Praise Jesus! It is so wonderful to get up in the morning and hop out of bed without the fear of pain. The varicose veins on my legs do NOT hurt me anymore and my tummy is soft, soft, soft. It is also big, big, big! I am only 21 weeks along in this pregnancy, but comparing myself to pictures of myself from the past two pregnancies, and I look like I am 9 months pregnant!!! Granted, I have always carried small, but for me, this is huge. We had an ultrasound last week and found only one baby boy. Healthy - YAY!!! Praise God for such great mercies!
I continue to marvel that I am not having all of the contractions that plagued my other pregnancies. It is all for the glory of God! I just have to express my joy and shout out praise to the One who healed me.
'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
just to take Him at His word,
just to rest upon His promise,
just to know, "Thus saith the Lord."
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him,
how I've proved Him o'er and over.
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus,
oh, for grace to trust Him more.
Hymn from 1882. Words written by Louisa M. R. Stead
Music composed by William J. Kirkpatrick
I love this hymn.
Since my focus has shifted from GAPS to faith in the One who made me, I have started a new blog called Walking in Faith. The address is www.iinhimandheinme.blogspot.com
I will likely start posting more on my new blog and less here. We shall see.
May 24, 2012
May 12, 2012
Do We Still Eat GAPS Food?
YES! We do. I really like to choose plain and simple "healthy" food, and I find that I am most satisfied by simple whole foods.
But...we also eat everything else! We had Taco Bell the other day. Yuck! I do like the tostadas, but everything else just grossed me out.
We eat bread or rice every day now. I like the Whole Foods brand sourdough bread the best, but we eat my husband's local grocery store bread, too, without fear. I buy 365 unsweetened peanut butter, but we will also (at times) eat my husband's local grocery store peanut butter, too, without fear.
We share in a potluck style dinner every Sunday with our small group, as we take turns bringing the main dish, sides, and desserts. My kids look forward to having dessert at small group every sunday night. My kids eat one, while the other kids just eat and eat. I still believe in moderation.
My father-in-law likes chinese food. My husband and oldest son were out of town and several days went by when my father-in-law did not come over to our house, because I was just too busy/lazy to go and get him. I wanted to spend some time with him after church on Sunday, so we went out for chinese food and then played at our house all afternoon. It was a great day!
I mentioned being pregnant in a previous post. This baby loves Mexican food (we live in Houston)! I want to eat Mexican food all the time, but my oldest daughter "really" doesn't like mexican food. Alas, I manage to work it in every now and then.
Oh, oh, oh!!! I never mentioned this! My husband and my oldest son were out of town for a week because...My oldest son is on a LEGO Robotics Team called Epic Team 2.0, and the team won 2nd place in Regionals and were invited to the LEGO Robotics World Invitational at LEGOland in Florida. WooHoo! Because Jesus healed us, we are no longer restricted by the GAPS Diet and he was able to go with his team. He met other teams from Japan, Brazil, New York, Florida, and from other states and countries. He had a great time! They won 2nd place for teamwork! Congratulations to the Epic Team 2.0!
We still eat sauerkraut and/or yogurt everyday and we like to have broth on a regular basis. I have come to find broth and homemade chicken soup to be very comforting.
Healed is healed! Life is such a joy! That gives a pretty good idea of what we do for meals these days. We are free and living without fear of food!
But...we also eat everything else! We had Taco Bell the other day. Yuck! I do like the tostadas, but everything else just grossed me out.
We eat bread or rice every day now. I like the Whole Foods brand sourdough bread the best, but we eat my husband's local grocery store bread, too, without fear. I buy 365 unsweetened peanut butter, but we will also (at times) eat my husband's local grocery store peanut butter, too, without fear.
We share in a potluck style dinner every Sunday with our small group, as we take turns bringing the main dish, sides, and desserts. My kids look forward to having dessert at small group every sunday night. My kids eat one, while the other kids just eat and eat. I still believe in moderation.
My father-in-law likes chinese food. My husband and oldest son were out of town and several days went by when my father-in-law did not come over to our house, because I was just too busy/lazy to go and get him. I wanted to spend some time with him after church on Sunday, so we went out for chinese food and then played at our house all afternoon. It was a great day!
I mentioned being pregnant in a previous post. This baby loves Mexican food (we live in Houston)! I want to eat Mexican food all the time, but my oldest daughter "really" doesn't like mexican food. Alas, I manage to work it in every now and then.
Oh, oh, oh!!! I never mentioned this! My husband and my oldest son were out of town for a week because...My oldest son is on a LEGO Robotics Team called Epic Team 2.0, and the team won 2nd place in Regionals and were invited to the LEGO Robotics World Invitational at LEGOland in Florida. WooHoo! Because Jesus healed us, we are no longer restricted by the GAPS Diet and he was able to go with his team. He met other teams from Japan, Brazil, New York, Florida, and from other states and countries. He had a great time! They won 2nd place for teamwork! Congratulations to the Epic Team 2.0!
We still eat sauerkraut and/or yogurt everyday and we like to have broth on a regular basis. I have come to find broth and homemade chicken soup to be very comforting.
Healed is healed! Life is such a joy! That gives a pretty good idea of what we do for meals these days. We are free and living without fear of food!
May 11, 2012
Another Child Healed Because of the GAPS Diet
Read the comments under Healed Because of the GAPS Diet! Another little child (age 3) is talking and progressing and eating food off of the GAPS Diet! Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: Rejoice! (Philippians 4 something)
May 7, 2012
* A Gift - Update
I mentioned on a previous post, called "A Gift", that I began to suffer pain and discomfort from varicose veins in the same places that they had popped up in the last half of my last pregnancy. I have been seeking the Lord and praising Him, for He is definitely worthy of our praise, and I have been thanking Him for all of the healing that He has given us. I have asked the Father, in Jesus' Name, to heal my varicose veins completely, and I have been thanking Him for the healing. I confessed sins that I was aware of having committed, and I thanked God that He does not let me continue in sin and that He guides me in paths of righteousness. I have asked Him to enable me to forgive others in the same way that He has forgiven me, and He is faithful to have filled my heart with love and compassion for those who have done me wrong. Yesterday, I had very little pain in my leg and in my pelvic area. I did not need to wear the support hosiery. At the end of the day, still little to no pain.
Today, I woke up and praised God for all of the good things that He has done. I got up out of bed...no pain. I went to the potty...no pain. I got dressed (no support hosiery) and went for a 30 minute walk...no pain. I keep praising God for this kindness to His child. I have been on my feet doing chores and caring for children all morning...still no pain. I have sat at the computer for a little bit to write, and...still no pain. Praise the Lord!!! There is no explanation for such a sudden and complete improvement, except to acknowledge that God has heard my prayer and has answered with a resounding "YES". I give God the glory for His healing touch!
Also, I mentioned that I have been on bed rest for all but one of my children's pregnancies because of pre-term contractions. In the past, I have had lots of strong contractions starting as early as 15 weeks. I was put on meds and bed rest at 24 weeks for my first pregnancy, 21 weeks for my second pregnancy, 20 weeks for my 3rd pregnancy, self-imposed bed rest (on and off) for my 4th viable pregnancy, and at 30 some weeks for my 5th viable pregnancy. My contractions were strong and came every 5-15 minutes even when on meds and bed rest. I am currently 19 weeks pregnant (today) and I am not having contractions. My tummy is pretty nearly always soft and squishy. I declared, in Jesus' Name, that contractions were not going to be a problem in this pregnancy and I have been thanking God for no pre-term contractions. Praise the Lord - indeed, contractions are not going to be a problem in this pregnancy.
I was walking and talking with the Lord this morning, with my Bible, and the Lord showed me these verses. John 16:23-24, 26-27 "I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name...Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete...you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God."
God is not a Genie-in-a-Bottle that He will just give us everything we ask for in Jesus' Name. We must seek Him, believe in Him, obey His command to love others as He loves us, and keep His words in us by spending time with Him in His word and in prayer. I have so much more to learn, but this is some of what God has taught me so far through His word.
Seek the Lord! His word tells us that if we seek Him, we WILL find Him! He has given us His word. He wants us to seek Him. He wants us to find Him. He rewards those who earnestly seek Him! He saves those who believe in His Son, Jesus!
Today, I woke up and praised God for all of the good things that He has done. I got up out of bed...no pain. I went to the potty...no pain. I got dressed (no support hosiery) and went for a 30 minute walk...no pain. I keep praising God for this kindness to His child. I have been on my feet doing chores and caring for children all morning...still no pain. I have sat at the computer for a little bit to write, and...still no pain. Praise the Lord!!! There is no explanation for such a sudden and complete improvement, except to acknowledge that God has heard my prayer and has answered with a resounding "YES". I give God the glory for His healing touch!
Also, I mentioned that I have been on bed rest for all but one of my children's pregnancies because of pre-term contractions. In the past, I have had lots of strong contractions starting as early as 15 weeks. I was put on meds and bed rest at 24 weeks for my first pregnancy, 21 weeks for my second pregnancy, 20 weeks for my 3rd pregnancy, self-imposed bed rest (on and off) for my 4th viable pregnancy, and at 30 some weeks for my 5th viable pregnancy. My contractions were strong and came every 5-15 minutes even when on meds and bed rest. I am currently 19 weeks pregnant (today) and I am not having contractions. My tummy is pretty nearly always soft and squishy. I declared, in Jesus' Name, that contractions were not going to be a problem in this pregnancy and I have been thanking God for no pre-term contractions. Praise the Lord - indeed, contractions are not going to be a problem in this pregnancy.
I was walking and talking with the Lord this morning, with my Bible, and the Lord showed me these verses. John 16:23-24, 26-27 "I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name...Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete...you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God."
God is not a Genie-in-a-Bottle that He will just give us everything we ask for in Jesus' Name. We must seek Him, believe in Him, obey His command to love others as He loves us, and keep His words in us by spending time with Him in His word and in prayer. I have so much more to learn, but this is some of what God has taught me so far through His word.
Seek the Lord! His word tells us that if we seek Him, we WILL find Him! He has given us His word. He wants us to seek Him. He wants us to find Him. He rewards those who earnestly seek Him! He saves those who believe in His Son, Jesus!
* Healed Because of GAPS Diet
I was just thinking about what brought about our healing. I have prayed for years that God would heal me so that I could live a normal life like everyone else, but to no avail. My children also seemed to have many of the same issues that I did. Then, several of my children exhibited severe symptoms after a vaccine given in May of 2009. We started the GAPS Diet to bring healing to our guts, and we saw much progress. My children were recovered from many of the issues that caused us such concern and grief. We were overjoyed to have an answer and a plan of action. We praised God for leading us to the GAPS Diet.
However, we were only recovered and not healed. We had to stick to the diet, which had become very limited and restrictive, and we had to avoid pretty nearly every toxin, which is virtually impossible to accomplish, in order to stay well. Being on the GAPS Diet became a prison for us. While it was difficult and tiresome, I was willing to follow it strictly, because life off of the GAPS Diet was so much more difficult and tiresome and stressful.
I learned so much about the body, detox, toxins in the world around us, hormones, vitamins, alternative therapies, energy healing, homeopathics, etc., etc. I learned that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. I learned that mankind has only begun to discover all that there is to know about the body and how it works. I learned that if we fix one thing, we might be messing up some other thing.
I became overwhelmed at the amount of information and the impossibility of being able to piece it all together and know that I was doing the right thing for me and for my children. It was all guessing and hoping that I had found and implemented the right information. Trial and Error led to progress. It was better than accepting the doctor's conclusions that nothing could be done but to treat symptoms, and in some cases that nothing could be done but to accept the reality of the situation. I saw results, but any exposure to toxins or new foods led to regressions, and we never knew when everything would fall apart. I became very depressed after two years and hitting yet another big regression.
That was when I gave it all to the Lord. It is quite a remarkable story of seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness. In the end, the Lord healed us miraculously from all of our big issues. There are a few lingering issues, for which we continue to pray for healing, and they are being resolved one by one. God is amazing and loving and powerful. He wants us to believe Him and love Him. He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). The GAPS Diet drove me to the One who could and would heal us! Praise the Lord!
Read the Comments below to hear the testimony of another child healed and off of GAPS!
Update: Three years later, we are still healed in body and soul! God is good! He is love, and love heals! Praise the Lord! Go to http://gapsfamily.blogspot.com/2014/12/our-story.html to find links to walk you through our whole story (without having to read every post of a multi year blog). We are free! You, too, can be free from the fear of food and toxins!
Be sure to read "What Are We Doing?" and "Why Are We Doing It?"
http://gapsfamily.blogspot.com/2009/09/what-are-we-doing-and-why-are-we-doing.html
Also, The GAPS Diet Did NOT Heal Us!
http://www.gapsfamily.blogspot.com/2011/12/gaps-diet-did-not-heal-us.html
However, we were only recovered and not healed. We had to stick to the diet, which had become very limited and restrictive, and we had to avoid pretty nearly every toxin, which is virtually impossible to accomplish, in order to stay well. Being on the GAPS Diet became a prison for us. While it was difficult and tiresome, I was willing to follow it strictly, because life off of the GAPS Diet was so much more difficult and tiresome and stressful.
I learned so much about the body, detox, toxins in the world around us, hormones, vitamins, alternative therapies, energy healing, homeopathics, etc., etc. I learned that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. I learned that mankind has only begun to discover all that there is to know about the body and how it works. I learned that if we fix one thing, we might be messing up some other thing.
I became overwhelmed at the amount of information and the impossibility of being able to piece it all together and know that I was doing the right thing for me and for my children. It was all guessing and hoping that I had found and implemented the right information. Trial and Error led to progress. It was better than accepting the doctor's conclusions that nothing could be done but to treat symptoms, and in some cases that nothing could be done but to accept the reality of the situation. I saw results, but any exposure to toxins or new foods led to regressions, and we never knew when everything would fall apart. I became very depressed after two years and hitting yet another big regression.
That was when I gave it all to the Lord. It is quite a remarkable story of seeking first His kingdom and His righteousness. In the end, the Lord healed us miraculously from all of our big issues. There are a few lingering issues, for which we continue to pray for healing, and they are being resolved one by one. God is amazing and loving and powerful. He wants us to believe Him and love Him. He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). The GAPS Diet drove me to the One who could and would heal us! Praise the Lord!
Read the Comments below to hear the testimony of another child healed and off of GAPS!
Update: Three years later, we are still healed in body and soul! God is good! He is love, and love heals! Praise the Lord! Go to http://gapsfamily.blogspot.com/2014/12/our-story.html to find links to walk you through our whole story (without having to read every post of a multi year blog). We are free! You, too, can be free from the fear of food and toxins!
Be sure to read "What Are We Doing?" and "Why Are We Doing It?"
http://gapsfamily.blogspot.com/2009/09/what-are-we-doing-and-why-are-we-doing.html
Also, The GAPS Diet Did NOT Heal Us!
http://www.gapsfamily.blogspot.com/2011/12/gaps-diet-did-not-heal-us.html
May 5, 2012
* CKS's Eczema Completely Gone!
Did I ever post about this? When we stepped out in faith and got off the GAPS diet (basically cold turkey), I believed that the rash on CKS's backside, on the backs of his hands, and on his face would heal. Immediately, the rash on his backside healed and has never returned (maybe briefly just once).
The eczema on his hands and face were slower to resolve, but we continued to pray for complete healing. The eczema on his hands went away and has not returned, but his face continued to flare up. I would pray for it daily and I could see it visibly improve, but it did not ever go completely away.
I became discouraged and stopped praying. It became so bad that it cracked and bled and peeled. It was gross. We began to pray again and it improved, but it did not go away. We went through this cycle several times. Finally, convinced that God could and would heal him, we praised God daily for healing the eczema, even though it was still there before our eyes. We just kept praying and praising God!
Finally, it healed up completely! We did not change his diet or treat the eczema with anything. The only thing we did was pray and give glory to God, Our Healer. It has been months and it has not returned. His skin is so soft and smooth. I love to kiss his cheeks and I praise God every time I do.
Also, every time he looks me in the eyes, which he does so often now, I praise God! I can not take any of it for granted anymore. What a gift when everything works the way it is supposed to work. To God be all the glory!!!
The eczema on his hands and face were slower to resolve, but we continued to pray for complete healing. The eczema on his hands went away and has not returned, but his face continued to flare up. I would pray for it daily and I could see it visibly improve, but it did not ever go completely away.
I became discouraged and stopped praying. It became so bad that it cracked and bled and peeled. It was gross. We began to pray again and it improved, but it did not go away. We went through this cycle several times. Finally, convinced that God could and would heal him, we praised God daily for healing the eczema, even though it was still there before our eyes. We just kept praying and praising God!
Finally, it healed up completely! We did not change his diet or treat the eczema with anything. The only thing we did was pray and give glory to God, Our Healer. It has been months and it has not returned. His skin is so soft and smooth. I love to kiss his cheeks and I praise God every time I do.
Also, every time he looks me in the eyes, which he does so often now, I praise God! I can not take any of it for granted anymore. What a gift when everything works the way it is supposed to work. To God be all the glory!!!
Bloating and Constipation
I used to think that my bloating and constipation were food reactions. Indeed, I suppose they are, but I have found that my bloating and constipation are directly related to my mood. I thought that the bad mood, bloating, and other symptoms were a direct result of a reaction to food. But...now, instead of changing my diet, I change my mood and, indeed, the bloating and the constipation is resolved. WooHoo! What a discovery! God is so good! His word is true!
Proverbs 3:5-8 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart...fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."
Proverbs 3:5-8 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart...fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones."
* Spending Time in God's Word
Not so much a GAPS issue, but relevant in the life of this GAPS Mamma, is the issue of time spent seeking the Lord, because He is the One who saved us. Not only did God save our souls from the consequences of His wrath because of man's sin, but He saved us from GAPS. We were captive to it. Life was hard on GAPS, but harder when not on GAPS, so we stuck with it, but...oh, it feels so good to be free. Now I tell you, there is a battle going on and sometimes/often our faith is tested, but God has proved faithful. God is more powerful than food! Nothing is impossible for God!
So, when I began to seek the Lord, it was towards the end of the school year. I shared everything I was learning during my Bible reading and quiet time with my children. OK, not everything, but everything that jumped out at me and excited me. I figured that getting to know God was more important than anything else (and I was right). We finished up for the year and took a much needed summer break from academics. We usually study through the summer, but...well...given everything we had been through in the past few years it just seemed the right thing to do (and I was right).
There has been a drought here in our part of Texas (and all around) and so we passed through the summer with virtually no rain. This made it possible for me to establish a set time to go outside (too many distractions in the house) and spend time reading God's word and talking to God. I would garden, ponder what I had read, ponder what I was observing in creation, and I would talk to God about all of it. I told my kids what I was doing. I shared with them what I was learning. I encouraged them to read their Bibles, too, and even had my oldest commit to reading at least 10 minutes and log what he had read (because he was not inclined to do so on his own). My now 11yo girl wanted to have her own quiet time, so we scheduled it in before her chores. My now 8yo girl also wanted some quiet time, so we scheduled it in for her as well. I had to schedule their times, because in order for me to get any quiet time, someone had to be in the house prepared to comfort and help the two little ones when they woke up in the morning (if they woke up before my quiet time was over, which sometimes did happen). I did not require my girls to read their Bibles or have a quiet time, and they had to wake up early in the morning to have it, but because of the changes they were seeing in me, they got up and voluntarily had their own quiet times. I was so blessed.
Then, school started and Fall Back (Daylight Savings) made it too dark to read outside in the morning, and it was incredibly difficult to drag ourselves out of bed an hour earlier by our biological rhythms. I put off my quiet time for a few weeks (which dragged into many, many weeks) in order to get school off on the right foot. Big mistake! Everything fell apart. I began to spend time with the Lord again, but my children never got back into the routine of it. So sad.
Ah, but I do share what I am reading and learning and we started reading missionary stories during lunch, which has really encouraged us and strengthened us in our faith. Because I was asked about all of this, I mentioned it to my girls and encouraged them to read God's word for themselves and to spend some quiet time with God to see what He will teach them, so we shall see. They seemed very receptive.
I could insist that my kids have a quiet time, but I can't really make them have a relationship with God. That will only come if they begin to seek the Lord on their own. I hope and pray that they will. Our lives depend on it!
So, when I began to seek the Lord, it was towards the end of the school year. I shared everything I was learning during my Bible reading and quiet time with my children. OK, not everything, but everything that jumped out at me and excited me. I figured that getting to know God was more important than anything else (and I was right). We finished up for the year and took a much needed summer break from academics. We usually study through the summer, but...well...given everything we had been through in the past few years it just seemed the right thing to do (and I was right).
There has been a drought here in our part of Texas (and all around) and so we passed through the summer with virtually no rain. This made it possible for me to establish a set time to go outside (too many distractions in the house) and spend time reading God's word and talking to God. I would garden, ponder what I had read, ponder what I was observing in creation, and I would talk to God about all of it. I told my kids what I was doing. I shared with them what I was learning. I encouraged them to read their Bibles, too, and even had my oldest commit to reading at least 10 minutes and log what he had read (because he was not inclined to do so on his own). My now 11yo girl wanted to have her own quiet time, so we scheduled it in before her chores. My now 8yo girl also wanted some quiet time, so we scheduled it in for her as well. I had to schedule their times, because in order for me to get any quiet time, someone had to be in the house prepared to comfort and help the two little ones when they woke up in the morning (if they woke up before my quiet time was over, which sometimes did happen). I did not require my girls to read their Bibles or have a quiet time, and they had to wake up early in the morning to have it, but because of the changes they were seeing in me, they got up and voluntarily had their own quiet times. I was so blessed.
Then, school started and Fall Back (Daylight Savings) made it too dark to read outside in the morning, and it was incredibly difficult to drag ourselves out of bed an hour earlier by our biological rhythms. I put off my quiet time for a few weeks (which dragged into many, many weeks) in order to get school off on the right foot. Big mistake! Everything fell apart. I began to spend time with the Lord again, but my children never got back into the routine of it. So sad.
Ah, but I do share what I am reading and learning and we started reading missionary stories during lunch, which has really encouraged us and strengthened us in our faith. Because I was asked about all of this, I mentioned it to my girls and encouraged them to read God's word for themselves and to spend some quiet time with God to see what He will teach them, so we shall see. They seemed very receptive.
I could insist that my kids have a quiet time, but I can't really make them have a relationship with God. That will only come if they begin to seek the Lord on their own. I hope and pray that they will. Our lives depend on it!
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