A New Path....

I have still been experiencing some digestive trouble since my illness in January/February and so once again I headed to my GI doctor yesterday. Yes, on a Sunday, but I was going to have to wait even longer if I didn't take yesterdays appointment.  Anyway, he saw me and as I began my story, a smile crept on to his face. He patiently waited for me to finish and then replied, "I've been thinking of you and a few of my other patients this past week!" Okay, CREEPY!!! Just kidding!  He said he thinks with the symptoms I've been telling him about that I may be gluten intolerant.  I know that presently I do not have Celiac Disease, but it is quite possibly gluten sensitivity or intolerance.  So he asked me to go gluten free for the next month. I was amazed in some ways but expecting it in others.  Already I am noticing some subtle changes in how I feel nothing drastic for sure, but better! I would ask you if you don't mind to be praying for me.  This is a huge change for me as I love me some warm homemade bread with butter melting off of it, but alas, until I can find a good gluten free version no butter melting bread for me!  I do want to feel better and if this is the change I need to make, I will try to embrace it with semi-open arms! LOL!!  I know God wants to teach me new and exciting things through this new path! Also if you have celiacs or gluten intolerance and you have some good recipes...I am completely open to any help!!  Thank you for all your love and encouragement!

Prayer

As some of you may know I was very sick for most of January and February. I had some stomach issues that would not right themselves without a doctor's help.  I don't remember a good portion of January as pain medications put me in a haze.  I can't recall many conversations I had with my own family or anyone else for that matter. I lived in a pain-filled bubble.  In the beginning of February I had a procedure and the doctor was able to fix the problem causing all that pain.  I had not been able to eat very much since the pain had began so now I had to reintroduce my stomach to food short amounts at a time.

I tell you all of this because I couldn't really do much at the time such as reading my Bible, going to church, interacting with other believers, attending a Bible study etc.   The one thing I could "do" was pray.  So I would. I would pray for all sorts of things, family, friends, circumstances and of course my health.  There were times I would lay there thinking is God ever going to answer my constant prayer...to heal me! Not just make me "feel" better but really HEAL me! I was not able to serve my family, to help others in need, you know all the "stuff" wives and moms do on a regular basis. Basically I wasn't able to be ME.  As I continued to pray this prayer. I felt God change my heart and my prayer. Instead of praying for healing, I started to pray that He would help me except my new normal and you know what, He did! He changed my whole way of thinking.  Which as a result, changed the way I prayed.  In the time since then, I have read several different books and devotionals about prayer.  They have encouraged me in my prayer life and I thought maybe they would encourage you as well.  One book I love and read several years ago is The Power of a Praying Wife!  She has so many good, practical ways to pray for your man! So I pray some of the prayers she talks about in her book for my guy!  I came across two different articles for praying for my kids and here they are Prayers for our Sons and  Prayers for our Daughters. I love that you can print them out and keep them right inside your prayer journal (if you have one). I feel like now more than ever our husbands and kids need us praying for them.  This life can beat them up so badly. What I find so comforting is that God loves them so much and He hears our prayers that we pray for them! 

My encouragement to you today is don't give up praying. If He doesn't answer the way you think He should...He might be trying to  change your heart and mind to ask in a different and always better way. 

Have a great day praying to our Great Savior! 

P.S. If you can't get to my links, please let me know! I'm still trying to figure out all the "blog" ins and outs! :)

Tball and Pie

Last night Phil, the kids and I attended the opening ceremonies for little league.  Tayson is playing tball this year and it's a first for us.We have only participated in soccer, football, basketball and field hockey. Tayson started talking about playing baseball last year and didn't stop talking about it.  So we knew he really wanted to try it out. So here we go!  He is so beyond excited. Every time I looked over to him sitting with his team, he was smiling ear to ear!  I love to see my kids excited over the new adventures they endeavor.  He was less than thrilled that Mom was taking pictures of him.  He just wanted to be with his team!

Tayson-Age 7 

I also wanted to start posting some of my favorite recipes on here.  So I will start with a family favorite and it's super easy! :)

Peach Pie

Step One: Wait for the Schwan's guy to come to your door.  

Step Two: Order a peach pie!

Step Three: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Step Four: Place said pie in oven.

Step Five: Set timer for 75 minutes.

Step Six: Pie should be bubbling and looking delicious!

Step Seven: Share pie with those you love with a little Redi-Whip on top and make sure to ask how their day was! Pie is a great conversation starter.

Have a blessed day my friends!