One Thousand Gifts

Most of you have probably heard of, or read the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. It is such an encouraging book. It's more than just a book. It's a dare, "A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are" as it says on the front of the book. It's all about being thankful for the little things God has given to us, finding joy in this moment that God has blessed us with. It's about eucharisteo, it's about thanksgiving, grace, and joy all wrapped into one. The way she writes is vibrant! Her words are convicting, piercing, uplifting. 

I have accepted her dare. I am logging one thousand gifts. I am a hunter of blessing. 

1- Salvation

2- A hard working husband

3- Arrow Sage

4- Baby wearing

8- Goofy baby smiles

12- God's Provision

25- New journals to fill with thankfulness

26- The ability to express gratefulness and thanks

These are just a few, of the gifts I have sought. But my adventure of seeking the joy found in thankfulness continues. 

You can find more on my blog's facebook page! 

https://www.facebook.com/EastEntrance

While you're there like my page!

Until next week,

Blessings-

-Ashley

Psalm 118: 24

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Eczema and Gluten Free

Mid December my little man broke out in a rash. I had put an outfit that I had not washed on him, and I thought maybe he just has sensitive skin, but he never cleared up. He began to scratch at his head he had scratches and scabs all over his poor little head. Then I had asked a friend of our, who is a  PA, about it. She told me it was eczema. To my thinking it was just a skin condition, there was nothing that could really be  done about it. But I hit the Internet hard with research about it. I knew there had to be something to ease the itch for my baby. In the picture below you can see some of the rash, but it was worse than it appears in the picture. All these pictures were taken as I was dressing him for bed.

But I found the following article:
http://drrodneyford.com/extra/documents/172-curing-eczema.html

"My research has been in milk, egg and gluten reactions. These food allergies cause a wide number of different symptoms (where you get attacked depends upon how your immune system is dealing with these food allergens). I have subsequently discovered that gluten (a protein in wheat, rye and barley) is now one of the commonest causes of adverse food reactions"

"Eczema is an inflammation of the skin. In children it is usually due to some sort of allergic manifestation. In children it is also has the name atopic dermatitis . About one in five children are troubled with eczema. Some get it really badly. In my experience about 80% of eczema is due to food allergy – so it can be cured.

Most infant eczema is related to food allergy"

The above paragraphs stood out to me. Could this be my baby's problem? Surly, not! It's not like he was eating bread, or pastas! He hadn't ate anything with gluten in it! Other than just starting to introduce applesauce, and sweet potatoes he was exclusively breastfed. I have heard of babies being sensitive to dairy products in their mama's milk, but could gluten find it's way into my milk supply? I contacted a lactation consultant, she told me she had never read or heard of anything. 

I began to pray for wisdom, was it the gluten? Or dairy? I just knew in my mama's heart that it was gluten. I quit eating anything with gluten. I was prepared to stick with it for a month, and if I still saw no improvements, I would switch to dairy.

But after just one day I saw small improvements! 

After only 2 full days, my baby looked so much better! He would soon be clear, and stop scratching at his poor little head!

After three weeks he was totally clear! (I didn't take the picture until 4 weeks though) The red spot on the back of his neck is a birthmark, I have the exact same one. 

I am still gluten free, and loving it, most of the time... every once and awhile I slip something small in, and he doesn't break out. My thinking is that it's just not enough to sneak it's way into my milk supply! 

I often thank God for his guidance in this area! I am so thankful I found that article! 

Blessings!

Ashley

Psalm 34:19  The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;

I'm Back!

As the title of this post states, I am back! It's been almost a year since my last post. A lot has happened this past year. I would like to bring y'all up to date.

In June (I think it was June), we decided to put Jon back in school. We chose Linn State Technical Collage (LSTC) as the school and then looked at the programs they offered. He chose aviation mechanics. It's a two year program. About a month before school started we moved into mom and dad K's basement.

On August 16th our baby was born. A beautiful 8lbs 2oz, 20.5" long. We were shocked! We had been expecting a girl. I had painted our changing table purple, the clothes I had brought to the birth clinic were pink, my car seat was pink and brown, all the clothe from NB to 24 months were pink, purple, and flowery! Though we were shocked, we were ecstatic! We had a son! We laughed and laughed and laughed! We brought a beautiful life into this world!

This photo was when we realized we had a boy.

My lovely midwife had a boys outfit that was 3-6 month she gave us so he didn't have to wear pink home!

Look at those chunker cheeks!

He is now 7 and a half months old, has two teeth, is crawling all over the place, pulling up on everything, walking along furniture, and trying to stand on his own. He is a very happy baby! 

This is my Arrow Sage Kling! I love this child so much! 

About two weeks ago we were able to move out of mom and dad K's basement. We were blessed to find a house closer to Jon's school and work for a great price! The house is old, and need a lot of love! But we are prepared to give it all the love it needs! 

I am excited to be blogging again!

Blessings!

Ashley

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal