Frozen Yogurt and Toppings

What topping are you to Him?

Today marks almost one week since discovering the depth of my allergy to salicylic acid, and I've been watching so much of what I eat and consume.  Weird how so much contains this particular allergen, and all along I've thought it was a chemical only found in face products.  I feel a bit slimmer, less bloated, have experienced a decrease in swelling of my ankles, more focused, and when I have my one cup-of-coffee a day, I can really tell a difference.  I instantly start clearing my throat, and it's crazy to me how this one annoying aspect of my daily life was tied into what I was drinking/eating.  Coffee is such an experience to me, and to not have at least one-a-day, is not right.  :)  It's a morning ritual, and I will push through a little swelling and throat clearing to enjoy the 8 oz. of enjoyment. 

But, that's not the point of today's entry.  A close friend of mine encouraged me to jot down something I mentioned yesterday, to share with others.

I was telling her how I have grown so much much closer to Christ, in Silver, because it was so barren in the "extras".  I didn't have a Bible study group to attend, a women's ministry that I could be actively involved in, the praise and worship was simply sweet (emphasis on simple), and the messages were given by a variety of pastors.  I love our current church, for the people within it's walls, but it's been hard to not have a pastor for a year and a half and all the "extras".

He lifts the toppings up, sustains them, and He NEVER melts!

I told my friend that I have learned what it means to have Christ as my all-in-all, like the main substance of frozen yogurt, and when we return to Georgia the toppings will come. I don't want to switch that focus to women's Bible studies, children's ministries, amazing praise and worship being my yogurt, and having Christ as my topping (or after thought).  I want to keep Him first, and allow the sweet things of the "Bible Belt" to add to what He and I already have.

Load up your cup full of Him, whatever that flavor might be, and sprinkle on the colorful parts of life on top!  He lifts the toppings up, sustains them, and guess what?!?  He NEVER melts!!!  It's ongoing, and the toppings can even change.  Some seasons in life call for sprinkles, and other seasons call for chunks of brownies!  He loves each one of us so much, and it amazes me that He finds everyone of us as His favorite topping!!

 I think I'm sprinkles, to Him, for sure!  What topping are you? 

Highlights and Insights

Perhaps you find the idea of listening to the prompting of the Lord in getting highlights done a bit odd, but I don't.  I believe He prompts us to go here, or there.  Grab a coffee "now", or "wait."  Have lunch with that ol' friend this afternoon, or head straight home.  The list goes on an on.  Now, I'm not saying that you're out of obedience if you fail to follow one of these directions, I just believe you miss opportunities He has for you.  He prompts us so that we can experience Him fully, in a variety of places, doing various things.  Let me share what happened yesterday.

I went to work, had a coffee with the principal I've been doing my internship with, and on my way home, I felt the prompting to stop in and get my hair cut.  It was very spontaneous for me, as I usually have these sorts of things planned out, and for sure planned out with specific people.  But, not yesterday.  I pulled into the Belleza Spa and Salon and asked if they had an opening for a haircut.  They did, but it would be with a new girl, and I ALWAYS get nervous about the "new" person.  I think it's because I've been the new person giving services, and let's just say that with time comes perfection of skill.

I was hesitant and asked a million questions about this "new girl", and took a leap.  Not only did I have them put me down for a haircut, but also for my very first highlight (in a salon, as boxes with my mom are always cheaper and she does a great job).  With that in place, we were going to get to know one another because we had the next two hours to do so.  We talked about husbands, children, infertility, new towns, old houses, Hatch chili's and how they're not the only good ones in New Mexico (gasp), and here's where it took a turn.  We talked about facials!  She graduated from the Aveda School in Albuquerque, and I shared with her how we took our daughter there to do a tour because she wants to be a cosmetologist.  I also shared with her my ABSOLUTE LOVE for spas and Aveda products, but there was one problem.  I told her that I couldn't use all the fun anti-aging, acne preventing products because I am allergic to salicylic acid.  Hang on to your spanks people!  Here it goes.

She said, "Oh man.  That means you can't have aspirin either."  I said, "Yes, how did you know that?  I mean, what does aspirin have to do with salicylic acid?"  She said it has everything to do with one another because salicylic acid is in aspirin, and in fact, salicylic acid is many foods, lotions, etc.  WHAT?  I was shocked, but not as shocked as I was about to be.

She showed me article, after article, after article about those allergic to salicylic acid.  I thought it was just a topical issue, but it's not!!  It's in foods, drinks, and other toiletries that I have been using.  The symptoms of someone who is salicytrate intolerant was shocking to me because I have been struggling with each one of them simultaneously for close to 18 years.  Symptoms like headaches, throat clearing (and if you know me, or have been a former student of mine you know how annoying this has been), swollen ankles, sleep apnea (or snoring), breakouts, and a few more that are too embarrassing to put down in the written word.  I was dumbfounded because it's high in some of my favorite fruits and vegetables that I eat every day.  It is also in my all time favorite beverage, in fact it's a passion of mine, COFFEE!!!!!!!!!  Aaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!  What is a girl to do now?

I wanted to cry, because if you have been struggling with these things and they seem to be just apart of who you are, it comes as a great relief to see how they are directly woven together and it all comes down to the on thing that I've known I was allergic to: salicylic acid.  I was surprised that my dermatologist never mentioned the internal implications, nor my doctors.  I feel like all the negative, or annoying things that I struggle with, could be reduced (if not eliminated) by a cautious watch on my salicylic acid intake.  Due to the stress our family has experienced over the past year or so, it has only been accelerated.  That's why my hair has been breaking, ankles swollen for no apparent reason, extreme face breakouts, and headaches. 

When I started to reflect on my past with this intolerance, it all makes since.  I didn't clear my throat, have such terrible headaches, swollen ankles, snoring, etc. when I was in high school.  I started all of this around the end of my freshman year of college.  Well, that's when my coffee intake started, and other things I should be avoiding (like particular skin care items, etc.) started as well.

Today starts day 1 of the journey to watching my salicylic acid intake.  It's complicated because it's a natural ingredient that can be found in the rarest of items like tomatoes (which I LOVE), gum, peppermint, spices, and so much more.  I am attempting to slowly, but surely, detox my body and slowly reintroduce a few items that I miss terribly.  I know what you're thinking.  What are you going to do about your coffee problem?  Glad you were worried too.  I am only having one cup today, as opposed to four, and it will be the purest of forms.  I will switch to decaf (which contains minimal SA) and go from there.  It's crazy to think that even when I was cautiously trying to lose weight, that was a hindering me from truly losing weight.  The SA found in products that someone like me cannot tolerate, actually makes you bloated and retain abnormal amounts of water.  So crazy!!!

You see, there's one more aspect to this.  I have been praying to the Lord, specifically for the past few days, that He please help me get my body back in shape.  I have been perplexed as to why it's been so hard.  Exercise is a must, and I have been working on that, but this is a HUGE problem that needed to be addressed.  It's caused more dangerous situations than a few extra pounds, like blood pressure issues and hypertension, and if my highlights yesterday was to just find out more about this one allergy, then PRAISE HIM!!!

Thank you Lord for loving me so much as to prompt me, thank you Aveda for teaching your students thoroughly, and thank you Amy for being the "new girl" that led me to this discovery!  By the way, I was able to share the Lord with her, through all of this!

Georgia . . . Hummingbird

This morning, I had to force myself to leave the ED Week Online catalog of Webinar opportunities for teachers.  I miss the classroom terribly, and I know that before I can unpack our first few boxes, I will be gearing up for a new school year and will return to the familiar sounds of packed hallways, moving desks and chatter.  I have surrendered my principalship, and I am trusting Him with the master's program He's led me through the past year.  I know He will have that leadership position down the road, but not for now.

The Lord, without a doubt, is moving us to Georgia.  This particular state is packed with many emotions, boundaries, relationships, backgrounds, and history.  In fact, this state is so emotional that several of my siblings cannot stand to hear, for one moment, that any of us are returning.  This summer marks exactly twenty years since we crossed the Georgia/Alabama state line and when we left we thought we'd never return.  We left behind a broken family through divorce, personal bad choices, friendships gone wrong, relationships left hurting, and a complete mess of problems.  Many times throughout my life, I wanted to avoid the peach state and not make reference to it other than reminisce about the culture that I did love.  I love front porches, big trees that sound like water when they sway, lightening bugs, green grass for cartwheels, the hospitality others show when you stop by, fashion, sweet tea everywhere you go, and beautiful colors that appear in spring/fall.  What I didn't love was the insecurity I carried, the need for attention I displayed, and all that goes with these two attributes.

That's the way our Lord does His thing!  He returns us to our pain to redeem us, rewrite the pages, erase that which we confess, and set us on new ground.  I left a broken teen, and return twenty years later as a confident woman in Christ.  I left not knowing who I was, and I am returning fully defined.  Nothing remained the same, and it's all new.  Not even a consignment piece, but a beautifully hemmed garment of grace, forgiveness, redemption and mercy.  Thank you Lord for redefining Elizabeth Anne DeJager into Your girl!!  Extreme makeover at it's best!

Hummingbird in Silver City, NM (Bear Mountain Lodge)

It feels so great to be here once more.  Here at the computer, cup-of-coffee, Gungor playing in the background, the sun shining through, and the windows open.  It refreshes everything in me to be in this very moment.  Did I mention the hum of the arriving hummingbirds?  Yes, it's a beautiful phenomena here in Silver City, New Mexico.  Every year, the hummingbirds make their pilgrimage here and flood our town with the sounds of late spring/early summer.  Humans flock from everywhere to grab a close look at the array of colors, and species.  Yes, Lord, You are an amazing architect of all sorts!

Good Wednesday to each of us and let's make it count!