of my father "hen". Tomorrow will only be better.

1 week down- 51 to go!

I have just completed one week on the "Perfect Whole Foods Diet" with NO sugar and NO refined carbohydrates and I feel good! In fact, I wouldn't say I just feel good, I am excited about the challenges presented to me by the necessity of radically altering my cooking and baking techniques and incorporating previously unheard of ingredients. Armed with fresh knowledge, as I read more and more about healty diet, each meal preparation becomes an adventure. Breakfast might be a yogurt smoothie with grilled tempeh and 100% whole wheat toast. Vegetables have been added to lunch as well as dinner and sometimes even a handful of spinach thrown into the smoothie to start the day. Various vegetable juices fill the mid-day snack role. (We have a new juicer, which makes that task a breeze.) Even the evening meal may have a few novel additions, such as quinoa or a stevia sweetened dessert.

For fun I thought I would share a little of what I am learning with you in the format of a quiz. See if you can become a member of the "Food Guru" Club.

1. Dulse is:
a) a sea vegetable
b) a soy protein

2. Kamut is:
a) a grain
b) a vegetable

3. Triticale flour is:
a) never refined
b) bleached and brominated

4. Diastatic Malt Powder is:
a) added to whole wheat bread to help it rise
b) added to vegetables for flavor

5. Kefir is:
a) the milk from a goat
b) a cultured milk product

6. Kombu is:
a) a member of the onion family
b) a sea vegetable

7. Amaranth can be:
a) cooked as a cereal
b) used as a fruit substitute

8. TVP is:
a) a low-fat meat substitute
b) an ancient grain

9. Durum is:
a) a baking term
b) wheat for making pasta

10.Job's Tears is a title for:
a) a grain
b) a fruit

ANSWERS: 1)a, 2)a, 3)a, 4)a, 5)b, 6)b, 7)a, 8)a, 9)b, 10)a

How'd you do? If you got 100% you're an automatic "Guru" club member. Any less and you are probably quite normal!! After tasting my stevia cheesecake my husband thinks I'm a bit obsessed, but I'm enjoying "the ride", anyway.

On to week two and more new recipes. Can't wait!

The "Ultimate" Challenge!

Can I do it? Can I go a year or longer without sugar or refined carbohydrates? If you would have asked me that question just a month ago I would have told you absolutely not! I grew up with desserts. They are an intrical part of almost every meal. And saying no to warm, crusty french bread? Never!
Well,now my body is speaking to me demanding a change in my diet in order to heal a compromised digestive tract. Two choices stare me in the face: strong medication or PWFD-Perfect Whole Food Diet. I've chosen the later.
This is day one of a whole foods diet; eating whole foods being defined as foods that are whole, that have no parts removed, and avoiding all refined foods, which are foods that have had something taken out. This is a TOTAL avoidance diet requiring reading labels, to avoid ingesting ANY foods that would compromise the diet's purpose. I believe diet is not an appropriate word because many people associate this word with weight loss programs-attempts to lose weight by temporarily changing eating habits. The Whole Food Diet is meant to support your health and hopefully heal a chronic digestive condition and produce a lifestyle change in eating.
I spent the morning cleaning out my kitchen cupboards and refrigerator of all "foods", including condiments, that won't fit into this new eating regime. Did you know Morton's salt contains sugar? All but one of our cold cereals bit the dust as did most of the baking supplies, even the pastas and all our crackers. After hours of cleaning and reorganizing, my cupboards look bare. Branden and Brooke are the recipients of lots of "food stuff".
Brooke is my inspiration for this journey. She was on a similar diet for over a year when we first met. She has had digestive problems for a number of years but is so much improved I take hope in her recovery. She is now more liberal with her diet as I hope in a year I can be too.
I will keep you updated on my progress. Any words of support would be welcome. I am thankful that I have a husband who is always by best cheerleader and willing to eat only what I eat, except maybe a cup of coffee and some chocolate now and then. Yes, that's right-I can have NO chocolate for a year! Could there be anything worse? Ha!