Celiac Anyone?

Okay, I haven't been ready to blog about this for a while because I just don't feel like dealing with it anymore, but it's a reality in my life and something I have to come to grips with. A few months ago, I started having stomach pains and potty issues. At first, I thought it was indigestion and took some tums. Big mistake! My stomach felt like it was going to erupt. After several visits to the doctor and no answers, I got in touch with a friend from Sioux Falls and discovered that she had a wheat allergy that was causing her some of the same problems. So, I thought, what the heck, I'm going to try to cut out wheat and see what happens. The first day I didn't eat wheat was the first day in almost 3 weeks that I didn't have stomach problems. There is a disease called Celiac Sprue that I started researching and the next week I met with a GI specialist. I completely cut gluten from my diet and the problems started going away. It's been a learning process and there are hidden things that contain gluten that I have discovered the hard way. I went for an upper endoscopy which came back inconclusive for Celiac, but I was informed by the National Foundation For Celiac Awareness that once you have removed gluten from your diet, your intestines repair themselves within 3 days. It would actually take 6-8 weeks of eating gluten for me to test positive for the disease. Guess what I'm not doing. The only treatment for Celiac Sprue Disease is a gluten free diet and I suppose that's my solution. No more fried chicken, PB& J, or spaghetti :(...... I have learned to read every label, which is a good thing! Do you know how much crap we put in our body? What is mono sodium glutamate anyway?
Any thoughts?

Are You This Woman?

What kind of crazy, begging-for-a-mental-breakdown woman takes 4 children (ages 7, 4,2, and 1) to a free movie at the local cinema? Well me, of course. A friend of mine mentioned that, during the summer, our movie theater shows movies that have already been released on DVD on the big screen and it's free! Nice idea. I decided to brave the unknown with her, her 5 boys, and my 3, plus the 1 year old boy I watch during the week. Luckily, the latter decided to nap for the movie, but then at the most inopportune moment my 7 year old says, "Mommy, I have to go the bathroom." Well, my 4 year old overheard this and decided she had to go, too. And then, you guessed it.....my 2 year old felt the urge. Okay, still with me? I inch my way out of the row, in the dark, with 4 children, one asleep on my shoulder and head for the lavatory. The woman that enter just before me was taking in one child and decided that she needed to use the family stall! The nerve of some people. Have you ever tried to fit 5 people into one of those dirty, nasty, smelly little water closets? Well, I didn't even attempt it. But, my 4 year old couldn't wait any longer to let loose, so right there with the door wide open, she disrobes and sits down on the potty. Have you ever tried to wipe one child while another is sleeping on your shoulder? Meanwhile, said rude lady who chose to take MY big, roomy stall is trying to get out and bumping into me while I'm standing in front of my four year old, trying to block her from the rest of the people who are waiting in line to use the bathroom. Clear as mud, right. So I kindly back up and proceed to head into the family stall with my brood. Did I mention I'm sweating? Refer to post entitled "Who Created Hot?". We all get pottied and washed up and head back into the theater. As we are walking down the hallway my 2 year old decides to snack on some recently dropped popcorn from the floor! Luckily, I intervened before it made entry. Eventually, we found our way back to the movie and the rest of our trip was pretty uneventful. I always wonder, am I the only mother stupid enough to attempt such feats? I hate stress. I hate sweat. But somehow, someway I always seem to end up on the receiving end of both! Totally, self-inflicted!

All in all, totally worth it for the FREE movie :) !

Jump! Jump!

The bouncehouse 'll make ya jump, jump! Okay, tell me this wouldn't be the most awesome thing to have in your backyard. Currently our backyard isn't the funnest(is that a word???) place to be. We are in the process of putting in sod and have no grass. It's perty blah! My kids would love to play in something besides the dirt. Look at these faces!

Would you like a chance to win? Here's how:

1) Stop by SITS and leave a comment on the Six Weeks of Summer post.

2) If you are not a part of SITS, take The button to your blog and roll call at the SITS blog and mention my blog in your comment.

3) It's that easy! I can't wait to have you over for a bounce!!!

Prosperity Gospel

I was introduced to this video several months back and was struck by the message. It's truth. Christian, guard your heart. There are so many quacky, false teachers out there today that talk a "positive" talk, but it's a deceptive message.

Who Created Hot?

I know the word "hot" has soooooo many meanings. Hot describes a burner on the stove, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, and a good bowl of clam chowder. I'm "cool" with that, but the definition of hot that I HATE is summer! I don't despise this time of year because my chittlins are home from school. I don't abhor the season for it's BBQ's, fireworks, or pool pastimes. It really just boils down to one teensy thing.........sweat. I sweat like a cool glass of lemonade on the deck at noon. I don't even have to be in the elements to sweat. In the comfort of my home, entertaining company at my dining room table, I glisten! Not fair! I know it's a necessary evil, but why is it that some people perspire more than others. Even with "Sure", I will not raise my hand. Not only is there moisture rolling down my back, face, and buttocks, but my pits start to stink before we sing the first line of "When We All Get To Heaven" at church on Sunday! I have tried prescription strength Secret at $8 something a pop. I have tried alcohol (rubbing, not drinking :) with a cotton ball. Who knew that having babies would do me so wrong? After #3, something strange happened to my body. Chemistry came back to haunt me. Why me, Lord? Girls are made of sugar and spice and everything nice. Moms are made of sweat and scrunchies, and when depressed get the munchies. Okay, that took me a while.

I just wanna know, what changed in your body post children? Let's hear it girls........don't leave me hangin'......

Do You Know This Piggy?

Okay, since I have been a part of the amazingly awesome sisterhood of bloggers known as SITS, I have found some very random posts on others blogs. I don't usually write random posts. I am more of a "this is what happened today" kind of blogger. However, my best friend and I were together this past week and we started comparing feet. I have "man" feet. Not the dainty, Cindy Crawford-ish, pretty, painted feet. And...not only that, my left "wee wee wee, all the way home" piggy was not checked by quality control. It's the wrong size. I call it my kickstand. Oh yes, it does hold me up when I'm leaning a little. Oh yes, it does punish me when I turn a corner too quickly. Oh yes, it has been an almost "has been" on several occasions. It gets in the way a lot! It has caused me to speak french (that's for you Lula :)) numerous times. I could have joined the circus. It's kind of freakish. Can any of you relate? It's a great conversation starter at the pool. It's unique and I have never met anyone like me before. In all my 33 years, I've never met another soul with my "deformity". Please holla if I'm not alone. SITS girls.......can I get a witness??????

"I Do" Love My Life!

Phone calls before 8 a.m. are never good news.....This morning was no exception. I won't go into details, but my husband is a pastor and had 3 disturbing phone calls before my feet hit the floor this a.m. I really do love my life and I wouldn't trade it for someone else's, unless they were debt-free, with a house that needs no improving, and children that look like mine, but behave like the ones in old movies that say, "Yes, Fatha, Yes Mum."


But really, being a pastor's wife isn't all that bad. Some days, I don't really know what the true definition is, but I just keep trying to surrender to Christ. I fail, most days. I mean, come on, I have 3 children under the age of seven. I'm lucky to get a bra fastened before lunch! Who knew, in 1998, when I said, "I Do," what I was saying I do to!


Today it was saying "I do" to my 2 daughters who were fighting madly over our single solitary pink marker! "I do mean it when I say neither of you can have it if you're going to fight over it!"

I do love my life. It's a challenging, but very rewarding life. I just have one request. Please don't look at me any different than any other mom. I know that my kids are "supposed" to be the kids that don't talk back and can spout off all kinds of bible verses upon request, but that's not real life. That's an expectation. I struggle with the same frustrations as other moms. How do I deal with it? Not so well, sometimes. I get ticked off and sometimes I even spew words that I can't say at church. I love Jesus and I know He has saved me. The only thing that seperates us is what our husbands do for a living. God has been so good to us, but sometimes I feel pastors and their wives are cast in a very rose-colored light that just doesn't give a realistic view. Like I have said, I wouldn't want to be any where else, but in the center of God's will. That being said, if I can be any more candid, I just want people to see me for me. I'm not perfect nor is my husband. He is a teacher of the word and will be held accountable by God for that, but besides that, he and I are sinners saved by grace.

I hope my rambling didn't come across as "Oh, poor me," but instead as an open view into the life of a pastor's family......

I just love real people.....it's a little long, but worth the watch:

Can't Keep Silent

I am so excited about our Vacation Bible School! We are starting "Wave 3" on "Outrigger Island" tonight. Last night we had 4 children make decisions to follow Jesus! That's what this is all about! I am leading music, as I have for the past 3 years, and I absolutely love it! I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I have an opportunity to share the gospel with 70+ students every night! I only pray the number of salvations increases as the week goes on! God is so awesome and I consider it an very undeserved privelege to serve Him!!!

Patches, The Miracle Kitty

I know they say cats have nine lives, and I think Patches has lived through at least seven already. Allow me to explain. As many of you know, our outside kitty, Joey, had 4 kittens about 2 months ago. They have been romping around our yard and getting a tad bit rebellious. Yesterday, I did a head count and saw that all 4 kittens were up on the deck. I always like to make sure they are accounted for before I back my van out. Apparently, my hubby forgot to do the same because mid-afternoon came and Patches could be heard meowing underneath Eric's truck..........at church.........3 miles from our house! Can you say Survivor? Well, we brought the little puffball home and pampered her for a while in the A/C. So, today I made sure to check underneath my van before leaving to go back to church......VBS starts tonight. In the midst of hanging a much needed backdrop for the sanctuary, a student named Kyle came in and informed me that while mowing the lawn, his dad found our kitten along the road to the church!!! How she has now survived two 50mph, 3 mile trips, only the Lord knows!

SuperKitty!!! Look at that face!

A Day At The Spa

Okay, it wasn't me getting the facial. It was my blog. Don't you love my new background? Every so often, I get the fever for the flavor and spend an entire day neglecting my kids so I can get everything on my page just perfect. It's a sickness. Really. SITS hasn't encouraged wellness, either. I now not only spend hours primping my page, but spend equal, if not more amounts of time on other blogs. I do not recommend this to moms who actually want to have children who behave. Do I have a magnet in my buttocks? The chair at my PC sucks me in! Tomorrow will be a better day, I tell myself. I will only spend time blogging while my kids nap......or maybe also when they watch their favorite shows......I hate being bothered with things like, "Mommy, can you wipe my bottom?" I reply, "I know you're only 2 and can't reach the roll of TP, and your legs are getting tingly, but just a sec........." (Not really.....:))
Intervention! There is probably already some sort of new age, meditative, self-help group out there for those who need it......I'll let you know. I'm not ready to admit I have a problem.....

Happy Birthday, Baby...

Yesterday, my hubby celebrated 36 years as an inhabitant of planet Earth. He has been on a health kick since January and has lost 40 pounds! He is doing very well! He runs 6-8 miles a day and has started weight training. He looks hot, but now he has a chubby wife. What to do. I should be skinny by now. I started this blog a year ago with the intention of it being an accountability to weight loss. I'm still a fat blogger and I think I may weigh more now than I did this time last year! I do have quite a bit of money saved, though. I have been putting away $5 every week for a year on "Weigh Wednesday". Okay, this post was supposed to be about Eric and, in Melissa-fashion, I have made it all about me. Well, back to him......yesterday, we started the morning with opening presents. He got 2 new pairs of slacks, since his 36's are FALLING OFF. I also got him a plug in from Bath and Body Works that smells like coconut for his office. He has been searching for one for quite some time. Then, last night, we had hamburgers on the grill. My trophy husband has been craving a huge burger since he started his "lifestyle change". I think this baby weighs more than he has lost! Not really, but I don't think there is a cardiologist out there who would put this on a list of heart healthy fare. He enjoyed it thoroughly! Our kids act like they hate each other, but look at them! This picture would fool anyone into thinking otherwise. Even though they make me crazy, they also make me smile! I love my family! God is good!

New Blogging Sisterhood....

Check my sidebar for SITS....It's a new blog that had just started that unites blogging women all over the country.....world....errrr.......everywhere! I'm excited, as I have enjoyed reading some new blogs lately. We're all different, but the same. I can't wait to get to know some new girlfriends!