Can You Hack It?

Tomorrow, August 3, our community will be gathering around Silas and joining him on a 24-hour liquid diet fast. As we think about the place food has in our lives, we will pause and pray for Sy and all those who are struggling with Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Please join us as we go through our day with only water or juice. We will work to help Sy find a way back to eating... It's only one day! 

Consider It Pure Joy...

My heart is heavy and these words keep ringing in my head tonight... "Consider it PURE JOY, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

Pure joy? Not blemished or partial, half-hearted joy but PURE, unadulterated and authentic JOY?

How do I exude this joy as I tell my son that he's failed this food trials today? How do I explain to him that he is allergic to ALL foods--that his body battles itself every time he takes a bite? How do I break the news that I have to take away the 5 foods he's been able to enjoy and go back to solely a liquid, medicinal formula diet? And all the while, he has to stay joyful in the process? ......................................................

Because God tells me to. Sometimes I get frustrated that God is having to use my son to grow MY character but then I think about how God has used these "hurdles" to deeply grow all of us. Strength in weakness... Beauty in brokenness...

Food is a basic necessity of life--we deal with it every day--at almost every social event, play date, school function, the list goes on and on. The only way to walk through this valley is to have HOPE and JOY in ALL circumstances.

Recently when talking to Sy about heaven, his big, blue eyes lit up as he asked, "Will I be able to eat all 'fewds' in heaven?" Needless to say, he has great hope and is stoked to get there!

So I trust... I have faith that God is using this for the greater good, for OUR greater growth, and HIS greater glory!

So even tonight as I sit here and struggle to feel it, I. CHOOSE. JOY!!!

Enjoying the "Sweet" Things in Life...

OK, OK, OK... You all have been more than patient!

After not eating a single bite of food since June and getting great reports from the doc in October, Sy has been given the go ahead to start food trials. After working with his allergist and getting some input from Sy himself, he got his first taste of food in the form of.... SWEET POTATOES!!

We sure had a lot of fun making the first batch and watching Sy get so excited. Of course, he had to take a quick sniff, but this time, he was actually able to take a huge bite! All we got during the meal was BIG smiles. He has to eat them completely plain (no spices, oil or butter) so we have to get a little creative. Thinly sliced, baked, cut into fries, etc... Let us know if you think of other fun ways.

Sy will get to try sweet potatoes for a few weeks while we monitor him. As long as everything seems ok, we'll introduce another food soon. Wonder what our little man will choose next? :)