Testing

Posted on February 23, 2013 by For Glory Sake!

My wonder of a husband had yet another colon check-up with his doctor in Alabama. He has been having some new “issues” as of January this year that progressed until they couldn’t be ignored.

He was due for a scope anyway (having had colon cancer in 2010). About every 6 months since his initial surgery something has been done. I couldn’t blame him for dragging his feet a little on this visit to search for a problem. He was really worried.

I wish I had a photo of his face when his surgeon said that he was pink & perfect inside! The issues he was experienced were probably due to his colon still adjusting from surgery, or stress, or diet, or exercise, or all combined. For a trim, healthy guy that was pretty vague, but it’s better than the alternative: “we found something.”

Joy, Joy! We celebrate every time there’s good news on his health! It reminds me again of all that God has done. Its why I bog. I pray we’ll never stop being thankful for life and family and love!

Just wanted to share the update,

ForGlorySake! -Anna

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He Knocks

Posted on February 22, 2013 by For Glory Sake!

 God reminded me… He Knocks

My words, my love are just one knock that you may hear today.

But there will come some others as you hurry on your way.

Sometimes through compassion; words of offered hope,

Sometimes through correction; like a lasso or a rope,

There is constant knocking of Someone to come in,

Someone Who is at your door, One who’s always been,

Waiting, waiting patiently, all the while He’s knocking,

A quiet calling, “Open up,” He watches for unlocking.

This One never gives up, He’s hopeful for us all,

And so He goes on knocking to the greatest and the small.

Listen, listen, open up! Ask Him then to enter,

Grace and mercy, fellowship will follow with a dinner.

Offered are His blessings and treasures one can’t weigh,

When you listen for His knock and open up today.  -Anna 2/17/2013

ForGlorySake! -Anna

Jesus said, “Look at Me, I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear Me call and open the door, I will come right in and sit down to supper with you.” Revelation 3:20

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Gluten Free Lessons

Posted on February 20, 2013 by For Glory Sake!

Hooray! The scleritis has not come back and I’ve been off all meds for over a week! I couldn’t be more pleased with this experiment. My scale is in the closet, so I can’t tell you how much I’ve lost. It was becoming too much of a focal-point fo rme. Something I’ve had issues with in the past. That is not what this eating plan was all about. Either way, I’m happy to say: my immune system has been boosted! That’s what I was after. Go Veggies!

This week I joined an on-line Gluten-Free cooking school. Mary Frances gives free lessons that come by email, you just sign up. It’s too easy! So far I’ve made her muffins, tortillas and cookies. All excellent, especially the muffins which my picky kids ate up. Her website and blog can be found at: glutenfreecookingschool.com

Mary takes all of the mystery out of creating your own all-purpose flour mixture with a simple recipe. Once you mix a bag of this, the sky’s the limit on baking (which I love to do). Last night as I made tollhouse chocolate chip cookies for the family, and I had my own almond butter/oatmeal/chocolate chip balls for myself.

Today while I cooked up a storm for this crew (all things I don’t eat), I kept my yummy muffins near with a mug of hot tea. I’ve mostly been dual-cooking with just a bit of crossover dishes we all eat. The more daring of my kids will try whatever I’m eating, otherwise it’s just me enjoying my new recipes.

I love finding something new when I go to the store, like a strange vegetable or fruit. Last trip I decided on fennel root which I boiled until soft, ran through the food processor and ate like mashed potatoes- yummy! The time before that I bought parsnips (white carrots) that blended great with other veggies in a chicken broth soup.

The crock pot is a lifesaver in helping  me get all our dishes ready at the same time. So far so good… Thank you for all the lovely recipes.

ForGlorySake! -Anna

kale, edamame, apple, orange, avocado, coconut, cilantro,and flax
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My Trust Box

Posted on February 16, 2013 by For Glory Sake!

In a past post, I wrote about Hope Jars https://forglorysake.com/index.php/2011/11/13/my-hope-jar/. Containers full of pennies for each time I saw God working in my kid’s lives. These have been so encouraging to me especially in the dark moments when my prayers weren’t answered yet. The piles of pennies reminded me God heard and now I needed to wait on His timing.

Today I saw another reminder sitting around. It’s a little family Trust Box. We were given this at church years ago. Everyone in the house has access to it. It’s full of tiny pieces of folded paper with prayers we are trusting God for – requests on one side and answers on the other. Some even have a date attesting when it was answered.

One says, “Trusting God with which school for next year?” I remember we were still homeschooling all that kids at that time. Our oldest daughter wanted to try a Christian private academy. Her grandparents had offered to pay. She was really conflicted, but finally decided to fly the coop. The next year brought public school and after that all our kids followed.

Another paper tells of a time when my heart broke over our 3rd miscarriage. We had already been given 4 beautiful children. I felt sad and selfish. Still, it was difficult. Then God sent us a beautiful baby girl a year later. He understood.

Another mentions a request “to have a friend, a best friend.” They waited and waited (and as a momma, this is hard to watch). God answered their prayer… x10!

Another tells of a child breaking our hearts, with trouble and attitude… so hard to wait and pray and offer help that’s refused. This one I’m still praying over but I know it will be an incredible story someday. One that only God could’ve woven together!

Afraid of the dentist, the car needs repair, unresolved work issues, a prayer over a surgery.  The notes go on and on, but the pattern is the same. God has been active in small, but specific ways. Not one request fell on deaf ears. He is trustworthy with every prayer offered. He knows our hearts and cares about what you care about. How fun to have a whole box to prove it.
 
ForGlorySake! -Anna
Trust Box
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Over 30 Days!

Posted on February 13, 2013 by For Glory Sake!

I passed the 30 day mark, but I’m still going 30 more. I have not had any more meat. I’ve incorporated some unsalted chicken broth, and a daily square of dark chocolate. Also the occasional bite of a really good cheese (raw, goat or sheep base).

Today I’ve completed a full 10 days of every-other-day on 5mg steroid. Here goes the big jump to totally stopping. My husband keeps checking my eye and declares it looks great. I won’t see the ophthalmologist until February’s end. But I can start the meds back if theres redness or pain.

I certainly feel good, especially having shed the extra weight. My body has changed too. Old cellulite is disappearing and my thighs are thinning even though I’m back to the same weight I’ve been for years. I think this plant-based diet is actually utilizing my fat stores… Can you hear the Hallelujahs from my house?!

After blogging about this adventure, some terrific recipes and links to websites have come my way. There are a lot of gluten-free and vegan folks out there. Thank you for sharing your stuff with me. I’m learning a lot.

Check these recipe sites out for yourself:
How to make a deep dish pizza in a skillet using your favortie pizza toppings. By: alexanderwillowharvey. (Vegan, but NOT gluten-free)

Uncle Howard’s Chocolate Ganache Tart: The Best Vegan (and healthiest) Dessert You Will Ever Eat. By: glutenfreegus

My Favourite ‘Ugly’ Meals. By: Emily Cooks Vegan

And Nutritional info:
longlastinghealth@wordpress.com

Animal vs. vegetable based protein By: jennovafoodblog.
DrinkWaterEatOatmeal@worpress.com is a good one too.

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Ben Speaks

Posted on February 8, 2013 by For Glory Sake!


Ben spoke last night, telling his story for the first time to a room full of parents of other prodigal children. He did a great job, and David and I were extremely proud of his willingness to be so vulnerable and open. He explained how he got involved with drugs and all that led him down the path to addiction.

I was in awe by how much He has learned in a year from his counselors and pears at Insight. We were also impressed that he spoke well over the 45mins they gave him and then took questions from the parents (this is one of our quiet children). Ben’s manner was heart-felt and thoughtful. I don’t believe there any dry eyes in the room.

The point of his story was that there is always hope because God is ever calling to us. As Ben told one mom, whether a child is seeking after God right at this moment isn’t the issue, because God is always there seeking after that child. He told again and again about his own struggle with, sometimes searching in the Bible, feeling horribly guilty for the double life he led, and sometimes feeling angry thinking that God was punishing him by giving his dad cancer.

Such mixed- up muddled thinking. Such wrestling we didn’t realize was going on. I remember thinking back then how Ben had changed. He had seemed hard-hearted and unfeeling, so I prayed for him to feel guilty. I prayed A LOT- walking around the house and  kneeling by his bed, even laying face down on his floor. I always seemed to end up in his room… I’d beg God to somehow reach our child.

Last night I came away with a better understanding of grace. When he shared his moment of realizing- I’ll never become good enough for God… yet God has loved and accepted me just as I am. I clearly saw grace. Ben calls it his moment of surrender.   All the trying and failing, the insecurity, the guilt of messing up, the feelings of “I’m alone in this,”… these somehow grow small next to a great big God and His great big plans.

ForGlorySake! -Anna 

… the Lord said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2Corinthians 12:9
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Vegan Update

Posted on February 7, 2013 by For Glory Sake!

Today is day 26 of my experiment to boost my immune system. I have successfully moved to every-other-day dosages with the steroid (prednisone 5mg). I’ve able to drop in 5mg increments faster as my eye has shown no signs of distress. I’ve dropped 13lbs. My goal being all 18. Pretty good considering prednisone causes an unnatural insulin release, thus weight gain.

At day 21 I ate some sushi and each day after have had a bit of low-hormone animal products. I’m still careful to avoid gluten and cow’s milk. It’s an experiment. I continue with the big salad daily and a smoothie made of frozen fruits and kale. My taste buds have changed. I am much more sensitive to the sweetness of fruit and to any salt. I also noticed a sluggish feeling after consuming meat. Especially on waking up the next morning. I did however, sleep harder & sounder. Interesting.

Last night I made a dinner of brown rice, white fish and a large pot of different squashes steamed. My family loved it with just a bit of blackening spice thrown on. In the past, the fish would have taken a good portion of the plate, but a small amount over the rice did the trick and satisfied my crowd. Much cheeper, I must say!

They seem to be more interested in what I fix myself. They want to try it without any pressure. Everyone loves the frozen fruit and kale. They also love just frozen bananas in the food processor like ice-cream.

I can not call myself a Vegan anymore, but I have learned a lot from this diet and plan to keep going another 30 days. I look at food differently now. It’s more than fuel, it’s medicine. I ask myself, “Is this feeding my cells and what effect will it have on them?” It’s not too late to change at 46 🙂

Here’s to your health!

ForGlorySake! -Anna

gluten free muffin with veggie pulp
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Insight from INSIGHT

Posted on February 3, 2013 by For Glory Sake!

Friday night we hosted all the guys from Ben’s sobriety program. What an awesome group of about 60 (age 15 to young 20s). I love their stories, I love their eyes, those that will look at me. Clear. Some only look at the ground and I want so much for them to know they are loved and accepted and bought with a price.

They ate up the brownies I made, batch after batch. In a short while I gained the name “Momma Bean” -after Ben, they call Bean. Some let me hug them, a few stopped to talk. As one kiddo told me his journey, it took everything I had not to squeeze him up tight. Instead I just said what I always say when one of these kids opens up, “Do you have any idea how incredibly blessed you are?? You should be dead, dead, dead 10 times over and yet God has put His hand on you and brought you through because He loves you so much. I am so proud of you and admire what you are doing! Way to go!“

They just blush and smile and tell Ben later, “You’re mom is crazy.” I am crazy, crazy in love with these addicts God has brought into our lives! Amazing how He prepared us years ago back in 2009, when we housed teen boys that Ben brought home. Of course, that all turned out poorly when we found out they were sharing things other than just the basement!

I was so crushed then, so broken hearted. I tried so hard to be a godly influence in their lives. I had written out many verses for those boys and prayed non-stop. We had taken them to church. It was back in those days that I wrote over our front door, “Show Me Your Glory” Ex 33:18. I desperately wanted help from God, to know we were not wasting our time.

I didn’t realize yet that God never wastes anything! He was teaching us and preparing our family for today; using everything for His glory. Thursday night at Insight’s weekly parent meeting Ben awarded me and David with a wooden heart necklace for attending support-group for a year. In front of 70+ adults he honored us with words of gratitude and love. He gave God the glory for a dad that exemplifies Him. Many were touched and I thought I’d pop with joy. Could I get anyone to realize what God had done??

It was enough for us to laugh and smile at each other all the way home. God is so good. He hears every heart-cry. He uses our messes in His plan. I am forever grateful for where we are today and we would not be here, but by where we have been. So I say “Thank You, Lord, for this incredible journey we’re on and for never leaving us alone.”

ForGlorySake! -Anna

“He knows us far better than we know ourselves…That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” Romans 8:28
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The BIG Salad

Posted on January 31, 2013 by For Glory Sake!

Day 19: Detox is going great, but my Big salad gets lots of stares. “What’s in that?” Here goes: 4-5 leaves of kale, a handful of spinach, 2 romaine leaves, a chunk of cucumber, small carrots, colored pepper, 1-2 mushrooms, bit of tomato, half an apple, 4-5 green beans, a little onion, fresh parsley or cilantro, shredded cabbage, squeeze of lemon, green onion, a celery stalk, and a stem of broccoli & cauliflower! Then I chop it to death with kitchen scissors! Sprinkle on chia seeds and flax-seeds ( if needed add Annie’s Dressing)… and I’m all set. 

I have found it’s not that expensive eating this way. I don’t usually buy organic and I only use a small bit of each item, so there’s plenty for tomorrow. I go through kale the most. A about bunch a day is $1.40. The first 5-6 leaves are cut into my salad. The other 5-6 leaves are used in a smoothie with some frozen fruit.

The smoothie can be a bit pulp-ie unless you own a high-powered blender, like Vitamix. Some days, I literally jog to my friend, Marianne’s house (with baggies in hand) and I use hers. Soon I’ll buy one because this drink packs all the nutrients of another salad. I just can’t eat more than one big salad a day. Marianne juices, but I prefer smoothies as there is no waste. You get the whole food, fiber and all. We freeze her pulp to make muffins.

Our whole grains have consisted of oatmeal (fresh rolled), long-cook brown rice, quinoa and yummy muffins made from gluten-free flour. The flour is easy to grind if you have a mill, and a lot cheaper than buying from the store! Below I’ve included a link to free gluten-free baking classes. And Bread Beckers in Stockbridge, GA. sells all types of grain. Great store!
http://www.breadbeckers.com/store/pc/Gluten-Free-101-c214.htm

Eat something green 🙂

ForGlorySake! -Anna
 

The Big Salad
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By My Side

Posted on January 27, 2013 by For Glory Sake!

By My Side:

A child of God born to earth, though always doubtful of my worth.

Living life- a precious gift, so unaware… I drift and drift.

Lost and searching on my own, yet I was never all alone.

God was watching, ever near, calling… but I would not hear.

Hardened heart, conscience killed, deep and dark and danger-filled.

Til the bottom so far down, sunk my ship. I’d run aground!

There He was, my eyes could see, the One who had been calling me.

God held out His love so wide, He’d always been there by my side.

Though I’d lived so foolishly, He’d never lost His hold of me. -anna 2013

I am thrilled to share that our son, Ben will be speaking February 7th 2013 to Parents of Prodigals (a support group of Prodigal Child Ministries in West Cobb County). He will be telling about his journey through drug addiction and recovery with The Insight Program. This will be his first opportunity to speak, with hopefully more to follow. Ben sees this as an opportunity to share his faith and the hope God offers everyone through Jesus. To God be the glory! Prayers appreciated.

ForGlorySake! -Anna

“For My Father has given them (sheep) to Me, He is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand.” John 10:29
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