Death Penalty Revisited

If you know me, or if you read my blog, you will know I'm a pretty "Black or White person".  There's not a big gray area in my opinions.  That may be a good thing or a bad thing depending on whether or not we agree LOL

As you know I worked for years as a probation officer (with offenders up to 21 year of age), My husband started out years ago as a sheriff's officer and has now been a chaplain for over 17 years.  I have relatives and friends who work within the criminal justice system, only one of them was a public defender, everyone else is on "the other side"  My own son is headed towards working in law enforcement, so I know the realities of the "system"

Over the years, I've always been very FOR the death penalty.  I know criminals and I know many will not change.  For the most part, I've never been afraid that an innocent person would be put to death in today's world.  I've always believed in humane treatment of inmates, feeling once a person is in prison THAT is their punishment, the prison system and workers should not be allowed to "punish" them anymore than that.  However I've never had an issue with a person's sentence whether it was life in prison, death or how ever many years a judge might sentence the person. 

After careful thought, I've come to the decision that I do not support the death penalty anymore.  Since I'm pro-life when it comes to abortion, or euthanizing the handicapped/terminally ill, I should be pro life across the board.

That is not to say I do not feel a person can't defend themselves.  For the record, IF you come in my home and threaten me or my family, you will be pushing up daisies....Just saying....I live in Florida!  I also feel law enforcement has the right to protect the public and themselves.  I still believe in war in defense of our country or in defense of another country.   I haven't gone all the way over to "THE OTHER SIDE"  as a few of my friends think that I have LOL

By the way, I think it is extremely interesting that the verdict came down from the Department of Justice stating that Officer Wilson ( think Ferguson Mo shooting) saying "Federal officials concluded there was no evidence to disprove former officer Darren Wilson’s testimony that he feared for his safety, nor was there reliable evidence that Michael Brown had his hands up when he was shot"   http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/03/04/justice-dept-wont-charge-darren-wilson-in-the-death-of-michael-brown/    Amazing how quiet the media storm has been over this.......it would be laughable IF a good officer had not had his life wreaked and a community had not had so many business destroyed.  I must have missed the president's comments on this verdict.......


So in cases of self defense, I have no issue with someone protecting his or herself.  I used to say, that I could kill someone who threatened me or my family and have no issue with sleeping at night.  I think over the years, I have learned to respect LIFE more.  However I still would defend myself or my family, but after it was over, the seriousness of taking another human's life, would probably haunt me.  However it would not stop me from defending my life or my family's life if need be. 

Life is sacred. taking a life should be reserved for ONLY the protection of another's life. 

Reform Prison.  Inmates work, Florida Inmates work but there is so much more they could do.  Florida has several innovated ways criminals help out the community, one that is being started is inmates train service dogs.  I think the program is up and running in some areas.  There are many things inmates could do, even lifers, could work on behind the fence. 

My plan would be to commute death sentences to "life without the possibibly of parole"  I'm not sure that the data is there to prove that the death penalty actually causes criminals to reconsider their crimes and be less violent.  I think statistics, are too easy to misconstrue. 

Anyhow that is my rant for the day!!  I'm sure some friends will blast me on this one!!!  

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Here are some pictures of the Well in Druz that you all gave to!  These pictures were taken in February, the camera has the European date on it. 

 

 

 

 

There is still work to be done but thanks to you all it has been started and the money is there to finish it!

Through this blog $1250 has come in to help Ukraine that I know of!!!!!  WOOHOO!  Thank you all so much!  Just got a check from a reader in Orlando:)  Thank you!  You can still give through Life 2 Orphans http://www.life2orphans.net/make-a-monetary-donation.html     

Or as always you can send a check or money order to:
Grace Church
7060 Berry Road
Zephyrhills Florida
32347
and I will include it in a single check to L2O.


Here are some people and families who have been helped recently

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for helping!!!

 

Plea for Ukraine!

Oh my I'm getting behind here!  I have a lot to share. 

First as you know Ukraine is never far from my heart or thoughts....There is a ministry helping people affected by the war.  As I read the updates, my heart is just broken for the people, yet at the same time, encouraged by the ones who are working tirelessly to help others.  Life 2 Orphans has partnered with this ministry to help the Ukrainians. 

Please read Life 2 Orphans appeal....



 

 

 

PLEA FOR LIFE; FAMILIES AND ORPHANS SHELLED, FLEEING AND NEEDING YOUR LOVE!!
Dear Life2Orphans Volunteers, Donors, Sponsors and Other Caring Individuals:
You wi...ll see below some very sad and scary photos of what life is like for so many Ukrainians right now.

We are sending out a plea to help these children, their families, the orphans. A Dear Man named Sergey Kosyak has been in the midst of the war for some time helping the families to flee, providing them with food, clothing and other needed items to survive.
Driving them through the check points and risking his life with other volunteers to save the lives of the innocent. Death and destruction all around and yet there are some smiles with thanks for any help that is given.
We are asking you to match a kind donation of $1,000.00 and we will continue to raise funds and our goal is to raise many thousands of dollars to bring aid to the needy of Ukraine.

An Excerpt of a message from Sergey Kosyak:
Tragically, the militants are not so careful about where they do battle. They prefer to attack from towns and cities and villages, hiding behind the backs of peaceful civilians. And for the last six months, they seem content to continue shelling territories not under their control. As a result of their actions, there are thousands destroyed buildings and hundreds of civilian lives lost.
Today we evacuated about 100 people from Gorlovka. From now on, through Monday, all the seats on the evacuating bus are taken -- every day we transport 100 people. Sergey Saenko was able to rescue 50 people from Avdeyevka and he is planning to turn that number into 100 by Saturday.
Today, as we evacuated a few families from Gorlovka and Avdeyevka into our own refugee camps, Birchtree -1 and Birchtree-2, we had a heart-to-heart talk with folks from Avdeyevka. They said town had no power, no water, no food, by some miracle, there was still gas. The family had their home in the private sector of town, in the 12th house from the end of the block. The shelling destroyed houses 1 through 10, killing families in two houses, including the children. Three families survived, the rest lost some family members. Avdeyevka is a town, it's not a small village like Peskee or Tonenkoye. Now this town is a dead zone. Most of the buildings are either destroyed or severely damaged.

 
 Even the fact that the chemical plant, owned by Akhmetov, is located there didn't shield the town. Production is frozen indefinitely. People are hiding out in the basements of apartment buildings -- there is more space there than in private homes' cellars.
I would like to recognize the guys we had hired to transport the refugees: even though we motivate them with money, I believe that their true motivation is something other than pay since shelling and shooting is unpredictable and can happen at any time. Right before their arrival to the point of pick up, that location was under mortar attack and all fifty people were hiding out in the nearby apartment building foyer.
Please Donate – http://www.life2orphans.net/make-a-monetary-donation.html
Please feel free to donate towards a specific item of need (write on the check or the blank area on paypal)
ITEMS NEEDED:
Food Packs for Residents Left Behind
Food for (2) Hot Food Canteens (feeds people in the war area two times a day)
Delivering clothing, pharmaceuticals, diapers to Donbas Settlements
Evacuate local residents from areas being shelled - requires funding for fuel and, drivers (who do this at the risk of their lives)
All types of aid to orphanages
 
 
 
Sergey Kosyak is in charge of:
Two Bases for Forced Migrants from Donbass Area (Berezka #1 and Berezka #2
BASE NEEDS:
Diapers
Washing Powder/Laundry Detergents
Shampoo
Toothpaste/Toothbrush
Sanitary Pads
Pharmaceuticals
Monthly Upkeep of each Base Cost: $7,143.00
Includes:
(3) Meals per Day, Utility Costs, Baby Food, Assistance with Document Processing and Other Miscellaneous Expenses
Each of the Bases holds about 100 adults and children of various ages
One day of Evacuating from ATO (counter terrorism operation) zone cost - $607.00 to $714.00 per day
Please feel free to contact Megan at questions@life2orphans.org for any questions




For the first $1000 given, there is a matching gift, so if you give $10, the donor will match it to make $20.   Can we please help???   Personally I know many people who are associated with the evacuation and care for these refuges.  I know where the money is going and who it is going to.  The money raised will be used to help people in a bad situation.  Life 2 Orphans is a well known humanitarian organization in Ukraine and they have many contacts there.  They know of this organization that is working with refuges and know the good fruits of this ministry.  Let's be a part, let's give!  I'd love to raise at least $714 from my blog to pay for one day of evacuations!!!!!!!   Actually $200 has come in thus far so we only need $514!!!!!!   Thank you for your help!!!!!


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We've had a busy week, several appointments plus the usual teachers and therapists.  Steve is busy working almost 40 hours a week so I'm all on my own with the kiddos and transportation- appointments etc.....  

Steve got the result of his Florida Law Enforcement test and he scored 95%!  We are so proud of him!  He still has some more steps to jump through but he has finished the second step of the process.  My guess is he'll be hired in April/May:)

Everyone is doing good around here.  No issues going on which is great!

Thursday night we were invited to an event featuring Dr. Ben Carson!  It was so exciting!  I had to go and get my nails done and bought a new jacket.  I was kidding around and said I even shaved my legs (well it's been a busy week!)  

He was an excellent speaker!  The ballroom was full and everyone was listening to him intently.  Yes he threw in some hints about a possible White House run in 2016.  I can assure you he'd probably get everyone's vote in that ballroom!  If you don't know who Ben Carson is.....he was a gifted neurosurgeon who came from a poor beginning.  He has a book and movie called "Gifted Hands"  He is now considering a run for the White House as a very conservative candidate.  We've always liked him and after hearing him, think he would be an excellent president. 

Here we are on the way...LOOK an empty van!!!!!!!

 

We were stuck in traffic on 275 in Tampa and not moving....



 

 Ok we didn't quite have front row seats.....

 

 

It was easier to watch on the screens



 

 

 

A picture with our friends the Fennel's.  

 

 

 

It was a fun night for us!  And if you are wondering, they had a vegetarian plate that Jon got!  Me?  I stuck with the regular chicken meal, it was so good!!!

 

 

We've been really good with our new vegan lifestyle , Jon better than me, but even I've only had meat 3 times in over two weeks.  It's not been convenient  but we've done pretty good.  Jon has only had eggs once so he's done really good.

 

 

Tomorrow one of my college friends, Christy and her new husband Billy Gaines will be ministering in song in our church.  We are looking forward to having them with us.  They have quite a story to share as they minister, just over a year ago, my friend lost her husband suddenly to a massive heart attack.  She has been an example of trusting God even through the hard times.  Now she is in a new season of her life and I can't wait to hear all they have to share!

 

Hope you all have a great weekend, it's cold, wet and cloudy here, I'm planning on snuggling up with my baby girl and reading a book.  Sarah is the easiest child, she loves to snuggle and doesn't mind my book as long as she is on my lap!

 



I'm Loved

This morning right before church started, something unusual happened.  Sarah started wailing.  In the almost three years she has been home, she has never cried at church.  I've had countless people INCLUDING some of our in- home nurses ask me IF she ever cried at all.  It happens rarely....but this morning she wailed! 

I was a few rows back talking to a friend.  In fact, Sam had just walked up to me to indicate he needed his diaper changed (I had changed both of them just minutes earlier!)  But when Sarah wailed, the whole church got quiet.  I heard a few people mummer that they'd never heard her cry before. I rushed to her and she just clung to me. She cried big old tears for a couple of minutes, then the service started and she just nestled into my shoulder. 

Thankfully my wonderful fantastic friend came up and took Sam out to change him....the whole church appreciated that LOL! 

Sarah clung to me throughout the song service, then I took her out with me. 

One thing I can say is she has NO issue with an attachment disorder:)  She understands I'm her Mama and that she can "request" me and she gets me when she does:)  She'd love it if I could just tie her on me all day long. 

Sarah is showing behaviors that a baby or a young toddler would show and I LOVE it!  I'm so thankful that despite the horrible life she had, she has been able to learn to love.  She's learned that she can depend on grown ups and that she has a mom and dad at her beck and call. 

To feel her clutch me, and curl up on my shoulder, just warmed my heart.  I was a little afraid she'd hurt herself somehow but she hadn't, she just needed me.  And I'm so glad she does because I need her too!

Yesterday she cried for me too.  We'd gone grocery shopping and all the kids stayed in the car playing music. We are back to our wonderful Florida weather....   Anyhow in a few minutes Steve brought Sarah in the store and told me  that she had been crying, well she stopped as soon as she got to me:)  The boys went back to the car to listen to music and she stayed with me. 

Jon said today that she has no attachment disorder....not at all! 

But I remember how hesitant she was with us at first.....that is why I can rejoice in being "needed"  :)
It's precious to us to see how she has changed and blossomed.  In the very beginning she would lay up against me but that changed once she got more nutrition and energy.  Then she wouldn't be still.  I think the only reason she laid on me in the beginning was she was so weak.  But now as she has progressed and learned to accept love, it's so sweet.  I cherish the times she reaches out for me.  When we adopted her, we put NO expectations or dreams on how she or Selah would do.  We knew that they both had major delays along with their physical issues.  We knew they'd never known love or a family.  We just committed to taking care of them and understood they may never "give back" to us.  But boy were we wrong!  Both girls began to respond to us even during the times we visited them in the orphanage and even more so once we were home with them.  Sarah has continued to respond in amazing ways. Can't wait to see what new thing she will do!

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So we are busy getting work done, getting ready to move in the near future.  We've not even driven by the house as everything from this point on is a "surprise " for us.  I'm having withdrawals!  We have some things packed up but it's just too hard to pack up much.  We use everything we got!

I'm trying to get several things done for the church and parsonage as we have someone moving in after we move and we want everything perfect for them.

My husband will remain as the pastor of Grace Church.  Some folks have asked if we'd be resigning ....   FYI most pastors have their own homes nowadays......very few churches have parsonages.  I've enjoyed living here for the most part but now that the end is near, I'm looking forward to the day when we don't!  I do get quite tired of people stopping by and asking for handouts .  They always want money....for gas....to get to the hospital....LOL     And we have one homeless guy that we've spoiled a little now, we have to tell him no more often.  He is always wanting rides (at my busiest times)  and money and anything he could ask for (including my son's sun glasses)    Steve and I were talking  the other day, after his last visit,  how wonderful it will be to live away from the church and it's constant demands.  LOL but for the most part, I've enjoyed it. 

Well hope you all had a great weekend. 

Need a FAVOR!

I need a FAVOR! Are any of you guys headed to Gainesville GA from Tampa Bay BEFORE March 10th? I have about 20 boxes of Pedisure (45 pounds each) along with some other medical supplies to go to an orphanage in India!   I'd be willing to meet up with you with the boxes. They will be going to a staff member who lives in the US & who is traveling soon. This would be such a huge help!!!!! We get way more supplies for our kids than what we can use and some of the stuff have expiration dates so we want to give this to others & not let it go to waste

The boxes are heavy but packed tight and not too large.  If you could help out, I'd so appreciate it!

Oh my goodness...I am getting so behind on my blog!  However I am getting all my household projects done in preparation for our move!  and that move will be soon!  We are now BANNNED from the house until the "great reveal"  Steve and I are having withdrawals LOL.  We went by Monday and saw it for the last time in its unfinished state.....

Steve holding Sarah on the patio

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

Well we've had a mini crises around here, I had an electrical company  to come to install a new bathroom fan on Monday.  So my son mentioned an outlet that was "off".  Both of the boys said it had shocked them slightly.  So he started looking at it, and it had something old stuck in it and had burnt around it.  Then he started checking other outlets, found two more JUST in the living room that were terrible.  

 

 

This particular one had ash all in it, the wire was fused together and burned  It was put in as 15 amp but was on a 20 amp breaker which means it had no way of tripping the breaker   I was NOT happy!  If you've ever been in ministry you will know how people try to save money.  I don't have a problem with that, we did the church lawn for years to save money BUT you do not try and save money in a way that could injure a family!!!   The living room work was done in the 70's or 80's and it is a miracle the house had not caught on fire.  So the electrician guy has spent the week with us thus far.  So now he is checking each outlet, no room has been as bad as the living room except for my room.  Then he will be working on the church since part of it was built around that time.  I figure the guy who wired the house, probably wired the offices in the church.   We've unplugged everything from all the outlets that have not been checked.  This is the second time we've had to have some wiring replaced.   When we returned from Ukraine, we found that the electricity did not work in either of the kids' rooms.    That time the problem was in the attic, there were wires that had fused together and burnt out while we were gone.  We had the attic wiring replaced and I think the kids' rooms outlets but the rest of the wiring in the attic was ok.  The guy couldn't believe our house did not catch on fire while we were in Ukraine. 

 

 

So it's been a zoo around here, with our new family member (lol) and all our teachers, nurses  and therapists as well as me trying to get all kinds of projects done.  In spite of everything, I've gotten so much stuff done.  I think the reality of moving has set in!

 

Jon and I are doing great on our vegan diet.  I have to confess, every couple of days I have to have a tiny bit of oil and cheese.  I usually will eat a "Amy's vegetarian pizza" and that gets me through.  tonight I'm cooking a potato, onion and green pepper bake to go with our veggie burger.  It smells great!  Since Friday we have walked 19 miles:)   I have two big blisters after our 5 mile hike yesterday, I've never gotten a blister in all the years I've walked for exercise.  What's odd is I have a blister on both feet, in the same exact place, right on the pad of my foot under my big toe, TMI!   They came up yesterday, same walking shoes, nothing new, I don't' know what happened. 

 

Yesterday we took Sam to a new glaucoma doctor here in Florida.  Sam was wonderful for the exam but the doctor did not seem skilled enough to see the optic nerve.  That was our whole point in going to him.  He said the rest of the eye was fine and he could see everything clearly.  I don't think the doctor had ever dealt with a Boston Kpro/corneal implant before.  I was hovering over Sam afraid the doctor would touch his eye wrong.  We just need someone to "eyeball" his optic nerve to see if there is change.  Since Sam has the implant, his pressures aren't really able to be tested traditionally.  It's complicated and I'm not sure this doctor will be able to help us.  He was kind but seemed a bit overwhelmed with Sam. 

 

So that is a wrap of the last few days for us. 

 

 

 

 

Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent Christians who were beheaded recently on a beach in Libya   It seems disrespectful to not have a whole blog in their honor.  I pray that God will be with their families. 

 

 

 

Lord, we remember their names because they dared to stand for Yours. #Egypt #21

 

 

Personally I have to struggle in my heart with hatred towards the men who took their lives.  But God loves those men in black as much as the men in orange.....I pray that those men in black will come to the saving knowledge of Christ. 

 

I also pray for the families of the three young students killed in NC.  Although their killer seems to not have targeted them for being Muslim, I am saddened by their deaths.  We have had a wonderful nurse who was Muslim and one of my kids' teachers is also.  When you begin to have a relationship with someone, it knocks down walls. 

 

 

We live in a sad cruel world. Let's keep our hearts loving and kind.  

 

 

 

 

Catching up!

Catching up since Wednesday!  Sometimes I have to go back and read my last blog to remember what I wrote:)  I write a lot of blogs in my head so I sometimes forget the ones I do actually write out LOL!

Another thing I forgot.....Thursday I noticed (thanks to Steve) that my driver's license was expired.  I truly did not think it was expired, thought I'd gotten a new one and misplaced it somewhere and still had my old one.  So on Friday we were already planning on going to the DMV to get handicapped plaques for our vans for the kids so while we were there (forever of course!) I checked on my license....sure enough it was expired....since last year......YIKES!  Of course I didn't have all of my paperwork with me to get it renewed and had to go back today to renew it.  Of course, I forgot something and had to go home and get it ......  So we are now all LEGAL!   Sam and Sarah have their handicapped parking plaques!  YEAH!  There are times when I have to carry Sarah for miles it seems!   With Sam he will walk some and then "collapse" and want to be carried.  Once I can get him in a store, I can usually put him in a buggy.  When I have both of them, it's rough!   Sam used to have one, but it's such a hassle to get it renewed, that I let it lapse more than a year ago and just finally did the paperwork.  It's a big help with all of the little ones.  I still have to take Selah up, but we've arranged to do it right as they are closing so it won't be such a hassle.  She has to physically go and have a picture taken for her tag. 

Shad spoke for Habitat for Humanity today to a group of Cub Scouts.  We rushed there from the DMV office and walked in right when it was time for Shad to share.  He did a good job, even though I helped him with the speech I got teary eyed!  He also got to make a bird house:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow will be ONE full week on the Vegan diet!  Jon has done perfect.  The only thing I did was eat a Amy's vegetarian pizza that had a tiny bit of cheese on it.  Otherwise I've had  no other animal products.  I've shopped twice, once at our regular food store and once at a health food store.  It was hard at both places to find foods with no meat, dairy or oil!  This afternoon I did two vegetable dishes and made lemon oat bran cupcakes.  Sam has been eating some of the food with us, we let him try everything.  He is so funny, he really is the healthiest child, he loves loves beans of all most any kind.   One of the dishes I did today had eggplant and zucchini in it and he liked it!  I'll post the recipes later.  We've found a veggie burger that is really veggies and not alot of soy.  We really don't want to eat a ton of soy either.  We bought a hot air popcorn popper and use it almost daily for the "feel" of chips. 

 

I got the book "The China Study" that is the other side of plant based eating research.  It's a hugely famous book on nutrition and how what we eat affects rates of cancer and its growth.  Basically the idea is if a person eats a plant based diet, the body is able to protect itself against cancer.  This is based on several studies, the largest being done in China.  It is an interesting book and mentions Dr Esselstyn and his heart research.  Quite clearly the studies both show if we eat plant based foods, we will be healthier!  This is not a fad diet but a lifestyle. 

 

The hardest thing for me is no cheese and no oil, I LOVE Oil Olive!!!!

 

But I'm glad Jon is so into this change also.  It is helpful to have him wanting to do this just as much as I do.  Sometime in the next week I'll take pictures of some of our foods and give you some recipes!

 

It is challenging to do dinners for the kids.  For tomorrow I did chili in  my 3 crockpot set (they are all attached)   One chili is Taco Chili with low fat ground chicken.  One is regular chili with ground chicken and one is Vegetarian Taco Chili.  I'm also soaking a 15 bean soup and it will be ready to go in another crock pot in the morning. 

 

At least we can eat whole wheat bread as long as there is no oils in it:)  I've NEVER been one to think bread is bad, unless it is just white bread.  I actually found some pita wheat bread and wraps that have no oils in them and are 100% stone ground whole wheat.  They will be perfect with our food tomorrow. 

 

Jon and I took advantage of this wonderful weather and hiked 5 miles yesterday and 2 miles today.  My knee is better, still some pain but improving.  I took our kids' Physical Therapist advice and have been wearing shoes (not flip flops) even in the house.  I have a thing about shoes in the house but I bought a new pair of shoes just to wear inside to see if that would help and it seems to do so!

 

Our house is nearing completion!  The outside is finished.  The A/C, electric and plumbing is done.  Monday or Tuesday, the county comes to inspect it.  Once it passes, then the insulation and dry wall go in.  Then it's painted and the flooring and cabinets go in.....  Also next week, they are bringing in more dirt for the front yard.  The rains have turned it into a small pond!  It's really exciting:)

 

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And I want to share more about Sarah's Covenant House in India

We just committed to sponsoring Charlotte!  So she is now fully funded

http://schindia.com/children/charlotte/

We are sponsoring her along with a few other people.  You can give whatever you can to help these sweet kids. 

 

http://schindia.com/children/brianna/  Brianna needs sponsors

 

 

As does Chloe

http://schindia.com/children/chloe/

 

 

 

 

 

Then there is SELAH!

http://schindia.com/children/selah/

 

 

 

 

 

We had a hard time choosing between the girls, but I let the boys decide and they said Charlotte reminded them of Sarah so we had to sponsor her!  Although the boys reminded me of the last time we were 'just going to sponsor a little blind girl"  that would be Miss Sarah Joy who is sleeping on the couch right now!  LOL

 

Please consider sponsoring one of these little girls!  Your gift will make a difference in a little life.  SCH is able to take the children out of state ran orphanages and give them care in a home setting.   I'm so impressed by everything I know of this ministry!  What a great Valentine's gift that would make to really show LOVE to a child that needs You!

 

 

Hope you all have a Happy Valentine's Day and a great weekend!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 





 

Happy 11th Bday Sam!

Can it be my little guy is 11 years old today???   We took him out to eat last weekend (before Jon and I went vegan LOL)  He got a few toys then and I gave him a few more this morning.  One funny one he got is a fart gun.  It makes a loud noise and lights up. 

 

Yep that is a fart gun:)

 

 

 

Easy way to get to the present!

 

 

 

 

Light up toys ROCK!

 

 

 

 

This is just so cute of him

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then Steve and I took Sam & Sarah out for lunch at Wendy's (no I did not eat) and then to Walmart.

 to get some bedding for the dog's house as it is going to get colder this week and she loves to claw it all out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just thought these pictures are funny looking.  Sam will walk around some but he hates that Sarah gets to sit in the buggy so then he wants in too. 

 

 

It's hard to get my mind around the fact that he is 11 years old.  He weighs just 51 pounds and is only 3 ft 9 inches.  he's wearing a size 6 but the clothes are big on him.  His little life made the difference in three other little lives.  If we hadn't had Sam, we would have never had the nerve to step out and adopt the other three children. 

 

 

Sam is such a unique child from his crazy DNA to his funny little ways.  He is greatly opinionated, even if he can't speak and has absolutely NO patience.  (I have no idea where he gets that from)  When we were at the geneticist, they took pictures of his face from different angles, and then of mine and Jon's too.  They kept commenting on how different features of Sam's are exactly like his dad's.  We say that all the time too.  We always say he got his looks & nose, from his dad and his attitude from his mom!   I want to be like Sam when I grow up, he doesn't suffer a fool at all!  LOL

 

 

Sam is such a joy to us.  We adore his funny little opinionated self.  We feel so blessed to have been chosen to be his parents.  Sam changed my life completely, there has been no bigger influencer on my life than that little boy.  He's  taken me places I never dreamed of, brought highs & lows to my life and given me a purpose in life. 

 

If you would have told me 20 years ago how wonderful it would be to be the mom of a special needs child, I would have never believed you.  Also if you told me 20 years ago, where I'd be at now, I'd probably ran screaming off a roof LOL  But I could not have comprehended how life with Sam has been. 

 

I don't know all of the secrets of the universe, but I do know that little lives like Sam's are so very precious.  Yes, it may change your life, change your priorities and change your bank account....but it is so worth it. 

 

I love my boy!  The thought of him just makes me smile. 

 

Thanks Sam for hanging through a difficult pregnancy, early birth, months in the hospital, so many medical issues and close calls , a life threatening seizure, years of wearing an apnea monitor,   over 50 eye surgeries  or procedures.  more hospitalizations than I can recall (over 35) and a near drowning.  You are so dear to our heart.  You've had many things to overcome, yet you did!  We love you more than life itself!  

48 hours as a Vegan (Dr. Esselstyn's diet to prevent and reverse heart disease)

For years Jon and I have tried to eat healthy.  His dad had open heart surgery just a few months before we married so Jon took things seriously when the cardiologist spoke to the family.  At that time we thought healthy was a Lean Cuisine meal and margarine on our white bread.  As time went on, we were all into the "Healthy Balance" spreads and milks etc.... Heck I thought I was healthy when I quit diet soda and just began drinking regular Pepsi LOL!

Then about four years ago we learned that Sam was missing a liver tumor inhibitor out of his DNA.  He had one but not two like most folks have.  That scared us and we went organic for the most part.  Of course we still ate out some, which was our only down fall.

Then in 2013 we began reading research about heart health and switched to ONLY "expeller pressed oils" and olive oil.  We focused on more veggies and fruits for the family. 

Our concern has been Jon's family history of heart issues.  It's about as bad as you can get.  He has managed with exercise, self control and good eating to keep his cholesterol in an acceptable level between 197-211, it has fluctuated.  Because of his family history the doctor wanted to put him on some statin drugs but there are a lot of side affects to those drugs.  My cholesterol has been around the same also.  We both have low blood pressure and no issue with our sugar.

So we were hopeful that being really serious would get the numbers down.  But it did not.  Jon walks a lot in his job, all over the prison campus, as well as exercises about two hours a day on his days off.  He also exercises on work days at lunch most days.  In spite of that, the cholesterol won't budge.

Recently I found a hard core book about changing your eating habits for life

 

This doctor is on staff at Cleveland Clinic, the first place to do by pass surgery.  He was sent 20 patients who were not candidates for surgery and were given no hope.  He put them on a strict diet and they lived.  The study is now 20 years old and most of those original patients are still alive.  In fact there is medical proof that their heart disease reversed itself to some degree in all of them. 

 

The rules of the diet are tough. No meat, no dairy, no added oils.  If it has a face or a Mama you don't eat it- no eggs

Here is a CNN clip

 

http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/08/19/heart.attack.proof.diet/

 

You can read Dr Esselstyn's credentials here

http://www.dresselstyn.com/site/about/about-dr-esselstyn/

 

Poor Bill Clinton has gone on this diet, that is why he lost so much weight.

 

Now Poor Yvonne has gone on this diet too.  Jon is handling it WAY better than me.  I've actually grieved the loss of much of the foods I like.  It's one thing to be a vegan and eat all the nice packaged foods but they have oils in them.  It is very hard even in the health food stores to find things without added oils, even olive oil. 

 

 

So here are the rules:

 

Caldwell Esselstyn, Jr., MD,

Prevention & Reversal Diet Work

• No meat, no poultry, no fish--not even salmon
• No dairy of any kind--not even skim milk or non-fat yogurt. 
• No eggs--not even egg whites or Egg Beaters. 
• No oil--not even virgin olive oil or canola oil
• Aim for 100% Whole Grain products. Ingredients must say, Whole Wheat, or Whole Buckwheat, Whole Rye,etc. 100% stone-ground wheat is not Whole Wheat unless the word Whole appears.  Forget about semolina flour in pasta.  Forget about white rice.  BROWN rice only.   For several years we have been eating Arnold's HealthFUL breads, there is no oil in them.
• Do not drink juice. Fruit is fine.  A little juice used to saute, or season recipes or for salad dressings is fine 
• Do not eat nuts, even walnuts unless you do not have heart disease.
• Do not eat avocados, if you have heart disease.
• Do not eat coconut, if you have heart disease.
• Eat soy products cautiously.  They are high in fat (40% +) and many are highly processed. 
• Reduce sugar as much as possible.  When you do use it for recipes, stick to the more unprocessed varieties.  But don't fool yourself, maple syrup, agave, and honey are still sugar.
• Read all labels, especially THE INGREDIENTS!!! (I have a small magnifying glass I keep in my purse)

** we are assuming that we have some heart disease so we are also not eating nuts....goodbye peanuts!  Jon has had many heart tests but outside of a heart cath we can't be sure 100%.  We don't want to chance it. 



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The doctor  is also a focus of the new documentary "Forks Over Knives." Esselstyn has won some high-profile allies -- such as Dr. T. Colin Campbell, co-author of "The China Study," and Dr. Terry Mason, chief medical officer at Cook County Hospitals in Chicago and the city's former health commissioner.


Now Dr Esselstyn does not claim this diet prevents cancer but none of the people in the study have developed cancer.  Interesting enough a friend of mine has a son with a brain tumor.  He was diagnosed four years ago with an inoperable tumor and given just months to live.  He is still alive and doing well.  His mother put him on the "China Study" diet, very much like this diet and his tumor has stabilized.  He does get chemo but there had never been the hope that chemo alone would cure him.  His doctors are now beginning to be interested in his diet!

So we have embarked on this journey.  It is much harder than anything I have ever tried before.  It's not so much a diet as a lifestyle change.  I've been shopping twice now for this adventure.  Once in Publix, where I got angry at smelling the fried chicken LOL and today in a health food store where I just got overwhelmed .....  but I came out with a no oil pizza crust and low fat tofu with no oil!  So tonight Jon and I had pizza...

 

 

It was not Papa John's or Pizza Hut but it helped me to have something tasty and filling.  I don't crave sweets, I'm a hearty meat eater so this is rough! 

 

This is a hard change but if it keeps us healthy, it's worth it!

 

We are going to have our bloodwork redone in April to see where we are at and to see if this is working for us.  We should see a change by then.  Although I'm fine where I am weight wise, there is no doubt the weight will fall off me with this change.  My doctor wanted me to lose 50 pounds which I thought was extreme.  I'm pretty sure that is 100% doable with this change!

 

Do you love to eat or do you love life?  I love life!  I want to be healthy for my kids!

 

I suggest you get the book and read the studies.  It convinced me!  The funny thing, I didn't realize my brother in law and his family also changed to a vegetarian diet.  They have chosen not to be as strict, but they've not read this book yet! It certainly made me realize the importance of what I eat.

 

BTW, the kids are staying on their regular diet for now.  Steve almost had a heart attack when I first started talking to him about this.  He is the worst eater of the family and proud of it.  I worry about him but he doesn't listen. His taste buds are like mine.  Shad is addicted to sweets in a terrible way.  Sam is a wonderful eater, for some reason he has NO desire for sweets, except for fruit, oranges being his favorite.  Sarah is a good eater too, she does love ice cream.   Thankfully when they eat at home, it's healthy.  I cooked them Shrimp Jambalaya today and made them happy.   YES it is hard to cook for them!!!!!!!  

 

So say a little prayer that I can stay on track and come up with good recipes.  Jon needs my help with this.

 

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Yesterday we took Sam and Sarah to the geneticist.  We should get some results back in the next month or so.  Both are in a study through the University of Wisconsin focusing on eye conditions, especially Peter's Anomaly. 

 

Jon and I stopped and got the kids lunch and we got a baked potato with extra chives on it.   Our first time eating out as a vegan!