Ten Reasons Lyme Fighters are Fantastic

1)  They are fighters.  They battle on many fronts; sometimes they are all alone in the battle, but they keep at it!

2) Even though many others misunderstand them- they still seek to understand others!

3) They are clever.  They do much researching, scheduling, keeping meds straight, treatments on time... even with brain fog!

4) They are creative.  They have to learn to do things a little differently than others- as no two Lyme Fighters are exactly the same.  They have to be creative in how to eat, move, lie down, take the medicine, do treatments, keep in community with others...their creativity is central to all they do!

5) They are strong.  These are people who were at one time 'mover-shaker' people-  active and smart.  Though illness has robbed them in so many ways- their internal fortitude muscles are getting a work out.  Some days just getting out of bed for a meal is an amazing feat of strength! 

6) They are advocates!  They don't want anyone else to go through what they are going through- they are active in getting the word out, to warn others, to educate others. 

7) They are good at networking!  Lyme Fighters have learned how to reach out to each other and to share information that makes a difference for them, and will make a difference for others.  Many are 'shut-ins', but regularly give 'shout-outs' to whomever they can, using many different media/communication tools.

8) They share!  With the networking, they are eager to help another person whenever they find a piece of helpful information or resource.

9) They have learned that 'Being' trumps 'Doing' when life is boiled down.  Used to being people of action- and then learning to live within limits, one learns more about their person hood, their self-differentiation, their purpose, their value; even when living life 'small', Lyme Fighters live it 'big'!

10)  They are there for each other.   Lyme Fighters know better than anyone else what another Lyme Fighter is going through-  they know what encouragement is needed, and speak/show it to another Lyme Fighter generously.  They may not have much to offer materially, but they give what matters most- they give of themselves. 

I'd love it if you'd leave a post with more reasons of why Lyme Fighters are Fantastic! 

Blessings-

Ephesians 3
¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom ^[l]every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the ^[m]saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, ²¹ to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations ^[n]forever and ever. Amen.

Cynthia's Sweet & Salty Crunchy Munch

In our area, today is Deer Hunting Opener!  It is almost a holiday.  There are many traditions to Deer Opener: travel, special traditional/necessary clothing (like blaze orange everything), vehicles, equipment, housing (hunting shacks), cook outs, and of course- special treats! 

Seeing my family with all their special treats was somehow extra tough this year-  So, I baked up my own snack today, as I haven't made it for awhile.

Perhaps you'd like to try it as well for over these 'munchy holidays'. 

Now, I'm not a great recipe writer- and I bake, and cook, mainly operating under my grandmother's tutelage mantra, "Just add enough til your stomach shakes!" approach.  So, I am going to show you the recipe in pictures...  maybe instead of a recipe- you can think of it as a snack guideline! 

Start with a jelly-roll pan, with low sides, like this (note, I do not have fancy kitchenware for this recipe):

(You may also notice, I didn't clean up my kitchen before you came.) 

Pre-heat your oven to 375F

 

 

Into the pan, spread about a single layer of Rice Chex:

 

 

 

To this, add Organic Coconut Oil-  I dolloped about 5 TBSP across the top of the cereal-

 

 

 

Now place the pan into the oven for about 3 minutes to liquefy the coconut oil (yes- I'm in a chilly climate, so the oil needs to heat up).

 

 

Once the three minutes are up, and the coconut oil is melted, take the pan out of the oven.  Using a spatula, mix the cereal and oil until the cereal is evenly coated.  (You may add more oil if you'd like- there may be a little oil on the bottom of the pan, but it shouldn't be pooling on the bottom.)

 

 

 You may even want to sprinkle the cereal with some salt- I used popcorn salt- you may want to use sea salt.... Salt it to taste

 

 

Place the pan back in the oven for about 5 minutes

 

Take it out and again use the spatula to mix the cereal/salt- Then put the pan back in the oven for another 5 minutes- OR- until the cereal is just browning to your liking~ (no, your Lyme eyes are not acting up- it is out of focus, but I couldn't get a pic right on the 5 minute mark that wasn't blurred!)

 

 

 

 

Taste it to see if you need more salt~  if it is to your liking- turn off the oven, and let the cereal cool in the pan.  Once it has cooled- place the snack in an airtight container to retain it's Crunchy-Munchiness!

 

 

 

Now, I'm thinking- this could be all the more decadent if I had a bar of Lily's Dark Chocolate to melt and drizzle over it after it cooled.... Hhhhmmm, maybe for New Year's? 

 

 

James 1:7

 

Blessings! 

 

 

Pumpkin Pie

A quick post- as my Lyme Battle Buddy Vickie wondered about a pumpkin pie recipe- 
Here is the one I played with last year-  you can adjust to your own needs- 
(like no sugar for me - I'll use Stevia, and coconut mild instead of evap milk...)
I will include the crust- although it is off limits for me- it sure sounds good.  I made it without the crust last year- just oiled the pie plate- and it was good :)

Basically-  play with this:  Cynthia's Pumpkin Pie
 
3/4 Stevia (one that portion ratio to sugar in a recipe is 1:1),

1 tsp grnd cinnamon,

1/2tsp salt,

1/2tsp ginger,

1/4 tsp clove,

2 large eggs,

1c pumpkin,

1c evap milk (or use coconut milk)- 

pour into a 9inch pan, 

bake at 425 degrees in over for 15 minutes and then lower temp to 350 and back another 40-50 minutes... or til done  
(Yes, this is a very basic recipe!)

If you want an expanded, different recipe for pumpkin pie and all sorts of other goodies- checkout this site:  http://www.affairsofliving.com/imported-20100106014405/2009/10/30/gluten-free-sugar-free-vegan-pumpkin-pie-recipe-with-crunchy.html
Use their search engine for all sorts of good recipes to play with.... As Lyme Fighters know- 'one size/recipe does not fit all'~ 

Have a blessed November!   Don't forget to thank a Veteran on the 11th!  And remember- you too can have some special foods to look foward to at Thanksgiving-- start now to look at recipes and plan for your own new favorites! 

Blessings-