Daughter of the King: Epic Adventures

Showing posts with label Epic Adventures. Show all posts

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Gluten, Birthdays, and Cars

My poor little blog. You've been so neglected. I apologize. It's tumblr's fault, really. I shall try to post a bit more frequently. No promises though. The last couple of months have been interesting. I have gone through so many different emotions. Hmm...I must be a girl, lol. I'll start out with my sickness story.

I have been feeling unwell for quite a while now, probably 3 or 4 years. It started with a case of mononucleosis. Then I started having stomach problems. My stomach would bother me whenever I ate. It was only occasional and slight at first, but slowly got worse. When I went away to college, I found that every time I ate something, my stomach would hurt. I would curl up on my bed and sit there waiting for the pain to go away. I thought maybe it was just the cafeteria food. When I came home in December, I was hoping it would get better. However, it didn't. My stomach continued to hurt after I ate and joints would hurt, my muscles would ache, and my entire body would constantly ache. The last couple of months I've been exhausted and in pain. I would sit in my brother's chair (I kidnap it during the week while he's at school, hehe) with my heating pad, curled up, wishing the pain and fatigue would go away. My mom started thinking that maybe it was a food allergy. She suggested maybe I had a gluten intolerance. I happen to have a lot of symptoms of Celiac Disease. I even was given a blood test for Celiac Disease last year. However, it came back negative. But we decided that it wouldn't hurt to go off of gluten for a while and see if it made me feel better. At that point, I was willing to try anything. So, I went off of gluten a little less than a month ago. At first, there wasn't much of a change. But after about two weeks, I started feeling much better. My stomach didn't hurt and my aches were gone, for the most part. To test and make sure that it really was the gluten, I started eating it again last Friday and Saturday. Yeah.....it was gluten. My body is still trying to get that gluten out of my system, even though I haven't eaten any gluten since Saturday. Talk about a high maintenance stomach........sheesh. I am having a hard time saying goodbye to gluten, however, I am very happy that I figured out what was making me sick. I am very glad to not have to be curled up in a chair, cuddling with my heating pad and moaning in pain, trying not to cry. I can give up gluten if it means feeling normal again. My mom made me gluten free raman noodles today for lunch and I made gluten free flourless peanut butter cookies for snack today! It made me very happy.

Let's see. What else? Between now and the last time I blogged, I turned 20. I feel rather old now. My birthday celebration was a splendid thing. My grandparents came up, as did Omi, and Colette was home for spring break and so was able to come. There was a splendid feast, that involved lasagna and garlic bread. It was right before I went off of gluten so I was able to eat it. I got awesome white lace shoes, jewelry, candy, and money. Colette, Danny, and Nick took me to a Christian music concert the night before, as my birthday present, which was splendid and tons of fun. Later on, after my grandparents had left, my friend Kevin came over. He moved away recently, but he was back in town that weekend, so was able to come. He gave me a 'Mer' bumper sticker! Guys....it's pretty awesome! I'm just saying. We had banana splits instead of cake, and they were scrumptious. We also made Colette play Halo, which was amusing. Annnd we spent a lot of time tickling Colette....because that's always fun. It was a splendid birthday celebration. I loved it. On my actual birthday, my mom took me shopping...there were clearance racks.....I came home with lots of clothes and two pairs of shoes. I just love clearance racks.... :)

Last Saturday, my Dad and I went car shopping. We spent the whole day looking at cars and making phone calls, with no luck. Finally, on our way back home, we stopped to look at one last car. This car was actually nice. We continued home, to think about it, got home, and decided that that was the car to buy. So my dad called the guy up and gave him an offer, we ate a quick dinner, and then we headed back down to buy the car! This car is an Oldsmobile 88....and it is splendid! Sebastian is the perfect first car. His seats are like sofas. So comfy. He is so spacious and roomy inside. And he's not an ugly color...he's a nice light blue/gray color. Let's just say that I'm quite attached. Sebastian and I are going to be good friends....in fact, we already are. He went to the repair shop to have his emergency brake fixed today. So, now, he's in great shape.

Weeelp, I have run out of things today. I shall be back soon to blog again, hopefully.

Oh...one more thing.......it keeps raining and snowing......doesn't the weather know that it's SPRING?! I am ready for winter to be over.....that is all. TTFN.

Monday, October 24, 2011

2011 Summer Adventures: Best friends and Creeks

Colette and I's last Sunday at home before leaving for CBU this year, was spent at a creek with good friends. After church, Danny, Nick, Samantha, our good friends Nathaniel and Brittany, Brittany's boyfriend Mitchel, Colette, and I headed down to the creek for a good time.

Hehe....they're kinda cute.

He....stepped/slipped into the water. It was rather funny.

Yeah....they were kinda building a dam....with the log we were trying to sit on....engineers. sheesh.

It was a very fun afternoon, so delightful. I definitely got in the water (which was freezing, btw) up to my neck! It was great! I kinda miss it....and these awesome people. :)

Monday, October 17, 2011

2011 Summer Adventures: Hope Valley Camping Trip

For Danny's birthday weekend, we went camping to Hope Valley. Colette came with us on the trip for the first camping trip with the S. family (that would be us)! It was a wondrous, beauteous, delightful weekend. A very awesome, epic weekend. The beauty of that place never ceases to leave me in wonder and awe of our amazing God and how great He is! He is the best artist there ever could be!

Joey and I went exploring/sloshing up the river and came across a dead beaver...so naturally, I had to take a picture of it for my blog. I mean, isn't that what people normally would do?

I truly i do believe there is nothing more majestic and beautiful than the mountains.

We went swimming in Blue Lake.

Becca got up at the crack of dawn to go fishing in the creek and caught two fish! The girl's got dedication!

We celebrated Danny's birthday with lots of presents and Dirt Cake...his favorite.

The candle blowing out photo....

My present to Danny...packaged in his own Murse or Man Bag! hehe.

Unwrapping Becca's present to him....packaged purposely in pink, just for him, hehe.....

It's chocolate!

His present opening came to a halt for a moment as he had a piece of chocolate....

He had to stop for a moment and just savor his piece of chocolate...

We discovered this cool little lean-to thingy...it's pretty awesome!

It was such a wonderful vacation but it was too short....much to short. Just blogging about it makes me miss it...and my mountains. Living in the city may have it's perks (just what they are, I"m not sure....) but nothing can compare to my beloved mountains. I can't wait to go back to Hope Valley for another camping trip. And I can't wait to return to my mountains and smell the fresh, beautiful air. :)

Saturday, October 15, 2011

2011 Summer Adventures: Murder Mystery Party

The week we returned from our camping trip at Bodega Bay, another adventure took place....a murder mystery party with Colette, Nathaniel, Brittany, Mitchel, Danny, Nick, Samantha, and I. It was a lovely occasion. We all dressed up for our parts we were to play. Danny and Nick looked their parts to a T. They were splendid and quite dapper looking gentlemen. Nathaniel too, looked quite nice and fit his part in the party quite well. The ladies looked lovely and beautiful, each dressed accordingly to their character part they were to play. The hostess, Colette, had provided a beautifully decorated table and sitting area.

My personal favorite of them

hehe....my favorite picture of them.

Siblings

Sister and brother

Fight!

They kinda all hated me...they kinda all wanted to kill me.....but thats because I was this rather awesome and epic secret agent spy....they were just all jealous!