“For today and its blessings, I owe the world an attitude of gratitude.”
- Clarence E. Hodges

Today I would like to say thank you for receiving certain services for Reya through the county. With so much money going out each month to pay for ongoing appointments (with an outpatient psychiatrist and therapist), monthly medications, and outstanding medical debt it is a true blessing to have access to some extra services without the worry of yet another bill.

Today I would like to say thank you that, in spite of her mental health issues, Reya seems to be doing quite well of late. The new medication regimen seems to be working. She seems to like her new therapist. She’s getting good grades and has not had any episodes of acting out (other than ordinary teenage attitude).

Today I would like to say thank you for the girls’ Tae Kwon Do school. I love that they learn not only how to defend themselves, but how to be better human beings. I love that it affords them a second family, another safe and supportive haven, that they can turn to when need arises. I am especially grateful to have gotten Reya back to taking classes after a hiatus of several months.

Today I would like to say thank you that our friend Casey (who we visited earlier this month) is planning on coming up for Thanksgiving. Odds are she is only going to be able to come up the night before and will have to leave after dessert. But having her sharing our annual feast is one thing that I will be truly grateful for that day.

Blessings

Jia

Image: Felixco, Inc. / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

One of the things that Accolan loves about me is that I am a pretty darn good cook.  I don’t make fancy fare. Most of the meals I prepare are simple, homey, stick to your ribs type of food. Simple, filling, frugal fare is quite frankly my specialty.

I truly enjoy cooking.  Little makes me happier than the sounds of a loved one making happy yummy sounds as they dig into a dish I’ve prepared.  I love playing with new ingredients, learning new recipes, and experimenting by making up meals on the fly.

But, another benefit of cooking for me is that it is usually the only outlet I have for my spirituality.

• I try to make more and more from scratch because I/we are trying to live a more Earth-centered lifestyle.
• I try to stir as much love and magic into every dish I prepare as I possibly can.
• I try to serve appropriate fare when Pagan holidays arise.

At the Winter Solstice, I might put up a batch of mulled cider.  At Lammas/Lughnasadh I might fry up some Cheesy Corn Pancakes.  For Spring I could make quiche.

The Pagan/Wiccan holiday of Samhain coincides with Halloween, which falls on this coming Sunday.  Today I am putting up a beef stew with lentils.  Today I am cooking a dish similar to what those that walked this path before me might have cooked – using what they had on hand – serving the harvest, not only of grains, and fruits of the field & orchard, but of their livestock as well.

Today I stir my pot sunwise (deosil) imagining my family healthy and happy.  Today I honor my own family ancestors that taught me that food can be a wonderful way to show your love.  Today I celebrate my faith and my beliefs in a subtle, yet heartfelt way.

How do you incorporate your faith into everyday activities?

Blessings

Jia

Image: Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

So as I’ve written previously, Sephoni has been dealing with a lot of digestive related issues.  What started out as episodes of sour stomach, etc. has evolved into almost daily (and lasting most of the day) abdominal pain with episodes of vomiting.  Today Sshe went to the Pediatric Gastroenterologist and as I had to work, Accolan took her.

The long and short of it is that right now they are treating her for acid reflux, i.e. GERD – the same diagnosis doctors settled on when Reya was so sick over the summer. While that diagnosis made sense for her older sister (especially since the symptoms have resolved since keeping her on Prilosec since), I am less convinced that the diagnosis fits for Sephoni. But, luckily the Doctor is taking the next step and is ordering blood-work as well, not only to check out her overall health, and look for signs of inflammation, but to rule out Celiac disease.

Unfortunately the medication they gave her for pain is just about as effective as an M&M (so far), but unfortunately doesn’t taste as good (its sublingual).  Tomorrow we start daily Prilosec doses at full prescription strength and for at least a full month. They haven’t made any dietary recommendations, but Im going to try and keep track of what seems to trigger her (or more accurately since practically everything bothers her stomach) or what seems to digest comfortably.

If we don’t see any improvement within the next few weeks we are to call to get her in again prior to her next scheduled appoint (Dec 30).

We’ll keep you posted.

Blessings

Jia

Image: jscreationzs / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Since late September when Sephoni missed her first day of school she has now missed a total of five. Three days with what was diagnosed as a viral syndrome, and then another two a couple of weeks later. This later episode of stomach issues, combined with the fact that lately she seems to have pain and nausea (etc.) more days than not have led us to make an appointment with a pediatric gastroenterologist.

We’re worried, of course. My internet research seems to point to it being more of a functional gastrointestinal disorder as opposed to anything more serious. Today is a good day though and she’s not having any symptoms. She came home from school early (very very unlike her) yesterday and rested on the couch with a heating pad (and was well dosed with pepto and maalox) before going off to a 2-hour long demo team practice at her Tae Kwon Do school.

Sephoni is about 1 year away from her black belt testing (having tested for her brown belt back in late August, and testing for her brown-white belt just a few days ago) and this weekend will find us attending the school’s anniversary celebration, at which the demo team she was recently invited to join will be performing.

Just a few minutes ago I was able to watch her through the back door, hair shining in the sunlight, crisp new demo uniform on, going through her routine. She is both excited and nervous for tomorrow. I myself, while I dread sitting in our portable chairs in a crowded gymnasium, am quite looking forward to watching her team’s performance.

Hope your enjoying the weekend!!

Blessings

Jia

Image: luigi diamanti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

“For today and its blessings, I owe the world an attitude of gratitude.”
- Clarence E. Hodges

Blogging my blessings is something I used to do regularly (or semi-regularly) over at 2 Witches.  I fell out of the habit.  Heck, lately it seems I’ve fallen out of the blogging habit period.  So as a way to jump-start myself I have decided to take this particular habit back up.

Today I would like to say thank you for the gift of still being in love with my husband after 16 years of marriage.

Today I would like to say thank you for the gift of spending last weekend down with my dear friend and soul-sister Casey.

Today I would like to say thank you for the gift of a job, albeit one I hate, in a time when so many people are out of work.

Today I would like to say thank you for the gift of health insurance, albeit high in cost and low in benefits, without which I would never be able to get Reya the help she needs.

Today I would like to say thank you for Sephoni’s birthday slumber party going off so well.  While, originally, she was expecting more girls she seemed (and still seems) to be having a ball.

Image: Felixco, Inc. / FreeDigitalPhotos.net