HI! My name is Kimberly and I am a wife and have 3 children–ages 13, almost 17 and the oldest is 18. I live in the beautiful Blue Ridge area of Virginia. When I was growing up, my family moved a lot. My dad was not in the military, but by the time I was 18, we had moved 17 times–I think. You kind of lose count after a while. So, my hubby and I are (Lord willing) staying put!
I think I mainly started this blog for my own benefit–kind of a way to get on ‘paper’ what was in my head. I was diagnosed with Celiac in January 2006. This completely changed my life! I can remember my tummy hurting A LOT growing up. I just thought it was ‘normal’ and never really said much about it. When I was about 19 years old, I ended up in the hospital for almost a week. They ran all sorts of test–except for Celiac:) They sent me home and said I had spastic colon. I was supposed to control the symptoms with my diet, yet they fed me a hotdog with chili on it before discharging me! Yuck! It was in January 2006 that I requested being tested for Celiac. I had gotten to the point that I was in SEVERE pain EVERY single day. I started reading all sorts of things on the internet and pretty much knew I had Celiac before they even tested me. Of course, the test was postive.
In the meantime, I had also been struggling with an eating disorder. For a while after my diagnoses, the eating disorder only got worse. I think part of the reason for my struggle was being involved in dance. I took dance growing up and then was on a Christian dance team that traveled around different places. I became more and more obsessed with my body and weight. The thinner I got, the better. Having stomach pain all the time made it very easy to not eat. Food was NOT my friend!
Over the last couple of years, I have been walking through a healing process that has been very hard but glorious at the same time. I have had tremendous support from family, friends and pastors. I also see a nutritionist that is a Christian and has become a very dear friend. God has worked miracles in my thinking and in my heart. I am seeing food as a gift from Him. I still struggle with stomach pain and am still having to tweak my diet on a regular basis, but I’m moving forward!
This blog is just a place to share my experiences with different recipes and foods. I hope I can maybe be an encouragement to others that struggle with illness or eating issues. The last two years, I have been more determined to enjoy life and the gifts that God gives me. I will be 40 years old this November, and one of my goals is to be healthier. I LOVE walking out in the country where I live. I am also learning some Yoga and am really enjoying that.
Please feel free to ask me questions and leave lots of comments:) I love to make new friends and dearly love my long-time friends!
I’m so sorry to hear about your celiac disease! It seems like your dealing really well with it though! I’m a new reader but I really like your blog! Hope to see you around!
Hi April,
Thanks for the nice words about my blog:) I love to hear from readers and I’m really glad you stopped by.
I don’t always deal with my Celiac that well. LOL There are days that I get frustrated and cheat and then feel like an idiot! I am growing in that area though:) I hope to see you more as well!
XOXO
Hi there,
My husband has celiac disease. He found out about it a few years before I came along, but the stories he tells me about his stomach hurting are heart breaking!
Anyway, thought I’d stop by and introduce myself! Love your blog!
~Emily
Hi Emily,
Thanks for stopping by:) Celiac is definitely no fun, but at least we can change our diet and not be on drugs for the rest of our lives:) I hope your hubby is doing well since his diagnoses.
I am really enjoying your blog! I’m terribly sorry to hear about your Celiac disease, but I think that it’s awesome that you find healing in God. I’ve been recovering from ED for years (starting when I was 13 because of swimming), and reading a lot of these awesome blogs from inspirational people truly helps me. Keep up the great work! 🙂
Thanks Melissa,
I can’t even imagine where I would be without God and my family! I pray that you are doing well in your own journey. I know it is not easy:) Hope to see you more!
XOXO
I just found your blog and have enjoyed reading it. Sorry you are having to deal with Celiac disease. I have a friend that suspects she may have it also (being tested now for that & a few other things). May God bless you and keep you strong. Look farward to “visiting” again.
Hi Betty,
Thanks for stopping by. OMG! Your cakes on your blog are amazing!!! Hope your friend finds out what is going on and starts feeling better:) Hope to see you again soon.
Hi, just found your blog and I enjoyed reading your story. It’s so nice to know that you’ve recover from eating disorders, found out your real problem and have a big family now! 😀
I enjoyed reading this so much. It so awesome to know where you’ve come from and where you are now. Its so inspiring! Thanks for sharing your story!
I like your blog 🙂
I just discovered your blog and want to say “hi,” and also “thank you.” Thanks for sharing, for trusting God, for not running away from the vast challenge that is the healing process. I look forward to reading more!
Hallo! I am gluten-free in Charlottesville (at UVA) and wondered if you could recommend a nutritionist in the area that I could see?
Many thanks!
Blessings,
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth,
Love your name–my daughter’s name is Elizabeth 🙂
I don’t know of a nutritionist in Charlottesville. Mine was in Roanoke Va. Sorry 😦
God Bless you! Elizabeth you are not alone! I am a college sophomore who just got diagnosed with Celiac a year ago and on top of it developed an eating disorder. You have so much strength and courage!
Like yourself, I too have been struggling with getting Candida under control along with disordered eating patterns, Celiac, and other food sensitivities. As of now I am on a strict yeast free, sugar free, diet for 2 months and am taking lots of probiotics, pau’d arco tea, oil of oregano, and coconut oil. Day by day it gets better. I’m also working with a nutritionist as well.
I just want to let you know that you are truly an inspiration and it is so nice to know that someone has gone through many of the same things that I am going through and has conquered them! God Bless you and your family! I know I will get there too, it will just take some time.
We can do all in Christ who strengthens us!
Thank you for sharing your story!
Melissa
Like yourself, I too have been struggling with getting Candida under control along with disordered eating patterns, Celiac, and other food sensitivities. As of now I am on a strict yeast free, sugar free, diet for 2 months and am taking lots of probiotics, pau’d arco tea, oil of oregano, and coconut oil. Day by day it gets better. I’m also working with a nutritionist as well.
+1
Hi Kimberly! I can relate very well to your history of food problems and eating disorder, and I also had to completely readjust my diet (no dairy, mostly gluten-free, no white flour, low sugar), but it really helped. I wish you all the best on your journey! 🙂