Stay with me on this, okay?
You know that Toby Keith song "I Love This Bar?" I'm really not much of a Toby Keith fan, but this song really sums up something I've been thinking about lately. Here are some of the lyrics:
We got winners, we got losers
Chain smokers and boozers
And we got yuppies, we got bikers
We got thristy hitchhikers
And the girls next door dress up like movie stars
Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar
We got cowboys, we got truckers
Broken-hearted fools and suckers
And we got hustlers, we got fighters
Early birds and all-nighters
And the veterans talk about their battle scars
Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar
[Chorus:]
I love this bar
It's my kind of place
Just walkin' through the front door
Puts a big smile on my face
It ain't too far, come as you are
Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar
My Webb family is kind of like Toby's bar. We've got all kinds of people: straight-laced Mormons, Harley riding bikers, druggies (most are recovered), football players, ballet dancers, etc. A couple different ethnicities and lifestyles. And yet, I love them, each and every one.
Why? Because the thing that unites us is stronger than any differences we might have. We are FAMILY. We are tied together by blood, a shared heritage, and an unmistakable concern for one another. In the Webb family, everybody loves everybody. We watch out for each other. We take care of each other. We love each other.
I've always known this. It's like knowing that I have green eyes or ten toes on my feet. It's just part of who I am. But It's become more apparent to me in the last few weeks since my dad's accident. I have been so overwhelmed by the love and concern our family has shown for him. Every day that my mom has to work, someone has been there to hang out with my dad. They show up at 7 am and stay till dinner time. It's been about three weeks now, and my mom hasn't run out of people who are willing to help. My cousins have even called me, asking if I need them to watch my kids or do something to help out my dad. The most incredible thing, though, happened at the family Christmas party. Unknown to my parents or myself, someone passed around a Mason jar at the party. People put in as much money as they wanted/were able to, and the next day my mom's siblings brought it over to my parents. It contained $2000. While the Webbs are big on love, they are not big on money, and this represents a sacrifice for each person who contributed. It was so kind. My dad will be out of work for at least 3 months, and since he is self-employed, that means no income. This money is such a blessing to my family.
I am grateful to be part of such a family. As Toby says,
I love this bar
It's my kind of place
Just walkin' through the front door
Puts a big smile on my face
It ain't too far, come as you are
Hmm, hmm, hmm I love this bar
Thank you to all of you! You know who you are!
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
When I'm Healthy I'm Happy
The past few months have given me some new perspective on life. I have been so sick that now that I feel good again, I am amazed at what a blessing good health is. You don't appreciate your health until it's gone.
So, here's the story: after Max was born lots of nice people brought us lots of dinners, plus we ate a lot of easy, processed foods like Mac N Cheese. I just kept feeling sicker and sicker. I lost all of my baby weight in about 3 weeks because I couldn't keep anything down, and I was SO tired and cranky because I had no energy at all. Finally I went to the doctor who did a few tests and determined that I have Celiac Disease (or at least a high level of gluten intolerance). What this means is that my body sees gluten as the enemy and attacks it, making a mess of my intestines. The bummer is that gluten is found in wheat products, almost all processed foods, and hides in random places like oatmeal. So all the well meaning lasagnas that neighbors brought were killing me! (I am grateful for them all the same. Thank you, thank you, thank you.)
When I first found out about my gluten issues, I cried. For 2 days. I mourned every doughnut I will never eat.
Every easy meal of spaghetti and Ragu that my kids love. And my newfound love of saltine crackers. Gone.Also in my mourning was saying goodbye to the convenience of Chicken Voila from Costco, as well as being able to stop at Wendy's for chicken nuggets if we're out at lunchtime and I'm hungry. Life without gluten sounded unappetizing and hard.
Luckily it's been about a month and I have come a long way. I went to a gluten free fair at the health store that changed my life. Literally. I tried so many samples of GF (gluten free) foods that actually tasted good. I got a recipe book that tells me how to make my own GF version of things like cream of chicken soup, rolls, cookies, etc.
I've been gluten free for about 6 weeks now and I have honestly never felt better. It turns out that other problems I have had for a while like anemia, eczema, and fatigue were caused by my gluten allergy. So cutting gluten from my diet has helped with those things as well. What a blessing! It turns out that what I thought was lactose intolerance was actually from the gluten so I can eat ice cream again. Yay!
Also of note: last week Kate gave us a scare and we spent the day at the hospital with her. At first we thought she had appendicitis, then someone mentioned an infection in her lymph nodes..... turned out to be a stomach bug and she's fine now. I am so grateful for her good health! I love her so much and it was agony for me to see her hurting.
Then, earlier this week my dad fell off a roof while he was working (he does home inspections). He had to be life flighted to the hospital. He broke his back, neck, ribs, arm, and wrist. Those are major injuries, but the good news is that he will heal from all of them! What could have been a deadly accident, or at least something that left him paralyzed, is only a bunch of broken bones! He's had back surgery and will need wrist surgery next week, but at least the doctors will be able to fix it! Again, I am so grateful for his health.
Our Father in Heaven gave us these amazing bodies. I am so impressed with their design and ability to heal. And I am grateful to feel good again!
So, here's the story: after Max was born lots of nice people brought us lots of dinners, plus we ate a lot of easy, processed foods like Mac N Cheese. I just kept feeling sicker and sicker. I lost all of my baby weight in about 3 weeks because I couldn't keep anything down, and I was SO tired and cranky because I had no energy at all. Finally I went to the doctor who did a few tests and determined that I have Celiac Disease (or at least a high level of gluten intolerance). What this means is that my body sees gluten as the enemy and attacks it, making a mess of my intestines. The bummer is that gluten is found in wheat products, almost all processed foods, and hides in random places like oatmeal. So all the well meaning lasagnas that neighbors brought were killing me! (I am grateful for them all the same. Thank you, thank you, thank you.)
When I first found out about my gluten issues, I cried. For 2 days. I mourned every doughnut I will never eat.
Every easy meal of spaghetti and Ragu that my kids love. And my newfound love of saltine crackers. Gone.Also in my mourning was saying goodbye to the convenience of Chicken Voila from Costco, as well as being able to stop at Wendy's for chicken nuggets if we're out at lunchtime and I'm hungry. Life without gluten sounded unappetizing and hard.
Luckily it's been about a month and I have come a long way. I went to a gluten free fair at the health store that changed my life. Literally. I tried so many samples of GF (gluten free) foods that actually tasted good. I got a recipe book that tells me how to make my own GF version of things like cream of chicken soup, rolls, cookies, etc.
I've been gluten free for about 6 weeks now and I have honestly never felt better. It turns out that other problems I have had for a while like anemia, eczema, and fatigue were caused by my gluten allergy. So cutting gluten from my diet has helped with those things as well. What a blessing! It turns out that what I thought was lactose intolerance was actually from the gluten so I can eat ice cream again. Yay!
Also of note: last week Kate gave us a scare and we spent the day at the hospital with her. At first we thought she had appendicitis, then someone mentioned an infection in her lymph nodes..... turned out to be a stomach bug and she's fine now. I am so grateful for her good health! I love her so much and it was agony for me to see her hurting.
Then, earlier this week my dad fell off a roof while he was working (he does home inspections). He had to be life flighted to the hospital. He broke his back, neck, ribs, arm, and wrist. Those are major injuries, but the good news is that he will heal from all of them! What could have been a deadly accident, or at least something that left him paralyzed, is only a bunch of broken bones! He's had back surgery and will need wrist surgery next week, but at least the doctors will be able to fix it! Again, I am so grateful for his health.
Our Father in Heaven gave us these amazing bodies. I am so impressed with their design and ability to heal. And I am grateful to feel good again!
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