Another month has passed and crickets are still chirping here on the blog. Just when I thought I would have more time to blog, I got slammed with a creepy crawly problem. I hate to even openly say it, but we got fleas. I have bombed, vacuumed, bathed animals, and finally gave up and used Frontline on our pets.
We have never had fleas in all the years that we've had pets...never! It has been my personal nightmare. I know in my head they have nothing whatsoever to do with cleanliness, or lack thereof, but it just feels so dirty, ya know? I've been on a cleaning, culling and throwing out rampage. Every spare moment has been eaten up trying to purge our home of these miniature monsters.
It didn't help that I had also decided to go on a wheat free diet, and have been stretched trying to cook and prepare foods in new ways, with new recipes. I have not forced my family to change, but my hubby and I are really trying to eliminate wheat. As far as I know, neither of us has wheat allergies, but we read the book, Wheat Belly, and I was convinced of the health hazards of our modern wheat (which is genetically, nothing like the stuff God created in the first place). I won't get on a soapbox about it. That's not my style. We just felt we needed to eliminate it from our diets as much as possible.
There are several other things going on in my life that I would normally take in stride, but everything put together has just overwhelmed me. Yesterday I had a huge pity party. I am not a crier, but tears were never far from the surface all day long.
Then I got a call at 1:30 a.m. A friend's daughter, whose baby shower we just celebrated last weekend, water broke. She isn't due until the end of December. I have not heard the results yet, but I've been praying. Another friend has taken in a two year old precious little girl, because her mother, who has suffered unspeakable abuse in her past, checked herself into our mental rehab.
God gently lifted my chin, looked into my eyes and said, you are blessed. And I am...so very blessed. I have a loving husband, three wonderful, healthy children, who love the Lord, a small, but cozy, dry and safe home. I also still have both my parents. (Dad just had heart surgery this past week, and it went "perfectly.") I have blessings too numerous to mention.
So I am done with my pity party. God is good. I will keep plugging along, but this time, with praise on my lips for a home, even if I share it with fleas (which I think I've just about eradicated), food on the table, even if I have to figure out new ways to prepare it, a husband who puts up with me, an amazingly still loves me, even when I'm a scatterbrained mess, and healthy, loving children who sometimes drive me crazy with their messes, but who I love with all my heart.
God is good.
We have never had fleas in all the years that we've had pets...never! It has been my personal nightmare. I know in my head they have nothing whatsoever to do with cleanliness, or lack thereof, but it just feels so dirty, ya know? I've been on a cleaning, culling and throwing out rampage. Every spare moment has been eaten up trying to purge our home of these miniature monsters.
It didn't help that I had also decided to go on a wheat free diet, and have been stretched trying to cook and prepare foods in new ways, with new recipes. I have not forced my family to change, but my hubby and I are really trying to eliminate wheat. As far as I know, neither of us has wheat allergies, but we read the book, Wheat Belly, and I was convinced of the health hazards of our modern wheat (which is genetically, nothing like the stuff God created in the first place). I won't get on a soapbox about it. That's not my style. We just felt we needed to eliminate it from our diets as much as possible.
There are several other things going on in my life that I would normally take in stride, but everything put together has just overwhelmed me. Yesterday I had a huge pity party. I am not a crier, but tears were never far from the surface all day long.
Then I got a call at 1:30 a.m. A friend's daughter, whose baby shower we just celebrated last weekend, water broke. She isn't due until the end of December. I have not heard the results yet, but I've been praying. Another friend has taken in a two year old precious little girl, because her mother, who has suffered unspeakable abuse in her past, checked herself into our mental rehab.
God gently lifted my chin, looked into my eyes and said, you are blessed. And I am...so very blessed. I have a loving husband, three wonderful, healthy children, who love the Lord, a small, but cozy, dry and safe home. I also still have both my parents. (Dad just had heart surgery this past week, and it went "perfectly.") I have blessings too numerous to mention.
So I am done with my pity party. God is good. I will keep plugging along, but this time, with praise on my lips for a home, even if I share it with fleas (which I think I've just about eradicated), food on the table, even if I have to figure out new ways to prepare it, a husband who puts up with me, an amazingly still loves me, even when I'm a scatterbrained mess, and healthy, loving children who sometimes drive me crazy with their messes, but who I love with all my heart.
God is good.
Hi Deborah, Yes, God is so good. Glad you are inspired by your own blessings. We all go through this at some time and it is a gentle reminder how precious our lives are and how many blessings we all have when we stop to reflect.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes on the wheat free eating. I found out I am gluten intolerant back in early Sept. and have gone totally wheat, rye, barley and malt free. WOW what a difference. I feel fantastic and it has helped me so much. I lost weight that I did not need too, but I'll take it!! LOL
There are so many choices in the grocery stores now that you will do great. I also got a cook book to help me figure things out. Also, I purchased Rice Flour and tried subbing it for white flour in my recipes. It worked fine. The texture is a bit different and a little powdery but the flavor was the same and my family thought it was good. It is a matter of getting used to the new texture.
Blessings,
Celestina Marie
Welcome back Deborah!!! You have been missed!!
ReplyDeleteAs long as you're eliminating wheat, you might as well go for the sugar too. ;) Together...you will find a huge difference in your energy. And I know...we are back to wheat and sugar...story another time....and I'm getting pudgy and my energy is waning. You can do it!!! Check out Deliciously Organic for some great recipes. As for the fleas....we have had them twice this year and this is the first time in the 14 years we've had our cats. Since our cats are indoor only we just can't figure out where they came from. Fortunately we only get one or two each day when we comb them, hopefully we are on the way out with them. My fingers are crossed. They creep me out, too.
Again...welcome back! You are truly blessed.
Oh Deborah, it does sound like life has been a bit crazy for you. God does indeed care about every aspect of your life and I pray that He will lift you up in amazing ways. Praying for sorrow turned to JOY and sorta' wishing you lived nearby so we could "do lunch". I have missed you and your party but I'm glad to hear from you today.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Patti
It is always good to count your blessings!! Glad to hear you are surviving the craziness!
ReplyDeleteSometimes you have to have a good pity party to get it out of your system. Others sorrows and struggles deserve our sympathy and attention, but they don't make yours any less trying. So you deserve to have a good cry (in my humble opinion)... I'm glad you're feeling better - keep your spirits up! :-) Julia And btw - yucky fleas - been there, done that. I can totally sympathize there!
ReplyDelete