Please forgive my absence for the last week,my friends. We celebrated the High Holiday of Yom Kippur and since this is the first time we've had a fellowship to celebrate with, it involved a bit more of my time (and kitchen) than I expected. Grin. Now that we've finished our Days of Awe (focusing on Papa's instructions to us and where we need to personally improve or need to make adjustments to our understanding) and our Day of Atonement (a 25 hour complete fast....no food, no water, no coffee...gasp! NO COFFEE?!?!?! ) I am pleased to state that we survived, enjoyed and grew both individually and as a family. Even Little Critter decided he needed to fast (even though we explained that as a child he was exempt). He made it 18 hours before he couldn't stand it and had to eat a half a banana. (I offered the whole naner, or some real food, but he refused.) So we were all proud of his determination to learn to lean on Papa to help him do something really hard for him. (I also kept our activities to an absolute minimum! Like, get dressed and make beds only....LOL!)
So now it's back to real life.....with the only notable difference being Little Critter and I will be working on building our Succah this week. We both look forward to this season best of all! This is known as the Feast of Tabernacles (found in Leviticus 23:34-43.Deuteronomy 16:13-16, John 7: 2,14). It's a wonderful celebration, and of course Little Critter LOVES both the making of our Succah, but also the eating and sleeping in it too. So as we work on the building of this 'amazing house' (spoken with deep gratitude to Papa who keeps the silly thing from falling on our heads and annihilating us!!!) I'm sure there will be pictures and wonderful stories to share. I look forward to sharing this next adventure with you.
We also will have to begin to work on his popcorn sales for Cub Scouts...he's actually inWebelos, and reminds me regularly that he's no longer a cub scout...but in Boy Scouts, there's two major levels with several more levels within the two big ones....ah 9yo boys....such sticklers for precision when it applies to them being grown up and refusal to allow the same precision to be applied to their responsibilities. Gotta love 'em...grin.
Dodi's blood sugars are continuing to come down lower and lower. He even fasted with no ill effects...and only had to take half his meds while doing it! Papa is SO wonderful!!!! We're now waiting for Dodi to no longer having to take any meds. Papa can do it....
So my friends, I pray that as we start the New Hebraic Year, that your new year is blessed beyond your ability to imagine, with an abundance of love letters from our Papa. Shalom, Spitfire
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Who says miracles no longer happen?!?!
Well, folks, I am SO excited!!!! I have something truly amazing to tell you about. Let me give a little background first so that the magnitude of this announcement is understood.
Dodi and I were married about 4 or 5 years when he was diagnosed with diabetes. It runs in his family so it wasn't a horribly big surprise, but it was a bit of a shock non the less. Dodi is a large man....he stands a little over 6'3" and was maybe 40-50 lbs overweight. But we thought we were doing a pretty good job eating healthy foods and avoiding those foods that weren't good for us. So I dove in feet first into researching all I could find out about diabetes and how to control it with as little medications as possible. So we modified our diet and worked on more regular exercise....although with Dodi being a coach, he got quite a bit of exercise to start with.
For close to 5 years we controlled his diabetes with mostly diet and only 1 pill a day. Then, with time, it started to get harder and harder for that 1 pill to control the sugar levels. For the next 15 years his blood sugars were controlled with diet, and increasing amounts of medications. This was frustrating to us, but what could you do?! The doctors kept urging us to follow the American Diabetic Association's diet plan... but there was something about that plan that really bugged us. So we developed our own plan...one that cut down on sugars unless natural sugars found in fruits and veggies, using honey for sweetner in cooking, ect. I continued to track research in diabetes and we tried various diet programs trying to get on top of this insidious disease....to no avail. His blood sugars kept going up. So this past summer our family doctor referred us to a Hematology Specialist. (specialist in blood issues). The specialist was horrible! I think I posted on his attitude of "well, this is what happens when you poison your body and don't do what you should." (Needless to say, since I do the cooking, I was NOT a happy camper with his attitude or his words!!!!) This same specialist told us there was nothing else to be done but to begin insulin shots. I asked about some new glucose inhibitors I'd read about and was told "you're not a scientist, you couldn't possibly understand what you're taking about". (red hair now standing on end!!!!) Then he ended the visit with "You will begin with insulin and your only choice is whether you want 1 shot a day or 4 shots." We explained we'd just started a new diet plan, and a holistic approach to the diabetes. He told us it would do no good and we had to follow his advice. So in June, Dodi began his insulin shots everyday. He hates them, I hate them, and I absolutely despise what the insulin has done to his energy levels, his well being and the frequent 'crashes' when his blood sugar drops down below 50!
Well, the first of September we had to choose our insurance carrier for this new school year. Our previous carrier was going to charge us $600 a month for Dodi and Little Critter to have insurance! Plus $25-$50 per Dr.'s visit and they would only pay a portion of Dodi's meds. This meant our medical/insurance bill was going to go from about $150 a month to closer to $500 a month. So we looked thru the choices the school district gave us, and changed insurance carriers. This meant we had to change doctors also. (Our family doctor retired effective 9-1, so we'd have had to change doctors anyhow.) The new doctor believes in holistic health. She also ordered new blood work and further tests on Dodi. Today we went back to see her. (this is where the amazing thing comes in.....keep reading!)
It seems that Dodi's HDL (good cholesterol) is a little low, so she suggested he start eating a few almonds daily. OK, easy enough to do. Then she said his LDL (bad cholesterol) was fine, blood counts were good, prostate looked great, ect, ect, and then...Oh, this isn't good. We asked what wasn't good and she said his A1C. (This is an average of his blood sugars for the last 30 days...the blood cells keep a record of the sugar amounts in them for 30 days. Isn't that amazing in itself?!) Well, the A1C was 7.1 which is wonderful when you consider that back in June it was 13.8!!! (Over about 10 or 11, the sugars in the blood stream start damaging internal organs, eyes and extremities.) She showed us where his A1C needs to be 6.7 or below, but agreed that to pull it down almost in half in less than 4 months was pretty amazing. Then she looked at his log of blood sugar counts for the last 2 weeks, we told her about the several 'crashes' he'd been having and she said the most amazing and miraculous thing....she said "Stop taking the insulin".We both said 'Excuse me!?!" And she said, she could control his blood sugars with pills instead of having to use the insulin if we'd continue on the diet plan we're on. We follow a Biblical diet!!!! So our miracle is that the doctor has taken Dodi OFF insulin!!!! Dr's NEVER take diabetics off insulin....they always increase the amounts of insulin. But Dodi is OFF insulin!!!!! Oh, I am SO pumped!!!!! I am happy dancing all over the place!! I realize this doesn't mean Dodi's diabetes is cured.....yet. But my next goal is to refine our diet to the point he IS cured and no longer needs to even take oral medication for diabetes. It's a big goal, but I know that "I can do ALL things thru He who gives me power." Phil 4:13
For those who don't believe this is a miracle....well, I'm sorry to disappoint you. But for those of you who have diabetes, know someone who does or understand diabetes, you'll understand. And we owe it all to Papa. In Genesis 1:29, Papa tells us what He prepared for us to eat. Then in Leviticus 3:17 He added that we should eat neither fat nor blood....ever! (Those belong to YHWH) And in Leviticus 11 YHWH tells us in fairly plain language what is acceptable to eat and what is not acceptable. We are finding that if we follow those instructions, we do not look or feel as bad as we did before we started following Torah. In fact, we have more energy and accomplish more than some of our kids!!! Papa knew how He'd designed our bodies and what they'd need to efficient operation....so if we follow His instructions, miracles truly DO happen!
I pray you will find your miracles awaiting you in His Love Letter to you, dear friends. I thank Papa daily for each one of you and lift you up to His throne each day during our time together. Be blessed, know you are loved and experience His love. Shalom, Spitfire
Dodi and I were married about 4 or 5 years when he was diagnosed with diabetes. It runs in his family so it wasn't a horribly big surprise, but it was a bit of a shock non the less. Dodi is a large man....he stands a little over 6'3" and was maybe 40-50 lbs overweight. But we thought we were doing a pretty good job eating healthy foods and avoiding those foods that weren't good for us. So I dove in feet first into researching all I could find out about diabetes and how to control it with as little medications as possible. So we modified our diet and worked on more regular exercise....although with Dodi being a coach, he got quite a bit of exercise to start with.
For close to 5 years we controlled his diabetes with mostly diet and only 1 pill a day. Then, with time, it started to get harder and harder for that 1 pill to control the sugar levels. For the next 15 years his blood sugars were controlled with diet, and increasing amounts of medications. This was frustrating to us, but what could you do?! The doctors kept urging us to follow the American Diabetic Association's diet plan... but there was something about that plan that really bugged us. So we developed our own plan...one that cut down on sugars unless natural sugars found in fruits and veggies, using honey for sweetner in cooking, ect. I continued to track research in diabetes and we tried various diet programs trying to get on top of this insidious disease....to no avail. His blood sugars kept going up. So this past summer our family doctor referred us to a Hematology Specialist. (specialist in blood issues). The specialist was horrible! I think I posted on his attitude of "well, this is what happens when you poison your body and don't do what you should." (Needless to say, since I do the cooking, I was NOT a happy camper with his attitude or his words!!!!) This same specialist told us there was nothing else to be done but to begin insulin shots. I asked about some new glucose inhibitors I'd read about and was told "you're not a scientist, you couldn't possibly understand what you're taking about". (red hair now standing on end!!!!) Then he ended the visit with "You will begin with insulin and your only choice is whether you want 1 shot a day or 4 shots." We explained we'd just started a new diet plan, and a holistic approach to the diabetes. He told us it would do no good and we had to follow his advice. So in June, Dodi began his insulin shots everyday. He hates them, I hate them, and I absolutely despise what the insulin has done to his energy levels, his well being and the frequent 'crashes' when his blood sugar drops down below 50!
Well, the first of September we had to choose our insurance carrier for this new school year. Our previous carrier was going to charge us $600 a month for Dodi and Little Critter to have insurance! Plus $25-$50 per Dr.'s visit and they would only pay a portion of Dodi's meds. This meant our medical/insurance bill was going to go from about $150 a month to closer to $500 a month. So we looked thru the choices the school district gave us, and changed insurance carriers. This meant we had to change doctors also. (Our family doctor retired effective 9-1, so we'd have had to change doctors anyhow.) The new doctor believes in holistic health. She also ordered new blood work and further tests on Dodi. Today we went back to see her. (this is where the amazing thing comes in.....keep reading!)
It seems that Dodi's HDL (good cholesterol) is a little low, so she suggested he start eating a few almonds daily. OK, easy enough to do. Then she said his LDL (bad cholesterol) was fine, blood counts were good, prostate looked great, ect, ect, and then...Oh, this isn't good. We asked what wasn't good and she said his A1C. (This is an average of his blood sugars for the last 30 days...the blood cells keep a record of the sugar amounts in them for 30 days. Isn't that amazing in itself?!) Well, the A1C was 7.1 which is wonderful when you consider that back in June it was 13.8!!! (Over about 10 or 11, the sugars in the blood stream start damaging internal organs, eyes and extremities.) She showed us where his A1C needs to be 6.7 or below, but agreed that to pull it down almost in half in less than 4 months was pretty amazing. Then she looked at his log of blood sugar counts for the last 2 weeks, we told her about the several 'crashes' he'd been having and she said the most amazing and miraculous thing....she said "Stop taking the insulin".We both said 'Excuse me!?!" And she said, she could control his blood sugars with pills instead of having to use the insulin if we'd continue on the diet plan we're on. We follow a Biblical diet!!!! So our miracle is that the doctor has taken Dodi OFF insulin!!!! Dr's NEVER take diabetics off insulin....they always increase the amounts of insulin. But Dodi is OFF insulin!!!!! Oh, I am SO pumped!!!!! I am happy dancing all over the place!! I realize this doesn't mean Dodi's diabetes is cured.....yet. But my next goal is to refine our diet to the point he IS cured and no longer needs to even take oral medication for diabetes. It's a big goal, but I know that "I can do ALL things thru He who gives me power." Phil 4:13
For those who don't believe this is a miracle....well, I'm sorry to disappoint you. But for those of you who have diabetes, know someone who does or understand diabetes, you'll understand. And we owe it all to Papa. In Genesis 1:29, Papa tells us what He prepared for us to eat. Then in Leviticus 3:17 He added that we should eat neither fat nor blood....ever! (Those belong to YHWH) And in Leviticus 11 YHWH tells us in fairly plain language what is acceptable to eat and what is not acceptable. We are finding that if we follow those instructions, we do not look or feel as bad as we did before we started following Torah. In fact, we have more energy and accomplish more than some of our kids!!! Papa knew how He'd designed our bodies and what they'd need to efficient operation....so if we follow His instructions, miracles truly DO happen!
I pray you will find your miracles awaiting you in His Love Letter to you, dear friends. I thank Papa daily for each one of you and lift you up to His throne each day during our time together. Be blessed, know you are loved and experience His love. Shalom, Spitfire
Monday, September 21, 2009
Finishing Psalm 27
Ok, now that we've made it thru the first of the Days of Awe...the ten days between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, let's work at finishing Psalm 27. The following verses are some of the most powerful in my humble opinion. So let's get going.......
"11.Teach me Your ways Adonai; lead me on a level path because of my enemies-12. don't give me up to the whims of my foes; for false witnesses have risen against me., also those who are breathing violence.
13. If I hadn't believed that I would see Adonai's goodness in the land of the living...
14. Put your hope in Adonai, be strong and let your heart take courage! Yes, put your hope in Adonai!"
Isn't that awesome!?! Can you imagine the Creator of the Universe teaching you His ways?! It just gives me goosebumps to think of it!!!! I want with all my heart for Him to teach me His ways! I wouldn't mind a level path just to make my life a little easier....but then again if it was too level, I might forget all I owe Him for His mercies towards me. So while my life often gets hectic and I often become frazzled....I really can't complain. We always have food to eat (even if not always our favorite things to eat), we have a great house (with only a couple leaks....Grin) we live in a great town, in a wonderful state, in a wonderful country....the only way things could get better, I reckon, would be to be living in Israel during the 1000 year reign of Yeshua. (Jesus).
But look at that last line....One interpretation of that phrase 'put your hope in Adonai' states that a more correct translation would be 'wait on Adonai' , to wait for His perfect timing. So as we watch our country being torn apart by divisive forces, and our world getting darker and darker in terms of morality, sanctity of life, and just manners in general, take heart. "Put your hope in Adonai and be strong. Let your heart take courage!" Adonai is still in control. He's not at all surprised by what's going on. He knows what He's doing.
I was listening to a speaker tonight, who stated that if we wanted to know what's going on in our world, reread Exodus 1-3. It talks about a new Pharaoh coming to power who didn't know Joseph or the covenent made with Joseph. And he began to institute laws to keep the Israelites from leaving Egypt...by oppressing them. The speaker (Bill Cloud) then stated that when President Obama was being inaugurated, the Torah portion came from Exodus 1-3....and that YHWH had done this not to punish the Israelites, but to draw them out of Egypt. But first, they had to relearn how to depend on YHWH....not on the Egyptian system to take care of them. (Anyone see some parallels?!) It was a very interesting speech. And as I looked thru Exodus 1-3, I was struck by the similarities. Perhaps what's going on now in the US is to get us to stop waiting for the Government to take care of everything for us and lead us back into depending on Him who loves us more than anything. Perhaps if we'd learn to put our trust in YHWH and put our hope (or wait on His timing) in Him instead of having to have everything we want right this minute, we'd see a great change come about not only in this country.....but in the world. Or perhaps....just maybe, we'd hear a loud trumpet call...and see a magnificent white horse....It's a thought.
Well, my dear friends, I pray you have a blessed week. I pray those of you who just celebrated Rosh Hashana were renewed and blessed, that those who celebrate it next weekend will also be renewed, strengthened and blessed, and that those of you who don't celebrate the Feasts and Festivals of YHWH would have a great, blessed week....and feel drawn to celebrating with us. (Only because the Torah (Bible) tells us to and because it is SO enlightening, and fun to boot!) Pray for my Mom please. It appears she had a mini stroke this past week.....and this worries my Dad and I. Now I pray for each of you daily. Shalom, spitfire
"11.Teach me Your ways Adonai; lead me on a level path because of my enemies-12. don't give me up to the whims of my foes; for false witnesses have risen against me., also those who are breathing violence.
13. If I hadn't believed that I would see Adonai's goodness in the land of the living...
14. Put your hope in Adonai, be strong and let your heart take courage! Yes, put your hope in Adonai!"
Isn't that awesome!?! Can you imagine the Creator of the Universe teaching you His ways?! It just gives me goosebumps to think of it!!!! I want with all my heart for Him to teach me His ways! I wouldn't mind a level path just to make my life a little easier....but then again if it was too level, I might forget all I owe Him for His mercies towards me. So while my life often gets hectic and I often become frazzled....I really can't complain. We always have food to eat (even if not always our favorite things to eat), we have a great house (with only a couple leaks....Grin) we live in a great town, in a wonderful state, in a wonderful country....the only way things could get better, I reckon, would be to be living in Israel during the 1000 year reign of Yeshua. (Jesus).
But look at that last line....One interpretation of that phrase 'put your hope in Adonai' states that a more correct translation would be 'wait on Adonai' , to wait for His perfect timing. So as we watch our country being torn apart by divisive forces, and our world getting darker and darker in terms of morality, sanctity of life, and just manners in general, take heart. "Put your hope in Adonai and be strong. Let your heart take courage!" Adonai is still in control. He's not at all surprised by what's going on. He knows what He's doing.
I was listening to a speaker tonight, who stated that if we wanted to know what's going on in our world, reread Exodus 1-3. It talks about a new Pharaoh coming to power who didn't know Joseph or the covenent made with Joseph. And he began to institute laws to keep the Israelites from leaving Egypt...by oppressing them. The speaker (Bill Cloud) then stated that when President Obama was being inaugurated, the Torah portion came from Exodus 1-3....and that YHWH had done this not to punish the Israelites, but to draw them out of Egypt. But first, they had to relearn how to depend on YHWH....not on the Egyptian system to take care of them. (Anyone see some parallels?!) It was a very interesting speech. And as I looked thru Exodus 1-3, I was struck by the similarities. Perhaps what's going on now in the US is to get us to stop waiting for the Government to take care of everything for us and lead us back into depending on Him who loves us more than anything. Perhaps if we'd learn to put our trust in YHWH and put our hope (or wait on His timing) in Him instead of having to have everything we want right this minute, we'd see a great change come about not only in this country.....but in the world. Or perhaps....just maybe, we'd hear a loud trumpet call...and see a magnificent white horse....It's a thought.
Well, my dear friends, I pray you have a blessed week. I pray those of you who just celebrated Rosh Hashana were renewed and blessed, that those who celebrate it next weekend will also be renewed, strengthened and blessed, and that those of you who don't celebrate the Feasts and Festivals of YHWH would have a great, blessed week....and feel drawn to celebrating with us. (Only because the Torah (Bible) tells us to and because it is SO enlightening, and fun to boot!) Pray for my Mom please. It appears she had a mini stroke this past week.....and this worries my Dad and I. Now I pray for each of you daily. Shalom, spitfire
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