If you've known me for any length of time....you know it always comes full circle back to food!!!  I love to talk about food!!! I love to talk about health! It's a genetic thing!

My new treatments this Summer (ok....I forgot to tell you...well I had some treatments so I could eat again.) gave me food without fear again! I am seeing Dr Lisa Gordon in Maryland who has used Advance Allergy Treatment to miraculously clear my body of alllllllll the foods I couldn't eat. My case was one of the most intense, complex and severe that she has seen. My list had become so long, it was easier to tell you what I could eat since it only included 5 foods.

My new treatments include chiropractic care and NRT...Nurtritional Response Testing. I have healed leaps and bounds and am enjoying a wide variety of foods again, including histamines, salicylates & oxilates!!! 

Maybe even too much of a variety of foods!!! Our trip to Texas in September left me with 10 lbs I didn't like or want!!! So, I began trying to my darndest for over 3 months to loose weight. Every new "diet" turned into another 2-4 lbs....and I swear I don't cheat!!! 

It was becoming SO frustrating because literally I could look at food and gain weight! I didn't even have to taste it, but on somedays the discouragement would overcome me and I'd eat some sugar. And especially when the stress came on after The Hired Hand had surgery the week of Thanksgiving......it was just too easy to grab a few slices of sourdough bread slap on some butter and get in the car. That was a nightmare week and we ended up canceling Thanksgiving!

Then I decided to just eat Paleo again. But I was eating dairy and legal Paleo sugars and flours.  Well, that turned into 8 lbs almost overnight!!!! Because those "legal" Paleo Gingerbread cookies were SO good! 24 cookies=8lbs!

I met a gal who was on The Whole 30.....I think I'd heard the words but I didn't know what it was. So on Christmas Eve feeling ever so discouraged I looked it up. I figured....what have I got to loose....hahaha....about 30 lbs.....so Christmas Eve I signed up for free to start The Whole 30!

Basically it is a Paleo diet that eliminates ALL dairy, ALL sugars, ALL grains, ALL legume, and ALL alcohol. Simple right? Pretty much. Because really hard is loosing a parent or fighting with cancer. I've eaten this way in the past....but needed it desperately again. Because why should I throw away my health now that I can eat anything....well, maybe it was so I could taste ice cream, cheese, bread, sugar again......still not a wise choice! 

I discovered along the way while reading their excellent book It's Starts With Food that I am most likely Leptin Resistant.  With ALL the books on health I've read and all that I know....I knew nothing about Leptin! 

Leptin is a hormone made in the brain. It basically alerts the body that it should conserve fat because it's starving. As I thought about it, I most likely became Leptin Resistant during the last 8 years when most of my current medical issues started after going into Anaphylactic Shock 5 year ago. It's just been snowballing.

My body has suffered greatly from a lack of nourishment.  Something that NRT is addressing and correcting with whole food supplements! It's done amazing things for me!

So, here I am.....11 days into The Whole 30....feeling ever so encouraged! 

I love making lamb meatballs (mostly because we have a freezer of lamb)....just an egg to a lb and some oregano, Salt and Pepper! Bake at 425* for 30  minutes!

I have a new toy called an Instant Pot!!! It's the best thing since sliced bread.....maybe not a good analogy! 

It really is a time saver and the food is so moist and yummy!!!! 

This weekend I experimented with Spaghetti Squash which I adore!!! I halved it, seeded and added 1 C water to the pot. Lay the squash in cut side up and set the pot for 15 minutes! PERFECT!!!! I allowed it to sit a bit since it was dang hot....that also allowed water to drain from it.

I make a simple Bolognas sauce with a 1/2 jar of sugar free sauce from Trader Joe's, oregano, salt, pepper, frozen spinach, and 1 C coconut milk!

I added it all back to the IP and set for 30 minutes on the Slow Cooker!

Yum Yum! One of my weekly go to favorites!!!

I know.....you are welcome....I pulled my Nikon out again! I'm not sure why I separated from it for a time....but I suppose that's just the way life is....but I do love the pics using it!!! My favorite setting is Manual....and I'm learning to adjust the lighting. Things take time.

xoxox Diane

I'm taking what seems to be a gazillion art classes this year....and I say year because at least 3 are 365 days long! 

That's unprecedented commitment for me!!! I am ever the optimist! 

The class that started yesterday is The Documented Life Project 2016 The Unplanner!!!! 

Oh my goodness...if that doesn't fit me to the T!  I thought of all the years in my life....I need this NOW!!! I need it to document what's going to be a C R A Z Y ride!!!! I'm all in....all 2 feet jumped in for whatever God has in store for us this awesome new year!!!! 

I have never had much success with "Planners".....seriously who does? Ok...maybe you do, but I usually fly by the seat of my pants and am so spontaneous that planning just seems to get in my way. As I write that I think....hold on there cowgirl, that's not entirely true. I do like a little planning. I suppose I like "knowing" what the future holds....enough that I can at least be prepared.

Anywho.....this is my Unplanner!!! It's extremely whimsical artsy craftsy......almost to the point of overload for me!!! I do like most of my life...except my art room to be organized...you know....organized chaos! I can truly only take messes for so long....then it's a major overhaul!

So my Unplanner is not too much slap here and slap there kinda artsy craftsy....it's got a little bit of Zen going on and I incorporate what I've been learning along the way by some awesome teachers...that's what it's all about.....then you form your own style. Therefore, my cover will stay as simple as possible....with my reminder to Embrace this new year!

But the inside cover shows my true colors!!!! Because I am Wild At Heart!!! Ever seeking the one who holds my life in His hands. Desperate for Him.

With my monthly goals right there to pursue......this ought to be interesting!!!! Goals?

My daily devo inspirationals tucked away in my bi-monthly envelopes for me to dig out and remind myself that "it's going to be ok".

And of course the monthly schedule...so I don't ask too many questions!!!

Just keepin it REAL! 

xoxo Diane

As I lay in bed early one morning, I asked The Lord to show me the word I should focus on in the new year. The word to keep me moving forward, to reflect on in my life and devotions. 

EMBRACE came to me. 

I thought of all the change that would be in my life this new year and I realized that if I did not EMBRACE them, then I would stress out, cry and withdraw from this fabulous life I've been given.

Many of us run from change. We hate change. But I decided early on to Embrace the unknown. To Embrace it with The Lord knowing full well, that He will guide us, He will give me the grace I need to walk fully in them with my head held high and my heart fully engaged, making memories as I go.

My calendar is already full....at least it feels that way.

January will most likely bring another trip to Texas to "possibly" buy our home. Possibly! We have found something that fits all of our needs. It's on 20 wooded acres. Has multiple garages with water and electric...a place for my art studio with lots of natural light...it even has a chicken coop, the entire house is enclosed with a high chainlink fence to keep the wild boar and coyotes out so the dogs are safe...funny thinking that way....but we laughed but it's quite normal for the house to be fenced in!  It's been renovated recently and there is nothing I dislike or want to change.  It's really perfect for our retirement needs. We've asked The Lord, if He wants this for us, to hold it until our schedules open for another short weekend trip. So far, He has. If it goes, then He has something better!

February brings Becca's wedding shower.

April brings Becca & San's wedding!!!!! My heart and life are full.

May 1 brings the 6 month retirement notice. 

At some point our home will be "marketed" and sold. We have a young couple interested...so we have to work out all of those kinks....and we will as we get closer. 

Packing has been on going. Cleaning out the basement and packing has been on going since last summer. The farm has been dismantled. The only remaining occupant is Mr Drake. His lady friends were eaten by the fox last week. He has been a bachelor previously when the fox attacked....I think he knows something the ladies don't!!! Fly and fly high! I have someone to take him in a few weeks. He's a really nice fella and I didn't want to make New Years dinner of him. 
​

Nov 1 will be retirement day.

Nov 4 possibly moving day.

Then it's December 31 again!!! Gosh, it's going to fly by for us! 

So, I vow to Embrace each and every unknown moment, each and every memory. Not letting any of them slip away. 

xoxo Diane