New Diet, New Perspective

Living gluten-free and lactose-free is extremely difficult.

It means saying no to bread. To english muffins. To donuts. Muffins. Cookies. Pasta. Cheese. Milk. Anything made with wheat. Anything made with milk chocolate. It's rough.

But I feel amazing. :) Changing my diet was a burden at first, but a necessity, and now I feel wonderful---full of energy, happy, healthy. David helped me change my negative mental attitude of "I can't have..." to "I can try something new" and my family has been so incredibly supportive: exploring new recipes, ingredients, and helping me find snack options for college.

Living gluten-free and lactose-free has become an adventure, and I love it. I feel good being able to walk by sugar cookies, pancakes, and pasta dishes without having a pity-party for myself. Instead, I have a new perspective on healthy eating...and it's a lot of fun. Especially when your mom helps you make gluten-free lactose-free pizza. :)

I love Ellen!

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2iq83h/www.upworthy.com/most-celebrities-promote-products-they-like-ellen-degeneres-is-not-most-celebrit?c=ufb1/

I have problems

Hello. My name is Rachel. I have problems.

After visiting the doctor several times regarding my gastrointestinal issues, I was finally diagnosed as being lactose intolerant AS WELL AS having an allergy to gluten and needing to switch to a gluten-free lifestyle. It is incredibly frustrating. No pasta. No dairy. No cheese. No bread. But it is what it is...moving on to problem #2!

My eyes are annoying. For the past couple weeks they'll love my contacts one day and then practically scream at me to get them out the next day. I noticed a couple days ago my left eye was really red and it hurt a lot, and the skin around my eye was sensitive. So I went to Health Services today (I think I'm their most regular customer :P) and they told me I have some sort of infection that starts with an 'L' and has a really long name. Long story short, I have new eye drops and I have to take an antibiotic for the next couple of days.

PROBLEM #3. Walking to one of my classes today, I had to walk up stairs. Well THAT didn't happen...I fell up the stairs. And not like carpeted stairs. Outside stone stairs. I bruised my knee, hit my head, scraped my arm, and bloodied up the side of my hand. Lovely.

I have issues.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMW6wYmRKjo

Go to 6:04. Pause it. See that guy all the way to the right who's glancing at the other trumpet players? THAT'S MY BOYFRIEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is all.

Judgement on Literature

I'm reading "Angels & Demons" right now, the popular book by Dan Brown. So far I'm loving the story, really intriguing and suspenseful. And one passage I just read really caught my attention.

One of the main characters, Vittoria, just asked Langdon (a professor of art history) if he believes in God. He responds that he WANTS to believe but sometimes it's hard to take leaps of faith and keep everything straight with the Bible, the Koran, Buddhist scripture...

Vittoria replies: "Mr. Langdon, I did not ask if you believe what man says about God. I asked if you believed in God. There is a difference. Holy scripture is stories...legends and history of man's quest to understand his own need for meaning. I am not asking you to pass judgement on literature. I am asking if you believe in God. When you lie out under the stars, do you sense the divine? Do you feel in your gut that you are staring up at the work of God's hand?"

LOVE. THIS.

Personally, I struggle sometimes with accepting EVERYTHING in the Bible. And why sometimes we acknowledge it's okay not to follow certain rules anymore, but other rules are still steadfast and concrete. That confuses me. And then I feel guilty...like I'm not firm/steady in my faith. But I believe. I believe in God. I talk to God. I trust Him. I'm upset with Him sometimes. But I love Him and I know He's there for me. :)