Liberation

Remember how Shelby has been slowly starving and dying?

Well--through this process Shelby has been Morse-coding S.O.S to all people who have been visited by the Unknown-hated-hidden-allergies. Screaming and crying and praying that there might be a way for her to continue a normal life! There's basically no food in existence that doesn't have gluten, milk, or eggs....other than corn chips and air, of course. Great diet eh? No. She wants fat. And tenderness. And flavor. And rich tastes and textures that melt when they reach her longing tongue. But she has discovered in her survival process that gluten, milk, and eggs are all the main ingredients for flavorful food.

Then one day, she came across an idea. An epiphany! A hope and dream to grasp.

She pulled out her recipe box... and A-ha! She was right.

There is a dessert out there. One with no milk. No gluten. NO EGGS!

So of course she quickly put aside all other matters and went straight to the kitchen. Bringing along her two beautiful sisters and turning up some Disney tunes to full blast she got to work. Singing, and dancing, and laughing--she couldn't even believe something flavorful and fattening existed in the Unknown-haten-hidden-allergies world!

Muddy Buddies! Even the name sounds fattening and unhealthy!

Look how the dishes shine in anticipation!

A sister dances with shared happiness and rejoicing that Shelby will almost be able to eat something tasty!

Both sisters rock out on their "muddy buddy" air guitars in excitement and merriment!



A sister presents the final product to Shelby.

She accepts the gift.

There is hope.

A "squeeze my eyes shut" Day:

You know when everything is going right? 

Happiness.
Love.
Laughter.
Health.
Accomplishments.
Friends.
Family.
Hope.
Then all the sudden...

CRUSH. DASH. DESTROY. TERMINATE. RIP. TEAR. DEMOLISH. GONE.


Ya. That happened yesterday.
Bad news- My Preference date can't go anymore! I'm not allowed to return the dress. I got sick and missed part of madrigal because I was hacking up a lung in the bathroom. I got tons of homework. Etc.
So, my happiness rapidly died for a while.
Today my day was pretty crappy. Teary-eyed and tired and disappointed I walked to all my classes quite angrily and it's no wonder no one wanted to talk to me.

Then I went to seminary... Oh, the joy of the gospel.
A wonderful girl named Gabi gave a thought. Here it is:

The Fellowship of The Unashamed

I am a part of the fellowship of the Unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit
Power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has
been made. I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won't look back, let up, slow
down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense,
and my future is secure. I am finished and done with low living, sight
walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tame visions,
mundane talking, chintzy giving, and dwarfed goals.

I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits, or
popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised,
regarded, or rewarded. I now live by presence, learn by faith, love by
patience, lift by prayer, and labor by power.

My pace is set, my gait is fast, my goal is Heaven, my road is narrow, my
way is rough, my companions few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear.
I cannot be bought, compromised, deterred, lured away, turned back, diluted,
or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the
presence of adversity, negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the
pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of
mediocrity.

I won't give up, back up, let up, or shut up until I've preached up, prayed
up, paid up, stored up, and stayed up for the cause of Christ. I am a
disciple of Jesus Christ. I must go until He returns, give until I drop,
preach until all know, and work until He comes.

And when He comes to get His own, He will have no problem recognizing me. My
colors will be clear for "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the
power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.." (Romans 1:16)

By Dr. Bob Moorehead

Isn't amazing how applicable that was to my crap attitude? God must have whispered in Gabi's ear I needed to hear that. So I felt a little guilty. But I was inspired. I remembered my philosophy about how it's my choice to be happy. So. I shut my eyes, closed them REAL tight, said a quick prayer, cried a bit, then chose to be happier. I will not let down. I will give till I drop. I will be a disciple of Christ. And I will CHOOSE for myself how to live. I will not let Satan discourage me. I will NOT.

So, once again The Spirit gave me a little slap in the face and made me remember: I have a choice.

And guess what?

It works.

It always does.