Gluten Free, that's it.

Some time ago, I finally jumped on the band wagon of Pinterest. What an amazing way to spend the afternoon! I have truly enjoyed the "food and drink" pages. Has anyone else noticed how unrealistic this page is? I scroll through these recipes the same way I read science fiction: I come to the end and think "Well, that's not going to happen." Especially the gluten free recipes.

I have been gluten free since July of 2011, so I am always on the hunt for gluten free meals. But, these recipes are truly unrealistic. In my house: we eat red meat, drink red wine, and cheer for the Texas Tech team in red. Lots of red going on in my house, not so much green: we don't compost, we are not on solar energy, and we don't clean with vinegar. So, forgive me if I am reluctant to consider purchasing Xanthan Gum, or ground Chia seeds, or even quinoa by the pound. Where is the real food? Just because one is gluten free does not mean that one is dairy free, organic and vegetarian! I should write to the Gluten Free think tank to let them in on this breaking news. 

So far, I have found some really great ways to feed my family that satisfies my need to eat a gluten free diet as well as not get me laughed out of my own kitchen. Some examples of these meals: steak and salad, roasted pork chops and vegetables, corn tortilla tacos with black beans and white rice. Over the last couple of weeks, I have attempted to master the "home made hamburger," and now I have been challenged to create a beef stew that even I will eat. I just don't understand why it has to be so hard? 

We are coming upon another Holiday season. Thanksgiving food tends to have tons of gluten involved: bread dressing, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, gravy... the list goes on. I searched Pinterest the other day looking for recipes that do not have all the gluten and I ended up in the Science Fiction section again. I refuse to make my own cream of *fill in the blank (chicken, onion, celery, mushroom)* soup using 45 different ingredients that cost $9 a piece when the recipe calls for 1/4 teaspoon. Not so much. 

Then again, it would be foolish not to quit while I'm ahead. I have found some gluten free mixes that allow me to have all the food I normally would: corn bread, pizza crust, pancake mix, pasta, and even crackers. I am nothing if not creative, and I don't think this Holiday Season will be any different. Who knows, I may make my own marshmallows. 

Utah

As it turns out, I am not a very loyal blogger. Since my last entry:

The hubs became an assistant professor at Utah State University. This is really awesome, as he has been working toward attaining a position in academia since 2006. So proud of him.
We moved to Hyrum, Utah. This is a huge move for this Texas Girl. We bought a house when we got here. It is surreal to think we are home owners and live in Utah.

I am attempting to learn about Utah, Hyrum, and the Cache Valley since we moved here. I have learned so far that the people here in Utah as so incredibly friendly. It is not unusual for my neighbors to come knock on my front door, just to get to know me. They also bring home baked treats for Jerrad. We even got some veggies from the garden of the local Mormon church. Very courteous.

We have been visiting the local Baptist Church here in Hyrum. I had a massive anxiety attack the first morning we visited. Full on sick to my stomach, cold sweats, hot flashes, and even spotty vision. I had to take a moment to figure out what was getting me all riled up. What I came up with was that I have not attended a church other than Monterey Baptist Church since I was 14. I did not regularly attend church during grad school in Stillwater, so this is really my first attempt at trying out a church since I was a kid. Things did not get better for my anxiety as we walked in the front door. I had a full on hot flash in the front hall way, so obvious that one of the deacons mentioned that it was warm in the church and turned down the air conditioner. When I finally calmed down enough to regulate my own body temperature (right about the last point of the Pastor's sermon), I realized half the church was cuddled up with each other and trying to stay warm. I am just now cooling off, and the folks at the other end of the pew are freezing. Sorry about that. I really like Pastor, and he has good way of explaining things.
I am a worship snob. There, I said it. I am Stephanie, and I am a Worship snob. (Hi Stephanie, glad you are here.) The lady does not play flute like Dana; the pianist does not play like my mom or Glenna; they don't need a clarinet player; a praise team leads instead of a music director. On the other had, the bassist plays on a stand up bass- Cool right? They sing both hymns and contemporary songs. I am learning the words to the songs- that is something I have been working on since I was 16. I have gotten to sit with my husband during worship; he has been asking for that since we got married. I wore lipstick to church. If you're comfortable- you are stagnate.

Until next time!
Stephanie

Celiac since 7/11

Last July, I was diagnosed with celiac's disease. In case you are unfamiliar with this disease, it is an autoimmune disease, not an allergy or an intolerance. My body lacks the enzyme that breaks down the protein gluten found in wheat, rye, barley, and some oats. This means that I am now on a gluten free diet, for the rest of my life.

I have been a victim of "stomach issues" since I can remember. My mother and grandparents tell me that I was not able to eat properly since birth, and I recall times when I was 6 years old when I suffered from horrible stomach pains. I has been a relief to know my diagnosis as well as my treatment plan. Unfortunately, this means that I have not been properly nourished my whole life, and that I will have problems being properly nourished the rest of my life, as my lower digestive track is in a chronic state of inflammation. Sounds like fun?

I bring this up in my blog today because I have had some very interesting experiences with this disease so far. I am now the diva at the table at restaurants. I have to ask questions, and I need to talk to managers, and I need to know ingredient lists... waiters are not always fond of me. The funniest thing I have encountered has been when I take part in the Lord's Supper at church. I can no longer take of "the body portion of supper," as it is bread. This leads to some interesting looks from the deacons who distribute the bread and juice. I am tempted to get a t-shirt made that says "I am spiritually sound, I just cannot eat bread," or something along those lines. These poor men probably think I have a massive spiritual awakening between the bread and the juice, because I have one but not the other.

Another interesting aspect of this disease, is that people around me want to help me eat as normally as possible. I get tips on where to buy gluten free food. I get referred to blogs about gluten free recipes. I even have people tell me which restaurants have gluten free items on their menus. I really appreciate this about the people I surround myself with. I wonder if I had a different kind of disease, like Crohn's, if I would get the same kind of support?

It scares me though, some research out there says that it can take up to 5 years for the inflammation in my gut to heal. I also read recently that if I were to accidentally ingest gluten, it can effect my body's neurological responses, like memory and reaction times. A little worrisome...

In case you are wondering about some cool gluten free recipes or tips... Schar gluten free bread items are better tasting than Udi's; rice flour actually fries chicken better than wheat flour; Betty Crocker GF brownie mix is the best brownie mix out there; and they do make GF soy sauce.

About to shift

Life as we know it is about to change. We got news last week that we need to move because the landlord sold the house. This is both good and bad. Good because we can clean out everything, and throw out what we are not using, bad because we have to move. I'm mostly upset that the dogs will have to move back into the city limits. I will miss country living. I remember when we first moved out to the house, I kept singing "Cowboy take me away" because it mimicked reality for me. There's not a song about moving into the city that fits my mood as accurately. Just to be sentimental, I think I'll provide the lyrics to this love song, as well as a picture of the dogs because I'm weird like that. Cowboy Take Me Away

I said i wanna touch the earth
I wanna break it in my hands
I wanna grow something wild and unruly

I sleep on the hard ground
In the comfort of your arms
On a pillow of blue bonnets
And a blanket made of stars

Oh it sounds good to me

Cowboy take me away
Fly this girl as high as you can
Into the wild blue
Set me free oh I pray
Closer to Heaven above
And closer to you
Closer to you

I wanna walk and not run
I wanna skip and not fall
I wanna look at the horizon
And not see a building standing tall

I wanna be the only one
For miles and miles
Except for maybe you
And your simple smile

Oh it sounds so good to me.

Updating...

Today is the Legako Family Christmas celebration. At least half of us present are sick. Other than that, it's really great to get together.

My job is going great. I am really fortunate to have a job that allows me to work with families in this capacity. I also work with some of the greatest people. Particularly my bosses. A little peek into my work environment: When having a lively debate about the 'date-ability of guys who pop their collar and wear Sperry's' during our daily staffing (because we had an influx of these guys in treatment at the time, and the girls would not leave them alone), my clinical director politely excused himself only to return with his pink polo collar popped, a pair of Ray Ban wayfarers, and a white cardigan draped over his shoulders. He asked if this look changed his date-ability?
I folded over in a fit of giggles. I love this job.

Jerrad is doing well. He is getting ready to take his qualifying exams next month.
Welker and Sonny are still spoiled, but getting ready to duck hunt. We'll see if they like the cold.

Food for thought

From Jeff Kottler's "On being a therapist"

I wonder is Freud's admonishment to remain detached in the therapeutic relationship was intended less to promote the client's transference than to preserve the emotional safety of the clinician. The experience of any practitioner would attest to the emotional as well as the intellectual strains of living constancly with clients' crises, confusion, and intense suffering. We sit in a sacred vault, completely isolated from the rest of the world and all other intrusions, accompanied only by those who have lost hope, who live with excruciating agony, and who sometimes try to make others' lives as miserable as their own. Even with the best defenses and clinical detachment, we are still sometimes polluted by this pain.
-Kottler

It's been so long...

Well, it's been months... so much to report. Jerrad and I went to Ireland. Which was really neat. Well, we went to Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK. The more I learned about Northern Ireland, the more I was ready to go home. But after being there a week, and being charmed by the locals, I would definitately go back.
Jerrad is still working hard on his PhD. I'm not jealous. In fact, the longer he is in his PhD, the more I do not want to start one.
The dogs are doing well. They are just as spoiled as ever. We are getting them ready for dove season in September. I know Sonny will blow us away with his hunting abilities. It's interesting to see how the exact same genetics can rear totally different hunting styles. Welker with hunt because we want him to; Sonny hunts because Sonny wants to. I'm a proud momma.
Work is still working.
And Stephanie is still Stephanie, that about sums it all up.