1st post in almost a year

Well it's been almost a year since my last post. Let's see, what have you missed?

Same job. Same church (love my church). Same fat and happy pugs. Andy is still at Gibson. Dad is back to normal. Mom is writing again. Sharee is engaged to Trey, wedding scheduled for May 25th.

I am trying a new diet. Dr. Asa's anti-inflammatory diet. It has been 2 1/2 weeks and I have lost 8 lbs so far. But more than weight loss, this diet is supposed to help restart your system... hormones and all. I am hopeful that this may help with fertility. Also, it has been proven that women who are a bit overweight have a better chance at conceiving if they lose some weight... so we will see. I haven't lost hope.

Doctors...

Yes. I'm still alive.

I have been gluten free for 2 months now. Have not seen a significant difference in me... lost a FEW pounds... feel a BIT better... but is if worth it not to have bread and pasta?

Went to an OB/GYN today. He is a BLESSING. A Godly man who gave me HOPE and prayed with Andy and I before we left his office. Thank God for him. He made me feel like I'm not "broken". It was a great thing.

There was a HUGE storm last night. We were without power for 7 hours. The pugs were very nervous. Poor things. But joy cometh in the morning! (And so did the electricity... *smile*)

Mother's Day 2011

So Mother's Day is hard.

The Lord got me through. I concentrated on the mothers that I love...

I still have hope.

My mom and sister both gave me something special for Mother's day... I have a wonderful family. (And you thought YOUR family was cool...)

Anyways... went to my first birthing class tonight... in prep for my Birth Doula training in July... LOVED it. I really feel like the Lord has led me to this juncture... I'm excited to see what He has next.

Finally an answer

We finally got a diagnosis for Dad (now that he is almost 100% better). He had a encephalitis (sp?) of his brain contracted from a Yellow Fever vaccine and a parasite in his body. Wow. (You have to have a yellow fever vaccine if you do any missions work, especially in Africa. You do NOT want to have Yellow Fever.)
All I know is this. The Lord has healed him. We are simply relieved to finally have a "why". And we are just blessed and joyful to have "Dad" back.

An update

So I haven't posted in a few weeks. Here is a quick update on my life:

*Have decided to attempt a Gluten-Free diet. In the past few weeks, there have been several people that have approached me with "gluten-free" lifestyles or asking me if I have tried it yet. Those with a gluten intollerance are prone to infertility and recurrent miscarriage. Honestly, I wonder if the Lord has been trying to get my attention. There are several other "symptoms" that I have and the only way to test for it is to go gluten free for a few months. So bye bye bread and pasta for a while. We will see what happens. (We think my dad and possibly my sister have it, too... and since gluten intollerance is hereditary, that makes sense.)

*My dad is doing EXCELLENT. Almost fully restored. What a beautiful answer to prayer and blessing in our lives! We are so grateful to the Lord. Dad had to step down from his position in the ministry, and the day that he officially quit, he began to get better. Wonder what God is doing? Mom and Dad are wondering what the Lord has next for them, as they are both now unemployed... so who knows where their money will come from... but God has yet to fail them, so I guess there is no reason to worry.

*Andy and I have gotten back into the Word of God... doing daily devotions like we should have long ago but were too lazy to do so. The Lord has blessed our small efforts so greatly in the past month... we take a step towards Him and he takes 100 steps towards us. I have seen such a change in my husband... and there is much peace in my home. The cloud of depression has lifted. I am blessed. We are simply waiting on the Lord to direct us as to what He has for us.

*The pugs are the same. They never seem to change. I love that about them.

Anyway... I think that's about it.