A face of Cystic Fibrosis....

I have a beautiful niece.
Maryanna is loving and kind. She is smart and funny.
She is special.
She is the first niece I ever had!! Born to my "favorite" brother and his wife!! I was only 9 years old when she was born and I remember going to see her in the hospital in Virginia (it was a very long drive!)....

She grew up.

I didn't get to see her much while she was growing up. My brother lived about an hour away from us. Most summers she and her sister Linda (and later her brother, Will-Paul) would come and visit for a week or two at my parents house, but by then I was busy in my teens and didn't have much time to spare for my "little" nieces and nephews.
Eventually, her parents moved to Jacksonville, Florida (4+ hours away!!) and that is where she "grew up".

She met a boy. Fell in love. And got married.
She was a beautiful bride!!!
My little boy was her Ring Bearer. He was so cute in his little white tux!!
Sweet memories.

She married Josh.

Josh is a nice guy.
She says he makes her laugh and I love that about him. He is funny, and sarcastic, and witty, and has amazingly blue eyes.
He loves her, and really, that's all I have ever wanted for her.  To love and be loved.

Josh has Cystic Fibrosis.

  "Cystic fibrosis is a disease passed down through families that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs, digestive tract, and other areas of the body. It is one of the most common chronic lung diseases in children and young adults. 
It is a life-threatening disorder."

You can see more about what it is here>>>  http://www.cff.org/aboutcf/
"Currently, there is no cure for CF. However, specialized medical care, aggressive drug treatments and therapies, along with proper CF nutrition, can significantly lengthen and improve the quality of life for those with CF"

He has been in and out of hospitals his whole life and is in the hospital right now.
Fighting for his life.
And my niece, Maryanna, is right there fighting with him.
His lung had collapsed and he has tubes attached and machines helping him breathe. It is scary and awful to think that his disease could claim him and Maryanna would be left a widow way before she should.

She has a strong faith in God and I am so very proud of the way she is handling this situation. God does have a plan for her and for Josh.
God is good.
ALL the time.
Even when out circumstances seem bleak and hard.
He is our rock and our fortress. A mighty help in time of trial.

                               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH7zG_0KI0I
The Secret Place

"I've found a secret place of comfort and release
a special place of healing, a quiet place of peace.
And every one who dwells there finds rest beneath God's wings.
in the shade of His pavilion new strength He always brings.

I find hope, I find grace, far away from the world's embrace.
He gives me rest, He keeps me safe, I find His strength,
I seek His face In the secret place.

With every trial He brings, my Lord will make a way
to strengthen and protect me, to help me each day.
He leads me through the valley to draw me closer still,
knowing even in the shadows I find His perfect will.

I find hope, I find grace, far away from the world's embrace.
He gives me rest, He keeps me safe, I find His strength,
I seek His face In the secret place."

Such a great song!!!

Psalm 91:1 - 5
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say unto the LORD, He is my God; in him will I trust.
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall by thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the fire by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day."


Tell those you love that you love them.

Say, "I love you".
Every.
Day.

Don't lose a moment of time with unnecessary stuff.
Fill each day with purpose and show the love you have.
We are not guaranteed tomorrow.
Make each day count.


Blessings!!!

PS...Prayers appreciated for my niece and for her Josh!!!!

We Have Silkies!!! (And the worst Mother's Day ever!!)

There are just some days (weeks, months) that nothing seems to happen around here that would be interesting enough to blog about...

Don't get me wrong there is plenty going on.

There actually never seems to be a dull moment around here!!

But who really wants to hear about my (very active, water loving) 9 year old being in a foot cast for Sever's Disease for 4 weeks?!?!!
Or that my Army Man can grill a steak that tastes waaaay better than ANY restaurant!?!? Ever!!
Or about my 13 yo son's mouth ulcers that prevent him from wearing his bands for his braces that we are hoping come off very soon???
Or about the 2 snakes my husband has killed (so far...) because we are suspecting that they have been stealing and eating our chicken eggs!! =/
Or about the garden that we are just now planting?? I have no excuses. Just that we ordered our seed late...
Or that my Army Man wants to start a blog about the scandalous price of sweet tea in most (or all) of our local restaurants in what we call the "sweet tea capitol" (south Alabama) of all places!?!?!??!!!
 It's Highway robbery he says!!
Or that I have lost 20 pounds (and 18 inches) in 9 weeks using the Trim Healthy Mama eating plan??!?!?!?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you are reading this and wonder what in the world I am talking about....go this website>>>
http://www.trimhealthymama.com/


BUT......


We have had a very eventful few weeks around here!!!

First off.....our hen "Softy" had hatched out 4 eggs that she so very patiently sat on for 3 weeks. It was an amazing sight to behold for our daughter, who has raised that hen from a 3 day old chick!!! My daughter has been our "Chicken Keeper" for this past year. She faithfully goes out every morning to check and care for our little flock. The chickens all know her and are comfortable with her in their yard. Even our ornery rooster has a grudging respect for my little girl!!

We woke up on on Mother's Day to the worst possible event. Something (we are thinking a raccoon) got all of our 3 week old chicks and killed them. I am not sure of the logistics of this. I only know that of the 3 chicks we found, 2 were beheaded and one was smashed (which may have been an unfortunate accident), and we never found the other one.
The HORROR!!!!!
My daughter had not been feeling well on Saturday so her big brother (my 13 yo) went out to do her morning chicken chore for her Sunday morning.  He is so sweet and and very thoughtful. When he saw what had happened and saw his sister coming down to checks on the chicks he very quietly, but sternly told her to go back inside before she saw the worst if it!!!  Such a good boy. Makes his Mama proud!!!! =)
It was still a traumatizing time for her and for me to watch her heart break for "her" baby chicks!!!  We had a good cry together Sunday morning...
Add to that .... She has had to see and bury the tiny dead chicks from the hatchery.
It happens.
But, she watched one of our new babies (from the hatchery) die in her hands from a Pasty Butt issue that we did not know to check for in time to save her..... It has been a very hard week for my sweet daughter.
It is a hard lesson to learn, but God saw each chick and knew when they died.  We take comfort in knowing He has a plan, even when we don't see it.

Today though, she is bouncing back to her normal self. She is loving on our baby chicks (Silkies and Araucanas from the hatchery) and taking over more of their care. (finally!!)  =)

I have also heard her boss her brothers around, do her piano practice and laugh a little.
Yep. She is feeling better!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So.......we have some of the cutest little chickie babies!!! 11 are left from the original shipment of 18...Here are some pics of the cuteness!!!!!

 The light "grey" chicks are actually "Blue Silkies" and we have one that is really light colored. The black chicks are all "Black Silkies".  The brown ones are Araucanas.

 Because of the Pasty Butt issue, we have been feeding our baby chicks plain Geek yogurt  mixed in with a bit of chick starter food once a day. It is supposed to help them get the proper bacteria they need in their stomach to aid in digestion and help their ....ummmm....business to not stick to the vent and fuzz on their rear end.

 One of our black Silkies.....they are getting their wing feathers!!! =)

Oh, the cuteness!!!!!

 They LOVE this stuff!!!!!  And it is helping!! 

We (well, I) started out cleaning 8 rear ends. 

Today, I only had to clean three and one of those was not too bad!!!!  

Hooray!!! 

I am so over cleaning chick's pasty butts!!!!!!!

This is "Turtle", one of our Araucanas.....she is a pretty little thing!!! 

 The lightest colored Silkie we have....not sure what "color" she will turn out to be!!!

Both of our Araucanas that have survived so far.....

Turtle and Thor (our tiniest chick who also happens to be the loudest!!!). 

Luke 12: 6 & 7

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God.

But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Matthew 10: 29 - 30

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Blessings!!!!

PS.....Here are my favorite Oak trees in our yard in all of their filled out green glory!!!!  

Aaaaahhhhhh

This "city girl" so loves living "out in the boonies"!!!!! =)   

Thunderstorms and Recipes!!

It is a very rainy and thunder-stormy day here at the "propetty" in south Alabama  today!!! 

I love thunderstorms though, and am enjoying myself quite a bit! =) 

 The view from our french doors is fantastic!!! It is why we chose to do our living area in this direction!! My little raised bed area is looking better and my big ol' oak trees are getting spring leaves on them!!! So exciting to watch!! The tree on the left is a White Oak. It loses all of it's leaves during the fall and winter. The tree on the right is a Live Oak, It keeps it's leaves all winter and loses them in the spring when new leaves are coming in!!!!  So very interesting to watch year after year!!!

So, as I am sitting here looking out of my bedroom window, I am reflecting on what I have accomplished these last few weeks!!! As I mentioned in an earlier blog, >> http://www.zubadeewopshoppe.com/2014/03/slacker.html <<  I have started THM (Trim Healthy Mama). You can visit the site here>>>   http://www.trimhealthymama.com/  <<. It is an eating plan that not only helps me lose weight, it also is helping to heal my body and "wake up" my mind!!!  Let's be honest. I was skeptical.... I just could not imagine that eating "buttah" and cheesecake and chocolate, and pita pizzas and MANY other super yummy things could possibly help me lose weight!!!! I have never been able to lose weight just by eating certain foods. Never.  I have never been able to lose weight by exercising. But on this plan I have lost about 13 pounds, and 11 inches!!!!!!!! In 5 weeks. That may seem slow to some people, but I am ok with a slow loss. It's not about getting smaller fast. It is about getting healthy and letting my body heal from years of food abuse!!! And at the same time I am getting smaller!!!!!

So, I thought I would share with you what I had for breakfast today and my dessert for later!!!!

This was my breakfast!!!!!!!!!

Ham and Mozzarella cheese on a biscuit-like bread!!! YUMMY!!!!!

Here is the recipe from the THM book

BIM (Bread in a Mug) (S type fuel)
1. Crack one egg into a coffee cup and whisk well with a fork.
2. Add 2 Tbs. golden flax meal (can grind in a coffee grinder first for a finer texture!)
3. Add 2 Tbs. almond flour
4. Add 1/2 tsp. baking powder
5. Add 1 tsp. coconut oil OR butter
6. Add pinch of sea salt and any other seasonings of your choice (I haven't added extra yet, I like it plain!!)
7. Stir vigorously.
8. Microwave for 1 minute. (YES!!! ONE MINUTE!!!! 1 Minute!!!!!! YES!!!!!)

For the "sandwiches" above, I cut the bread in half and then those halves in half again, so I get 4 pieces of bread. So very yummy and satisfying!! I have put sausage and cheese on them, and bacon!! BACON is on plan!!!! =) =) =)


For a snack later I am going to have cheesecake!!! I made these last night for our monthly "birthday fellowship" at church!! There are a few of us girls (and guys if we're honest) on the THM eating plan. I thought it would be nice to have a healthy alternative to cupcakes available for us to enjoy!!! =)
Hip Hip HOORAY!!!! They were a  hit and even a few people who are not on plan enjoyed them!!!

 This is the plain view of my on plan cheesecake. My camera does not do well with red...but I wanted y'all to see the yummy goodness of this dessert!!!! De-light-ful!!!!

This is the cheesecake with Skinny Belly Jelly (that I made!!) on it!! SO Yummy!!!! I will share the cheesecake recipe with you, but the jelly is too long (easy to make, but long to type out!!!). You could probably find it online though, if you really want to make it!!!
As a matter of fact, here are a few of the recipes from the book>> http://www.trimhealthymama.com/main-home/free-recipes/  <<

On to the cheesecake!!!!
I make mine with a "crust" so I will do that first...

Cheesecake Crust
1 Cup Almond flour
1 egg white
2 tsp. Truvia
Mix all together and bake at 350* for 10 minutes. (I use a 12 well Muffin pan to make the perfect sized grab and go pieces!!!)

Cheesecake  (S type fuel)
1. Empty contents of 2 (8 oz.) packages of 1/3 less fat cream cheese into mixing bowl.
2. Add 2 eggs, 10 tsp. Truvia, splash of vanilla, and juice from 1/2 a lemon OR 2 squirts lemon concentrate
3. Optional:: Add 1/4 tsp. glucomannan or xanthan gum. (tends to make the end result smoother, but works fine without)
4. Beat well with electric mixer for 3-5 minutes.
5. Pour mixture into small greased baking dish (or over the crust you have already baked and cooled!).
They recommend a water bath (putting your baking dish in another pan and adding water to the outer pan. This helps with sinking in the middle...)(You don't have to do this if you are using a muffin pan!!!)
6. Bake at 350* for approximately 30 minutes.
Top with berries, or Skinny Belly Jelly,  and/or fat free Ready Whip, or Polaner's fruit and fiber spread >> http://www.polanerspreads.com/ << which is on plan! or just eat it plain!!!
It is yummy in any way and totally helps you lose weight in the guidelines of this eating plan!!!

Well, the storms are almost over, so I guess I will have to get up and do something!!!! Like cooking some chocolate CIM, or chocolate slab, or skinny chocolate.....hmmm... I am seeing a pattern here!!!
Or maybe I should just bear up and do some laundry!!!

Psalm 40:16 

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: 

let such as love thy salvation say continually, 

The LORD be magnified.

(even while doing laundry...)

Blessings!!!

November = Thanksgiving (Day 22-25)

May I make a suggestion??   Good!
*** If you have not done so, please go back and read my Blog post for "November = Thanksgiving  (Day 1-5)". It will give some insight to the tone of my November Blog postings for this year!!!
Thanks!!! I hope you get something from what you read here and that God will speak to you through His Word!!! =)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1 Corinthians 16:14
Let all your things be done with charity {love}.

For all of his rantings and ravings at the church at Corinth, Paul loves this church and it's people.  He want s for them to serve in love, worship in love, submit in love, teach in love, do ALL things in love.
This can be a new prayer for me...that I will do all things in love.



Psalm 36:7
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

What can I say??? The Lord has proven Himself over and over and over again to me in these last few weeks. His mercy is new every morning. He has turned my mourning into gladness. weeping into joy. I can trust Him in everything knowing He only wants what is best for me. I am just praying that I can put Him first in everything!!


Psalm 37:39-40
But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. 
And the LORD shall help them and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

Even before Christ came to this earth to give us a way to have righteousness before God this Psalmist is speaking of salvation and righteousness the Lord gives to those who ask!!! He gives strength and shelter in times of trouble.
We can trust in Him because His words are true. He will be the victor and He will deliver us from the wicked!!


In 2 Corinthians 6 - 9 Paul is just encouraging these people that he loves. He rejoices that they took his first letter to heart and made some necessary changes.
How much more must God be pleased when we read His Word and make changes in our lives to honor Him!!!! =)


Just one more!!!!  Scripture is changing my life y'all!!! =)


Psalm 40:5
Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order to thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Every day I am amazed at God's care for the little details of my life. His thoughts of us cannot be numbered. He is an awesome God and I am so glad He is my Savior. As I strive to put God first in all that I do, I pray that the things I do are pleasing to Him.



Blessings!!!

November = Thanksgiving (Day 10)

As I have mentioned before (it bears mentioning again), this year my focus for giving thanks is on Scripture.
Were it not for scripture, I would not be a functioning woman today. I would be a shell of a person. I would be hopeless and broken.
I have found strength in the words of our Lord and through reading His Word I have found peace.


Excerpt from my journal on   22 Oct 13 

"1 Corinthians 1:10
Now I beseech you brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement.

I have decided to read 1st and 2nd Corinthians all the way through. I'm not sure why, except that I have been finding so many nuggets of great truth in there that it seemed like a great place to start.
I know Paul is speaking to the church in this passage, but shouldn't a marriage be unified too??
Shouldn't we both speak the same things (especially to our children!), have the same mind and be in the same judgement??

Roger has always liked to say "We are one."
And we are!!
But now we are unified in our desire to be godly; to seek God first in all that we do; to give God the glory for what He is accomplishing in our marriage and in our lives; to be one!!!"

Blessings!!

November = Thanksgiving (Day 9)

Psalm 94:11
The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.

2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Vanity: nothing....http://av1611.com/kjbp/kjv-dictionary/vanity.html.
Vain: empty, foolish, useless.....http://av1611.com/kjbp/kjv-dictionary/vain.html..


Wow. This is an area that I have struggled in for a long time. However, these last weeks I have been working on giving my vain thoughts to God and not letting my imagination (which is overactive!!) take over my feelings, attitude and life.
Thinking vain thoughts can do a lot of damage to relationships. It is much better to pray, quote Scripture and talk it out than to just let the thoughts take over!!!

If all my thoughts are focused toward God and pleasing Him I will not have "time" to imagine vain things.

My knowledge of God is:
1.He loves me.
2.He wants what is best for me. Always.
3.He wants me to bring Him glory.

There are more, but I will stop here!!  =)


Blessings!!

November = Thanksgiving (Day 1-5)

I feel kinda bad that my last blog was a rant, and this will begin to focus on giving thanks. Oops! Maybe I should have been more focused on giving thanks the last time I wrote something!!

I had a major life changing event take place in my life on October 14th (hence the great length of time between posts!!), and while I will not go into details about it (ever. don't ask.), know that from this point forward my blog may be different.

For those of you that actually read it, my original intent was to focus on giving thanks (you can look in the archives)(I think). The blog sort of morphed into a day in the life of me. And now, while it will still be about a day in the life of me, it will be more God-focused.
God, the Creator of the universe, cares about me (and you!!). How can I not acknowledge what He has done for me!!

Last year for the month of November I posted something I was thankful for on Face Book everyday...this year, I am going to have to give credit where it is due and post Scripture.
If it weren't for the Word of God (the Bible) I would probably not be where I am today. It has healed my heart and soul. It has turned my mourning to dancing (or gladness because Baptists Do. Not. Dance.)  ;)  and my weeping to joy.
For this month of "Thanksgiving" I am going to post those (King James) Scriptures that have helped me most.

Since I am already late (and I do apologize for that)(refer to  the part about a major life change) I have to do the first 5 here.

So, here goes....(anything in parenthesis is mine, not scripture)....

Day 1   Safety in the Lord   (this passage sustained me for many days)(and still does, really)
Psalm 91:1-5,11-12, 14
1.He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2.I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3.Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night and the arrow that flieth by day;
11. For he shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways.
12. They shall bear thee up in the hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
14. Because he has set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

Day 2   Charity is LOVE  (I read this every day)
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
4. Charity suffereth long (patient) and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself (boast), is not puffed up (proud).
5. Doth not behave itself unseemly (dishonor others), seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked (angered), thinketh no evil (keeps no record of wrongs).
6. Rejoiceth not in iniquity (does not delight in evil), but rejoiceth in the truth;
7. Beareth all things (protects), believeth all things (trusts), hopeth all things (hopes), endureth all things (perseveres).
8. Charity never faileth.......

Day 3   Secret to perfect peace   (who doesn't want peace?)
Isaiah 26:3
Thou (God) wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Day 4   Only God   (my new focus in life is pleasing God)
Psalm 62:5
My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

Day 5  Trust God  (He has my complete trust in ALL things)
Psalm 56:3-4
3. What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
4. In God I will praise his word, in God have I put my trust; I will not fear what man can do unto me.


This is not a Scripture, but an amazing song that helped me immensely
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vmY2ztb5xc

Lyrics:

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed to hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom [x2]

• Blessings!!!!

•