Tonight as I looked through recipe books I realized that most of the cookbooks I own have mostly semi-homemade recipes in them, calling for cake mixes, mix packets & canned cream soups...all things that my family (& most families) if we're being honest, shouldn't be eating. It got me to thinking of the food journey, this road to getting healthy has taken us on.

Most diets are nothing but fads & most health issues stem from the simple fact that we are ingesting more chemicals than we are nutrients.

Gluten free is one of the diets I am beginning to question...hear me out :) If you are making your own GF foods, you're probably ok, but start looking at pre-packaged GF food labels. Most of them have corn starches in them. If they are not also organic, it is very likely that you're eating a GMO food in a fancy, expensive package. Same goes with low-fat/no-fat diets, your body NEEDS the good fats. If they are taking the fat out of the foods, you better believe they are filling it with other things that are much less good for you. I could go on & on...

After doing some research I also discovered that a lot of gluten intolerances come from the highly toxic chemicals farmers use to spray their wheat crops with  & not the grain itself. Now I'm sure that's not the case for everyone that is gluten intolerant, but I believe it is for the majority.

 I guess what I'm getting at is...I'm thinking of doing a mini series of posts...recipes, using real, organic ingredients & I'm wanting your feedback. I'm not an expert & don't claim to be. And a lot of what I've learned is largely due to a dear friend of mine that has literally, at times, taken my hand & helped me through all the food challenges we've had these past couple months that have felt like years. If I can somehow pay it forward & help make it a little easier for someone else, I'd love to do that...let me know what you think & I'll share some of our favorites that we've tried since starting this journey! 

 



Bittersweet.

This weekend several friends gifted us with something that was essential to our sanity at such a time as this...A night away, just Husband & I, at a local Inn. Time for just us. Dinner & shopping for stockings & stocking stuffers for the kiddos. Sleeping late. Lazy breakfast & lots of window shopping & coffee :)...3 of our church youth girls came to stay with the children, Thank you girls!, the children are still talking about how much fun they had!

This was the first time Andy & I had left the children with sitters overnight, but I think it was good for all of us! everyone stayed safe & sound & we are all home together again tonight(life can go on without mamma).

While we were gone we got a text from one of the girls asking if our house is always this cold?

after checking everything that could be wrong, it was time to call in the experts. One of the main electrical panels were shot & needed to be replaced...this past week we needed to replace a refrigerator & the week prior, our juicer gave out that Andy uses to juice his veggies. At some point I just want to throw my hands in the air & say, what next Lord?

And in that same moment He quietly reminded me...For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you & not to harm you. Plans to give you HOPE & a future. Jeremiah 29:11

So I lifted my hands & gave it all to Him. Here Lord, you take it, I'm not going to stress about it, You've got this!

With that out of the way, it was time to plan a fun evening with the children...snowman making, popcorn eating, hot cocoa drinking, while movie watching :)...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

little man can hardly wait...

 

 

 

 

 

 

even the smallest of the littles got to have his cocoa...

 

 

 

 

when we give the stresses & the worries to God & let Him deal with them...everything else falls into place & turns out ok after all...He has taken care of us in so many ways & will continue to provide our every need.

 

Happy weekend Y'all...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



udates.

This one is for those of you who follow Andy's updates/progress in blog land...

A few weeks ago we met with the natural Dr. to do some retesting. She does her testing, only doing a saliva test & comes up with all her numbers, I'm still amazed every time.

Test results are rated from -1-10(severely under functioning)...1-10(normal)...& +1-10(over functioning).

Andy's very first test (overall health) showed severely under functioning at a negative 7-10. A couple weeks ago, after being under her care for 2months, Andy was showing normal numbers from 4-6!

She said, "this doesn't mean the cancer is gone, but it does mean that Andy's body is able to fight the cancer at 100%! This was very encouraging news!

Last week he was scheduled for a CT scan so we could actually see what was going on inside of his body. We felt very confident going in. 2days later our hearts plummeted once again, the Dr. claimed there was new growth in his belly & once again stressed the need for chemo. So many doubts crept in. Are we doing the right thing? God had showed us so clearly that chemo was not the answer.

We left the Dr.'s office & headed to chiro where we sat & waited for our turn to be adjusted. They have a TV screen where they post chiro news, encouragement etc. We had just sat down & I looked up to see a bible verse pop up on the screen. I don't remember the verse or what the whole verse even said, but the last word of that verse was PERSEVERE!

It jumped out at me like a bolt of lightning!

I opened my phone & got on FB to pass the time & the 3rd post down...I don't remember all of it & it doesn't matter but it went like this...times might be hard...PRESS ON!

Friends, that was no coincidence, that was GOD!

We left the Dr.'s office feeling defeated, but we left chiropractic with HOPE.

The following day after the children went to school, I called our natural Dr. to discuss the CT results.

She had just done more testing on Andy the night before when he went in for his therapy & she had the results. The numbers for overall health were now a 7-8 & his numbers for lymphoma had jumped 8points! She said the growth they were seeing was likely due to toxins "gunk" that had not flushed through his system yet. Your largest lymph nodes are in your belly & everything gets flushed through there when detoxifying. This was good news.

Soon after I was off the phone, there was a knock on the front door. There stood a man that we had blown off about a month ago, trying to sell Andy a product that's supposed to be good for cancer. My first instinct was to get angry & send him on his way yet again, but something kept me from doing it, I let him in & let him talk, although I was only listening half-heartedly. All at once it occurred to me that it was odd that he should show up at our house again...the morning after getting disturbing news from the medical Dr. This also was no coincidence. I started really listening & then asked him if he could come back later that eve when Andy was home, he said, "sure!"

He came back, we listened, & we started using his product that same evening! he said we should see changes in 1month.

Andy has had chronic low back pain for over a year, the medical Dr. believes it comes from the cancer in his belly area & from the cancer in his bones. Tonight, 6days of using this product & following the program religiously, Andy came home & said he didn't have any back pain at all today. And that was after laying heavy block all day!

We believe good things are happening! Praise God!

 

 

We also have good news from Dawson's testings! His sugar levels went from a +10 to a +6.5 so it is coming down, slowly but surely! The testing also showed under functioning with his eyes & ears so we will be getting that checked out & maybe we will start seeing improvement in his grades at school! Poor guy can't do well in school if his eyes & ears are failing him :(

 

We also found out last week that Asher will need surgery in the near future.

We have a lot going on but we are finally getting some answers. This also means decisions need to be made & we pray that God would show us clearly what He would have us to do when each situation arises.

we covet your continued prayers. One day at a time....Thank you!

Andy, Ruth & kiddos



Andy's CT results.

   Tonight I have good news & bad news. The good news is, the tumor in Andy's neck area has shrunk significantly & is soft. He is not symptomatic in any area except on very rare occasions he will get night sweats. According to the Dr., at this stage, he should be extremely symptomatic. He should be having fevers, night sweats, decreased appetite, nausea etc...The bad news is, the lymphatic tumors in his belly & chest area how grown & appear more aggressive than the ones in his neck area. Is our faith being tested? We believe so. But we also know that God so clearly led us down the path of treating the cancer naturally & don't believe He did that, just to drastically change that course of direction in 2months time.  Again, the Dr. is puzzled that Andy isn't showing any symptoms at this point & we are praising God for this!
   The Dr. is wanting to push chemotherapy & repeatedly stressed the importance of going through with treatment. Andy is not on board. He was anointed in the name of Jesus & believes that God will bring healing to his body. The natural Dr. does testing each time he goes in for therapy & she is amazed weekly at the changes he is making & in the improvement of his numbers & believes his body is at a point where it can fight the cancer at 100% we are praying & believing that we will see positive changes in the coming weeks. The natural Dr. has also told us on numerous occasions that she has worked with chemo patients & has been very successful in treatment & if Andy would ever need to seek chemotherapy, that she would let us know & work alongside the medical Dr. to give Andy the best treatment possible.
    Andy is still searching for a job that would provide for our current needs but be able to work somewhere that he could avoid having to breathe in all the fine concrete dust that is slowing down the healing process for him.
   We ask that you please continue to keep us in your prayers as we make decisions for our future.

                                                            Thank you! Andy, Ruth & kiddos.

    Where do I start?... My brain feels like it's in fast forward mode & I can't keep up. There are so many things I want to share here today but I'm having a hard time putting everything into coherent sentences.

    I wonder how often I've told my friends, who are currently or have in the past had to deal with major life struggles, that they need to tell us what their needs are so we can help. If we don't know, we can't help.

    When life threw us this curve ball called cancer, people told us the same thing, it's very humbling having to ask for help, but we are really struggling these last few weeks. Andy & I feel like strangers in the night. There is literally no time to connect. The little bit of time that we do have together after Dr. appointments, is spent with the children, trying to keep life as normal as possible for them. I guess what we are asking is, if you are a local youth girl, single lady, or even a couple with no children reading this & you enjoy being with children, we would love to have you in our home, to give the children dinner & tuck them into bed. I would love to be able to go with Andy to a therapy session then have time to sit at a coffee shop & be able to connect with my Husband without any interruptions, where it's just us & a few hours, to cry together, pray together, catch up with life as we know it now.

    Or if you are a mom, who knows how difficult it can be to get a meal on the table under 'normal' circumstances, & would like to help out with a meal...it would never be turned down here :)

    Today I put in a load of laundry, started lunch then went out to the garage to put trash in the recycling bins, only to find that the laundry room was filled with smoke, I immediately assumed it was the washing machine, when I opened the top, smoke came billowing out . Our washing machine of 11years has finally called it quits, had it not been for the wet laundry in the washer, it would have gone up in flames. I'm so grateful God had His angels watching out for us today. But we are now desperately in need of a dependable washing machine, with 7 people in the household, laundry piles up very quickly. Our dryer is also about to give out, the heating element is shot & it takes multiple cycles sometimes to get the clothes dry.  If anyone has a good/dependable washing machine/dryer that you don't need, please let us know. We aren't looking for a hand out, we just can't afford brand news one right now. we are more than willing to pay for good-dependable used ones.

 

    Tonight we meet with Andy's natural Dr. to finally get some updates & to see what type of progress he is making & if the regimen that he is on is helping him. Pleas keep us in your prayers this evening that God would prepare us for whatever news we may get & wisdom to make decisions if there is anything we may need to change.

The hard days.

I sit here, staring at my computer screen thinking, am I really going to put my thoughts here for all to see? The answer is yes, I don't believe in always posting the good days, the days where we have been blessed beyond words, where things go right and good! Because they aren't always, some days are dark, overwhelming & I get so frustrated & angry.

When we found out Andy had cancer, there was never any doubt that he would be healed, but this emotional roller coaster was never supposed to be part of the journey & sometimes it doesn't even directly involve the journey. There are days when I feel as if I'm constantly treading water, barely able to keep my head above the waves that come crashing in. On some of those same days I sometimes wonder, how would it feel to just stop treading, to sink into an oblivion of nothing.

This past week there were many days like this. Not only are we still adjusting to a new way of life that brings many changes, but dear little man is teething like nothing I've ever seen before. Four days of holding my baby, as I listened to him cry, feeling completely helpless as I try yet another thing to ease his pain. Nothing seems to work so I hold him a little tighter, crying-praying with him that I could somehow take the pain for him as he vomits due to the extreme pain he is in. Those 4oz. of warm milk that I tried so hard to get him to drink, all coming back up & I wonder how his little body, so much smaller than most his age can possibly afford to lose more weight.

In the darkest of those moments, God sends people to bring comfort.

I got a text message awhile back that I just skimmed over a little bit, but today I took the time to really read it Isaiah 40:28-31 Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of His understanding. He gives power to the weak & strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak & tired & young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run & not grow weary. They will walk & not faint...He really does understand the way that I feel, it's ok to get frustrated with the journey, it's ok to get angry at the circumstances, it's ok to feel like you don't want to go on, as long as I take those feelings to God, give them to the One person who understands every trial I am going through. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I sometimes take those feelings out on the people around me, the ones I love the most, instead of giving it to God, & it's not pretty. I am ever so grateful that my family offers grace in those times. Thankful that I have a forgiving Father who reaches out & embraces the ugly & reminds me again that I'm not perfect,(and don't have to be)but I am forgiven.

And I am beyond grateful for those times that you all have listened to that still small voice & have given notes, cards text messages, meals & a helping hand  reminding me that we are not alone on this journey. Bless you for caring!

 



Update-October 13

   Today I've gotten several phone calls asking how Andy is doing & I realized I haven't updated in awhile.

   The tumor on Andy's neck continues to shrink-good things are happening there! Praise God!

   There have been no repeat scans done as of yet but according to our Natural Dr., things are looking good. We are due for an update here soon so we should have more info for you all later.

I did receive a call from Andy's oncologist this week that once again confirmed God's hand in this whole journey! They had originally staged Andy at grade 3/stage 4, meaning it was an aggressive cancer, throughout most of his body.

  At this point, if we had gone through with chemo, Andy would have received 2 rounds of the most aggressive/highly toxic chemotherapy.

   We are so thankful today that God lead us down a different path!

   The oncologist had sent the biopsies to Cleveland for further-more in-depth testing & was calling us to tell us that Andy actually had grade 2/stage 4 cancer. Which would have been treated with a much less aggressive chemotherapy regimen.

   Again, so thankful we chose not to go that route! His body would literally have been pumped full of toxic drugs that it didn't really need.

  We have learned, so far, on this journey, that we may not always know why God does what He does, but He only wants what is best for us & He is taking care of us each step of this journey. All He is asking us to do is trust Him.

   This Saturday, Andy will be going in for a minor, outpatient procedure where they will be removing the port that was implanted to administer the chemo-it will not be needed!

   We were advised to do repeat CAT scans every 3months to track his progress & in the event the Dr.s would need to step in & do something, above & beyond what we are doing now(but we are praying & believing that that will not be necessary!)they would be on top of things & know what is going on.

 Thank you for all the prayers sent on our behalf-please continue to pray & we will update as we get more information on Andy's progress.

 

Andy, Ruth & kiddos