BLESSING IN THE CURSE: Progress

Once again, I am so very thankful! This past week so many wonderful milestones of recovery and healing have happened to me. Firstly, I have been blessed to hear from so many of you via email at blessinginthecurse@gmail.com. I have been amazed that so many people have similar stories as mine, and that so many talk to me about our similarities. It really helps me to relate. I have been surprised by how well some of you hide your own trials. Thank you for your strength and kind words of encouragement. And please keep emailing!

Secondly, I received a very unexpected email from a future roommate of mine. Apparently, she eats just like me! This is such a gigantic, humungous tender mercy and I am so thankful that I know that my Heavenly Father watches out for each of his children. Heavenly Father cares so deeply enough that he sent a roommate to me that I can cook with, shop with, talk about food that no one else understands, miss out on ice cream with, wish I was eating other food with, be healthy with, and relate to. Heavenly Father truly is amazing.

Thirdly, I am very thankful that today at work I was able to relate to a co-worker and friend about food "allergies". It is so so crazy how common this is becoming and how prevalent. It really is quite alarming. Anyways, while working as a C.N.A., doing things that C.N.A's do, we had a good chance to talk about what's been hard about this. What's crazy is that she has only known about her situation for a month or so. It has been nearly 2 years ago that I was diagnosed and I am still not over it. Nor ever will be, because I have been changed for the better. She was saying that grocery shopping is hard. That's ok! It took me 6 whole months before I even set foot in a grocery store again. That was progress. Then she said that it's crazy that she hasn't been out to eat yet. Woah! It's ok! It took me a year or more to do that. And it is still slightly uncomfortable and confining for me to do so. She also told me that it is so super duper emotional, especially not eating chocolate. I am so thankful to be able to relate to a co-worker and friend. The Lord truly places many people in my pathway to help relate to me. The Lord knows that talking (and blogging) helps lighten the burden. Also, today at work we got two new ice cream flavors. Pineapple and Raspberry. And they looked delicious.

This picture reminds me of when I did enjoy ice cream.

If I was ever tempted to break my diet, ever, at any point, it would be when I am standing all alone all the time at the soft serve ice cream machine at work. No one is watching, and sometimes it would be so easy to just take a bite of some delicious soft serve. But I am stronger than that. I have actually never caved, nor cheated, no not once, on my diet. And that gives me a feeling of accomplishment.

Fourthly, I am actually pretty healthy right now! That being said.... I have even introduced several new foods. Quinoa, chia, and lentils! I literally got teary eyed last month when I "indulged" on two tablespoons of quinoa. Seemingly small to some, but a huge leap of tremendous progress for me. The beauty of these foods is that I am full longer. Not only settling on fruit, etc. Practically the only symptom for me lately has been a strange sensation. Haha, anyone else get belly aches when you wake up that feels like a fat man sat on your belly the entire night? Yeah, well... anyways I do. To lighten the mood of the situation I usually describe my pain in descriptive ways. Such as a fat man sat on my belly or that I have lighting or something else up surd inside of me. Really truly, I am doing very well with my health!

I haven't had to get my blood taken because of my medication in a very long time!

And my unexplainable good health is amazing to me cause I have been working so many hours in a very high stress job.

Lastly, I just want to notice my healthy progress and to show my thanks for my blessings.

These are some of the many blessings that I have been able to participate in A.C. ( after Crohn's)