Wow, that was quite the hiatus I was on... Sorry to disappear for 7 months, but there has just been so much stuff going on. I will spare you the details, and sum up; the epic trip to Africa? Canceled. The incredibly anticipated trip with my very close friend and husband to Disney World for their birthdays? Canceled. Moving to Alaska this summer? You get the idea.
Sometimes, life is filled with disappointment. Sometimes you can make all the plans you want, and nothing goes right. Sometimes this depresses you and you forget what you're good at and what gives you passion and excitement. My last 7 months have been filled with dr appointments, lab tests, medical bills, stress and frustration.
I know I typically stay positive, so I'm really not trying to make this a "Whoa is me" post. I'm here to tell you that there is life beyond your misery. I honestly thought that this year was going to be the most exciting year of my life. A mission trip, adventures in a new place, etc. This was going to be "my" year! However, I can often forget that I am not in control. God has other plans. I must admit I have thrown myself some pretty embarrassingly big pity parties over the past several months. I am not proud of that, but it is the truth, and I am human, and I am sharing it with you.
As my close friend Jennifer is getting ready to go on the epic adventure that we have been planning together for a year (without me), it is hard not to think what I could have done differently to lead me to this point in my life. The floodgates of "What ifs" break wide open and spill into my every thought. Again, sometimes circumstances are beyond your control. Although disappointing, you have no control.
As I reflect on my year to date, and realize I am not living in Alaska, nor did I just return from a lifelong dream mission trip in Africa with new experiences and perspectives on life, and am not currently getting prepared for an epic week at Disney World with some of the best people on earth; I wonder... Why do I feel okay? Maybe brooding for several months got all the sadness out of my system? No. I have amazing friends and family who continue to show me what is more important with their actions.
I have had a wonderful year so far. Do you remember my New Year's box? I opened it. I have had so many good things happen this year, but was so focused on the negative that I managed to lose sight of the positive in my life. I have an amazing husband who has brought me to appointments, listened to me, and cared about my every day life. I got to visit one of my dearest friends in the whole world in January and then got to see her again in May. I will get to witness two of my very favorite couples get married, that had my plans gone through; I would have missed.
This will be a slightly different blog, due to this mostly being about my journey to health. I have had digestive problems, for as long as I can remember. I'm sure all of the stress I put myself through this year magnified all my issues and brought them to the surface. I am currently on the Whole30; an intense elimination diet (I will add a link below) and will be switching to a cleaner way of living at the end of the month. No more processed foods and eating out all the time.
As I transition to a more primal diet, I am hoping to share a few Paleo/Primal recipes with you. I even made something tonight that made me quite proud of myself. I am sorry to say that I ate it all before thinking to take a picture. I will add the recipe at the bottom.
Please find a way to focus on the blessings and good people in your life. They always out way the bad. This year went the way it should have gone. That is a hard pill to swallow, but the types of things I had planned can be done another time. I am alive. I am getting healthy. There is plenty to celebrate. Until next time.
Paleo Peach Cobbler
Crust:
1 cup Almond Meal
1 cup Pitted Dates (chopped finely or put through a processor)
2 Tbs Ghee
2 tsp Unsweetened Coco
Filling:
4 Large Ripe Peaches
1/4 cup Arrow Root
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees f, and grease an 8" round pan with ghee or coconut oil. Mix crust ingredients together in small mixing bowl with a fork or your hands, until ingredients resemble pea sized crumbles.
Peal and chop peaches and mix with arrow root in medium sized bowl. Pour mixture into 8" greased pan and spread crust over top. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until crust is a darker brown.
