Monday, March 29, 2010

Nana & Pappy are the Best


So, this is what Rachy said to me the other night as she went to bed! The kids enjoyed a weekend with my mom and dad, while Kevin and I went to Berlin, Ohio to an HNI conference. We enjoy going to the "Amish country" of Ohio. First of all, the food is great.....pot roast, mashed potatoes, pies, oh it was all so good. The pace is much slower, the people are really friendly and the scenery is beautiful! We had a great time of fellowship with other pastors from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Illinois as well as some relaxing time for us!

Now back to the kids......they enjoyed Build-a-Bear, Chick-fil-a, movies, candy & sweets, puzzles and other presents during their weekend. I do not think I need to buy anything for "Easter baskets"...we have plenty here! My mom brought all the supplies to make "candy creations" pictured above. So far, the only thing that we have eaten has been the jelly beans in the fish bowl!

Today the kids are enjoying putting puzzles together....they are spread out all over the kitchen table, island and floor! Rach, Abby and their "stuffed" friends are enjoying a roller coaster in the living room.

Thanks mom and dad for staying with the kids and treating to them to such a fun time! Love you!




Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Making Changes

I had promised that I would post the changes that we are trying to make to our diet and lives to stay healthy. Some of the choices I am not sure will stick and some are sticking, so they will probably stay.
  • We are taking a daily supplement of Tumeric/Curcumin (you can google for an explanation of benefits)
  • We have cut out Nitrates by purchasing Hormel's all natural deli meats ~ found with the packaged deli meats in a cardboard container (Meijer - $2.79)
  • We have yet to try the nitrate free hot dogs, but I am planning a trip to Trader Joe's to purchase a pack to see if we like them
  • We are "trying" to eliminate high fructose corn syrup~ which is in everything that my kids love. Kroger has a "Mom's Best" brand of cereal in their organic section that runs about $2.00 a box. The cereal is sweetened with cane juice and not too bad. We have successfully replaced Lucky Charms and Honey Nut Cherrios.
  • Trying to go as hormone free as we can. Organic milk is so expensive, but we have switched to organic yogurt and butter.
  • Trying to eliminate any foods that are hydrogenated

I have read through most of Suzanne Sommer's books Breakthrough and Knockout. It's amazing what natural alternatives are out there that have never been allowed to made public because of the FDA. I am convinced that God has placed everything we need to be healthy on the earth, we just have to find it and stay away from as many man-made drugs and processed foods. I'm just beginning this journey and I am striving to find a balance of what will work for my family and not have me driving all over the city to get what I need. I was pleased to find many organic/natural Meijer brand products at a reasonable price. Here's what I found:

  • All Natural Cheese Puffs (very good) $2.50
  • Organic Spaghettios (very good) $1.39
  • Organic Salsa (tasty) $2.00
  • Organic Pasta/All Natural Sauce & Pizza Sauce (pasta's are good, haven't tried the sauces yet) $1.50-2.50
  • Organic Pizza crusts ~ 2 for $4.00
  • Organic Peanut butter - ( haven't tried yet and am not sure how the kids will like it) $2.29

I'm not cutting out the trips to Wendy's/McDonalds /Happy Hour @ Steak n Shake and the occasional ice cream, but if I can do better then I'm going to try. Hope you might find some of this helpful......I'm still trying to figure out what will work for us! My plan is to never deal with cancer or any other disease on a personal level. Kevin's dad has chosen to go with natural alternatives to treat his cancer and we have all thrown our support behind him. The more I research and read ~ the more convinced I am that he made the right choice. Chemotheraphy treatments may take care of or shrink a tumor but it almost always returns and the body has been so depleated by the chemo/radiation that it has no defense against it the 2nd time around.

Please continue to pray as we search out the natural alternatives and believe God for healing!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Cancer

I hate that word and I hate that we say it everyday around here as my father in law has been diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer. There have been a whirlwind of tests and doctor appointments as well as research on nutrition and alternative treatments. My eyes have been opened to a whole new world of doctors, money & drug companies. But the good news is that my eyes have also been opened to nutrition ~ real nutrition and a body that God created to heal itself if we put the right foods into it.

At this time Richard (FIL) has decided to not go down the chemotherapy path, but put his faith in God and nutrition.....they have contacted alternative therapy doctors and are pursuing natural treatments rather than the harsh reality of chemo & radiation. We are completely supportive with routine visits to their apartment, daily prayer and building up of our own faith in a God that heals!

We are changing some of our own eating habits and trying to make sure that this cancer will NOT visit us (as the doctors have warned that it is hereditary).....the kids haven't been receptive to everything, but we are changing what we can. In another post I will list some of the changes that we have made and ones we are working on......need to get off here and do other things now.

Please pray for Richard's healing and the Lord's guidance, peace for the family knowing that God is in control and He is a good God.