Just In Time Part II

Part 2 of Question 1:

What do you perceive may be at stake if you do or do not speak out for Him?

To be honest, speaking out for Christ was a bit easier when I was a new Christian with the flow of excitement for a Savior; I wanted to tell everyone. I wanted everyone to feel the warmth and wonderfulness I did.

To be further honest, it was easier to speak out for Christ when I wasn't a SAHM and when most of my friends weren't Christian. Back then I actually had someone to talk to and plant seeds in. HOLD THE PHONE.... WAIT A MINUTE!!!

I really thought about what I just wrote. Of course I was thinking more of adults in my previous sentence, but I DO have 3 little "someones" I can talk to and plant seeds with E.V.E.R.Y. D.A.Y. and I'm not doing it as well as I should.

What is at stake if I don't speak out for Him? Souls. Four of them. Mine and my boys. I may not be able to tackle the "outside world" very much, but I have a responsibility to the people I do have access to and I certainly have access to my sweet little boys. I will have to answer to God for the lack of training. It's not someone else's job, although I will certainly take the help of our church family.

Speaking out for God is part of my job as a SAHM. Granted, I do live my life as an example to my children and I've got all the "obvious" bases covered: no drinking, swearing, smoking, etc... and we go to worship and bible study regularly, fellowship with the body of Christ, give generously of our means, teach classes, etc....

But how often do we SPEAK OUT for God in our own home. Of course we pray and I'll occasionally make the comment that "God doesn't want us to lie (or whatever the problem is)," but do we as parents really make the everyday presence of God known to our children?

Jeff and I have been talking about this a lot lately... making God more a part of our family. He is here, but we don't acknowledge him enough.

Wow. I feel like a huge light bulb just went off in my head.

What are some things you do to make God an active part of your family? What kind of training do you do with your children?

Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

I am loving this bible study, but want to keep this thought going in my head, so I will answer the remaining questions later....

2. Can you honestly describe yourself as a woman with a 'yes' in her spirit? If not, what keeps you from this?

3. Do you recognize any circumstances in your life which could be described as an 'unrecurring event'? Have you ever said 'no' to one and watched God use someone else instead?

4. Are you in an emotionally and spiritually healthy place? If yes, how are you using this freedom to minister to others? If no, what do you feel is holding you in your Egypt?

Scratch Test Picture

Peanut, milk, egg white, and egg yolk: POSITIVE.

Scratch Test Day 2008

Well, there's good news and bad news. To begin with, I want to record what he was tested for.

Milk, Egg white, Egg yolk, Peanut, Fish mixture, Shellfish mixture

We'll start with the good: Witt is not allergic to fish or shellfish. I had them add that to the test list just to be on the safe side. We occasionally have shrimp and crab, but we've always avoided him when we have it. He's only eaten fish once (although I've served it several times). So, the good news is that we have some knowledge that we didn't have before.

The bad news is that he is still allergic to milk and eggs (both the white and yolk). In fact, within 30 seconds of his scratch test, I knew he was still allergic to milk. So it is still quite severe.

The extra news is that the peanut test came back positive (last year it was negative). I requested the peanut because I was never satisfied with the testing done last year. We avoided peanut with him this last year as well because I just had a "hunch". If you'd like the details on my dissatisfaction, you can check it out here.

Peanut had a much larger reaction that the eggs, but less than the milk. Here's the picture of his back 15 minutes after the initial scratching which is when they read the results.

We also had blood drawn for the RAST test which will be done for each of the items from the scratch test. These results will be back in about a week.

{Let me just say, Witt could not have done better with the blood being drawn. He cried when she stuck him with the needle, but he calmed down and just watched as she filled 5 viles (not full). She gave him a matchbox car when she was done. Then Witt and I traveled to the health food store for some milk-free, egg-free, peanut-free cookies. :) I also stocked up on Vegan Gourmet "cheeses" (for pizza!) and Veganaise (egg-free mayo). I also bought some rice noodles to try out just for fun.}

ALLERGIST'S COMMENTS

Witt still falls in the percentage of kids that "should" outgrow their allergies - especially the milk and eggs. Only about 20% of people outgrow the peanut allergy; those that do are the ones that acquired the allergy at a very young age. SO... he is also in the category in which he "should" outgrow the peanut allergy as well.

The latest information that I have read about milk allergies is 80% outgrow by age 6. Last year it was 80% by age 4. (I don't remember where I read this, but remembered the age difference).

MY REACTION

I must admit I am disappointed. Of course I am. No matter how much I tried not to get my hopes up, I did. It's natural. I know. I haven't broken down in tears, although I almost did. I have chosen a different attitude though... the attitude that I can do this. I've done it for a year... nothing has changed. I've already been avoiding milk, egg, and peanut. Today is the same as as every other day this past year and we made it through just fine. Better than fine.

It's not like I'm starting over with something new. I don't have to change yet another item in our diet or figure out a new substitution. It's all the same. Sometimes SAME is good. I'll take it! :)

There is still more for me to learn about nutrition and cooking from scratch. I enjoy both of these and I have a reason to continue perusing it beyond a want. (If you know me well, you know that I need some boundaries and a good push to make changes. I'd say food allergies are a good boundary and a good push.) I hope to make more lasting and healthier changes to our diet.

THANK YOU

Two months ago, I posted a request for prayers for Witt. Let me just say that I have been OVERWHELLMED with the response I have gotten. Comments, emails, cards, phone calls. Thank you all so much for you support and prayers. I cannot express how much it has meant to me knowing so many are sending so many prayers on his behalf. Thank you! Thank you!

Obviously God's answer is "No" or "Not now". I'm truly ok with that. I have faith in God's will, even if it doesn't match my own. I trust and believe that He will take care of my family. It's my choice on how I react. I choose to be thankful for thisfaith-building road I've been put on. Not only has my faith grown in Him but also in the people around me. I have a beautiful life and it is filled with loving, warm, caring people. I could not be surrounded by better.

Thank you all for your prayers. Thank you for your support. I ask that you continue to pray for Witt - that he will be allergy free at his next appointment. I know I'll be having a conversation with God everyday for the next 365 days. Maybe if I knock long enough and hard enough, He will grant my request (or maybe He won't), but I'm still going to be persistant... join me?