The Very Last First Time (To Race)

           I've only been training for the last 3 years. Today marked my very first 5K, and it was awesome.  I never really wanted to run alone, so I was stoked when Mary (our 11 year old) decided to train for the 5K starting a couple of months ago.  A new friend I made tipped me off to the Queen's Romp race just in time for us to get a discounted entrance fee and for Mary to train. One of the fun parts of the race was custom making tutus to wear during the race and seeing all the crazy get-ups people were wearing (my personal favorite was the woman who was wearing a stuffed flamingo hat).The weather was perfect,  even though it was supposed to rain. Thank you, God, for hearing our prayers!
           I thought I'd have the upper hand since I've been training longer; but a little after the halfway point, Mary took off down a hill (Charles informed me that the correct terminology for this is that she went into "beast mode"). I was happy for her to beat me soundly. Her time was 28:49, putting her in 4th for the 15 and under age category (and 40th out of 977 runners). My time was 29:17, putting me in 8th place for my age group ( 44th out of 977 runners).
         I didn't win any medals, but I met my goal of running it in less than 30 minutes and running the entire time. My mom came to watch and Charles kept the other 4 kiddos in line while I raced. It was so sweet to see Mr. Blue Eyes in his daddy's arms stretching out his little arms to me at the finish line.
           Most of all, I'm grateful to have the company of my sweet first baby, Mary, to run with (and at the end of it all, to try to catch)! I've had people try to say that I'm a runner (since I regularly run), but it didn't feel right somehow. Now that I've done a real race, I actually feel like a runner. It may have been my very last first time, but it won't be my last race.
        

A House Divided

           After two days of eating gluten, Mr.  Blue Eyes began calling for me in the wee hours of the morning.  The next morning brought an even earlier wake-up call (2 a.m. Boo!). After listening to his phlegmy cough and breathing get worse, we took gluten back out of his diet on Wednesday evening. By Friday, he (and I) were sleeping happily again. Charles also noticed a thickening with his reintroduction to gluten, so he has joined the baby and I in our special food (everything I find on the web indicates that gluten can pass through my milk; so until I can verify, I am abstaining as well). A good friend told me that her gastroenterologist told her that gluten needs to be out of your diet for a full month to feel the full effects. Looks like we were a little shy of the full effect by a couple of weeks. No one else seemed bothered by the reintroduction though, so here we are a house divided.  It's so hard to tell if it's the weather or something else that is responsible for the difference.  The weather in Illinois seemed crazy, but Missouri seems even crazier. My weather app can barely keep up with predicting what is going on. Needless to say, it has been a long time since Charles has been able to function this well at the end of April. For that, I am extremely grateful.
             Some of our family may be eating different food, but it feels like this adventure has brought us closer together. Matthew 12:25 says, "...Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand." We made the decision together to try gluten-free free eating, and it's been a positive thing to talk about how we should handle the results. We may even do the gluten-free thing during the allergy season. We make jokes about our food now (like yesterday when Charles used his cabbage-leaf wrapped burger to talk to the girls as if it were a clam...which led to a Spongebob reference about "People Order Our Patties" ). Although we are eating different foods from each other, we are reaping the benefits of better health as a family. Less coughing for Mr. Blue Eyes, means a better night's sleep for him and me. More sleep for me, means a less cranky mommy.  Less allergy symptoms for Charles, means more time together having fun. I'm liking the spring here a whole lot more --except for the Chiggers that Gracie and I found are alive and kicking. (The poison ivy Charles and I "found" last week was a little annoying as well, but we're old pros at that from Illinois.) We may have new pests, but we are loving the field behind our house for some kite flyin' yesterday. We are be divided on how we eat, but we are united in our love for each other.

Before I Knew Jesus Loved Me Even With A Messy House

            I used to freak out before company came. It was exhausting. I would race around trying to do crazy things like clean my dining room chairs (which are upholstered hand-me-downs...and not extremely practical with so many little kids.) This was in addition to getting all laundry put away and dishes done. I always seemed to notice my bathroom mirrors were splattered with toothpaste and my windows were caked with boogery smears about ten minutes before guests arrived. There was no rest for me about 24 hours BCA (before company arrived). The more I cleaned,  the more I panicked. I kept finding more to do. My children were stressed by me flying around from job to job and coming unglued when they asked me for help with the hundred usual things (like opening the lid to their favorite water cup that was empty AGAIN). I yelled at them because I was stressed by the thought of anyone realizing how I really lived (oh, the crumbs and the toys that seemed to multiply like tribbles!). It wasn't pretty. I asked Mary yesterday if she remembers having people over very much when she was little.  Other than a couple of campfires (which was not my jurisdiction since they were outside), she couldn't recall any. That's because they were virtually non-existent.
          This last weekend,  I told my hubby how much I enjoyed having people over. I used to hate it. He asked me why I didn't like it before. I told him that it was different "before I knew that Jesus loved me even with messy house." Once I was sure He always loved me, I could remind myself of that each time I invited someone over and smile at the thought of people seeing my house with the filthy chair cushions (be forewarned that if you dare pat one while visiting, there may be a mushroom cloud above them like a bomb went off). Some of you may be rolling your eyes at how uptight I was, but there are some of you out there who know exactly what I went through. I adore those of you who are so free spirited that you can answer your door to even the pope in your pajamas. That's not me in my natural state.
             I've often been fascinated with the biblical story of Martha and Mary. I've learned that if a story is recorded in the Bible, it is important. This story speaks dirrectly to my BCA panic. I imagine Martha would've never answered the door in her pj's, or given a second thought to what appetizers to set out...Martha Stewart has nothing on this Martha.
           If you're not familiar with the story,  then have a read in Luke 10:38-42 (the Message):  "As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. 'Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.'
        The Master said, 'Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.'"
              I still need reminders of what is really important. It all boils down to this: Jesus loved people, and He is my role model. That's really what is important: Loving Jesus, and loving people. Having a listening ear is far better than a crumb free floor. This week, we hosted two guests for playdates..something I would've never dreamed of when my Mary was little. I took in a deep breath when the keyboard on the floor was moved revealing several months worth of dirt, Christmas tree needles and dust bunnies. I smiled and pushed the toy back to its original position and hummed "Jesus Loves Me" under my breath. The next day the same mom smiled and greeted me at Awana with a "Hello, friend!" I think she had more memories of our time than my dirt (especially after her daughter accidentally picked a rotten duck egg that exploded on her clothes).
          Easter is a time for group gatherings, and some of you may be going through the no rest BCA freak-out. Take deep breath. Hum that little tune, and know that He truly loves you even with a big mess on your counter. This is our favorite Easter tradition: making Resurrection Cookies. We use chocolate chips instead of nuts (and make sure you really grease the cookie sheets well, so the "tombs" release).

What's you favorite tradition for Easter?

Glutinous Gluttony (Gluten Tolerance Test)

          It's been two weeks!! Today, begins our return to all the deliciousness I have been missing...bread, cookies, and life-saving Cheerios (as in "I can't think of any other snack; so, here, have some Cheerios"). The results of our experiment were not conclusive enough to make us go gluten-free permanently, but sometimes it takes putting the gluten back in to know what difference it really makes. During pregnancy,  there is this lovely test called the "glucose tolerance test" where they have you abstain from food and consume large quantities of sugar in a beverage form to see if your body will properly handle the sugar by secreting insulin. I have a feeling today may look a little like that test. There's bound to be a little gluten binging after two weeks of abstinence.
          The first week had my hubby feeling wonderful,  and me feeling horrible (oh, the fatigue!). This past (second) week, my hubby had a couple of days of fatigue--which can be a symptom of allergies for him. On his second day of fatigue, I offered him some essential oils. (This had originally been something I planned on trying this spring after the great results with ear infections). A friend posted a regimen of ingesting two drops of lemon oil, two drops of lavendar oil, and two drops of peppermint oil in a gelatin capsule. I just emptied out a capsule of probiotic (and shared the powder with my son), instead of buying separate capsules. Daily probiotics are something we try to take as a family. My hubby said he felt a little like throwing up that night, and he kept burping "candy canes". After a couple of hours, he did feel less tired though. The next night he used what he usually uses for allergies (an over-the-counter drug), since I wasn't there to mix his concoction. The following night we used the same oils, except with one drop instead of two.  He said it seemed just as effective as the otc drug.  Ingesting essential oils is the most aggressive form of use for oils. You can also apply oils to your hands and cup your hand over your mouth to inhale it. Topically applying them (usually to your feet) is less aggressive. Using them in a vaporizer would be an even less agressive treatment. My hubby suffered no itching symptoms (even his ears itch when it's bad) until yesterday when he spent a large time outdoors burning around our dried-out pond.  He took the oils twice yesterday, and seemed to do well with it. In the past when his allergies acted up, he couldn't sleep well and woke up multiple times a night.
       Our son had been coughing very hard in the middle of the night to the point of gagging.  I had hoped that the gluten would help that too,  but after a week without success (he had been gagging/coughing for three weeks total), I had him seen at the doctor's office. His pediatrician recommended removing stuffed animals from his bedroom to see if he might be sensitive to dust mites. I took them all out on last Friday. Wednesday,  he slept through the night for the first time since before his pneumonia (that I can remember) which was back in December. He's slept through the night every night since then. I don't know if it was the stuffed animals, the gluten-free diet, or an illness going away. If he starts gagging again and waking up, I will be removing the gluten immediately. Mama needs her sleep more than bread.
            I felt a lot better this last week. I think being able to sleep all night helped a ton, but also the gluten-free chocolate was fabulous...and the fact that coffee is gluten-free too helped. The second week was also easier after trading in Kix for Cheerios, and indulging in some Chex for quick breakfast options. (I like that Chex has no high fructose corn syrup and artificial dyes/flavorings,  but why can't they use alpha tocopheral instead of BHT?). We also found that we love Bob's Red Mill Mighty Tasty Hot Cereal. I was dismayed to find out that oatmeal is often cross-contaminated, so the Mighty Tasty Hot Cereal became our go-to. When will Quaker get on board and check their oats for the gluten allergic/intolerant like other companies? We also enjoyed eating out at a Jason's Deli this past week (their gluten-free chicken nuggets were terrific! ).
           I am glad we tried this, and I have definitely had my eyes opened to how much gluten we are consuming, as well as finding some new yummy recipes to break up the monotony of spaghetti and pizza staples. I think it helped to do it as family as well, although it was a little overwhelming to constantly be checking if this or that was gluten free. My kids need more practice on taking turns when making requests of me. The last chapter hasn't been written yet though. We may have to remove the gluten again after our day of gluttony.
          

When Hope Comes to Life

             "I don't think any of my eggs will hatch." It wasn't the words that bothered me as much as the tone of voice she used. It was the sound of hopelessness. Half-pint was fighting back tears when she told me about her most recent discovery in her duck's nest. That day she had found an oozing egg, and we all remember what that means, right? (Did you miss the rotten egg story? Click here.)  To make matters worse, we left town for a short vacation the previous week; and all three young boys ducks (plus one girl) flew away while we were gone. We now have just one hobbling drake and five girls. I could tell that Half-pint was losing hope. I've felt that same feeling many times--the feeling that nothing good will happen. Even worse, I've thought that nothing will ever change. I have enough history to also know it is a lie, and who is behind it. A mentor of mine used to use a phrase I love...that it was "a lie straight from the pit of hell". I don't mind Half-pint mourning her loss of ducks. That's normal and healthy. The part she was struggling with was giving up on the future just because something bad that happened in the past. I told Half-pint that we had no control over what had happened,  but we also can't tell the future. The only thing we can do is to pray to the One who does have control.
          We have added a lot of new life on our prairie. Last week, we added ten new chicks and two red-ear slider turtles. Despite Half-pint's concerns, this week we've also added a dozen brand-new ducklings. The joy on the children's face was priceless when Half-pint rushed in to tell us that the ducklings were hatching.  We put math on hold to watch a little natural science. It was fascinating to observe the way the mother covered the little ones by puffing out her feathers. The little ducklings would pop out from under the mama and occasionally venture a few inches from her till they realized their mistake. They began a frantic peeping and raced back to her side. She quickly tucked them under her, all the while carefully rolling the unhatched eggs around under her warm feathers. Charlotte, my Rhode Island Red hen, jumped down from her perch in fascination. She's green with envy.
            A funny thing happened when our mama duck started sitting on her eggs. Charlotte decided to sit on her eggs (and all the other hens eggs). I gently explained that since we have no rooster, she was only spoiling our breakfast. She dutifully squawked at me and puffed her feathers out to look fierce. Several times I donned my leather gloves and took her eggs.  I gave up gluten,  I'm not about to give up my eggs too. When the duck eggs hatched, she finally realized the futility of sitting on her empty nest because she reluctantly spent some time outside with the rest of the hens. Maybe I should give her a little talk about hope too. Perhaps someday, we'll get a rooster.
            Last weekend,  our pastor spoke on Christ being a man of sorrows. It is so easy to take for granted how much He suffered for us. They showed clips from "The Passion of The Christ", and it was hard for me not to feel light-headed while seeing the way his flesh was torn by the whips they used.  I cannot fathom allowing someone to nail my hands to a wooden beam to hang from when I did absolutely nothing wrong. It hurts my heart to think of watching any of my children suffer the way that Mary and God did. The passage our pastor read from was Isaiah 53:1-12. He spoke about how we have all strayed from God's path, and he pointed out that sin is ultimately a disconnected heart, a turning to our own way. Honestly,  I've felt that lately...like there is a disconnect between my heart and His...like I've wandered out of the nest on my own. There has been a feeling of hopelessness in my heart over prayers that I have continued to lift up. There has been a lack of passion in my heart for Him.  I'm guilty of walking around oblivious to God, mulling over my own disappointments instead of noticing His blessings. It's been easier lately to make other things a priority over reading my Bible. It's been easy for me to forget what He did. No more. This past weekend was a good reminder of how much He hurt for me and how much He loves me. Seeing the ducklings hatch also reminded me that no human really knows the future and not to give up my hope so easily!
           I attended a women's event recently that highlighted Romans 13:11-14. It was dead on with what I've been experiencing. It begins by saying, "But make sure that you don’t get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing!"

Goodbye to Gluten

        There were quite a few complaints lodged this past week by our offspring when Charles and I informed them on Monday that we would all be giving up gluten for two weeks. It seems like we keep running into people who've been helped by a gluten-free diet, so we decided to give it a whirl. We had a family over who'd recently gone gluten-free, and I was fascinated by the benefits they had experienced. One of their sons, who had been diagnosed with asthma, has seen huge improvements in his breathing. They explained to me that since gluten causes an inflammatory response (when you are sensitive or allergic) that it can tie in with things like asthma (which is basically inflammation of your breathing passageways). 

         Charles and our two oldest girls suffer from seasonal allergies, and we found quite a few people claiming that giving up gluten took care of their symptoms (here is one such article).  I doubt any of us have celiac disease, but there are a large number of people who have found they have a sensitivity to gluten versus having celiac disease. That's the category that I believe we may fall into.There is even a term for it: "non-celiac gluten sensitivity" (or NCGS for short). 

          We started this past Monday, and Charles has felt pretty great all week long. I have not. I feel terrible. My friend warned me that the first two weeks can feel like withdrawal. Yes, I believe that might be the reason for my fatigue...either withdrawal or exhaustion from looking up whether or not things are gluten-free. 

            Just as a side note, gluten-free does not equal healthy.  Mary and Half-pint discovered Cheetos are gluten-free. We also found that marshmallows, Heath bars, and Peppermint Patties are gluten-free. I'm still contending with daily requests for junk food (although I had originally envisioned the children begging for more spinach and trying more exotic things like papaya fruit).  I have been challenged to be a little more creative than my usual pizza and spaghetti menu. Below is pictured my breakfast pizza (complete with scrambled eggs for the crust, pizza sauce, sausage and pizza cheese).  This went over pretty well with the children in lieu of our usual breakfast sandwiches.  I miss bread. I miss pasta. I really miss Cheerios. We just have one more week though till we have fulfilled our original commitment. 

        If this helps my dear ones with their allergies,  it'll all be worth it. I've hated watching their exhaustion and misery (especially my hubby, who's suffered for more almost 20 years). If we see no improvement,  then at least I will have a new appreciation for others that have taken the plunge to help their families find relief. I love the new song by Steven Curtis Chapman called "Do Everything" (which has it's basis in Colossians 3:23). Even if I am looking up meals to make (and wishing to pick up some Cherrios), I need to keep in mind that God is watching and smiling as I am working for Him in the role He has called me to: a wife and a mother.

I'd love to hear what journey your on. Feel free to leave a comment below.