Fun in the sun

I am quite happy that I will not be eating fish tomorrow for breakfast.  For most days in July I have eaten fish and red onions along with spinach and other vegetables.  I have enjoyed it but it's time for a change.  I always give Isaac a bite of the fish and he always thanks me.  I have now followed the auto-immune protocol for three months so I have decided to start reintroducing foods.  I start back on oats tomorrow and I am looking forward to a bowl of oatmeal in the morning.  For the last four weeks I decided to cut out almost all fruit (I still ate lemon on my fish and pumpkin and coconut in my soup) as well as natural sweeteners like maple syrup, honey, and coconut sugar.  No one recommended this and perhaps it was a bad idea but I just wanted to see if my body would react at all to having a lot less sugar.  The jury is still out.  The inflammation and stiffness is mild but I can't tell if it changed from June to July.  Actually, with less inflammation, I often feel a little more pain/discomfort.  Tomorrow I start back on fruit as I wouldn't enjoy my unsweetened oatmeal without blueberries and an apple.  I'm excited!

Just to remind me when I'm old and I don't believe I did this for three months, the auto-immune protocol that I followed: no grains (rice, corn, wheat, oats, etc), no dairy, no legumes (black beans, chickpeas, lentils, soy, peanuts), no processed sugars, no additives, no nightshades (potatoes, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers), no eggs, no nuts and seeds, no seed oils, no coffee, no pepper.  I've enjoyed most of my meals - they improved since I started.  This was one blessing of Covid as I was home but preparing the food definitely takes time away from other things and people so I'm hopeful that the reintroductions of some foods goes well.

Playing in the rain

I found out today that I will be able to see my rheumatologist this month.  I am hoping he can give me a little more information about arthritis and covid-risks.  I'm not sure if he would give me any cortisone as the inflammation is minimal. 

Pizza night

Not only have Graham and I joined Facebook, we are about to become the owners of a smartphone.  We are heading out of town for a week to a cottage/cabin where there is no wifi so this is the answer.  We have owned a cheap cell phone that stays in the van for emergencies and we have had iPods.

I think this is the first year that I haven't thought about what July 31st has meant to me until 10:32 PM.  I only remembered because I just texted my friend who moved into her home July 31, 2012.  I was hoping to visit her that day but instead Josiah was intubated and we went to SickKids.  Lily-Anna was also dedicated to God on this date in 2016.  Now I can add to that today's adventure: the first day with our new hammock and stand.  Graham's parents blessed us with this.  We all had a good time - reading together and the kids also played pirates.

Speaking of reading, this month we read aloud Danny the Champion of the World (a favourite book that my mom read to her classes) and Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl.  I have also read the three books in the Bat series to Kohen (by Alana K. Arnold) and I am in the middle of reading The Railway Children to Isaac.  We are also listening to Farmer Boy on audio during some meals.  Our breakfasts are usually accompanied by an Adventures in Odyssey episode - I love them.  Tomorrow morning we will get to listen to the third and final part of a mystery one.

PJs, messy hair, and Bible time with Daddy

We have done some puzzles and played Clue and Rummykub.  Graham and the boys have been biking (Isaac was blessed with his cousin's old bike which meant that Kohen was blessed with the same cousin's old old bike that Isaac had been using.)  Playing with the hose and kiddie pool in the backyard is always high on the kids' list, as is yelling and screaming at each other.  Isaac has also made up Faulkner Ball which is similar to Soccer Baseball.

A highlight of this month was Vacation Bible School (online).  This was Lily-Anna's first VBS.  Our children's pastor and all the volunteers did an amazing job.  We had been given bags with all the supplies they needed for the crafts.  Last year I figured that I would be helping out this year as all of my kids would be there - I was right, I just wasn't expecting that I would be helping from home.  It was a lot of fun singing the great songs together and watching the lessons, etc.  It was nice to be able to do it with them and be part of it.

VBS - Crazy hair and lanterns

I like planting marigolds on Josiah's grave around Canada Day or the anniversary of his death on July 6.  Every other year I have been able to find them at that late date but not this year.  I couldn't find annuals then.  Covid struck again.  I will now plan to plant flowers earlier.  I did find a couple of ground cover plants but they are less than inspiring.  I also couldn't get hanging baskets or the plants I wanted for outside our home.  Lateness doesn't pay during Covid.  I actually tried to buy Isaac shorts at Walmart yesterday and I couldn't find one pair for him.  I could find him a winter jacket if I had wanted.  Thankfully I found a pair at the Superstore. 

We are thankful to be able to get books from the library again.  I can't remember when that started but I guess it was probably June.  Thankfully they have a surprise bag of 10 picture books or early readers that I can order along with specific ones I put on hold.

We were blessed to be able to buy a used air conditioner for Lily-Anna's room so the kids stay cool.  A fan is fine for me and if it's really hot, Graham sleeps in the basement.  We were also blessed to have an afternoon in a pool!  Friends from church invited us over to use their pool while we all social distanced.  We had such a nice time.

Kohen the butler

Graham and Isaac now go to our church building each week on Sunday morning.  Every other week Graham is involved in volunteering there (making sure only the correct number of people are in the washrooms).  I watch the service with Kohen and Lily-Anna from home.

I am thankful that we now have a mask policy in place.  It makes sense to me that everyone should wear a mask when they are out and about.  I have just ordered masks for the kids.  We have a couple adult ones that we altered with a paperclip to make them works for the boys when they went to the dentist's office.

More pizza

Apparently school for the kids is supposed to start as normally as possible in September - full classes with masks.  We need to decide whether or not we will send Lily-Anna for JK.  I know she would love it and it would be lovely for her to make more friends there but with Covid I'm not sure yet.  I assume we'll send the boys but any children I send will be wearing a mask.

I would be remiss if I did not mention thanks for the many muffins, loaves and cookies as well as meals that my mother has blessed us with.  My father has also managed to fix our curtain rod that was having issues as I bought drapes that were too heavy for it. 

Enjoying the hammock

It's time to head to bed.  It's a new day tomorrow!

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Job 19:25-26
I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.  And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.


Oldy but a goody: Nicole C Mullen - My Redeemer Lives

P.S. I just realized that I called last July's post Fun in the Sun but I can deal with that.