Happy Men

Men Are Just Happier People

What do you expect?
Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours. (I have to add to this one - Andrew would never allow me to post this one as fact in our home! For some reason all the garage stuff that isn't his, is MINE! Hmmmm... ~ D)
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can be President.
You can never be pregnant.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Wrinkles add character.
Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental $100.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood all the time.
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.
You know stuff about tanks.
A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original color.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You can play with toys all your life.
One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons.
You can "do" your nails with a pocket knife.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier!

A Sad 'Anniversary'

From my heart...to yours~

This morning I heard on the radio that 34 years ago the Roe vs. Wade http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_v._Wade abortion decision came down. There were various 'modern' women commenting on how great it's been for women and women's rights to have control over their own bodies. Very sad. Control over their own bodies? Since when did control over our own bodies mean the killing of our offspring? How have we, as women, allowed this to happen?

Abortion is not the answer to an unplanned pregnancy. And if you're thinking that it is, please think again. Seek out help from a Christian crisis pregnancy center - there are many around. Choose life! There are many couples out there who would love to adopt your child. And there is a community out there who will embrace you, and your child -- and help you along the way.

I know that this is a very controversial subject, and I'm not looking to start a debate. I'm just telling you my thoughts, since this is my blog -- and since I'm female and also a mother. I've felt new life - and I've seen the life inside of me when the pregnancy was only 6 weeks along! I've seen each of my unborn children's beating hearts! I've seen and felt the squirming of an unborn child. And I have been tremendously blessed!

I'm also telling you what God says. Life begins at conception. Every life is precious. "You made all my delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous -- and how well I know it. You watched when I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed." Psalm 139

Yes, sometimes pregnancy isn't convenient. Yes, it can make life more difficult. Yes, children can cost us money. But what we don't calculate is the blessing that it is to have our own children in our lives! And it is very, very clear is that life is started and stopped by God. And God only. Abortion is murder, not a 'choice'. That's it.

And interesting thing about the Roe vs. Wade case is this:

"Jane Roe" switches sides
"Jane Roe," whose real name is Norma McCorvey, became a member of the pro-life movement following her conversion to Christianity, and now fights to make abortion illegal. In 1998, she testified as follows to Congress:
“It was my pseudonym, Jane Roe, which had been used to create the "right" to abortion out of legal thin air. But Sarah Weddington and Linda Coffee never told me that what I was signing would allow women to come up to me 15, 20 years later and say, "Thank you for allowing me to have my five or six abortions. Without you, it wouldn't have been possible." Sarah never mentioned women using abortions as a form of birth control. We talked about truly desperate and needy women, not women already wearing maternity clothes.[11]

In a press conference held on January 18, 2005, McCorvey claimed that she was the "pawn" of Weddington, who was looking for a plaintiff to challenge the Texas state law prohibiting abortion. Using her prerogative as a party to the original litigation, she sought to reopen the case in a U.S. District Court in Texas and have it overturned. Her stance was based on claims made since the decision, claiming evidence of emotional and other harm suffered by many women who have had abortions, and increased resources for the care of unwanted children. On June 19, 2003, Judge David Godbey ruled that the motion was not made within a "reasonable time." The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals subsequently affirmed that decision. See McCorvey v. Hill, 385 F3d 846 (5th Cir 2004). On February 22, 2005, the Supreme Court refused to grant a writ of certiorari, ending McCorvey's appeal.

What Non-Homeschoolers May Not Know

Thanks to Kendra at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/PreschoolersandPeace/257413/ who posted this excellent article about homeschooling. Although we're out of the younger (and messier) grades of school, I'm posting this for the many other homeschoolers who read this blog (and their families!) who could use this advice being distributed! ~D

What Non-Homeschoolers May Not Know • Jan. 10, 2007
Posted in Musings and Miscellany
We've been educating our children at home for ten years now. In those ten years, I have observed that there are expectations that non-homeschoolers can place on homeschooling moms simply because they lack the practical knowledge of what it means to homeschool.

If you are the mother, grandmother, sister, friend, father, or brother of a homeschooling mom, here are some things you should know:

1. Educating children at home is a full-time job. Don't get irritated if she consistently allows the answering machine to do its job. If she were a teacher in an institutional classroom, you probably wouldn't think of calling her during school hours, so try to realize that while still at home, she is keeping regular school hours, too.

2. Unlike homes in which the children are gone for eight straight hours, her home is in a constant state of activity. The children are not only home, they are home making messes. All day long. Their mother doesn't even have the opportunity to go into their rooms while they are at school and weed out the junk. And if she is like me, you might find odd homeschooly things lying around- like the month we had a dead turtle in the garage fridge.

3. Housekeeping and homeschooling are mutually exclusive. If she is doing her job educating her children academically, then her house is not being cleaned. If she takes the day to clean the house, then school wil not be accomplished.

4. Place realistic expectations on her- she cannot simultaneously teach school, make three square meals, keep a house that looks like it has sprung out of the pages of Architectural Digest, have her nails done, drive children to extracurricular activities, and have all the clothing laundered and pressed. Something's gotta give, and in my experience, it is usually her personal care. So don't expect her to don the latest styles, have her roots meticulously dyed at just the right moment, and her aforementioned nails filed and polished to perfection. And while most of us aren't slovenly, we just tend to put some superfluous aspects of personal care at the bottom of the to-do list.

5. For many of us, homeschooling isn't an option. Many believe it is not only the best way for their family, it is the only way. Many see homeschooling as a Scriptural directive. When sharing a particular struggle unique to homeschooling, comments like, "Well, why don't you consider putting them in school? Maybe homeschooling just isn't your thing" aren't helpful. Instead, offer a listening ear and your fervent prayers on her behalf.

6. If you are truly concerned about the state of her emotions, home, children, or marriage, offer practical help to ease her burden. Personal time is at a premium for her, so consider offering to take her kids for the day so she can recuperate. If you like to do laundry, offer to come over and get the loads going, fold, and/or iron. If you like to cook, consider putting together some meals that she can store in the freezer for days when time is at a premium. If she teaches a broad spectrum of ages and grades, consider offering to come in once a week or more to teach preschool to the little ones. One grandma I know created "Nana U" for her preschool grandson (number five of seven) and not only did it ease her homeshooling daughter's burden, it created a special bond between grandma and the child.

But there’s a caveat here: ASK her what would be most helpful to her. Don’t presume to know what would help her. Taking the oldest children for the day might be fun for you, but it’s quite possibly not at all helpful to her. The living room might need to be vacuumed, but it’s not helpful if she’s trying to take a nap. Someone once told me, “If it’s not wanted, it’s not helpful.”

7. Think about what a financial burden homeschooling may be placing on the family. The loss of her possible income can be a real struggle nowadays, and you might be able to buoy her for another year by offering to purchase little things like simple school supplies. Gifts for the children like books on subjects of interest to the child, field trip fees, museum memberships, and the money to pay for music lessons or other extracurricular activities are the best thing you could give a homeschooling family. Not only does a homeschooling mom not need one more thing to manage or pick up, she would be thrilled to see you take an interest in the many academic items on her wish list.

8. Simple questions like, "How can I pray for you?" and "Is there any way I can help you?" are like a cool breeze in her life. Don't assume you know her needs- ask. You could just be the vessel God uses to carry her on through this very demanding and ultimately rewarding season of her life.

My Kisses are Gluten-Free?

Here's some new fashion for the gluten-free folks in the world like me!!
Click on any pic to see it larger!

Tag - You're It! Six Weird Things About Me

TAG YOU'RE IT....
Since you are reading this, you are tagged....only if you want to that is.....LOL

THE RULES:
Each player of this game starts with the 6 weird things about you. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state the rules clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a Hug that says you are tagged in their Hugs and tell them to read your blog.

Here are my Six Weird Things!
1. I hate pennies. Hate their smell, hate holding them. I could live in a world without pennies.

2. I cannot empty pockets out before the laundry gets done - I gag BIG TIME if I do. So if you don't want the stuff in your pockets washed, take them out yourself!

3. I cannot clean the heat registers out - I gag BIG TIME! Especially when I hear stuff from the registers being sucked up by the vacuum cleaner. Sometimes I can gag just thinking about it...got the gag factor from my mom!

4. I cannot stand when people hand you a candy that is already out of it's wrapping. And, if it's got a fluff on it - I'm gagging....

5. I sometimes write things on my to-do list after I've done them, just so I can mark them off as done!

6. I love to buy new socks even though most times I walk barefoot, all year round!

Ever Wonder?

Here's a funny that I found ~ Enjoy!
If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren't people from Holland called Holes?
Why do we say something is out of whack? What's a whack?
If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?
If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?
When someone asks you, A penny for your thoughts, and you put your two cents in, what happens to the other penny? Or do you get change?
Why is the man (or woman) who invests all your money called a broker?
Why do croutons come in airtight packages? It's just stale bread to begin with.
Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist but a person drives a race car not called a racist?
Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites?
Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things?
Why isn't 11 pronounced onety one?
If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?
If Fed Ex and UPS were to merge, would they call it Fed UP?
Do Lipton Tea employees take coffee breaks?
I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a whole lot more as they get older, then it dawned on me...they're cramming for their final exam!
I thought about how mothers feed their babies with tiny little spoons and forks so I wondered, what do Chinese mothers use? Toothpicks?
Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do, write to them? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen could look for them while they delivered the mail?
If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?
No one ever says, "It's only a game," when their team is winning.
Ever wonder what the speed of lightning would be if it didn't zigzag?
If a cow laughed, would milk come out her nose?
Whatever happened to preparations A through G?
If olive oil comes from olives, where does baby oil come from?

Three Responses to Jesus' Birth

Our sermon on Sunday morning was very thought-provoking. I'll attempt to summarize and share it with you (this is a very, very brief outline of what we heard, but enough - I hope - to make you think too!) -

Rev. Bro said that there were three responses to Jesus' birth in the bible:
(1) Hostility
(2) Indifference
(3) Worship

The Jews went back to their regular routines and believed that the Messiah had not yet come. Herod hated Jesus - he acted like He wanted to know Jesus, and worship Him, but he wanted to kill Jesus.

The leaders showed indifference. No interest. They were deaf to it's message. Rejection of Christ - who is on the throne - creates an attitude of indifference.

The magi came to worship Jesus. They were led by God's grace to visit and worship Jesus, the Christ-child. They were unlikely Christ worshippers - they were astrologers, which God's Word forbids. Yet they were led by a star and the Word of God - to see Jesus. They did not give up the search for the Messiah. They offered gifts with sincere gratitude to the Lord. They responded by falling down in worship to the King!

What is the attitude of our hearts?
How has this past Christmas affected us?
Are we just relieved that all of the busyness is over?
Is our life worship to the Christ-child - who is the Saviour?
Are we worshipping the King with our heart, soul, mind and strength?

What is YOUR response to Jesus' birth?

All nations will come to Your light. Mighty kings will come to see your radiance. Isaiah 60:3

A Baby, Yet a King!

Every knee will bow before Me;

Every tongue will confess to God.

Romans 14:11b

Fun Christmas Quiz

Most of you know that I rarely fill out these kinds of things (except maybe to pass on to my sister Melanie) and I rarely forward these emails...so I thought I'd share this one here! ENJOY!

If you fill out the quiz on your blog - please list your blog link on a comment.

Your Name: Dawn

> 1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? – I really, really like egg nog but I also like hot chocolate. I guess I would say egg nog over hot chocolate but I do drink hot chocolate more because it doesn't have as many calories/fat!

> 2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Around here - Santa is only on some gift tags - especially gifts for me! tee hee Did I ever tell you that I love gifts??

> 3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? – As I get older, I'm preferring simpler and white lights are simpler. Sooooooo...the short answer? White lights on the outside of the house, but I do like the colours all twinkly on the tree inside. NOT flashing lights though - hate those!

> 4. Do you hang mistletoe? – Yes - just a fake one. The kids make a big deal of it and try to get Andrew & I under it. I don't mind!

> 5. When do you put your decorations up? – When the kids were little, we decorated sometime after Suzanne's December 16th birthday. Now, the kids have the tree up and decorated (we have a fake one now) often by December 1! I like having the tree up longer (and we couldn't do that with a real one - okay, not without having a grand mess!). I do like it down quickly after New Year's though.

> 6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Hmmmm...I really enjoy the turkey and I used to enjoy the stuffing. Maybe one day I'll try making some gluten-free stuffing - but for now, I'll stick to the turkey. I have to add a dessert here though - I'm a fruit cake lover - but I can't eat it now, although last year I bought a smidgen of gluten-free fruit cake for about $12!!! That's how much I love it!! And I'm NOT ashamed to say it! ;)

> 7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child – Waking up and seeing the gifts under the tree! We never saw the gifts at all until Christmas morning and it was always so exciting. We each had our own 'spot' under the tree where our pile would be. We didn't have extravagant gifts - but lots of little, inexpensive, practical things and one larger gift ($20?).

> 8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I'm going to leave my friend Mandy's comments here - because they're perfect! What is the truth about Santa? I must not have gotten the memo!

> 9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? – Since we were married, we've opened gifts a few days before Christmas day. Never on Christmas eve (we're too busy getting preparations for Christmas completed). I do enjoy opening them on Christmas day though - as it was a tradition when I was growing up. But we have church on Christmas so it is too rushed.

> 10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?- Helter skelter! HA! All of the decorations have a story to tell, and although our tree doesn't look like a Martha Stewart one (not even close!) - I love it!

> 11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? – LOVE, LOVE, LOVE snow! Bring it on!

> 12. Can you ice skate? – Yes! Love it too. I'm not good by any means - but I can skate and do - twice a week with the kids!

> 13. Do you remember your favorite gift? – Yes - first, my first baby girl Suzanne! (Every year I ask her if I can wrap her up and put her under the tree! - She says 'no' BTW!) My next favourite gift is a Willow Tree figurine that the kids gave me - I always lament that I can't carry the kids on my hip any longer (it's been a while) and the figurine that they bought has a mom holding a baby! I cried when I received it and I will always treasure it.

> 14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? - Again, I'll let Mandy's answer stand: That God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life! “It’s not in the snow, that may or may not fall, and it’s not in the gifts around the tree. It’s in the love heaven gave, the night our Savior came, and that same love can still be found wherever you are, cause Christmas is all in the heart…” Steven Curtis Chapman > ...But I do really like gifts and am like a child when it comes to them!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Mom's pumpkin pie - which I can no longer eat :( . I also love Andrew's mom's trifle - which I can no longer eat...

> 16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Opening gifts together with the kids and sharing time together. And watching a Christmas DVD together after.

> 17. What tops your tree? – A lace angel. We had a beautiful star but it broke. The angel is pretty though.

> 18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? - This is a tough one! I do love giving but I hate the fact that many have forgotten what giving is all about - it's about what someone else wants to buy for you, not what you want (although a good gift-giver will take that into consideration)! That being said, I do put a lot of thought into the gifts that I buy which makes my life difficult sometimes!!! And getting gifts? Well, you know that answer already!

> 19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? – We have an old cassette tape (!!) from Focus on the Family which had a song called 'It's So Good to Have You Home'. If I could ever find that cassette on CD, I'd be so happy. I've looked and looked... Favourite Christmas hymn? I think 'Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus' and 'O Come, All Ye Faithful'. I hate the Christmas dittis that are on the radio over and over at this time of year.

> 20. Candy Canes? – They're pretty, they're tasty but I rarely eat them! I was searching everywhere for one the other day though - made some peppermint fudge and I needed one to smash and sprinkle over the fudge - would have looked pretty, if I'd found one!

Your thoughts please?

I received this as an email and I'm not sure what I think of it. I find it very thought-provoking and it's very cleverly written - the message is straight-forward and good, but then I'm hesitant about it being something supposedly being written by God. Hmmm...what do you think?

RECALL NOTICE

The Maker of all human beings
is recalling all units
manufactured,
regardless of make or year,
due to a serious defect
in the primary and central
component of the heart.

This is due to a malfunction
in the original prototype units
code named Adam and Eve,
resulting in the reproduction
of the same defect
in all subsequent units. This defect has been
technically termed
"Subsequential Internal
Non-Morality,"
or more commonly
known as
S.I.N.,
as it is primarily
expressed.

Some other symptoms include:

1. Loss of direction

2. Foul vocal emissions

3. Amnesia of origin

4. Lack of peace and joy

5. Selfish or violent behavior

6. Depression or confusion
in the mental Component

7. Fearfulness

8. Idolatry

9. Rebellion
The Manufacturer,
who is neither liable nor at fault
for this defect, is providing
factory-authorized repair
and service free of charge
to correct this SIN defect.

The Repair Technician,
Jesus,
has most generously offered
to bear the entire burden
of the staggering cost
of these repairs.

There is no
additional fee
required. The number to call
for repair in all areas is:
1-800- P-R-A-Y-E-R. Once connected,
please upload
your burden of SIN
through the
REPENTANCE
procedure.

Next, download
ATONEMENT
from the Repair
Technician, Jesus,
into the heart component. No matter how big
or small the SIN defect is,
Jesus will replace it with:
1. Love

2. Joy

3. Peace

4. Patience

5. Kindness

6. Goodness

7. Faithfulness

8. Gentleness

9. Self control

Please see
the operating manual,
the B.I.B.L.E.
(Believers' Instructions Before Leaving Earth)
for further details
on the use of these fixes.

WARNING:
Continuing to operate
the human being unit
without correction voids
any manufacturer warranties,
exposing the unit to dangers
and problems too numerous to list
and will result in
the human unit being
permanently impounded.

DANGER:
The human being units
not responding to this recall action
will have to be scrapped in the furnace.

The SIN defect
will not be permitted
to enter Heaven
so as to prevent
contamination
of that facility. Thank you
for your attention! GOD Please assist where possible
by notifying others
of this important
recall notice,
and you may contact
the Father any time by
"kneemail"

Glorying in God's Perfection

Glorying in God's Perfection

"If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place,

I am a housekeeper, not a homemaker.

If I only have time for waxing and polishing,

my children will learn of cleanliness, not godliness.

Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh.

Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on the newly cleaned window.

Love wipes up the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.

Love is the key that opens salvation's message to a child's heart.

Before I became a mother, I took glory in my house of perfection;

but now, I glory in God's perfection of my child."

-Author Unknown

A good reminder!

Looking for a job? Hmmm...

Bloggers Need Not Apply
By Ivan Tribble
What is it with job seekers who also write blogs? Our recent faculty search at Quaint Old College resulted in a number of bloggers among our semifinalists. Those candidates looked good enough on paper to merit a phone interview, after which they were still being seriously considered for an on-campus interview.

That's when the committee took a look at their online activity.

In some cases, a Google search of the candidate's name turned up his or her blog. Other candidates told us about their Web site, even making sure we had the URL so we wouldn't fail to find it. In one case, a candidate had mentioned it in the cover letter. We felt compelled to follow up in each of those instances, and it turned out to be every bit as eye-opening as a train wreck.

read the rest here: http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2005/07/2005070801c/careers.html

Blessed Reformation Day!

October 31, 2006
Luther's 95 Theses: http://www.reformed.org/documents/index.html?mainframe=http://www.reformed.org/documents/95_theses.html

Reformation Day? What's that? Well, in a nutshell, Reformation Day is the celebration of Luther's discovery that justification is by faith alone. After trying and trying to pay the price for his sins and to please the Lord through his actions, as taught by the church at the time, Luther came across verses such as Ephesians 2:8 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, not of works, lest any man should boast." He learned that his salvation depended on God's gift, not on his own works. This was good news and is good news for all of us! Although we do good works as thankfulness to the Lord for His salvation, nothing that we can do can make us right with God. Only Jesus, dying on the cross for our sins pays the price. Nothing else.

Luther's 95 Theses contained more than the above, and if you're interested in reading more, click on the link above.

Man's Gratitude
Heidelberg Catechism
Lord's Day 32
We have been delivered from our misery by God's grace alone through Christ and not because we have earned it: why then must we still do good?

To be sure, Christ has redeemed us by His blood
but we do good because
Christ by His spirit is also renewing us to be like Himself,
so that in all our living
we may show that we are thankful to God
for all He has done for us,
and so that He may be praised through us.

And we do good,
so that we may be assured of our faith by its fruits,
and so that by our godly living
our neighbours may be won over to Christ.

Rom. 6:13; 12:1, 2; I Pet. 2:5-10.
Matt. 5:16; I Cor. 6:19, 20.
Matt. 7:17, 18; Gal. 5:22-24; II Pet. 1:10, 11.
Matt. 5:14-16; Rom. 14:17-19; I Pet. 2:12; 3:1, 2.

The five solas
Sola Gratia ("by grace alone")
Sola Fide ("by faith alone")
Sola Scriptura ("by Scripture alone")
Solus Christus ("Christ alone"; sometimes Solo Christo, "by Christ alone")
Soli Deo gloria ("Glory to God alone")

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

Love's Abiding Joy - coming soon!

I'm excited! I just read that the newest Janette Oke DVD is coming soon! Some would call these 'chick-flicks' but I love them - they are unashamedly good, clean stories! I'm not a movie person at all, but I do enjoy watching anything that is worthwhile and I classify these as 'worthwhile'! Christian Book Distributors says it's due for release on December 19th.

"Love’s Abiding Joy follows the heartwarming story of Missie and Willie as they start raising their family in the Wild West. After a treacherous journey west, Missie and her husband set up their homestead and begin raising a family. Now that the railroad connects the frontier states, Missie's parents make the trek to meet their adorable grandsons for the first time-- but tragedy soon mars the family's reunion. An unforgettable family drama directed by Michael Landon, Jr."

October is Celiac Awareness Month!

I thought I'd post about October being CELIAC AWARENESS MONTH. Most of you know that I have a 'probable' diagnosis of celiac disease and it has been life-changing for me. Mostly in good ways - I am so much healthier now than I have ever been, I no longer have the pain that I dealt with on a daily basis and many other health problems that I had for 30 or so years. But it certainly has changed my social life and our grocery shopping! Here's an article about two people who were also diagnosed:

Going gluten-free*
More people are learning that they have celiac disease, an illness tied directly to food. And not just any food: It's "the staff of life" -- or the flour it's made with -- that makes them sick.
Al Sicherman, Star Tribune
Last update: October 04, 2006 – 5:14 PM

The doctor had good news -- and bad -- when Barbara Wojcik's celiac disease was diagnosed four years ago. The good news: She'd be feeling better than she had in years. The bad news: She had to change her diet. Forever. No more bread, cake or cookies.

And no more pizza, pasta, pretzels, fried chicken, beer, bagels, gravy, crackers nor a whole lot of ordinary frozen dinners, convenience foods and breakfast cereals. At least not normal versions of those foods. No more of anything that contained even a little wheat, rye or barley.

This was going to be difficult. "Food is so important to a family -- traditions and customs, and emotional well-being. It's really all tied in. To have to change something so basic so radically was really quite stressful," said Wojcik, 52, of White Bear Township.

She learned what her ailment was after 18 years of suffering with what doctors had continued to tell her was, in effect, a touchy gut. Along the way, one advised her to eat a lot of fiber -- like whole-wheat bread.

Her case isn't unusual; celiac disease is often misdiagnosed.

TO READ MORE: http://www.startribune.com/438/story/720995.html


Gluten-Free Recipes: http://www.startribune.com/436/story/720997.html
More Celiac Information: http://www.celiac.ca/EnglishCCA/eceliac.html
Gluten-Free Diet Information: http://www.celiac.ca/EnglishCCA/egfdiet.html

Gluten-Free Blogs: http://www.celiacchicks.com/
http://www.gfzing.com/
http://www.dermatitisherpetiformis.org.uk/dhocblog/index.html
http://vegetarianceliac.blogspot.com/
http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2006/09/housekeeping.html

THIS ARTICLE SHOULD BE READ BY EVERYONE! Dangerous Grains should be read by all health professionals and their patients who are attempting to find answers to puzzling ailments that are unresponsive to treatments. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_2003_July/ai_104259163

Clergy, Miriam & Organs!

Now aren't you curious with that title!?
Just a few little tidbits for you today...I'll start with ---

Did you know that October is CLERGY APPRECIATION MONTH? Since three out of seven of my brother-in-laws are ministers - this one is close to my heart! I'm sure that all of you show your appreciation for your minister and his family all the time - but remember him especially this month! A note of encouragement, a kind word - these are the things that encourage all of us!

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Remember Miriam? Well, she has a post on her recovery Blog that she wrote HERSELF! I cried when I read it. Thank you so much for all of your prayers for her and the other girls. The Lord has blessed them with amazing recoveries. We know that not very many people who are injured so significantly end up recovering like Miriam has and we praise the Lord for that! Read Miriam's post here. http://miriamfluit.blogspot.com/

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And HAVE YOU SIGNED YOUR ORGAN DONOR CARD?
When our family needed to get new health cards earlier this year the receptionist asked me point blank if I'd like to donate my organs. I'd pondered it for a while but always held back at doing the actual signing. Why the hesitation? I don't know! So when I was put on the spot I jumped at the opportunity. Decision made. Done! I don't know about you but thinking about donating means thinking about death and sometimes that is difficult. However, when you think of all the families that can be helped because of one person's donations (upwards of 75 people can be helped with one person's donations!) -- it just doesn't make sense to not sign. THINK ABOUT IT!

Here's some stats:
~ Every three days in Ontario, one person dies waiting for an organ transplant.
~ Canada's organ donor rate hovers around 13 donors per million people and has stuck at this level for more than a decade.
~ According to the Canadian Organ Replacement Register, donations in Canada increased by 258 between 1995 and 2004, but 1,400 more people were on the list.
~ A 2001 Environics poll reported 96% of Canadians support donation, but fewer than 45% had signed donor cards.

Organs that can be donated:
According to Trillium Gift of Life, one donor can save the lives of up to seven people through organ donation and enhance the lives of up to 75 others through tissue donation.

Organs that can be donated after death include, liver, lungs, heart, pancreas, kidneys or small bowel.

Examples of the tissue donation are ocular tissue (eyes), cardiovascular tissue (heart valves, pericardium), bone and connective tissue (ligaments and tendons) and skin.

Important reminder:
Once you've signed your card, let your family know about your decision. Make it clear to them. They have the final say. Even though you've said 'yes', they can say 'no' when/if the time comes. It's very important to make sure that your family knows your wishes. Make that final gift to another family in need.

I've signed my card. Have you?

Eternal glory, Earthly Sadness

I received news on Sunday that my friend Gina's oldest son, Nick, had passed away suddenly on Saturday night due to an accident. He was 20. I can't imagine what it must be like to have to bury your child. As parents, we think that our children will outlive us, but for some, that isn't so. As a mother, I am so saddened to think of the sadness that must come when you have to bury the child that you bonded with before they were even born. The bonds that have grown through watching them go through the changes in life - and eventually growing wings and flying away.

Yet I also know that God doesn't make any mistakes. That all of our times are in His hands. What a comfort that is for those who know the Lord.

I didn't know Nick but from reading Gina's blog (see link on sidebar) I know that he was a fun and giving person. And even in death, he is still giving. Doctor's say that Nick was able to help approximately 75 people with his organ and tissue donations! Amazing! So there are some very happy families out there who received word that an organ or tissue donation has been found for them! And I'm sure that they also felt sadness, knowing that they were given a new lease on life due to an unselfish family who allowed this incredible gift.

Please pray for Gina and her family as they grieve their loss. Please pray for them as they prepare for a memorial service. I wish that I could give Gina a real hug, but virtual hugs will have do to. We're praying for you & your family Gina. May God bless and comfort you in this time. ((( hugs )))

Kathy is in heaven now

Just wanted to tell you that our friend, Kathy (see July, 2006 - "A Short Chapter to Eternal Life'), passed away this past Saturday - September 16. She leaves behind a 12 yo. daughter and husband. Please keep them in your prayers. Kathy's pain is over, but she leaves behind a void in the lives of those closest to her. I am thankful that she loved and served the Lord and is now with Him.

Kathy's memorial photos: http://www.mem.com/movie/MovingMemories.asp?ID=1517333&mm=0

Snug Harbour Community Church - Parry Sound, Ontario

This is the church that we go to when we're on holidays near Parry Sound, Ontario. It is located on Hwy. 559 near Killbear Provincial Park and although it is a small church, we have enjoyed the services there. We planned to visit them again last week when we were away but we couldn't find any information (service times) on the internet so I thought I'd add that info here.

Services are at 11 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.

Join me? 31 Days of Prayer

I'm inviting you to join me in this - 31 days of prayer for your husband, father, son, son-in-laws (or the ones 'to-be!') - the men in our lives!!! May God raise a Godly generation of men - and leaders for our homes and families! Of course this is something that we should be doing all the time - but a special time of concentrated prayer is a wonderful idea!!

http://riverbend-ramblings.blogspot.com/2006/08/31-days-of-prayer-for-your-husband.html