Gwennaford's Journal

Each member may create a new topic with his or her name on it, to track their daily food intake.
Post Reply
Gwennaford
Master Member
Posts: 2776
Joined: February 5th, 2008, 7:50 am
Location: Oklahoma

Re: Gwennaford's Journal

Post by Gwennaford »

Made the bean soups, took a nap, went to see Mike, my therapist.  What a wonderful resource he is~!  I shared with him about the nausea and he agreed with me that it is possible the physical stress of bending over to reach the floor so often and for extended periods of time, as in putting on & tying Neil's shoes, picking up his junk for him, cleaning up after the dog, etc. along with the emotional stress of just dealing with Neil's behavior in the mornings (he knows Neil) are probably to blame.  It's possible that the stress of forcing myself back into a healthy eating schedule is causing some upset, too.  I've never thought of myself as the delicate type, but you never know how stress is going to manifest itself, do you?

I take a couple of medications that upset my stomach occasionally, not all the time.  I'm also working with Mike to wean myself off my narcotic pain meds.  I don't need them anymore for pain, but I am dependent on them to keep me from feeling "icky" like I get when a dose is long overdue.  Taking Aleve with a dose of pain med makes the effect last three times as long, but I don't tolerate Aleve very well.  It gives me the jittery shakes, so THAT, along with withdrawal symptoms AND the stress of semi-annual PMS that I'm currently having could easily contribute to feeling nauseous.

I don't think I have a kidney infection, but I'm watching it.  The doctor is only a few blocks away if I need to get there I can take myself.  It's no longer a burning agony, it has subsided to being merely annoying and I don't even think about except when I lean over in that direction.  I may have strained something with my unsupervised physical activity regimen.  I'm making a conscious effort to get in a LOT more moving in all directions, including getting out of my chair and using my walker when I clean the bathrooms & do laundry.  I'm bending, stretching, reaching, pulling, pushing and warming up atrophied muscles that haven't moved much in several years.  I have physical therapy scheduled three times a week just down the road that I WILL start next week.  I believe life has settled down to the point that I'm able to leave the house without "anyone" suffering a major trauma.


from Crickadoodle:  Gwen -- curious about the seltzer, why so often?  And the diet soft drinks?  Do you think maybe the carbonation could be hindering you?   Just a thought.


I don't know anything about the effects of carbonation in beverages.  Seltzer is nothing but water and bubbles and I can drink gallons of it, whereas plain water upsets my stomach after only about a quart.  Even the seltzer does this, once it has lost its bubbles.  Don't know why.  All the bottled waters I have tried, except for the very expensive ones (of course) make my mouth & throat feel dry & scratchy, depending on the brand.  I used to enjoy Brita filtered water.  I'll get another Brita system & see how it works now.  I only drink diet soda as a rare treat, like at the movies, or for medicinal purposes as with the 6 oz. of 7-Up the other night.

From Little Mary:  Sorry you've been feeling badly--I saw on your other posting what you think may have caused the nausea.  Please talk to your doctor if you don't improve within another day or two.  Better safe than sorry!

Anyhow, yes, I wonder about the seltzer and soda too, if they might be causing you hinderance.  Mainly, though, I wanted to comment on the earlier days when you said you were STARVING an hour after a meal.  Make sure you're eating enough at mealtimes, particularly HIGH FIBER foods which will carry you over longer.  Can you eat grapefruit?  If so, when it's fresh and affordable, it has a lot of fiber and is filling, or a banana also makes you feel full longer than just eating grapes for breakfast, for example.  I see that's what you had on a day you were starving later.  And then perhaps more than 3/4 cup of beans is needed to keep you feeling full and satisfied with your lunch.  

Good job with the wise choices at Outback!  Way to go!  Beware of the Wendy's chili though.  It's not your friend.  NJ and I once reviewed the ingredients, and it was surprisingly fattening and probably causes cravings for more sugar too.

You do remarkably well given your inability to jump in the car and stroll around the grocery store like LP has been doing.  I admire you.  That's all for now, though, or I'll risk going "off topic."  Little Mary


I believe I was eating enough at the meals you referenced.  I felt pleasantly full and satisfied when I was finished.  And even though each serving was relatively small, there were MANY different small servings, totaling up to a big meal.  The strange emptiness happened each time when eating a big meal immediately prompted a trip to the bathroom for a major event.  After THAT made more room, it's like the food was able to drop down suddenly, leaving a large void in my stomach that felt very empty.  I know this is not really possible, physiologically, but that's what it felt like.  I suddenly had room for another big meal.  ha ha.

As much as I love beans and fresh fruit, they are not currently sitting well with me for some reason.  I may have a touch of IBS and the fiber may be aggravating that.  Does that cause nausea, too?  I'll ask the Dr. about it if it continues.  Watermelon and cantaloupe are fine, but apples, citrus & even my beloved grapes are too acidic for my mouth which still has some little sores in it. When you see me list grapes now, it's only a very small bunch, maybe a cupful, instead of the whole 2-3 pound bag and SEVERAL batches of popcorn I was eating at one sitting as a meal replacement.  No wonder my mouth got sore, huh?  I'll make sure to get some more bananas soon.

What else? -- OH, the Wendy's Chili.  It's like the diet soda - I was sick & it was easy.  Not an good excuse, but it's the truth.  I only choose it once in a blue moon because I know it has sugar & other unacceptable ingredients in it.  And I always mix it with an equal amount of additional beans so the effect is not AS bad as it could be.  The rest of the time I make the knock-off version I posted.  

I've been doing okay with my own shopping and meal prep, but storing the foods once I get them home & cooked is a challenge.  Loving, well-meaning people have been thronging here, stuffing the fridge & freezer full of totally inappropriate foods, trying to do their good deeds for the "needy" family.  I cannot get anyone to listen to me, that we are both have certain dietary restrictions that we need to adhere to in order to recover.  They always say, "Oh, but this is HEALTHY whole WHEAT bread", or "Well, there's just a little bit of .... (fill in the blank) in here, so you can just eat around it.  The other day I came home from the store, all excited that I had stocked up on tons of fresh produce and the market had frozen whole turkey breasts on sale for $.99/lb.  YAY!  While I was out, someone I didn't even know had crammed the fridge & freezer full of Boston Market TV dinners, sugary fruit cups, Green Giant veggies in buttery sauces, pasta casseroles, peanut butter, jelly, & non-diet margarine.  I couldn't get one single thing into the fridge & had to leave my beautiful foods sitting on the counter.  I put the turkey breasts into coolers with ice packs, but I didn't get it cooked in time & I lost both of them.

Do you know that Boston Market TV dinners have 700-900 calories, 44-58 grams of fat, and 1800-2500 mg of sodium EACH?  They expect me to feed these to a critically ill man and be glad I didn't have to COOK?  I've been inviting people to dinner, telling them I'm having it catered by Boston Market.  When they get here & see that it's TV dinners, they're like, " ... oh! ... ha ha! ... hmm... well, this is delicious!"  But I feel bad feeding this to anyone, not just someone on a restricted diet.

I'm afraid one of the caring, loving donors will read this and be horribly offended at my seeming lack of gratitude, so I'll stop for now.  It's hard to be resentful when people just love you so much and they want to do ANYTHING they can to help.  But with me being a foodaholic, it's tough for me to watch hundred of dollars of food going to waste just because people don't want to ASK or LISTEN.  I'm trying to compose an email now, thanking everyone for their generosity, explaining that dietary restrictions make meal planning complicated, and asking that instead of food, future donations be in the form of gift cards and RIDES to grocery stores, Walmart, and the CVS pharmacy.  Mike gave me some ideas about tactful language I can use that might get the message across without hurting anyone's feelings who has already contributed.

To be fair, everyone totally loved the benefit spaghetti dinner the City & our church threw for us, and cash gifts have been pouring into a special fund set up by our credit union.  I don't want to minimize that with my whining.

SOWWY . . . :blush: :'(
Last edited by Gwennaford on September 16th, 2009, 1:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
• Join me in the Let’s Do Lunch message boards!
ImageImage
crickadoodle
Master Member
Posts: 2591
Joined: July 28th, 2009, 12:36 pm
Location: Louisiana

Re: Gwennaford's Journal

Post by crickadoodle »

I understand your feelings about the food going to waste.  Your attitude seems good about it, so don't feel bad.  You don't want the people wasting their money either by buying things you cannot use, or would rather not use. 
Gwennaford
Master Member
Posts: 2776
Joined: February 5th, 2008, 7:50 am
Location: Oklahoma

Re: Gwennaford's Journal

Post by Gwennaford »

RIGHT!  Neil's dialysis social worker called today & gave me some suggested language that I can incorporate into a blanket statement to send out to his friends, colleagues & loves ones.  I would like to send out in blanket emails, and post it on his Facebook account, which was set up for him by his co-workers to keep them involved & informed about how he's doing.

Everyone, please tell me honestly how you think this sounds and how you would feel about reading this if you were someone who had, or was interested in donating foods, money or time to Neil's cause:

"I wanted to thank everyone again for the outpouring of TLC you all have given us during my illness and recovery.  Your generous contributions of money, time, transportation, groceries, hot meals, encouragement, and companionship have been astonishing.  Some of you may not know that part of the reason we ARE both recovering so well is because we are both diligently following medically restricted diets.  

Meal planning for us is complicated and difficult to explain.  No one could be expected to know or understand the very strange restrictions involved in the renal (kidney friendly) diet without specific training.  It's been a struggle for us to learn, because it goes against all the principles of what is generally recognized as healthy eating.  Ironically, most my allowable foods are forbidden to Gwen, who has lost more than 100 pounds following the "Let's Do Lunch" plan.  Conversely, if I ate what she eats I would probably die very quickly from the high fiber, potassium, and phosphorous.

Because I know you love us and want us both to get better as quickly as possible, I believe you will understand when I ask you to consider making any future donations in the form of gift cards, (Publix, Walmart, CVS) and transportation to & from these places.

There are no words to express our deepest appreciation for all that everyone has done for us.  Be patient with us - we are working on individual thank-you's for those who we know made contributions.  There are many many of you who have chosen to remain anonymous, and I want you to know that we thank God for you, too, and pray every day for your happiness, health and prosperity.

Love and thanks to everyone,

Neil and Gwen"
Last edited by Gwennaford on September 16th, 2009, 7:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
• Join me in the Let’s Do Lunch message boards!
ImageImage
mom
Master Member
Posts: 1150
Joined: May 5th, 2009, 9:03 pm

Re: Gwennaford's Journal

Post by mom »

Gwen, what a lovely, sensitive statement, I don't see how anyone could get offended by it, it offers practical suggestions, and expresses your appreciation for what has been done in the past.  Great work.  *hug* :rose:
Image
mrsj
Master Member
Posts: 1357
Joined: October 8th, 2006, 4:15 am
Location: Bradenton, Florida

Re: Gwennaford's Journal

Post by mrsj »

I agree with mom!  Gwen you did good!  I'm sure this should help but just don't be surprised if some still miss the message.  Seems that's how we humans roll........like making comments on your food diary instead of here in your journal. :rolleyes:  Btw, since I did that, I can probably just remove my message so that it will be clearer for Roger's perusal.  Sound good?

So, yeah, send out that message and hopefully it won't get as bad as having to lose the turkey breasts.
God bless all those people that reach out to help and God bless you and Neil.
Love,
mrsj
tprouty
Master Member
Posts: 702
Joined: May 11th, 2009, 1:23 pm

Re: Gwennaford's Journal

Post by tprouty »

Hey Gwen!

So glad recovery is continuing for both you and Neil. And I feel your frustration about the loving gifts of food that neither of you can eat!  :wrong:

Ok, the editor in me just read your proposed email, and I think it's great. The right note of appreciation and gratitude, without belaboring the point of asking people to not bring gifts of food, but gift cards and transportation.

I also think Mrs. J has a good point (and she always does!). Some people will still get huffy, no matter what you say, and others will still go ahead and do whatever they're gonna do. And some will be sensitive and helpful and get the point.

So if you still end up with inappropriate foods taking up cupboard and precious refrigerator space, feel free to "regift" these things. The local food bank for non-perishables, and pre-made dishes to service providers or family members who don't have the same diet restrictions as the two of you. And if you just can't get anyone to take it, "round file" it, and tell whoever sent it that the loving sentiments were greatly appreciated, but you would be grateful, if they want to help in future, to have the opportunity to select things that fit with either of your strict, DR PRESCRIBED diets.

As Roseanne Rosanadanna used to say: "It's always somethin'!"

Love you, girl!
Terri
Image
EnJae
Master Member
Posts: 2020
Joined: August 7th, 2006, 11:34 am
Location: Abilene, TX

Re: Gwennaford's Journal

Post by EnJae »

I like it Sweetie. Well-worded.
Image
Gwennaford
Master Member
Posts: 2776
Joined: February 5th, 2008, 7:50 am
Location: Oklahoma

Re: Gwennaford's Journal

Post by Gwennaford »

GREAT!  Thanks to everyone for input.  I read it to Neil & he said, "Good."  :rolleyes:  So I sent it out to his work, the church & his Facebook account.

I'm fruit & soup flushing today after WAY too many bowls of popcorn yesterday.  Neil kept wanting me to fix him things to eat the whole 3-1/2 hours he was dialysing last night and I was SO tempted to snack that I kept eating popcorn in self-defense.  He ate, like, 3 dinners and 4 bowls of Pringles + 4 pkgs. of  PB cheese toasts (little cracker sandwich things).  Glad his appetite is back.  We're gonna need more food.  Maybe I sent the message out prematurely!  LOL

You know how you sometimes suffer a delayed reaction after an emergency or crisis?  You keep your head during the event, but afterwards you get the shakes & you sorta fall apart?  I think that's happening to me now that Neil is starting to recover a little.  Delayed collapse.  ha ha 

*woot* I just pictured one of those buildings being demolished with sequential charges.  It sits there, seems like forever, & you're holding your breath waiting for the explosions to start.  Then boom, boom, boom,  . . . it collapses in on itself until it's just a neat pile of rubble & smoke.  That's what's happening to me - I'm collapsing one layer at a time. 

I think I'll just get it over with and go to bed for a week.  If ya'll don't hear from me, don't worry.  I'm making a couple gallons of cabbage vegetable soup today that I plan to live on 'til it's over.

Loves
• Join me in the Let’s Do Lunch message boards!
ImageImage
Gwennaford
Master Member
Posts: 2776
Joined: February 5th, 2008, 7:50 am
Location: Oklahoma

Re: Gwennaford's Journal

Post by Gwennaford »

I had whined before that, while I know that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger - right?  But I still cried out to God to just give me a little VACATION!   :'(  wah, wah, poor me.

WELL . . .  MY VACATION CAME ! ! ! Last week when I saw Mike, it took about half an hour just to list all the amazingly good things that have happened recently!  I think I have posted most of them before, but just to recap:

Neil's recovery is sporadic - good days & not so good.  The goods ones are increasingly frequent - THANK GOD! 

Got a big AFLAC check that was enough, (along with what was donated at the benefit and friends taking up collections) to cover 6 month's worth of past due bills (including the mortgage - EEEK).  Nothing is in default, creditors have stopped calling, and we have a tiny cushion left over.  YAY!
People -- if you don't have AFLAC, you need to get it.  It's a very small investment that pays BIG if GOD FORBID you ever need it.

Used part of the tiny cushion to buy Michelle (& me) some much-needed shoes & underwear for HER NEW JOB ! ! !  That's an ego-booster right there!  YAY!

Michelle got a job in Dillard's at upscale mall in Sarasota.  YAY!  HA - The lunatic fringe element she enjoys hanging around with won't give her the time of day, but just walking through Dillard's she overheard they needed someone in accessories, she inquired, and they hired her on the spot ! ! !  YAY!  She gets a 25% employee discount & once she gets through her orientation & probation period she will get another 25% on top of that - 40%!  Double YAY!

I'm up & moving around, almost like I had never been crippled.  Still not technically walking, but amazingly flexible & pain free and increasing strength.  YAY!  Was outside yesterday helping the yard man trim trees & bushes, pulling weeds & hauling stuff to the street.  YAY!

Making progress weaning myself off the narcotic pain meds.  YAY!

I REALLY believe, thanks to Roger Troy taking an active interest in my stalled weight loss, that I may have actually lost some poundage this month.  YAY!

Resolved an nagging, ongoing (4 years) problem with the wheelchair store service dept. & got my power chair repaired for free!  YAY!

A lady at the wheelchair transport call center (essentially a telephone operator) noticed from my computer records (!) that I had not been going to church (!) and wanted to know why (!).  When I told her the County transportation system had changed routes around so I couldn't get there, she made it her personal crusade to get the problem corrected.  She researched the affected routes, took some measurements from Google Maps and pursued the chain of command until she found someone high enough to get me (and Neil) back on the routes that go to our church without having to pay a fortune in extra transfer fees.  YAY !  

ONCE THE POSITIVE ENERGY FLOW STARTS, IT IS AMAZING WHAT STARTS TO HAPPEN !   *woot*

There is a lot more, but I want to get this posted before the Internet connection crashes again.  I'll add to it later.  Now I'm past due for my nap!  Neil finally went to sleep after TWELVE HOURS of thrashing around -- making us miss church after all (boo) So if I don't go now, then he'll wake up and start in again.  I can't face any more of that without a nap myself.   :wacko:
Last edited by Gwennaford on September 20th, 2009, 11:02 am, edited 1 time in total.
• Join me in the Let’s Do Lunch message boards!
ImageImage
Gwennaford
Master Member
Posts: 2776
Joined: February 5th, 2008, 7:50 am
Location: Oklahoma

Re: Gwennaford's Journal

Post by Gwennaford »

Re nosebleeds:

Please get some plain saline nasal spray "Ocean" (under $2) is Walmart's brand of AYR saline spray.  If nosebleeds continue to happen, get some Ponaris oil OTC at the pharmacy.  It's pricey, about $17 for a little two-ounce bottle with a dropper.  The ear, nose & throat Dr. recommended it when I was having severe nosebleeds every day for weeks, sometimes more than once.  They would start spouting down my shirt without warning and would NOT stop for a long time.  Clots slipping down my throat, the whole thing... ugh  :sick:

Dr. wasn't sure what caused it -- dryness, pressure, blowing too hard, whatever.  A/C is just as bad as heat for drying the air.  The nasal membranes developed tiny fissures that took quite a while to heal, but the Ponaris was great.  It contains a blend of natural oils, and some camphor and eucalyptus, so it has a menthol-like, herbal smell, which I quite enjoy.  You might have to hang your head upside down off the bed (good excuse to put up those aching feet).  Or you can tilt your head forward while holding the nostril closed.  Tilting your head back just makes it run down your throat, as you already know. You can also hold the nostrils closed for a few minutes after taking the drops -- AND keep your box of tissues handy.  :cool:  I no longer have problems with nosebleeds, but the oil is soothing & the vapors help open blocked sinuses.

BTW, he told me that to stop a nosebleed you should tilt your head forward, apply pressure up alongside the cartilage and use an ice pack in the vicinity for a few minutes at a time.  Then, as gross as it is, avoid blowing your nose for a while.  Be careful what kind of tissue you use because they are made of wood fibers and can scratch healing membranes.
• Join me in the Let’s Do Lunch message boards!
ImageImage
julie409
Master Member
Posts: 2163
Joined: May 24th, 2009, 4:03 pm
Location: Parlin, NJ

Re: Gwennaford's Journal

Post by julie409 »

HI Gwen,

I am so happy to read about all the positive things that have happenned to you - not the least of which is that you are getting mobile on all fronts  :laughing:  Yeah!  I am sure that being pain free is helping you to move about more easily.

It is quite a blessing to have RT offering personal assistance. I find it remarkable that he takes such a special interest in all of us. I don't know how he does it.  :)

I hope you are having a blessed day and that each day is better than the last.  :angel:

Julie :rose:
mom
Master Member
Posts: 1150
Joined: May 5th, 2009, 9:03 pm

Re: Gwennaford's Journal

Post by mom »

Gwennaford: stopped by your food journal, and must say that it doesn't look too bad, the only thing would be the white rice, and the lattes, but they seem like they shouldn't stall things too much.  Are you still battling the nausea, if so, a trip to the doctors might be in order.  does your nausea go away when you eat, or does it get worse?
Image
Gwennaford
Master Member
Posts: 2776
Joined: February 5th, 2008, 7:50 am
Location: Oklahoma

Re: Gwennaford's Journal

Post by Gwennaford »

Researched carbonated water's (seltzer) effect on health and stumbled upon the answer to what's been wrong with me -- Dyspepsia, or ordinary indigestion!  Aha!  I had never experienced this before, and thought it was the same as hearburn, gas, or acid indigestion, which I HAVE had.  But it's not the same at all.  Please read on for symptoms of dyspepsia and the use of seltzer water for relief.

It seems that seltzer is a common and effective treatment for dyspepsia.  Carbonation (carbonic acid) alone in water has no adverse health effects.  It is the carbonated cola beverages (soft drinks) containing phosphoric acid and other chemicals that cause decalcification -- bone loss (osteoporosis) and tooth softening over time.

* Carbonated Water Relieves Indigestion, Constipation Symptoms
Carbonated water eases the symptoms of indigestion (dyspepsia) and constipation, according to a recent study in the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology(2002;14:991–9).
Dyspepsia is characterized by a group of symptoms including pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen, early sense of fullness after eating, bloating, belching, nausea, and sometimes vomiting. Approximately 25% of people living in Western societies suffer from dyspepsia every year, and the condition accounts for 2 to 5% of all visits to primary care providers. Inadequate motion in the digestive tract (peristalsis) is believed to be an important cause of dyspepsia. Other gastrointestinal problems, such as irritable bowel syndrome and constipation, frequently accompany dyspepsia.
...
Scores on ... dyspepsia and constipation questionnaires were significantly better for those treated with carbonated water than for those who drank tap water.
...
Carbonated water has been used for centuries to treat digestive complaints, yet virtually no research exists to support its effectiveness. The carbonated water used in this trial not only had significantly more carbon dioxide than does tap water, but also was found to have much higher levels of minerals including sodium, potassium, sulfate, fluoride, chloride, magnesium, and calcium. Other studies have shown that both the bubbles of carbon dioxide and the presence of high levels of minerals can stimulate digestive function. Additional research is needed to determine whether this mineral-rich carbonated water would be more effective at relieving dyspepsia than would carbonated tap water.  

http://www.bastyrcenter.org/content/view/899/ full article


Because of the last statement, the results of this study might not necessarily apply to me & the commercial seltzer I drink because I don't know the mineral content of the water used to make it, but I'm sure it's just tap water.  All I know is that fizzy water settles my stomach and tap water upsets it when I'm already feeling queasy.

I'm going to do a trial for myself.  I will commit to pouring myself a tall glass of cold tap water and trying to drink it first, before automatically reaching for the seltzer.  How's that?  

Some more research supporting my position favoring seltzer as a safe beverage with no apparent adverse side effects, compared to soft drinks containing phosphates (I didn't find any supporting the opposing viewpoint):

http://www.chow.com/stories/10611
Is Carbonated Water Bad for You?

Please read this one:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbonated_water
Carbonated water

This one was amusing:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2 ... water.food
The sceptic -- Is fizzy water bad for you?
Last edited by Gwennaford on September 22nd, 2009, 6:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
• Join me in the Let’s Do Lunch message boards!
ImageImage
mrsj
Master Member
Posts: 1357
Joined: October 8th, 2006, 4:15 am
Location: Bradenton, Florida

Re: Gwennaford's Journal

Post by mrsj »

Wow, Gwen!  There is a lot of good reading here today.  First of all, I loved all your *Yays*!  Congratulations on all of them!  It's so true what you say, "ONCE THE POSITIVE ENERGY FLOW STARTS, IT IS AMAZING WHAT STARTS TO HAPPEN !"

Secondly, thank you for taking the time to do research on nosebleeds and for sharing your own experience and advice! 

Gotta interject here, as I'm writing this I'm hearing Christmas music from a tv commercial.  I'm just sayin....

Lastly I appreciate you sharing all your research regarding carbonated water.  I certainly remember a time when I felt worse drinking tap water and better when I reached for a carbonated drink.  Very interesting.

You're the best Grape Girl!
Hugs,
mrsj
Gwennaford
Master Member
Posts: 2776
Joined: February 5th, 2008, 7:50 am
Location: Oklahoma

Re: Gwennaford's Journal

Post by Gwennaford »

No, YOU and your darling hubby are the best, MrsJ.  We just got back from a harrowing doctor's visit, came in all hot & tired & cranky.  Opened the mail . . .  You guessed it.  We received the wonderful card(s) you sent to uplift and encourage us.  I don't know if I'm allowed to share all the details, so I'll PM you to ask first, but I do want to post the message from the greeting card.  It's the most beautiful thing I have ever read, maybe because it's SO applicable to our life right now.  I plan to make copies of it, hang them all over my house and carry some with me.  I will probably insert it into cards I give to other people, too because it's so special.

Before I got to the last line, I just thought it was "merely" a beautiful, inspirational poem.  THEN - when the closer hit, we both burst into tears and sobbed for a few minutes.  Thank you for a good cry, AND for everything else.


I want to let you know you're in my prayers . . .

I imagine you may be overwhelmed
    because you've been dealing with so much lately,
    and maybe you've been wondering
    (as I've wondered at times in my life)
    how things are ever going to work out.

And I just wanted to remind you
    that although life brings many changes,
    God's love remains constant.

He's always there, guiding us through decisions
    and helping us do the hard things . . .
    always restoring in us a sense of hope and peace,
    no matter what we're facing.

And the most beautiful thing about God
    is that the more we need Him,
    the closer He is . . .

That's how I know He is especially close to you now.

Tara Jaye Morrow


---------------------------
Last edited by Gwennaford on September 23rd, 2009, 5:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
• Join me in the Let’s Do Lunch message boards!
ImageImage
tprouty
Master Member
Posts: 702
Joined: May 11th, 2009, 1:23 pm

Re: Gwennaford's Journal

Post by tprouty »

*hug*  *hug*

So encouraged by your positive energy post, and thanks for taking the time to post the info on "fizzy" water, too. I had wondered about the tooth decay issue!

Our prayers are with you, still. Know that!

Love, Terri
Image
Gwennaford
Master Member
Posts: 2776
Joined: February 5th, 2008, 7:50 am
Location: Oklahoma

Watch Out for the Energy Vampires in Your Home

Post by Gwennaford »

This is an article about common electronic devices that continue to use power even when they are turned off.  This can amount to as much as 10% of your total monthly energy bill. 

http://green.yahoo.com/blog/the_conscio ... ction.html
• Join me in the Let’s Do Lunch message boards!
ImageImage
Honeygram
Full Member
Posts: 186
Joined: May 16th, 2009, 10:25 pm

Re: Gwennaford's Journal

Post by Honeygram »

Hi, Gwen,

Just stopped in to say Hi to you.  I learn something new from you every time I do.  Wishing you the best! :rose:

Honeygram
Image
tprouty
Master Member
Posts: 702
Joined: May 11th, 2009, 1:23 pm

Re: Gwennaford's Journal

Post by tprouty »

Gwen, Dahling! How DO you find time to dig up all this wonderful information when one of the family has a question, or to make us wiser and better people? However you do it, I surely do appreciate your time and effort in sharing it with the rest of us!

Hope you have a simply marvelous weekend!

Love, Terri
Image
Gwennaford
Master Member
Posts: 2776
Joined: February 5th, 2008, 7:50 am
Location: Oklahoma

Re: Gwennaford's Journal

Post by Gwennaford »

Don't give me too much credit . . . since I learned to Google, most answers are instantaneous.  It's just a matter of copying & pasting most of the time.  There's very little looking up to it.  I do it more for my own information than anything else, but ...

...Ah loves sharin' with ya'll.  Ah'm practicin' mah Texas accent to git ready for the LDL Round-up at the ranch! 

Speaking of the convention, I just looked up flight info & found I can fly nonstop, round trip on Southwest for $235.00.  YAY! 

Now, the hotels on the Riverwalk are quite another story ... YEOW ! ! !  ANY FEMALES TRAVELLING ALONE WANT TO SHARE A ROOM WITH SAME ? ? ?  I found a Day's Inn at the Alamo for $70/day which is pretty good.  I wonder what Little Mary has up her sleeve for room rates?
Last edited by Gwennaford on September 26th, 2009, 3:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
• Join me in the Let’s Do Lunch message boards!
ImageImage
Post Reply