In July of 2000, three months after the birth of my youngest son, I began to develop hives. They got so bad that at one point I had them from the top of my head all the way to the bottom of my feet. The doctors were unable to determine what caused them. Yes, I had allergy tests; but they proved that I was not allergic to anything they tested me for, except the latex tape that they used.
This went on for about a year. I put on over 40 pounds of additional weight (after pregnancy) and continued to suffer with the hives. Nothing made them go away. Then one day I went to lunch with someone who was inspecting one of our properties. She special ordered all of her food and then explained that she was allergic to preservatives. She told me her symptoms and I recognized all of mine. She suggested that I eat a bag of Doritos (one of my favorites), and I gladly did. Within minutes the hives were multiplying.
I learned to keep a food journal and to read the ingredients on everything I bought. Drinking a lot of water helped. (Soft drinks sent me into terrible pain with hives on the bottom of my feet.) Because I was working full time and we were tight for money with four children (our nephew lived with us), we had gotten into the habit of buying prepared meals, using the cheapest ingredients. Hamburger Helper and Campbell's were staples in our home. All of those had to go in order for the hives to go.
By eating healthy and cooking meals from scratch, I managed to get rid of the hives and lose almost fifty pounds. I learned to take allergy medicine if I was going to eat out, and to try to plan around vacations and all of the challenges that meals on the road could bring. I learned to eat healthy, and therefore feed my family healthy. Homemade soups became our favorites! We have now found a company that provides products that help us eat healthy meals that taste good and can be fixed quickly. That in itself is a blessing.
Throughout all of this I began to feel sorry for myself. I had to work extra hard to have good meals. I had to figure out how to get water at the airport (Dasani is NOT healthy). I had to cover up the hives when I chose to eat something that was not healthy. I could no longer have flavored chips or snack mixes. I could not even have microwave popcorn! I had to be DIFFERENT!!
Now I have been reading about all of the harm that preservatives, food coloring, "natural flavors" and GMO products can cause. I am allergic to all of these. They can cause symptoms of nervous disorders, headaches, pain, and irritable bowel syndrome. They can affect hormones and normal body processes. They can make people really sick!
I have also been through the scare of having abnormal tissues removed due to possible breast cancer and most recently a salivary gland tumor. I am so thankful that I have been eating healthy for almost thirteen years. I cut out all of those preservatives, food colors, "natural flavors" and GMO foods that can feed cancer. I don't even eat processed flour or sugar. I believe that this may have saved my life!
So this "thing" that I have that makes me different from others made me turn to a healthy diet, drink a lot of clean water (read the label people), make foods from scratch, and find organically grown food. What would have happened to those abnormal cells if I had not already been doing this for ten years? Where would my health be now if I were not aware of all of this? How many of these tumors would have turned to cancer if I had not been eating healthy?
This cursed food allergy has then become my blessing in disguise. Thank you, Lord, for forcing me to eat healthy long before all of these other things would become an issue. Thank you for teaching me to cook healthy. Thank you for teaching me to exercise and drink water to keep my weight down. Thank you for this blessing in disguise!
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
The Family Rock
Over one hundred cousins gathered to remember the history of this farm. While the children are all gone, the grandchildren, great grandchildren, and even great great grandchildren came. There was someone to represent each of the original eight Freeman children. Some remembered Christmas with Aunt Ida, others remembered visiting as they traveled to other destinations in Michigan. We all remembered happy times there.
The house has seen many renovations, with bathrooms added, bedrooms moved, an apartment that was lived in by family members, and then changed again to one home. It has seen many family gatherings, reunions, holidays, and visits by family coming in and out of the state. Old furniture was stored in the basement for years - wash basins, beds, dressers, a butter churn, and other antiques of the past one hundred years. The farm land has been sold, but the house and its gardens remain.
Our immediate family moved around a lot - South Carolina, Florida, Virginia, Tennessee.... Always, though, the Farm was there, welcoming us back to Michigan. The doors were always open and we knew that we just had to make it to the Farm for a good night of sleep (as long as it wasn't too hot). Aunt Ida, and now Aunt Fran, would be there to welcome us. We would sit at the kitchen table, watch the birds at the feeders and drink coffee. We had fresh blueberries for breakfast and fresh tomatoes for a snack. We ran down the upstairs hall with all of the ancestors staring at us; we explored the basement and gardens; we had a nightly bonfire; and we finished the evening with a game of Scrabble.
This one thing has been a constant in my life. It has always been there. It was always a place that family members knew they could go home to, and always a place of love. It has been the Family Rock. How appropriate that my Uncle Bill had a rock made to commemorate the one hundred year celebration.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Women on the Wall
Each year we visit the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C. to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in a war that was so far away. So many of these young people were sent into a war that they did not understand, not as a volunteer, but as a conscripted soldier - chosen in a draft. However, some that went to war volunteered.
A few years ago as I stood at that wall, reading those names, the man standing beside me turned to me and asked if I knew how many women were on the wall. I must admit, I had never thought about it. He told me that there were seven. I now know that there were seven Army nurses and one Air Force nurse.
This man had been wounded in Vietnam and was cared for by 1st Lieutenant Sharon Lane at the 312th Evacuation Hospital. This same hospital was later hit by rockets and Sharon Lane was killed. He was at the wall, not only to remember her himself, but to make sure that others remember. He pointed me in the direction of the Women's Vietnam Memorial, where I found a picture of Sharon Lane at the base, along with flowers and poems from the men that remembered their nurses.
These women volunteered, along with 265,000 others. Their compassion and caring was more than their fear of war. Of those women that served in the military during this time, more than 10,000 were in the country of Vietnam. While most of them were safe from the guns and rockets because of their nursing status, they were still in harm's way. They died in hospitals that were hit anyway. They died in planes and helicopters. They died evacuating children. ...and one died of a stroke at 52 after serving in World War II and Korea.
As we remember the men on the wall, let us not forget those women who volunteered to go and the ones who gave their lives to serve.
A few years ago as I stood at that wall, reading those names, the man standing beside me turned to me and asked if I knew how many women were on the wall. I must admit, I had never thought about it. He told me that there were seven. I now know that there were seven Army nurses and one Air Force nurse.
This man had been wounded in Vietnam and was cared for by 1st Lieutenant Sharon Lane at the 312th Evacuation Hospital. This same hospital was later hit by rockets and Sharon Lane was killed. He was at the wall, not only to remember her himself, but to make sure that others remember. He pointed me in the direction of the Women's Vietnam Memorial, where I found a picture of Sharon Lane at the base, along with flowers and poems from the men that remembered their nurses.
These women volunteered, along with 265,000 others. Their compassion and caring was more than their fear of war. Of those women that served in the military during this time, more than 10,000 were in the country of Vietnam. While most of them were safe from the guns and rockets because of their nursing status, they were still in harm's way. They died in hospitals that were hit anyway. They died in planes and helicopters. They died evacuating children. ...and one died of a stroke at 52 after serving in World War II and Korea.
As we remember the men on the wall, let us not forget those women who volunteered to go and the ones who gave their lives to serve.
Astounding Grace
I woke up to the sound of thunder rolling and rain falling. I love a good storm! As I lay in bed thinking how happy I was that it was Saturday and I did not have to move I began praising God. Suddenly, I saw a picture of a very ugly sin that I had committed many years ago. This was followed by several others, until I was overwhelmed. I was actually trying to think if there was a commandment that I had not broken. I began to cry out to God for forgiveness! Suddenly, I was at peace again.
That peace was short lived, though, as I began to wonder if perhaps I had let go too easily. Shouldn't I continue to feel guilt? Shouldn't I expect that I would be separated from God? Shouldn't something terrible be happening to me? Am I numb to it? How can God love Me... the worst of sinners? The lies continued to roll through my head. Again, I prayed.
Brother Lawrence said that he spent ten years constantly crying out to God for forgiveness, until one day he realized that he had been forgiven and he was able to move into the Practice of the Presence of God. I also spent many years waiting for God's punishment, until a dear friend shared many scriptures and thoughts about the Grace of God. I have also accepted that Grace and I am so astounded by it.
Not only was I born into sin, but after accepting Christ into my life I chose to go back into darkness. I spent many years running from Christ, and in my rebellion I hurt many people, and I hurt Him.
God's Grace is sufficient, though. His blood has already covered my sin. In His Mercy I have been forgiven, and in His Grace I have been given many blessings. These are blessings that I do not deserve, and I am constantly astounded at how much He loves Me! There is nothing that I can do to earn that love, and there is nothing that I can do to lose that love. Again, I am Astounded by His Grace!
II Peter 1:
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
That peace was short lived, though, as I began to wonder if perhaps I had let go too easily. Shouldn't I continue to feel guilt? Shouldn't I expect that I would be separated from God? Shouldn't something terrible be happening to me? Am I numb to it? How can God love Me... the worst of sinners? The lies continued to roll through my head. Again, I prayed.
Brother Lawrence said that he spent ten years constantly crying out to God for forgiveness, until one day he realized that he had been forgiven and he was able to move into the Practice of the Presence of God. I also spent many years waiting for God's punishment, until a dear friend shared many scriptures and thoughts about the Grace of God. I have also accepted that Grace and I am so astounded by it.
Not only was I born into sin, but after accepting Christ into my life I chose to go back into darkness. I spent many years running from Christ, and in my rebellion I hurt many people, and I hurt Him.
God's Grace is sufficient, though. His blood has already covered my sin. In His Mercy I have been forgiven, and in His Grace I have been given many blessings. These are blessings that I do not deserve, and I am constantly astounded at how much He loves Me! There is nothing that I can do to earn that love, and there is nothing that I can do to lose that love. Again, I am Astounded by His Grace!
II Peter 1:
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
The Changing Constitution
During recent discussions about gun laws I have heard many people say that the Constitution was written more than 200 years ago and the original authors of the second amendment did not know that today's weapons would exist. This is true! The men who wrote the Constitution, though, were not just looking out for their time. They were actually making decisions and writing this document with the idea that they were doing so for generations to come. (Wouldn't it be nice if our current politicians thought like that?)
At the time that the Constitution was written, things were different. Slavery was legal. Women were not allowed to vote. There were no term limits for the President. Alcohol was legal, then it wasn't, and now it is again. All of these items were changed by amendments to the Constitution.
If, as people point out now, guns need to be regulated by the government, then a Constitutional amendment must be proposed and ratified. This right cannot be taken in any other manner - not by laws passed by the legislative branch nor by orders given by the executive branch. If this is accomplished in any other way, then the entire document becomes void, and we become a nation without a governing document. Anyone can do anything, and our rights will be gone.
Article V of the Constitution for the United States of America is as follows:
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
So, if there is a need to change any part of the Constitution, whether it be the second amendment, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." OR the thirteenth amendment, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction", it must be done by an amendment, according to the document that is the basis for our nation.
Please take a few minutes to read the Constitution again. This is the document that governs our nation. http://constitutionus.com/
At the time that the Constitution was written, things were different. Slavery was legal. Women were not allowed to vote. There were no term limits for the President. Alcohol was legal, then it wasn't, and now it is again. All of these items were changed by amendments to the Constitution.
If, as people point out now, guns need to be regulated by the government, then a Constitutional amendment must be proposed and ratified. This right cannot be taken in any other manner - not by laws passed by the legislative branch nor by orders given by the executive branch. If this is accomplished in any other way, then the entire document becomes void, and we become a nation without a governing document. Anyone can do anything, and our rights will be gone.
Article V of the Constitution for the United States of America is as follows:
The Congress, whenever two thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose Amendments to this Constitution, or, on the Application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States, shall call a Convention for proposing Amendments, which, in either Case, shall be valid to all Intents and Purposes, as Part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of three fourths of the several States, or by Conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other Mode of Ratification may be proposed by the Congress; Provided that no Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article; and that no State, without its Consent, shall be deprived of its equal Suffrage in the Senate.
So, if there is a need to change any part of the Constitution, whether it be the second amendment, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." OR the thirteenth amendment, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction", it must be done by an amendment, according to the document that is the basis for our nation.
Please take a few minutes to read the Constitution again. This is the document that governs our nation. http://constitutionus.com/
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Keep Christ in Christmas?
I have seen so many people post this recently, and it has made me ponder the reason we celebrate Christmas. While some have argued that it is a pagan holiday, built around the winter solstice and including many of their traditions, I have concluded that this is a holiday of remembrance. It doesn't matter that it may not be the correct date. Just as God requires his people to remember him with Yom Kippur and the Passover, we remember the birth of Christ. This is a good thing and it brings the message to so many that may not otherwise hear it today.
But what do we remember? I remember picking out the perfect Christmas tree at the lot up the street. I remember the smell of the tree when we brought it in the house. I remember making ornaments using melted crayons. I remember all of the Christmas cookies that my Grandma King made - and I remember Grandpa King trying to find those cookies! I remember caroling and hot chocolate. I remember waking up to a new puppy on Christmas morning - and the train set that my brother got that went around the tree. I remember hanging our stockings and being so anxious to see what was in them the next morning. I remember food, family, and lots of music. Gene Autry has woken us up many a Christmas morning! ..... and I remember rushing to get to church on Christmas Eve, hoping the service would not be any more than an hour so that we could get back home to finish getting ready for the children's surprises the next morning.
Where in all of these memories is Christ? Yes, we sing about him in some of the carols. We tell the Christmas story in church. We fight to make sure the nativity scene can be displayed in town. We even sing happy birthday to him on Christmas day..... and then, we go back to our food, gifts, and busy schedules.
If Christ were truly in Christmas, we would use the money we spent on gifts for our family and friends to buy food and coats for the homeless. We would visit the hospitals and prisons. I am not talking about a visit with your scout group or choir - I mean on Christmas morning! We would give gifts like the shepherds, spending their time in worship to the newborn king. Or we would give gifts like the wise men, giving our best and most expensive treasures to God, and not to each other. If Christ were truly in Christmas we would do as he commanded and take care of the least of these - and we would all share the gospel, not just wait for the pastor to do it in the Christmas Eve service.
I do love those Christmas traditions, though! I must admit that I don't know that I can give up a cozy Christmas day, curled up with a new book and eating Christmas cookies, in order to go serve others. This is a hard thing..... I have to go now, the cookies need to come out of the oven!
But what do we remember? I remember picking out the perfect Christmas tree at the lot up the street. I remember the smell of the tree when we brought it in the house. I remember making ornaments using melted crayons. I remember all of the Christmas cookies that my Grandma King made - and I remember Grandpa King trying to find those cookies! I remember caroling and hot chocolate. I remember waking up to a new puppy on Christmas morning - and the train set that my brother got that went around the tree. I remember hanging our stockings and being so anxious to see what was in them the next morning. I remember food, family, and lots of music. Gene Autry has woken us up many a Christmas morning! ..... and I remember rushing to get to church on Christmas Eve, hoping the service would not be any more than an hour so that we could get back home to finish getting ready for the children's surprises the next morning.
Where in all of these memories is Christ? Yes, we sing about him in some of the carols. We tell the Christmas story in church. We fight to make sure the nativity scene can be displayed in town. We even sing happy birthday to him on Christmas day..... and then, we go back to our food, gifts, and busy schedules.
If Christ were truly in Christmas, we would use the money we spent on gifts for our family and friends to buy food and coats for the homeless. We would visit the hospitals and prisons. I am not talking about a visit with your scout group or choir - I mean on Christmas morning! We would give gifts like the shepherds, spending their time in worship to the newborn king. Or we would give gifts like the wise men, giving our best and most expensive treasures to God, and not to each other. If Christ were truly in Christmas we would do as he commanded and take care of the least of these - and we would all share the gospel, not just wait for the pastor to do it in the Christmas Eve service.
I do love those Christmas traditions, though! I must admit that I don't know that I can give up a cozy Christmas day, curled up with a new book and eating Christmas cookies, in order to go serve others. This is a hard thing..... I have to go now, the cookies need to come out of the oven!
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
I Am Not a Republican (and neither is Jesus)
Wow! That one made you stop and think for a moment. Don't worry, I am not a Democrat either. Oh, wait, you weren't worried about me. What am I saying about Jesus?
So many people in the evangelical church these days equate Christianity with being a Republican. The two do not always go hand in hand. Many of the politicians, once they get into office, are willing to compromise their ethics and their beliefs in order to make a deal. I recently read a blog by someone trying to discredit a video poem that also said that Jesus is not a Republican. The writer of the blog assumes that the writer of the poem was trying to lash out at the Republican party because he was from Seattle (and I suppose therefore a liberal). Well, I am from the East Coast and from a conservative background and I say the same thing. Along that same line, being a Republican does not make someone a Christian - check out the theology of the candidates.
When Ronald Reagan became president, a group of pastors met for a prayer breakfast in Washington D. C. They were so excited and so thankful that a Christian was in the White House - now change would come! It didn't work. Why? Because the hearts of the nation must change before the laws of the nation will change. People have it all turned around. When you see true revival in this country, then you will see the morals of its people change. You want to see abortion clinics close? Work for Christ to change the hearts of the young people in this nation. You want to see certain movies gone? If the hearts of the people change, no one will buy the tickets to those movies.
God doesn't call us to vote on the right politician. I don't see that command, suggestion, or even hint anywhere in the Bible. I do vote in every election. I am so thankful for the grace of God that allows me to live in this country and in this time so that a woman can choose her representatives. I do take that seriously. I do not, however, believe that it is the sole responsibility of the person that I put into office to make this country whole again. I do not even believe that it is the sole responsibility of our pastors. We are living in the time of the New Covenant - we are called to get it done!
Going even further, I do not believe that we will be able to cut government spending significantly without the people in the church stepping up to take their responsibility. Jesus tells us that it is our responsibility to provide social welfare to those in need.
Matthew 25: 35-36 (NIV) For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
I hear so many of the Republican supporters call for stopping government programs and letting "those people" take care of themselves (actually heard behind closed doors of a mayor several years ago). It is not God's plan for them to take care of themselves. God knows that they are needy. He does not call on us to judge them for the reason they are needy and without clothes and in prison.
I do believe that churches could spend less money on fountains and silk curtains (and matching Lexus for the pastor and his wife) and provide so much help in this area. I also believe that we are individually responsible to give something to eat, give something to drink, welcome the stranger (hmmm), provide clothes, take care of the sick, and visit the prisoners (not just pay money to someone else to do it).
So, no, I do not believe that the Republicans (or Democrats) can save us. We need to rise up and do what we are called to do - share the gospel, change hearts, and provide for the social welfare needs of those who cannot take care of themselves.
.... and one more thing..... Jesus is not an American either.... just saying.....
So many people in the evangelical church these days equate Christianity with being a Republican. The two do not always go hand in hand. Many of the politicians, once they get into office, are willing to compromise their ethics and their beliefs in order to make a deal. I recently read a blog by someone trying to discredit a video poem that also said that Jesus is not a Republican. The writer of the blog assumes that the writer of the poem was trying to lash out at the Republican party because he was from Seattle (and I suppose therefore a liberal). Well, I am from the East Coast and from a conservative background and I say the same thing. Along that same line, being a Republican does not make someone a Christian - check out the theology of the candidates.
When Ronald Reagan became president, a group of pastors met for a prayer breakfast in Washington D. C. They were so excited and so thankful that a Christian was in the White House - now change would come! It didn't work. Why? Because the hearts of the nation must change before the laws of the nation will change. People have it all turned around. When you see true revival in this country, then you will see the morals of its people change. You want to see abortion clinics close? Work for Christ to change the hearts of the young people in this nation. You want to see certain movies gone? If the hearts of the people change, no one will buy the tickets to those movies.
God doesn't call us to vote on the right politician. I don't see that command, suggestion, or even hint anywhere in the Bible. I do vote in every election. I am so thankful for the grace of God that allows me to live in this country and in this time so that a woman can choose her representatives. I do take that seriously. I do not, however, believe that it is the sole responsibility of the person that I put into office to make this country whole again. I do not even believe that it is the sole responsibility of our pastors. We are living in the time of the New Covenant - we are called to get it done!
Going even further, I do not believe that we will be able to cut government spending significantly without the people in the church stepping up to take their responsibility. Jesus tells us that it is our responsibility to provide social welfare to those in need.
Matthew 25: 35-36 (NIV) For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
I hear so many of the Republican supporters call for stopping government programs and letting "those people" take care of themselves (actually heard behind closed doors of a mayor several years ago). It is not God's plan for them to take care of themselves. God knows that they are needy. He does not call on us to judge them for the reason they are needy and without clothes and in prison.
I do believe that churches could spend less money on fountains and silk curtains (and matching Lexus for the pastor and his wife) and provide so much help in this area. I also believe that we are individually responsible to give something to eat, give something to drink, welcome the stranger (hmmm), provide clothes, take care of the sick, and visit the prisoners (not just pay money to someone else to do it).
So, no, I do not believe that the Republicans (or Democrats) can save us. We need to rise up and do what we are called to do - share the gospel, change hearts, and provide for the social welfare needs of those who cannot take care of themselves.
.... and one more thing..... Jesus is not an American either.... just saying.....
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